BEACH BUM

Must-haves for summer fun

With the month of May just around the corner, one can’t help but fantasize about many lazy Sundays at the beach, or while lounging on the dock at the cottage. Don’t be caught scrambling when the warm weather rolls on in. Our top five picks for the perfect summer outfit are right here!

Linen dress. Looking to leave the beach for a boardwalk stroll? Throw a easily fabulous and fashionable frock and you’ll be ready to go. Available at Calypso St. Barth, $195 USD.

Bikini. If you’re ready for some summer sunshine, this cute bikini is a perfect match. Available at Forever 21; top, $10.80 USD and bottom, $9.80 USD.

Wayfarers. Be sure to protect your eyes from the strong sun with a great pair of shades. Available at Dealuxe, $195 CDN.

Tote. What good would having all the necessary beach-related things if you didn’t have a chic bag to carry them in? Available at Club Monaco, $59.50 USD.

Archer sandals. Great both on and off the beach, these sandals will take you wherever it is you need to go. Available at Dealuxe, $80 CDN.

PATTERN PLAY

Who says the boys get to have all the fashionable fun with their socks?

Men have their Happy Socks, but who says us girls can’t have some fun with our feet too? We love the striping and patterns of Instance (known as Stance in the US), who just launched their artist series sock collections this season, featuring Steven Harrington and Don Pendleton styles. Designed in California and created with their 200 needle woven process, Instance, seen on skater boys and girls alike, offers many stylish options for those looking to add a hit of individual style to their look.

From $8 to $18 per pair, visit Stance.com, for where to buy.

WARM WEATHER WHIMSY

Feel like a style star in these great spring accessories with hits of our favourite new colour combination grey and pale blue.

Mad Hatter: Tribly, $19.99, Madewell.

Blue Beauty: Bag, $295, Rebecca Minkoff.

Oxford Circus: Flats, $39.99, Leicester Square.

Me-ow: Scarf, $240, Yarnz.

Wrap Star: Watch, $170, La Mer.

Round of Applause: Sunglasses, $456, Tom Ford.

NAIL CRUSADES

British brand Ciaté brings their line of polishes to ebeauty.ca

In the now constant nails wars there is always a dark horse. Enter Ciaté, a line of formaldehyde and toluene free polishes from Britian, who count Rihanna, Daisy Lowe and Yasmin Le Bon among their famous fans. Each Paint Pot, $14 on ebeauty.ca, contains 250 bristles per brush, and these lush lacquers from former nail technician Charlotte Straughan come in super saturated colours that last. We fell hard for Knickerbockerglory, and others including Vintage, Gold Digga and Ghetto Fabulous.

To Alfred, With Love

David Dixon Fall 2012

Adding flights of fancy to his latest collection, feathers, sequins, leather, embroidered tulle and chiffon took centre stage for David Dixon‘s Fall 2012 showing, which closed out day four of Toronto Fashion Week. Taking direct inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, Canada’s go-to man for fancy frocks and tailored coats, made good on his promise this season, delivering a strong and wearable collection for his customer. Our favourite season of his thus far, we were instantly enamored with the teal strapless dress with a feathered pattern done in complementary sequins, a shiny cream shift dress with peplum details and the feather accented jewels done by Rita Tesolin.

Photography by Laura Berry.

MASS APPEAL

Lundstrom Fall 2012

Since taking over the Lundstrom brand, we’ve come to count on a solid showing of smart coats, suiting and separates  from the Eleventh Floor Apparel team. The almost 40 look collection played homage to ladies of the 1920s, with grosgrain ribbon detailing and piles of crystal jewels on wrist and ears. Sporting brocade, floral prints and pops of lilac, teal and red, the Lundstrom woman is, as always, ready for anything.

Photography by Laura Berry.

MINDFUL MATTER

Label Fall 2012

Often our go-to for environmentally friendly basics, Label, designed by Shawna Robinson and Natalie Sydoruk, presented their Fall 2012 collection, titled A Dangerous Mind, to friends and media at Toronto bar The Bowery last Friday night, along with a video shot in and around the Ossington strip. We were instantly lusting after a pair of grey skinny cords complete with black tuxedo panels, their new ink blot prints and a sweater that came with a detachable leather lower half. A floor length, wool-blend shirt dress, called the Canada dress, natch, would also make a welcome addition to our closet. Everything is priced under $300, making the Label brand a sure bet in our books.

INSPIRATION CITY

FrontRowMag.com’s Rachelle Saevil shares her fashion week musts

Having made a quick stop at New York Fashion Week a couple weeks ago, I’ve already been thinking about what items I’m coveting for Toronto Fashion Week. It’s all about colour for me this season, from bright denim to pastel and prints, and you’ll always see me sporting some gold arm bling. Here are some of my favourite pieces for Spring 2012 and and what you’ll see me wearing at the shows.

Blouse, $275, Equipment. Available at Dealuxe.ca.

Pants, $34.94, Old Navy.

Wedges, $215, Schutz. Available at Dealuxe.ca.

Clutch, $26.86, Asos.

Bracelet, $17.91, Asos.

Watch, $91.52, La Mer.

TUXEDO TIME

Hudson’s new glow-in-the-dark denim takes it’s cues from classic suiting

Sartorially savvy women the world over know the power of a mens-inspired suit or tuxedo—just think Marilyn Dietrich and, more recently, Dita von Teese and Janelle Monae. Husdon jeans took inspiration from these well-dressed characters, taking it even further by adding a phosphorescent stripe down the outside leg of their new LouLou ($ 265), skinny jeans. Simply apply a black light and you’ll be the ultimate conversation starter.

MODERN MIX

Juma Fall 2012 hits New York Fashion Week

Set up at Marvelli Gallery in NYC’s Meat Packing District, Canadian design team Juma showcased their Fall 2012 collection this past weekend in the Big Apple. Achieving what Erdem did for mumsy florals, the Juma siblings continue to bring water-colour and graphic silks up-to-date with modern cutouts, exposed zippers and on-point tailoring. Models lined the box like gallery space side-by-side, while editors and photographers gathered in the centre snapping their shots of the 12-look collection, which now includes those glorious prints on large totes and envelope clutches, mixing bold colours with leather detailing.