FASHION Magazine

Karl Lagerfeld, as quoted by Coco Rocha on Twitter, has a strong opinion on holiday loungewear: “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life, so you bought some sweatpants.” Thankfully, Eileen Fisher comes to the rescue. The brand, known for simply chic and wearable apparel, has opened its first Canadian storefront in Vancouver (2721 Granville St., 604-733-5225, eileenfisher.com). Perfect for a cozy chalet getaway.

Thanks to designers like Mary Katrantzou and Jil Sander’s Raf Simons, floral prints bloom on the runways year-round. Carry these bold botanicals over from your wardrobe to your workspace with a Rifle Paper Co. vintage-wallpaper-inspired notebook (shown, $16 for three, drakegeneralstore.ca). Perfect for jotting down New Year’s resolutions.

The post Toronto shop notes: Blooming notebooks appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Take a thematic cue from the runways to put a little extra fizz in your holiday party à la Gucci’s, Louis Vuitton’s, and Jil Sander’s Fall 2011 collections.

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FRIDAY NIGHT FEVER | ADULTS ONLY | NUEVO APRÈS-SKI

With his distinct talent and penchant for performance art, it comes as no surprise that small-town Alberta designer Sid Neigum (sidneigum.com) once created a 300-pound dress from old tires and screws. He’s currently studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York as well as producing full collections for women and men, which he’s shown at Toronto’s LG Fashion Week for the past two seasons. Neigum is lighting up Canadian runways, but with an exceptionally dark appeal.

The Kelly, the PS1, the Speedy: It bags have become so major over the years, that they scarcely even need a designer name attached! We discuss the appeal at length in our Winter 2012 issue, but today, we’re putting these bags to the test: in the battle of It bag supremacy, which comes out on top?

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Vote for your favourite »

Staying warm during winter without sacrificing style is a veritable art for cold-weather warriors in Montreal. What’s on my outerwear radar this month? Local lines Mackage, Soïa & Kyo, Moose Knuckles (think chic puffers) and Rud, the new collection by Rudsak (rudbyrudsak.com).

Just in time for Christmas, two beloved jewellery brands are opening second locations in the Vancouver area. With the arrival of Tiffany & Co. (Oakridge Centre, 650 W. 41st Ave., tiffany.ca) and Thomas Sabo (Metropolis at Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway Ave., Burnaby, thomassabo.com), expectations for a little blue or black-and-white box under the tree will double.

From tangelo orange to indigo blue, the season’s coolest clique of colours is rainbow bright in a variety of unexpected coats, sweaters, and tunics.

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When dressing for a formal affair, the rules aren’t so black and white. Electric furs and feathers add spark to the classic evening pantsuit. Get inspired by our electric photo shoot from our Holiday issue.

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Shop the shoot: LOOK 1 | LOOK 2 | LOOK 3

Graham Cutler has good vision. As one half of the UK-based eyewear brand Cutler & Gross (his partner-in-design is Tony Gross), he always keeps his eyes on the prize. “We have never compromised our original idea of making functional, high-quality eyewear that appeals to sophisticated tastes,” he says. Toronto fans can (finally!) snap up these retro-cool pieces at the company’s debut Canadian flagship store in Yorkville (84 Yorkville Ave., 416-966-5149, cutlerandgross.com). Here, Mr. Cutler talks new shapes and old favourites.

A rabbit-fur tassel might not radiate the same luck as a rabbit’s foot, but it can’t hurt your chances of a fortuitous 2012. In either slinky gunmetal or playful Day-Glo green, these bracelets by Vancouver Island–based Erika Lauren Design (erikalaurendesign.com) add instant charm to a New Year’s Eve getup. Made with found materials, they leave a light eco-footprint too. At Dream ($45 each, 311 W. Cordova St., 604-683-7326).

I love spying runway-inspired pieces for less, and this tailored Ellis jacket by BB Dakota ($160) fits the bill. With its sleek silhouette and chic black leather collar (very Hermès), this polished staple is sure to add sass to your sugar-plum holiday dress. Available at the Bamboo Ballroom (8206 104 St. NW, Edmonton, 780-439-1363, bambooballroom.ca).