FASHION Magazine

With Cyber Monday (the online version of Black Friday, for those who’ve been a little sleepy today) kicked into high gear, its been impossible for us to do anything but shop! Online, that is. Here, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the best sales currently on for the best deals to shop when you’re vegging out on the couch post-office.

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

While all of us may be dreaming of a Birkin bag for the holiday, shopping within a budget AND shopping with a variety of gift recipients in mind can be pretty rough. And because the ole bottle of wine can become a little boring, we’ve rounded up 25 of our favourite gifts that are sure to please, all for less than $25!

View our picks »

After months of searching for the chicest gifts to share with you, our dear readers, we’ve come across more than a few items that have made their way onto our own lists! For even more holiday inspiration, check out the items we’re lusting after as well as what we’ve got coming for our nearest and dearest.

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Jump to an editor: Bernadette Morra | Susie Sheffman | Caitlin Agnew | Lesa Hannah | Sarah Daniel | Randi Bergman | Emilie Dingfeld | Jordan Porter | Rani Sheen | Nicole Stafford | Sarah Casselman | Rachel Simpson | Caitlan Moneta | Paige Dzenis | Michael White

A cropped knit sweater is an easy way to complete an almost-there outfit and to add an extra layer of warmth—which is especially appealing as temperatures continue to drop. The trick to this trend, seen everywhere from runways to the hallways of our office, is finding the right pieces to pair your with your sweater; after all, no one wants to see bare midriffs in November! There are many ways to mix up this look—we suggest layering over a button-up top and then pairing with flared or printed pants. Worn well, the cropped sweater will carry you through the season in style. Happy layering!

Check out the cream of the crop! »

Jason Wu returned to Vancouver, his childhood home and the place he first learned to sew, to woo the waists of many a grown woman with his Kaws-inspired Spring 2012 collection. The Thursday night preview and cocktail party at The Room drew a mix of fashion folk and moneyed madams. Models in Wu’s punchy frocks worked the room, as did Wu himself, snapping photos with his fans. A few even paused to notice the Kaws-drawn pink paws worked into some of the floral prints.

What are the designer’s recollections of the city? “I had a tutor here named Muriel, she taught me English through reading fashion magazines, because that was a subject I was interested in,” says Wu. “That’s how I got bit by the fashion bug.” It’s safe to say the Wu bug infected more than a few at the bash—the only cure, a cascading gown of neon green.

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For most of us fashion-minded folk (or maybe just me), one of the only times we can get it up for a sports event is the Olympics. The patriotism and the larger-than-life-ness of it seem to get me every time. Coming off the high of 2010’s Vancouver Winter Games, it’s only fitting that there’s some early hype for the London Summer Games, which are set for July 27–August 12, 2012. Today, the Bay kicked it off by launching the full collection (including some winter-appropriate items that can be worn now).

Pictured on some of Team Canada’s cutest athletes (mind you, my personal fave, Alexandre Despatie, is missing), the collection is patchwork-y, graphic-y, heritage-y, and awesome. It’s also super affordable, with the whole shebang ranging from $15–$100.

Check out the collection »

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For as long as I can remember, my mother’s vanity held curvy glass bottles of Oscar de la Renta’s namesake eau de toilette. The elegant black signature on the bottle stood out, and I remember asking her more than once, “Who is Oscar de la Renta? Two decades later at the Bay’s Queen Street flagship in Toronto, I finally got a chance to see the man himself, in town to promote Live in Love, his newest addition to the fragrance world. Accompanied by the Bay’s CEO Bonnie Brooks on his left arm and Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker on his right (he’s always been popular with the ladies), the navy suit­–clad de la Renta was the very picture of living in love.

Find out how to dress up as Karl Lagerfeld »

Halloween is just a week away, and that means it’s officially costume crunch time. In order to stir up some inspiration, we’re turning to some of our favourite and most interesting fashion icons. Each day this week we’ll showcase a costume that doesn’t involve devoting all your evenings to sewing sessions and papier-mâché messes. (And if you do end up dressing up as one of our suggestions, please share it with us on Twitter or Facebook!)

First up, everyone’s favourite fashion uncle, Karl Lagerfeld. We think this is a très chic costume for both guys and gals, and that’s not just because you get to wear a white old-timey powdered wig.

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A black carpet, sprinkled with male models in white tuxes, beckoned guests to the second floor of the Bay Downtown Vancouver for the Thursday night grand opening of The Room, the department store’s second den of high fashion. Erdem Moralioglu and Brian Atwood—both on their first visit to Vancouver—Jason Matlo, Monika Deol, and Jessica Stam (to name a few) were among the crowd of well-dressed revellers air kissing, clinking glasses, and noshing on Hawksworth Restaurant–made canapés.

The British are coming! Or rather, they’re here. At this very moment, actually, Topshop and Topman are opening the doors to their first Canadian store at Yorkdale Mall. We previewed the shop-in-shop at the Bay yesterday with creative director and former British Vogue fashion director Kate Phelan in tow. As we scurried through the 15,000-square-foot space along with Phelan (lots to see/mentally shop for/freak out over, so little time), we were tickled to see that all the familiar Topshop bases were covered—from the Unique and Boutique collections (Mary Katrantzou, Pamela Love, David Koma, and more collabs coming for the holidays!), to the seizure-inducing shoe wall and makeup. “What you see here is what you’ll see in one of our main stores in [London’s] Oxford Circus,” said Phelan. “Each of the trends is broken up into different stories so that you can pick and choose what you love. Topshop is really about styling yourself and finding your personality and not having to be dictated to.” While we could easily slide a hundred or more items onto our arm for the fitting room (and we did, we really did), Phelan whittled her faves down to a cool five. Buy them now, or we will.

Go inside the store and view Kate’s top 5! »

Temperatures are dropping fast, and so are our reasons for heading outside. Bundling up is a must, as seen at Alexander Wang Fall 2011 where models looked ready to hit the slopes. Here’s our list of essentials items to get you through the frigid weather while still looking chic.

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The ladies have spoken, and it’s leather they’re after to fill their closets this fall. Not just for biker babes anymore, the season has us swimming in feminine options that are equal parts naughty and nice. From body-con dresses to pencil skirts, the new way to wear leather is all about ladylike silhouettes, mixing fabrics, and layering luxe textures like cashmere and fur.

Let’s get leather-d! »