Sailor Moon, Betty Boop, Jem and more take on the Spring 2013 collections in Jerome LaMaar’s amazing illustrations | Hollywood yohana

Jerome Lamaar Fashion Cartoons

Fashion illustration has long made our hearts skip several beats and luckily the blogosphere is full of talented artists who love to take the latest runway looks and turn them into beautifully rendered imaginative hand sketches (giving our eyes a fashionable feast). But with the recent rise in this art form’s popularity, it can be difficult to find sketches that really stand out among the many. Which is why we’re loving the work of a Mr. Jerome LaMaar, whom we discovered this morning reinterprets classic cartoon characters in the coolest looks from the Spring 2013 collections.
Everyone’s favourite Sailor Moon girls don labels like Balmain, Céline, Prada, Givenchy and Dries Van Noten’s grunge couture; Betty Boop flirts it up in Alaia; Jem (of The Holograms) gets attention-grabbing Balenciaga and Daria trades her usual green jacket and brown pleated skirt for colourful Marni prints. And that’s just naming a few. Alexander Wang, Chloé and Roberto Cavalli all get mentions as well.
LaMaar joins the rising trend of fashion cartoons, which includes Barney’s recent Disney Christmas campaign (which saw iconic cartoon figures like Minnie Mouse, Cruella de Vil and Snow White getting fashion makeovers), South Park’s Muscle Man Marc (Cartman owned a tattooed toy Marc Jacobs doll) and The Simpsons fashion collaborations (Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista took the famous family shopping in Paris for Harper’s Bazaar and, more recently, the artist and illustrator AleXsandro Palombo turned famous fashion faces like Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld into yellow-hued Simpsons characters).

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People’s Choice Awards 2013: See who made our list of best dressed on the red carpet and vote for your favourite | Hollywood yohana

Peoples Choice Awards 2013 Red Carpet

The People’s Choice Awards marked the beginning of awards season last night, giving us 2013′s first round of red carpet looks to feast our eyes on. With a more relaxed dress code than some of the upcoming awards shows, last night’s event allowed Hollywood’s bright young things to experiment with short silhouettes, bright hues, mixed prints and even designer names. To our pleasant surprise, up and coming Brit designers Peter Pilotto and Simone Rocha both made appearances on Emma Watson and Chloe Grace Moretz respectively. 15-year-old Moretz, who is fast becoming a style icon in her own right, brightened up the red carpet in neon yellow alongside Lea Michele who wore a sequined pink mini-dress by Elie Saab.
Amidst all the color, classic black and white also had its moment. Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence selected an elegant LBD by Valentino. Newly single Taylor Swift stuck with her signature drop-dead-gorgeous gowns, wearing a dramatic white Ralph Lauren dress.

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Joe Fresh Spring 2013 look book | Hollywood yohana

Joe Fresh Spring 2013


Joe Fresh may have turned down the colour palette for its Spring 2013 collection but that’s not to say the collection was anything less than visually striking. Metallics, black and white prints infused with pops of yellow came together to create a sixties-inspired collection that was completely modern and ready for 2013.
Now that the rest of the collection for spring has been released, we’re excited to see these retro-inspired designs take form and be mixed in with what we’ve grown accustomed to from Joe Fresh—coloured sweaters, bright oxfords and bold pants.

Joe Fresh wasn’t alone on the Spring 2013 runways with his take on mod silhouettes, we saw designers like Marc Jacobs and fashion houses like Louis Vuitton embrace geometric prints and ‘60s silhouettes as well. These retro pieces have made their way off of the Joe Fresh runway and will take their place on store floors in the spring. Joe has taken the geometric print and created trippy black and white blouses and tossed in some bright colours to create a work-ready trouser.
As for Joe Mimran’s in store take on metallics for spring, there is a silver denim jacket and matching jeans that feels so wrong to want, but just so right. Wearing these pieces together would be like being an astronaut at a disco, which seems pretty perfect in our minds.
Keeping with never-ending trend of coloured denim, Joe Fresh has upped the hue and made pants so bright they are almost neon (but they aren’t because that’s so Spring 2012). And for those who aren’t prepared to jump head first into the metallics or the brights, Joe Fresh has updated its ever-classic oxfords and cardigans and added on trend colours like light pinks and green with cute details like a bow-backed chunky knit.

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Ever made your own running shoes? Reebok’s making it happen | Hollywood yoha a

Yourreebok Customized Sneakers


One does not need to qualify themselves as a “sportster” or “gym rat” to appreciate a pair of customized running shoes. Need further proof? Exhibit A: the rise to fame of the Isabel Marant sneaker wedge and exhibit B: Kristen Stewart’s dedication to wearing high tops to red carpet events. And for those who love going to the gym (hats off to you), shopping for new gear is always a highlight. Who doesn’t want to look stylish even if they’re only headed to the gym?
This is where Reebok’s newest platform, YourReebok, comes into play. The premise is simple: select a shoe that works for your work out preferences—whether it’s cross fit or jogging or walking—start with an all white shoe and design from there. Each Reebok shoe has different ways to customize them. There are 19 colours, 23 different areas of the shoes waiting to be changed and four different materials that can be used. You can even add words into the mix; go for your name or WHTVR (no seriously, we put WHTVR on our shoes). It’s safe to say no two shoes will ever be the same.

We haven’t decided if we’re going to step up our fitness game or just wear our sneakers as an every day staple but either way, we will be happy to tell anyone who asks where we got our shoes from that “they’re custom”.

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Stylish workout wear: 14 gym-ready picks that may actually get you off your butt | Hollywood yohana

Asos Quilted Shorts


It can be more than difficult to find the motivation to get to the gym and keep up with your New Year’s resolutions. But it’s time to make this the year you follow through. To help, we’re making this year’s journey more stylish with 13 picks that may actually inspire you to get dressed for the gym. No need to sacrifice your fashion sense; these picks are sure to provide you with both function and sophistication.
First tip? Brighten up. And we love strong prints, vibrant colours, and sporty accessories for doing just that. From technicolour shorts to ombre running shoes, brands such as American Apparel, Nike, Lululemon, and adidas are finding ways to spice up our stylish workout clothes.

As seen on the runway at Marc Jacobs for Spring 2013, bold black and white stripes make a strong statement. We love the idea of adopting this trend for yoga jackets and gear. For running fanatics, the latest sneakers have adopted new technologies that allow for more natural movement, while being elegant enough to wear outside of the gym. We’ve opted for pastel tints for a fresh take on the traditional running shoe.


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Health: A new school of thought says good fat isn’t a dietary demon | Hollywood yohana



Imagine a world where you got to the front of the coffee shop line and didn’t feel compelled to say the word “skinny” before the word “latte.” Or where, facing down the legions of yogurt options at the grocery store, your hand bypassed the zero per cent Greek yogurt, landing instead on the full-fat version. The idea that fat is bad for us has become so all-pervasive that it is now fixed firmly in our minds that full-fat dairy, bacon or even a hefty serving of avocado are flabby demons waiting to send chub to our waists and clog our arteries. But a growing school of thought is suggesting that actually, it isn’t fat that makes us fat.
The low-fat movement took off in the early 1980s, largely informed by the “Seven Countries” study begun in 1958 and published in 1980 by physiologist Dr. Ancel Keys (who popularized the Mediterranean diet and BMI as an indicator of body fat). It showed a strong link between dietary fat and heart disease, though Keys has since been accused of disregarding countries that didn’t fit the hypothesis, plus he only studied men. Other research followed, and in 1984 the National Institutes of Health recommended all Americans over the age of two reduce their dietary consumption of fat from 40 to 30 per cent of their total calories. Canada followed suit. This ushered in the era of margarine, skim milk and boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

In the decades since, the Western world has seen a well-documented rise in chronic illnesses. “We’ve done it. [We reduced our fat consumption] from 40 per cent to 30 per cent and look what’s happened to obesity, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease and stroke prevalence,” said childhood obesity expert Dr. Robert Lustig in a 2009 presentation “Sugar: The Bitter Truth,” which has nearly three million views on youTube. “They’ve all jacked way up as our total fat consumption as a per cent has gone down. It ain’t the fat, people.” So what is it? According to Lustig, professor of pediatrics in the division of endocrinology at University of California, San Francisco, it’s the carbohydrates that replaced the fat in the rejigged North American diet. This line of thinking is niche, but it isn’t new: in his seminal 2002 New York Times rant “What if It’s All Been a Big Fat Lie?” science writer Gary Taubes looked at the success of high-fat, low-carb diets like Atkins and Zone, and the “alternative hypothesis” that it’s carbohydrate, not fat, that causes obesity and shortens our lives.
“Short- and medium-chain saturated fats are sent directly to the liver and burned for energy. They’re not even stored in the body as fat.”
By now, most of us are aware that all fat is not created equal. “If you don’t have any fat, or you have the improper kind, like from hydrogenated oil, unhealthy cooking oils or a lot of processed food, that’s what your cell membrane structure becomes built from,” says B.C. registered dietitian Karlene Karst, author of the new book The Full-Fat Solution. “Long term, you can see this in the form of dry skin, brittle hair and nails, lack of energy, heart health issues, weight issues and inflammation.”
Monounsaturated fat (such as olive oil) and polyunsaturated fat in the form of omega-3 fatty acids (found in salmon, mackerel and tuna) have been praised for their brain- and heart-healthful properties. Omega-3s have been shown to increase satiety, thereby controlling appetite, and reduce inflammation, a factor in weight gain and many diseases. (The Western diet, rich in soy, corn and vegetable oils, furnishes us with more omega-6 than omega-3. Karst says the typical ratio is 20:1; it should be closer to 4:1.) And good fat helps the body use nutrients: one study showed that oily salad dressing boosted absorption of the carotenoids in the vegetables. “People should include a small amount of unsaturated fat as part of the healthy eating pattern that includes mostly lower fat foods,” says Sara O’Dacre, spokesperson for Health Canada. “Consuming a larger amount of fat is not recommended, as it tends to increase the total calories in the diet.”
Trans fats made by heating vegetable oils have been widely condemned for their artery-clogging ways—look for the words “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” on labels. More controversially, some are questioning whether saturated fat—uniformly discouraged by Canada’s Food Guide and most dietitians—is as harmful as it’s understood to be. Cardiologist Dr. Beth Abramson, spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, writes in her new book Heart Health for Canadians: The Definitive Guide, “Since saturated fat can raise LDL cholesterol, reducing your intake is an important step in lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke.” This is a hot- button topic, since heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in Canada (incidentally, February is Heart Month). Saturated fat is a many-headed beast, encompassing “bad” long-chain saturated fatty acids (found in red meat and hydrogenated oils), “good” medium-chain ones (in coconut oil and palm oil) and “very good” short-chain ones (also in coconut oil, and butter). “We know short- and medium-chain saturated fats are sent directly to the liver and burned for energy,” says Karst. “They’re not even stored in the body as fat.” In 2010, analysis of 21 studies encompassing more than 347,000 people concluded there was “no significant evidence” that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease or cardiovascular disease. In the new book The Great Cholesterol Myth, co-author and cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra writes: “I’ve come to believe that cholesterol is a minor player in the development of heart disease.” He says inflammation is a far greater risk factor and that lowering cholesterol has a limited benefit unless you’re a middle-aged man with a history of heart disease.
If you decide to add good fats to your diet, you’ll need to take something else out. “It’s not a free-for-all,” says Karst, who suggests using a tablespoon of coconut oil to cook with instead of canola oil. “With the Atkins diet, people were consuming massive amounts of cheddar cheese and bacon, and that’s not good for you. That’s not what we’re talking about here. We’re talking whole food: nuts, seeds, full-fat dairy, fish and green, leafy vegetables.” The other thing to consider reducing is sugar, in all its forms.
When the supermarket shelves were flooded with reduced-fat products in the 1980s, food scientists were faced with a challenge: how to make products palatable without the satisfying creaminess of fat. In many cases, the answer was sugar, or high-fructose corn syrup, which is metabolized into fat that the body stores.
The guilt associated with choosing fat-rich foods rather than ones anointed “low-fat” or “low-calorie” is a big mental hurdle. Fat contains nine calories per gram whereas carbohydrate and protein have four each. A breakfast of bacon and eggs is higher in fat and calories than, say, a honey oat bar sold by a prominent weight-loss brand (though at 20 grams of sugar, the bar is hardly a healthier option). But the simple math of “calories in, calories out” doesn’t address the way different nutrients go to work in your body. “The whole caloric concept is very passé,” Karst says. Instead, she emphasizes portion awareness and making sure every meal includes protein, good fat and fibre (as opposed to carbohydrate, so vegetables and whole grains qualify where white bread doesn’t). This way, she says, you’ll feel satiated long before you overeat. “If you’re eating the right foods in the day, real food, the body knows what to do with those nutrients.”

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Beauty Fix: Why you should try a violet lipstick in 2013, your best bet for brow-filling and more answers to your beauty questions | Hollywood yohana

Beauty Fix New Year New Colour

Every week we take on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more and provide all the answers. This week—our first Beauty Fix of 2013—we’re all about amping up the colour and changing up your look for the new year. We suggest the best new tool for filling in your eyebrows, offer two ways to try this season’s violet lip colour and discuss whether you should switch up your cleanser in the winter months.

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How to keep your New Year’s Resolutions: 4 essential steps to staying on healthy track all year round | Hollywood yohana

How to keep your New Year's Resolutions

It’s less than two weeks into 2013 and we bet many of you have already wavered on your New Year’s Resolutions. We get it. They’re hard, they usually offer no immediate gratification and they’re just not fun. Health-related resolutions mostly lead to drastic short-term changes (like spending January drinking only maple water or working out eight times a week) that leave you burnt out and resenting anything that vaguely promises to be good for you until next December rolls around. But baby changes can make a really big difference when they’re followed for the whole year. Here are a few mini resolutions that are making my life a bit healthier in 2013.

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Who had the best hair and makeup at the People’s Choice Awards: Kaley Cuoco or Taylor Swift? | Hollywood yohana

Kaley Cuoco Taylor Swift People's Choice Awards hair makeup


Something interesting happened on the People’s Choice Awards red carpet last night. Taylor Swift said “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” to her traditional beauty look while Kaley Cuoco went a little bit country with Carrie Underwood-inspired hair and makeup. Both stars graced the People’s Choice Awards stage many times throughout the night—Swift took home the award for Favourite Country Artist and Cuoco hosted the show—but when it came to beauty, we think Taylor Swift definitely comes out on top.
Kaley Cuoco’s red carpet hair is mainly where she looses points. The over-teased pouf turns her blonde beach waves into a Miss America mess. If she had just left the hair at her crown to do its own thing instead of tucking it into a half-updo (no one likes a half-updo!) it would be an A+ style. Especially with that sparkly barrette—hair accessories always make a red carpet more interesting. (And the thing is, Cuoco did let her hair down later in the night and it looked great. If only she’d walked the red carpet with that hairstyle!)
As for makeup, Kaley Cuoco went for a simple black cat-eye paired with petal-pink lipstick and blush. Very classic, very flattering. But we’re still hoping that she’ll soon pull a Demi Lovato and let her eyebrows grow in.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift ditched her usual cat-eye, silver glitter and red lips for a sultry, bronze eyeshadow with a touch of shimmer and a neutral satin lip. While jewellery doesn’t count as makeup, we have to say: the drop earrings make Swift’s blue eyes stand out and look positively icy. However, Taylor Swift could have done something a bit different with her hair (loose curls pulled back, we’ve seen this before!) but the simple twisted updo complements her dress. Overall, it’s a great look for Swift—and, more importantly, one that says “Harry, who?”

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Get fit! Your ultimate guide to workout routines and exercise programs | Hollywood yohana

Your ultimate guide to workout routines and exercise programs

It’s safe to say that one of the most common new year’s resolutions is the promise to make this year most healthier than the last. Be it a goal to lose weight, to add a bigger focus on fitness in your life or to just continue the with the workout program you started long ago, we’re here to help you get fit.
If you’re seeking a customized workout but a personal trainer seems out of reach, why not try one of our celebrity-approved workout programs? From Rihanna’s toned abs to Blake Lively’s super-fit bod, we share the fitness routines developed by their personal trainers. Or if you’re more of a fitness class devotee, we share the best gym classes, boot camps and boutique workouts from across Canada. Whatever your fitness goals are, we have you covered.
Try Rihanna’s workout routine »
Ever wonder what Rihanna’s workout routine is like? We interviewed her personal trainer, Harley Pasternak, to get the scoop. While non-stop concert tours and high-powered performances certainly help, Rihanna uses Pasternak’s signature 5 Factor workout plan to stay toned. And now you can too: we share the five phase workout program he developed for Rihanna as well as other celebrity-approved healthy lifestyle tips.
Get a body like Blake Lively »
Blake Lively’s personal trainer Bobby Strom, has quite the plan of attack when it comes to her workout program—it includes everything from circuit training to stability work. We break it down for you into four easy exercises that you can do at home or at the gym. Some added incentive: This fitness routine was developed when Blake Lively was filming Green Lantern, making it a superhero-worthy workout.
High-impact fitness classes »
From the superhuman workout that is CrossFit to mixed martial arts, these classes are best suited for those who are well-seasoned at working out. Why not use the new year to take your workout program to the next level?
Workouts that tone and tighten »
If your exercise goals revolve around toning, sculpting and tightening your muscles, these new fitness methods and classes are for you. We explore stand up paddleboarding, circus-inspired aerial silks skills workshops, the ballet-style workout and more. Best of all? No running shoes required.
Fun ways to exercise »
Is there a better motivator for getting fit than having fun? The reason you were in such good shape as a kid wasn’t because you were exercising all day long—it was because you were running around all day and playing. We’ve found fitness classes that sound so fun, you won’t even notice how many calories you’re burning. Whether you’re swinging on a trapeze, breaking it down to booty bass tunes or learning the art of swordplay à la Game of Thrones, it’s time to bring play back into your everyday adult life.
Best workouts on your schedule »
Sometimes between work, social events, and all the other things you do, hitting the gym just isn’t possible. But that doesn’t mean you have to forsake fitness! The at-home workout routine is definitely at an all-time high—but the downside to this is that the ranges of DVDs available can be just as intimidating as a testosterone-infused weight room. Which is why we’re here to help: we list the best ways to get a little exercise in at home, including webisodes, workout video games and something you can do with your iPhone.


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Gap acquires Intermix: Is this a match made in retail heaven? | Hollywood yohana

Gap Acquires Intermix
Gap Inc. is buying multi-store luxury boutique Intermix to the tune of $130 million, according to Women’s Wear Daily. The two companies have been in talks for at least a month; with Intermix looking to expand it’s reach and Gap looking for an opening in the luxury market.
The pairing will likely be beneficial for both companies. Gap will be upping its fashion credibility by investing in a highly fashionable store. Intermix will have a major retailer behind it, with the resources and expertise to potentially grow worldwide. Word is that Gap plans to expand Intermix overseas as well as doubling the store count. Intermix currently has one store in Canada (located at 130 Bloor St. West in Toronto), but we’re hoping that this partnership could lead to more stores across Canada.Gap Inc. is buying multi-store luxury boutique Intermix to the tune of $130 million, according to Women’s Wear Daily. The two companies have been in talks for at least a month; with Intermix looking to expand it’s reach and Gap looking for an opening in the luxury market.
The pairing will likely be beneficial for both companies. Gap will be upping its fashion credibility by investing in a highly fashionable store. Intermix will have a major retailer behind it, with the resources and expertise to potentially grow worldwide. Word is that Gap plans to expand Intermix overseas as well as doubling the store count. Intermix currently has one store in Canada (located at 130 Bloor St. West in Toronto), but we’re hoping that this partnership could lead to more stores across Canada.

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Inside the Design Exchange gala: 30 photos of Toronto’s creative elite soaking up the latest and greatest art party | Hollywood yohana

Design Exchange Gala

Toronto’s creative elite was treated to a veritable feast for the eyes at last Friday’s annual Design Exchange gala, this year revamped and restyled under the theme of “Intersection.” Surely meant to rival the glittering reputation held by the Power Plant’s annual Power Ball gala for being the art party of the year, the event succeeded in being everything it wanted to be—part art exhibit, part auction, party VIP hobnob and part knockout bash—complete with guest of honour Douglas Coupland posing for pictures, making speeches and even imitating a Canada goose.
Various phases of the night stretched across parts of the DX I didn’t even know existed. Case in point: a pop up mystery dinner put on by Matty Matheson of Parts + Labour catering, which took place in a dimly lit library overlooking King Street. There was trout roe, but where were the books?

And the air of mystery raged on, with curious pieces made from Ikea products being auctioned off to those with the deepest pockets. Worthy of Wonderland, pieces included a toppling pile of dinner plates by artist Bruno Billio, an all Seeing Eye cabinet by Zeidler Partnership Architects and chandelier made of light bulbs that too were bright to psychically stare at by designer Phillip Sparks.

By night’s end, the crowd of 1,200 danced underneath a larger-than-life newspaper installation created by multi-medium artist, Niall McCLelland and musician/artist Alex Durlak paid homage to the space’s first incarnation—the trading floor of the Toronto Stock Exchange. If the piece was meant to reference our shaky economic standings as of late, the moneyed crowd of doyennes would surely not have noticed.

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend Kassandra Camponi

Pastels seem to have a soft spot in my heart all year long. As soon as winter hits everyone seems to forget about them or any other colour for that matter. The streets seem to be filled with blacks & browns, turning an already long winter even more dreary. So nothing excites me more than incorporating my favourite pastel colours into a winter outfit. If you are afraid of looking like an easter egg (not that there is anything wrong with that :)) I would try picking one pastel piece & working the rest of your outfit around that. I threw on one of my favourite blouses in a pastel minty blue & layered it with neutrals. If you seem a little unsure of trying this trend, one way to ease into it is with pastel nail polish.

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend Barbara Ann Solomon

Winter pastels are a great trend to brighten the dark days of winter. I layered pastels into my favourite winter look—head-to-toe winter white and created a statement look. Blush, winter white, gold and beige styled together creates a whimsical (season appropriate) palette and using silks and a micro-fleece sherpa coat to make a contrast in textures makes this look feel effortless and comfortable.

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend Kristin MacDonald

As much as I love a jewel tone or two (being the ginger that I am), I’ve become intrigued by all of the Winter pastels that have been swooping over from the runway into the day to day blog world. Grey days are just that.. grey – and we’re in for a slew of them from here until the thaw. To combat this safe colour palette (and the seasonal blahs that can coincide) I chose a cotton candy pink trench that reminded me of Marie Antoinette or one of her darling French sweets. Pairing it with a weather appropriate knit, some corresponding ankle booties, and plain as day black skinnies made me feel winter appropriate, but lightened. Other options include: sweet mints, icy blues, and pale purples – and pairing any of these pastels with a smoky eye & juxtapositional metallic piece would feel just perfect.

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend Vickie Laliotis

As temperatures drop, there’s no better way to liven things up than with some pastel duds. They’re bright, cheerful and a refreshing change from all those deep, saturated hues typically observed during the winter months. When it comes to incorporating these feminine tones into your cold weather wardrobe, it’s best to stick to lighter shades throughout your look, keeping it cohesive while offering the greatest visual impact. If the idea of head-to-toe pastel intimidates you, however, try taking one pastel piece — like a great coat or dress — and make it the focal point by anchoring it with dark, neutral shades… Either way, you can’t go wrong!

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend Melanie Morais

I’ve always been a fan of colour but even I could admit it can be quite difficult to wear pastels in the dead of winter without looking like an Easter egg. My approach to wearing winter pastels is to subtly do it and avoid going overboard. This could be as small as your nail colour, jewellery or handbag. I’ve decided to go with a pastel pink top with some fun shoulder details and a bright necklace but kept it winter appropriate with the darker elements. Pinterest, as well as clothing websites are a great way to find out colour combinations you wouldn’t have previously thought of! You never know, you might find pastel being quite easy to work with!

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend Kayla Short


Initially when you think of pastels your mind probably goes straight to Easter eggs, and then directly towards chocolate Easter eggs. Bad news, you’ll have to hold off for a bit for the Easter goodies; good news though, this year we are shaking things up a bit in fashion world, as pastels are currently on trend for winter. I’m seriously loving this trend because it is a great way to brighten things up (thank you), and also more importantly break up the black (oh the black *rolls eyes*). To avoid your outfit to looking too summery, the best thing to do is to combine your pastels with winter fabrics. Make sure to combo up with knits, leathers, and heavier drappier fabrics, so people know that you are aware of what season it is out there. In case the minus a million temperatures weren’t already a clue.

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend Cara McLeay


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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana



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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend Stephanie Sterjovski


The winter pastel trend is so refreshing for the colder months. I feel that pastels work best when paired with neutrals, like white, beige, black etc. J.Crew offers an array of colours in their cashmere cardigans, which are my favourite because not only do they keep you warm but also lend a point of interest to a classic piece. I cinched my waist with a leopard belt just to throw in an unexpected element, which I think looks lovely juxtaposed against the mint.

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winte Pastel Trend Sandy Joe Karpetz

I reserve winter pastels for the skating rink; the soft colours are sure to make you feel like a teen dream gliding along the ice in a floor length fur. Though I normally reside on the darker side of the colour spectrum, when I do lighten up the palette I prefer to go for a pop of pastel rather than a head-to-toe look… best not to appear to have dressed oneself in the baby department.

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend Alexandra Nikolajev

Pastels are one of my favourite palettes to incorporate in to my winter style. Although it can be chilly, nothing complements a fresh white snow better than a soft mint green or pastel peony pink. During winter, I always try to keep a pastel piece as the focal point of my look and style around it. Pastels are incredibly bold amidst a sea of dark colours during the winter months. In Toronto, weather is a challenge as well, so I opt for simple but practical pastel pieces in my winter closet. This mint green sweater is a staple: it’s soft and cozy which makes it perfect to dress down with casual jeggings but I also love taking it from day-to-night and jazzing it up with these brown and pink polka dot trousers.

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Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend | Hollywood yohana

Winter Pastel Trend

Pantone Colour of the Year 2013, Emerald: We celebrate the jewel tone’s influence with 34 runway and shopping picks | Hollywood yohana

Pantone Colour of the Year 2013: Emerald

Prada Spring 2013 Ad Campaign: Suddenly those shoes ain’t looking so bad… | Hollywood yohana

Prada Spring 2013 Ad Campaign

It’s been a couple of months since we first feasted on Prada’s Spring 2013 collection, but any weariness of those toe sock/thong shoes has all been washed away with the just-released spring campaign.
Simply put, Prada’s Spring 2013 collection was a whole lotta Japan-meets-sixties look, and it seems that streamlined styling was the name of the game for the Steven Meisel-shot advertising images. The modeling A-list amongst its stars include Raquel Zimmerman, Saskia de Brauw, Eva Herzigova, Sasha Pivovarova, who all pose against stark grey backgrounds in furry coats, hot pants, daisy sunglasses and more. The flatform heels with the toe socks make a re-appearance but have been styled in a way that we know when Fall 2013 street style photos come pouring in, these shoes have the potential to shot day after day.

“There is nothing girly or ostentatious about these blooms or these women, whose poses reflect their confident individuality,” said Prada headquarters in today’s press release.
From a one of the more subdued Prada collections (think: pale pink structured silks and a whole lot of black), Miuccia has out-Miuccia’d herself and made this campaign more powerful than the trippy geometric images from Fall 2012. If this is “Prada’s new woman” we can’t wait to see what’s in store for Fall 2013.

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Miu Miu Spring 2013 Ad Campaign: Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima and Arizona Muse star as innocent ingénues in the seductive new photos | Hollywood yohana

Miu Miu Spring 2013 Ad Campaign

Ruby red walls and delicate pink flowers; tie-dyed furs casually slung over shoulders; duchesse satin dresses and dark denim overcoats: Miu Miu’s modern “dishabille” femme fatale is here, in these just-released images from the label’s Spring 2013 ad campaign.
Photographed in New York by Inez & Vinoodh and starring many models of the moment, including Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima and Arizona Muse, the campaign follows Miu Miu’s tradition of subversive advertising imagery, offering us an updated, very Miuccia Prada-perverse, take on contemporary femininity, rich with nuance and authenticity. Celebrating the Miu Miu woman and all her facets—femme fatale, innocent ingénue, playful belle, nostalgic beauty—the campaign depicts a series of mise-en-scenes in an ambiguous domestic setting. Nonchalant groupings of the girls in various states of (un)dress, crumpled bedsheets, close-ups of a hand here, a high heel there, the campaign is quietly seductive in its portrayal of a new kind of insouciant feminine elegance.


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Christian Dior Spring 2013 Ad Campaign: See the first photos under Raf Simons’ direction | Hollywood yohana

Christian Dior Spring 2013 Ad Campaign

Christian Dior‘s first ready-to-wear ad campaign under the direction of Raf Simons hit the web this week. And while the images are different from what Dior has done in the past, they are just as eye-catching as Simons’ Spring 2013 runway collection that debuted at Paris Fashion Week last fall.
Photographed by Willy Vanderperre, the campaign has all the Raf Simons hallmarks: understated but with a sense of surreal-ness. Opting to part with John Galliano-favourite Karlie Kloss as campaign frontwoman, Simons opted for a group of lesser known models including Daiane Conterato, Anna Martynova, Daria Strokous, and Marie Piovesan.

Just as his runway collections have proved, the ads are more Dior New Look than Galliano decadence. The clothes are downplayed; instead the images focus on the models and bouquets of flowers (a Simons hallmark) that seem as if to be floating.

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Inside the first ever Bliss Ball: Jennifer Hudson, Martin Sheen, Selita Ebanks and 500 of Toronto’s best-dressed donors fête the Dilawri and SickKids foundations | Hollywood yohana

Jennifer Hudson, Bliss Ball 2012


Last Saturday night, Toronto’s historic Fort York was transformed into an enchanted spot fit for a diva. A diva and 500 of the city’s most well heeled (and well dressed) donors that is. Grammy and Oscar winning singer, actress and belter Jennifer Hudson headlined the first ever Bliss Ball marking 10 years of philanthropic work by the SickKids Foundation and the Dilawri Foundation. Also featuring Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page, who acted as host, Emmy award winning actor Martin Sheen who acted as auctioneer and supermodel and ex-Victoria’s Secret Angel Selita Ebanks who did her best Vanna White alongside Sheen, the night was star-studded, to say the least.

As guests took in a spectacular Mark McEwan feast and Le Clos Jordanne wine underneath a specially-erected and shimmering tent, the night’s various speakers and performers (Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush Hager and YouTube sensation Maria Lourdes Aragon were only a few) continuously drove the foundations’ message home: to protect the health and well-being of children locally and globally, and to alleviate financial burdens to families with sick children. (With over a million dollars in support of the Patient Amenities Fund at The Hospital for Sick Children, we’d say that message came through loud and clear.)
Post feast, guests crowded around as Jennifer Hudson voice took to centre stage and performed a set of Whitney Houston covers, a few J.Hud originals and our favourite: the Oscar winning Dreamgirls solo, “And I’m telling you I’m not going.” Though we’re not sure Hudson knew exactly which party she’d flown in to support, we’ll still give her the ole’ high five. After all: so many octaves, so little time!

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Inside the Hermès Swinging Silks party: 16 photos of Toronto’s most impeccably costumed donning varsity jackets, victory rolls and cat-eyes while swing dancing | Hollywood yohana

Hermes Swinging Silks Party


Hermès turned the clocks back to the days of Cry-Baby and Marty McFly last Thursday, as Toronto’s most impeccably costumed hit the Berkeley Church for a rockabilly themed dance party. Thrown for no apparent reason but to celebrate one of the things Hermès does best, the event, entitled “Swinging Silks” had the brand’s iconic silk prints indeed swinging throughout the building: on bannisters, around wrists, from ceilings and of course, from the glammed up ponytails of various attendees. And speaking of ponytails, as full rockabilly guise seemed of utmost importance, Hermès had a mini salon set up shop to transform attendees with victory rolls, red lips and cat-eyes. To boot, there was also a tattoo booth, where apropos designs were painted (I opted for a single teardrop).

As gussied up guests including The Society’s Amanda Blakeley, Style at Home’s Jessica Waks, the Bay’s Christopher Sherman and the entire Beckerman gang sipped themed cocktails and snacked on mini mac and cheese appetizers, the crowd erupted into a simultaneous dance lesson featuring a few classic swing moves repeated to classic swing songs. And with that, mission rockabilly was complete.

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Inside the 11th annual Booby Ball: 28 photos of nostalgic partygoers wearing badge sashes and tennis socks while eating s’mores and dancing with a giant turtle | Hollywood yohana

Booby Ball Camp Booby

Last Friday night, Toronto’s most nostalgic celebrated the latest edition of Booby Ball, this time themed in ode to the days of campfires and tuck shops. The 11th annual party-for-a-cause run by Rethink Breast Cancer proved an even bigger blowout success with the massive Sound Academy virtually packed with thousands of partygoers accessorizing with everything from tennis socks to Girl Guides badge sashes to feather headdresses for “Camp Booby.” Just like a scene out of Troop Beverley Hills, the venue was decked out with camp-themed activity stations including mini golf, s’mores-making, warm-ups and more. Of course, there was plenty of breast-friendly messaging strewn throughout the room, including T-shirts emblazoned with the tongue-and-cheek Booby Ball phrase “Save the boobies!” which appeared on volunteer T-shirts.

As with any good camp soiree, the dance floor stayed full throughout the night, with guests including Rethink Beast Cancer founder MJ Decoteau The Globe and Mail’s Tiyana Grulovic, Cosmo TV’s Wilder Weir, socialite Ainsley Kerr, MTV’s Aliya-Jasmine Sovani (co-host for the night) and a turtle mascot dancing to the DJ beats of a one mister Brendan Fallis aka. Paul Newman (I mean, have you seen that face?) The only thing not typically camp-apropos? The many themed libations that seemed flowing from each corner of the  space all night long. Don’t tell mom!

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Inside our 35th anniversary party: We celebrate in style alongside 700 of our chicest friends | Hollywood yohana

FASHION Magazine 35th anniversary party


What’s better than a birthday party? Your own birthday party! On Wednesday night, the FASHION team (well, that’d be us) celebrated the magazine’s 35th anniversary, and as you might expect, Toronto’s most stylish guys and gals were out in full force. 700 of our closest friends packed into the Distillery’s Fermenting Cellar to toast us with Skyy Vodka cocktails, mini burgers and musical performances by Divine Brown and The Parallels.

As gussied up guests including Canadian model legends Yasmine Warsame, Liisa Winkler and Stacey McKenzie worked their signature poses on the dance floor (ahem, notice them sneaky Browns Shoes footprints?), others like Holt Renfrew’s Moira Wright and eLuxe’s Amina Said indulged in a few faux ones courtesy of the Guess Watches photo booth. Meanwhile, our signature L’Oreal Paris lipstick made it onto the pouts of many a partygoer.
As for the clothes (the clothes!), there were several trends in full force, and coordination was certainly one of them. Canadian design power couple Joe Mimran and Kimberly Newport-Mimran were decked out in matching camel getups (even their daughter Jacqueline matched) Meanwhile, Caillianne and Samantha Beckerman twinned it out in matching high-waisted skirts and well…faces. Sequins was another, with our editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra, Knot PR’s Amy Burstyn-Fritz and our beauty director Lesa Hannah all in shimmering metallics.
And as any good birthday gal knows: we couldn’t have gotten this far alone. It was an honour to have so many great Canadian fashion forces in the house to celebrate with us, including Michael Budman, Jeremy Laing, Arthur Mendonca, David Dixon, Sid Neigum, Phillip Sparks and Sunny Fong. The last 35 years have certainly been a slice, and with a quick flip through this gallery of greats we daresay the next 35 years are going to be even better.

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Inside Thursday’s Operanation ball: 29 pictures of partygoers and opera singers, Nelly Furtado, the Arkells and more! | Hollywood yohana

Gabrille Miller Nelly Furtado Operanation 2012 Party Pics


Last Thursday opera lovers, patrons of the arts and faces who frequent Toronto’s party circuit came together to support the Canadian Opera Company for Operanation 9: Sweet Revenge. Attendees reflected the event’s theme of high-brow-opera-meets-pop-culture-concert well: Women in floor-length evening gowns navigated the many staircases of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts with ease—proving there’s no architectural challenge a mermaid dress can’t master—while others used the Centre’s sprawling steps as seating throughout the night.
Actress Gabrille Miller looked stunning in a peplum’d dress from Lucian Matis Fall 2012 while Nelly Furtado had two costume changes throughout the night, starting with a gown by Denis Gagnon and later switching into a Holy Tee dress. On the third floor a group of Argo players attracted many eligible ladies—perhaps the popularity of The Bachelor Canada has given the CFL a new social standing?—making for a tight squeeze between their huddle and a boxers-clad Calvin Klein model spraying samples of Encounter. Back down on the first floor partygoers were given an intimate look at operatic costumes hand-tailored by Ryerson fashion students and alumni and commissioned specifically for Operanation. There was also a horn of plenty—or at least a large sculpture that many guests called as such. Created by artist Dean Baldwin the “voice amplifier” was a source of curiosity throughout the night and also served as a distinct meeting place for friends lost in the Operanation crowds.
Of course, it couldn’t be a night celebrating the COC without a few unique musical performances curated by the Operanation committee. Nelly Furtado took to the stage with the COC Ensemble Studio bartione Cameron McPhail for almost-acoustic renditions of her popular hits, including “Maneater.” Later in the evening the Arkells performed with some help from COC Ensemble Studio members soprano Ambur Braid and mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb—and another special guest, Jian Ghomeshi. (He was more than eager to repeat his performance of “Psycho Killer” from last month’s book launch.) And while Ambur Braid in no way fits the opera trope of “the fat lady,” her next level vocals were indeed the best way to close out the night.

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Inside Joe Fresh’s Saturday night screening of Versailles ’73: Legendary models hit the ROM Museum and mingle with Toronto’s fashionable elite | Hollywood yohana

Pat Cleveland, Miki Taylor, Joe Mimran, Karen Bjornson and Alva Chin, Versailles '73 Screening Toronto


Though it marked a monumental shift in fashion history, November 28, 1973 has passed through history with none of the mythological treatment as 1962’s Black and White ball or even a single Met ball. Until now that is. Brought to life by director Deborah Riley Draper, Versailles ’73 tells the story of a fashion show of French and American designs which was originally meant to simply fund the palace’s much needed repairs but became the moment that brought American fashion into the forefront. With legendary fresh-makers Liza Minelli, Kay Thompson and Pat Cleveland at the forefront of the American presentation, the show of designs by Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Stephen Burrows and Anne Klein rocked a guestlist of Princess Grace of Monaco, CZ Guest, Andy Warhol, Lee Radziwell and Baroness Marie-Hélène de Rothschild and more to its feet with simplistic and impactful presentation and lively African American models (spearheaded by Pat Cleveland, who literally spun from one end of the stage to the next).

On Saturday night, Versailles ’73 was brought to Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum by Joe Fresh who sponsored the film’s first Canadian screening. In the house to celebrate the film’s debut were three of the original show’s stars: living model legends Pat Cleveland, Karen Bjorson and Alva Chin. Vintage connoisseur come book writer Cameron Silver of Los Angeles’ Decades boutique, who narrated the film was also in the house with mega-stylist Annabel Tollman in tow. Just your average Saturday night out, wouldn’t you say?

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Inside the Maison Martin Margiela for H&M launch party in New York: Kanye West, Sarah Jessica Parker and interpretive dancers take over a 9-storey dilapidated building | Hollywood yohana

Maison Martin Margiela H&M New York Launch

Leave it to Maison Martin Margiela to choose a dilapidated 9-storey building hidden within New York’s financial district to house the launch event for its upcoming collaboration with H&M. To say “event” is to put it simply—performance art installation/dance party/pop-up shop would explain last night a little better. Each floor of 5 Beekman Street was reimagined as some sort of exhibit, with dancers choreographed by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker making art pieces from the aftermath of dancing around on a floor covered in white sand. Elsewhere, installations by Daniel Arsham, Frederique Chauveaux and Noemie Goudal brought the Margiela collaboration pieces to life, by projecting tableaus and hand gestures right on the pieces themselves. Atop the building, a pop-up shop stocked with the Maison Martin Margiela for H&M collection was swarmed by the 1,500 guests trying to snag a purchase in advance of the re-edition collection launching in stores on November 15.

Around midnight the event reached its crescendo, with dancers in Maison Martin Margiela for H&M creating a circular floor sculpture on the first floor to the sounds of Leonard Cohen’s “Dance me to the End of Love” as guests peered over each of the floors to watch. At the performance’s end, the sky erupted in confetti that fell to cover each of the nine floors in shimmering silver.
Everything about last night was just…different. Celebrities including Kanye West (yes his jacket was Margiela), Sarah Jessica Parker, Julianne Moore, Helena Christensen and Leigh Lezark didn’t walk a red carpet, but stood in front of a hazardous looking wall to give interviews. There was no VIP section, and celebrity guests were left to navigate the never-ending stairs like the rest of us (at one point, Julianne Moore was sandwiched between a security guard and me. Shockingly, I felt no pain). Walls collapsed mid-party though no one seemed to care. Thrilling to say the least, last night’s events only helped to build anticipation for the collection’s in-store arrival.

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Inside Paul Hardy’s 10th Anniversary party in Calgary: The who’s who of the Canadian fashion industry celebrated one of its finest designers in style | Hollywood yohan

Paul Hardy Anniversary Event Calgary


Party Hardy! Finally—I’ve been waiting to say that ever since FASHION received an invite to Canadian design star Paul Hardy’s 10th anniversary bash in Calgary on Saturday. It was an exclusive guest list, after all, (including Dragon’s Den billionaire W. Brett Wilson and his date, the Real Housewives of Vancouver’s Mary Zilba as well as Vancouver’s blonde and bubbly country singing sisters, Carly and Britt McKillip of One More Girl), and might have been the biggest, brightest, boldest birthday party to ever hit the Alberta fashion scene.
Mr. Hardy, Tourism Calgary and Travel Alberta flew in fashion’s top editors, bloggers and VIP’s from Vancouver to Toronto, including the Globe & Mail’s Tiyana Grulovic, Hello! Canada’s Tara Henley, FASHION’s resident street style photographer Stefania Yarhi, and Style Panel’s Gracie Carroll. After waking up in the swanky Hyatt Regency Calgary and chic-boutique Hotel Arts, the first snowfall of the season made our trek to the island River Café feel like some kind of wonderland—or as Hardy perfectly positioned it, “Narnia”.

From prairie roots to international runways, Hardy thanked everyone who’d helped him reach the 10-year milestone, like his grade 7 teacher (who was in attendance), interns, stylists, and celebrities Bette Midler, Sarah McLachlan, Diane Kruger, Alanis Morrisette and Chantal Kreviazuk. The brunch was over-the-top delish, with hot apple cider, champagne, and four gourmet courses.
But the big Hardy party didn’t start until 6 p.m., when we were shuttled over to the designer’s brand new Inglewood studio and walked a red-turned fluffy white carpet before cocktail hour, hors d’oeuvres, a whopping 45-minute fashion show, and a lively afterparty that seemed to have an endless supply of rouge.
Amidst bejeweled chandeliers and rustic furnishings, famed country singer Paul Brandt, Greg Sczebel and the Calgary Philharmonic Ensemble performed a song for each segment of Hardy’s intimate Spring ’13 show, called “Breaking Amish” (there were eight “chapters” in the collection and a grand total of 60 looks). The designs followed the evolution of a plain, nameless girl who, wrestling with the confines of her reverent traditional environment, emerges in glittered couture with blissful illusions of the big city she visits (I’d like to read this as Hardy’s own journey through the fashion industry). Eventually, she accepts her flawed humanity and is softened—in flowing, light pink and to-die-for nude gowns—by embracing who she is, and understanding that her circumstances are not what define her.
But we’re pretty sure that the night’s circumstances were the definition of success: Paul Hardy is one of the most iconic Canadian fashion figures of this generation.


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Inside the LG Innovators’ Ball: 14 pictures of partygoers enjoying the out-of-this world-themed gala the Ontario Science Centre | Hollywood yohana

Ontario Science Centre LG Innovators Ball 2012 party photos

Last Thursday night Toronto’s most passionate science lovers descended into the ravine at Don Mills and Lawrence for the Ontario Science Centre’s annual LG Innovators’ Ball. This year’s theme was Fly Me to the Moon, a celebration of the museum’s newest exhibition Beyond Planet Earth: The Future of Space Exploration on loan from the American Museum of Natural History until January 1. The space-age décor was like travelling to another solar system, with planets hanging from the ceiling and walls covered in glittering stars. After a retro-glam cocktail reception, guests were treated to a performance by singer Matt Dusk who opened with a rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon.” Matt Galloway of CBC Radio’s Metro Morning stayed up way past his bedtime to provide hosting duties for the ball, even getting chided by Innovator Award recipient and former premier of Ontario the Honourable William G. Davis, who joked that his wife’s listening to the early morning radio show “delayed his breakfast.” The futuristic dinner, with a flashing salad course followed by deconstructed soup, was followed by a tour of the exhibition. Houston, we have a party.

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Inside the Mugler event at the Bay Vancouver: 23 photos of partygoers skipping out on election night to meet Nicola Formichetti | Hollywood yohana

Mugler Event The Bay Vancouver

A good-looking crowd of Vancouverites elected to put on their Tuesday Best (lipstick, heels, an exaggerated shoulder) last night and head to The Room at the Bay rather than sit at home in sweatpants glued to the Obama-Romney battle royal. What lured them away from CNN? Two other men, Mugler creative director Nicola Formichetti and women’s designer Sébastien Peigné, plus an exhibition of out-of-this-world dresses from the archives.

The handlebar bustier from George Michael’s “Too Funky” video, the black dress Demi Moore donned in Indecent Proposal, a gown from the Fall/Winter ’97-’98 Couture collection akin to iridescent insect armour and scores more had a number of jaws locked in permanent drop. Guests included former principal dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, Chan Hon Goh, senior vice president Patricia Abergel, designer Jason Matlo and stylist Helen Krispis. Those who didn’t land an invite to the event still have a chance to see the pieces up close and personal—they’ll be sticking around for a week.
The U.S. election was never far from everyone’s minds though. During a private dinner at L’Abattoir following the party, Nicola Formichetti yelled “Obama!”—declaring sweet victory just after dessert—and all his dining companions cheered.

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Inside the Toronto Life Most Influential party: 37 pictures of stylish guests celebrating the city’s top-ranked people | Hollywood yohana

James Harrison Robert Weir Chloe Wise Toronto Life Most Influential party photos

Last night Toronto Life celebrated the reveal of their Most Influential list by toasting Toronto’s 50 most influential people at The Ritz-Carlton. The lucky heavyweights—ranging from politicians to bankers to TV personalities—were profiled in the magazine’s December issue and, as the evening’s emcee Amanda Lang was eager to point out, also given a definitive rank. (Her 41st place spot obviously not affecting said eagerness.) Upon our arrival it was clear how those on the list have become so successful: they’re certainly not the familiar faces of Toronto’s late-night party circuit. The mood was much more about networking than clamouring for a cocktail, despite the impressive array of Ketel One and Tanqueray creations. Tailored suits and black dresses dominated—though oxblood items and fur accessories proved to be just as popular, including many a lush stole and a pair of furry booties on Leesa Butler. Partygoers joked about the possibility of Drake (who was ranked 32nd) showing up and rumours circulated that his friends had RSVP’d. Perhaps they meant fellow Degrassi alum Lauren Collins? By 8pm the mood of the Toronto Life Most Influential party had shifted (the premium Johnnie Walker tastings may have helped) and Andrea Bolley started a mini dance floor in the centre of the room. So it was to the dismay of many guests when the lights turned on a few hours later, announcing that the night had come to an end.

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Lunch with Margaret and George’s Derek Lam charity fashion show: 25 photos of the fanciest lunch-goers we’ve seen all year | Hollywood yohana

Lunch with Margaret and George Derek Lam Event


Designer Derek Lam was stuck in New York thanks to a Nor’easter that grounded many flights. But he was there in spirit at Toronto’s Shangri-La Hotel for the Lunch with Margaret and George fundraiser for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Some of the city’s most stylish donned the designer’s sleek white leathers for the occasion and hostess Lisa Corbo sparkled in Lam’s sequined deco shift. Models in 20 looks from the Spring 2013 Derek Lam collection wove through the tables, making for a yummy feast of boxy T-shirts in geometric guipure lace, a gold leather skirt whose panels seemed to be held together with black macramé and a silvery sweatshirt over a skirt of  burgundy plastic curls. A cool $120,000 was raised for the cause, bolstered by another 15% of sales from the Derek Lam trunk show at George C later in the day. Adding more to the coffers? A gold-flecked lipgloss named “Believe,” conceived by Lisa Corbo.


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Man Repeller hits Vancouver’s Secret Location: 20 photos from inside the party, plus our interview with Leandra Medine herself | Hollywood yohana

Man Repeller Hits Vancouver's Secret Location


She may be The Man Repeller, but Leandra Medine draws a crowd of both ladies and gents. This time, it was a legion of Vancouver admirers that lined up for her Wednesday night appearance at Gastown boutique Secret Location.
A bounty of her kin, and by that we mean well-turned-out fashion bloggers, turned out including Little Fashionisto’s M’c kenneth Licon, A Fashion Love Affair’s (and Style Panel’s!) Cara McLeay, Bullet With Butterfly Wings’ Katharine Horsman, Alicia Fashionista’s Alicia Quan and Partly Sunny’s Sunny Shum.

She styled five lanky mannequins in Man Repeller-approved holiday looks, and posed for a gazillion Instagrams (so maybe not a gazillion, but two hours worth of filtered fan photos), and she did it in style—a white button-up, blue jeans, black Gio Diev heels and an assortment of neck ornaments to be precise.
Earlier in the day, pre-party pandemonium, we queried the blogger and soon-to-be published essayist (her book is slated for April 2013), on, what else, fashion stuff.
How has your personal style changed over the years? “Yes, definitely, but I don’t know if that’s because of my blog or just because I’m getting older. I was definitely more prone to experiment with brighter colours, and more obnoxious silhouettes, whereas now I’m so much more content in just a pair of ripped jeans and a denim shirt—my Canadian tuxedo! It might just also be the overstimulation of the industry; I’m around clothing so much that all I want to do now is wear the same jeans and t-shirt everyday.”
You’re married now. Does your ‘man-friend’ comment on what you wear? “Almost everyday he does. But it just fires me up. If he likes something, I’m inclined to take it off, you know what I mean, [like] I’m not doing it right! But he’s a free thinker, he appreciates most of who I am.”
Any tips for holiday dressing the Man Repeller way? “I’m never about the little black dress.  I think with wearing conventional sequins, which is very typical for a holiday party, [do it] a little more unusually—like sequin pants instead of a sequin dress. There’s a cute Sass & Bide t-shirt in there [Secret Location] with a sequin pocket, that’s like a fun holiday quirk to wear with a skirt you already own. You got a party on the boob and just me everywhere else. Also jeans, ‘cause why not.”


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Inside the Design Exchange gala: 30 photos of Toronto’s creative elite soaking up the latest and greatest art party | Hollywood yohana

Design Exchange Gala

Toronto’s creative elite was treated to a veritable feast for the eyes at last Friday’s annual Design Exchange gala, this year revamped and restyled under the theme of “Intersection.” Surely meant to rival the glittering reputation held by the Power Plant’s annual Power Ball gala for being the art party of the year, the event succeeded in being everything it wanted to be—part art exhibit, part auction, party VIP hobnob and part knockout bash—complete with guest of honour Douglas Coupland posing for pictures, making speeches and even imitating a Canada goose.
Various phases of the night stretched across parts of the DX I didn’t even know existed. Case in point: a pop up mystery dinner put on by Matty Matheson of Parts + Labour catering, which took place in a dimly lit library overlooking King Street. There was trout roe, but where were the books?

And the air of mystery raged on, with curious pieces made from Ikea products being auctioned off to those with the deepest pockets. Worthy of Wonderland, pieces included a toppling pile of dinner plates by artist Bruno Billio, an all Seeing Eye cabinet by Zeidler Partnership Architects and chandelier made of light bulbs that too were bright to psychically stare at by designer Phillip Sparks.

By night’s end, the crowd of 1,200 danced underneath a larger-than-life newspaper installation created by multi-medium artist, Niall McCLelland and musician/artist Alex Durlak paid homage to the space’s first incarnation—the trading floor of the Toronto Stock Exchange. If the piece was meant to reference our shaky economic standings as of late, the moneyed crowd of doyennes would surely not have noticed.

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YELLOW CUTE DRESS


Welcome to the latest edition of Ask CF! Every few weeks, we select a reader fashion question and answer it here on the site. Do you have a specific fashion question for us? Scroll to the bottom of this post to learn how to send it our way!


Welcome to the latest edition of Ask CF! Every few weeks, we select a reader fashion question and answer it here on the site. Do you have a specific fashion question for us? Scroll to the bottom of this post to learn how to send it our way!


Ask CF Question

Dear CF,

Could you do a post on alternatives to skinny jeans? How do you style boot-cut, flared jeans, and boyfriend jeans? What shoes would you would wear with them and how can I look fashionable in them?

Sincerely,
Tired of Skinnies

Our Response

Dear Tired of Skinnies,

Over the past few years, skinny jeans have gotten so popular that it’s hard to remember a time before them. But – we promise – there was a time when other styles ruled the fashion scene.

Whether you don’t like the way skinny jeans fit or you just want to change up your wardrobe routine, below, I’ve created three looks for inspiration to help you do just that. For variety’s sake, each look includes a different style of jeans: There’s a bootcut pair, a wide leg pair, and a boyfriend pair.

When styling each outfit, I focused on creating visual balance. For example, in the wide leg look, I added a heeled boot and a long vest to create length to balance out the width of the pants. For the boyfriend pair, I added ladylike details to feminize the look. I also added some fun shoes that will stand out even though the pant legs cover them up a little.

Thank you again for your question. I hope you enjoy the looks and find them useful and inspirational!

Sincerely,

Jessica

Another popular pant style is the iconic wide leg “flare” cut. For this look, I mixed an eggplant-colored pair of flared pants with a horizontal striped sweater. To balance out the width of the wide leg jean, I added length to the look with a heeled boot and a vegan leather waist coast. Finish the look with a floral print infinity scarf and some sparkly earrings.

This final look incorporates a pair of trendy boyfriend jeans. To pull of this menswear-inspired style, I like to pair them with feminine pieces for balance.

To start, I chose some boyfriend jeans that actually boast a feminine vibe already, thanks to subtle rhinestone studs. And even though the jeans are oversized, a loose, baggy sweater can still work - just add glam accessories like glitter oxfords and bejeweled drop earrings. Complete the ensemble with oversized sunnies, an envelope clutch, and a sleek watch.

Do you have a fashion question? Send it our way!

Is there something in your closet that you can’t seem to figure out how to wear? Do you have an event coming up and need an outfit idea? Do you have a specific fashion conundrum you need help with?

If you have a question you want to see answered in this column, just send it on over via email to askcf  @ collegefashion.net and one day you might see your question answered right here on the site!

Please note: We get A LOT of email and unfortunately we will not be able to respond to every single question. However, we will read through each question and then decide which ones will be most helpful to the most readers. Thank you for your understanding.

What do you think?

Have you had this problem before? How do you feel about skinny jeans? Do you usually wear skinnies or do you stick to other cuts? What is your favorite way to style non-skinny pants? Which of these looks is your favorite? Please let us know what you think by leaving a comment below!

WHITE DRESS BROW


WHITE DRESS


STRIPES DRESS


RED DRESS PARTY