Elle Canada - The Elle Word

Red-lacquered soles—arguably the most noticeable heels on the street—are the signature of famed Parisian designer Christian Louboutin. He is also said to be the one who has reinvented the heel, often blurring the lines between fashion and fetishism. His perfectly shaped leather pumps are adorned with studs, glitter, bows and straps but it’s his classic round-toe version that makes him a consecrated fashion icon.

With inspiration from his first job at the Folies Bergères caberet and his time as an apprentice at couture houses like Roger Vivier, Louboutin’s remarkable mastery has made him a celeb fave. BFFs like Blake Lively (she bought his entire Spring 2012 collection!), and the Olsen twins continuously show their support for their beloved shoe guru.

To learn more about his collection, read on after the jump. Read the rest of this entry

Keira Knightley in A Dangerous Method. Image courtesy of eOne Films.

“In the film, Spider, there is a line in which Ralph Fiennes says ‘Clothes make the man’. This is so true!” —Denise Cronenberg

Denise Cronenberg, a veteran costume designer and six-time Genie nominee, worked hand-in-hand with director (and brother!), David Cronenberg on the costumes for A Dangerous Method, this spring’s critically acclaimed period drama about the relationship between psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley). Since The Fly in 1986, Denise has handled costume duties for all her brother’s films, from M. Butterfly to Crash to Eastern Promises.

For A Dangerous Method, the siblings communicated via email about their design visions (Denise was in London, while David was in Cologne, Germany). “He had no idea what I was thinking [for the costumes] until he received those emails,” Denise explains, “Luckily, he loved them all.” Denise talked to ELLE about her favourite on-set moments, how costumes can enhance character and the biggest challenges of designing for a period film.

1. How did you start the design process?

“We did extensive research—after all. we were recreating a specific period [1904-1913] and the lives of real people. The research, and building off the costumes [from that], took 10 weeks in London and was ongoing in Cologne, since we hadn’t seen all of the actors yet.”

2. What did you discover about that era?

“Dress was very strict. The main colour was white for women and black for men. We showed the progression of the clothing as it changed throughout these period. No one went out in relaxed clothing because there really wasn’t any. Even in our research of mental institutions, men wore suits and women wore Victorian high neck blouses, shawls and skirts. It was all very buttoned up!”

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She’s on the verge of making it big, Hayley McKee (Elmer Olsen Model Management), takes us through the daily life of a model during fashion week. She’ll be blogging for ELLE Canada for the rest of the week to give you backstage access to all the Toronto Fashion Week shows.

Watch the clip and get to know a little bit about this up-and-coming Canadian model.

Model diaries: Meet Hayley from Noah Lehava on Vimeo.

1. Heather Marks & Zombie Boy
Eran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan, the brains behind Canadian label Mackage, brought back some homegrown talent to open and close their Fall/Winter 2012-13 runway presentation. Calgary-native and international super model, Heather Marks, set the tone for the dark and brooding ambiance with her equally powerful strut. After the brigade of mixed leather, wool and fur ensembles the show’s big finale featured the brash swagger of Montreal-born Zombie Boy (recently seen alongside Lady Gaga in her “Born This Way” video).

2. Dead man walking
Stepping in to the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto’s Distillery District (30 min before show time) to see Zombie Boy’s handler leading him down the catwalk during dress rehearsal, shouting: “Sashay! Sashay!” We’re not surprised that the tatted-up Rick Genest (a.k.a. Zombie Boy) who closed the Mackage runway, didn’t sashay.

3. Carnival fare
Set in the scene of an underworld circus, bathed in deep blue and purple light, the Mackage carnival was in full force. Pink candy floss, ice cream sandwiches, two-bite caramel apples and mini-corndogs circulated through the fashion crowd, while hoopers and stilt walkers performed.

To see more images from the event keep reading. Read the rest of this entry

–  Melissa Gibson, M.A.C senior makeup artist, backstage at the Mackage runway show.

Photography by Jean-Claude Lussier

With winter lingering for a few more weeks, we’re dreaming of escaping the chilly temps. Lucky for us, spring break is just around the corner. Whether you’re jetting off to the tropics, heading to the ski slopes (sipping cocoa in the chalet counts!), or staying in the city, we’ve got you covered. Look chic wherever you are in the world with our spring getaway style guide.

Tropical getaway

We all envy you – you’ll be soaking up the sun, digging your toes into the warm sand, and snorkeling amongst colourful sunfish. Leave your wooly sweaters and winter layers behind and opt for breezy light fabrics like chiffon and crepe. All you need is the perfect cover-up, an array of swimsuits (try trendy mix-and-match bikinis), cat-eye sunnies and of course, lots of SPF.

Designer inspiration: Diane von Furstenberg S/S 12, 3.1 Phillip Lim S/S 12, and Michael Kors S/S12

On the slopes

Whether you’re an avid skier or you prefer keeping warm in the chalet, cozy stylings are a must. Layer (for warmth and fashion) with a chic fitted turtleneck, cashmere sweater and Fair Isle accessories for the perfect ski bunny look. If gliding down the freshly powdered hills is where you’d really like to be, play with colour. A vibrantly hued ski jacket will make you stand out against the snow-covered evergreens. Load up on super rich moisturizer and hydrating hair serum to keep your skin and hair soft and smooth in the winter air.

Designer inspiration: Peter Pilotto F/W 2012-12, Alexander Wang F/W 2012-13, Mulberry F/W 2012-12

If you’re planning a staycation, read on for our city chic style tips. Read the rest of this entry

I like to think of vintage shopping as a treasure hunt, digging through piles of wacky ‘70s sitcom-style clothes in search of a time-honoured classic that I’ll love and wear forever. I’ve found my fair share of gems — a Burberry trench for $20, a Chloé skirt for $6, and a Fendi purse for $2 (and yes, it was real!) — but not all my trips are so successful. Most of the time I walk out of my local thrift store empty-handed. Some words of encouragement? When it comes to vintage shopping, you need to be persistent. The more you look, the more amazing finds you’ll come across—whether they come bearing a designer label or not. And, for fashion fans, the hunt is well worth it. The fabric quality, precise tailoring and delicate beading found in haute vintage finds offers a luxe alternative to contemporary mass-market pieces.

I caught up with Julie Yoo, owner of I Miss You Vintage in Toronto’s west end, for her top five tips on how to effortlessly incorporate vintage pieces into your wardrobe.

1.  Start with accessories or jewellery. For the vintage novice, the easiest way to begin experimenting is to introduce a fantastic vintage necklace or clutch into your wardrobe.

2.  Look for interesting textures, materials, or colours. Take advantage of the rich and colourful array of fabrics and materials that vintage clothing offers to accent your wardrobe.

3.  Be prepared to do minor alterations.  Minor modifications such as shortening a hemline, changing the buttons on a jacket, or adding a fur collar to a coat can transform an OK piece into a standout one.

4.  Don’t overdo it.  Instead of dressing head-to-toe in an era-specific outfit, choose one statement vintage piece and incorporate it into your contemporary closet. Use vintage to complement your own personal style.

5.  Fall in love with vintage. Choose that gorgeous vintage LBD because it’s more special than any mass-produced version could be. The compliments you’ll receive will confirm it.

Downton Abbey photography by Nick Briggs/ITV for MASTERPIECE.

I have a confession to make, I’m obsessed. No, not with the artfully crafted plot of the period drama Downton Abbey (even though that’s right on point), but with the romantic English elegance of the North Yorkshire women. The clothes, hair and backdrop are utterly desirable. The art of daily dressing in the Edwardian era took far longer than it does today, that’s why I’ve set out to find the perfect pieces to  make this look work in the 21st century.

Clothing: In the early 1900s women’s fashion progressed from tight rigid corsets with thick dress overlays to less-constricted tea dresses and drop-waist cocktail attire with lace and beaded embellishments. Daytime dressing was light and airy with soft fabrics in pastel hues. Whether you’re dressing for day or night, or prefer midi to shorter hemlines, getting the Downton Abbey look couldn’t be easier these days as so many designers have drawn inspiration from this era. A floral dress like this Chloé number is perfect for a day out in the warm spring weather.

Chloé Floral-print silk-mousseline gown ($3,095), at net-a-porter.com.

For evening, a short intricately beaded dress makes for an instantly glamorous look. This vintage inspired cocktail dress is a great option.

Biba sleeveless beaded dress ($285), at houseoffraser.co.uk.

For those rainy and cool days, a classic trench coat, low heeled shoes and a cloche hat (see below) are a sure way to look chic.

H&M coat ($34.95), at hm.com; Salvatore Ferragamo Vara shoes ($425), at davidsfootwear.com.

Accessories: Hats were considered de rigueur for women in the WW1 era. Commonly adorned with flowers and bows, the cloche toppers were a staple of the time. From Ralph Lauren’s Fall/Winter 2012-13 collection to mass-market stores like Topshop, everyone seems to be carrying their own version of the cloche hat. Try one in a vibrant hue for a more modern and feminine take on the old world trend.

Topshop Bow Front Cloche hat ($50), at topshop.com.

Women also wore faceted jewels. You can check out some retro-inspired jewellery here.

Want to get the Downton Abbey beauty look?
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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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