Table of contents for April 2026 in Elle Canada

THERE ARE SHOWS we see and others that seem to see us. Heated Rivalry belongs firmly in the second camp. Yes, there’s that electric tension, those steamy scenes and a chemistry that set the internet ablaze and fuelled collective fantasies. But if this series stayed with us long after its final episode, it’s not just because of what it showed but because of what it did beyond our screens. Heated Rivalry gave us a depiction of masculinity in which strength and vulnerability could happily coexist. Scott, the character played by this month’s cover star, François Arnaud, for instance, is undeniably tough yet deeply sensitive too. And it doesn’t make him any less of an athlete or a man—quite the opposite. I mean, how many of us couldn’t wait to debrief…

WHEN MIUCCIA PRADA urged us to “read literature,” she reminded us that clothing should help define who we are so we might learn to live better—a sentiment that reflects a broader cultural shift: Fashion is courting the novel. Jonathan Anderson’s Dior scarf emblazoned with a first-edition cover of Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal, studious eyeglasses and dog-eared paperbacks slipped into designer bags have become It-girl currency and male-thirst-trap capital. Between bookish social-media posts and brands mining literature for meaning, the book is emerging as a contemporary talisman. This lit-chic movement has found an unlikely leader in Kendall Jenner, who has normalized the book as a fashion object. Her viral holiday-season post of herself wearing a dazzling red sequined mididress, a voluminous black feathered coat, white-and-black cap-toed pumps and a quilted silver…

WHEN IT COMES TO SUSTAINABILITY, Stella McCartney stands as an authority—if not an exception—in a luxury world that’s still reluctant to embrace a green shift. Since launching her eponymous label in 2001, the British designer and outspoken vegan activist has notably boycotted leather and fur, proving that it is possible to celebrate fashion and build a profitable business without compromising one’s convictions. McCartney favours durable, innovative materials, such as the synthetic feathers—the first of their kind—that elevated several dresses in her spring/summer 2026 runway show. The start-up Fevvers is behind these airy flourishes, which look just like and move with the same grace as ostrich feathers. “I’m always excited by anything that takes us away from harmful, animal-derived materials without losing craft or emotion,” explains McCartney. With her talent and…

LEELAND MITCHELL’S positive energy is contagious. The recent Project Runway Canada winner and I are chatting over Zoom after his first ELLE Canada fashion shoot—which also happened to take place during one of the worst snowstorms in Toronto history—and he is still in joyful disbelief and feeling genuine gratitude for everything that’s happening. “It was so much fun—the photo shoot itself and doing all of that, hanging out with [everyone], having these models… It was such a collaborative experience,” he tells me. “I really understood this editorial [process]—like, we’re all putting our little piece into this, and we’re creating this cool little thing together.” On the show’s finale, which aired on Crave this past January, when host and judge Coco Rocha stood in front of the three finalists (Mitchell, Charles…

IT’S PARIS FASHION WEEK in 1999. John Galliano, artistic director for Dior, is presenting the house’s spring/summer 2000 collection. Models in thigh-baring slit dresses and towering knee-high boots canter down the catwalk, many toting an oddly shaped purse. Upon closer inspection, the bag’s undulating lines are revealed to mirror those of a saddle. (A dangling “D” charm recalling a stirrup rounds out the equestrian motif.) It is called “the Saddle” and is soon spotted clasped under Carrie Bradshaw’s arm on Sex and the City and swinging from Paris Hilton’s spray-tanned shoulder in paparazzi snaps. It’s official: Dior has a hit on its hands. More than a quarter of a century later, the Saddle remains an emblem of the label. Beyoncé sparked its revival when she was photographed clutching a Gallianoera Saddle…

L’ORÉAL HAS BEEN around for 117 years and shows no signs of slowing down. Last year, TIME magazine called it one of the most influential companies in the world, applauding its growth strategy and science-based approach. But while high-profile acquisitions (in 2025 alone, the group inked deals with Color Wow and Medik8) and breakthrough innovations (like Melasyl, a patented molecule 18 years in the making that treats hyperpigmentation) may garner loads of attention, what tends to go unnoticed are continued efforts in the background to become more sustainable. In 2009, the French titan started looking at ways to reduce its environmental footprint. Being the largest beauty company in the world, it felt it had a duty to act. “We have a big impact on natural resources, even in terms of…

CLEAN LIVING Canadian brand Guests on Earth is making our household cleaners countertop-worthy. Its system of refillable concentrated products turns the mundane task of restocking supplies into something that’s actually beautiful, with sleek reusable bottles and refills in gorgeous scents. Its lineup covers all home essentials—from laundry detergent to all-purpose cleaner to hand soap and dish soap—and features clean ingredients as well as packaging so stunning you’ll want to leave it out on display, proving that going green doesn’t mean sacrificing aesthetics.  guestsonearth.com Second Spin With her unique objects made from discarded bicycle frames, Dublin-based designer Cara Campos is proving that end of life doesn’t mean end of story. The Saudi-raised Irish/French creative transforms the old frames into striking minimalist furniture pieces (think lounge chairs, side tables and lamps) that…

FOR WANZE SONG, the process of creating has always kindled her curiosity. She has an early memory of learning origami at school in China; the transformation of a flat piece of paper into a three-dimensional object through a series of precise, calculated folds captivated her. As a designer and the founder of her eponymous label, Song applies this focus on meticulous craftsmanship to her work, combining traditional garment-making techniques with thoughtful functionality. After studying fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University, Song continued to hone her skills both at home and abroad (namely, London and Shanghai) with stints at Beaufille, Kiko Kostadinov and Xiao Li. When the pandemic brought her back home in 2020, she was overwhelmed and burnt-out by the demands of the fast-paced industry, so she paused to rest and…

1 WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR STYLE INSPO FROM? “Everywhere—movies, TV, the street, galleries, store displays, the runway, editorials, social media… There’s a narrative that it’s not cool or maybe a copout to use Pinterest for style inspiration, but I think that’s nonsense—it’s amazing.” 2 DESIGNER PIECE YOU’VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT LATELY? “Phoebe Philo bags—all of them. The Mini Bean Sling will soon be a reality [for me].” 3 WHAT DO YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT? “My phone. Uninspiring but real. I’m more likely to leave my wallet behind, which I should stop doing. I’m so accustomed to using Apple Pay that I’ve been caught off guard in cashonly situations. My ginormous Yeti water bottle and La Mer lip balm are also always with me.” 4 TELL US ABOUT…

“IT FEELS LIKE you die a little bit.” That’s how comedian Vic Michaelis describes—sincerely and apologetically—what it feels like to perform improv onstage. “You get to hover above, look at everything that’s happening and see people laughing, and you’re sort of like, ‘It’s going to be okay; there’s nothing to be scared of.’ You get to live in this alternate universe for a moment.” Michaelis was born in the U.S. and moved to Ontario at 15 years old. Toronto is the place they lived the longest while growing up, so they fully embrace their adopted Canadianness. A move to Vancouver as a young adult led to them picking up comedy—and a community—which is a passion that continued when they moved down to L.A. By 2019, Michaelis was doing online comedy…

LAST SUMMER, Katherine LaNasa was lying in bed with her husband (Melrose Place star Grant Show), staring at the ceiling, when she said, “Can you believe I’m nominated for an Emmy?” About a year prior, the actor had shed “so many tears over the loss of [her] career” and was making plans to move to the family’s home in Atlanta permanently. But then came The Pitt and Dana Evans, the no-nonsense nurse who is simultaneously warm and intimidating. You know the rest. The medical series became a major hit and awards-season juggernaut, and LaNasa didn’t just earn an Emmy nod in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama category—she won it. “Just being nominated with those powerhouse women was so fabulous,” the 59-year-old says. “I was like, ‘What am I…

FRANÇOIS ARNAUD is a hard man to pin down these days. When we finally meet on a bucolic property just outside Los Angeles for our cover shoot, the Canadian actor is trying to recalibrate after a whirlwind trip to Paris two days prior. He’s not complaining; it’s more that he’s been in a perpetual state of whiplash since Heated Rivalry premiered late last November. After all, he was just sitting front row at Saint Laurent’s men’s fall/winter 2026/2027 Paris show alongside co-star Connor Storrie and rubbing shoulders with Kate Moss, Austin Butler and Christopher Briney. The past few months have been like a hazy dream for Arnaud, who, despite his current jet-lagged state, is warm, kind and fully engaged as soon as he walks through the door. Did I mention…

1 WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR STYLE INSPO FROM? “My mom. She has always had a very clear idea of her style: effortless and timeless with lots of knits, jeans and button-downs. She knows how to dress up for an occasion and has a slight addiction to shoes.” 2 GO-TO DRINK? “A spicy mescal margarita.” 3 TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF. “I work as a creative consultant/producer and content creator, but I started my career working in finance and at various start-ups, so I take a strategic relationship-focused approach to my business.” 4 WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR? “I have a lot more clarity about what I want from my business and my life in 2026 than I did in 2025, which was a building year—I had…

ON A BUSY weekday morning, Cindy Le reaches into her small black beaded bag—a thrifted find from Toronto’s Kensington Market that matches all her outfits—and pulls out Rhode’s Peptide Lip Treatment (known as “PLT” to aficionados) in Salted Caramel. She swipes it on before confidently heading into her next meeting. “Lip balm is an essential for me,” says the 27-year-old, who works in communications and events. “I keep it in all my purses and makeup bags, on my desk at work and in my car.” Her sizable collection includes bestsellers such as Tower 28’s LipSoftie in Dulce de Leche, Summer Fridays’ Lip Butter Balm in Vanilla Beige, Laneige’s Lip Glowy Balm, Glossier’s Balm Dotcom and a few other flavours of Rhode’s aforementioned viral formula. Once considered a drugstore staple, lip…

The OLAY Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream needs no introduction. First developed over 20 years ago, this 60-plus-award-winning product is so much more than a vanity-dwelling moisturizer; it has become a bona fide icon of the skincare world. Now, the evolution of the OLAY Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream continues with its most innovative upgrade yet. With the complete Regenerist collection backed by decades of research on skin longevity and cellular aging, this new formulation is designed to be an answer for the fundamental element of aging. It zeros in on strengthening cellular bonds, recognizing that the production of collagen and elastin declines as our skin ages—which is why we experience dryness, dullness and fine lines. Newly powered by a professional-grade Triple Collagen Peptide, this skin-renewing upgrade works to support your own natural collagen…

ARIES MARCH 21 – APRIL 19 The return of Mars to your sign for the first time since 2024 will completely re-energize you. No longer content to wait on events, you’re eager to take the initiative and make things happen. The world has changed in recent months, so you’ll have to be cautious as you go along, but that’s okay. The important thing, as you know, is to take the first step and get moving again. TAURUS APRIL 20 – MAY 20 There’s one option you’ve always kept in reserve—a sort of emergency plan in case none of your other ideas worked out. Looking at it now, you realize that it’s out of date and ties you to the past rather than helps you move forward. Do you really still…

I AM NOT A NOSTALGIC PERSON. I suspect that you aren’t either since you’re reading this and, it seems to me, being interested in fashion means being curious about the current moment. When we choose our outfit each morning, we are expressing something about how it feels to live in the world at this very minute. Fashion is a live conversation about the mood on the street and about what seems beautiful, important or valuable to us. Fashion writers like me are basically current-affairs journalists in disguise. But here’s the funny thing: Fashion is alive with ghosts. For the past year, the most vivid personalities on the catwalks have been characters from yesteryear. During fall/winter 2025/2026 Paris Fashion Week, Maria Grazia Chiuri’s last ready-to-wear collection for Dior gave us Virginia…

GOOD ATTITUDE Montreal’s sustainably minded Attitude group, known for its natural cleaning products as well as its plastic-free cosmetics line Oceanly, just unveiled a brand-new beauty range. It is called cleanjourney and is geared toward gen-Z consumers, whom Attitude describes as curious, conscious and costefficient when it comes to what goes on their skin. Made from naturally derived vegan ingredients, the products are formulated and manufactured in-house to allow full control and transparency at every step of the process. The collection comprises skincare (including a blemish-clearing routine), hair care and body care as well as fun scented lip balms. And the best part? Everything is under $20. You can shop the products now on cleanjourney.com or on sephora.ca starting in April. GOLDEN STATE Launched in 2016, the Louis Vuitton for…

WOMEN MAKE UP only about a third of people working in science worldwide, but that’s still more than at any point in history. This growth is important. It means there’s a greater diversity of perspectives at the table, which is necessary for finding solutions to various facets of the climate crisis and shaping our collective future. Whether they are advancing climate adaptation, working in underwater noise pollution, shining a light on the degraded state of our oceans through photos, training young Indigenous scientists or creating biodegradable menstrual products, women in various fields are sharing universal truths about the environment. The baseline requirements for keeping our world inhabitable—for both ourselves and future generations—are the same across the board: We need to consume less and leave oil and gas in the ground. Ahead,…

MUSIC Northern Legends Montreal-based Indigenous musician Beatrice Deer is back this April with a new album, Inuit Legend, five years after the release of her acclaimed record Shifting. Deer blends folk and indie rock into a beautiful amalgam that draws from both the current music scene and the traditions and stories of Nunavik, Que. Half-Inuk and half-Mohawk, Deer was born and raised in Nunavik in the small village of Quaqtaq. Storytelling is a big part of Inuit culture, and she has always had a knack for processing the world around her through song. Inuit Legend is inspired by fables and generational family stories, allowing the singer to inhabit different characters and family members. “I find that Inuit legends are so dark and mysterious and messed up,” says Deer. “I thought…

IT WAS LATE JANUARY in the Palais Brongniart on the Place de la Bourse in Paris, and emotions were running high. Inside the historic monument, Véronique Nichanian had just presented her final men’s collection for Hermès at the brand’s fall/winter 2026/2027 show, bringing to a close 37 years of designing the celebrated brand’s elegant and well-crafted pieces. The room rose to its feet with thunderous applause. Across the dozen giant screens surrounding the set appeared images—captured across runways and decades—of the smiling artistic director. Looks from past seasons were also projected, although one could easily mistake them for current ones, so immutable was the style, so precise the cuts and so exquisite the materials. That evening, the designer had revisited 10 archival pieces on her runway, including a leather jumpsuit…

IN MAY 2025, Los Angeles commuters were greeted with a billboard that sent shock waves through the beauty world. Plastered across highways and city streets was a rage-bait declaration from skincare brand Primally Pure: “The sun isn’t poison, but your sunscreen is.” The ads announced the launch of a “100% poison-free SPF.” The implication was clear—and inflammatory. Sunscreen, one of the most stringently regulated and widely recommended tools for preventing skin cancer, was being framed as the real danger. Many dermatologists rushed to condemn the brand online, calling it out for disseminating disinformation. (For the record, there is zero medical evidence that sunscreen causes cancer; UV rays, however, are the number one cause of skin cancer. And each year in Canada, there are more new cases of skin cancer diagnosed…

Jessica Alba and Jenna Lyons have both declared their love for this all-natural exfoliating cleanser. Gentle enough to be used daily, it leaves skin absolutely glowing. Lock your makeup in place for a full 16 hours with this ultra-fine mist’s biodegradable plantbased polymers. (Each spritz also hydrates skin and provides a dewy glow.) In one (very snazzy) plastic-free tube, you get sun protection (thanks to non-nano zinc oxide), hydration and a touch of pretty colour. This vegan lip balm gets everything right. This 100 percent organic hand soap smells divine. (It has an earthy mélange of cedar, sandalwood and bergamot.) You’ll also find that its chic bottle looks dashing next to your bathroom sink. Typically, shampoos are made mainly of water and packaged in single-use plastic bottles. This concentrated formula,…

KNOWN FOR ITS NATURE and vibrant cuisine, Vietnam is also on the style set’s travel radar for its thriving tailoring scene. Thanks to capital Hanoi’s silk expertise and historic Hội An’s speedy tailors—and countless other traditions—the country is a bucket-list destination for fashion-forward jet-setters seeking bangfor-their-buck craftsmanship. Here’s our guide on what to see, eat and do while you wait for your dream madeto-measure wardrobe. HANOI Start your journey in Vietnam’s capital city. Take in the French facades, sip an egg coffee in the drink’s birthplace and wander the Old Quarter’s gold, silk and other specialty streets. STAY Designed in homage to the nearby Opera House, CAPELLA HANOI (2) is a 47-room boutique hotel that marries 1920s glamour, Vietnamese history and contemporary comfort. Envisioned by architect and interior designer Bill Bensley,…

LET’S FACE IT: Being perpetually “plugged in” is mentally exhausting. Brands may be chasing artificial intelligence and chatbots, but in a world that’s becoming increasingly digital, many of us are on the hunt for something real. Take, for example, how gen-Zers are reaching for the physical kind of content from an actual library or how they’re streaming music the Y2K way: using an iPod Classic. People are trading in doomscrolling for slower, more intentional hobbies and activities that help them regain a sense of agency and meaning in their lives. It’s not about abandoning technology altogether but, rather, building a more balanced relationship with it. Here are some wellness practices to help you look up from your screens and knock out digital fatigue. PUZZLE PLAY (1) Curiosity led Jessica Sue…

PRESENTED BY Blacks’s The finalist in the NATURE CATEGORY of our ELLE Capture contest is Montreal-based photographer Lorena Schinaia-Viger. She’s had a passion for the visual art form for nearly 10 years—it’s her main pastime and a true form of expression for her. She’s also interested in the business world and is pursuing an M.B.A., which allows her to nurture a strategic mindset at the same time. “By photographing the gaze of this elephant, I captured far more than an animal: There’s an ancient memory, a silent wisdom, a raw emotion,” Schinaia-Viger explains of the image above. “Every wrinkle tells a story; every reflection in the eye is an echo of life itself. This portrait speaks of soulfulness, quiet strength and presence. [The animal] looked at me as much as I…