FASHION Magazine

And the case of the infamous red soles continues. After Christian Louboutin was denied from keeping his signature-hued soles from use by Yves Saint Laurent in a ruling this past August, the designer has fired back. Louboutin claims that the colour is central to the brand’s DNA, and to help his argument, he garnered the support of Tiffany & Co., whose “Tiffany Blue” is similarly used.

Today, a brief filed in support of YSL has been filed by 11 Georgetown University law professors, stating: “This court should recognize that the shadow cast by a mark in a single color on a fashion item creates enormous uncertainty for other designers and should regard claims of single-color trademarks in fashion with considerable skepticism.” According to the brief, Louboutin’s attempt for sole ownership of the red soles “should be rejected in order to preserve freedom of innovation and competition.” We guess all’s fair in love and war in the world of overpriced footwear.

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He’s no lady. Boy wonder Andrej Pejic brings his dry wit and supermodel moves to the top Canadian designs for spring.

Watch our video with Andrej Pejic »
Read our interview »

Metallic makeup is more appealing and glamorous than ever, making it winter’s most dazzling asset. Kari Molvar takes a shine to modern alloys.

View our metallic picks now »

Jump to: SILVER | GOLD | BRONZE | COLOUR | LIQUID

While many people apply polish to avoid biting their nails, I’m the other way around: my biggest motivation to stop picking, biting, and fidgeting was the dream of perfectly shaped long nails. The type that Mad Men’s Betty Draper wears, nail expert Sophy Robson obsesses over, and that designers, such as Emanuel Ungaro, have brought to the runway: oval- or almond-shaped and long! However, the conundrum with longer nails is that they really stand out when painted in bright or dark colours. Sure, taupes and beiges are on trend, but sometimes a girl just needs a pop of colour. Enter this week’s Nail Corner: two versions of the crescent moon manicure. Made popular by Ruffian in Fall 2010, this is an easy twist on the ever-popular moon manicure—it leaves the base of your nail bare and looks more like a reverse French tip than a half-moon.

See the manicures! »

Today, we’re going into the beautiful patent Yves Saint Laurent tote belonging to our sassy (but never brassy) beauty director Lesa Hannah! Inside, a matching YSL wallet (a twin to online editor Randi Bergman‘s), Chinese currency, a cowboy button, and a few amazing beauty picks. Natch.

Let’s explore! »

Is Dior eschewing ladylike in favour of bold restraint? After a virtual explosion of excited rumours on Twitter last night, WWD is now reporting that Jil Sander creative director Raf Simons is closing in on a deal to become John Galliano’s replacement at Dior. Known for his brightly hued and minimalist/maximalist designs, Simons might not be the first designer you’d associate with Dior’s aesthetic, but in his recent collections he’s shown an interest in couture techniques— he has even incorporated ball gowns and bridal looks, all of which have garnered rave reviews from critics.

It’s time to tango! »

Pantone has announced the colour of the year for 2012 and our future is looking bright. Tangerine Tango (that’s Pantone number 7625C for the designers out there) is a punchy mix of orange, coral, and red—making it an extremely versatile shade for all skin tones. And, considering that Sephora and Pantone are rumoured to be working on a Tangerine Tango–inspired makeup collection for March 2012, it’s a good thing this chosen colour is so multifaceted.

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 »

Today, we’re going inside the festival-ready Marc by Marc Jacobs bag belonging to Rachel Simpson, our associate designer extraordinaire. From the assortment of stuff, it’s easy to see that she’s into cats, photos, and ticket stubs—but one thing you won’t find a trace of inside? The adorable dusting of freckles that adds an enviable bit of summer to her cheeks year round.

Let’s explore! »

One last dispatch from Paris just arrived at our desk: a rundown of makeup used at the 2011 le Bal des Débutantes at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris. M.A.C Cosmetics was the exclusive makeup partner for the ball, and responsible for making the 23 debutantes look flawless. The main inspiration (seen here) shows a deep smoky eye, lots of lashes, and a youthful glow across the cheek—after all, most of the debs are still only 16!

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Jeanne Beker’s lifelong romance with fashion has been widely broadcast over the years, but did you know that she’s also an art lover? The Fashion Television host has been collecting contemporary art since 1980, beginning with her first painting from artist Marion Perlet. “Starting a collection seems daunting because it sounds like you’re making a commitment to a certain style or form or sensibility or type of work,” says Beker. “Art is all around us and exists in so many wonderful, different forms and at so many different price points.”
Beker was invited by the Art Gallery of Ontario to share several works from her diverse collection as part of the gallery’s Collector’s Series. FASHION got a one-on-one tour of her favourite pieces, along with some tips for would-be art aficionados. “Buy something that really speaks to you at the moment,” she advises. “And don’t ever buy anything just because you think it’s going to look good over your couch!”

Watch part 2 of Emily Blunt’s YSL Opium interview »
Watch part 3 of Emily Blunt’s YSL Opium interview »

Since announcing Emily Blunt as the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium, there’s been endless buzz about the December release of the perfume’s first television commercial in 10 years. With less than two weeks to go till its debut, YSL takes us behind the scenes (once again) with three exclusive interviews. Blunt muses about the importance of perfume and how scent is one of the best memory triggers. (Case in point: smell the perfume your Grade 7 crush wore. Holy time warp!)