FASHION Magazine

Meet 5 of summer 2014’s fashion trends »

For better or worse, fashion is a revolving door of must-have items. Each season, a subtle shift in silhouette represents a shift in covetable items—the mini skirt made way for the midi skirt last fall, bringing with it the advent of the flat slip-on, the cropped jacket and so on and so forth.

This season, a few items emerge as must-haves to match summer 2014 fashion trends. Some are retakes on last year’s bets and some are wholly new. Here, we break down what they are, where they came from and how to wear ‘em. For good measure, we threw in some shopping suggestions too.

Sometimes, all it takes is one dress to make a statement. This amazingly high-end looking number from Zara is ideal for summertime parties, day or night, cocktail or otherwise. Bonus: this is pretty much Kate Middleton’s go-to dress colour so you’ll look pretty regal. Zara cape dress ($100, zara.com)

The post Afternoon Delight: Is this the coolest cape dress ever? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Stripes and florals have got to be the two most reoccurring spring trends year after year. Well, what better way to freshen up the two then by combining them in one perfect T-shirt dress? This one from Zara is not only easy on the wallet, but acts as the perfect transition from office to playtime […]

The post Afternoon Delight: Two spring trends in one perfect T-shirt dress appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

50 summer sandals under $100 await »

It’s almost “toes out” season and we can barely hold our not-even-slightly pedicured digits back. After months of polar vortex brutality, toes want out from their cage, and can you blame ’em? To help segue them back into society, we’ve gone scouring for the best summer sandals under $100. Easy on the eyes, easy on the wallet! From on-trend athletic sliders to killer stilettos, we’ve got 50 styles so good, you’ll even be wearing them during next week’s rainstorm.

This bright, popping clutch pretty much summarizes everything I want to tell spring: Start already, dammit! If carrying this around with will give me any sort of influence on the weather, I’m all for it. Zara box clutch ($60, zara.ca)

The post Afternoon Delight: The clutch that speaks for you! appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Go inside Linda Rodin’s bag »

It is an indisputable fact that Linda Rodin is the coolest 65-year-old woman in Manhattan; see her campaigns for The Row, J.Crew and the photo shoot in our May issue for further proof. We can only hope to be as awesome as the former model, stylist and now beauty entrepreneur—her facial oil Rodin Olio Lusso may be simple in concept, but highly stylish in execution. The silver haired, perennially fuchsia-lipped Rodin flew to Toronto last month for an event at Prologue Lifestyle, where her line is sold, and where she was monopolized by our staff in a welcoming, fan girl embrace. The next day, our nosy selves met at her hotel, where she showed off her newly purchased Zara flats and graciously allowed us to poke around her Marni purse.

See more Kate Middleton style »

Today the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took to this high seas, competing in a friendly competition with New Zealand’s national yacht racing team. They got to wear sleek life jackets and normcore-approved windbreakers and hats, overtop their usual “Royals, they’re just like us!” casualwear. For Kate Middleton, this means Zara skinny jeans and a Breton stripe scoop neck shirt from Me + Em, a London-based retailer. And, because she was indeed on a boat, Kate wore a pair of tan and white Sebago boat shoes. Our favourite part of the whole outing was when Kate won the yacht race and was all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ at Price William as she sailed past him. Go Kate!

Given that Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, the options for how you chose to celebrate are pretty plentiful. Requisite tearjerkers Endless Love and Winter’s Tale hit theatres that day and there’s bound to be your fair share of love-seekers swiping right on Tinder all night long. For those looking to go all out however, we’ve planned out 3 Valentine’s Day date ideas and 3 perfect outfits to go along with ‘em.

Jump to: THE ROMANTIC DATE | THE FRIEND DATE | THE PARTY

See our stylish winter coat picks »

It’s official. 2014 can now lay claim to the coldest day of the century. And while the frigid temperatures caught everyone off guard, the polar vortex will come again, if you can believe it. Layers upon layers of sweaters and scarves all piled under a bulky overcoat simply ain’t going to cut it anymore. You owe it to your closet, and to yourself, to invest in a quality stylish winter jacket. Consider us your winter wardrobe therapists.

One of the greatest winter conundrums of maintaining steez in the snow is how to find a unique coat that highlights your style. Lo and behold: the yearly challenge of finding a “not-completely-heinous-and-isn’t-a-black-hooded-fur-trimmed-parka-but-will-still-keep-you-toasty-warm” coat. We say: bring it on.

See the dresses »

Realizing there can be very little wiggle room in the budget around the holidays, it takes imagination to juggle the season’s demands. We jump through hoops in search of the most perfect gifts while dealing with conflicting party dates with finesse. All that’s left is what to wear to all the festive affairs while making every dollar stretch. That’s where we come in with our 50 handpicked party dresses under $100. We’ve searched our favourite online retailers for dresses to suit every party mood you may find yourself in. If the night calls for a few friends hanging out for eggnog, a boho chic piece from Nasty Gal makes for a cool laid back look. For those ultra luxe dos that demand a little sophistication, we found a River Island metallic maxi and two vintage sixties cocktail dresses. For the life-of-the-party kind of gal, we have sequins, polka dots and a shoulder to ankle lacy number to keep the spotlight on you. We’ve left no stone unturned by including an on-trend tartan midi, florals and animal prints and even quilted and velvet finishes. Since a closet lined with options is essential in avoiding outfit déjà vu, these party dresses under $100 will have you festivity ready with just a few clicks.

See more Kate Middleton style in our complete lookbook »

Last night the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the London premiere of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, as it was selected as this year’s Royal Film Performance. Will and Kate were joined by the film’s stars, Idris Elba and Naomie Harris, as well as Mandela’s daughter, Zindzi Mandela, for the lavish opening. However, the event took a tragic turn when, during the screening, it was announced that Nelson Mandela had passed away. Will briefly shared his condolences with reporters after the film, saying: “We were just reminded what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. It’s very sad.”

The Royal Film Performance started in 1946, and members of the royal family attend each year with proceeds going to the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. Always one to look amazing on a red carpet, Kate wore a cream-coloured Roland Mouret gown, a piece that she first wore in May 2012 to a private dinner with The Thirty Club. Kate also wore black suede Prada heels and carried a matching clutch by Mulberry. She also debuted a new hairstyle, opting to wear her hair in a volume-filled ponytail, tied with a black ribbon. But the standout item is, without a doubt, the necklace.

If ever a retail wiz there was, the omnipotent Zara is one because, well, the list is a lengthy one. There’s the dominating presence of its 1,763 stores worldwide, and that’s not including its offspring, Zara Kids and Zara Home. There’s its notoriously media-shy founder, Amancio Ortega, who keeps a low profile despite being the world’s fourth-richest person. And there’s the miraculous way the brand has weathered the recession with record profits and continued expansion, not to mention its disparate cult of loyal followers that includes the Duchess of Cambridge, Garance Doré and the girl next door. And although the brand has made enemies of high-end designers who have accused it of lifting designs directly from runways, the company has yet to be successfully challenged. But none of these achievements can be credited to any advertising smoke and mirrors: Zara doesn’t do splashy billboards or TV spots.

So when I received a rare invitation to visit the retailer’s gated headquarters, I double clicked “yes.” As someone who lacks neither the courage to wear a Balenciaga bra top nor the heart to don Céline’s palazzo pants but perhaps the funds to do so, I was eager to meet my great and powerful fast fashion maker.