FASHION Magazine

Word: Swag

Meaning: Swag has two main contemporary definitions: 1) Valuable stuff you got for free, or stole; and 2) appearance and self-presentation, usually in a rap subculture we could call “swagster rap.”

Usage: “Flow colder than February with extraordinary swag.” ― T.I., “Swagger Like Us.”

It’s that time again. Toronto has rolled out the red carpet for an army of A-listers, all flocking to TIFF looking their most flashbulb-friendly. Sure, everybody has a “good side” in photographs, but no one works their angles (or, wrecks their angles, depending on who you ask) quite like a VIP.

Couture-clad celebutantes poised in the same goofy positions, doing the same silly faces, and looking all-around stupid for the paparazzi’s pleasure. So, which repellent poses take the cake? We’re all familiar with the traditional hand-on-hip and shoulder-peek-over, but FASHION has assembled a list of the top five posing offenses, and their frequent perpetrators, with tips on how to avoid making the same photo faux pas yourself.

View our posing tips! »

We’ve given you the etiquette guide on how to snag the best seats in town, whether it be the steam room at Stillwater or beside Ryan Gosling (swoon!) at a Queen West watering hole, but now it’s time for us to show you how to really get his attention: by looking good, ladies. Taking our cue from some of TIFF’s most beautiful women, here are the four ways we’d most like to wow the industry (and boyishly good-looking) crowd.

Shop the guide now! »

The TIFF countdown is officially in full swing! With less than a week remaining until the city’s red carpets roll out, we’ve selected our top five essential luxury treatments for pre-TIFF beauty prep: not just for the stars but for those who are lucky to share their airspace.

Face: The Organic Oxygen Infusion Facial at the Windsor Arms Hotel
The vitamins, minerals, and amino acids used in The Organic Oxygen Infusion Facial at the Windsor Arms Hotel were cultivated in the Alps (we’re guessing the fancy Swiss, French, or Italian ones) to be certified organic and chemical free. Back in Toronto, the pasteurized nutrients are blended with an icy blast of medical-grade oxygen and massaged into your skin using a special O2 Oxygen Machine. The gratification of plumped up fine lines and glowing skin is instant and should last about a week.
($195, 416-934-6031 to book)

Just how far do immaculate manners go in lifting the velvet rope of the seemingly impermeable world that is the Toronto International Film Fest? You may be surprised. The best service-based spots in the city fill up fast, so you might find yourself jostling for a hair appointment alongside Keira Knightley or gunning to get into a bar in which Brad and Angelina are holding court.

The official TIFF guest list has been released and, as usual, it’s major! Amongst the cast of glittering names, heralded directors and studly leading men (would you like a side of Ryan Gosling/Alexander Skarsgard/Brad Pitt with that?), there promises to be some serious It girl action on the red carpet with everyone from Tilda to Keira to Blake to Carey heading to town. Stay tuned for our coverage leading up to and during the festival, but in the meantime, let’s indulge in a little girl crush freak-out. Who are you most excited to see?

Vote after the jump! »

This week, we take you inside the zipped croc Marc by Marc Jacobs purse belonging to our lovely beauty editor, Sarah Daniel. She claims that the bag was her first foray into grownup shopping, but we find that hard to believe, given her assortment of beautiful and hard-to-find products, like a sample bottle of perfume that’s got its creator’s handwritten labelling. Oh, and that book she’s reading? The recommendation came from India Hicks. No biggie.

Let’s explore! »

By Randi Bergman and Jordan Porter

Fellini’s in Toronto (at least in spirit), and we can’t get the 8 ½ director out of our heads. Although he experimented with quite a few styles during his 30-year career, it’s his signature drama, seductiveness and extravagance that are on display at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in the form of film stills, magazine clippings and more. In honour of the molto dolce occasion, we bring you a Fellini-inspired edition of FASHION Plates, to help you channel the indulgent, sexy attitude of his many muses. So, up the glamour and get shopping.

Head to the TIFF Bell Lightbox for Fellini: Spectacular Obsessions and take in the chic excess associated with the director.

Bell Lightbox Exhibit (tiff.net)

Shop the guide now! »

Every day of every week, I define, and opine on, some cultural mot du jour. It’s like Sesame Street, but fancy. Today my favourite word is “vérité,” as in cinema, Cassavetes, and… reality television.

Word: “Vérité,” as in “Cinema Vérité”

Meaning: A genre of film and television that aims to show more of life’s reality by representing it in a truthful way, i.e. with realistic dialogue, natural lighting, and seemingly happenstance action.

Yes, our foremost interest in TIFF is style (see some of our favourite moments), but we attended enough premieres and parties to have more than a few brushes with celebrity. Click the images below to see our roundup of our favourite celeb run-ins, parties, gossip, and the one thing that was on everyone’s lips: Golf […]

The post TIFF roundup: Our top 9 party moments, celebrity run-ins and more appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

By Jennifer Campbell and Elli Stuhler Instead of a best-dressed list for this year’s TIFF, we’ve decided to round up our top fashion moments–everything from witnessing a red carpet transformation to meeting a veritable style legend (and, yeah, a few of our favourite looks.) Click the images below to read our picks. Read our full […]

The post Our top 9 fashion moments at TIFF appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Every year at the film festival, Swarovski hosts a gifting and lending suite where talent can come in, take a look around and borrow some ice for the red carpet. This year, the items in the lounge from the fall collection had a distinct ice queen feel to them – think Anne Hathaway as the white queen in Alice in Wonderland, or better yet, Tilda Swinton as the White Witch in The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe.