FASHION Magazine

See Christmas hostess gift ideas »

Christmas is often the most stressful time of the year for many people. Even more so for those who decide to host the cocktail parties, the dinners, and the new years bashes (hats off to them). Because it’s a party faux pas to show up empty handed—especially when someone has spent hours preparing—we’ve thought of creative Christmas hostess gift ideas for those who bare the grunt of the work.

The bonus of shopping for a friend or family member who is constantly having people over, is that a gift that works as a thank you for planning a holiday party is also useful to their everyday life. Give them gifts that will help them relax after the fete dies down like a red wine and chocolate set or a scented candle that will make the rest of post-party worries melt away. From Cooking with Siracha to the now-classic Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty coffee table book, these items will look beautiful in a new apartment or well lived in home.

View the Mugler party photos »

A good-looking crowd of Vancouverites elected to put on their Tuesday Best (lipstick, heels, an exaggerated shoulder) last night and head to The Room at the Bay rather than sit at home in sweatpants glued to the Obama-Romney battle royal. What lured them away from CNN? Two other men, Mugler creative director Nicola Formichetti and women’s designer Sébastien Peigné, plus an exhibition of out-of-this-world dresses from the archives.

See the Topshop Vancouver opening photos »

Vancouver’s media and fashion folk clamoured into Topshop’s glossy new Granville Street location in the basement of the Bay yesterday, taking tours through the almost maze-like black mirrored space as they absorbed the many and varied sections the British export had on offer. From mod silhouettes to a Scandinavian-meets-military line to the fast fashion retailer’s exclusive collaboration with J.W. Anderson, the sheer number of covetable pieces was almost overwhelming. And then, there was the shoe wall—any red-blooded woman alive would experience a flutter of heart palpitations upon walking into the sleek space, where studded fall-apropos suede booties took up residence alongside futuristic powder pink and gold heels.

Check out the pictures from the new store!

It Brit megabrand Topshop has finally gotten a space to call their own in downtown Toronto. After opening a two-floor shop-in-shop at Yorkdale Shopping Centre last year (and kicking it all off with a blowout party featuring Coco Rocha, The Kills and Harley Viera Newton, to boot), Topshop has one-upped its first Canadian location, by opening an expanded spot at The Bay Queen Street. What used to be a small selection of the brand’s wears has been transformed into a 19,000 square feet of mirrored mecca rivaled only by its predecessor.

Topshop is loved by the likes of Kate Moss and Alexa Chung, so you know the brand is top notch. The Bay’s new Queen Street shop-in-shop has been filled with fur hats, two-tone purses and graphic sweaters that all seem just perfect for an early shopping spree. While the clothing is fine and dandy and we’d be happy to carry armfuls of clothing out of there, upon spotting the shoe section, we almost fainted.

See the TIFF party photos »

You better be ready for this jelly because the celebrity meet-cute heavens opened wide at last night’s Hudson Bay Company party for A Place Beyond the Pines at AME. Between myself and editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra, we had Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and Kristen Wiig in our clutches and the world could not have felt more balanced.

But let’s get acquainted with the soiree particulars: As waiters in Hudson Bay striped T-shirts passed hors d’oeuvres and bubbly, the stars (which also included Bradley Cooper, no big deal), the Bay’s big wigs Bonnie Brooks and Suzanne Timmins and a tight-knit group of editors and gossip experts—which included National Post’s Shinan Govani and Nathalie Atkinson, eTalk’s Elaine Lui and the Toronto Star’s Derrick Chetty—held court at the back of the lavish club.

Eva Mendes sat perched, looking truly resplendent in a black and grey lace-y Dolce & Gabbana dress, chandelier earrings and pointed black heels. Complete with half-turban headpiece, the actress looked as if to be plucked straight from the duo’s Sicilian-inspired Fall 2012 collection. After ordering a cocktail/Red Bull/water with one breath, Eva Mendes and I shared our love for the collection, turbans, and Ryan Gosling (okay, that last one never happened).

Read ahead to see all three festival looks! » Festival style has become such a sartorial staple that even mega retailers like H&M have jumped on the festival style wagon, creating entire collections inspired by the motley crew of Aztec print wielding, face-paint dabbing festival goers that make the trek to far-away locales every year. […]

The post Osheaga here we come! We style 3 looks that will keep you looking festival-approved from the folk shows to the dance parties appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

As we’ve already proven on the site, there are many ways to get into the Olympic swing. And since our main expertise involves how one might wear it, we’ve melded the two in this week’s Style Panel feature! From sea to shining sea, we asked our panellists to show us their best patriotic outfit, by styling pieces from the Bay’s Team Canada collection. The results, as usual, are as awesome and unique as each panelist. Want to score a piece of your own? Head on over to thebay.com for a peek at what the brand is offering.

Question 12: What’s your favourite way to sartorially support Team Canada? Read the answers now! »

Or jump to: ALEX GRANT, TORONTO | ALICIA QUAN, VANCOUVER | ALYSSA LAU, EDMONTON | ÉLODIE PARTHENAY, MONTREAL | JEN TAM, VANCOUVER | KASSANDRA CAMPONI, EDMONTON | KRISTIN MACDONALD, FREDRICTON | LOLITTA DANDOY, MONTREAL | MO HANDAHU, HALIFAX | NIKI BLASINA, NYC VIA VANCOUVER

Now that Team Canada has scored a bronze medal in synchronized diving, it’s time we had a closer look at what our Olympians wore (and will hopefully be wearing many more times) while accepting their medal on the podium. The red-on-red (ain’t much of a surprise there!) tracksuit is a classic nod to to the […]

The post A closer look at what Team Canada’s wearing to the podium during the 2012 Olympics appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Looks like Team Canada will be keeping it pretty cool and casual at tonight’s (today’s in time warp terms?) opening ceremonies in London. The Bay has just released a sketch of the official uniforms which features red and white colour blocked “Canada” zipped sweater over white button downs—the women’s, with traditional plaid on the placket, […]

The post Here’s a peek at what Team Canada will be wearing to the Olympic opening ceremonies tonight! appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Check out all the Olympic-themed fashion! »

We’ve officially reached the one-week countdown to the London Olympics, which can only mean one thing: the Olympics have hit their peak, leaving no one (not even the fashion industry) untouched in their wake. From the Canadiana-themed the Bay collection to one of Opening Ceremony’s covetable collaborations at its temporary pop-up OC London store, there is so much amazing Olympic-themed fashion at our fingertips that even the least athletic of us can confidently get their sportif chic on. We’ve got a lineup of the most stylish Olympic-inspired collections for your viewing pleasure, as well as a few staple sportswear pieces should you be inspired to get a sweat going yourself!

American retailers must have all set their compasses due north because yet another U.S. chain has announced plans to set up shop here in Canada. As if we weren’t already excited enough about next year’s arrival of cheap-chic retailer Target, now Nordstrom has announced plans to open four locations in the Great White North as well.

We’ve witnessed some major changes at the Bay over the last few years (ahem, The Room?), and it seems that the heritage brand is looking to further revamp its stores, trading in its under-performing housewares selections in favour of mid-priced contemporary fashion. The company reportedly plans to expand its holdings with the addition of even more […]

The post The Bay’s latest plans include more contemporary clothing and a Pearson Airport shop-in-shop! appeared first on FASHION Magazine.