FASHION Magazine

FASHION’s March issue is all about women who are in their element, from Big Little Lies’ Zoë Kravitz–who talks about embracing her natural beauty and surrounding herself with strong women in our cover story–to older women who continue to strive later in life. Below, Courtney Shea explores the current golden age of women’s golden years. […]

The post In a World Embracing “Ageless Fashion,” Is 80 the New 20? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

If the ’90s were a transitionary time for fashion, the new millennium marked the beginning of a new era for fashion and FASHION. The ’00s saw the launch of our little sister magazine FASHION18, a quarterly instalment of all things Canadian teen and tween. Once a city magazine, Toronto Life Fashion, became FASHION, a nationally circulated authority on beauty, fashion and […]

The post ’00s at <em>FASHION</em>: How Globalization Changed Fashion appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Drake may get credit for pushing Canadian fashion into the limelight, but after 15 years pink tartan’s Kim Newport-Mimran isn’t starting at the bottom. This fall, her Toronto flagship in Yorkville will carry Canadian-designed pieces exclusively, alongside her now locally produced Pink Tartan line. “It just happened organically,” says Newport-Mimran of the switch. “Working and […]

The post Pink Tartan Just Launched a Patriotic Canadian Fashion Collab appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See all the Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay party pics »

Is there a bigger bridal brand than Kleinfeld? Last night, to celebrate the Say Yes To The Dress juggernaut’s debut at Hudson’s Bay in Toronto, a lavish cocktail party took over all 20,000 square feet of the just-opened bridal salon. The space, with white-washed floors and vaulted ceiling could easily pass as a wedding venue itself (there’s even a small patio space for post-saying-yes cocktails!)—save for the dozens of dresses lining the walls. But what’s on display is just a sample of how much Kleinfeld has to offer: behind the scenes, there’s over 600 gowns to choose from, with more than 50 brands on the roster.

See the party pics »

For those with a severe case of spring fever, Monday is just another chance to party. Such was the case earlier this week at Toronto’s La Societe, where the keen toasted the launch of Veuve Clicquot’s first ever Yelloweek (through May 11), a week-long of bubbly pairings at the city’s best restaurants, spas, galleries and more. The event also served as an informal launch pad for Greta Constantine’s Resort 2015 collection. As models mingled with the crowd, they showed off the duo’s latest wares: jacquard-weave wrap dresses, vibrant body suits and killer collar details. Bring on spring!

For more information on Yelloweek and how to book your experience, visit yelloweek.com.

See the J.Crew Collection store party pics »

Toronto Fashion Week may be more than a month away, but street style trends were top of mind for the city’s fashion lovers last week. And with good reason: J. Crew held a sleek party to celebrate the opening of its first Collection store on Bloor Street, making it the brand’s fifth Toronto location and first standalone store. Unlike other locations, the J.Crew Collection store features a curated selection of limited edition women’s and menswear pieces, including accessories (hello, statement jewellery!) cashmere and more.

Despite its 6,000+ square foot size, the store was tightly packed with eager party guests, many of whom were likely hoping to catch a glimpse of the woman who makes print mixing look as natural as wearing neutrals. Alas, it was not to be: a blizzard in New York meant Jenna Lyons was stranded and we had to settle for an Instagram stand-in—which did indeed complemented the party’s Canadian-ified photo booth. (Complete with stuffed moose and a Pharrell-meets-Mountie hat.)

See the flat trend on the runway »

When red carpet renegade Kristen Stewart wore a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors with her Yigal Azrouël dress at the MTV Movie Awards in 2009 (or the sneakers she wore on any number of subsequent red carpet walks), she was essentially flipping fashion the bird. In this industry, comfort has historically been a four-letter word: f-l-a-t.

This season, there’s a more sophisticated way to save your soles.

After years of sending models teetering down runways in sky-high strappy sandals and stilettos, designers have become the new flat-vocates, endorsing everything from clunky lug soles and creepers to trim, slim loafers and sleek skimmers especially suited to holiday dressing.

Like so many other recent trends that can be traced back to Lanvin, it’s arguable that the house’s ubiquitous stretchy, girlish ballerina flat of 2002 was fashion’s gateway drug to comfort. Once you go flat, you never go back. This season, Lanvin creative director Alber Elbaz sent winter floral party dresses down the runway but grounded their feminine whimsy with more mannish oxfords in leather, velvet and glitter-encrusted versions. This new flat provides a balance to the proportions of fall’s revival of ’50s volume, from the new New Look of full dirndl skirts at Rochas to the boxy topcoats at Céline.

See the Greta Constantine Spring 2014 collection »

In the off-season manner that has become their signature, Greta Constantine designers Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill put the social spin on the Spring 2014 collection, which they revealed at Malaparte above TIFF Bell Lightbox last night in Toronto. For an intimate crowd of editors and socialites, the 23 looks first took to a makeshift runway in-between two outstretched dinner tables set with inspirational artworks at each place (“Give your undivided attention to the feeling of your creations, not the creations themselves,” said mine). Then later, in presentation style groupings for after-partygoers.

The collection itself was an exercise in what Greta Constantine does best, but renewed for the season in cool microfiber knits (my favourite: an off-shoulder magenta knee length cocktail number) and silk faille. A dripping copper-covered group of smouldering floor-length gowns had red carpet written all over it. Meanwhile, the duo pushed retakes of their well-known classics such as cobalt and tangerine ruffled power dresses and the one-shouldered cocktail. With a healthy dose of Rogers, Florida, Kimmel and Koo in the crowd, all 23 are sure to be snapped up faster than you can say fierce.

See the street style shots from Toronto »

On the second day of pre-fashion week aka The Shows, Toronto’s best were out in full force to support last night’s talented twosome, Steven Tai and Jeremy Laing. October’s pleasant temps seem to be allowing for pleasant outfit pairings (read: no bulky layers or cold weather grimaces), which we obviously dig. Style Panel’s Danielle Roche pre-empted Spring 2014’s shine trend in a boxy copper animal print, which was layered, overtop a pleated black leather mini and op art print turtleneck. Caillianne Beckerman, Samantha Beckerman and all star model Liisa Winkler were feeling the current plaid penchant, weaving the old standby within matching designer-clad outfits. Meanwhile team Holt Renfrew had the sophisticated clan colours downpat, with Blaire Borins, Jennifer Daubney, Kimberly Grabel and Moira Wright posing in co-ordinating neutrals. Until next time folks, which by our count is just over a week away.

Check out the photos from the Joe Fresh after-party »

Given the well-heeled ladies and gents that show up for a Joe Fresh fashion show, you’d never believe the label’s wears run as affordably as they do. Though as any Loblaws shopper in Canada knows, they do. After last night’s punky all-black Fall 2013 outing, showgoers were looking to kick off their heels (proverbially speaking) with signature orange cocktails, mini tacos and pulsing DJ beats at the private watering hole, Storys.

Fresh off the Fresh runway, models Heather Marks, Meaghan Collison and a group of studly males in tight sweaters flooded the room with just enough impossible beauty to make the ogling worth it. Creative director Joe Mimran and wife Kimberley Newport-Mimran showed up in coordinated head-to-toe black suiting, adding their own luxe touch to the non-colour of the night. As the two cozied up to Loblaws frontman Galen Weston, nightclub impresario Charles Khabouth and our favourite dandy, Bruce C. Bailey, an informal dance party broke out with queen of the moves, Andrea Bolley, at the forefront. Just an average rip roaring night in Toronto as of late, it seems.

Smythe and eLUXE have just teamed up to create the epitome of a chic LBJ (little black jacket, for those of you not in the know); what’s more, the femme-meets-tailored blazer will be available exclusively to Canada.

Come September, you can get your hands on the Canadian label’s covetable tuxedo-style wool blazer on eLUXE for $595, which is actually a steal if you consider cost per wear. With its slim fit, strong shoulders and gold hardware, you can make like Kate Middleton (who’s without a doubt the most famous of Smythe’s devotees) and work the chic, strong piece into your fall looks time and time again.

Marco Greco—a Toronto based hair stylist who coiffed the hair of some of the city’s most stylish women—passed away suddenly at the age of 46 on Tuesday. Greco was an editorial staple at FASHION, where he produced looks that were both stunning and memorable. Susie Sheffman, our fashion editor-at-large, remembers Greco’s gentle nature saying, “Aside from a talented hairdresser, the world has lost a lovely gentle soul in Marco. It was always a treat to sit in his chair, and an honour to collaborate with him creatively on shoots.”