Editors' Blog

As if H&M wasn’t already conquering the world of fashion with its non-stop haute designer collabs. Yesterday, during the Sonia Rykiel for H&M showdown at Paris’ Grand Palais, the man behind the brand, Karl-Johan Persson, announced that they were planning to expand to Home stores in 2010. H&M’s Home line, while wildly coveted (or is that just Christine and I?) in North America is still yet to be available in Canada but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that with the planned expansion (which also includes new stores in South Korea and Israel) they’ll evetually set their sights on the great north giving us another favourite designing Swede (the first being Ikea) to love. Come to think of it, the Swedish sure know the definition of cheap chic!

 Print This Post      Email This Post    Stephanie Boridy    one comment

Recyling, drinking from re-usable cups, saving water… Doing our part for the environment has become second nature. But what about fashion? If you’re like me, there are a lot of labels like Zara and XXI in your closet, brands that are definitely known more for great fashion at affordable prices then for being earth-friendly.

Enter Montreal-based (and international label) Harricana by Mariouche. Specialized in vintage furs, her boutique is a treasure trove of fur vests, coats, boots and hats of all kinds. If you’re thinking about spicing up your cold weather wardrobe with something furry – and who isn’t: fur was all over the FW09 runways – I’d definitely recommend that you pop into her store or website for something chic, snuggly and best of all, recycled.

And if you have Grandma’s coat lying around, you can bring it in and have it either made into a new style or into some accessories. Come spring, you’ll be able to do the same with wedding dresses – a gift certificate would make a perfect congrats-on-your-divorce present, no?

 Print This Post      Email This Post    Christine Laroche    no comment

Missoni fall/winter 2009/2010 (KEYSTONE Press / Andreea Angelescu)

Whatever you want to call it – infinity scarf, tube scarf, super-snugly snood – the loopy style is well on its way to becoming winter’s It accessory.

Christine has been all about the snood for months, while other friends have regaled me stories of stolen snoods and mad snood hunts. (One actually admitted she’s not sure what she loves more: the scarf or getting to repeat the word “snood” over and over.)

The trend appeared on the fall 2009 runways of designers like Burberry and Missoni (shown), and to Christine’s our delight, stores like H&M and Zara are now stocking snoods of varying designs and designations.

With the snood’s throw-and-go ease and practical versatility (if your ears get cold, you can simply pull it up and don it as a hood), no wonder the fashion world is obsessed!

 Print This Post      Email This Post    Janna Zittrer    no comment

Diane Kruger arrives at the CHANEL "Fete d'Hiver" Fall Gala to Benefit Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center at the Four Season in NYC.

Whether you blame fashion’s ’80s moment or just the holiday season, there’s no denying that sequins are everywhere. I don’t know about you but I am still on a shopping mission for the perfect piece but now that I’ve seen this Chanel number on Diane Kruger, everything else pales in comparison. It is perfection: The mix of black and midnight blue (so pretty), the flirty, figure-flattering A-line silhouette (skintight + sequins is not something I am willing to step out in — though Nath makes it look oh-so-easy in her French Connection number!), and the perfect little cap sleeves.

Anyone seen something similar out there? Or are you totally turned off sequins since seeing the Hoff wear them last night?

P.S. If you’re as attracted to shiny objects as I am, our glitzy November issue is definitely the one for you!

Photo: PR Photos / Janet Mayer

 Print This Post      Email This Post    Christine Laroche    one comment

Nathalie Rykiel, President and Artistic Director at Sonia Rykiel Photo: Matthieu Salving

I love some good news on a Monday morning: After Jimmy Choo’s collection hits stores in November  (you can read about and see in the October issue), Sonia Rykiel is  the next designer to go cheap and chic. Her limited edition collections — yes, there will be two — will be available in early December (lingerie) and another (knitwear) in spring 2010.

So what do you think: Will you lineup for a piece from this iconic French House?

 Print This Post      Email This Post    Christine Laroche    one comment