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The fall shopping list 40+ on-trend coats that will keep you warm all season long
Last looks from Paris The best from the runway, the front row and the streets of the Spring 2013 season
Style Panel 4 ways to ease boots into your early fall wardrobe

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DIY Sunglasses: Replicate the feel of Prada’s Spring 2013 shades in 3 steps (and less than $20)
Left: Prada Spring 2013 shot by Peter Stigter. Right: Shot by Stephanie Loy Son

By Charisse Ang

See our step-by-step DIY sunglasses guide »

Another season, another fantastical Prada mash up. With her Spring 2013 collection, Miuccia Prada blended sixties op art prints, silhouettes alongside Japanese inspirations like geishas, harajukus and judo. The result? Unexpectedly-covetable everything.

And while the split-toe judo-inspired platforms may still be making their way into our hearts, Prada’s Spring 2013 sunglasses have made it to the top of our must-have list. Embellished to the point of floral perfection, Prada featured a variety of shades in black, white and red, which were adorned with 3D florals in variotions of the same shades. Must. Have.

And the price tag? Okay, more like must make our own version. In three easy steps (and for under $20), we made our own flowery pair. So without further ado, let’s DIY those seriously dreamy sunglasses from Prada Spring 2013!

2 months ago
Nail Corner: SpooOOOoooky Halloween nail art

The clock is ticking, and if you’re still scrambling to create a Halloween costume it may be time to switch efforts over to your nails. Halloween nail art is an ideal, last-minute way to dress up for this candy-filled holiday and there are plenty of options that take almost no time or effort to do. (Seriously!) First option: do-it-yourself decals. Sally Hansen has a complete series of Halloween-themed Salon Effects nail polish strips, meaning in less than ten minutes your fingers can go from plain to patterned. For those who are more comfortable with nail art, dress up each nail with a Day of the Dead skull, Jack-O-Lantern face or black cat. This week Nail Corner combined Halloween decals with nail art for a somewhat spooky and definitely festive manicure.

See how this Halloween nail art is done! »

6 months ago
What’s in your bag, Oscar PR Girl?
Photography by Stephanie Loy Son

Go inside Oscar PR Girl’s purse »

If the name Erika Bearman doesn’t ring a bell, the Twitter handle @OscarPRgirl certainly will. The newly turned blonde beauty (insider info: blondes do have more fun according to Bearman) came to visit Holt Renfrew last week and gushed about working for fashion legacy, Oscar de la Renta and the movie Truth or Dare. Seriously, if you want to hang with Bearman, it’s highly recommended you watch that film first. It has shaped her entire life (her words, not ours!)

With only a clutch in tow, Bearman showed how to edit a bag to only the essentials but just because it’s small doesn’t mean it didn’t pack a punch. We learned that in Oscar PR Girl’s world, “bigger is better and more is more” when it comes to her cellphone and eyelashes. And if you expected Bearman to be a total girly girl because of ODLR’s signature frothy gowns, you would be mistaken. The face behind the handle loves men’s scented fragrances and even wears Old Spice.

From men’s scents to Jacqueline Kennedy to Korea, Bearman had us captivated by her every word so read on and snoop around her clutch to learn all things Oscar PR Girl.»

1 month ago
Beauty Fix: How to do a frizz-free blowout on the most humid of days and more answers to your beauty questions

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

How do I make my at-home blowout frizz-free in the summer?
Something key to remember is that the environment in which you blowdry your hair has a large impact on how your hair will react to heat styling. It’s advisable to blowdry your hair in a dry environment, i.e. not the bathroom you just steamed up with your shower! Next, make sure your hair is actually completely dry when you have completed the blowout. Any damp areas are likely to react to the air temperatures around you, which seldom results in smooth strands. Always finish hair with an anti-humidity spray, such as Oribe Imperméable Anti-humidity Spray ($44, at Donato Salon & Spa), which utilizes copolymer technology to shield hair from the impact of humidity, and also contains a UV filter to protect hair.

I’m not comfortable going without foundation, but on a hot day my oily skin makes it a challenge to keep my foundation in place. Any recommendations?
This is a common problem for so many people, especially when seasons change. I think anyone can relate to feeling a bit naked with no makeup applied on a day-to-day basis, but there’s no need to throw in the towel just yet. With the right products, your makeup won’t be melting off your face much longer! Enlist a mattifying primer like Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector ($44, sephora.ca), to your routine. It’s silicon-free (no heavy feeling on the skin), and contains EverMat, a trademarked formula that works to control sebum production while tightening pores—all good things! Once that’s settled into your skin (give it a minute or two), apply Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation ($64, sephora.ca) to the areas you feel you need coverage the most. This particular foundation is a liquid-to-powder formula that dries down to a velvety finish without looking dull or flat, and contains anti-aging ingredients, which are certainly welcomed if you are wearing foundation on a daily basis.

I feel like my eyeshadow looks fine when I apply it, but then it doesn’t really have as much impact after a few hours. How do I fix this?
First of all, you should definitely be using an eyeshadow primer whenever you want your shadow to go the distance for you. Once your primer is applied, reach for something that will add dimension to your overall look—the more dimension, the more impact! Chanel Stylo Eyeshadows ($36 each, at Chanel counters) are an intriguing new range of shimmer cream shadows in stick format. These bright pigments will add a bit of shine to your eye makeup routine and the application is sublime. The texture and consistency will cool your lids when gliding onto skin but the colour will not budge once set—so you’ll pleased with how they perform during the sticky-heat of summer months.

I understand properly cleansing skin is important, but wipes don’t really cut it on my lazy days. How can I still cleanse my face without a slew of steps to complete?
I think a lot of people can relate to this sentiment! Everyone wants camera-ready skin, but to actually take care of skin properly requires a significant amount of effort, time and consideration of products and practices used! I’ve never been a fan of quick cleansing with facial wipes, because they never seem to really take everything off my skin, so I turn to the next best thing: a multi-functioning cleanser, which serves as a makeup remover, cleanser and toner in one. A favourite is Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Triple-Action Cleanser ($32, esteelauder.ca), because the airy foam is remarkably effective in removing makeup—long-lasting formulas included. This cleanser does so without stripping skin, as it contains a complex of blue algae (which is vitamin- and mineral-rich), Zinc PCA (which controls oil production) and milk thistle (which adds moisture to the skin).

I gravitate towards green fragrances, but would love something new for summer. Any suggestions?
Always! I think it’s important to expand your olfactory horizons little by little with each fragrance that you engage in. Try something that’s more citrus than green in terms of freshness, so it won’t be a complete compromise for what you already have an inclination towards using. I recommend L’Occitane Thé Verte & Bigarade ($75, loccitane.ca), which is a new scent that you will reach for constantly, starring orange essential oil from Tunisia and green tea extract from Japan, resulting in a bright, fresh fragrance that is delightful on anyone. (Bonus: this fragrance is actually unisex!)

4 days ago