White diamonds

While a bright-print caftan can easily tread into muumuu territory, a simple ivory sheath trimmed in ornate beadwork looks chic on any shape, at any age.

Beaded silk tunic, $320, triangle bikini top, $40, and bottoms, $79, all from Zeugari, zeugari.com. Bangles, $30 per pair, ReMix Clothing, remixclothing.ca.

White on

Unexpected details make simple basics that much better. French cuffs dress up a short-sleeved button front shirt, while board shorts look downright refined in a heavyweight fabric, slim shape and tuxedo trim.

Short-sleeved cotton button front shirt, $150, Maison St. Pierre, and twill shorts, $85, Loft 604, both from GotStyle,
gsmen.com.

White or wrong

This isn’t your grandma’s old-fashioned swimming costume. Play it cool in a modern sporty-chic silhouette, complete with plunging neckline and hip hood.

One-piece swimsuit, $120, Tosca Delfino, toscadelfino.com. Beaded hoop necklace, $80, ReMix Clothing, remixclothing.ca.

Beauty note: A wardrobe this refreshingly light sets the stage for bright makeup to be a standout star. For a subtle hit, experiment with coloured mascara like MAC Cosmetics Zoom Lash in Green is Green, $17. If you’re beauty-adventurous, sport a pout that pops in MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Good to Go, $19, or Dazzleglass Creme in If It’s Pink, $22.

Whiteout

Lace, the season’s hottest texture, needn’t only be prim and proper. Cut to a slouchy tee, it’s the perfect peek-a-boo addition to a bikini top and high-waisted micro shorts. Now, you’re set to hit the beach and the after party.

Oversized lace T-shirt, $110, and denim cutoff shorts, $125, both Mink Pink from Jacflash, jacflash.net. Metal sunglasses, $30, and enamel and silver bangle, $500, both ReMix Clothing, remixclothing.ca.

White knight

Be a beacon among the sea of black, grey and navy suits. Take advantage of summer’s relaxed vibe and go full-on Miami Vice style with a trim T-shirt and soft slip-on shoes.

Tuxedo-style cotton-blend jacket and pants, $775, Drykorn, cotton T-shirt, $65, Full Circle, both from GotStyle, gsmen.com. Cotton shoes, $15, H&M, hm.com.

Isle of white

Forget about itsy-bitsy. With a sweetheart neckline here and a ruffle there, the allure of retro-style suits — and their figure-flattering ways — blows any teeny-weeny bikini out of the water.

Beaded bandeau top, $175, One Teaspoon, from Jacflash, jacflash.net. High-waisted bikini bottoms, $150, (sold with top, not shown), Tosca Delfino,
toscadelfino.com. Hammered cuff, $68, ReMix Clothing, remixclothing.ca.

Photography Alvaro Goveia
Styling Donovan Whyte, judyinc.com
Makeup and hair David Goveia, judyinc.com, using M.A.C. Cosmetics
Models Eunique and Jamie S., Elmerolsenmodels.com
Styling assistant Ryan Catney, Judyinc.com

Louis Vuitton

By Karen Welcome

Gentlemen next spring is the time to pull out all of your checks and shed your fears of colour. Whether you’re the man who prefers an impeccably tailored suit or the easy-going swagger of a track suit, the runway shows of Spring 2012 ready-to-wear proved to have something for everyone.

Sarah Burton cited English rock as her inspiration for her latest Alexander McQueen menswear collection. Her mod looks were filled with plaid monochromatic looks with slim fitting trousers and blazers that were fit for the hipster of any decade. It was also all in the details at Gucci with houndstooth and Prince of Wales checks on tailored suits reminiscent of Frida Giannini’s inspiration of British gentlemen’s clubs.

Calvin Klein

Maison Martin Margiela

The minimalist looks of Calvin Klein Collection were on edge with sheer shirts and textured blazers made from rubber tiles accompanied with trousers cut for a relaxed fit. “Relaxed” was also prevalent on the runway of Maison Martin Margiela as models walked down the runway looking anything but stuffy donning unbottoned shirts and blazers with trousers rolled up at the hem to reveal the effortlessly cool look of the lining.

The preppy looks at Louis Vuitton were fit for the constant traveller with a fashion aestheic that combines African details with sharp finishes, while Dsquared turned up the fun for Spring 2012 with punches of colour amongst a palette of neutrals and stripes to complete an eccentric nautical look.

With nods to multiple looks and decades you’re sure to hone your own look for spring 2012 with retro finds from your very own closet to the one of a kind treasures you pick up along the way.

Louis Vuitton

All photos from Style.com.

Simone 'Monie' Walsh

By Erica Phillips

Simone “Monie” Walsh scrambled around Oku Blue in Mississauga recently, preparing for her fashion show, a celebration of her 10th year as a fashion designer, thanks in large part to her father who believes in her.

He took a liking to Walsh’s clothes and suggested she try to make money. “Your clothes are nice, tell me what you need,” Walsh says.

A very organized Walsh developed a spreadsheet listing all the costs and potential income associated with her business venture. She started Mo’knotic in 2002 with t-shirts and summer tops just to get her name out there. Her father, who has his own company, even sponsored Walsh to be in the Jerk Festival.

“If he sees that you are trying and want to do something with your life, you’re creative, he’s drawn to that,” she says.

He still helps Walsh: encourages her to develop a business plan, go to the bank, write up a proposal, get some sponsors, but if she still needs money, her dad will lend a hand.

“In the beginning he really gave me a push,” Walsh says.

He loaned her some money and it’s all been paid back. As the pieces sold, her father took a commission; they split the profits.

The 30 year-old, who lives in Brampton started at the bottom of the fashion ladder, working at stores such as Guess, Buffalo and Parasuco; Walsh wanted to see what people liked and why they shopped. She’s been sketching since she was in her teens.

Initially Walsh designed for young people, up to age 25, but now she doesn’t consider age: her mother wears her designs. For Walsh it’s about comfort, how you feel and what it does for you.

Shernett Swaby, a Toronto designer liked Walsh’s work, acted as her mentor, told her to try and sell everything she sewed. She also worked with other designers as an assistant: fabric shopping, pressing clothes etc.

Walsh still works full-time in customer service because the income is not steady enough from Mo’knotic.

Summer is a busy time for Walsh: she does a lot of custom work for special occasions such as weddings. Saturdays you can find Walsh in Toronto’s fashion district at Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue, where the shop owners have gotten to know her and save fabric samples for the young designer.

“I just feel like a kid in a candy store, the feel of the fabrics. I escape with my creative thoughts,” she beamed.

Stretch denim- anything stretch- is one of Walsh’s favourite fabrics to work with because it fits many body types. She would love to design for Canadian singer Keshia Chante and BET’s Roxy of 106 and Park.

“The reason why I’m drawn to these people is because of their personalities, I think my clothing line speaks that way and would really bring them out even more and if they wore my pieces they be comfortable, it would represent their personality,” Walsh says.

Fashion District at 555 Queen St. W in downtown Toronto sells the Mo’knotic line. You can also visit www.moknotic.com.

The fashion show gave the audience a peak at the wide range of clothes Walsh designs: club wear, eveningwear and street wear. Models were dressed in blues, gold, browns, black, taupe, turquoise, some softly flowing pieces, some body skimming, boleros, short shorts, capris, upscale jeans, jumpsuits, a few ruffles, baby doll style tops, tank tops; many pieces had lace-up and cut out details for a unique look.  The eveningwear was particularly stunning and featured a variety of lengths and some Asian inspiration.

Eventually Walsh would like to sell her collections in a more stores; she has met with a few retail owners.

She sews and distributes from home in Brampton, however Walsh is looking to get into a factory and start mass production this fall. She has a few people who are willing to support her and invest in her so she can take that next big step.

Photo courtesy of moknotic.com

By Karen Welcome

With stores filled with racks and racks of barely-there bikinis and suits with plunging neck-lines, swimsuit shopping can be just as pleasurable as getting waxed.

Recently I decided to join a friend of mine in her Aqua Fit classes. They seem like a lot of fun and the water doesn’t put as much pressure on my joints as the cardio machines at my own gym do. I thought it also couldn’t hurt to have a swimsuit ready for my next vacation.

Looking forward to my first class, I went searching for a trendy suit that would keep everything in it’s place. What started out as a fun shopping day quickly became a chore as I went from store to store realizing how little options there are out there for full-figured women. My quest didn’t falter though, and I found some suits that fit the bill. Here are some tips on what to look for in a bathing suit and where to find them in stores and online.

Additionelle

Opt for swimwear that has bust support or a built-in bra with thicker straps that fit comfortably on your shoulders. Look for prints that show off your figure and your skin tone in the best light and pay attention to details such as rouching, ruffles or side panels that help to give you a more svelte look. Also, piping and boning are great assets in a swimsuit as well.

In Store Walmart’s George label has colourful

Monif C

bathing suits and they also carry a line called Krista that has designed one and two pieces with great coverage and style. Additionelle and Pennington’s have some pretty swim dresses while Gussied Up carries one of my favourite plus designers Monif C’s sexy designs with a fifties vibe. Fast-fashion chain Old Navy also has fashionable pieces that go up to size 20 and Forever 21 had my favourite pics for plus size swimsuits including a tribal tankini with swim shorts.

Forever 21

Online Spanx has swimwear that includes its body shaping material that smoothes you out in all the right places. My favourite piece is their High Rise Bikini Bottom which is perfect for pairing with a bandeau of your choice. One Stop Plus also has very flattering numbers from labels such as Miraclesuit and Woman Within and Old Navy US has a plus size collection that is for exclusively for online shoppers with a few pieces I have my eye on.

Also, don’t forget to accessorize with kaftans, tunics and dresses. Add some bold, chunky jewellery to your outfit as you would to any cocktail or sun dress. Top off with a great pair of shades and you’re ready for getting in a good workout and having fun in the sun.

Flowers as headpieces…can you imagine? When I think of flowers as headpieces, it reminds me of a hippie punk rocker from the 60’s. But thanks to the popularity of fascinators and the Royal Wedding, it seems people are now getting into headgears and similar adornments. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge is being touted worldwide as a fashion icon and it seems some of her style sensibilities are making their way to the United States and Canada. Most notably, her love for hats, which local retailers say has given the headwear market a welcome boost.

A headpiece like this is an updated version of how our moms use to wear this accessory back in the 60’s and 70’s. It’s also an updated style of the headpieces from the 40’s. Whether it is made of silk, mesh, velvet and similar materials, headpieces were seen on a lot of catwalk shows for spring and summer 2011, including Chanel and Dior. Both brands actually encapsulate the style of the glamorous 40’s, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re incorporating this.

Part ornament, part garment, these creations have been making their steady rise through social events and summer weddings in past years. The fascinator has become the headwear of choice for the summer season and celebrities from Kate Middleton to Sarah Jessica Parker have lately been seen sporting the trend.

In December 2010, I was introduced to two lovely young ladies who caught on to the fascinator trend, decided to add their own signature touch to each piece and named it “Banoo by Mesa.”

“MeSa” abbreviated from the combination of the names of Banoo by MeSa’s Co-founders and Designers, Jen Mehrnoush Zomederis and Sahar Talebi is the creative trademark of the duo who decided to embrace this hot craze and capitalize on the movement in the fashion scene. Friends and comrades of over 15 years, the pair embarked on their journey as designers and creators of headwear in 2009.

Sahar’s and Jen’s passion for handcrafting unique creations was instilled in them as young ladies when they were asked to take part in a local fashion show. It was there that the ladies created their first headpiece handcrafted to perfection. After receiving a remarkable praise for their unique pieces, they decided to follow their dreams and make a mark in the industry. Since then, their fascinators have been featured on many individuals in the Toronto Scene and Promotional Campaigns, including Event Planner Wayne Warner “Warner Lifestyle” well renowned “All Black Affair” in 2010. The ladies took their business to an all time high when they were featured in a fashion show in New York city called L’hors Du L’ordinaire, which was put together by my stylist and me during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Jen and Sahar are strong believers of women empowerment, advocates of equality, and present their collection as a tool for change. Raised as two independent and free spirited girls in strong Persian families they value the importance of pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo.

One more thing to love about Mesa is that it fits any type of shape or face and the more colorful and bigger they are, the better and more attractive it looks. The ladies are determined to make any piece a signature of whom you are not to mention at an affordable price.

A fascinator has many practical advantages, which perhaps accounts for its growing popularity. Usually smaller than a hat, a well-chosen fascinator can complement a shorter frame or complete a perfect outfit. Proportions, color and balance are all crucial considerations. Here’s how to wear a fascinator in five easy steps.

1. Style

Fascinators are designed to be eye catching and designs range from subtle decorations to something resembling a conceptual art piece. It goes without saying that your outfit should complement your dress and vice versa, so if you’re wearing a statement outfit, go for a more discreet fascinator. Conversely a dazzling fascinator will usually work to best advantage with a more paired down ensemble. Balance is key.  Chose something that fits your character and you won’t go far wrong.

2. Positioning

This will depend on your chosen hairstyle, though fascinators are usually worn to one side, which works well with wavy hair, tumbling curls or an elegant up-do.  Experiment to see which angle will best complement your features and your outfit.

3. Security

You don’t want to be in the ladies room constantly fixing your fascinator. A combination of gentle backcombing, some hairspray and some well-placed hairgrips should help to keep the fascinator in place, leaving you free to enjoy the day!

4. Keep Your Hair Simple.  Keep your hairstyles very simple so it doesn’t distract from the hairpiece.  A nice chignon, slicked back do, a simple ponytail, etc all work well.

5. Keep it Styled.  There’s a tendency for those who are new to fascinators to go a bit overboard. Start small and simple- a basic black straw fascinator will do.

Janielle Mckoy is an established fashion stylist who would love to share her expertise on staple pieces for the season, and tips on the transition from winter to Spring.  Stay tuned to this column for ongoing fashion advice from Janielle.

By Karen Welcome

The world is still reeling from the news of plus-size model Mia Amber’s passing at the young age of 36. She is said to have passed from complications of a knee operation and she is survived by her husband and mother. The international model was best known as a television producer, actress, motivational speaker, and plus size advocate who made a positive impact on the fashion and entertainment industries.

Mia’s beginnings start as an intern-turned-production assistant for shows such as The Ricki Lake Show, and Def Comedy Jam as well as many others. Her efforts earned her a position as a producer on The Ricki Lake Show and from there she went on to produce a myriad of other pilots and television productions.

Mia was a producer for the long-running courtroom show Divorce Court and while producing she jumped at the opportunity to act as Rhonda in the movie Road Trip. Riding on the waves of Road Trip‘s success it was Mia’s first magazine cover of Belle that led her to realize that she wanted to become a full-time model. After conducting research and a 90 pound weight loss, Mia was signed on to be Ashley Stewart’s Great Woman of Style.

Highlights of Mia’s modelling career include campaigns for Queen Latifah’s Curvation, Richard Metzger, Monif C., Lane Bryant and most recently Kimora Lee Simmons’ skin care line Shinto just to name a few. A career as a plus-size model meant confronting challenges from the fashion industry and most notably going against intimidating figures Meme Roth and Janice Dickinson in debates about size acceptance. Mia carried on with her goals and travelled internationally to offer advice to aspiring models around the globe.

Plus Model Magazine appointed Mia as Creative Editor-at Large in 2008 and she put on a new hat as a style consultant in 2009 offering her services to aspiring plus-size models looking to make their mark. Through all her successes and with all her different hats, Mia remained a producer for Divorce Court and soon began blogging to keep up with her growing fan base at www.miaamber.wordpress.com

The organizers of Full Figured Fashion Week were looking forward to presenting Mia with the 2011 Model of the Year award and Plus Model Magazine, devastated by the news of her untimely death, have decided to have Mia as their June 2011 cover girl.

With summer finally here, we’re all eager to go on vacay or just hit the beach. But whether you’re soaking up the sun in Cuba or Jamaica the most important decision won’t be the SPF of your sun tan lotion, but which swimwear pieces you’ll be wearing.

In this article I will be taking a look at the ‘in’ styles of swimwear, helping you choose the piece of swimwear that is perfectly inline with 2011 and your figure.

Vintage-inspired swimwear

Of course it’s the bombshells, the pin-ups, of the same era we’re more inclined to think of when it comes to 1950s swimsuits in particular – the Marilyn Monroes and the Jayne Mansfields. They’re playful, curvaceous, steeped in sex appeal. Vintage-style swimwear has a huge place in 2011 and onwards, and the right piece can be whatever you want it to be–as bombshell as Monroe or as sophisticated as Kelly.  Keep in mind the vintage bikini or swimsuit does not have to be a pin-up girl costume. In 2011 many designers are infusing vintage-inspired details into modern pieces – a high-waist here, a vintage print there – and the results are remarkable.

Ruffled bikini / swimsuit

Ruffled bikinis and swimsuits are another of the swimwear trends for the coming season. The fact that ruffles are on-trend at the moment is just about where the rules end. Unlike vintage swimwear or even one-shouldered bikinis, ruffled swimwear has no distinct style ‘rules’. Instead we’ve seen it styled and cut in a lot of different ways for spring / summer 2011 and 2012, often working alongside other one piece and bikini trends for the year.

Crocheted bikinis

Influenced both by the return of 1970s fashion and the popular crochet clothing trend seen this spring / summer 2011, crochet bikinis, crochet swimsuits and open weave pieces that have the same effect, are not just on-trend this season, they’re the must-have fashionable swimwear style.

When worn the right way, crochet swimwear offers that elusive cocktail of sex appeal and reality that every woman wants from her swimsuit. After all, the perfect crochet swimwear doesn’t just show off the body and allude to more of it, its intricate wide stitch catches the eye, drawing the viewer in while distracting them from any flaws.

Tips on your Swimsuit!

The reality is that when it comes to swimwear, not every cut is going to flatter every figure. This is something that all women should definitely keep in mind. But between all of the trending 2011/2012 styles there’s certainly something for everyone. Always go for a swimsuit that compliments your figure. Here are some shape-based suggestions:

Fuller figure

Embrace the vintage trend and use it to accentuate rather than try and hide your curves. Try halternecks or cupped styles, and anything that brings in the waist to play to an hourglass shape.  Also one pieces are perfect and hot for the season. They cover your tummy or disguises other problem areas, while giving a sleek slim look. Not to mention no embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions.

Pear shape / small bust

Use ruffles to your advantage by adding volume at the top half. Ruffles around the bust can make it seem visually larger. You can also use vintage cupped styles with padding to create curves.

Top heavy

Use ruffles to your advantage by conversely adding them to the bottom to balance your hips with your bust. Avoid unstructured crochets or string bikinis if they don’t offer any support; instead stick to structured styles and halternecks.

Short legs

To lengthen the body pair a printed bikini top with a block-coloured bottom, drawing the attention upwards. Avoid boy-legs and go for high cut thighs instead so as to not shorten the legs further.

Athletic figures

If you’re not big on the curves make the most of styles like statement strapping, backless styles and crochet that instead show off a toned physique.

Choosing the right swimsuit can be complicated. Thankfully, there are a bunch of styles to choose from – depending on how much skin you choose to flaunt on the beach. So woman up and start shopping for a suit to get you through the summer. We only have three months of summer, might as well enjoy it to the fullest in a swimsuit!!

Janielle Mckoy is an established fashion stylist who would love to share her expertise on staple pieces for the season, and tips on the transition from winter to Spring.  Stay tuned to this column for ongoing fashion advice from Janielle.

Magnet Creative’s Gail McInnes hosted an interactive night with Look-A-Like makeup artist Paul Venoit where he revealed some excellent beauty secrets.

Here are some of our street style pics of the evening:

Right to left: DJ Lissa Monet, Daniella (Broken Heel Diaries)

Right to left: Mannie "Beck Motley," and Jason "Bon Voyage" of the Airplane Boys.

Tika Simone

By Karen Welcome

Although Franke celebrates it tenth year in the industry, Kendra Francis has been involved ever since her early teens and by the time she began her studies at Ryerson University, she entered a self-taught fashion design student. In 2001 Francis created Franke, a line for “a creative woman who’s open-minded and loves change,” and opened a boutique on Queen St. West in Toronto from 2001 to 2005.

Her experiences in the industry allow for her to teach her own course in A Passion for Fashion, a program created by Youth Employment Services and Toronto Fashion Incubator for youth interested in entreprenuership and fashion design. In her course, How to Start a Line in Today’s Market, she reminds young designers to put in hard work, that success doesn’t happen over night. “The truth is the fashion industry is not [as it's portrayed] in The City or Gossip Girl. You see the after, not the before. You’ve got to love the before.”

As for her own fashion design journey Kendra Francis looks forward to unveiling her entire Fall/Winter 2011 collection and expanding the line to include more ready-to-wear pieces as well as bridal ware. When asked what her future involves Francis states “evolution. Constantly evolving, getting better and more refined. Surprising you all because I surprise myself.”

To learn more about Franke go to www.iamfranke.com. To learn more about A Passion for Fashion click here.

By Janielle McKoy

April 29th, 2011 changed my life in so many ways. It marked the 29th annual Harry Jerome Awards, and not only did I get to attend the awards, but I was also privileged to be chosen as the stylist of the Chair of the awards for the special evening, the beautiful and talented Karlyn Percil.

For any of you who aren’t aware, Ms Percil is a corporate executive, fashion model and philanthropist. Even with all these titles under her belt, she finds the time to balance corporate success and community responsibility. She has organized various educational fundraising events for the Aids Action foundation and raised money for an orphanage in her native home of St. Lucia.  Additionally, Karlyn is an active volunteer for the BBPA (Black Business & Professional Association) and has been the Chair of the Harry Jerome Awards for three years.

Before styling Karlyn for the awards night, I took a look at pictures of past events just to get a feel for her  personal style. One thing I noticed is that her clothing is always true to her body and she never looks uncomfortable in anything she wears. She also experiments with color, patterns and lengths, which is always a positive thing in fashion.

At last year’s awards, she looked radiant in her long haltered gold dress, which fit her like a glove and worked well with her complexion. She decided to go with gold long tassel earrings and a gold bracelet. She exuded Hollywood glamour. What I liked about the dress is how it fit around her bust line down to waist. It created an amazing hourglass figure.

This year, Karlyn decided to go for more of a fresh, clean approach. The dress was a similar fit to her glamour dress last year but she went for straps instead of the halter look. It was an ivory- slim fitting long dress and it had an elegant train in the back. She reminded me of a Venetian Goddess. I was on mission to find the best necklace for this garment, something to really make it pop. Karlyn explained she wanted a flash of emerald green to add to the fresh look.

After searching high and low for this accessory, I came across this designer named Karama, who creates amazing, African inspired pieces. She is new to the accessory industry and was thrilled to have the Chair in one of her pieces.

I decided on an aqua two stone gold necklace; definitely a statement piece that brought light to the dress. It lay flat on her chest, and looked amazing around her neck. Her aqua eye shadow and a sleek hairstyle also ensured that she commanded attention the whole night, and stood out amongst the crowd.

It’s always a pleasure to style a client like Karlyn Percil. She is a powerhouse in the black community, not to mention a true fashionista. She has mastered what works best for her figure but still isn’t afraid to add color to her wardrobe.

The clothes you wear speak volumes about you. A style that’s right for you can help you exude confidence by letting your inner self shine through.