QFIN 2023 Holiday Gift Guide
This holiday season, QFIN’s top picks for gift-giving are centered around the idea of functionality. The best gifts are those that can be worked into seasonal or everyday use, items that will transcend trend cycles and become well-worn favorites. The holiday season often creates excuses for excess consumerism and money spent on fast-fashion pieces that will barely make it into the new year. Gift-giving is a beautiful love language, but it’s important to be thoughtful with your choices, and not feed into unhealthy cycles of wasted money on overconsumption. The following gift ideas are cute and creative, but still functional, ensuring that their receivers will love them (and you) for the long run.
Happy Holidays!
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Fashion Culture Clash
If you have ever people-watched at a café in downtown Toronto, and then gone on vacation abroad to Europe, the Middle East, or pretty much anywhere else and done the same thing, there is likely one conclusion you may have come to: Wow people dress so differently here then they do back home! Now, why is that?…
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Matilda Djerf x Sofia Richie Grainge
Sofia's classic elegance exudes a timeless aura, perfectly complemented by Matilda's clean and chic Scandinavian style. This collaboration has ignited discussions, sparked desire, and garnered widespread popularity across social media platforms…
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Ode to Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where she had two great loves: drawing and dance. She had always been passionate about the arts. She started designing clothes as she saw them as a way to bring her two-dimensional drawings to life. She studied art at the Pratt Institute before switching to Syracuse University to study fabric design. Betsey began her career in fashion after winning the Mademoiselle Guest Editor Contest, a summer scholarship contest for promising young women…
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The Tragedy of Girlhood: The Story Slipping Through the Seams
Sofia Coppola has bestowed upon us cult classics about the tragedy of girlhood for decades. Movies like The Virgin Suicides, The Bling Ring, and Lost in Translation are only a few honourable mentions in Coppola's repertoire. Regardless of these hidden gems, the real stars of this show are two of history’s most misunderstood ladies…
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Colours, Coats, and Totes
As the leaves have fallen and the branches are bleak, we are without a big snowfall, what colours do we seek? The autumn’s cool breeze is now a distant memory….
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Elegance in Motion: Iconic Costumes That Transcend Time
In the dim glow of the projector's light, the cinematic world unfurls, a realm where celluloid dreams meld seamlessly with the art of fashion. Beyond the actors' compelling performances, the costumes cast a charming spell upon our collective consciousness…
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How Far Will We Go? A Reflection on AVAVAV’s Fall 2023 Collection Fashion Show
During the 2023 Milan Fashion Week, designer Beate Karlsson of the brand AVAVAV held a theatrical runway show that provided commentary on the frivolous high fashion industry and the unsustainable nature of fast fashion. You might be familiar with Karlsson’s fashion show […]
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Daisy Jones and the Six: Bringing ‘70s Back
What is most compelling about the story of Daisy Jones and the Six is that while each main character endures their struggles, they all fight for their beliefs and do not conform to societal norms. In Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel, all the women she creates are […]
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“Chanel is the worst thing that has ever happened to celebrity red carpet looks”
With the Governor's ball, the Oscars, and the Babylon Australian Premiere recently occurring, it would be criminal to disregard the one thing on everyone's mind… Margot Robbie's everlasting contract with Chanel is coming to an end. Since 2018, Margot has been stuck in the same […]
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A Guide to Mindful Thrifting
The question of “how do I sustainably build a wardrobe?” is often one that lingers in my mind. With all of the barriers that come with shopping, such as the price, size, durability, and the amount of times that you think you will wear the item, this can be a hard feat […]
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Runway Stunts: Attention Seeking or Avant-Garde Genius?
The runway is no stranger to acts of performance art, an opportunity for brands to showcase their collections’ themes through eye-catching novelties and thought-provoking stunts. Alexander McQueen was known for his radical and imaginative runway shows, which often sought to exploit controversial […]
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Olivia Rodrigo: From Punk-Princess to SOUR Purple
In honour of Olivia Rodrigo turning 20 and exiting her teenage years, this article is a retrospective on how the singer-songwriter redefined what it means to be a heartbroken and resentful teen. Rodrigo's debut album was released in May 2021 and showcased her versatility in writing angsty […]
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A Crystal Ball For My Closet?
This just in. Skinny jeans continue to be banished; unless they arrive with flared bottoms. A Y2K revival is in the works. What’s hot and what’s not in the future? What if I told you there was a way to predict trends in the fashion industry with the help of artificial intelligence? This powerful tool […]
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The Fashion Evolution of Emma Chamberlain
Looking back to early 2017, I recall a few things: Boho chic outfits, Adidas Superstars, and Emma Chamberlain making her rise to fame. While the first two mentions have outgrown their popularity, Emma has only adapted and thrived since then. For those of you […]
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Is Crochet Here to Stay?
During my Pinterest and Instagram scrolls, I have been noticing more crochet tops, hats, skirts, and dresses making their appearance lately. Not only has crochet been having its moment in the media, but in high fashion as well: Jonathan Simkhai’s collection “the crochet edit,” the Prada bucket hat, and the […]
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Concert-Core: the Unofficial Dress code of the Modern Live Show
Mid-August of 2022, the streets of Toronto were flooded by an extravagant and colourful mob. The feathers from thousands of boas lined the halls of Union Station and into the Scotiabank Arena, later collected into corners and amassed in rainbowed […]
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His Muse, Her Armour
If you follow fashion, you are probably familiar with the classic opening scene from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Fashion icon, Holly Golightly, eats a pastry in front of her favourite diamond store wearing a little black dress and five-strand pearl necklace. For over seven […]
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A Thought For Your Next Thrift Trip
I always love my trips to a thrift store. Finding unique vintage trinkets and clothes that transport me back to decades ago. It is like an affordable time travel machine. Not to mention, I’d be reusing pieces and giving them a second life.
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A Dive Into the Archives
Much of fashion was, and still heavily is, influenced by the designers and creative minds of the 90’s. Some of the most iconic runways and collections debuted, and many worked tirelessly to create a name for themselves in a cutthroat industry. In addition, this was […]
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