Elle Canada

MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY “Happiness is like fudge: When you want it, you make it yourself.” This is a bit like our editorial mandate for this summer issue: to try to give readers a little joy with these pages. While researching the subject, I came across The Happiness Lab With Dr. Laurie Santos podcast. Santos is a professor of psychology and cognitive science at Yale University whose “Psychology and the Good Life” course broke the university’s record for enrolment. What struck me most about Santos’ teachings was her assertion that we can train ourselves to be happier. Just as musicians and athletes are constantly training to improve and succeed, we can do the same to be happy. “[Being] happy is not something that’s just going to happen; you have to…

ON THE MARC The FENDI BY MARC JACOBS collection that was shown at New York Fashion Week as part of the 25th-anniversary celebrations for the Italian fashion house’s iconic Baguette handbag is now available. “Marc has designed a Fendi collection—it is not a collaboration, rather it is an interpretation,” said Kim Jones, Fendi’s artistic director of womenswear, in a statement. “There is a sense of freedom in excess and joy [because] he was allowed to do whatever he wanted.” Must-have pieces from the bold collection include parachute-silk track suits, oversized bucket hats and classic Fendi bags, like the Baguette and the Peekaboo, reimagined by the American fashion designer. FENDI.COM True Gem If you’re planning a visit to New York, here’s an address to add to your list: the TIFFANY & CO. store on…

IN THE 1960S, ANDY WARHOL MADE A PRESCIENT STATEMENT: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” He might as well have been talking about going viral. In an age when every influencer’s wet dream is to “break the internet”—like Kim Kardashian did in 2014 when she exposed her infamous derrière on the cover of Paper Magazine—what better way to capture attention in today’s visual culture than with extreme clothing? Enter stunt dressing, the art of styling an outlandish ensemble with the intention of getting tongues wagging and fingers tagging. The original meaning of the word “stunt” involved elements of danger and entertainment. The 20th century saw the rise of the publicity stunt—a spectacular event held specifically to draw media attention. In today’s crowded social playing field, it often…

FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, Garret Louie regularly introduced the most-sought-after streetwear brands to Canada through his distribution company. But when he came up empty after looking for another new label to add to the roster, he decided it was time to start something of his own—and he was in the perfect place to do it. “Arc’teryx, Lululemon, Herschel and Reigning Champ all began in Vancouver,” says Louie. “It’s a great place [in which] to design, and [it helps us] have a global perspective.” Taikan was launched in 2016 with a focus on versatile bags crafted with technical materials for function-meets-style designs that are genderless, clean and minimal. They’re made to move with you, all the way from a hike in the mountains to a night out on the town. When…

FOR SOME, TENNIS IS A SPORT; for others, it’s an aesthetic. Tennis-inspired fashion, also known as “tenniscore,” has become a recent trend thanks to TikTok and brands like Miu Miu and Celine. Pleats, tightly fitting bodices and skorts are staples of the distinctive style, which is quickly moving from the court to the street. While there’s an element of luxury to current tennis fashion, its origins aren’t so opulent. In the late 1800s, players were required to wear all white as a symbol of purity and virtue. Men wore cardigans or sweater vests, shirts and flannel pants, while women played in ankle-length corseted white dresses. This was the norm until 1887, when 15-year-old sensation Charlotte Dod wore a white blouse and a calf-length skirt at legendary British tennis competition Wimbledon. While…

LET’S BE HONEST: Shopping for a plus-size swimsuit is no picnic. Options are limited (especially for sizes beyond 3X, which are mostly only available online), prices are exorbitant and most swimsuits feel like they were made to hide our bodies with huge amounts of fabric or are so nonsensically short and ill-fitting, you’d think the people who designed them had never laid eyes on a person with larger breasts, let alone a belly. In the hope of making your life easier this summer, allow me to introduce you to three brands whose ethical practices, size range and fit might be just what you’re looking for. NETTLE’S TALE Vancouver-based label Nettle’s Tale is on a mission to offer high-quality, ethically produced, thoughtfully designed clothing in a size range that’s a lot more inclusive…