Viola, Gwyneth, Jessica, and Stacy: Our 4 favourite hairstyles from the Oscars red carpet | Hollywood yohana



We’re still pouring over all the red carpet pictures from last night’s Academy Awards but there were four hairstyles that stood out the very moment we saw them. Twitter exploded when Viola Davis stepped out with her natural hair and we have to agree—the cropped cut is stunning and the slight red colour takes her green dress to a whole new level. Stacy Keibler‘s makeup may have veered into “too tanned” territory, but her Old Hollywood hair was impeccable. The low side part was fixed in the back with a roll that blended into the rest of her waves perfectly—a trick we’ll certainly be copying in the future! Onto Jessica Chastain: based on the last time we saw her hair down, we’re guessing she was wearing extensions, but you would never know it. All extension-loving starlets need to find out who her hairstylist is, pronto! They were flawless, and the long, cascading curls were so elegant we’ll forgive her half-updo. And finally, if you can take a moment to stop admiring Gwyneth Paltrow‘s red-carpet cape, you’ll be equally impressed by her low-slung ponytail. From the front it had the appearance of a sleek faux bob, and from the back it was so sculpted and voluminous—but without a hint of the crown teasing that most other red-carpet ponies tend to acquire.

fashionsandmode.blogspot.com

Rooney! Emma! Angelina! Here are 5 of our favourite beauty moments from the Oscars | Hollywood yohana

Well, our vote for the biggest upset at this year’s Oscars has to be the makeup. From Michelle Williams’ usual routine of a glossed lip and lightly lined eye to Cameron Diaz’s typical pink lipstick, it seemed like almost all the top stars were playing it safe on the red carpet. Neutral shades and sheer nail polish abound! That being said, amongst all the usual suspects it’s still possible to find inspiration—like Rooney Mara’s perfect brows, Angelina Jolie’s flawless red lip, and Emma Stone’s all-over pink shimmer. We’ve rounded up five of our favourite beauty outliers from the red carpet and have behind-the-scenes tips from the makeup artists who created each look.
fashionsandmode.blogspot.com

Rodarte is under fire for using sacred Aboriginal prints in their Fall collection | Hollywood yohana



It seems like whenever the Mulleavy sisters seek inspiration from other countries, a little bit of controversy is sure to follow. Two years ago there was backlash against the name of a nail polish from Rodarte’s Mexico-inspired collaboration with M.A.C Cosmetics, and this week the brand is under fire for using sacred Aboriginal prints.
Megan Davis, member of United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and an Aboriginal law professor, says the use of the prints in Rodarte’s Australian outback–inspired fall collection is “completely insensitive to Aboriginal art and spirituality and land and how they are inextricably linked.”
It’s an issue that’s becoming increasingly common amongst designers and retailers alike. Remember Urban Outfitters’ legal woes surrounding their Navajo Hipster Panty?
Quick to defend their designs, Rodarte released a statement that says: “We deeply respect and admire the work of other artists. Through the appropriate channels, we licensed the Aboriginal artwork that influenced prints in our collection. As a result, the artists will share in proceeds of the pieces inspired by their work.”
Hmm, we’re not sure if paying off the artists makes up for using prints that are deemed sacred and spiritual to Aboriginals, especially considering the predicament of Aboriginal people in Australia. At the same time, we wonder why other collections featuring native and tribal print-inspired designs, such as Jean Paul Gaultier, and Proenza Schouler (who used Aztec prints in Fall 2011) haven’t been in hot water.
THEY SAID:
Fashionista: “No doubt about it, we’re living in increasingly culturally sensitive times. Designers must be cautious with their inspiration, and it’s important that when art from living cultures is being appropriated that those people are brought in, collaborated with, and compensated, as Rodarte did in this case.” [Fashionista]
Jezebel: “A simple mention in the show notes might have avoided this whole thing — and led to fewer cringe-inducing fashion reviews erroneously crediting generic “Outback influences.” [Jezebel]
WE SAID:
Rani Sheen, health and copy editor: “The more attention that is called to potentially problematic fashion references to culturally important patterns and fabrics from around the world, the more designers will have to stop and consider the implications of using them. The difference is looking at prints or designs and considering not just their aesthetic appeal—Navajo patterns are pretty!— but the cultural or spiritual significance they hold for the peoples who created them.”

fashionsandmode.blogspot.com

Ashtiani proves softness and angularity are one delicious mix for fall | Hollywood yohana



The message at yesterday’s Ashtiani show was clear: Muted tones and simple structures trump the over-the-top elaboration seen elsewhere this week (you know who you are). Done up in calming greys, muted mints and the like, designer Golnaz Ashtiani served up quite a few must-haves for fall. Case in point: a light cream cropped wool jacket with mini cape collar in frosty blue, that was paired with a patent leather trimmed wool skirt and a close-fit dress with soft green pleating. Have you ever seen such soft angularity?

32 spectacularly mixed prints from outside the shows | Hollywood yohana




“Mix master! Cut faster!” is what we’re singing right now. Just look how well leopard, stripes, florals, and Navajo have been spliced by yesterday’s most stylish Toronto Fashion week attendees. Being Friday and all, that’s really all we have to say, but these delicious images really do speak for themselves. Happy viewing!
Photography by Lewis Mirrett
Photography by Lewis Mirrett
Photography by Lewis Mirrett
Photography by Lewis Mirrett
Photography by Lewis Mirrett

fashionsandmode.blogspot.com

Oscar de la Renta on life, love and his new fragrance | Hollywood yohana



For as long as I can remember, my mother’s vanity held curvy glass bottles of Oscar de la Renta’s namesake eau de toilette. The elegant black signature on the bottle stood out, and I remember asking her more than once, “Who is Oscar de la Renta? Two decades later at the Bay’s Queen Street flagship in Toronto, I finally got a chance to see the man himself, in town to promote Live in Love, his newest addition to the fragrance world. Accompanied by the Bay’s CEO Bonnie Brooks on his left arm and Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker on his right (he’s always been popular with the ladies), the navy suit­–clad de la Renta was the very picture of living in love.
“Being in love, first of all, has to be about yourself,” he told the throngs of (mostly) women who’d come to see him. “You cannot love anyone if you don’t love yourself.” And everyone at the Bay certainly did love Oscar. Hundreds of life-long devotees and new fans were lined up throughout The White Space for some face time with the Dominican legend.
On the ever-popular subject of getting older, the 79-year-old couturier was adamant that great things come with age. “I’m a better designer today than I was 30, 40 years ago because I learned so much more, about life, about my craft…. Elegance is not something you are born with.” It comes with living, loving, and a little help from Oscar.

fashionsandmode.blogspot.com

Toronto scenesters and doggies in designer duds | Hollywood yohana



Walking through the oversized doghouse gate in Toronto’s Distillery District, it was clear that the Paws for the Cause gala and fashion show had marked its territory. The second annual doggies-on-the-catwalk event had the city’s cutest pooches sporting Canadian-made coats from Babies & Beasts while their celebrity dog walkers strutted their stuff in darling duds by Philip Sparks. Plaid-on-plaid suits, faux fur–collared jackets and ladylike dresses ensured that models like eTalk’s Tanya Kim and MTV’s Aliya-Jasmine Sovani looked (almost) as cute as their leashed companions.
Guests included a smattering of Toronto’s hottest scenesters and media mavens. Spotted in the front row were Sarah Nicole Prickett, Toronto Life’s Fraser Abe, and the Globe and Mail’s Tiyana Grulovic while the blog scene was well-repped by She Does the City’s Jen McNeely, Backseat Stylers’ Sharon Ng Hayes, and Textstyles’ Stefania Yarhi, who manned a Photostar photoshoot booth at the event. Dog-loving partygoers were treated to chic ’dos courtesy of argan oil–based hair-care line Moroccanoil. Meanwhile, Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club provided musical stylings that had guests getting down under the cool blue lights. Keeping in the theme of the evening, canapés and sweets were presented in dog dishes while servers offered trays of mini hotdogs. The only thing missing was an impromptu game of fetch.
Proceeds from the ticket sales raised money for the Ontario Veterinary College’s Pet Trust Fund with a portion of funds being used to establish the Paws for the Cause scholarship providing financial assistance to a veterinary student at the University of Guelph.

fashionsandmode.blogspot.com

Marc Jacobs finally speaks out about the Dior rumours | Hollywood yohana



Prior to the recent reports that Jil Sander creative director Raf Simons is the latest frontrunner to replace John Galliano at Dior, it was almost certain that Marc Jacobs would be the designer to succeed Galliano. However, after reports that money issues brought talks to an end, those rumours bit the dust. Throughout this whole ordeal, Jacobs has been quiet, leaving us all wondering if there was ever any truth to these reports.
Which brings us to today: Jacobs is finally setting the record straight about whether or not he was as serious about moving to Dior as we were all led to believe. In an interview with Vogue, he says that while he did talk about Dior, he didn’t have serious intentions of moving to the iconic French house. But not because of money: he’s just not that into… couture? “The idea of couture doesn’t hold that thing for me. It’s archaic—in my opinion. I mean, I am really interested in the craftsmanship behind couture. But I can explore all that in ready-to-wear.”
While Jacobs’ statement about couture is debatable (with good reason) at least the Dior rumour can finally be put to rest and we can all move on.
THEY SAID…

Marc Jacobs: “There have been on-and-off conversations about Dior. I don’t know; maybe someday in the future, maybe years from now, I may end up going someplace else, maybe Dior. But right now I am at Vuitton, and all that matters to me is that that’s where I am and I’m going to keep doing my thing.” [Vogue]
The Gloss: “Very interesting! Frankly, we’d been kind of dreading the move, though it was nothing against Jacobs—we just wanted to see the spot go to Haider Ackermann.” [The Gloss]
WE SAID…

Bernadette Morra, editor-in-chief: “While it is true that some Louis Vuitton pieces are crafted with couture techniques, I think it is quite different for a designer to do a few couture items within a ready-to-wear collection, than an entire couture collection. Maybe adding haute couture to his plate would be an added pressure he doesn’t really want? He definitely sounds as if he is creatively satisfied with where his career is now. I admire him for that—among many other things.”
fashionsandmode.blogspot.com