It’s hard to put into words what makes British fashion so quintessentially cool, and London street style is no exception.
Fashionistas flocked to the cobblestone streets before and after various spring 2022 fashion week events in flashes of neon, relaxed suiting and sensible footwear. Brown and green were favourites among the crowd with beige bottoms and emerald sweaters were as far as the eye could see. Brightly coloured bulbous gowns were also a focal point as many influencers could be seen posing “candidly” around corners immersed in highlighter hues.
But perhaps what the Brits do best is their tailoring, as demonstrated by the hordes of casual suits that appeared throughout the week. Giving the traditional garments an editorial upgrade, stylish men and women strutted down the streets in effortlessly cool ensembles, experimenting with silhouettes, colour, and texture. Plus, flat fans rejoice! Heels were (for the most part) abandoned in favour of walkable loafers, sneakers and tall boots.
For any anglophiles looking to give their wardrobes the British treatment, scroll through the gallery below to see the best London street style outfits so far:
Visual storytelling is a powerful tool — and thankfully, it’s no longer just for the pros. Apple’s upcoming iPhone releases — iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max — are designed to make creating epic visuals that much easier. The new lineup is available September 24, and includes the brand’s biggest camera advancements ever. Sarain Fox, an Anishinaabekwe activist, filmmaker and content creator from Batchewana First Nation, was one of the first people in Canada to test the new iPhones. Fox tells FASHION about the inspiration behind the stunning visuals she captured, some tips on how to use the new iPhone cameras, and the power of storytelling.
Capturing the beauty of Indigenous womanhood
Fox recently headed back to Batchewana First Nation on the rugged shores of Lake Superior to visit her mother and aunt. She was inspired to create visuals about Mother Earth and Indigenous womanhood, she says. “My whole vibe with the content I wanted to share with you was around matriarchs… that’s my entire focus. I’m obsessed with finding ways to share our stories as Indigenous women.”
In the past, Fox has focused on telling stories of her auntie Mary Bell — her family’s eldest matriarch and a residential school survivor. More recently, Fox has been inspired by her strong relationship with nature instilled in her by her mother. “I’ve been really focusing on how my mom has raised me to love the land, to see stories in the land, and to see the beauty of humanity and how we connect. So as a storytelling content creator, that’s what I’m trying to capture.” With sharp imagery of the water, greenery and trees, Fox completed the video essay below by reciting an excerpt from Cree artist Buffy Sainte-Marie’s song, “Carry It On.”
To make her subjects stand out, Fox used the iPhone camera’s cinematic mode — a feature of all four new iPhones that instantly elevates your videography game. Based on studies of cinematography and the use of rack focus in films, Apple’s cinematic mode records videos of subjects — like people, animals and objects — with a depth-of-field effect. It holds focus on a subject while blurring the background, even when they’re moving. When a subject gazes away or leaves the frame, the camera shifts focus to the next subject that it detects. “It’s like portrait mode for video,” says Fox.
Fox says shooting with cinematic mode was “terrifying at first,” because it felt like she was stuck with a certain focus. But there are so many ways to alter cinematic mode, even after filming. “You think that you’re locked into this really beautiful look — which sometimes can be almost too gorgeous — but then you realize you’re actually shooting with all the options,” she explains. Cinematic mode works automatically, but can also be controlled manually. After shooting, users can change the focus and edit the blur level to tell the story in a different way.
Photography Courtesy of Sarain Fox
Macro photography and video bring even the smallest details to life
Overall, the image quality on the new iPhones are significant. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini come with the biggest sensor ever in an iPhone dual-camera system — capable of gathering 47 percent more light for brighter pictures. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max also have ultra-wide cameras with autofocus that bring macro photography to the iPhone for the first time ever. Macro captures sharp images and enlarges intricate details. It also works with video, including slow-mo and time-lapse.
In the past, Fox says trying to zoom into an object wouldn’t be worth it, because the image would become too grainy and lose all its detail and quality. “Having the potential to just get in there [with a macro lens]… you can actually get the beautiful tiny little details that we see that make magic.”
Photography Courtesy of Sarain Fox
Trust yourself — but don’t skip the tutorials
As a beginner, the best way to create compelling visual content is by following what inspires you, says Fox. “No one was an expert when they started anything. I think we’ve gotten obsessed with the tech, and we’ve sort of lost the beauty of the not-so-perfect things,” she explains. “Even when we’re beading moccasins, we’ll often leave one the wrong colour on purpose. Nothing is perfect, and that’s that honouring of that.” Remember that even the latest and greatest camera is just a tool. “The only way to get good at it is to go and shoot what you want to. Take the tool, and let it follow your lead.”
To familiarize yourself with the shooting options, do yourself a favour and follow the tutorials. “Don’t skip any of that. Your phone will literally tell you all of the ways that it can do things for you and help you,” says Fox. The new iPhones have options to personalize the camera with “photographic styles,” where users can choose from four default styles to customize the tone and warmth to their liking. Fox encourages users to tap into the personalization features to make the most of their content.
Photography Courtesy of Sarain Fox
It all comes down to the power of visual storytelling
Storytelling, for Fox, is about reclaiming the narrative. “Especially for me as a brown woman, when I am holding a camera… I have the ability to tell a story. I’m reclaiming all of the times that someone has spoken for me, for us,” she says. “And so, storytelling for me is powerful and potent. When we have the ability to tell our own stories… we’re able to share our truth.”
This month is also an important time for Indigenous representation in media and storytelling, says Fox. On September 30, Canada will mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a federal statutory holiday for the first time, to help ensure that the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools is never forgotten. “I think what’s most important to me is that this month we’ll be inundated with content from Indigenous content creators, storytellers, politicians — from every single corner, we’re seeing Indigenous content,” she says. Storytelling and oral history are part of Indigenous cultures, and seeing these stories come to life is empowering for Sarain Fox. “The content that’s coming from us talks about vibrancy, resiliency and the truth of who we are as a surviving, thriving community. If you look around at what’s coming out right now, you can see that there’s just so much beautiful storytelling happening across what I say is Indian Country.”
Welcome to Libra season! In honour of this air sign, we’ve done the heavy lifting and discovered some of the best gifts for Libras that double as a visual retreat.
Simply put, Libras are the vision. They rule aesthetics and feel best when they are put together. Help them kickstart the fall season with lug sole loafers, an artful designer resale scarf or chunky and colourful additions to their jewellery box. But the Libra’s aesthetics extend far beyond their wardrobe. Fancify their home with a simple yet harmonizing stool from EQ3 — because a cozy living space will surely keep this equal parts introvert-extrovert feeling balanced.
Nothing says Libra like a charming meet-cute in the library. Tap into their romantic and imaginative side with Maison Margiela’s warm and spicy scent ‘Replica: Whispers in the Library.’ Something else to pair with their keen minds? Perhaps put a bow on a good book. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong is a novel that’s impact is much less brief than the title suggests. After all, air signs crave mental stimuli and intellect.
Tap through all of our favourite gifts for Libras below.
Sometimes I’m afraid to show my huge personality,” says Josie Ho. “I feel like I might speak the wrong word during conversations, but I’m slowly growing out of it.” It’s an unanticipated statement coming from someone who exists in the extroverted orbit of entertainment. But Ho — a singer, film company co-owner and actor whose appearance in this summer’s period drama Edge of the World cemented her status as one to watch in the cinematic sphere — seems to relish in surprising others.
Photography by KIU
Perhaps that’s why she has such an enormous assortment of hats; they allow her to bounce from one personal character to the next with ease. And glamour and intrigue have been part of her life all along. As the daughter of a casino magnate, Ho recalls observing how Hong Kong’s “show business divas moved and how they carried themselves.”
Photography by KIU. “I wore this to an event and loved how unique I felt,” Ho says about this vibrant headpiece. She describes her favourite hat styles as being “wild, fun, elegant, sexy and everything in between.”
Growing up between the Asian metropolis and Canada, Josie Ho says she truly dived into developing her personal style in her late teens/early 20s during the 1990s. She counts the likes of Madonna, Anita Mui, Courtney Love, Yves Saint Laurent and his muse Betty Catroux as her icons when it comes to dressing.
Photography by KIU. This feathered finery—along with many other pieces in her collection—comes from Los Angeles store The Way We Wore. “It always starts conversations,” notes Ho.
Late fashion editor Isabella Blow also gets a name-check from Ho, and it’s easy to see why when you consider each woman’s affinity for grand sartorial gestures. Yet despite the high level of chic associated with the cloches, turbans, fedoras and more that occupy much space in her home, Ho’s preference for wearing hats was born from a practical standpoint. “I started wearing them so I wouldn’t have to do my hair,” she says. “And once the hat is on, I feel there is no need for makeup as well. Add some shades to the look and we’re ready to rock!”
Photography by KIU. Ho’s fondness for flash means finding ways to lend even more of an eye-catching quality to her outfits—like this felt cocktail piece embellished with costume jewels.
While Josie Ho’s eye is drawn to the most sensational examples of millinery throughout history, it’s the humble beret she wore in cadet school that she says is her most memorable. “I was so proud of it,” she recalls. “It was from the 1940s, and I shaped and cared for it myself. I had to put AA batteries inside it to prop it up while I was wearing it.”
Photography by KIU. “It’s the ultimate fashion accessory,” Ho says
of a striking hat. Here, a cascade of chapeaux ranging in era, fabrication and occasion snakes down a stairway to a display case below.
Tending to her collection is just as relevant for Ho today. Her hats are arranged as a decor aspect, and her home in Hong Kong includes custom displays.
Photography by KIU. “This hat gives me attitude and makes me feel fun,” Ho says of a retro bellhop style that features embroidered depictions of the American and state of California flags.
Ho’s extravagant assortment includes a wealth of vintage headwear, and she counts Los Angeles’s The Way We Wore as a favourite destination. Doris Raymond, the boutique’s owner, says the admiration is mutual. “Of all the customers and clients we have from around the world, Josie Ho is absolutely at the top of our list of favourites because she is a fantastic eclectic dresser,” says Raymond. “Bes-Ben, Jack McConnell, Lilly Daché and Mr. John are some of the statement-hat makers Ms. Ho has worn or responded to.”
Photography by KIU. Ho’s jetsetting lifestyle means she has procured pieces from places ranging from the United States to Japan. She wore this vintage wireless eye-catcher to a wrap party for one of her films.
In keeping with the intensity of her vestiary flair, Ho says to stay tuned as she continues to make brave choices with her professional projects as well. “Some of my classmates from childhood didn’t understand how and why I became such a bold performer, but that’s what I really am.”
Photography by KIU. “I took this hat from a photo shoot because I love it,” Ho recalls about how she came to have this outsized fedora from Gucci.
