The Kit Compact Holiday 2016 – Toronto

HOLIDAY 2016 | TORONTO

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Our gift to you this season? Chill party looks, major glitter lips, shoes good enough to eat and the reminder that, sometimes, cool girls stay in

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EDITOR’S LETTER 6 7 5

LOVE STORY

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Laura deCarufel @LauradeCarufel

4 PRADA

New Year’s Eve is one of my least favourite nights of the year—too much presh, too little payoff. This year, though, I’m attending a close friend’s NYE nuptials, which guarantees a glamorous good time (plus, cake). These are my wintry wedding style essentials: blush, bubbly and a velvet dress made for the dance floor.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jessica Hotson @jesshotson EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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BEAUTY EDITOR

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VALENTINO

Rani Sheen @ranisheen

FASHION EDITOR

Jillian Vieira @JillianVieira ELIE SAAB

MANAGING EDITOR

Eden Boileau @lilyedenface

ASSOCIATE BEAUTY EDITOR

“C’M

Natasha Bruno @Natashajbruno

AMB ON, M

O NO.

5 !”

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ASSISTANT DIGITAL EDITOR

Carly Ostroff @carlyostroff

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Veronica Saroli @vsaroli

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTORS

Sonya van Heyningen @svanh7 Kristy Wright @creativewithak

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COVER

DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHY: JANE & JANE. HAIR AND MAKEUP: VANESSA JARMAN FOR P1M.CA/MOROCCANOIL/ MAKE UP FOR EVER. TOME TOP, $795, SKIRT, $1, 330, TOMENYC .COM .

AR M E D N EC K L AC ES , $ 8 5 ( B R OW N S TO N E ), $ 6 0 (G O L D C H O K E R) , UPANDARMED.COM

Amber Hickson @amblynncreative

PUBLISHER

TOMMY HILFIGER

PHOTOGRAPHY: CARYLE ROUTH (DECARUFEL); PETER STIGTER (RUNWAY AND BACKSTAGE BEAUTY). HAIR AND MAKEUP: SHERI STROH FOR PLUTINO GROUP/GREENBEAUTY.CA (DECARUFEL)

Kathryn Hudson @hudsonkat

Giorgina Bigioni PROJECT DIRECTOR, DIGITAL MEDIA

Kelly Matthews

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MARKETING MANAGER

Evie Begy eb@thekit.ca CONTRIBUTORS

Randi Bergman, LeeAndra Cianci, Shalan and Paul Crivellari, Alyssa Garrison, Laura Gulshani, Jane and Jane, Vanessa Jarman, Hamin Lee, Johanna Martin, Luis Mora, Aniya Nandy, Heather O’Neill, Mari Santos, Natalie Ventola INTERNS

Vera Ahmed, Sarah Cho, Madison Dechief, Robyn Fiorda, Marcia Lopes, Paige Peake, Abby Schwengler, Rida Talpur The Kit is Canada’s 360˚ beauty and style leader © 2016, The Kit, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.

ACTING PUBLISHER, TORONTO STAR, AND ACTING PRESIDENT, STAR MEDIA GROUP

David Holland

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TORONTO STAR

Michael Cooke

THEKIT.CA | HOLIDAY 2016 |

1. GIANVITO ROSSI SHOES, $995, MATCHESFASHION.COM. 2. BOBBI BROWN HIGHLIGHTING POWDER IN SUNSET GLOW, $54, BOBBIBROWN.CA. 3. JURLIQUE ROSE MOISTURE PLUS MOISTURISING CREAM MASK, $52, SEPHORA.CA. 4. REFORMATION DRESS, $495, NET-A-PORTER.COM. 5. RW&CO. SCARF, $60, RW-CO.COM. 6. MAGICSTRIPES HYALURONIC INTENSIVE TREATMENT MASK, $54, THENATURALCURATOR.COM. 7. CHRISTIAN DIOR LA COLLECTION PRIVEE: LA COLLE NOIRE, $245 (125 ML), NORDSTROM. 8. MONIQUE PÉAN RING, $10,820, MONIQUEPEAN.COM. 9. LISE WATIER PALETTE CHIC & RUSTIQUE EYESHADOWS, $44, LISEWATIER.COM. 10. NARS MOON MATTE LIPSTICK IN ROUGE IMPROBABLE, $36, NARSCOSMETICS.COM. 11. ANN TAYLOR BAG, $158, ANNTAYLOR.COM. 12. BOTTEGA ROSE GOLD BRUT SPARKLING, $27, LCBO.COM

MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

W

hen it comes to Christmas, I have no chill. I’m the person delightedly mouthing “Red cups!” to everyone in the coffee line the second week of November. I love having full licence to be horizontal—to eat all of the shortbread while absorbed in some terrible-amazing TV Christmas movie on the W Network. (Side note: The message in all those movies is that women should leave their careers in the city, move to their hometown and take up with the local blue-eyed veterinarian. Sisters, resist.) The holidays are also when my year-long predilection for crimson lipstick and four-inch heels converges with a seasonal societal urge for glamour. I feel at home among the dewy gleam of chilled flutes, the rustle of vintage sequins, the crosseyed Dollarama Santas.

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I love a curated cheese plate, sure, but I’m really into the fromage of Christmas traditions like carolling and cocktailing that create, however fleetingly, a connection among strangers.

(This is the same reason I enjoy extreme weather and playoff sports.) So, for this holiday issue of The Kit Compact, the number one item on our team’s wish list was to capture that joy. “Holiday Magic” (page 9) presents an enchanting, editor-curated shopping list, while “Treat Yourself” (page 12) offers a feast of delicious fashion footwear. For “Holiday In” (page 18), two models play at being gorgeous homebody besties in a glorious mash-up of Resort 2017 style, as envisioned by fashion editor Jillian Vieira, creative director Jessica Hotson and beauty editor Rani Sheen.

Our “Prepare to Party” package (page 29), edited by executive editor Kathryn Hudson,

spotlights all your night-out essentials: Think glitter lips, goth dresses and mingling advice from Whoopi Goldberg. Then there’s “When Snow Falls” (page 26), a beautifully written essay by novelist Heather O’Neill that you should read with a scarf pulled up high to hide your initial grin of delight and then your single glistening tear. I hope you have an absolutely beautiful holiday. Connect with me @LauradeCarufel with #thekitcompact.

LAURA DE CARUFEL, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @thekitca

@thekit

thekitca

thekitca 3

COOL GIRL, COOL STYLE

PINKIES UP

Fact: This is the busiest time of year.

Take refuge from both weather and relatives in social media star Alyssa Garrison’s top Toronto cafés Photography by Johanna Martin

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Best for: Warming cortados “When the city is buried under three feet of snow, Tucana Coffee (1413 Dundas St. W.) has the best colour scheme (pink and lavender!) and a sweet floralwallpaper wall. Plus, the vibe is super laid-back.”

Best for: Magical iced coffee “It would be a crime to leave the cotton-candy-spiked coffees at CutiePie Cupcakes & Co. (235 Spadina Ave.) off this list. This place is so darn cute and the giant case of whoopie pies is definitely a selling point.

There’s unicorn soft-serve, too, which you can add to your iced coffee, if cotton candy isn’t enough!”

Best for: Calming loose-leaf tea “If you’re looking for somewhere to set up shop for the day, complete with great hot beverages and a truly delicious lunch menu, Cafe Neon (1024 Queen St. W.) is for you. With a ton of space and amazing colourful art all over the walls, there’s nowhere better to spread out and get inspired.”

Best for: Dope matcha “If you love matcha, you’ll meet your match at Petit Nuage (707 Dundas St. W.), which is housed in a storage container. Though it’s not the best for dining in, this shop is ideal for to-go treats and specialty sips to pair with long walks in the snow.”

Best for: Super-comforting lattes “I don’t know if I’ve ever made a favourites list that doesn’t include Kitten and the Bear (1574 Queen St. W.). Everything on the menu, from scone milk lattes to the mulled wine confiture, is cozy-winter perfection. Staying in for tea service and jam tasting is highly recommended!”

Alyssa Garrison (@randomactsofpastel) snapped at Kitten and the Bear in Parkdale.

ALL CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES, H&M, HM.COM

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| HOLIDAY 2016 | THEKIT.CA

OUT & ABOUT

H OT

DAT E S

November 26 Pixel & Bristle—a market for designers, illustrators and other creatives to show off their whimsical creations—is holding its first holiday market at the Drake Hotel. Stock up on knick-knacks to give as can’t-get-it-elsewhere gifts.

1150 Queen St. W. November 29 If you haven’t read Yaa Gyasi’s novel, Homegoing, you should be going home right now to do so.

After, catch Gyasi discussing her raved-about book, which traces the fate of two sisters, then enjoy an African Chop bar at Centennial Culinary School. 941 Progress Ave. November 30 Paula Scher was an art director for album covers at Atlantic Records in the ’70s—which is to say she is a very cool woman. Luckily for you, she’ll be speaking at the Design New York event at Berkeley Church.

Bring your marketing friend.

315 Queen St. E. December 11 Want to out-hipster your locavore butcher brother? Hit up the earlyVictorian-era cooking class at historic Montgomery’s Inn. Whip up three authentic dishes using the inn’s circa-1840s kitchen and old-school techniques “beside the hearth fire.” 4709 Dundas St. W.

PARTY CIRCUIT

We mapped our fave festive spots, so you can spend your time off celebrating, not stressing. See you there?

Right now Award-winning food writer Amy Rosen has the best buns in the city.

We’re talking gooey, spirit-elevating cinnamon buns—the kind you need in your life—that are the staples of the newly opened Rosen’s Cinnamon Buns.

Buns of steel will not be happening any time soon. 825 College St.

Illustration by LeeAndra Cianci

LAST-MINUTE PRESENTS From necklaces to cosmic candles, I buy a gift at Scout (405 Roncesvalles Ave.) basically every year. —Sonya van Heyningen, assistant art director Kid Icarus (205 Augusta Ave.) has lots of handmade gif ts, but my faves are the screen-printed posters. —Kristy Wright, assistant art director Good Egg (267 Augusta Ave.) has the best gif ts for foodies. — Kathr yn Hudson, executive editor

PARTY OUTFITS

Nordstrom (260 Yonge St.) has a peerless Self Portrait selection. —Laura deCarufel, editor-in-chief Last year, I got the perfect black velvet mini on New Year’s Eve at 96 Tears Vintage (1714 Queen St. W.). —Jillian Vieira, fashion editor

THEKIT.CA | HOLIDAY 2016 |

Riant (35 Bathurst St.) is where I get my Equipment and 10 Crosby by Derek Lam. —Rani Sheen, beauty editor

BEAUTY HOT SPOTS

Ritual (571 Wellington St. W.) is a one-stop pre-party shop for nails, waxing, brows, makeup and hairstyling. —RS Bang Salon (859 Danforth Ave.) has mastered the just-alittle-too-good-to-be-undone look I crave. —Carly Ostroff, assistant digital editor Janet Jackson at JouJou Hair Studio (375 Royal York Rd.) works magic on my natural Afro-textured hair. —Natasha Bruno, associate beauty editor My partner and I always gift each other a massage from the Thai Massage Toronto S c h o o l a n d C l i n i c (2- 6 6 4 Bloor St. W.). —Jessica Hotson, creative director

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The 24 Karat Gold Organic Facial at Sweetgrass Spa (111C Queen St. E.) makes my face glow like a golden ornament.

—Amber Hickson, designer

PARTY PREP I ’ll be picking up all the special seasonal brews from new breweries , like Bandit (2125 Dundas St. W.). —JV BYOB Cocktail Emporium (972 Q ue en St. W.) has all the tools I need for a unique at-home cocktail party. —AH I love the idea of sending everyone home with breakfast after a party, and there’s no better than Baker & Scone (693 St. Clair Ave. W.). —CO I ’m g o i n g to g e t a b i g arrangement of locally sourced se a so n a l f l owe r s f ro m my friend’s floral shop, Willem & Jöols (125 Roncesvalles Ave.).

—Eden Boileau, managing editor

TREATS The apple tart with vanilla cream and buttery pâte brisée crust at Patisserie Sebastien (3306 Yonge St.) is the stuff dreams are made of. —LDC B r a n d o n O l s e n ’s ( 1 1 3 2 College St.) chocolates are alm ost to o pret t y to eat (almost). —Veronica Saroli, assistant editor So far, introducing people to Torres black truffle potato chips is my greatest contribution to society. You can get them at Côte de Boeuf (130 Ossington Ave.). —VS

HOLIDAY MEET-UPS When it ’s freezing out, I swear by Kinton Ramen (396 Church St.) as one of the best ways to warm up. —CO Amsterdam BrewHouse (24 5 Q u e e n s Q u ay W.) i s surrounded by twinkly lights,

and the nearby skating rink has me humming, “ Walking in a winter wonderland.” —AH Having brunch at Saturday Dinette (807 Gerrard St. E.) is as comforting as re-watching It’s a Wonderful Life. —KH My favourite holiday cocktail is Bar Raval’s (505 College St.) take on the French 75. —JH

WORKOUTS

Torq Ride (978 Queen St. E.) offers music-themed classes that make working out over the holidays less painful. —NB I sp e n d th e m a n d ato r y holiday detoxification period bending and stretching at Union Yoga (956 Bloor St. W.) in zzz-inducing restorative classes. —RS Walking up the killer toboggan hill at Riverdale Park (550 Broadview Ave.) should burn off last night’s Prosecco. —KH

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SCENTS of the season Givenchy Dahlia Divin Le Nectar Eau de Parfum, 50mL

spun from gold Chloé Chloé Eau de Parfum, 50mL

In this decadent version of the woody floral Dahlia Divin, golden mimosa and sambac jasmine are allowed to shine.

beautiful bouquet

A celebration of fresh flowers, this classic mix of powdery rose, pink peony and lily of the valley couldn’t be more romantic.

Michael Bublé

By Invitation Eau de Parfum 50mL

Juicy Couture I Love Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum, 50mL

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scent of song

A crisp floral oriental, By Invitation is both modern and timeless—just like the music of Michael Bublé.

juicy details

Crafted for the woman with a zest for life, I Love Juicy Couture is fruity and flowery, with notes of amber and musk.

Whether it’s a special gift or a little something just for you, take your pick from the latest wave of sublime fragrances.

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night moves

Mysterious and sensual, this blend of wild berries and orange blossom is grounded by sandalwood and vanilla.

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum, 80mL

Nina Ricci Luna Eau de Toilette, 50mL

so sweet of you

Indulge your sugar craving with this caramel-centred fragrance, balanced with fresh white musk and aromatic benzoin.

mystery woman

For the temptress in all of us, intoxicating orange blossom and tuberose notes mingle on the skin and won’t be forgotten.

Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Eau de Parfum, 50ml

Salvatore Ferragamo Signorina Misteriosa, 50mL

to paris with love This Paris-inspired, fruity-floral will elevate your spirits when spritzed onto pulse points.

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LOOKBOOK

HOLIDAY MAGIC Poof! We made the ultimate gift list appear. Next time your mom or BF asks you what you really want, request these eight enchanting prezzies

ART DIRECTION: SONYA VAN HEYNINGEN

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THEKIT.CA | HOLIDAY 2016 |

JOOMI LIM, $355, JOOMILIM.COM

A SOUPED-UP STRAND

Fashion heavyweights like Chanel, Maison Margiela and Gucci all focused their powers on the ubiquitous 16-inch pearl necklace this season, transforming it from a classic heirloom (which, by the way, made appearing acts at Rag & Bone and Miu Miu) into some totally twisted versions. Turns out, reciting “Abracadabra” won’t score you a diamond-dotted pearl choker (we tried), but that’s what wish lists are for, right? —Jillian Vieira. Photography by Hamin Lee CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: CHANEL, $5,550, SELECT CHANEL LOCATIONS. TIFFANY & CO., PRICE UPON REQUEST, TIFFANY.CA. TASAKI , $1,850, KAVUT.COM

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SWAROVSKI, $699, SWAROVSKI.COM

CHAN LUU, $395, CHANLUU.COM

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2 A LIT CANDLE

Behold, eight days’ worth of seasonal candles to set your world on fire—and solve your office-gifting dilemmas.

BASALT CANDLE IN SAINT VIOLET, $45, BIBELOTANDTOKEN.COM. NEST FRAGRANCES BIRCHWOOD PINE CLASSIC CANDLE, $56, SEPHORA.CA. CATBIRD TAROT DECK TRAVEL CANDLE, $25, EASYTIGERGOODS.COM. VANCOUVER CANDLE CO. NEIGHBOURHOOD COLLECTION CANDLE IN KITSILANO, $38, VANCOUVERCANDLECO.COM. ACQUA DI PARMA LAVANDA CANDLE, $112, NEIMANMARCUS.COM. LAKE LOUISE BREEZE CANDLE, $10, INDIGO. MUGLER ANGEL ÉTOILE DES RÊVES PERFUMED CANDLE, $98, SHOPPERS DRUG MART. DYNAMITE VANILLE CACHEMIRE CANDLE $15, DYNAMITECLOTHING.CA

3 A BEAUTY MARVEL BEAUTY EDITOR RANI SHEEN CONJURES BEWITCHING HOLIDAY TREATS

1. BAUBLE OF STEEL These metallic mushroom eye s h a d o w s a r e m a d e silk y with argan oil and encased in a tree-worthy golden ball.

T E E E Z CO S M E T I C S S P E C T R U M OF STARS EYESHADOW IN SEPIA SHINE, $24, THEBAY.COM

2. TOUSLE TALENT This spray—from Jen Atkin, Cali-cool hairstylist to the Jendashians—texturizes, sets and refreshes your hair with zero crunchiness.

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O UAI H AI R C A R E TE X T U R IZI N G HAIR SPRAY, $32, SEPHORA.CA

3. LIP SMACKER Like a tiny surrealist s c u l p t u r e , t h i s p o u tshaped palette of longwearing rich red lipstick is mesmerizingly cool.

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C H A R LOT T E T I L B U RY P O C K E T KISSES IN JESSICA RED, $28, CHARLOTTETILBURY.COM

4. SPARKLE MOTION 9 6

T h e s e a f f o r d a b l e (a n d prettily retro-bottled) gold polishes can be layered fo r a b l i n d i n g l y b l i n g y glitter nail.

H & M B E AU T Y N A I L P O L I S H I N FLAKE IT (LEFT) AND NEFERTITI, $7 EACH, SELECT H&M STORES

5. WHITE LINES

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The best new take on a cat-eye is…a cat-eye! But done in white. No need to

resort to Wite-Out: This opaque, stay-put liquid liner has you covered.

RIMMEL LONDON COLOUR PRECISE EYELINER IN WHITE , $10, DRUGSTORES

6. GOT A LIGHT? C o n s i d e r t h i s a s m o rgasbord of the internet’s all-time favourite high lighters, so your glow can be peachy, bronzy, rosy or straight-up lit from within.

HOURGLASS COSMETICS AMBIENT LIGHTING EDIT—SURREAL LIGHT, $95, SEPHORA.CA

7. ECO LUXE For the green-makeup loving girl who has everything, these satisf yingly weighty, refillable swingtop palettes are pure luxury.

K JAE R WE IS E YE S HADOW I N ANGELIC , $61 , R ADIANCE HIGH LIGHTER, $76, THEDETOXMARKET.CA

8. VINYL TIE Now, even your ponytail can participate in the joy that is leather weather.

SEPHORA COLLECTION HAIR TIE, $13, SEPHORA.CA

9. DROP IN Bring a little sunshine to your face by adding a couple of drops of this gleamy peachy liquid to your tinted moisturizer.

GOSH LUMI DROPS IN PEACH, $17, SHOPPERSDRUGMART.CA

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KATE SPADE TEACUP AND SAUCER, $60, INDIGO.CA

LOOKBOOK 4 A PARADE-IT-AROUND HANDBAG Every December poses the same dilemma: Your supply of standout dresses doesn’t m a tc h t h e l o n g l i s t o f i nv i te s i n yo u r inbox. The solution? These OMG -inducing bags, guaranteed to elevate any LBD. FROM LEFT: MOSCHINO, $1,365, FARFETCH.COM. KATE SPADE, $667, KATESPADE.COM. ANYA HINDMARCH, $1,333, HOLT RENFREW. ALDO, $50, ALDOSHOES.COM

5 A POWER PUFFER

We drooled over Balenciaga’s super-cool, off-theshoulder styling trick this season, but who are we kidding? This is Canada.

Ask your mom for one of these practical-magic toppers—then watch her “Will you be warm enough?” worries disappear.

7 A STAR-STUDDED STATEMENT

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S13, $250, HUDSON’S BAY

A NEX T-L EVE L S E L F IE Last season’s LuMee cases are hocus-pocus. This year, ask your best pal for the Michael Kors X Fujifilm camera, which takes charming vintagey Insta pics but also has a tiny selfie mirror hidden in the gilded exterior.

Plus, there’s a matching bag so you can both be photo-ready on the reg.

GAP, $148, GAPCANADA.CA

MICHAEL KORS X FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 70 INSTANT FILM CAMERA, $178, CHAIN, $48, MICHAEL KORS BAG, $378, MICHAELKORS.CA

DELPOZO RESORT

PHOTOGRAPHY: HAMIN LEE (BEAUTY DESK); SONYA VAN HEYNINGEN (CAMERA); ISTOCKPHOTO (PARADE ILLUSTRATION).

ART DIRECTION: SONYA VAN HEYNINGEN (BEAUTY DESK)

Want a stellar present? Ask for the most on-trend pieces in the galaxy, as inspired by the out-of-thisworld collections from Delpozo and Givenchy.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MARSHALLS JACKET, $180, MARSHALLS. CA . FLEUR DU MAL BODYSUIT, $395, FLEURDUMAL.COM. EDDIE B O R G O B R O O C H , $ 1 9 5 , N O R D S T R O M C A N A DA . G A P J E A N S , $9 0, GAPCANADA .CA . TOPSHOP DRESS , $260, H U DSON ’ S BAY

8 AN UN-BASIC FRAGRANCE DEAR MAGIC 8 BALL: WHAT ARE THE ODDS SOMEONE I KNOW WILL GET THE SAME INDIE PERFUME FROM S A N TA?

PARAJUMPERS, $545, PARAJUMPERS.IT

MEC, $175, MEC.CA

THEKIT.CA | HOLIDAY 2016 |

MY S CE SOUR NO S AY

V DOU ERY BTF UL

D O N ’T CO U N T O N IT

SINGULAR SPICE A unisex fusion of bold pink pepper and citrus top notes cut with woody accords, 1000 Flowers’ Pink Pepper Wood is a spicy delight. In 2007, Jessica Buchanan of 1000 Flowers migrated from B.C. to Grasse, France, to study at the acclaimed and exclusive Grasse Institute of Perfumery— the Harvard for noses. Her scents are inspired by the natural raw materials of the region, and she works with them in high concentrations—like an apprentice of the great art masters, making richly pigmented paintings.

WILD FLOWER With warm and sultry leather notes set against spicy pepper and dried flowers, Eris Parfums’ Night Flower is the brainchild of Brooklyn-based Barbara Herman, connoisseur of vintage fragrances and author of the blog Yesterday’s Perfume. Herman laments that our taste for once-common rich, animalic accords has given way to the clean, office-friendly scents of recent decades, so she works with French perfumer Antoine Lie to create modern updates on her beloved vintage scents.

RARE INCENSE R’oud Elements recalls ancient incense and solemn Byzantine churches with a healthy dose of oud and herbaceous notes. John Pegg of Kerosene Fragrances in Michigan might be the only perfume creator to name a trip to Disney World as a career-motivating spark—specifically the Italy section of Epcot Center—but it’s a fitting origin story because his olfactory aesthetic is very much a marriage of gritty and pretty.

1000 FLOWERS PINK PEPPER WOOD, $75 (50 ML), 1000FLOWERS.CA

ERIS PARFUMS NIGHT FLOWER EAU DE PARFUM, $197 (50 ML), ERISPARFUMS.COM

KEROSENE R’OUD ELEMENTS, $183 (100 ML), HOUSEOFKEROSENE.COM

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MY REPL IS N O

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CURIOUS CREATURE Inspired by the webbed-wing mammals, Bat is an earthy, mineral fragrance layered with dark plum, leather and musk. Victor Wong of Toronto-based Zoologist Perfumes is so inspired by the animal kingdom that his entire collection celebrates it—each scent is named for an animal and designed to conjure the idiosyncrasies of the species. —Meghan King ZOOLOGIST BAT EAU DE PARFUM, $164 (60 ML), ZOOLOGISTPERFUMES.COM

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TREAT YOURSELF

’Tis the season of never-ending parties and seemingly bottomless drinks. For some epic overindulgence that actually leaves you feeling good, slip on a pair of glossy, glitter-flecked, good-enough-to-eat shoes that truly take the cake By Jillian Vieira. Photography by Hamin Lee

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SPOTLIGHT

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SWEET THANG

“You need to pamper yourself with good food,” says Mandy Kan, the owner of Toronto’s Dessert Lady bakery (dessertlady.ca), who whipped up the hand-crafted confections shown here. Kan says that our collective sweet tooth has become more sophisticated: Take the roasted black sesame ice cream she created when she opened Dessert Lady 10 years ago—back then it didn’t sell; today it’s expected at any parlour worth its street cred. “People weren’t as adventurous back then—they were a bit scared of this greyish colour.” Now, fans flock to her shop for avocado, macadamia nut and coconut ice cream and matcha tiramisu. Revenge is sweet, or something. —Veronica Saroli 1. TOPSHOP, $110, HUDSON’S BAY. 2. FRANCES VALENTINE, $485, DAVIDS. 3. CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA, $1,045, DAVIDS. 4. JIMMY CHOO, $1,125, HOLT RENFREW. 5. MARC JACOBS, $495, THEBAY.COM. 6. ZVELLE, $315, ZVELLE.COM. CAKE PLATES: UNDER GLITTER FLATS, $20, UNDER BLUE CAKE, $20, UNDER GREEN CAKE, $15, HOMESENSE

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SHOPPING

ARIES

MARCH 21–APRIL 19

“Aries symbolizes the beginning—it’s the sign of spring.

With Aries, think about the face and the head. You could give her a gift certificate to the best salon in your city. Or something soothing, because this is a sign that’s constantly moving and is very athletic, so when it’s bath time, they want to relax.”

TAURUS

HAIRSTORY NEW WASH, $53, SHOPHAIRSTORY.COM. EUGENIA KIM HAT, $341, EUGENIAKIM.COM. ESCENTS AROMA DIFFUSER, $60, ESCENTS.CA. FRESH ZODIAC OVAL SOAP IN ARIES, $18, SEPHORA.CA

“Taurus is the most sensorial sign of the zodiac. It’s like the toddler, exploring everything—shaking it and smelling it. You should definitely get a beautiful perfume for a Taurus. This sign rules the neck, so you could also get her a beautiful necklace or scarf.”

APRIL 20–MAY 20

VICTORIA’S SECRET BRALETTE, $44, VICTORIA’S SECRET. EOS SHIMMER LIP BALM IN PEARL, $8, LOBLAWS. CHARLOTTE SIMONE SCARF, $250, CHARLOTTESIMONE.COM. VIKTOR & ROLF FLOWERBOMB FROZEN ROSE, $132 (50 ML), HUDSON’S BAY

HEY GIRL, WHAT’S YOUR SIGN? Fashion’s favourite astrologer, Susan Miller, divines a stellar zodiac guide

By Rani Sheen and Jillian Vieira

GEMINI

MAY 21–JUNE 20

“Geminis are using their hands all the time—and a lot of people don’t take good enough care of their hands. Give her a manicure at a nice salon where she’ll be treated like royalty. Geminis love to travel and take frequent, short trips, so you could also give her an overnight bag.”

RIMOWA SUITCASE, $650, RIMOWA.CA. MELANIE AULD RING, $120, MELANIEAULD.CA. LE MINI MACARON GEL MANICURE KIT IN CASSIS, $46, HUDSON’S BAY. BEAUTYCOUNTER THE JET SET, $75, BEAUTYCOUNTER.COM

14

soaps, each adorned with its birthstone and a miniature reading tucked inside. Miller spends most of her time writing free detailed forecasts for her six million readers, amounting to thousands upon thousands of words per month, but there’s one thing she won’t divulge: “I can’t tell people what my sign is because then I get hate mail,” she explains. “They’ll think I’m partial to one sign.” In the spirit of fairness, we asked Miller how to shop for every star sign on your list.

“HEY GIRL, LET ME GIVE YOU A HAND MASSAGE TONIGHT. YOU DESERVE IT.”

CANCER

JUNE 21–JULY 22

“Cancer, a water sign, cares so much about others. She also has beautiful skin. There’s a certain luminosity about it; it’s almost as if she has a light bulb inside that’s glowing.

She’s very feminine—if there’s a season where clothes aren’t soft and pretty, she’ll skip the season—so you should give her a beautiful blouse with ruffles.”

ILA GLOWING RADIANCE AROMA ROLLER, $44, PETALANDPOST.COM. CA & LOU NECKLACE, $709, CAANDLOU.COM. FARMACY HONEY POTION RENEWING ANTIOXIDANT HYDRATION MASK, $75, SEPHORA.CA. REBECCA TAYLOR DRESS, $1,064, REBECCATAYLOR.COM

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK PHOTO (ILLUSTRATIONS); GETTY IMAGES (GOSLING)

We rarely do anything without consulting Susan Miller. God forbid we should swipe right, book a job interview or invest in Brother Vellies booties only to discover that Mercury was in retrograde. The high priestess of the Astrology Zone app and website, Miller is also a fashion-world fave: She writes columns for style mags from the U.K. to Japan and collaborates with companies like Neiman Marcus and Fresh, for whom she has designed 12 beautifully packaged zodiac

| HOLIDAY 2016 | THEKIT.CA

Styles are representative of product available in store. Styles vary by store. Jewellery only available at select locations.

Cocktail dresses from $39.99

SHINE

WITH FAB FINDS

BRIGHT

FOR LESS

SHOPPING

LEO

SCORPIO

JULY 23–AUGUST 22

OCTOBER 23–NOVEMBER 21

“Leo wants something expensive. I would get her a pair of designer sunglasses in a beautiful box—even if she’s going to work, she wants to have a touch of glamour at all times. And she wants to be unique. If you get her jewellery, she wants something that no one else has.”

“Scorpio is sexy. You have to get her a gift certificate to the best lingerie company. She loves lacy, beautiful pieces, but she’s very discreet. She likes to wear uniforms at work—you might see her in a black suit. She loves perfume, especially musk.”

CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION BAG, $10,700, CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION. GIVENCHY LE MAKE-UP LE ROUGE GIVENCHY COUTURE EDITION IN CARMIN ESCARPIN, $44, SEPHORA.CA. NANNETTE DE GASPÉ FACE MASQUE, $145, HOLT RENFREW. TOM FORD DRESS, $13,316, TOMFORD.COM

“HEY GIRL, LET ME HOLD YOUR PURSE WHILE YOU TRY ON SHOES.”

RODIN OLIO LUSSO LIPSTICK IN SO MOD, $38, NET-A-PORTER. COM. VALENTINO DONNA MELTING BODY CREAM, $95, HUDSON’S BAY. STELLA MCCARTNEY BRA, $165, NORDSTROM TOM FORD PRIVATE BLEND CANDLE IN CAFÉ ROSE, $300, HOLT RENFREW. ERDEM JACKET, $3,730, PANTS, $2,075, MATCHESFASHION.COM

VIRGO

AUGUST 23–SEPTEMBER 22

“Virgo is very modest and interested in helping others. She loves the idea of organic, natural products. But since she’s also so busy, you could get her a new smartphone, if she’s really a good friend. She has to stay organized, and she loves that—she walks around with lists.”

SEPTEMBER 23–OCTOBER 22

“Libras always look so polished—this sign is the arbiter of fashion. If they’re not fashion or beauty editors, then they’re museum curators. They love art, so you should definitely get a museum pass for them. If you’re getting her jewellery, it has to be real jewellery. Libra wants something that will last forever and she will always remember you by it.”

MAKE UP FOR EVER ARTISTIC LIP INK, $50, SEPHORA.CA. CHEAP MONDAY SWEATER, $65, LA MAISON SIMON’S. COACH DINOSAUR PUZZLE, $455, COACH.COM L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE DIVINE HARMONY SERUM, $225, LOCCITANE.CA PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCKPHOTO (ILLUSTRATIONS); GETTY IMAGES (GOSLING)

ODACITE SYNERGIE [4] IMMEDIATE SKIN PERFECTING MASQUE, $72, THEDETOXMARKET.CA. SALVAGE AUDIO BLUETOOTH RECLAIMED WOOD SPEAKER, $395, ETSY.COM. ME TO WE BRACELET, $15, METOWE. COM. A PEACE TREATY SCARF, $368, APEACETREATY.COM. AG HAIR CARE USE LOVE EDUCATE FIREWALL ARGAN SHINE & FLAT IRON SPRAY, $25, CHATTERS.CA

LIBRA

16

CAPRICORN

DECEMBER 22–JANUARY 19

“Capricorns are very elegant. They wear neutral colours; they like classical items and want to look timeless. They want real jewellery. They love visiting old castles and restaurants that have history or that may be landmarks. Kate Middleton is a Capricorn; she’s got the best job for her sign.”

1890 RETRO GLASS, $20, COCKTAILEMPORIUM.CA. DAVID YURMAN BRACELET, $1,065, DAVIDYURMAN.COM. ELA BAG, $295, ELABYELA. COM. BOTTEGA VENETA PARFUM EAU SENSUELLE, $145 (50 ML), HUDSON’S BAY

AQUARIUS

JANUARY 20–FEBRUARY 18

“Aquarius is made for the digital age— their future is with things that aren’t even invented yet. You almost have to give her a gift card to a store that sells computers, smartphones, tablets. They also like to do things for others, so you can give charitable gifts in their name.”

TOMMY X GIGI JACKET, $395, TOMMY HILFIGER. CND CREATIVE PLAY NAIL LACQUER IN TURQUOISE TIDINGS, $9, SALONS. DECIEM VITAMIN C SUSPENSION 23% + HA SPHERES 2%, $6, ORDINARIES.COM. APPLE + NIKE SMARTWATCH, FROM $489, APPLE.COM

“HEY GIRL, YOU’RE RIGHT—SPARKLE IS A COLOUR.”

SAGITTARIUS

NOVEMBER 22–DECEMBER 21

“Sagittarius is an international traveller. She needs packable beauty items, she needs a suitcase. She needs products that can do double duty and comfortable clothes. She’s a natural girl—she wears little makeup.

She also loves a membership to the gym or lessons for a sport, such as horseback riding.”

KORRES BLACK PINE DETOXIFYING MINERAL BAR, $38, BEAUTYBOUTIQUE.CA. TORY BURCH BAG, $660, TORYSPORT.COM. OUTDOOR VOICES LEGGINGS, $114, TOP, $67, OUTDOORVOICES.COM. HERMÈS GALOP D’HERMÈS PERFUME, $222 (50 ML), HERMES.COM

PISCES

FEBRUARY 19–MARCH 20

“Pisces is the Cinderella. She’s always putting other people first, and when life gets a little hard, her imagination saves her—she believes better times will come. Pisces rules the feet, and she loves shoes, so get her a glamorous pair of heels or an evening dress— something very romantic!”

GUERLAIN SOUFFLE D’OR DE SHALIMAR PERFUMED IRIDESCENT POWDER FOR HAIR & BODY, $105, GUERLAIN BOUTIQUES. PAUL & JOE MIRROR, $34, BEAUTYBOUTIQUE.CA. ROGER VIVIER SHOES, $1,572, ROGERVIVIER.COM TIBI DRESS, $602, TIBI.COM

THEKIT.CA | HOLIDAY 2016 |

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17

HOLIDAY IN After the parties and the after-parties, all we want to do is hole up at home with our bestie. Lazing around in the season’s standout trends is much more our speed Photography by Jane & Jane Fashion direction by Jillian Vieira

AT FIRST BLUSH

The keys to a chill girls’ night: bottomless wine and pink-on-pink ensembles.

OPPOSITE: TOME TOP, $795, SKIRT, $1,330, TOMENYC.COM. ARMED NECKLACES, $85 (BROWN STONE), $60 (GOLD CHOKER), UPANDARMED.COM

HOME ON THE RANGE

Nothing says low-key like pastoral pieces and a bergamot-hued sparkle eye, right?

ABOVE: COACH DRESS (BLUE), $1,145, COACH.COM. ARMED NECKLACE (TURQUOISE), $50, UPANDARMED.COM. ERDEM DRESS (YELLOW), PRICE UPON REQUEST, ERDEM.COM. CAROLE TANENBAUM VINTAGE COLLECTION RINGS, PRICE UPON REQUEST, CAROLETANENBAUM.COM RIGHT: ARMED NECKLACE, $85, UPANDARMED.COM

FINE PRINTS

Amp up classic stripes and spots with varying scale and clever layering.

OPPOSITE: CALVIN KLEIN DRESS, $2,000, TOP, $1,600, CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION. ARMED NECKLACE, $155, UPANDARMED.COM HILFIGER COLLECTION JACKET, $440, TOMMY.COM. DIESEL PANTS, $335, DIESEL

HOW BIZARRE

Forget holiday decorating: Surrealist accessories are conversation starters in their own right.

LEFT: ACNE STUDIOS DRESS, $670, GLOVES, PRICE UPON REQUEST, ACNESTUDIOS.COM. CAROLE TANENBAUM VINTAGE COLLECTION EARRINGS, PRICE UPON REQUEST, CAROLETANENBAUM.COM

TOTAL LUSH

Heating bill out of control?

Drape yourself in humidityinducing tropical prints.

OPPOSITE: ROCHAS DRESS (GREEN), $3,915, MODAOPERANDI.COM. NO. 21 DRESS (YELLOW), $2,060, NUMEROVENTUNO.COM. WARBY PARKER GLASSES, $225 EACH, WARBY PARKER

WORK OF ART

Turn up the 2000s dance mix and sport your graphic tee with attitude.

OPPOSITE: THOM BROWNE JACKET, $5,080, SKIRT, $2,800, (212) 633-1197. CARVEN TOP, $655, CARVEN.FR

LACE UP

Meet the lace dress’s cooler cousin: the tiered ombré gown.

HAIR AND MAKEUP: VANESSA JARMAN FOR P1M.CA/ MOROCCANOIL/MAKE UP FOR EVER. MODELS: AGNES KUDUKIS FOR NEXT MODELS AND JOVANA ZELENOVIC FOR ELMER OLSEN MODELS. BEAUTY DIRECTION: RANI SHEEN. CREATIVE DIRECTION: JESSICA HOTSON. SHOT ON LOCATION IN OUR FRIEND KP’S MAGICAL APARTMENT

WHEN SNOW FALLS

Sometimes fashion offers new ways to dream. Novelist Heather O’Neill remembers a very special Christmas dress Illustration by Laura Gulshani

I was the scruffiest mix-match-dressed kid. I was raised in Montreal by a single dad, and it’s very hard to ever look spiffy or feminine when you don’t have a mother or much money. I wore ragged hoodies and corduroy pants with patches on the knees. I wore T-shirts that I embellished with iron-on letters. They said things like Rainbows Forever and Unicorns Are People Too. Those were some of my first poems.

But on Christmas, I needed fancier attire. I didn’t have a sprawling extended family that descended on the apartment for special occasions. I really only had my dad—but he made such a big deal out of holidays that it made up for our lack of relatives. Once, he left shoe prints made with gold paint leading from the window to the Christmas tree to make it look as though Santa had snuck in. Then he left gold teeth marks on the cookies I’d left out. I held them up in utter awe. Even once I stopped believing in Santa, we still spent hours decorating the apartment with coloured paper garlands, pine-bough wreaths and a set of angels playing the trumpet that we placed on top of the television. But our most respected tradition was dressing up for our Christmas meal.

One year, when I was nine years old, I went into my room to prepare for our feast. I pulled on my wool stockings and immediately felt like a cat burglar. I crept around my room in exaggerated strides like the Pink Panther. If it were up to me, I would have always gone around wearing only tights and an undershirt, like a boy in a Russian dance school.

I didn’t often wear a dress. They were difficult to wear in winter under snowsuits.

26

FIRST PERSON

And when the weather was warm, I always seemed to have occasion to be upside down, hanging from the monkey bars or doing cartwheels. That day, though, I took out a white wool dress that had ruffles on the sleeves. My dad had bought it for me at a year-end sale at the Bay the year before. I pulled it over my head and stood in front of the mirror nailed to the wall in my room.

Then I went to my jewellery box, a white plastic miniature armoire, which, when the lid was lifted, began to play the Moonlight Sonata. The first notes filled the room, changing the atmosphere the way the few initial snowflakes do. I put my hair up with rose-shaped barrettes I kept in one of the small drawers.

I was delighted with my appearance. I looked like one of the girls from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, like I was waiting for a train to take me off to some rich relative’s to live out the war with chain-smoking fauns. I felt like Madeline from the picture books, waiting for Pepito, the boy who is a very bad hat, to come over.

I headed out to the kitchen to meet my dad, carrying a box with a small giraffe I’d bought him at Jupiter, the five-and-dime store on the corner.

The glass animals were one of the few items I could afford, so I had carefully surveyed the menagerie. This one’s head looked so lonely at the top of its long neck that I had to bring it home.

On an ordinary day, my dad would be wearing overalls covered in dabs of paint and a pair of rubber boots with newspaper tucked into them for insulation from the cold. He wore a black toque balanced on top of his head.

Since he worked as a janitor for a long block of buildings, this was appropriate attire. Around the house, he relaxed in his boxer shorts and undershirt with his socks pulled up to his knees. He got his hair cut in the neighbour’s apartment. She was very pretty and always walked around in her bare feet, chainsmoking and complaining about her ex.

But for Christmas, my dad put on an old black suit he kept in a bag the rest of the year, so that moths wouldn’t destroy it. He also had a suitcase filled with colourful ties. He had bought them when he was a young man—when he believed he had all sorts of possible futures. This year, he had chosen a dark blue tie with sparrows that he wore over a shirt with butterfly collars. His cologne made him smell like expensive candy.

Getting dressed up lightened my dad’s mood. He put a pot of mashed potatoes on the stove, then did a jitterbug across the kitchen floor. As he often did when he was happy, he spoke about all the girls who were crazy about him growing up.

A neighbour had told him that he looked like Marlon Brando. When he was 20, a girl told him that he had the bluest eyes in all of Canada.

Our tiny kitchen, with its red-tiled floor and blue melamine table, wasn’t usually a place where fancy affairs happened. But on Christmas Day, it was a ballroom, the Queen’s parlour. Christmas always makes one’s household the centre of the world. It’s as though the star of Bethlehem is right over your house, shining a spotlight on it, whether you live in a mansion in Westmount or a small apartment above a pizza restaurant.

That night, as I stood in my kitchen wearing my blossom-white dress, my dad exclaimed it suited me perfectly. He said that I was the best-dressed kid in the neighbourhood and I put all the other nine-year-olds to shame. It was always his opinion that we had the best of everything, especially on Christmas. He declared that our fake Christmas tree was the most fantastic for miles and that nobody on earth could pry his gravy recipe out of him. I accepted the validity of my dad’s claims. I was so impressed with our life on Christmas—I didn’t ever want to be anywhere else.

My dad handed me my gift. He’d bought me a small family of mice made out of rabbit fur, all dressed in Edwardian outfits. How wonderful, I thought, the mice had also dressed up for Christmas! I looked at each of the members of the small family in delight. The little girl mouse held a parasol over her head and seemed to gaze straight as me, as though, even though she had been born humble, she expected the world. n

“I WAS DELIGHTED WITH MY APPEARANCE. I LOOKED LIKE ONE OF THE GIRLS FROM THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, LIKE I WAS WAITING FOR A TRAIN TO TAKE ME OFF TO SOME RICH RELATIVE’S TO LIVE OUT THE WAR.”

THEKIT.CA | HOLIDAY 2016 |

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HOLIDAY CHEER CANADIAN STAND-UPS SHARE THEIR MOST MEMORABLE FAMILY MOMENTS “I had just moved to Toronto in 2012 and never missed a family Christmas before. I was pretty broke (because I’m a Canadian comedian #lololol) and didn’t think I could make it home for the holidays. My mom offered to pay, but I knew she wasn’t in the best place financially, either. I ended up getting a job last-minute and could afford the flight home. I surprised my mom on Christmas Eve and taped the whole thing.

The video of my mom’s face still makes me cry.” —Amanda Brooke Perrin, who says the scene in Elf in which Buddy burps for a minute straight describes her as a person.

“It was just a few years ago: the first time my boyfriend (now husband!) was spending the holidays with my family.

We had our flights to Ottawa booked months in advance, but at 5 a.m. we got an alert that, due to bad weather, our flight had been cancelled and rebooked for after Christmas!

There were no available rental cars, trains, flights… In a moment of desperation, I posted our sob story on Facebook. Immediately, a girl I went to high school with and hadn’t spoken to in almost a decade offered us a ride. We enjoyed a magical eight-hour drive in a crazy snowstorm. It was truly a Christmas miracle.”—Julia Hladkowicz, who still reads The Night Before Christmas every year with her fam.

“My older brother suggested we play some Yuletide Poker, which is the same as regular poker, except you bet with Christmas treats. I’d never played poker before, but I was very into the idea of getting so good at it that I could have a lavish lifestyle like a cool Bond villain. We had got about 20 minutes into the game when I became incredibly bored and started eating my holiday currency. As my annoyed brother tirelessly explained the ways in which I was spoiling the game, I realized how ‘Bond villain cool’ it was of me to ruin Christmas poker.” —Sara Hennessey, whose wholesome parents quote salty lines from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation all year.

27

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY LUIS MORA

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VISIT THEKIT.CA/COMPACT-READER-PANEL TO SIGN UP NOW

THE HANDBOOK

TREND NOTE

During the holidays, glamour is even more necessary than that first glass of wine on a Friday. (But both can be found at Terroni’s Il Covo Degli Artisti bar in Toronto, where we snapped this portrait.) This winter, it’s easy to get your fix: Valentino showed richly textured velvet and the Ralph Lauren show was awash in glimmering metallics.

PREPARE TO PARTY

SHOT ON LOCATION AT TERRONI ON ADEL AIDE. HAIR AND MAKEUP: ANIYA NANDY FOR ARBONNE.COM/PLUTINO GROUP. ILLUSTRATIONS: ISTOCKPHOTO. ART DIRECTION: KRISTY WRIGHT

Pro tips on how to wear the most lit looks, where the cool girls are kicking back and why glitter lips rule TEAM SPIRIT Dressed head-to-toe in shimmering party-ready textures, these five bartenders are ready to mix it up

By Veronica Saroli | Photography by Luis Mora

CHRISTINA VEIRA, 29, APARTMENT 200, CHANTELLE GABINO, 28, THE SOCIAL JESSICA MILI, 24, BAR BEGONIA MILENA MAIA, 29, TERRONI ADELAIDE ST. EMMA MINIGAN, 29, PARTS & CHIME IMPORTS GROUP, PARTS & LABOUR, DOG & BEAR For Mili, bartending isn’t just Maia studied to be a lawyer in her native LABOUR “I really needed to get a job, and when you work in a restaurant, you always get a free meal—so it was kind of a win-win” is how Veira describes her auspicious start behind the bar. She points out that even though technology is zapping most daily human interaction out of our lives, bartending is still a voluble job in which it’s not uncommon to chat with more than 100 people a night.

“Most of my friends with day jobs barely talk to 20 different people in a day.”

Go-to holiday drink: “Gin hot toddies.”

WINNERS DRESS, $50, JACKET, $60, SHOES, $ 60, WINNERS

THEKIT.CA | HOLIDAY 2016 |

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A lot of bartenders begin as students who want to earn some quick cash. For Gabino, the opportunity to indulge rightbrain creativity is what sealed the deal. “I got asked ‘When are you going to get a real job?’ a lot when I first started eight years ago. Thankfully, the perception of this niche career choice has been changing.”

Bar must-have: “A bottle of bitters. I love anything by Bittered Sling, which is an amazing Canadian company.”

about pouring drinks. “People have been fermenting and distilling alcohol since the beginning of written history.

That speaks volumes about the importance of drinking culture to society,” she notes. “At the end of the day, though, it’s important to remember that we are serving people, not cocktails.”

Hangover cure: “Ginger ale with Angostura bitters in it. And time.”

Brazil (and speaks four languages, by the way) but couldn’t practise when she moved to Toronto last year. So she turned her hobby of making drinks into a full-time profession, making spiked lemonade out of lemons, if you will. Her career may have changed, but her drink of choice remains unwavering: “Caipirinhas are my favourite.”

Go-to holiday drink: “Spicyale: It in clu d es Tro m b a, G ran d M arn ier, cucumber, hot sauce and lime juice.”

WINNERS DRESS, $20, BOOTS, $60, WINNERS

Sharp-witted and quick with a joke, Minigan hustles hard when she’s clocked in. “Making sure your guests are happy is always the priority.” But happy to a certain extent— you won’t catch Minigan flairtending, ever. “I would like to see more of none of that.”

On reaching peak Aperol Spritz: “That’s impossible.

Come on now.”

WINNERS JACKET, $300, PANTS, $200, SHOES, $150, WINNERS

WINNERS DRESS, $40, JACKET, $250, SHOES, $150, WINNERS

WINNERS DRESS, $250, SLIP, $30, SHOES, $40, WINNERS

29

RYAN LO

SAN ANDRES

ERDEM

ASHLEY WILLIAMS

MAX MARA

THE HANDBOOK

DIY DEPARTMENT: THOSE KIT TED-OUT HAIRPINS

Thought your decorative bobby pin days were over? Think again. From Bottega Veneta to Alexander McQueen, our fave partyready looks were embellished pins and barrettes. Since we’ve spent most of our extra cash on new boots (it’s good to be prepared), we asked DIY expert Mari Santos to show us how our hairstyles can take centre stage for less.

THE AMATEUR NOSE A dessert chef sniff-tests a sesameand-almond-based fragrance THE NOSE

Zagros Leung, pastry chef at Byblos, 11 Duncan St., Toronto THE SCENT

Givenchy L’Ange Noir, $103 (50 mL), thebay.com THE NOTES

YOU’LL NEED

Bobby pins, scissors, a glue gun, felt, embellishments like pompoms, rhinestones and fake flowers.

STEP 1

Cut out a round piece of felt.

Or skip this step and glue small decorations directly onto the pin.

STEP 2

Using a glue gun, affix your fave embellishments onto felt circles.

STEP 3

Glue the felt pieces onto the ridged side of the bobby pin.

STEP 4

TA-DA!

Rinse-and-repeat with all your different embellishments.

Put them on all at once for a holiday pixie dream girl look.

PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER STIGTER (ERDEM, MARA, FENDI); GETTY IMAGES (WILLIAMS, LO, GOLDBERG, HADID, DKNY, OLYMPIA, CAMPBELL, VERSACE); INSTAGRAM (@CHIARAFERRAGNI, @SANANDRESMILANO); ISTOCKPHOTO (ILLUSTRATIONS, SPARKLE).

HAIR AND MAKEUP: NATALIE VENTOLA FOR P1M USING MAC COSMETICS/MOROCCAN OIL (GLITTER LIPS). HAIR AND MAKEUP ASSISTANT: SANGEETA BHELLA (GLITTER LIPS). ART DIRECTION: KRISTY WRIGHT (GLITTER LIPS)

HOW TO BE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

“Clothing is not going to make you stand out. It’ll make you noticeable, but personality is what makes you stand out. So ask yourself what you are bringing to the table: Are you bringing a good time and a light attitude? Be open. Be happy to be where you are. Introduce yourself to people. Say ‘Hi, I’m usually a wallflower, but I don’t want to be. So hello, what’s your name?’

Most people won’t do it because they’re busy in their head, but if you want to stand out, walk up to somebody and tell them your name.” — ­ Whoopi Goldberg, who designed a line of cheeky holiday sweaters for Hudson’s Bay

30

TRUTH: BEHIND EVERY GREAT HOLIDAY HAIR LOOK IS A GOOD BLOW-DRY

HI, I’M USUALLY A WALLFLOWER...

The best runway and red carpet inspo (yasss, Naomi)

Black sesame, fresh almond, pink peppercorn, Tonka bean, iris THE VERDICT

Watch it step by step at thekit.ca/DIY

SPARKLE ON THE SCENE

“It smells like our dish called loukomades, made with halva [sesame] paste, walnut praline, spices and burnt-honey ice cream. [Middle Eastern desserts] are sweet, citrus-y, and then the spice kicks in at the end.”

DKNY

NAOMI CAMPBELL

CHIARA FERRAGNI

VERSACE

“My favourite thing to do— especially for a sleek ponytail like the one I did last night on Bella Hadid—is to get the hair nice and smooth, add some hairspray and then actually blow-dry over that hairspray.

You’re setting it, so you don’t have to deal with fly-aways. It makes a real difference.” —Jen Atkin, hairstylist to the stars

CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA

HER TOOLS: DYSON SUPERSONIC HAIRDRYER, $500, THEBAY.COM. OUAI SOFT HAIRSPRAY, $32, SEPHORA.CA

FENDI

THE CHALLENGE

GLITTER LIPS

Our interns take the bedazzled bouche out on the town

By Natasha Bruno Photography by Shalan and Paul Ever since makeup master Pat McGrath revealed her surrealistic, sparkly lip kit at the Atelier Versace Fall 2016 show, glitter lips have become the season’s most talked-about beauty trend, popping up all over runways, Instagram feeds and celeb selfies. We’re obsessed too, obv, so we asked Toronto makeup artist Natalie Ventola to give our interns the full glitter treatment. Their verdict: While it may be difficult to eat or drink—and forget about making out—this look is holiday makeup magic.

SARAH CHO, 23

“It reminded me of Dorothy’s ruby slippers.

People stared on the subway, but I also received a compliment from someone walking by!”

KATELYN BEER, 24

ABBY SCHWENGLER, 20

MARCIA LOPES, 21

“I loved it because I like experimenting with makeup—my first thought was ‘I look like a mermaid!’

It was an unusual texture–I could feel the weight of the rhinestones—but after about an hour, my lips didn’t feel as heavy. The best reaction was when someone said I could stop traffic with the reflection.”

“SOMEONE SAID I COULD STOP TRAFFIC WITH THE REFLECTION.” —MARCIA LOPES

“It looked so good! And the longer I wore it, the more natural it felt.

By the end, I was super sad to remove it. I would for sure rock the look for NYE, though I’m not sure my boyfriend will want a glittery kiss at midnight.”

“I started the day feeling a little weary, then I turned into a glamorous superhero—Wonder Woman meets Beyoncé!”

PAIGE PEAKE, 22

“At first I was shocked by the bold black glitter against my pale skin, but after a while it definitely grew on me. I’m a lover of ‘no-makeup makeup,’ and this look will be perfect for a concert. Lip balm is definitely a must afterwards, though.”

PRO TIP SHEET

Makeup artist Natalie Ventola’s top glitter lip tricks BASE “Use a semi-matte or very creamy hydrating lipstick. If you’re applying loose glitter on bare lips, try using a gel eye cream.

Press the glitter on while the gel is still a bit sticky.”

“Apply loose glitter directly on top of your lipstick with a flat makeup brush.”

APPLICATION

“A piece of Scotch tape can be used to easily remove excess glitter on the face without obstructing foundation.”

CLEAN UP

REMOVAL “An

oil-based makeup remover should do the trick.”

FROM LEFT: BITE BEAUTY CRÈME LIP GLOSS IN GOLD, $25, SEPHORA.CA. OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS GLITTER IN SLATE, $15, OCCMAKEUP.COM. HARD CANDY GLITTER GEL PALETTES, $5, WALMART. PAT MCGRATH LABS LUST 004 LIPSTICK KIT IN VERMILLION VENOM, $72, SEPHORA.CA. NYX GLITTER PRIMER, $8, NYXCOSMETICS.CA. SWAROVSKI CREATE YOUR STYLE XIRIUS HOTFIX CRYSTAL MIX, $14, MICHAEL’S.

31

THE HANDBOOK OFFICIALLY EVERYWHERE

BE STILL, MY BLACK HEART

DKNY

TORY BURCH

Load up on rich velvets, moody lace and onyx hues for those times when your holiday aesthetic is less Britney Spears’s Las Vegas residency and more fancy Wednesday Addams

BARE NECESSITIES

PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER STIGTER (BACKSTAGE BEAUTY, LOOSEN UP RUNWAY); GETTY IMAGES (MONROE, STEWART, SMILOVIC); INSTAGRAM (@KYLIEJENNER, @KIMKARDASHIAN); ISTOCKPHOTO (ILLUSTRATIONS, BLACK PAINT)

In search of a holiday beauty shake-up, fashion editor Jillian Vieira ditches her makeup armour for something more on-trend: her own face

MAR

C JAC

OBS

WHY MARTHA IS THE O.G. BADASS OF PARTY DRESSING

GUC

CI

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: 1-01 BABATON TOP, $195, ARITZIA. MARC CAIN DRESS, $420, MARC CAIN. JENNIFER BEHR HAIR PIN, $215, JENNIFERBEHR.COM. JOHN + JENN JACKET, $249, JOHNANDJENNCOLLECTION.COM. DYNAMITE TOP, $30, DYNAMITECLOTHING.CA. CLUB MONACO SKIRT, $229, CLUBMONACO.CA. LOFT JUMPSUIT, $109, LOFT.COM. EXPRESS BAG, $35, EXPRESS.COM. PIERRE HARDY SHOES, $1,870, PIERREHARDY.COM. TED BAKER DRESS, $369, TEDBAKER.COM. PANDORA RING, $95, PANDORA.NET. GUESS TOP, $79, SHOP.GUESS. SUNO SHOES, $930, SUNONY.COM CA. CALL IT SPRING NECKLACE, $18, CALLITSPRING.COM. JOE FRESH PANTS, $39, JOEFRESH.COM

32

Everyone has their go-to arsenal of festivity-ready looks. Mine is a precise liner flick or a matte red lip—or both. I’ve become reliant on this armour of sorts: It makes me feel put together enough for any occasion—or, more precisely, reassures me that I will fit in. But this season, after my first time covering the totally intimidating beauty beat at New York Fashion Week, my outlook on party makeup has changed: I’m kind of over it. Allow me to explain.

Amidst the backstage chaos, a few constants emerged: gaggles of supersized models hitting up the craft services table for snacks, frantic showrunners urging said models into rehearsals and hair and makeup artists preaching the merits of beauty “individualism” to anyone who would listen. Gone are the days of the runway clone, said makeup artist Gucci Westman at Rag & Bone, as she gave the lineup of models lightly luminous skin, subtly thickened brows and nothing else (not even mascara!). “We’re showcasing the fact that we’re all different and celebrating that,” she explained. Over at Michael Kors, lead artist Dick Page echoed the sentiment. “We don’t want to change the girls too much,” said Page, who had little more than M.A.C Technakohl Liner in his kit for a personalized touch of navy, brown or black on the eyes.

“Nothing we do imposes structure—there’s nothing graphic in the shape of the liner or the brow.”

The evidence was growing: If the barest hint of makeup was enough for the runway, surely it could hold up to any of my holiday invites. So I ventured out to a dance party with just a swipe of clear brow gel and lip balm. As I swayed to vintage Ashanti and Ja Rule, no one remarked that I looked tired (to my surprise). I even caught myself admir- NOT NOTHING, ALMOST: ing my natural brow shape in the bar BUT M.A.C BROW IN CLEAR, mirror, after years of dutifully trying to SET $21, LIP CONDImask my over-plucking past. I looked TIONER, $19, MACCOSlike myself and, damn, did it feel good. METICS.CA

“I paint the red soles on Louboutins black. They don’t look good to me—they’re sort of flashy. [Christian Louboutin] knows I do it. I don’t have his approval, but he knows I do it!” —Martha Stewart

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| HOLIDAY 2016 | THEKIT.CA

HOW NOT TO DRESS LIKE AN ORNAMENT

ULTIMATE PARTY INSPO

MARCO DE VINCENZO

ESTEBAN COTARZAR

“If you walk into a party and you’re all stiff and tight, when a woman comes in wearing a grey cashmere sweater and a satin skirt with pockets in it—and she’s just sitting there so relaxed—you’re like ‘Ugh.’ You feel like a Christmas ornament and she’s so chill but absolutely appropriate and beautiful. That to me is the ultimate holiday dressing: when you are so comfortable, but you look put together.

“If you’re going for that effortless look, do it in shades of the same colour—like cream and oyster and ivory. It tends to look much chicer.”

—Amy Smilovic, designer of Tibi

10 Things I Hate About You slip dress FTW.

Don’t know what to wear? Let these classic ’90s flicks guide you

Black tie? Never let go of Titanicworthy gloves.

When in doubt, be posh.

(Spice World forever.)

Go whiteon-white-onwings like baby Claire Danes in Romeo and Juliet.

Romy and Michelle want you to rock a mini.

TEST DRIVE

GUCCI

LOOSEN UP

But back to me and my regular curves. Finally, I break free of the corset, swapping the original pairing for my favourite see-through vintage negligée (I’m now officially going for sexy witch) and, infuriatingly, I can’t get the damn thing back on. After managing to knock over several items on my dresser with the bones of the corset—which when half done up, stand stiffly out at attention— I’m finally ready. With double-layered hoops and heeled sandals, my final look is The Craft meets ’90s prom. I’m not displeased. I head out in the pouring rain and can’t enter my Uber without assistance. I remember that historically, women weren’t accorded much of a life, which totally makes sense in this awkward moment.

In a time rich in feminist dialogue, the corset’s current return seems particularly profound.

Or maybe I’m too hungry to be thinking clearly. After the party, despite the fact that a corset is truly a no-sit item, I suggest grabbing a late dinner. But once settled at a no-frills pho restaurant with my friends, I find eating past full (as is my usual style) impossible. So like a Victorian lady, I leave some food on my plate.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

BALMAIN

MY FINAL LOOK IS THE CRAFT MEETS ’90S PROM. I’M NOT DISPLEASED.

MARC JACOBS

Fifteen minutes into my test drive of one of fall’s hottest trends, I’m sweating, swearing and screaming loudly enough to terrify all my neighbours. Silly me: When I decided to slip into a corset to hit up a fancy cocktail party in honour of an up-and-coming designer, I was picturing Rihanna casually sporting a corset belt on top of a PJ top while on a date with Drake—I thought replicating her look would be as easy as making a Drake meme. (Note to self: Never equate yourself with a living icon.) Unlike Ri’s Chanel cincher, mine is a torso-flattening satin number that hits just below my breasts. The look doesn’t work: My butt is way bigger, and the corset creates a literal shelf in the worst way possible when layered over a vintage silk button-down.

Worst of all, having only haphazardly listened to the careful dressing instructions from Northbound Leather while picking up said corset, I have become trapped inside the hard casing of one of feminism’s first wearable foes.

Before activists burned their bras in the ’60s, the corset was suffragette enemy number one.

Shaping the ideal female figure since the early 1600s, the corset became downright dangerous near the end of the 19th century, when the “wasp waist” (a scary waist measurement of 14 to 17 inches) became fashionable. Deformed ribs and dislocated organs were only a few of the side effects, which led to protests and, ultimately, bondage bodices being abandoned for the looser styles of the 1920s. Since falling from grace, the corset has crept back into fashion a few times (all hail Madonna’s larger-than-life cone-bra corset in the mid ’90s, by way of designer Jean Paul Gaultier). But its reappearance on this fall’s runways at Prada, Loewe and Balmain is directly related to the Kardashians and their popularization of waist-trainers. While their shaping abilities have yet to be proven, the Kim-approved contraptions have become synonymous with the otherworldly curves so sought after today.

PRADA

LOUIS VUITTON

PROENZA SCHOULER

Randi Bergman tries to have a good time in history’s most notoriously un-feminist ­clothing item

BRAVE BELT, $155, BRAVELEATHER. COM. HOURGLASS ANGEL CORSET, $175, HOURGLASSANGEL.COM. L’AGENT BY AGENT PROVOCATEUR CORSET, $315, LAGENTBYAP.COM. AERIE BODYSUIT, $54, AERIE.COM

33

These hilarious women are what #FriendshipGoals are made of. (Y.Co Kiss yacht, approx. $40 million, y.co)

By Veronica Saroli

Schumer and Paltrow have both expressed a preference to skip the Met Gala to, we presume, hang in pyjamas and do face masks. (Roots top, $54, pants, $56, roots.com) Much to the horror of the public and medical professionals, these guys are pro-cupping. (Davids Tea mug, $12, davidstea.com) BRAD PITT

These two aren’t BFFs per se, but after so many Rihanna brush-offs, Drizzy should probably brush up on modern romance... (Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari, $20, indigo.ca)

The swimmer took home the gold on Teigen’s show Lip Synch Battle with an unbeatable combo of #PhelpsFace and Eminem. (Beats Solo 3 wireless headphones, $330, apple.com/ca)

From one Sports Illustrated co-cover-model to another.

(Cravings by Chrissy Teigen, $40, indigo.ca)

34

CÉLINE DION

Both are clients of superstylist Law Roach, whose suggestion that Céline rock a Titanic hoodie had an equally titanic style effect for her. (Spreadshirt custom hoodie, starting at $51, spreadshirt.ca)

This environmentally friendly couple just want to make the world a better place. Remember jubilant Leo and his water gun? (Nerf Super Soaker FlashFlood Blaster, $25, toysrus.ca) The Heart of the Ocean may be gone, but other diamonds live on—finely ground into dust—in this eye cream.

(Tata Harper Illuminating Eye Cream, $127, sephora.ca)

LEO DICAPRIO

ZENDAYA COLEMAN

Riri and Zendaya recently signed on to act in comicbook flicks. These Mary Janes honour Zendaya’s Spider-Man role. (J.Crew shoes, $289, jcrew.com)

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NINA AGDAL

The latest singer of the KitKat jingle would give Leo a break. He got his Oscar, he’s earned it. (KitKat, $2, mass retailers)

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES (CELEB); GEOFFREY ROSS (LIPSTICK KISS)

Chance just might be the greatest thing to happen to overalls this millennium. (Sheila Rashid overalls, $400, sheilarashid.com)

CHANCE

DRAKE

Do we actually need to go over this again? (Shark, $15, store.ripleyaquariums.com)

CHRISSY TEIGEN

RIHANNA

George Clooney. Tequila. Friendship.

Bonding. Bachelors. That’s all there is to know. (Casamigos Reposado, $70, liquor stores)

The once-engaged pair are now both single again, cough cough. Perhaps she’ll send a letter signed with a kiss in a colour named— you guessed it—Gwyneth. (Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Liquid Lip in Gwyneth, $30, holtrenfrew.com)

MICHAEL PHELPS

The Matriarch will likely bestow upon the comedian a Kardashianapproved and -branded product. (Kardashian Beauty Black Seed Dry Oil, $17, tradesecrets.ca)

KRIS JENNER

J.Law got Aziz what?! Here’s what we think will be changing hands at the hottest Hollywood holiday parties this year

AMY SCHUMER Lawrence would get a saucy bow tie for the farfalleloving Ansari (that pasta is also called bow-tie pasta.

Get it?). (Burberry bow tie, $200, Harry Rosen)

AZIZ ANSARI

Instagram evidence of Lawrence and Jenner reading in bed proves these paparazzi magnets are fun-lovin’ ladies and major bosses who can’t be messed with. (Linda Farrow sunglasses, $1,477, lindafarrow.com )

MAP TO THE STARS

GWYNETH PALTROW

JENNIFER LAWRENCE

LAST WORD

| HOLIDAY 2016 | THEKIT.CA

Holiday wish list ADVERTORIAL

All the glam gifts to put on your list, from notice-me heels to the scent of the season High shine

Think pink

ALDO HEELS, $80,

EQUIPMENT SILK DRESS, $260, NET-A-PORTER.COM

Make these metallic sandals the starting point for your New Year’s Eve ensemble.

Work the slip dress trend in a pretty, unexpected hue.

ALDOSHOES.COM

Spec appeal

Be the cool girl—fashion-forward shades upgrade every outfit.

GUCCI SUNGLASSES, $397, NET-A-PORTER.COM

Retro glam

Bling ring

A chic choker completes your mistletoe-worthy look.

JENNY BIRD NECKLACE,

$95, JENNY-BIRD.CA

Star power

Your perfect partner this dreamy season: a vibrant chypre floral spiked with black magic rose and sensual musk.

Add a pop of polish with earrings that take you from desk to dancefloor.

H&M EARRINGS, $13, H&M

CALVIN KLEIN DEEP EUPHORIA,

$92 (50 ML), $119 (100ML), THEBAY.COM/FRAGRANCE

Me time

A lovely candle plus a bubble bath equals holiday bliss.

INDIGO CANDLE, $35,

INDIGO STORES

It list

Consider this neutral carryall fashion baggage of the coolest variety.

BALENCIAGA CROSSBODY BAG, $1,995, HOLT RENFREW