Stylish reason to celebrate Canada Day #1. Canuck catwalk takeover on the international Spring/Summer 2012 runways.

Click through the runway shots from the Spring/Summer 2012 collections of the biggest names in fashion to find the fresh Canadian faces of rising runway stars—Quebec’s Anais Pouliot, Toronto’s Kate King, Kitchener’s Alana Zimmer— as well as tried and true staples Jessica Stam, Heather Marks and Coco Rocha.

Stylish reason to celebrate Canada Day #2. Red carpet couture from the East Coast to La Croisette

The red carpet at this year’s Cannes Film Festival had a fashionable, Nova Scotian look to it. Cape Breton jewellery artist Angela Grace Arsenault was invited by A-list partymakers DPA to showcase her ornate pieces at the celeb gift lounge—and was in hometown company. Halifax designer Lisa Drader-Murphy returned to the French Riviera this year with a selection of goodies from her Halifax boutique, Turbine.

Stylish reason to celebrate Canada Day #3. We pack a one-two punch of culture and style in one night. 

 

 

A double dose of Canadiana: Top model Anais Pouliot wearing Milan-based Canadian label Dsquared2 backstage at the Spring/Summer 2012 show.

This year’s MuchMuch Video Awards was a showcase of Canadian musical and fashion talents. Not only did the stars come out, but they sported designs from some of Canada’s hottest and upcoming talent. Spotted: Katy Perry in a femme fatale, Xena: Warrior Princess-style sheer chiffon dress by Vawk; 90210’s Shenae Grimes in a fitted, custom-designed Amanda Lew Kee; Singer Keshia Chante in an emerald cocktail dress by Lucian Matis.

Stylish reason to celebrate Canada Day #4. Get the Vancouver look—for $21!

A luxe destination in world-class fashion, Vancouver’s signature style has been captured and packaged in Stila’s limited edition Vibrant in Vancouver travel palette ($21, at Vancouver Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques and Murale stores and stilacosmetics.com). Released alongside several other fashionable-city palettes (Lovely in London, Stylish in Seoul, Rockin in Rio, and Sensational in Sydney), Vibrant in Vancouver features five eye shadow shades inspired by local hotspots (Sea Plane, English Bay, Cypress, Granville and Coal Harbour), a convertible colour for lips and cheeks, plus a mirror and a how-to face chart to navigate this city-themed palette.

Cross-country style: A roundup of fashion weeks across Canada

For more fashionable reasons to relish being a Canadian this year, read on…

DSquared-bks-I-RS12-0068CANVAS.jpgStylish reason to celebrate Canada Day #5. Unisex designer and former Montrealer Rad Hourani presents first-ever unisex haute couture collection in Paris.

Bypassing the typical boundaries fashion is framed upon—gender, season, trends—Jordon-born designer Rad Hourani, who’s namesake unisex label celebrated its 5th anniversary this year, will present a unisex haute couture show this July during Paris Haute Couture week, the first of its kind.

Stylish reason to celebrate Canada Day #6. We care, Fashion Cares.

The AIDS Committee of Toronto and Elton John AIDS Foundation are partnering for Fashion Cares 25: A Night of Glitter and Light. Held at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts on September 9, 2012, the night is a fashionable feat in awareness, featuring a red carpet, cocktail reception and a 25-Year Fashion Cares Retrospective exhibit, displaying images, video, and unique fashion, including costumes from Elton John’s personal collection, plus a live fashion show highlighting original pieces inspired by Fashion Cares throughout the years. And of course, Sir Elton will be singing.

Stylish reason to celebrate Canada Day #7. Recognizing Canadians athletes by their (red and white) stripes in London this summer.

A double dose of Canadiana: Top model Anais Pouliot wearing Milan-based Canadian label Dsquared2 backstage at the Spring/Summer 2012 show.

We’ll admit it: we became giddy with hometown pride after seeing HBC’s 2012 Canadian Olympic Team Replica Apparel (the maple leaf festooned on everything from caps to hoodies and summer shades has that effect on us). Don’t miss the Canadian athletes as they take the world stage in London July 27 (we’re looking at you, Mary Spencer!) The entire 2012 Olympic is available at the The Bay, Zellers and thebay.com until September.

Stylish reason to celebrate Canada Day #8. Toronto modelling agent, professor and ELLE Canada contributor Ben Barry’s research on diversity in fashion advertising makes international headlines.

The man behind the namesake diversity-oriented modelling agency he began at 14, researcher Ben Barry published the findings of his PhD in marketing at Cambridge University in ELLE Canada’s June issue—which went viral ever since, sparking the debate from scribes on Jezebel, Vogue Italia and The Guardian. This fall, he brings the conversation back home in Toronto, where he’s teaching introduction to fashion (with a diversity focus) at Ryerson University’s School of Fashion.

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