FASHION Magazine

More than 50 years after its shuttering (and almost 40 years after the death of its brilliant founder), the house of Schiaparelli is set to relaunch just as its name once again reaches the prominence it had in the pre-war years.

To coincide with the opening of the Met Costume Institute’s retrospective exhibit Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, Italian business tycoon Diego Della Valle announced the official relaunch earlier this week. Though the brand has remained dormant, even since being acquired by the titan in 2006, Della Valle plans on giving the old house a contemporary update, saying that it “doesn’t have to get involved in the frenetic world of numbers, accounts and dimensions, but it just has to express itself at its best.”

Tom Ford’s scandalous just-released Spring 2012 men’s lookbook exposes the designer’s affinity for all things sexual (as if that were a surprise). While Ford’s spring collection is conspicuously absent, there is enough naked flesh to make even Dov Charney blush.

The lookbook features a somewhat sleazy male model (read: he wears sunglasses indoors while striking his best “Blue Steel” pose) and his oiled-up female consort. The lolz-y twosome reads newspapers, showers in tandem and plays a mean game of bottom-pinching (hey, it’s certainly got people talking).

While the clothes are almost entirely secondary, the lookbook does feature silky smoking jackets, robes and other Hugh Hefner–esque pieces. And then there are the boxers (or swim trunks—we can’t tell), worthy of a night at the Playboy mansion.

It’s no secret Ford loves gratuitous nudity—remember his men’s fragrance ads with the artfully placed cologne bottle?—but shouldn’t a lookbook feature just a few more looks? Either way, Ford seems to have a sex-sells formula that works for him. Just check out his eyewear campaign where a crow chomps on Freja’s exposed nipple.

See the 5 picks »

Two FASHION editors will be camping this weekend. In the desert. Shocking, yes. But also, true. Come Friday, ginger-haired photo editor Nicole Stafford and I will be hitting Indio, California for the second weekend of Coachella festivities. Opting for the near death full experience, we’re going for broke (not) in a tent during a weekend that’s promising highs of nearly 40° Celsius. We might die, but before we do, we’re bringing you a special peek into not one, but both of our travel bags. While high SPFs are a no brainer, we’ve also thought about other essentials. You know, like culturally relevant graphic tees and designer sunglasses.

See Nicole’s bag »
See Randi’s bag »

Everyone wants to know what’s been on Stefano Pilati’s mind since his much-discussed departure from Yves Saint Laurent. The designer, famed for expanding YSL’s now lucrative accessories collection, told the French Institute Alliance Française all about his (somewhat bumpy) time at the house and his relationship with Tom Ford

This week, you’re in for a treat! Well, a few of ‘em to be precise. Not only are we giving you a peek inside the life of one of Canadian fashion’s head honchos, but we’re giving you a twofor bag snoop as well! Now presenting the lemon yellow Balenciaga Papier Tote AND the Prada pouch belonging to Holt Renfrew’s VP of fashion direction, Barb Atkin. At the helm of the luxury retailer, Atkin is to thank for bringing some of the most coveted brands to the country (ahem, Tom Ford?). Now for a bit more coveting, let’s explore all her amazing belongings.

Let’s explore! »

View Jennifer’s premiere looks »
Vote for your favourite »

In the last few weeks, The Hunger Games’ star Jennifer Lawrence has been globe-hopping for various worldwide premieres of the much-hyped film, which opens in theatres this Friday (as if you didn’t know that) in everything from Prabal Gurung to Tom Ford. Each dress is quite strikingly different from the next, but all of the actress’s wardrobe choices share asset-bearing as their modus operandi.  If you’ve got it, flaunt it, n’est pas? Check out all of Lawrence’s recent premiere choices and tell us which is your favourite. We’ve got a favourite, but we’d rather hear from you!

Being Toronto Fashion Week and all, it seemed only fitting that we’d want to bag stalk the lady who holds the keys to it all. Debra Goldblatt is head honcho of one of Toronto’s highest profile entertainment and lifestyle public relations firms, rock-it promotions, and has got her well-moisturized helping hands in everything from show and backstage access to designer relations. Alongside her team of awesome associates, Goldblatt is responsible for some of the biggest and best parties throughout the rest of the year as well, including the Festival Music House during TIFF, and just about every major happening at Queen Street West’s longstanding hub The Drake Hotel. Funnily enough, you wont find any actual keys inside this bag, but what you will find is plenty of vitamins, mementos, and even a mini Power Ranger to keep this powerhouse going.

Let’s go inside! »

Leave it to the high priest of pricey to once again surpass the bar for what we thought of as luxe. Launching in April at his namesake boutiques, Tom Ford has created a special edition ‘50s-inspired eyewear collection using only the finest materials. Sure to become collector favourites, the water buffalo horn (because that is a real thing) frames include gold-plated metal “T” accents, and come packaged in a Bakelite box complete with chamois cloth and cleansing cream. And what do they retail for, you may ask? A whopping $2,950. All in a month’s income.

Check out the frames »

Today we’re going inside the bag belonging to our favourite marketing/public relations/art world gal about town, Amy Burstyn-Fritz. Known for her killer wardrobe (“Oh this? It’s Katrantzou”), and her ability to be the life of the party—even at 10 a.m. (“Are you going to finish that?”), Burstyn is equally awesome on all accounts. Her linen Yves Saint Laurent Muse bag is equally awesome. So without further ado, let’s check it out!

Let’s explore! »

Well, we thought this had already been settled, but now it’s written in stone: Hedi Slimane is officially taking over from Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent. Cue the applause from skinny pant–wearing ladies and gents everywhere! The designer, who worked at the house in the late ‘90s, has long seemed a natural fit for the brand—perhaps even more natural than Pilati, who’s held the position since 2004 but never quite reached the critical acclaim that both Yves Saint Laurent or Tom Ford did.

Just three days after the Raf for Jil swap, Yves Saint Laurent has announced that creative director Stefano Pilati will leave the company’s helm following the collection’s Fall show later this week in Paris.

Pilati’s ride at YSL has been a bit of a bumpy one with critically inconsistent collections. But despite a lack of support from YSL heavyweights (Yves Saint-Laurent himself once told WWD, “Some of what he does is good. Some of it is not so good.”), Pilati has rocketed the house towards considerable commercial success (though not quite at Gucci-era Tom Ford levels) with his conception of hit accessories like the Muse bag and Tribute shoe. More than a feat in these financial times, right?