FASHION Magazine

Check out the Maison Martin Margiela for H&M launch in Toronto »

H&M’s designer collaboration collections are famous for creating pandemonium—both industry-wide and on the sales floor. Launch day has become synonymous with block-scaling lines, fight-to-the-death shopping tactics. And so when the announcement came of the brand’s collaboration with conceptual industry favourite Maison Martin Margiela, we wondered how it would pan out as far as the general public was concerned. Margiela is not as household a name as say, Versace or Jimmy Choo.

Today, at Toronto’s Eaton Centre’s launch, it seems we got our answer. Smaller line, calmer crowd. No Versace level insanity.

Despite the freezing rain, the fashion crowd headed way east for Intermix’s official launch party at Airship 37 in Toronto. The American store has been open on Bloor Street for a few months now, but last night was its official kick-off, which boasted a swagger-inducing performance by buzzworthy Brooklyn-based (say that three times fast) rapper Theophilus London and an appearance by The Coveteur girls. Ironically clothed in Versace for H&M, London hyped the crowd into actually dancing with their drinks—a sight to behold at any fashion party—while the models tried to break into the green room where a stash of gummies and chocolate was hidden.

View the photo gallery »

The coveted Versace for H&M collection hit stores last week, and if you’re going through Donatella withdrawals fear not. As we reported when news of the first collection broke, there will be a second Versace for H&M collaboration. The smaller Cruise collection will be available exclusively online January 19, 2012.  Before you get too excited, this means that technically the collection wont be available in Canada, since H&M Canada site doesn’t have ecommerce. We’re expecting the overseas H&M sites to crash again, only this time it’s sure to be of Missoni for Target proportions.

To the brave ones who pulled an all-nighter on Friday in the name of Versace for H&M, we salute you! Only you, the TV crews, and the bewildered onlookers were privy to the madness that was the 7:45 a.m. collection launch on Saturday morning. Well, you, and our boy Lewis Mirrett that is, who swung by Toronto’s Eaton Centre to catch the early morning rush for those who were busy catching their zzzs.

View the photo gallery »

After a star studded-launch party and months of waiting, the Versace for H&M collection will finally be available to the fashion-hungry masses this weekend. We’ve seen the collection on campaign star Abbey Lee Kershaw and celebs like Blake Lively and Jessica Alba, but to see the clothes in print and on real women, the fast-fashion retailer’s target buyers, would have been refreshing.

New York Daily News planned to do a feature on real New Yorkers wearing pieces from the collection but it’s reported that the shoot was cancelled at the last minute. An H&M publicist explained to the Daily News that Donatella has to approve anyone who wears the collection for press and that she probably won’t approve of real women wearing the clothes. Apparently, the publicist was right. When the writer sent the publicist pictures of the three women to be approved, only one was deemed acceptable while the other two “didn’t fit Versace’s branding.”

The “normal” women were being considered for a feature on real people, not for a high-fashion editorial—H&M designer collaborations are meant to bring high-fashion to the masses. Lets thank god Donatella doesn’t approve our Facebook photos…

While not-yet-released Versace for H&M wares showed up on Chinese e-tail sites a few days ago, a more trustworthy option has now surfaced for the fast-fashion fans who just can’t wait to get their hands on the collection. With over a week to go until the Donatella-designed pieces are officially available, select styles and sizes of the coveted wares have been popping up on eBay—and with the majority of sellers living in New York City, the main culprits are Tuesday night’s party goers who are selling off their swag-bag items.

The launch party was the only time clothing and accessories from the collection have been available so far, and the gift bags and purchasable items from the party quickly appeared online, marked up by almost 50 percent. While there hasn’t been much bidding action yet, there are still a few days remaining. We can’t wait to see how much the already-popular floral pleated dress is going to sell for—but with the current bid at US$159 we’re sure it will skyrocket.

Word: Callipygian

Meaning: Having beautiful buttocks. No, really. It’s from the Greek kallipygos, from kalli- + pyg? Buttocks.

Usage: “Those dusky Afro-Scandinavian buttocks, which combine the callipygian rondure observed among the races of the Dark Continent with the taut and noble musculature of sturdy Olaf, our blond Northern cousin.” — Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow

View the gallery from last night’s Versace for H&M runway and party »

Last night, Pier 57 in New York was transformed into “Versace Hall” to launch the much-hyped Versace and H&M collaboration. Models, including the campaign’s star Abbey Lee Kershaw, showed off all the covetable clothes on a runway paved with gold for a celeb-filled audience including Blake Lively, Jessica Alba, Uma Therman, and Chace Crawford. (All were decked out in Versace for H&M, of course!) Even designers Alexander Wang, Christopher Kane, and Joseph Altuzarra showed up, leaving us wondering who wasn’t there?

In a merging of all things wonderful, we are thrilled to report that the musical guests at the Versace for H&M launch in New York on Tuesday night will be none other than Nicki Minaj and Prince. The equally flamboyant performers are just a hint of what amazingness we’re in store for, and if H&M’s last blowout fashion show was any indication, we’re in for a three-pronged treat. Seriously. If a duet of “Super Bass” or “Purple Rain” actually happens, we just might explode.

In less than a month (November 17, to be exact), the Versace for H&M collection will hit H&M stores worldwide. It’s the homestretch, guys! Since we like nothing more than to whet your shopping appetite, we’ve brought the whole lookbook online for your perusal. Get a pen and paper, stat!

View the photo gallery »