FASHION Magazine

Oh, how we love red carpet season. It seems that weekly, we’re showered with stunning photos of Hollywood’s A-List showing off like it’s nobody’s business. (Well, actually, it is our business.) At last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, it seemed that this year’s nominees and stars were channeling their onscreen roles, with Michelle Williams in a va-va-voom lace Valentino, Shailene Woodley in a Hawaiian-esque floral-print L’wren Scott, and Emma Stone in a retro-shaped Alexander McQueen cocktail number. So, who wore it best? Check out our top 8 and vote for your favourite.

View the red carpet photo gallery »

In today’s GOOP newsletter, Gwyneth Paltrow gave readers a preview of the virtual Valentino museum that will open to the world on Monday. She also included an interview with Valentino Garavani and his business partner Giancarlo Giammetti, which discussed how the museum came to be, their inspirations, and little bit of coveted fashion advice from […]

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Though she has yet to be styled in a fairytale ensemble for an episode of Once Upon A Time, Jennifer Morrison delivered a very medieval-come-modern look on her own at this weekend’s The Muppets movie premiere. The braided style is undoubtedly inspired by Valentino’s Spring 2012 runway, though Morrison’s version is not nearly as complicated. It’s actually unfair for us to position them side-by-side, because it’s hard for anyone, actress or not, to trump the perfect ethereal beauty of the Valentino braid.

Known for its captivating selection of high-end shoes and bags (Christian Louboutin, Valentino) and old-school charm (first-class service with a smile), this celebrated Toronto retailer truly stands out from the crowd. Started in 1951 by husband-and-wife team Louis and Julia Markowitz (who named the store after their eldest son), this private, family-run business continues to serve up superior soles today, with a few additions along the way (a redesigned store at the Bayview Village Shopping Centre and a location in Yorkdale Shopping Centre).

Speculation surrounding a change in Proenza Schouler’s investors has been circulating for quite some time now. That change seems to have been confirmed yesterday by Cathy Horyn of The New York Times. According to the writer, the label’s current backer, the private equity firm Permira (also the primary owner of Valentino), will be selling its shares in the label as early as Friday.

The 45-per-cent stake will reportedly be transferred over to a group of New York investors including Andrew Rosen, CEO of Theory and Helmut Lang. Designers and founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez will likely hold onto their control over the other 55 per cent of the company.

While we’re excited to see what Rosen’s plans are for the brand, we’re hoping that too much doesn’t change. New investors can often demand a lot of designers, but that won’t necessarily be the case with Proenza Schouler. McCollough and Hernadez’s It-girl aesthetic seems in keeping with Rosen’s previous ventures (think Olivier Theyskens at Theory). What we are hoping for is the production of more accessories, which seems inevitable with the success of the PS1 bag.

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! »

Couture Week in Paris came to a close today with Azzedine Alaïa showing his first presentation in ages. As we’ve been reporting, the past few days have been marked with highs (Givenchy) and lows (Dior). Regardless, the overall messages of unabashed luxury and attention to detail, inherent to haute dressing, were unanimously heard loud and clear from the handful of couturiers who showed.

It was a success story at Valentino, where designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli made a solid argument for the relevance of couture. The collection was inspired by the flight of the Russian aristocracy after the breakout of revolution, but it sometimes felt more like a medieval fantasy. Sheer, light fabrics, gilded ornamentation, and house signatures such as vibrant red, bows, and lace felt youthful not stuffy, proving that haute couture can still be fresh and exciting when modernized.

At Alaïa, things were more secretive. Showing during an organized fashion week isn’t usually the designer’s style, and today’s presentation wasn’t an occasion to attract endless media attention. Images of the clothing have yet to be released, however Jeanne Beker described strict lines, croc coats, and some pieces in Mongolian lamb. If the move towards exclusivity sounds strange in today’s world of democratized fast fashion, it does make sense in terms of couture’s traditional exclusive nature, only being accessible to a select few. Despite the scant media coverage, big names like Kanye West, Donatella Versace, and Sofia Coppola were in attendance. You can bet there were no members of Vogue present as Alaïa’s feud with Anna Wintour rages on.

Will Kate be a fashion icon in the same way Diana was? Some of the biggest names in fashion⎯including Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour, and Valentino⎯give their take. So who loves her, who wants to dress her, and who is bored to tears of her?

Jessica Alba walked the red carpet at the Little Fockers premiere in L.A. last night wearing a feathered Valentino couture dress that she paired with gold Christian Louboutin sandals. We love the way Alba’s edgy bob tempers the sweetness of this tiered Valentino mini. What do you think of this winter white look? Let us know after the jump.

Mad Men star January Jones has been chosen as the face of Versace‘s spring campaign. [Elle]

The Lanvin x H&M madness continues. The fast-fashion retailer is auctioning off original signed sketches by Alber Elbaz, with proceeds going to the H&M UNICEF All For Children Project. [Lanvin for H&M]

Also, Alber Elbaz surprised fans by showing up to the Rockfeller Center’s H&M for the launch of the Lanvin X H&M collection on Saturday. [Fashionista]

Last night, Alexa Chung walked the red carpet for the Love & Other Drugs premiere in New York City. The  former MTV television host wore a garden party–floral Valentino dress with a pair of Louis Vuitton low-heel pumps. Do you like her look? Vote after the jump.

“You can see who has the real power in Paris,” one retailer remarked as we took our seats along with nearly 3,000 others in the Grand Palais for Chanel’s Spring 2011 show. Where other designers have absurdly restrictive guest lists, Chanel has always opened its arms to clients, buyers and press. Although the inclusiveness comes […]

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