Letter from the Editor The Art of Seduction - Siren Communications

S JSTYLE & FASHION
Letter from the Editor
The Art of Seduction
Fashion is many things. It's a playground
for self-expression. It's a toolkit for self reinvention.
It's a way to display status and
wealth and that nebulous thing called "taste." Yet,
thrumming behind it all is the steady murmur of
seduction. More than anything else, fashion is the
silver quiver in the bow of seduction.
During our rough winters, I long for balmy summer
days. By late August, I simply can't wait to break
out the bold colours, strong silhouettes and delicious
cashmeres and tweeds that give fall dressing its
crackle. Enough with the caftans, T-shirts and sandals;
this girl was born to layer!
Some women an be seductive in a boyfriend's
shirt and flip-flops but, let's admit it, most of us benefit
from a savvy selection of fashion, accessories and
grooming. You'v got to hand it to French women
who have mastered this art. Stroll down Avenue
Montaigne or Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris
and you'll find yourself dazzled by women of all ages.
From the twentysomethings in their Isabel Marant
skinny jeans and drapey tops to the fiftysomethings
mixing up their hanel, COS and Cartier with equal
aplomb, we could all take a page from their books.
For this issue we traveled to Paris (surprise) for
our outerwear fashion special. The sharp silhouettes
of this season's jackets and coats look just right set
amidst some of th e city's most daring architecture.
Also in our page we celebrate delectable jewels and
watches in yellow gold; bold, sexy footwear; and a
bounty of this season's best fragrances and makeup.
Three new contributors join us this month.
Philanthropist and fashion enthusiast Suzanne
Rogers (page 42) who pens "Suzanne's Fashion
Diary." Laura Calder, chef, author and TV personality
who reports on the chicest restaurants (page 60),
and elite travel site Mr & Mrs Smith (page 52), whose
editors have jet-setted the globe to reveal the most
sought-after hotspots at top film festival locations.
Fall brings new additions to our wardrobes, and, in
keeping with the theme of change, there've been a few
at S/ Style & Fashion, too. First, we're now a quarterlylook
for our next issue out in November. Commencing
with the November issue, I'll be S/ Style & Fashion
Magazine's editor-at-large and Lisa Felepchuk will be
our new editor-in-chief. Lisa comes to the magazine
world from Bell Media where she managed a number
of digital channels, including Fashionism.ca. "Canadian
newsstands are lacking a women's luxury lifestyle
magazine like S/ Style & Fashion. Our goal is to change
that-to offer readers a premium publication that celebrates
fashion as art," she says.
Stay tuned for our spectacular gala-themed issue
coming up next. Meanwhile, allow yourself to be
seduced by fall fashion. (You know it's futile to resist.)
Rita 8ilran
Editor-in-Chief
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READY FOR THEIR
CLOSE-UP
Explore the world 8 top film f es tival destinations
I
t's time to book afirst-class ticket abroad. Laura House and Kate
Thorman from Mr & Mrs Smith the exclusive international travel site,
uncover insider favourites-the clubs, boutiques, hotels and watering
holes-in Venice, Marrakech and Sydney. Read onfor their five-star picks,
thenpackyour Vuittons, darlings.
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VENICE
F
ounded in 1932, the famed Venice Film Festival is the
longest-running international celebration of celluloid.
As locations go, what could be more cinematic than
this city of canals and cobblestones, where the red carpet
is rolled out on Lido, a sandy slip of an island trimmed with
exclusive beaches.
Even if you're not up for the coveted Leone d'Oro, Venice
offers A-list treatment. Naranzaria, nestled within a 16thcentury
building in the bustling Rialto, is where film types take
their clients to schmooze over seafood carpaccio.
After lunch, visit the palazzo, now a gallery, of modernart
maven Peggy Guggenheim. A short stroll from the Peggy
Guggenheim Collection, Nape is an intimate shop showcasing
20th-century Murano glass. Foodies will love spending the
afternoon learning Italian cuisine in the kitchen of Enrica
Rocca, one of the world's most prestigious cooking schools.
To feel like a true movie star a Ia Charlize Theron (who is
often in Venice during the film festival), book a suite at Palazzo
Barbarigo, a converted 16th-century palazzo on the bank of
the Grand Canal, near the Rialto. With water views and a decor
that blends boudoir glamour with 1920s Art Deco, it just might
be the biggest scene stealer of all.
The Venice International Film Festival is held annually from late
August through early September. -KT
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MARRAKECH
K
nown for its provocative selections, the Marrakech International Film
Festival has a setting as thrilling as its film lineups. From winding alleys to a
vibrant souk, Marrakech has long inspired romance and adventure.
The palatial La Mamounia hotel, with its expansive and fragrant gardens originally
designed to host the garden parties of an 18th-century Moroccan prince, has a history
as rich as its decor. Another storied garden can be found at the Jardin Majorelle, built
by French artist Jacques Majorelle and subsequently owned by Yves Saint Laurent.
Majorelle's former workshop now houses the Berber Museum, which displays Saint
Laurent and Pierre Berge's personal collection of indigenous artifacts.
A visit to the souk is a must. Within the larger market, Le Souk Cherifia offers a curated
selection of high-quality boutiques, from embroidered linens at La Maison Bahira to fine
leather handbags at Lalla. Get above the fray and enjoy the cool breezes on the rooftop
restaurant La Terrasse des Epices; the best spot for film festival people watching. Keep an
eye out for stars like Sigourney Weaver.
To master traditional Moroccan cuisine, visit Souk Cuisine, which organizes market
tours and teachs students how to make North African tagine.
The Marrakech International Film festival is held annually from late November
through early December. -LH

SYDNEY
I
f there's one thing that can be said about Australians, it's
that they know how to host a party. So, it's no surprise that
. the Sydney Film Festival-a 12-day global fete of film with
screenings spanning this cosmopolitan capital of cool-is an
industry favourite.
Discuss groundbreaking documentaries and break-out
performances over fried king prawns or taramasalata dip
at Apollo, a Greek-inspired restaurant in Potts Points that's
indicative of Australia's inventive dining scene. Continue
the conversation with a round of clever cocktails, like a
fancy gin-based potion (named Hanky Panky) at the Victoria
Room, an elegant drinking den seemingly plucked from
another era.
Make sure to pull yourself away from dark screening rooms
long enough to soak up a little of Sydney's glorious sunshine
and explore its handsome harbourfront. Go celebrity spotting
at the Merivale Pool Club (Cate Blanchett is a Sydney Film
Festival regular), a palm-tree-fringed retreat, and don't miss
a stroll along the spectacular Bondi-to-Tamarama coastal
walk, which is transformed from late October through early
November into Sculpture By The Sea, a temporary sculpture
park with work from more than 100 artists.
For a home-away-from-home that's as theatrical as the festival
events surrounding it, check in at the stylish and super-central
QT Sydney. Carved out of the historic State Theatre and Gowings
department store buildings, it's a mix of Gothic, Art Deco and
Italianate architecture with quirky-but-cool interiors. Add a hip
spa, buzzing bar scene and delicious dining and you've got a star
that's always ready for its close-up.
The Sydney Film Festival is held annually in early June. -KT
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