FASHION Magazine

From the upcoming Versace for H&M collaboration to Danier’s ongoing Canadian-on-Canadian capsule collections with the likes of Mark Fast, Greta Constantine and FASHION contributor George Antonopoulos, high-low team ups are continuing to bring luxury designs to the masses. We haven’t had enough. In fact, we vote for more! Here are four mega-designers and Canadian stores that we think should get together and jump on the bandwagon post-haste.

Here are the 4 team ups we’re dreaming of »

Rachel Bilson will be taking role as the style director of Sunglass Hut worldwide. [StyleCaster]

The brand with the propensity for making expensive look cheap has gone, well, cheap. Today H&M announced that Versace will be its next designer collaboration, and we can’t help but wonder, isn’t the point of Versace that it made its name defending tacky chic? (That itty-bitty mini exposing everything has been sewn with the highest level of craftsmanship and made with the finest Italian fabrics.) This collab could go so many different ways, and we’re praying for directional. Spring’s edgy technicolour zigzags, for example, would look unreal on the selling floor, as would a revival of some offbeat ’90s Gianni-isms, but a sexed-up red-carpet multi-layered goddess gown? Lost in translation. Judging by the images released with this morning’s announcement, the collection is looking fabulous so far. We’re crossing our fingers that the rest follows suit.

The collection, available on November 17, promises to include several iconic womenswear and menswear pieces in colourful prints, gold and leather, as well as jewellery and home furnishings. Donatella Versace will also create a pre-Spring collection, which will be exclusively available online from January 19, 2012. We suggest setting multiple calendar alerts, like, right NOW!

View images of the collection »

Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy showed an installation of couture dresses in Florence. Take a look at all the gold, crystals and feathers. [Dazed Digital]

Be still, our hearts! The incredible  Iris Apfel is launching her own jewelry line, in collaboration with HSN. [StyleBistro]

With the band: Abbey Lee Kershaw, and her group, Our Mountain, have released their first single. [AnOther Magazine]

Check out our Milan fall 2011 fashion week photo gallery »

Could someone puh-lease FedEx Versace‘s finale gown straight to the Oscars? And while you’re at it throw in a couple from the Gianfranco Ferré finale as well. Both are gorgeous, modern, sexy and oozing with a cool factor that’s got Oscar-winner written all over them! And with Dior probably out of the running for tonight’s big night, we could use some fresh labels on the red carpet. 
Both Ferré and Versace showed slick, modern collections on Friday.

When Roxanne Joyal first moved to Kenya 10 years ago, the bold, intricate handiwork of the Maasai Mara community had her instantly transfixed. The vibrant jewellery of the community’s “mamas” transcended mere adornment and rather, was used for necessity ⎯ from birth rituals to wedding ceremonies.

The Material Girl has landed: Madonna and her daughter Lourdes’s juniors fashion line, Material Girl, will be arriving at The Bay this spring. [The Star]

Canadian designer Thomas Tait is one of the recipients of the British Fashion Council’s NewGen program, which will help him show at London Fashion Week. Other winners include Mary Katrantzou, Holly Fulton and Louise Gray [Vogue UK]

January Jones bares all in Versace‘s spring 2011 ad campaign. The Mad Men actress appears in the ad–which was shot by Mario Testino–wearing nothing more than Versace heels, a handbag and her birthday suit. [Fashionista]

Old rumours are resurfacing for the Versace family: A new book written by Giuseppe Di Bella claims Gianni Versace was murdered over unpaid debts to the Calabrian mafia. [Telegraph]

Russian model Sasha Pivovarova, who is also a skilled artist, is collaborating with Karl Lagerfeld on an illustrated update of a Russian fairy tale. [NYT]

Karl Lagerfeld isn’t the only mega-designer to sign up for a collaboration with Macy’s. Vivienne Westwood, Calvin Klein, Costume National and Versace will also be putting out capsule collections for the American department store. [WWD]

Barney’s creative director Simon Doonan has some wedding style advice for princess-to-be Kate Middleton: cut your hair short and wear a Victoria Beckham-designed wedding dress. [Slate]