Fashion Magazine – October 2026

Summary

Laysla De Oliveira, Toronto actor and Lioness star, fronts FASHION Magazine's October 2026 "Power of Sport" issue wearing Aknvas and Tiffany and Co. Inside, luxury handbags as modern masculine symbols, three Canadian activewear brands raising the bar, Temi Fagbenle's on-and off-court must-haves, and a recovery-is-the-new-workout wellness feature.

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Volume 61, Issue 6 of FASHION Magazine, published September 2026, dedicates 88 pages to the intersection of sport, style and wellness. Publisher Deirdre Marinelli frames the theme around sportiness as a cultural force rather than athletic performance. The Style section leads with menswear: how luxury handbags have become a modern masculine status symbol. Three Canadian activewear brands are profiled for performance and design. Toronto Tempo centre Temi Fagbenle serves as guest editor, sharing her game-day and off-duty essentials. Ten luxury sports-inspired timepieces set the pace in the watches feature. Beauty & Wellness covers Leighton Meester as the face of Elizabeth Arden's Eternal Aura, fragrance fatigue science, three braiding artists bringing serious style to the big leagues, and Dieux's case for smarter skincare. The Recovery Reset feature argues that rest is the most strategic fitness tool. A Pilates feature asks whether the practice can break out of its one-size-fits-all image. The cover story profiles Laysla De Oliveira, photographed in Los Angeles, as she steps into her Lioness role in season three.

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Regular columns include the Guest Editor page (Temi Fagbenle), Fashion Fam (three Montreal creators share fall fashion, fragrance and destinations), Editors' Picks (the FASHION team's cosiest sweaters), and a Watch round-up of ten timepieces. Beauty & Wellness runs Identity (Leighton Meester), Advice (fragrance fatigue), Texture Talk (braiding artists), Backstory (Dieux skincare), Recovery Reset, and Trending Practice (Pilates). The Vibe section holds the cover story and a travel feature on Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol. Practical take: the Recovery Reset piece makes the case for scheduling rest days as non-negotiables, not afterthoughts.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story

p.70 · Laysla De Oliveira Is Stepping Into The Role She Was Always Meant To Play
The Toronto-based actor, photographed in Los Angeles wearing Aknvas and Tiffany and Co., discusses her role as Cruz Manuelos in Paramount+ spy thriller Lioness season three. This is her first FASHION Magazine cover. The feature profiles her career trajectory and how she prepares for physically demanding roles. Use her approach: treat audition preparation like athletic training—specific, repeatable, measurable.

▸ Style

p.22 · Menswear: How Luxury Handbags Have Become A Symbol Of Modern Masculinity
The feature examines the cultural shift as men adopt structured totes, cross-body bags and clutches as daily accessories. Brands from Loro Piana to Loewe are expanding men's leather goods. Styling takeaway: a dark leather cross-body bag reads as utilitarian rather than ornamental—the easiest entry point.

p.26 · Meet Three Canadian Activewear Brands Raising The Bar
Spotlight on three homegrown labels combining performance fabrics with fashion-forward design. The brands are positioned as alternatives to global giants for readers who want Canadian-made technical wear. Shopping tip: look for Canadian activewear brands that offer free repairs—it is the fastest way to test construction quality.

p.30 · Temi Fagbenle Guest Editor
Toronto Tempo centre Temi Fagbenle shares her on- and off-court must-haves, from skincare to travel essentials. As a WNBA player, her perspective bridges professional athletics and personal style. Game-day rule: pre-game dressing is about sensory calm, not fashion—Fagbenle's routine prioritises comfort and ritual over labels.

p.38 · Ten Luxury Timepieces Setting The Pace
A round-up of sports-inspired watches that balance technical precision with aesthetic ambition. The ten-piece edit covers heritage brands and independent makers. Buying principle: a sports watch should be readable at a glance underwater or in bright sunlight—if you cannot tell the time in two seconds, the design has failed.

▸ Beauty & Wellness

p.46 · Leighton Meester On Scent And Self-Expression
The actor and musician appears as the face of Elizabeth Arden's Eternal Aura fragrance. The Identity feature explores how she uses scent as a tool for memory, mood and character preparation. Layering tip: Meester's approach is to wear one consistent signature scent rather than rotating—olfactory consistency builds personal brand recognition.

p.48 · Fragrance Fatigue Is Real
The Advice column examines why signature scents keep disappearing on the skin. The science covers olfactory adaptation, body chemistry changes and formulation instability. Fix: rotate two fragrances across the week rather than wearing one daily—your nose stops adapting to either.

p.54 · Three Braiding Artists Bringing Serious Style To The Big Leagues
Texture Talk profiles braiding specialists who are elevating protective styling into high-fashion territory. The feature covers their techniques, product preferences and client rosters. Salon strategy: bring a reference photo, but let the braider adjust the pattern to your scalp sensitivity.

p.56 · How Dieux Is Making The Case For Smarter Skincare
Backstory on Dieux, the Canadian brand building a following through transparent formulation and direct-to-consumer education. The feature examines their approach to ingredients, pricing and community feedback. Brand takeaway: Dieux's "Airy" moisturiser formula prioritises barrier function over instant gratification—judge skincare by how your skin feels at week three, not day one.

p.64 · Recovery Reset: Why Strategic Fitness Routines Make Room For Rest
The cover line says "Recovery IS the NEW WORKOUT." The feature argues that programmed rest—not optional laziness—is the missing element in most fitness plans. It cites recovery modalities (sleep, mobility, active recovery) as training components, not afterthoughts. Do this: schedule two rest days per week in your calendar before scheduling any workouts.

p.66 · Can Pilates Break Out Of Its One-Size-Fits-All Image?
The Trending Practice piece questions whether Pilates can serve diverse bodies, goals and fitness levels beyond the stereotypical young, female, able-bodied client. It profiles inclusive studios adapting the method. Finding a studio: a good Pilates instructor asks about injuries before they ask about goals.

▸ Vibe / Travel

p.88 · Fairmont La Hacienda Costa Del Sol: How To Plan Your Stay
A travel guide to the Fairmont property on Spain's Costa del Sol. The feature covers room recommendations, dining options, spa treatments and local excursions. Planning tip: book a sea-view room on the upper floors for morning light that makes the Mediterranean look like liquid gold.

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Editor's Take

The October "Power of Sport" issue is a well-executed theme issue from FASHION Magazine that stays on brief without being predictable. The strongest editorial idea is the menswear handbag feature (p22)—it tackles a genuine cultural shift (men carrying luxury bags as status objects) with specific styling advice rather than trend forecasting. Temi Fagbenle as guest editor is a smart booking that gives the issue authenticity beyond a standard celebrity plug. The weakest section is the beauty edit: Fragrance Fatigue (p48) is useful but runs only one page, and the Dieux Backstory (p56) is essentially a brand press release. Three Canadian activewear brands (p26) is a good concept but the writing leans on description rather than critical evaluation—are these brands actually better than Lululemon? The cover story on Laysla De Oliveira is professional but conventional; she is an actor with a new season, and the coverage does not push beyond that. Ad density is moderate, weighted toward Tiffany and Co. (cover jewellery) and Elizabeth Arden (beauty feature). For readers who want a Canadian perspective on sport-and-fashion convergence, this is a solid, if safe, issue.

Strengths
• Menswear handbag feature tackles a real cultural shift with styling specificity
• Temi Fagbenle guest editor brings authentic WNBA perspective
• Recovery Reset argument is genuinely useful for overtraining readers

Weaknesses
• Dieux skincare feature reads as brand press release
• Cover story on Laysla De Oliveira stays surface-level

Verdict: Recommended — A cohesive themed issue with one genuinely sharp menswear piece; buy it for the sport-style crossover analysis.