FINAL TOUCH: LUG SHOT

Blaze a new trail in a tough-meets-ladylike boot

Along with chocker necklaces, slip dresses and berry-coloured lips, another signature ’90s trend making a comeback this season is the rugged lace-up boot. Although the utilitarian staple has always been a smart winter pick, the trail-blazing city boot is back in a big way, and it couldn’t be a better match the military-inspired must-haves marching their way straight into your wardrobe.

For a fresh take on the trend, try a block-heeled version that’s as cool as it is capable of going the extra mile. Aside from the steady support of a chunky heel and the warmth of a plush lining, a slip-proof lug sole means icy sidewalks are no barrier to your boundary-breaking winter style.

Pair yours with khaki culottes and a cozy sweater before the deep freeze sets in, or distressed denim and a camo-print parka come snow season. Whether your shipping out to work in a double-breasted jacket and tailored trousers, or to your favourite watering hole wearing a mix of autumnal shades with army green, a boot that’s part grunge and part girlie is the perfect choice when it comes to grounding your cadet-chic looks.

INSPIRED BY SHAPE: MEET PHOEBE COLLINGS JAMES

You can tell a lot about a person from their Instagram (yes, we know, file that in at the Department of No Duh). But beyond the selfies and the duck face and what kind of phone case they’re using, you can also find out important things, like what kinds of books they’re reading, what they think is funny, and what they’re really into. To put our theory to the test, we decided to stalk Phoebe Collings James’ Instagram – because she’s rad. If you don’t already know who she is from our campaign, here’s a quick review: She’s been modeling since she was 13 years old for fashion outlets like Purple and British Vogue, but these days her art is at the forefront. A graduate of the prestigious Goldsmiths University in London, this half-Jamaican Brit has exhibited internationally, from Brooklyn to Beirut and beyond. This year alone sees her with shows in London, Singapore, New York, and the Venice Biennale. And her love of form and figure is apparent in even her most casual photographs. Phoebe Collings James is the real deal. So let’s get creepin’!

1- She hangs with Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing.

2- She’s funny. (And we must say her iPhone case is on point.)

3- She’s got legs for days and curls to die for… said every girl with straight hair ever.

4- The last books she gram’d about were the front cover of Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth, an important work from 1961 about the effects of colonization and the autobiography of Malcolm X. Brains beyond the beauty.

5- She seems like good friend, who asks all of the right questions and even dog sits for her friends.

FANFARE: @THEFASHIONGUITAR

When fashion month rolls in, FOMO strikes & the struggle is real. Obviously,@thefashionguitar’s feed was no exception as she was living the Insta-perfect life on both sides of the pond – oui oui. Needless to say, we were living vicariously through her snaps while she was being photographed by the who’s who of street-style photography. Props to Charlotte G. & her ALDO soles for earning some major street cred in New York and Pareee.

SHOUT OUT: STREET-STYLE STATUS

Goodbye crop tops & hello turtlenecks. Yup, that’s right. Fall (aka the season of guilt-free Netflix & chill) is now upon us and there’s no denying it – unless, you’ve got a one-way ticket to Miami. As much as we will miss shoe bare legs (minus the waxing), nothing brings us joy like rocking a good pair of fall-ready soles. Once again, our influencers take it away with the outfits you’ll want to copy all season long.

SHOUT OUT: 5 REASONS TO LOVE CANADA

Five reasons Canadians love Canada (that have nothing to do with maple syrup).

Even though we all live in igloos and ride moose and wear snowshoes everywhere (since we can’t drive because there’s too much snow) and Tim Horton’s comes out of our taps, us Canadians sure do like it up here. Besides the whole health care thing (nothing to sneeze at) here are five things we love about being Canadian:

We have amazing, spectacular, jaw-dropping nature

From Lake Louise in Alberta to the coast of B.C to the Gaspesie in Quebec to Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada is chock-full of sublime natural sites. Which, if you think about it, makes sense since despite being the 2nd largest country in the world, we have a comparatively tiny population.

We have truly multicultural cities

Just as an example, half of all Toronto residents were born in another country. Even ten years ago, Toronto’s Census reported residents from more than 200 distinct ethnic origins.

We’re nice

And it’s something to be proud of. We smile at each other in greeting and we apologize when we slam into you on the street. We could always try whacking everybody across the face instead, but being nice works too. Actually, let’s just keep being nice!

We keep churning out insanely good talent

Given that our population is about the size of California we have a pretty high ratio of talent repping in Hollywood. People like Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling and Ellen Page and Jim Carrey and Seth Rogan and Elisha Cuthbert and Rachel McAdams and Will Arnett and Catherine O’Hara and – OK, we’ll stop.

CARRY ON: PACK MENTALITY JUL

Is there anything more precious than a day off in the summertime? Just thinking of all the ways you can spend those 24 hours of freedom before getting back to the weekday grind is enough to make you pull the duvet over your head and stay put. But before you start binge-watching Orange is the New Black, consider how productive this day could be when you can get all your errands done all while carry everything you need in a spacious statement tote.

Armed with a bright print-clash carry all bag that pairs like a dream with your downtime looks, you can start the day stretched out into downward dog and then stash your yoga mat through the handles at the top. Putting on your arm-party essentials, you glance at your watch and realize it’s way past coffee o’clock. You touch up your makeup and praise yourself for packing a headband* so you don’t have to face that cute barista with a bumpy messy bun. A text from the girls says it’s time for patio brunch, so you throw on your shades and head over to enjoy some eggs benny under the sun. A little afternoon shopping to seize the rest of the day? Sounds like a plan, especially when there’s still room in your bag for a few fab finds!

FINAL TOUCH: CARTE BLANCHE

Classic, sexy, and flattering for all, white keeps us cool under the hot sun and has an easy feel that just reads as effortless.  Talk about a total no-brainer.  But whereas we used to bust out a pair of white jeans and call it a day, this summer we’re jumping on the head-to-toe bandwagon. It’s been on our minds since we saw it on the runways at Isabel Marant, Akris, and Prabal Gurung. And because we’re not the types to just sit around with our jaws agape, loving something from a distance, we’re trying it out ourselves.

So how to do it? As with any monochrome look, texture is key!  Denim paired with a cotton eyelet has just enough contrast to be interesting (other combos that would work well include denim and silk or suede and cotton – the idea is to have a little bit of variation). Let the look shine by keeping accessories to a minimum, though you’ll definitely want to add a fun bag to the mix: we like a mid-sized wristlet adorned with a tribal motif. Finish the look with a pair of cross-strap slides in white, and voila! As fresh and clean as any runway look (now just try to keep it that way!)