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Rita Silvan, Editor-in-chief, ELLE Canada

What are your favourite fall trends?
“Hats.”

Who is your favourite fashion designer?
“Issey Miyake.”

What’s your biggest fashion “don’t”?
“Head-to-toe status labels and fur.”

What’s your favourite fashion inspiration in film or television?
The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.”

What’s the most extravagant fashion purchase made?
“My first MaxMara coat, because for spending.”

What’s your biggest fashion weakness?
“Cashmere.”

What’s your favourite piece of clothing?
“My white GapBody tees.”

What’s your most valued fashion possession?
“My Hermès scarves and Marlowe cashmere sweaters.”

Who is your greatest fashion influence?
“Cher, because she is fearless and has a sense of humour about herself and fashion.”

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
“Invisibility.”

If you had to eat the same meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
“Triple kimmel rye toast with butter.”

If you could have dinner with any historical fashion figure, who would it be and why?
“Christian Dior, because he was a poet and a dreamer.”

Favourite fashion era?
“The ’20s, ’30s and ’40s.”

Favourite fashion capital?
“Paris.”

Most fashionable cocktail?
“Anything pink: Kir Royale, pink champagne, rosé from Provence.”

Favourite fashion boutique?
“So many! Marlowe for cashmere, Le Bon Marché for shoes and hats, Eres for bathing suits and lingerie, Winners for bargain hunting, Holt Renfrew (Now or Never Sale!)….”

Check out our interview with Iman, the host of Project Runway Canada!

Image courtesy of Alliance AtlantisFind out what happens backstage at Project Runway Canada with our beauty behind-the-scenes peek!

Shawn Hewson, fashion designer

What are your favourite fall trends?
“For men, classics with a twist — like well-tailored jackets, vests and shirts in non-traditional colours, patterns and styles — and mixing patterns, like polka dots, plaids, stripes, paisleys and checks.”

Who are your favourite fashion designers?
“Etro and Alexander McQueen.”

What’s your biggest fashion “don’t”?
“Fashion victims.”

What’s your favourite fashion inspiration in books and film?
Sample, by the editors of Phaidon Press, and Zoolander.”

What’s your most extravagant fashion purchase?
“Prada and Gucci loafers.”

What’s your biggest fashion weakness?
“Wacky but expensive socks.”

What’s your favourite outfit?
“Fall blazers from Bustle and my pink-and-blue-pinstriped Paul Smith suit.”

What’s your most valued fashion possession?
“My Dolce & Gabbana party suit — it’s a good go-to suit.”

What is your greatest fashion influence?
“I find vintage clothing very inspiring.”

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
“Seeing the future.”

If you had to eat the same meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
“A mixed grill of meat and vegetables — I eat that all the time anyway.”

If you could have dinner with any historical fashion figure, who would it be and why?
“Karl Lagerfeld and Naomi Campbell. I would bring a few extra cell phones, though, so that if Naomi threw one at me I could fire some back at her!”

Favourite fashion era?
“The ’40s — that old-Hollywood glamour.”

Favourite fashion capital?
“Milan for its runways but Amsterdam for its street style — people are just so confident there.”

Most fashionable cocktail?
“A Belvedere on the rocks.”

Image courtesy of Alliance Atlantis