Elle Canada - The Elle Word

This season, I’m shelving the traditional go-to gold and silver jewelry pieces in favour of my obsession du jour: Rose Gold! This universally-flattering hue has been spotted on trendsetters like Rachel Zoe and Kate Moss, and is the perfect way to up your spring style ante.

Check out ELLE Canada’s jewels page in March for our top rose gold picks (including some major news from Tiffany & Company). If you could get one bauble in rose gold, what would it be?

We’re punching up our wardrobe with this menswear inspired watch by GUESS. GUESS Brushed and Polished Rose Gold Tone Watch with Crystals and Sunray rose gold tone dial with Glitz ($140, available at Guess locations)

Do you hate bra shopping? Especially before Valentine’s Day? I love shopping, but when it comes to finding that perfect bra, I dread it. The endless options of lace or no lace, lots of padding or none at all, do I want a water-filled or double pushup – it just seems so confusing. Now with Valentine’s Day quickly approaching most of us will be hitting up the nearest lingerie store to find the most flattering unmentionables. To make this experience a little easier we’ve caught up with Victoria’s Secret expert Renee Olsson for her tips and tricks to revving up your lingerie wardrobe. We chat about finding the best bra to suit your personality, fool proof ways to getting that great fit and the number one faux pas every women should know about.

For the casual/everyday woman
“If you are more modest, I would recommend Body by Victoria. This design comes in a non-pushup style, is incredibly comfortable and you have the option of full and demi-coverage. Try it in lace and you can match it to one of two panty styles we have available.”

For the contemporary woman
“The Incredible bra is ideal for the modern woman who loves the shine, print and colour of an undergarment. She can go for a comfortable and lightly padded bra or a pushup for some more oomph.”

Keep reading for more tips on finding the best bra for you.
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Marina Nery walking in the Andrea Marques show at Rio Fashion Week. Image courtesy of Fotosite.

Every time Marina Nery appeared on one of Rio’s fall/winter runways, the front row fashion scribes all nodded their approval. “There’s the girl with the ears and the amazing eyes. I love her!” was the common shout out. I caught up with Marina backstage at Filhas de Gaia to get the rundown on this rising runway phenom.

Born: Salvador, a town in the north east of Brazil

Age: 17

Runway history: “I did three shows in Paris two seasons ago, but this is my first season in Brazil and I’m so happy to be here. I didn’t expect this much! I’m a brunette girl and they tend to use the blondes and the black girls, so I’m a little proud of myself. It’s been an amazing first season and I’m so happy.”

Post model gig: “I want to go back to school to study anthropology.”

Defining features (eyes and ears): “I don’t know whether it’s just my ears, but my bookers are telling me a lot of people are talking about me. I don’t know what about. I hope it’s good things!”

Did you catch all of our Rio Fashion Week coverage? If not, check it out here!

Read about another model on the rise, Canadian Kate King.

A look from Walter Rodrigues's collection. Image courtesy of Fotosite.

Amish-punk chic, with a touch of boho flair, were the hallmarks of Sao Paulo-based designer Walter Rodrigues’ fall/winter showing at Rio Fashion Week. The minimalist and modest look of the long black skirts, white buttoned-up shirts and cropped three-quarter jackets were offset by boyish combat boots. The initial pieces were a somber black and white, but these quiet silhouettes were re-imagined in bold prints, with bright red and orange hues. The Amish-looking black caps were also replaced with bright patterned scarves.

The inspiration for the collection came from Rodrigues’ favourite film, The White Ribbon by Austrian director Michael Haneke. “I saw this collection through the same black and white lens as the film, but then through my own lens I added in the red, orange and blue colours. I have never been to an Amish colony but I just love this look. The simplicity of it; the lack of exaggeration and complication.” Read the rest of this entry

Maria Bonita Extra's short hemlines. Image courtesy of Fotosite.

It will take gorgeous gams and a Girl-from-Ipanema attitude to carry off the mini-hemlines at Maria Bonita Extra. The Parisian-flavoured cocktail dresses came in exaggerated bubble silhouettes and shifts with tulle fringes. Katia Wille designed the Extra line, which is the more affordable collection under the Maria Bonita label.

Backstage, Wille told me how excited she was to be asked to design this collection to mark its 21st anniversary. “I worked with them 10 years ago, but came back to do this collection, which is based on the very best of the designs over the past two decades. The challenge was to take classic pieces, like the cashmere dresses, shirtdresses and puff skirts, and give them a new life – a new future. Tonight they’re back on the catwalk with a stronger attitude.”

And who’s the client? “She’s a young woman—or a woman of any age who loves to wear very short skirts! She’s pure of heart, but she wants to make an impression.” One of those women is Priscila Machado, Miss Brazil 2011. “It’s a very feminine brand,” she said, backstage with Wille. “It shows off a woman’s body without showing off too much. We look hot, but sophisticated hot!”

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Urban adventure at 2nd Floor

Moments after the first model appeared on the 2^nd Floor runway wearing a faux fur jacket, the style wags in the front row were grumbling. “Oh dear, hedgehog roadkill!” Another whispered that Suzy Menkes once told him that “she puts away her notebook if a show opens with red and black.”  (To be fair—or kind—the red in the model’s skirt was more of a tomato orange.) With its “fun” fur jackets, shirt dresses with faux croc collars and leather-quilted shorts, this collection–which was an homage to Robin Hood–is for the urban adventurer with a taste for folkloric-inspired synthetic style. Read the rest of this entry

Herchcovitch's cocoon-like denim trench coat

Alexandre Herchcovitch, the master of quirky inspirational mélanges, opened Rio de Janeiro’s winter fashion week with a rather low-key, denim collection.  The Herchcovitch line, which is the Brazilian designer’s more affordable streetwear collection, was inspired by New York artists from the late ’70s and ’80s who gave conventional work attire a casual and stylish twist. Call it posh proletariat chic.

The paulistano’s models, who sported aviator shades and hair like Alison Pill in Milk, wore buttoned-up shirtdresses, capris and Herchcovitch’s signature bodycon catsuits. “The message that I have been saying for a long time is that fashion, for me, is the same as freedom,” Herchcovitch told me backstage. “You can wear whatever you want and you can mix whatever you want. Fashion has no rules.” Read the rest of this entry

If you don’t already recognize our striking February cover model, you soon will. Meet 17-year-old Canadian Kate King. “It’s been a crazy year,” she tells writer Laura deCarufel. King walked in a staggering 57 spring/summer 2012 shows—from Alexander Wang to Chanel. Pick up our February issue, on newsstands now, to find out how King was discovered and what her sisters really think of her runway success. (She also reveals her biggest runway fear!)

Plus, don’t miss a chance to win a pair of $8,500 earrings from Birks. Enter to win these multi-circle stunners set in 18kt white gold at ellecanada.com/birks

Forget the fashion runways (if only momentarily). ELLECanada.com celebrates the year’s best global street fashion.

Irina is more supermodel than super-street, but we had to include her in this particular look (spotted during New York Fashion Week, Fall 2011-12). The burgundy-sashed hat, the light grey pantsuit; it all screams ’70s comfort chic.

We were amazed at how many studs and grommets made their way onto the attire of fashion journalists during both the spring and fall fashion shows in Milan, but we understand why: Just like leopard print, these accoutrements are becoming a classic. Read the rest of this entry