Au Naturel
It’s time to start mentally preparing yourself to peel off the winter sweats and dream about warmer days. But that doesn’t mean you have to go too far outside that comfort zone. Brooklyn designer Lauren Manoogian’s spring/summer 2021 collection is all about fresh energy, exploration and experimentation—with room to breathe. Volume, lightness, clean lines and neutral colours will make you want to embrace—and celebrate— a natural state this spring.
From $320, laurenmanoogian.com
Happy Monday
We can’t get enough of the pretty pink packaging from New Zealand hair-care line Monday, but we also love its SLS-and paraben-free formulas, which promise professional (and affordable!) quality. Offering four animal-cruelty-free shampoo and conditioner pairs (Gentle, Smooth, Moisture and Volume), the brand that’s making a splash down under has finally arrived on our shelves. It’s enough to turn TGIF into TGIM.
From $8, at shoppers drug mart, shoppersdrugmart.ca, and walmart, walmart.ca
Object of Desire
Award-winning Toronto womenswear label Beaufille recently launched its first permanent e-commerce site. On offer? A chic limited-edition capsule of ready-to-wear jewellery and objects made from recycled and deadstock materials along with—for the first time—sculptural home and decor items. “We like describing our objects as unique investment pieces that bridge the gap between function and fantasy,” says co-designer Parris Gordon. “They are an extension of the brand’s ethos and design aesthetic.” These one-of-a-kind blooms were hammered by hand and make for a bouquet that will never fade.
From $165, beaufille.com
Angel Chen X Canada Goose
We love the avant-garde style of Angel Chen, who was discovered on Netflix’s fashion-competition show Next in Fashion, hosted by stylist Tan France and It girl Alexa Chung. Now, the Chinese designer is collaborating with Canada Goose on a capsule collection consisting of 13 pieces. Warm up to it online and in select Canada Goose stores.
Quiet Noise
As our second pandemic year grinds on, so does the attendant fatigue. It’s no wonder, then, that we’ve collectively been finding solace in ambient, slow-paced atmospheric music with minimal lyrics. Ideal for meditation, to increase work focus or to simply have on in the background for company (and sanity), this genre is on the upswing—and it’s mainly by women artists. Julianna Barwick’s Healing Is a Miracle features soaring abstract vocals and droning synths that work as an instant soother (think the music equivalent of a face mask), while Emily A. Sprague’s Hill, Flower, Fog is completely instrumental, offering shimmering notes to accompany everyday domesticity. Harpist Mary Lattimore’s Silver Ladders has loop pedals and added instrumentation that lend themselves to a waking dream state—perfect for staring at spreadsheets—and Canadian Sea Olena’s more vocal Weaving a Basket is like plunging into an ethereal slow-folk bath.
Fest for the Ears
Food writer and cookbook maven Meredith Erickson (Alpine Cooking , Claridge’s: The Cookbook and the Joe Beef cookbooks) has a new project out this month: an Audible Original series in which she eats her way across Canada. Erickson hit the road to meet chefs, food purveyors, farmers and producers from coast to coast—all in the name of good food. “I wanted to make Canada digestible one story at a time,” she says. “That’s how Field Guide to Eating in Canada came about. And the Audible process of going out with a sound producer was so refreshing and exciting to me. I was ready to try something new.” Exploring the many cuisines and people that shape our country, Erickson shows us that even though we might not be travelling right now, we should definitely start planning on it.
The Cut
Black-and-white pieces with alluring graphic cut-outs ruled the runways for spring/summer 2021. Find novel takes on these trends in the latest collection from emerging Canadian label Markoo, which offers breezy silhouettes and flattering peekaboo details, like its ‘90s-inspired Boxer dress (above). Designers Mona Koochek and Tania Martins are also working to make sustainable materials a cornerstone for the label, and we could not be more thrilled.
French Kiss
Rouge Dior, the iconic range of lipsticks from the French house, is getting a full revamp to start the new year in style. Highlights include an enhanced formula with protective active ingredients (like peony and grenadier flower), two new finishes (ultra-comfortable and ultra-matte Velvet and shimmery Metallic) and a refillable case (like the very first Dior lipstick, launched in 1953!). Plus it now comes in more than 75 shades.
If you’re wondering how to magnify that pout without staining your mask, follow the advice of Peter Philips, Dior’s creative and image director: “Massage the colour on your lips with your finger- tip and then fade the excess product with a tissue. The result is like colouring your lips with ink.” Duly noted.
From $48, dior.com
New Directions
Bundled Objects by Audie Murray is made from quartz, cinder and braided fabric.
The art world and its institutions don’t always celebrate a diversity of voices. But Where Do We Go From Here?, guest curated by Nya Lewis of BlackArt Gastown in collaboration with the Vancouver Art Gallery’s curatorial department, proposes to broaden the conversation and offer a new look at established narratives. The eclectic exhibition features recent work from 21 diverse Canadian artists, many of whom are presenting at the gallery for the first time. It’s on display at the Vancouver Art Gallery until May 30.
On the Rise
Olivia Rubens is making her mark. Winner of the 2020 International Talent Support Responsible Fashion Award, the young Canadian designer and Ryerson Fashion alum impressed jurors with her innovative, striking collection, Duplicitous Lives. Exploring feminine identities, with a focus on social issues and sustainability, Rubens used masked headdresses, soft woven corsetry and juxtaposed layers to highlight traceable knits, non-toxic plant-based yarn, organic cotton and fabrics made from recycled denim and plant-based plastics. Watch for her spring/summer 2021 collection, Birds of a Feather, which celebrates the self in all its complexities.
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