Just over one year ago, Katie Holmes broke the internet when she was spotted hailing a cab wearing a Khaite cashmere twin set that personified nonchalant fall dressing – and now, she’s done it again. Holmes stepped out this week wearing a luxe looking blazer and sweatpants combination and her tailored take on hygge gives us just enough business on the top and comfort on the bottom, making it incredibly Zoom call appropriate.
Photo by LRNYC/MEGA/GC Images
Whether it’s terry sweats or a knit cashmere pair worn with your favourite oversized blazer, these two wardrobe staples you never thought would mingle are ready for an introduction. Try this look with your go-to sneakers or even take it up a notch with a heeled bootie or pump. Weekends and workdays might mesh when working from home so fashion choices do the same. Take a cue from Holmes and make sweat style a little bit more sophisticated.
Click through for nine ways to get Katie Holmes’ blazer and sweatpants look:
As a trainer, it's my job to understand how the body works, explain it to people, help them improve imbalances and achieve their fitness goals, and move and feel better in their day-to-day. I particularly love teaching people about their core (and debunking myths and inaccurate information out there). The misunderstanding is you should care about abs and ab workouts because you want a six-pack, which is totally fine, but your abs actually play a big role in how you move.
Your internal and external oblique muscles are important for trunk rotation and side flexion. Your rectus abdominis muscles (aka your six-pack muscles) help you maintain an upright posture and also help you flex your lumbar spine (lower spine) and are used every time you cough and laugh. And your transverse abdominis muscles (your deep core muscles) help stabilise your pelvis and lower spine before upper- and lower-body movements occur. Long story short: your abdominal muscles are extremely important.
There are numerous exercises you can do for a stronger core, and I've rounded up my favourites, which will also help you improve your athletic performance and posture and make things like carrying numerous bags of groceries at once a lot easier. This list isn't intended to be done as a workout, but feel free to add a few exercises to your next one, or you can make up a quick ab workout with a few of them. If you're ready to work your way to stronger abs, continue reading.
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, CBC Gem, Crave, Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video—in October 2020.
Apple TV+
On the Rocks
In this new film from director Sofia Coppola, Rashida Jones plays a young mother whose doubts about her marriage push her to team up with her playboy father (played by Bill Murray). The pair spend their nights roaming around New York City, visiting various parties and hotspots, as they investigate her husband and learn more about each other in the process. In addition to Jones and Murray, the film also stars Marlon Wayans and Jenny Slate. Available October 23
Netflix Canada
Emily In Paris
Taking the classic “American in Paris” trope and giving it a high fashion spin is this 10-episode series starring Lily Collins. Created by Darren Star (who’s already given us women-living-their-best-lives shows like Younger and Sex and the City), the series centres around an ambitious young marketing executive from Chicago whose company transfers her to Paris. Her new life in the City of Lights, according to the show notes, is “filled with intoxicating adventures and surprising challenges as she juggles winning over her work colleagues, making friends, and navigating new romances.” Available October 2
Schitt’s Creek
The sixth and final season of this multi-Emmy-winning series hits Netflix in October, six months after the finale aired on CBC and Pop TV in Canada and the United States. No word yet on whether the one-hour farewell documentary Best Wishes, Warmest Regards will also land on the streaming platform (it’s still available to view on CBC Gem) but go ahead and read our interview with the documentary’s director anyway.Available October 7
The Forty-Year-Old Version
About to turn 40, a down-on-her-luck playwright decides to reinvent herself as a rapper. Produced by Lena Waithe, the film is written, directed by and starring actress/filmmaker Radha Blank and is loosely based on her own life. Available October 9
The Trial of the Chicago 7
The latest film from Aaron Sorkin follows the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-Vietnam War protesters charged with conspiracy to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. The film stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Eddie Redmayne and recent Emmy winners Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jeremy Strong. Available October 16
Rebecca
This latest adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 gothic novel stars Armie Hammer and Lily James as the couple at the heart of this psychological thriller. After a whirlwind romance in Monte Carlo, recently widowed Maxim de Winter returns to his home at Manderley with a new wife, who discovers that he and his household are still haunted by memories of his first wife. Available October 21
Holidate
In this holiday rom-com, Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey play perpetually single people who make a pact to be each other’s platonic plus-ones all through the holiday season to avoid family pressure and awkward questions. But at the end of a year of “holidates,” it’s possible some real feelings might have been sparked along the way. Available October 28
Crave
The Good Lord Bird
Based on real events, this satirical drama centres around the famous Harper’s Ferry raid of 1859 that instigated the start of the American Civil War. The miniseries stars Ethan Hawke as unhinged abolitionist John Brown, Daveed Diggs as Frederick Douglass, and Joshua Caleb Johnson as Onion, a formerly enslaved boy who joins Brown’s crew of motley abolitionist soldiers. Available October 4
David Byrne’s American Utopia
This concert film directed by Spike Lee is a live recording of a Broadway performance of the album American Utopia by Talking Heads’ David Byrne. Recorded during the show’s late 2019 to early 2020 run at the Hudson Theatre in New York City, the subsequent HBO film served as the opening night title at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival. Available October 17
The Undoing
This six-part miniseries features Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant as a wealthy couple whose perfect life is overturned by a chain of terrible events precipitated by a violent murder. The HBO series co-stars Noah Jupe, Donald Sutherland, Edgar Ramirez, Lily Rabe, Noma Dumezweni and Ismael Cruz Córdova. Available October 25
CBC Gem
Trickster
Based on a coming-of-age trilogy by Canadian author Eden Robinson, this supernatural series from the CBC is directed by Michelle Latimer and follows an Indigenous teen struggling to support his dysfunctional family amid myth, magic and monsters. The show stars 18-year-old Cree actor Joel Oulette, Crystle Lightning, Craig Lauzon and Anna Lambe. Available October 7
PEN15
This Emmy-nominated series returns with a second season about middle school and all its related anxieties and mortifications. The show’s creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle play younger versions of themselves, while the rest of the cast of this Hulu series-which touches on everything from school dances to overbearing parents—is populated with actual 13-year-olds. Available October 16
Disappearance at Clifton Hill
Set in the eerie world of off-season Niagara Falls, this thriller centres around a pathological liar who inherits a crumbling motel and becomes obsessed with reconstructing childhood memories of witnessing a kidnapping. The film stars Tuppence Middleton, Hannah Gross, Noah Reid, Andy McQueen, Connor Jessup and filmmaker David Cronenberg. Available October 2
Amazon Prime Video
Mad Men
All seven seasons of this critically acclaimed series about the “golden age” of advertising will be dropping on this streaming platform in October. The 1950s period drama stars Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery and a slew of other recognizable faces. Available October 1
Savage x Fenty Show Vol. 2
Rihanna is presenting the Fall 2020 collection for her lingerie line Savage x Fenty at a fashion show on October 2 and for the second time, footage from the show will drop exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. A host of big names are slated to appear on the runway, including Lizzo, Bella Hadid, Will Smith and Cara Delevingne. Musicians Travis Scott, Miguel, Rosalía and more are scheduled to perform. Available October 2
With social distancing orders still very much in effect across Canada, fashion brands are increasingly coming up with ways to help support the community at this time, including pivoting manufacturing to produce PPE for hospitals and frontline workers. Now, a handful of brands have also committed to producing face masks for consumers to help protect against the spread of COVID-19. You can, of course, make your own mask using materials you probably already have at home, or you can purchase a ready-made mask from one of the following brands:
Leave it to Canadian intimates brand Knix to serve up one of the most impressive reusable masks on the market. Launched earlier this week, the FreshFix Air Face Mask leverages the brand’s history of creating impermeable pieces and has 99.9% Bacteria Filtration Efficiency (BFE). In fact, the mask’s BFE rating is higher than an N95 mask and it passed ASTM level three testing which is the highest level in North America. The mask is made up of three technical layers – a water-repellent external layer, a middle layer that serves as a barrier and an internal layer made from microfibre for fit and comfort – and can be sanitized and reused more than 50 times.
The FreshFix Air Face Masks are $19 each (or $35 for two) and are now available at Knix.ca and will soon be available in the brand’s Toronto retail store.
MUJI Canada has launched its own reusable face masks today. Available in double pack, the white masks are made with three breathable layers of lightweight cotton for breathability and protection. The brand recommends avoiding machine washing your mask and instead is encouraging users to hand wash their face covering following the brand’s simple Instagram tutorial.
The masks are $9.90 for two. Get yours in-store at all MUJI locations across Canada from today.
Montreal-based brand SILK LAUNDRY has created a line of silk face masks with a sustainable edge – each of the pieces is crafted using leftover fabric from the brand’s Collection 3 range. The masks – which are available in two prints and three solid colours – feature pleats for increased comfort, as well as elasticated ear hooks, and are easy to care for with a simple hand wash after every use. Plus, silk is breathable which means it is gentle on skin (a great choice for anyone suffering from a bout of maskne as a result of wearing masks more frequently).
Canadian shoe brands ALDO and Call It Spring are both releasing a series of masks to help raise money for Canadian BIPOC organizations. The Love People Face Mask Collection – various styles from which will be available at each retailer – includes a variety of masks to suit every style, including neutrals, prints and sequins. All ALDO masks are available for $15 (except for the Mirilibeth style which is $18), and all Call It Spring masks are priced at $9.99. 100 per cent of the net proceeds will be donated to The Black Business and Professional Association’s National Scholarship Fund which helps Black youth secure post-secondary education, and True North Aid to assist in providing children in Canada’s northern Indigenous communities with school supplies.
Black-owned personal care brand Classic Juice Co. and Toronto-based eco-friendly clothing label Preloved have teamed up on an important new initiative. Preloved is making masks for consumers and from July 6-12, $3 from every purchase of Summer Face Mask pack (which includes three designs) will be donated to the Africville Museum in Nova Scotia. The 100 per cent cotton masks have been crafted in Canada and the outer lining of the mask is knit locally. They also feature adjustable ear loops and nose bridge. In a release, the brands say that “the goal of the allyship partnership is to amplify Black voices and support Black-owned businesses.”
Montreal-based outerwear brand Noize has designed its own range of masks that feature its signature prints. All of the masks have been designed and handcrafted in Canada. The masks are available to buy singularly, or in packs of two or four.
These reusable face masks come with a filter and are made of tightly woven cotton and polyester with a filter pocket. Manufactured in Toronto, the masks also come in a limited edition ‘Glam’ option, embellished with Swarovski crystals. For every mask purchased, the company is donating a mask to a medical worker in need.
The regular face masks are $20 each, while Glam Masks retail for $60. Get yours here.
Horses Atelier, a Toronto label known for its chic jumpsuits, is manufacturing face masks made from repurposed fabric from their atelier. The masks consist of two layers of a linen-cotton-polyester-silk blend, and come in electric blue or copper (with previous polka dot, zebra print and plain options already sold out).
The masks are sold individually for $18 each or in packs of three for $50, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank. Get yours here.
Designed in Toronto, these masks from CILQUE are made using 100 per cent mulberry silk. They have an adjustable ear loop and nose clip to secure the mask to your face, as well as an inner pocket for a filter. Available in four colours (grey, black, cream and blush), the hypoallergenic masks are super gentle on the skin. Plus, with every online purchase, the brand will make a donation to the Children’s Aid Foundation to help protect vulnerable youth.
Toronto-based dressmaker CMP Couture has started creating face masks for consumers which are currently available through the brand’s Etsy shop. Designer Christine M.Peter is offering a range of cotton and linen non-medical grade masks, as well as lace masks designed specifically with brides in mind.
Designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong of Greta Constantine have designed a set of fashion-forward masks for consumers that are available from today. Available in five designs made from Italian microfibre knit, the non-medical grade masks are machine-washable, sweat-wicking and double-layered. The masks – inspired by some of the brand’s signature designs – are available in adult and children sizes and have been named after Toronto’s postal codes, “the city where all of the masks are proudly designed, produced and shipped from” the brand tells us in an email. At present, M1-M5 are available with M6-M9 currently under development.
Instead of selling the masks on their own site, Greta Constantine is making their masks available exclusively through a handful of retailers across Ontario and Vancouver to help “support the small businesses that line our streets and define our communities.” In Toronto, the list includes Andrews (both in-store and online), By Tocca (in-store), LAC + CO (in-store and online), MAXI Boutique (in-store and online), London, Ontario’s Saffron Road (in-store and online), Leamington, Ontario’s Willabee’s (in store) and Vancouver’s Wardrobe Apparel (in-store and online).
Prices start at $55.
UNTTLD
Montreal brand UNTTLD has released a collection of 12 face masks for consumers in a variety of patterns and textures. Lined with 100 per cent cotton, the masks feature a filter as well as an adjustable nose wire for a more personalized fit. Each of the masks feature satin strings that sit around the ears and tie around the neck for secure fastening. 10 per cent of all sales from the masks will be donated to The Patricia Mackenzie Pavillion, a Montreal-based organization that provides safe shelter for women escaping abuse.
Montreal-based outerwear brand Mackage has just announced the launch of a limited run of face masks made using upcycled materials from the brand’s atelier. The washable, non-medical mask is available in two sizes (small and medium) and nine colours. The water resistant offering also features triple-layer protection, adjustable earloops and headstrap, a malleable nose strip and extendable nose and chin covers. The mask also featured a laser perforated Mackage logo for engineered breathability and includes an inner sleeve for a filter sheet if desired. 100 per cent of the profits from the sale of each mask will be donated to United Way Centraide.
*Note: The initial run of masks has already sold out however the brand tells us that more stock is coming as soon as Thursday.
Ellie Mae
Photograph courtesy of Ellie Mae
Toronto-based fashion brand Ellie Mae announced the launch of a limited-edition series of non-medical grade face masks today. The masks are available in 13 different styles – 10 made from printed cotton, including the Liberty of London florals, and three with sequins in either pink, teal or navy. All masks have been made in Canada using repurposed fabrics, and feature a slip pocket that can hold a filter sheet and extra ties for maximum comfort and security. $5 from every mask purchased will be donated to Feed The Frontlines TO, a local organization working to keep local restaurants in business by providing meals to healthcare and social services workers on the front line.
Ontario-based designer Joseph Tassoni began designing masks for frontline workers and his community since March. The masks are made using a “specially sourced material that resists the build up of moisture and bacteria” according to a release. Available in several colours, $5 from every mask sale will be donated to the Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington.
Masks are $39.99 for a pack of three. Get yours here.
Toronto-based designer Tanya Théberge is using upcycled denim to create a range of face masks for consumers. The non-medical grade masks are available in different sizes and different washes, feature a nose wire to adjust the fit and ties to secure the mask behind your head. For every mask purchased, one will be donated to a healthcare worker in Canada.
Multi-disciplinary performance artist Jimbo has launched a series of eye-catching masks through his online platform, House of Jimbo. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, Jimbo and his partner, master wig-maker Brady Taylor, transformed their B.C. studio to make masks for the homeless population living in Victoria’s Pandora Ave, as well as street-level frontline workers. To continue to allow Jimbo and his team to produce masks for the vulnerable, the House of Jimbo has released seventeen masks that are now available for purchase. Featuring bold prints, including paisley, flames, kittens and the classic Canadian check (among others), the masks are made in a high quality cotton and come with a liner to add a filter sheet if you wish. For every mask purchased, Jimbo is donating one mask to someone living on the streets in BC. The aim is to expand this one-for-one offering to Toronto, too, with handouts having already begun.
Canadian retailer Roots has made a collection of masks for consumer use, which are now available for purchase. The reusable non-medical grade masks are made in Toronto (the brand repurposed its leather factory to make the face masks by hand) and have a slip pocket that can be fitted with a filter sheet for added protection. Available in solid colours and a salt & pepper finish, for every mask purchased, the brand will donate one medical grade face mask to a healthcare worker.
The masks begin at $18. Right now, they are sold out but the brand is working on producing more. Stay up-to-date here.
Tanya Taylor
After producing almost 30,000 masks for hospitals in New York and Canada, Canadian designer Tanya Taylor’s eponymous label is now making masks for consumer use. Available for pre-order (with orders starting to ship from May 18), the printed masks are available in packs of three and have been made using upcycled fabric. The reusable masks are double-lined and have elastic ear loops and a nose clip to help secure it close to your face. For every pack of masks sold, the brand will create and donate one non-medical grade mask to a healthcare worker.
The three-pack of masks cost $54.35. Get yours here.
NARCES
Photograph courtesy of Narces
Canadian eveningwear brand Narces is offering up a wide selection of masks to consumers. There are currently five adult masks available (in black, gold, silver, houndstooth and floral), as well as two kids options. All masks are washable, include a pocket for filters and are made with three layers of woven polyester. For every mask purchase, the brand will donate two to local healthcare organizations in need.
Meghan Markle-approved Canadian fashion brand NONIE is creating masks for its customers. For every mask purchased on its site, the brand will donate another to an organization in need, such as shelters and hospitals. The washable and reusable masks are made using cotton “which is tightly woven to create a strong barrier against particles” according to its website, and can be used with a filter. They are available in black, white and a floral print. In a statement, designer Nina Kharey said, “By choosing one of our masks, your money will go towards supporting our contractors, our team, and also our commitment to donate personal protective equipment to key organizations in need.”
The masks are available as singles or in a pack of two. Get yours here.
Designer Melanie Wong has adopted a very clever approach for distributing the masks she is making for consumers as part of her fashion brand Olive + Splash. Wong has created face masks from bamboo cotton, which is antibacterial and hypoallergenic, and customers can pick up their purchases via a ‘drive-through experience’ at the brand’s warehouse in Ontario to ensure safety. The masks are available in seven colours and two sizes for adults and children with adjustable loop ends.
The masks are available as singles or in a pack of three, with prices starting at $20. Get yours here.
Teaming up with Montreal-born jewellery Maison Birks, Canadian designer Izzy Camilleri has designed a collection of masks made from an eco-friendly, washable material. Designed with inclusivity in mind, the masks (made from a cotton, polyester and spandex blend) have two different types of elastic positioning – behind the ears, as well as behind the head for those with limited dexterity.
The masks are available for single purchase or in a pack of three with prices starting at $15. For every mask purchased, the brands will donate one to a hospital worker across Canada. Get yours here.
SHAN
Photograph courtesy of SHAN
Quebec-based brand SHAN has made medical-grade protection equipment available for consumers. The brand has made waterproof protective gowns, as well as face masks. The pieces are all machine washable and the masks have been made with an eco-friendly fabric. The unisex masks are available in S/M and M/L and the gowns are made in one universal size.
The masks are priced at $15 each, and the gowns are $49. Get yours here.
Toronto-based clothing retailer Peace Collective has designed a series of masks for consumers that are now available for purchase. The machine-washable, reusable masks are made using 100% cotton and include a filter sheet, which the brand says “adds an extra layer of support to facilitate safe breathing and to ensure that harmful particles are removed.” Additionally, the mask has been made with nose wire to help shape the mask to each individual face. The masks are available in a variety of colours, with various slogans: Stay Home Toronto, Stay Home, Home is Toronto, Home is Canada and Peace Collective.
The masks are available in packs of 2, 3, 6 and 12, with prices starting at $30. For every mask purchased, the brand will donate one to someone working on the front line. Get yours here.
Though not technically a fashion brand, Toronto-based organization commUNITY was formed to give as many Canadians as possible access to low-cost, non-medical face masks to help protect themselves and others. Since its launch in early April, the brand has received over 1,000 orders. The masks are sold individually and are available in a variety of colours (with iron-on decals available for personalization, too). They’re made from a breathable cotton, and are washable and dryer-friendly. To help give back to the community at this time, $1 from every mask sold will be donated to Food Banks Canada.
