From Taylor Swift’s Folklore film to The Weeknd and Justin Bieber’s criticisms of the Grammys, here’s what made headlines this week.
The 2021 Grammy nominations were announced
Earlier this week, nominations for the 2021 Grammys were announced, with Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Drake getting several nods. However, the announcement was swiftly followed by controversy. Canadian musician The Weeknd, whose latest album After Hours didn’t receive a single nomination despite critical and commercial success, tweeted: “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…” The musician had two singles in the top 10 on the Billboard charts and six songs on the Billboard Global 200 list this year. Justin Bieber also voiced his dissatisfaction with the fact that his album Changes was classified as a pop album instead of R&B. “I am very meticulous and intentional about my music. With that being said I set out to make an R&B album. Changes was and is an R&B album. It is not being acknowledged as an R&B album which is very strange to me,” he wrote on Instagram.
The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…
Taylor Swift’s Folklore film dropped on Disney+
A film featuring Taylor Swift performing all the songs from her new album Folklore dropped on Disney+ this past week. “folklore: the long pond studio sessions” was filmed in upstate New York in September 2020 and sees Swift singing her latest songs, accompanied by co-producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff along with a guest appearance by Justin Vernon from Bon Iver. Directed by Swift herself, the film also reveals the stories and secrets behind all 17 songs from her Grammy-nominated album.
TIFF’s Secret Movie Club launched its digital version
TIFF’s Secret Movie Club, a film club that allows viewers early access to the year’s buzziest films, will be shifting to a digital format for the 2020-21 season. TIFF’s Robyn Citizen and NOW Magazine’s Norm Wilner will serve as this year’s hosts and each screening will be followed by a live discussion with someone from the film team or a critic or subject expert. All of the films in the lineup will be new, unreleased films not yet seen by the public and as the name suggests, the titles will be kept secret ahead of time. The digital movie club goes live this weekend, with single tickets for $16 and subscriptions for $105.
From small-budget indies to the year’s most buzzworthy art-house films, Secret Movie Club goes digital across Canada this weekend.https://t.co/uiwjoERI4e
The Oxford English Dictionary announced it couldn’t pick just one Word of the Year this year
“It’s both unprecedented and a little ironic – in a year that left us speechless, 2020 has been filled with new words unlike any other,” said Oxford Dictionaries president Casper Grathwohl. So instead of selecting a single word that dominated discourse over the course of the year, they selected a whole list of words and terms including coronavirus, pandemic, lockdown, BIPOC and BLM.
OXFORD WORD OF THE YEAR 2020:
With everything that has happened throughout 2020, we concluded that this year could not be summarized by one single “Word of the Year”.
Download our Words of an Unprecedented Year report for the full story. #WOTY2020
The hottest bag of 2020 just got a cozy update. Telfar and UGG have designed a tote together that will be available for pre-sale for just 24 hours starting Monday, November 30at 9am EST. The fluffy sheepskin style is available in two sizes and will likely sell out in just minutes. Since bags won’t be shipped until 2021, the brands are sending special greeting cards to the Tefar x UGG customers who wish to give the bags as holiday gifts.
Frank And Oak redesigned its outerwear to be more sustainable
B-Corp certified brand Frank and Oak has made it their mission to make their outerwear even more sustainable. The collection of coats released this week are the brand’s most eco-friendly styles to date. Without sacrificing performance Frank And Oak has used more recycled materials including recycled polyester and PrimaLoft® filling that is made from post consumer recycled material. The collection insulates to -30 Celsius and has been strategically designed with modern and minimal principles to further reduce the use of unnecessary material. This collection gives new meaning to a clean aesthetic.
Saint Laurent and Hunter launched a pair of boots exclusive to theSaint Laurent Rive Droite store
Photography courtesy of Saint Laurent.
While getting glam may not be a quarantine priority, two of our favourite brands have collaborated on a very fashionable and practical boot. French luxury brand Saint Laurent and English heritage brand Hunter, have come together to make a sleek studded rain boot. Retailing at $695 and sold exclusively at the Saint Laurent Rive Droite store, these boots are the perfect holiday gift for the fashion obsessed.
To lift spirits and celebrate healthcare heroes in the latest 28-day lockdown in Toronto, Canadian shoe brand Zvelle is giving away a pair of shoes each day to a local healthcare worker. The program is a continuation of an initiative Zvelle began in March to show appreciation for those on the front lines. Zvelle encourages anyone to nominate a healthcare worker who works in the GTA by posting a photo of the person on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin, tagging Zvelle and using the hashtag #WalkHowYouWant.
Tudor opened its first North American store in Toronto
Photography courtesy of Tudor
Tudor Watch has officially opened a store in Yorkdale. The new retail location is a partnership with Raffi Jewellers and marks the first boutique across all of North America. Despite restrictions due to Covid-19, the new boutique is open for curbside pickup. Customers are encouraged to browse styles online and book virtual appointments.
Thom Browne’s ‘Friday Uniform” capsule collection launches exclusively at SSENSE
The 51-piece playful assortment is Thom Browne’s take on the ‘Friday Uniform’. The navy capsule collection was specially captured in an editorial for SSENSE by Tyrell Hampton who shot model and friend Toni Smith and features Luc Sante’s commentary on the colour navy. The designer, who is known for his famous colour-ways and unique and precise tailoring explains, “The collection is timeless, you never have to change or think which frees your mind for so many more things.” From cable knits and down puffers to french terry sweats, there’s nothing to get blue about in this collection.
Beloved Toronto beauty studio-meets-cafe Majesty’s Pleasure, an upscale oasis ready to fulfill all your beauty needs has added e-tailer to its impressive list of services. The beauty bar debuted its online Pleasure Delivered Shop earlier in the week, a must-browse e-comm destination of staples from cool indie beauty brands, such as Agent Nateur, Fur, F. Miller, Herbivore, Color Wow and more. The e-shop also sells wines, champagnes and spirits to complete your perfect at-home quarantine pampering package that can be delivered right to your door.
Henné Organics Lip Tints have landed at Canadian beauty e-tailer Shop Kalosophie
Shop Kalosophie, a Canadian e-tailer focused on luxe eco-conscious beauty and lifestyle offerings (think: skincare heroes packed with collagen-boosting peptides to bathing essentials), has stocked up on Henné Organics’ buttery Luxury Lip Tints ($31 each) that provide a wash of nourishing, sheer, buildable colour. The four available shades are made from only a handful of certified organic ingredients, most of which are hydrating oils, including coconut and avocado. The formula is also enriched with vitamin E to strengthen your skin barrier function. Shop the colour-infused balms here.
Tips Nail Bar has its own line of decorative press-on nails
This technically isn’t “new” news that dropped in our inbox this week, but with nail salons located in COVID-19 hotspots across the country forced to, once again, shut theirs doors, alongside all other non-essential businesses, decorative press-on nails are no doubt an unsung hero to appease one’s nail art obsession. Tips Nail Bar, a go-to nail studio in Toronto for detailed nail art, dropped its own line of stunning press-on nails called Press Refresh earlier this month. With prices ranging from $55 to $90, each embellished set was designed and handpicked by Tips’ talented nail artists and are customized to your exact nail size when ordering. (A helpful video on the company website shows you how to properly size your nails before placing your order). What’s more, if you’re more of a single-shade polish fan, there are 14 additional press-on sets available in solid colours that you can add to cart for only $35. Shop the full Press Refresh collection here.
Revlon dropped a makeup collection in honour of the new Wonder Woman 1984 movie
Photo courtesy of Revlon
With the new Wonder Woman 1984 sequel staring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine blasting into living rooms via HBO Max and some theatres across North America on December 25, cosmetics giant Revlon has celebrated the new superhero blockbuster with a limited-edition Wonder Woman-themed makeup collection, which officially dropped on Black Friday and is available exclusively on Amazon. The 10-piece, superhero-centric makeup range – which features brand-new products as well as some Revlon classics – includes glossy and matte liquid lipsticks, a red nail polish, a face and eye palette, eye liner, a creamy highlighter and more. Check out the Revlon X WW84 makeup collection here.
Ayurvedic-inspired beauty line Ranavat Botanics launched a luxurious new facial cream
Ranavat Botanics, a Los Angeles-based, all-natural Ayurvedic skincare line that combines ancient Indian beauty rituals with modern clean beauty practices, has come to rescue cool weather-beaten skin. Its new daily Eternal Reign Bakuchi Crème ($110) is an ultra-rich, silky facial moisturizer loaded with restoring botanicals, such as bakuchi seed and lotus flower, that deeply hydrate and moisturize the complexion.
We’ve got a lot of time on our hands right now. Here are all the movies and television shows we can’t wait to watch on streaming services—including Netflix Canada, Amazon Prime Video and CBC Gem—in December 2020.
Amazon Prime Video Canada
Happiest Season
The highly anticipated queer rom-com starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis is finally here. The two actresses play a couple (Abby and Harper) whose lives are about to get complicated when they visit Harper’s family for Christmas. Dan Levy co-stars as Abby’s best friend, and the cast is rounded out with a list of impressive names including Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen, Aubrey Plaza and Alison Brie. The movie also features original music by Canadian duo Tegan and Sara, Bebe Rexha, Sia and others. Available December 9
The Wilds
Part survival drama, part dystopian slumber party, this thriller follows a group of teen girls from different backgrounds who must fight for survival after a plane crash strands them on a deserted island. One thing to know: these girls did not end up on this island by accident. Available December 11
Palm Springs
This sweet rom-com stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as two people who have a chance encounter at a mutual friend’s wedding in Palm Springs. Things get complicated when the pair find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other. Available December 18
Yearly Departed
This series of eulogies for the year 2020 features a star lineup of female comedians such as Rachel Brosnahan, Ziwe Fumudoh, Tiffany Haddish, Natasha Rothwell and Sarah Silverman. “After a year of societal upheaval, plague, murder hornets and banana bread,” Yearly Departed promises to “give 2020 the huge send-off it deserves.” Available December 30
The Prom
A teenage girl in a small, conservative Indiana town is fighting her high school’s leadership in order to bring her girlfriend to prom. A group of down-on-their-luck Broadway stars decide to head to the town to help with her cause, and to get themselves some much-needed publicity. The film stars Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Kerry Washington, Ariana DeBose and Jo Ellen Pellman. Available December 11
Selena: The Series
This coming-of-age story follows Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla from her childhood to her breakout turn on the music scene. It also chronicles the heartbreaking tough choices she and her family must make as they navigate the highs and lows of success, loss, love and music. Available December 4
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Adapted from a play by August Wilson, this film stars Viola Davis as legendary blues singer Ma Rainey. Tensions rise over the course of afternoon in 1920s Chicago, when the singer and her band gather at a recording studio. Chadwick Boseman plays one of the musicians in her band, in his final film performance before his death this past August. Available December 18
The Midnight Sky
This post-apocalyptic tale follows a lonely scientist in the Arctic, played by George Clooney, as he races to stop a group of astronauts from returning to Earth, where a mysterious global catastrophe has taken place. The film also stars Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, Kyle Chandler, Demián Bichir and Tiffany Boone. Available December 23
CBC Gem
Quiz
Based on the true story of Charles Ingram, a former British army major who was caught cheating on the game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, this series stars Matthew Macfadyen, Sian Clifford, Mark Bonnar and Michael Sheen. Available December 4
Funny Boy
Set in Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 80s, this film (based on a queer coming-of-age novel by Shyam Selvadurai) explores the sexual awakening of a young boy, against the backdrop of civil war between the minority Tamils and the majority Sinhalese. Directed by Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta, the film has been chosen as Canada’s submission to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film this year. Available December 4
Alone Together: Personal Stories From the Pandemic
Selected and funded by the CBC Creative Relief Fund, several Canadian documentary filmmakers have been capturing real moments—from light-hearted to serious—of life in the pandemic. Their series of films will be made available for streaming across Canada through December 2020, beginning on December 4. Titles include Covid & Who I Am Now, which follows a young Chinese-Canadian medical student who was attacked during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she struggles with her self-identity amid rising anti-Chinese racism, and Inendi [She is Gone], which sees Indigenous activist Sarain Fox sitting down with her oldest matriarch, Mary Bell, to gather her stories and preserve her Indigenous cultural legacy during this year of tragedy. Available December 4
Crave
Stylish With Jenna Lyons
Style icon and former president of J.Crew Jenna Lyons is branching out on her own with a television show that’s part reality show and part-competition series. The eight-episode show follows her as she tackles design projects ranging from hosting mobile fashion makeovers to designing her new office to launching a new brand. At the same time, Lyons will be putting a diverse group of people to the test as they compete for a position on her new business venture’s creative team. Available December 3
Euphoria
HBO show Euphoria starring Emmy-winning actress Zendaya is releasing two special episodes ahead of season 2. The first episode, titled “Trouble Don’t Last Always,” will follow Zendaya’s Rue as she celebrates Christmas after a relapse. This episode also stars Colman Domingo’s Ali, a man who frequently speaks at Rue’s Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Broadcast details for the second special episode will be announced in the coming weeks. Available December 6
Let Them All Talk
Meryl Streep stars in this film as a renowned author on a cruise with old friends and her nephew, in an effort to find fun and happiness while coming to terms with her troubled past. The film also stars Candice Bergen, Dianne Wiest, Gemma Chan and Lucas Hedges. Available December 10
Letterkenny: Season 9
Season 9 of Crave’s acclaimed original comedy series begins streaming on Christmas Day with seven all-new episodes dropping at once. This season kicks off with the Hicks, Skids and Hockey Players attending an American Buck and Doe. Available December 25
Shameless: Season 11
The eleventh and final season of this dramedy finds the Gallagher family and the South Side at a crossroads with changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, gentrification and aging. Frank confronts his own mortality, Lip struggles with the prospect of becoming the family’s new patriarch, Ian and Micky learn to adjust to life as newlyweds, Deb embraces her individuality and single motherhood, Carl finds an unlikely new career in law enforcement, and Kevin and V wonder whether a hard life on the South Side is worth fighting for. Available December 6
The Photograph
This film starring Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield follows a series of intertwined love stories set in the past and present. When famed photographer Christina Eames dies unexpectedly, she leaves her estranged daughter (Rae) with many questions, which eventually lead her to an up-and-coming journalist, played by Stanfield. Available December 18
Felicity
All four seasons of beloved ’90s show starring Keri Russell drop on Crave on Christmas Day. The show begins with Felicity Porter, a shy teenager, asking Ben Covington (Scott Speedman) to sign her high school yearbook. What he writes is so insightful and poetic, it persuades Felicity to change the course of her future. Available December 25
Lyst has released its year in review report for 2020 – and it’s been a year like no other. With lockdowns demarcating much of the year, and retail stores closing and then opening and then closing again, fashion – both the industry and the everyday act of getting dressed – has been turned on its head over the past nine months. But despite living and working at home and ventures outside the house few and far between, our interest in celebrity style has not waned. In the report, Lyst outlines the top 10 Power Dressers of 2020 “whose personal style choices drove the biggest spikes in searches, sales, news coverage and social media mentions over the last 12 months.”
Below, discover our collective celebrity style crushes from the past 12 months below:
Harry Styles becomes the first male to top the Power Dressers list – and it’s a well-deserved accolade. Following the release of his most recent single Golden, Styles’ inspired a 52 per cent increase in searches for blue and turqouise blazers, and a 92 per cent increase in searches for yellow bucket hats. Plus, the #HarryStylesCardigan challenge on TikTok saw searches for knitwear spike 166 per cent.
Marine Serre’s moon-print is one of the most in-demand prints of the year and that is thanks in large part to Beyoncé. The Grammy Award winner sported a printed catsuit in her Black Is King visual album and within 48 hours, searches for the brand spiked 426 per cent, and more than 3,000 shoppers searched for “crescent moon top” in the days that followed. Additionally, the Alessandra Rich suit she wore in an Instagram post in September prompted a 78 per cent increase in searches week-on-week.
The frontman of K-pop boyband BTS, Kim Namjoon (who is known as RM) is a firm fashion fixture. Earlier this year, his white turtleneck and jacket combination inspired a 67 per cent increase in searches for similar pieces. Following his appearances at the 2020 MTV VMAs in head-to-toe Gucci, searches for Gucci ties surged 28 per cent, and three-piece suits by 12 per cent in the following 24 hours.
AOC
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has had a few major moments this year, and the red suit she wore to condemn sexism in the US Congress back in July inspired a 74 per cent rise in searches in the days after the speech was televised. AOC also proved her influencer status after showcasing Telfar’s Shopping Bags on Instagram – searches for the brand rose 163 per cent as a result.
When rapper Travis Scott announced in January that he was teaming up with Nike, searches for the brand rose 128 per cent month on month. Lyst also notes that the term “Travis Scott x Nike” also spiked by 168 per cent within 24 hours of the release of the collab. Interestingly, his most recent team-up with McDonald’s helped to boost the company’s quarterly sales.
In addition to Harry Styles and his pearl necklaces, Normal People actor Paul Mescal was also responsible for a surge in interest in men’s jewellery this year. Additionally, his summer wardrobe of short shorts saw searches for the item spike 51 per cent month-on-month and his Louis Vuitton look at the Emmys in September saw searches for the brand increase 44 per cent week-on-week.
Following Lizzo’s appearance in Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty show, searches for blue lingerie spiked by 96 per cent. And after her Grammys performance, searches for neon green bodysuits rose 37 per cent in the 24 hours that followed.
Charli D’Amelio
TikTok star Charli D’Amelio caused a 90 per cent spike in searches for pink Prada bags after she was spotted carrying one at the brand’s show during Milan Fashion Week. She also caused a 73 per cent spike in searches for tie-dye tees after wearing one in a video celebrating hitting 72 million followers.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s fashion influence has remained strong throughout the pandemic. She caused a 185 per cent surge in searches for floral face masks in August, and a 36 per cent increase in searches for striped Breton tops after a virtual appearance on the BBC in April.
Rounding out the top 10 is Italian influencer-turned-businesswoman Chiara Ferragni. Her collab with Champion in April saw a 108 per cent increase in searches for the brand that month, and a number of her at-home style choices – like a Versace bathrobe and Louis Vuitton fur slippers – have also influenced searches in recent months according to the report.
