There was a launch party last night for H&M’s Girl With The Dragon Tattoo collection at the Thompson Hotel in Toronto, but Montreal-based blogger Natalie Karneef will not be raising a signature cocktail in support of what she describes as a collection that “[glamorizes] rape survivors.” As a survivor herself, she is uncomfortable with the idea of creating clothing that is modelled after a rape survivor’s armour against the world. “Your innocence in the way you present yourself is lost, and the way you dress then takes on a new meaning,” Karneef says. She brings up some interesting criticisms, but we prefer to think of Lisbeth Salander as more than a rape victim—she is an accomplished hacker, and since we’ve seen Hackers, we know Salander is dressing in a manner befitting her tech vigilante lifestyle. Perhaps H&M was simply celebrating just that. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »
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H&M’s “completely virtual” female form is completely unattainable (because, um, it’s virtual)
In what sounds like a plot point from Total Recall, H&M press officer Håcan Andersson has confirmed that the models in a recent lingerie campaign are “completely virtual,” not unlike those on Looklet.com. What exactly does that mean? Yes, real human beings were hired and paid real money to pose for the brand, only to have their heads superimposed on humanized bodies created with photo editing software (for consistency, allegedly).
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Find out what waiting in line—and fighting—for H&M clothing looks like
Customers waited all night for the Versace collab (Image: Lewis Mirret)
Many waited all night long for Versace’s collaboration with H&M; some even whipped up a Bristol board that read, “I’m waiting for Versace for H&M,” in case anyone was confused about why they were there (we assumed they also wanted the attention of news cameras). Fashion magazine woke up bright and early (before the sun came up) this Saturday and took shots of the eager fast fashion enthusiasts. Camping out all night for H&M brings new meaning to suffering for fashion, and we were just happy that we were in bed, where it is warm. In case anyone is wondering, the window dressing went on sale this morning, and if you don’t get your hands on that, you’re out of luck. Click on for Fashion’s gallery of desperate consumers hoping for a taste of affordable Versace »
H&M announces some rules for purchasing from the upcoming Versace collaboration
The word is out: Versace’s collaboration with H&M is hitting shelves in Toronto on Saturday, November 19 at the Toronto Eaton Centre, Yorkdale and Bloor Street locations. The rules will be the same as they were for Lanvin, with 20-person groups shopping at a time (so, arrive early) and a limit of two of each item per person (to deter the jerks who just turn around and sell things on eBay). We checked out the collection today, and it is a little loud—Donatella Versace has made men’s pants with alligators all over them, jackets with palm tree–print sleeves in neon, a vibrant leopard-print skirt with an image of what appears to be a sunset on the derriere (“Look here,” is what it says), chunky golden jewellery with plated animal-head bobbles, and some metal stud dresses that look like sequin, but feel like a ton of bricks (yet, despite the weight, it does seem better made than some past H&M efforts). Check out some of the great pieces—and some that are too flashy for us—after the jump.
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Reaction Roundup: H&M announces collaboration with Versace, most people make jokes
Donatella looks to the Versace archives for her collaboration with H&M (Image: H&M)
H&M announced another collaboration today, this time with Versace (available in North America on November 19). We won’t bore you with the details, because every H&M-designer pairing is the same—limited production (causing mass hysteria and hordes of fans lining up at 4 a.m. to snag the goods) and designer wear at bargain prices. Instead, we present the reaction of Toronto’s fashion community to the news. Writer Sarah Nicole Prickett tweeted “Versace’s up next at H&M. Another hit I’m sure. But a bit of the thrill’s gone out of this hi-lo game no?” and joked that customers would receive a “Donatella-hued self-tanner with purchase,” while the National Post’s Nathalie Atkinson hoped “the just-announced Versace for H&M fall collab (“full of leather, print, colour & exuberance”) ads [would] star Maya Rudolph.” The Grid’s Kate Carraway mocked the press release, noting that “‘Versace is a brand steeped in glamour to its very core’ is just a bad sentence.” As for us, we’re just hoping there’s some Nomi Malone–type items, because we plan to stay orange and tanned until December, and we want to look our best.
Jay Manuel to debut Attitude collection for Sears Canada
(Image: Sears Canada Inc.)
Jay Manuel, esteemed member of Tyra Banks’ entourage turned Canada’s Next Top Model host, has joined forces with Sears Canada as the creative director for Attitude Jay Manuel, a Sears private label whose fall/winter 2011 collection will debut at LG Fashion Week on March 30. According to a press release, the collection combines a sophisticated early 1960s silhouette with luxurious textures from the 1970s (although the fabric that comes to mind when we think ’70s is polyester, so let’s hope Jay’s got something else up his sleeve).
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Two retail bandwagons collide at Roots: social media saturation and the pop-up shop
Toronto is no stranger to pop-up shops, from the Drake BBQ to Frye’s boot stand at Ron White’s to the A2Zane bag emporium on Queen West. Now, Roots is getting into the game, setting up whole new way to get your pop-up shop fix: on-line. The Canadian retailer has opened a Facebook shop to preview their spring collection (similar to their Douglas Coupland microsite last year) jumping onto the bandwagon of retailers trying to appeal to the social media crowd. H&M has offered deals via Facebook, Sears and Home Depot are on Twitter and Black’s has launched an iPhone app, all in an effort to build brand awareness. And their efforts seem to be working—many companies are calling their on-line initiatives a huge growth area. So burgeoning agoraphobics rejoice—it’s never been easier to never leave the house.
Good Stuff Cheap: ladies and gentlemen, here’s how to put together a party outfit for under $200
We challenged two style bloggers, Ryan Michael Cheung (of four1sixfive1four.tumblr.com) and Afiya Francisco (of thestylehouse.ca), to put together a party outfit for $200. They did it, shoes and all
Just Opened: Topshop makes its Toronto debut at Jonathan and Olivia
The Topshop area is tucked in the back of Jonathan and Olivia
The place: Fast-fashion chain Topshop enjoys a cult-like following in Britain and the U.S. thanks to its collaborations with celebs (Kate Moss) and designers (Mark Fast). So when the company announced that it would be opening an 800-square-foot mini-shop inside Ossington boutique Jonathan and Olivia, the city’s fashion pack was all a-Twitter. It’s a strategy Topshop used when it first opened in New York, taking over a floor of the Opening Ceremony store to prime the market before committing to a stand-alone location.
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Thirteen-year-old makes Flare editor cry, H&M organic line is not organic, Jimmy Choo emulates Tommy Ton
• Are Tommy Ton and Jimmy Choo starring in the sequel to Single White Female? Ton thinks so. Earlier this morning, Toronto’s famed street-style snapper pointed an accusing finger at the luxury shoe company when he tweeted, “Is it me or does the Jimmy Choo 24:7 campaign look a lot like…ahem…you know what I mean :S.” Truth be told, it doesn’t take much inspection to see the striking similarities between the images Ton shoots for his blog, Jak and Jil, and Choo’s new campaign. [Fashionista]
• Fashion editors were appalled when 13-year-old blogger Tavi Gevinson sat front row at the Dior couture show, wearing a gargantuan bow atop her head. Flare editor Lisa Tant tweeted, “Sobbing to think that a 13-year-old gets a front-row seat to cover couture. No justice in this world.” Meanwhile, Jeanne Beker took to Twitter, calling Gevinson’s bow “outrageous.” Both women later said their comments were taken out of context. Apparently “outrageous” is a good thing in the fashion world, but burning bridges is not. [Mondoville]
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Christian Louboutin calls his customers ‘sluttish,’ Demi Moore denies Photoshop work, Toronto toy company takes on Barbie
The scandalous Demi Moore W cover
• Christian Louboutin, the man who made six-inch heels the norm, describes his shoes as tarty, saying women sometimes buy them to feel more “sluttish.” These customers include prostitutes, who the designer says wear his shoes because they’re “super-chic.” When that inevitable Pretty Woman remake is shot, Louboutin would be the perfect candidate to supply those “super-chic” thigh-high vinyl boots Julia Roberts wore. [The Times]
• Kate Moss is at it again. This time, the British model is being chastised for admitting that she tells herself that “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” a mantra frequently touted on pro–eating disorder Web sites. Sure, it was an incredibly stupid thing to say, but cut her some slack. She’s a well-documented cocaine user who used to date Pete Doherty. Clearly, her judgment wasn’t too sound to begin with. [BBC]
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Miss J. has a son, the Serena cut is the new Rachel, Jimmy Choo for H&M hits Toronto
Is it the rainbow of colours that makes Crocs so enticing? Don't ask us (Photo by Rupert Ganzer)
• The Serena is the new Rachel. Stylists across New York are being inundated with requests for Blake Lively’s tousled tresses. One salon owner in Manhattan calls it “aspirational hair” and offers extensions to get the look for $1,200 to $1,500. Don’t blow the mortgage payment yet: another stylist says that the look flatters only tall, slim women. [New York Times] Read the rest of this entry »
• Burberry fêted its flagship Toronto store on Bloor Street last week with a gala that drew celebs Ali Larter (of Heroes and Varsity Blues fame), as well as the inseparable After Show duo Dan Levy and Jessi Cruickshank. Meanwhile, Prince Charles and Camilla were partying with Dalton McGuinty at the Carlu, mere blocks away. Too bad the royal couple didn’t pop into the storied British store to lend star power to the guest list. [WWD]
Lady Gaga named top style maker, Roots releases its Olympics line, fate of Gucci film in peril
Miley Cyrus: teeny bopper slash fashion designer (Photo by Mike Schmid)
• Roots may have lost the bid to be the official Olympics clothier (that honour went to The Bay), but the brand is still capitalizing on the upcoming games with its Canada collection. The clothes and accessories are simple, boring, even, with Canadian flags and Cs emblazoned on them. We expect more from Roots—after all, the company made berets popular again. [Toronto Star]
• London H&M stores will hand out wristbands to the first 160 people in line to clamour for the Jimmy Choo diffusion line of clothing and accessories. The wristbands are designed to calm the chaos that inevitably ensues whenever a diffusion line hits the stores. Good luck, H&M. We were at the Yonge and Dundas location when the Matthew Williamson collection was released and were nearly trampled. Not that we wouldn’t claw our way to the new Choo pieces. [The Telegraph]
• We wanted to hate Miley Cyrus’ collaboration with designer Max Azria, we really did. But her collection, which is sold at Wal-Mart, includes some great pieces (like ruffle-neck chiffon shirts and a grey bomber jacket) at unbelievable prices—nothing is over $20 U.S. No word yet on whether the collaboration will come to Canadian stores. [Lucky]
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Fall trends: a sign of the (rough) times?
We’ve been put through the wringer a fair bit over the past year, and fall’s tough-as-nails looks are an armoured reaction. Here, five of the top trends and where to find them in Toronto.
Click on an image to begin the slide show.
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- Above: A look from Balenciaga’s fall 2009 show.
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- Above: Low-rise Steve jeans from J Brand.
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- Above: Black wool dress from Rachel Sin.
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- Above: Vintage 1910 chrysoprase and onyx bracelet from Caroletanenbaum.com.
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- Above: Gucci thigh-high leather boots.
Smarty pants: The best jeans for cool summer days
Boyfriends, skinnies, sailors, motorcycles. Buying a pair of jeans isn’t as easy as it used to be. Here are the top picks from an increasingly diverse bunch.
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