New Year, new hair! I finally did it! I dyed my hair. Though, I am not a hair color virgin, this is the first time I’ve dyed my hair, since my DIY ombre experience last year. As I see it, the fun-est way to bring about change is a dramatic haircut or a  new hair color and lucky(ish) for me, the salon & spa across my apartment MoSheta (on Queen Street West ) is having a $50 hair color deal (check it out here, it is available only for the first two weeks of January). I prefer at-home hair dye experimenting so I was excited to treat myself to a nice salon visit!

My experience at MoSheTa was one filled with ups and downs. Ups – Aimee,  the lovely, friendly and upbeat hairstylist. Downs – she was pretty much the only one working and had to rush between customers. However, I give her big kudos for being attentive in her attempts to make the additional waiting experiences  more relaxing with mugs of green tea and a variety of magazines. YAY!

All-in-all, I’m satisfied with the medium brown color I selected. However, in the natural light, the pigment looks lighter at my roots than it does at the base. Or maybe it’s just me being picky. But even with the discounted price next time I think I am going to pick up a box of Feria and do it myself. I guess old habits dye-hard.

I had the grand pleasure of attending a SeCe Apparel gifting lounge at Andrew Richard Designs, featuring a spring/summer collection of apparel that could floor anybody. An abundance of gorgeous items on display with fresh merchandising and even fresher duds and racks and racks of goods…had me in near tears with how much I was able to explore and snap photos of.

Some key items that caught my eye – soft leather bustier dress, bright printed structured dress, and wildly beautiful leather embedded hardware rings that were large and in charge (oversized). Things I would yearn to wear come warmer weather.

Some absolutely incredible items were on display. Shockingly posh UGG Australia shoes were up to bat (ostrich pumps), colourful Seven for All Mankind jeans, ultra soft windbreaker / anoraks, and soft wispy shirts. I had fun just getting lost in the colours and textures of Spring 2012.

I picked up an Eileen Fisher beaded tank top (nice and heavy), 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans, and a House of Harlow transparent tribal dress. Stunning and so wearable.

Thanks to friends at Lotus Leaf Style for the invitation – you make my life more fashionable.

I came across crywolf clothing at a habitual visit to The Clothing Show. Not long after did I start to see their items everywhere – pieces of hilarity that sprinkled Toronto fashion boutiques and brought more than a little sunshine to my heart. Every time I spot something distinctively crywolf, I’m drawn. The line by Stephanie Drabik and Rose Chang started with a little printing in 2005, under the name p0isson. It’s since become so much more than just a few kitschy prints…but a collective of wonderful, whimsy, satire, and sass.

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I always saw something special about Nina Dobrev – from her beginnings on Degrassi (woo, Toronto!) to her shot to fame through Vampire Diaries, the girl has a certain charisma that translates beautifully to your TV screen.

Recently she paired up with Free the Children (We Day) and Me to We Style. Her “Hunger Bites” graphic tee is to help support Free The Children’s short and long term efforts in East Africa. $10 from each shirt will go to support this cause – $10 can feed an East African child for a month. One shirt = meals for one month.

“Having been to Kenya myself, I’ve seen the effects of hunger firsthand. It’s a serious issue both domestically and internationally that I’m very passionate about,” said Nina Dobrev. “No one should go hungry, and that’s why I’ve teamed up with Me to We Style to design the Hunger Bites T-shirt to give everyone the chance to help fight hunger and wear their support in style.”

Keep living and keep giving. Love it – thanks to Me to We Style for the information! Cheers.

 

Baby Steinberg is one of LG Fashion Week’s darlings presenting designs that pay homage to the rich culture of Brazil by using sustainable, eco-friendly materials, inspired by the country and the vibrancy found in its poorer yet stimulating favelas.

This season’s showing, aptly titled, Remnants, was created using discarded fabrics from manufacturing companies, and upcycling them to produce this season’s creations.

Upcycling, sustainable, eco-friendly – all buzz words of the season, the designers trying to inject consciousness into their work but Steinberg seems to come from a more honest place, truly wanting to not waste unnecessarily, and making a true effort to create beauty from “garbage”.

A very well executed collection, by a designer with undeniable talent, Steinberg makes me want to go to Brazil to experience first-hand the beauty that comes through in her work.