We explain what’s up with burgundy and other seasonal trends, with the help of nine of the city’s most stylish stylists.
Click here for a close-up view of our stylist photo shoot!
Camel (as seen on Trevor in the photo shoot above)
Camel, both the fabric and the colour, is one of those things that just never goes out of style. And yet there aren’t very many men, especially young men, walking around the city wearing long camel coats. Bad call, because there are few other ways to look sexier in the drab months post-October than by slipping one over whatever you’re wearing: jeans, a suit, or more caramel-hued pieces, like loads of designers did (take a look at how Maison Martin Margiela put the outfit together). This year, if there’s one thing more baller than camel, it’s camel on camel.
Leather (as seen on June in the photo shoot above)
You’re probably going to laugh when you read that leather is a trend for autumn and winter, right? It’s like saying black’s all the rage. When isn’t leather fashionable? But leather (both real and faux) is freaking everywhere! It’s on your jackets, pants, skirts, coat sleeves, tees, shirt collars, and we bet we can find it on undies, too. You can go full-on with animal skins, as many designers did—Fendi, Alexander Wang, Versace, Ann Demeulemeester, and plenty of others were outfitting Lisbeth Salander lookalikes. Or you can add a touch here and there. Club Monaco, which has a tremendous fall collection this year, has added subtle hints to its pieces, like trim on the lapels and pockets of a wool plaid coat ($389).
Oversized coats (as seen on Nitziti in the photo shoot above)
Things you can hide under these coats include a whole turkey, three inflated balloons, and a pregnancy. As with the pear shape, this fall’s silhouettes arrive just in time for scoffing down an entire platter of your mom’s holiday baking. And if that’s not enticing enough for you, just think about the thick, woolly sweaters you can fit underneath them. These coats, on the runway at Céline, Chloé, and Jil Sander, are so voluminous that no one is going to mistake the bulk for your bulge. Zara is a good bet for finding one at a price suitable for a look that’s not exactly timeless.
British gentry (as seen on Jon in the photo shoot above)
If you look like you’re about to gather the hounds, mount a horse, and take off across the British countryside in pursuit of a terrified fox, then you’ve mastered this look. Nubbly tweeds, Ralph Lauren checks, and elbow patches are where it’s at, but that kind of sophistication may not appeal to you if you’re a man under the age of, say, 60. Still, there are plenty of modern, youthful interpretations that won’t get you confused for Sherlock Holmes or Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The
mall is full of the stuff, such as the herringbone blazer and skinny tie from Banana Republic.
Pear shape (as seen on on Monique and Leesa in the photo shoot above)
Sir Mix-a-Lot’s preference for women with “little in the middle but got much back” seems to be shared by many designers this season. Cinched-in waists and fullness through the hips and, yes, backside is the silhouette of the moment, like Joan Holloway’s bottom half on steroids. There were quite a few extreme examples of the shape (Stella McCartney, Carvin) on the runway, along with more wearable versions (Lanvin, Rodarte). Peplums—that extra flounce of fabric circling around the middle—are just as in as they were last year. You could also try this three-step plan: Wear a winter-weight jumper over a full pleated skirt and fasten a belt snugly around your waist.
Burgundy (as seen on Dustin in the photo shoot above)
Need a cue for the colour of the season? Just look at what’s being poured out of your $9 bottle of Friday night Malbec. Guys, of all the fall trends, burgundy has to be one of the easiest to incorporate into your regular rotation of jeans and plaid button-ups. Here’s how you do it: Pick up a pair of merlot-hued trousers (Gap has a pair of cords for $70 and Joe Fresh has a similar, slimmer style for a measly $19) and throw on a black shirt. Seriously, that’s all there is to it. And you’ll look like a rock star. A rock star with really, really cool pants.
Florals and brocade (as seen on Monique and Priscilla in the photo shoot above)
At first, jewel-tone florals and metallic brocades in silks, satins, and velvet may say “Rosedale window treatment,” but on a wicked dress and a confident woman, that Old World fustiness becomes totally sexy. Proof: the frocks from Erdem, embroidered mini-dresses from Balmain, and cocktail attire from Marchesa. These are not the sweet flowery prints that you might find on cottage bedding. We’re partial to the Adelita brocade number from Anthropologie ($198).
Matching (as seen on Leesa in the photo shoot above)
For years, we’ve been living by the words of What Not to Wear’s Stacy London: “Things don’t have to match, they have to go.” Matching your purse to your coat to your belt to your shoes was like wearing a sign that read, “I have no creativity, and I love the ’80s.” Well, step off, Stacy, because matching is back. On the runway, it was all about wearing multiple pieces in the same pattern. Miuccia Prada featured suits in psychedelic patterns with matching pants and jackets for both her Miu Miu and Prada collections, and she was just one of many designers doing so. For less of a Don Cherry vibe, you could just try matching your nail polish to something you’re wearing.
Cobalt (as seen on Leesa in the photo shoot above)
Every season, designers seem to favour certain colours. Cobalt blue, which happily looks rad on every skin tone, is one of them this year. They particularly liked pairing it with black, as in both Marc Jacobs’s and Zac Posen’s collections. There’s oodles of it in Toronto shops—mostly in bags and sweaters. It’s a rich shade of blue, so don’t be surprised if you see it in cocktail dresses as the holiday season approaches.
Patterned knits (as seen on Steve in the photo shoot above)
Bill Cosby is your man. Your sweater should look like it could be mistaken for one of his Cosby Show numbers. It’s 2012’s ironic fashion statement, like trucker hats or sweatshirts with wolves on them. Don’t be frightened: This is all about injecting a little silliness into your decidedly unfunny collection of striped knit jumpers. Highbrow fashion houses—Ermenegildo Zegna, for example—are even doing slightly untasteful patterns. Head to Tommy Hilfiger, J.Crew, or any one of Toronto’s vintage stores to find them. We spied one from Topman (the men’s section of Topshop at The Bay), with elbow patches, for $56. If it’s still a bit too ridiculous for your liking, you could gently ease into the trend with a Fair Isle–patterned knit tie from Oliver Spencer.
Bright accessories (as seen on Leesa and Steve in the photo shoot above)
While fall tones tend to be earthy, bright colours aren’t going anywhere for fall. But a neon-green cashmere sweater isn’t the most versatile of pieces. Eye-popping belts and pumps are a more reasonable way to wear Popsicle shades, paired with jeans and a tee or a plain dress. Right now, the racks at J.Crew are a rainbow of fabric (including that neon-green cashmere sweater, if you’re interested), and they also have leather skinny belts, both matte and patent, in an almost confusingly wide array of hues ($54). For footwear, H&M and Aldo have your back.
STORE DIRECTORY
On Trevor: Shirt ($30), H&M, various locations, hm.com/ca; tie ($15), H&M; Plectrum by Ben Sherman cardigan ($158), Ben Sherman, 734 Queen St. W., 416-603-7437; blazer ($298), Ben Sherman; Georgetown trousers ($110), Over the Rainbow, 101 Yorkville Ave., 416-967-7448; Tiger of Sweden shoes ($299), Deluxe Boutique, 793 Queen St. W., 416-603-3704.
On June: Designers Remix Charlotte Eskildsen Signature dress ($469), Deluxe Boutique, 793 Queen St. W., 416-603-3704; Bod & Christensen leather jacket ($399), Deluxe Boutique; necklaces ($59 and $120) and ring ($36), Love of Mine Boutique, 781 Queen St. W., 416-368-4999; booties ($180), Nine West, various locations, ninewest.ca.
On Nitziti: Line & Dot top ($130), Charlie Boutique, 809 Queen St. W., 647-436-8452; Rich & Skinny waxed-cotton jeans ($250), Over the Rainbow, 101 Yorkville Ave., 416-967-7448; coat ($144), Topshop at The Bay, 176 Yonge St., 416-861-9111; necklace ($36), Love of Mine Boutique, 781 Queen St. W., 416-368-4999; Boutique 9 by Nine West booties ($325), Nine West, various locations, ninewest.ca.
On Jon: Shirt ($19), Joe Fresh, various locations, joefresh.com; blazer($685), Ted Baker, opening Nov. 16 at Yorkdale Shopping Centre; chinos ($148) and shoes ($148), Penguin, 700 Queen St. W., 416-504-1234.
On Monique: Dress ($355), Ted Baker, opening Nov. 16 at Yorkdale Shopping Centre; belt ($12), Joe Fresh, various locations, joefresh.com; shoes ($120), Aldo, various locations, aldoshoes.com.
On Dustin: Shirt ($125), Lacoste, Toronto Eaton Centre, 416-593-0001; sweater ($138) and shoes ($178), Ben Sherman, 734 Queen St. W., 416-603-7437; bowtie ($8), Courage My Love, 14 Kensington Ave., 416-979-1992; blazer ($285), Scotch & Soda, Toronto Eaton Centre, 647-477-4095; trousers ($135), Scotch & Soda; Happy Socks ($13), A2Zane, 753 Queen St. W., 416-803-7754; glasses ($10), Public Butter, 1290 Queen St. W., 416-535-4343.
On Priscilla: Dress ($40) shoes ($40), H&M, various locations, hm.com/ca; necklace ($20), Aldo, various locations, aldoshoes.com; jacket ($225), Wilfred, Toronto Eaton Centre, 416-597-0644.
On Leesa: Dress ($48), Koopdekour pop-up shop at Love of Mine Boutique, 781 Queen St. W., 416-368-4999; jacket ($385), Ted Baker, opening Nov. 16 at Yorkdale Shopping Centre; CC Skye leather bracelet ($169), A2Zane, 753 Queen St. W., 416-803-7754; Hue tights ($16), The Bay, various locations, thebay.com.
On Steve: Shawl cardigan ($298), Over the Rainbow, 101 Yorkville Ave., 416-967-7448; jeans ($39), Joe Fresh, various locations,joefresh.com; Gitman Bros. shirt ($225) and tie ($85), Nomad, 819 Queen St. W., 416-202-8777; shoes ($178), Penguin, 700 Queen St. W., 416-504-1234.
