Fashion Needs You

Did you know that the Canadian Goverment does not consider fashion design to be a cultural industry in Canada? This means our designers are not eligible for tax credits and government grants, readily available for other industries like film.

I did a short video piece on this - which I'm not linking to because of it's sheer badness (student quality, old equipment), but it is an imporant topic that still needs action - from all of us.

The Fashion Design Council and MPP Cheri DiNovo are taking matters into their own hands and demaning fashion design be included in the ministry of Culture's mandate.

You can help by copying this blurb below and sending it in an email to cdicocco.mpp@liberal.ola.org and please cc: carolyn@fdcc.ca

Ms. DiNovo – That, in the opinion of this House, the mandate of the Ontario Ministry of Culture should be amended to include Fashion Design and recognize the significant contribution the fashion industry has made to Ontario’s cultural sector. The mandate of the Ministry of Culture should also reflect the recognition afforded the fashion industry and fashion designers by both the Federal Department of Canadian Heritage, along with the Quebec Ministry of Culture, which both recognize the contribution fashion design has made to Canada’s reputation as a dynamic and diverse centre of culture and the arts. Filed on March 19, 2007 Sincerely, (fill in Name and Title)

For more info about this, visit http://www.lorealfashionweek.ca/ and click on the link that says Fashion Needs You.

Product Review Club

We realize "Product Review Club" is a totally unoriginal name for what is in fact a very cool thing, but hey, we came up with the idea during one of the gloomier days in April when the weather was so bad it stunted our creativity. So there.

Anyhoo, we've been bombarded lately with fabulous products from companies who'd like to get them reviewed and as much as we'd love to hoard it all to ourselves we decided to share the love and pass some freebies on to our members.

ChickAdvisor members who sign up for the Product Review Club will get free stuff to try, review - and keep. All we ask in return is that you review it within 2 weeks of receiving it.

We've already done this twice and so far there have been Chicklit books, and Sunsilk hair products. This is a great way to try cool new stuff for free rather than shopping by trial and error.

For more info on our review club, read the forum post here.

Green Trendsetters

Earth Day should really be every day - not just once a year, but it's a great opportunity to highlight those who are doing their part to save our lovely planet and consider what we can do to make a difference.

We came across an interesting article on Yahoo about what a few of the world's billionaires are doing to conserve energy. Microsoft Co-Founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen are thinking Green. Gates' investment firm invested $84 million in a company that makes ethanol from corn and Allen's real estate investment company is constructing 100 million square feet of housing made from environmentally sensitive materials in downtown Seattle.

Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have turned their office into one of the world's most eco-friendly offices with furniture made from recycled materials, wall insulation made from old jeans and of course, they both drive hybrid cars.

Other billionaires are investing heavily in Green Technology, which is a smart investment in every respect.

These are great strides for billionaires, but what about us regular gals? We found another interesting article in the Toronto Star about 3 fashionistas who invest in local pieces made of organic cotton, bamboo, soy, lyocell, hemp blends and wild silk - all of which are eco friendly fabrics that don't sacrifice personal style. The article interviews three women who share their tips on where to buy Green.

If you aren't ready to make any huge changes yet, at least consider throwing your Starbucks coffee cup in the recycling or bringing a portable coffee mug with you. Often, they'll knock 10 cents off your purchase. You should also turn off unnecessary lights, refrain from blasting the air conditioning more than necessary, and unplug your appliances when you are not using them. Another thing you can do to help is stop using Styrofoam plates for your summer bbq parties. Styrofoam is NOT recyclable. Use paper plates made from recyclable material, or even better use real ones and wash them yourself.

It doesn't take much but it makes a huge difference.

Baghaus "Designer Inspired" Bags

Baghaus is for the girl who loves the look of designer bags but isn't willing to give up her grocery budget for a month (or several) to pay for one.

The schtik on their website says these aren't your typical knock-off bags you'd find on the street. They are quality well-made handbags that just happen to look like your favourite designer bags - and they do look mighty similar.

You can shop by celebrity style or look alike brand so if you've been lusting after a certain lesportsac bag, you can snag one that looks just like it for a fraction of the price.

With average prices around the $40- $50 mark, it's at least worth investigating.

What do you guys think? Would you buy one of these or would you rather go for the designer label?

The Anti-Wrinkle Conspiracy?

Looking back, I think there was about a five minute window where I was totally satisfied with my complexion. It started when my teenage skin finally cleared up and ended when I began obsessively searching for the first signs of wrinkles. A cosmetics sales rep once told me that women should start using anti-wrinkle products at age 25 to keep fine lines at bay longer. I had to wonder, was it really that easy?

A recent product investigation published in Consumer Reports (Jan '07) compared nine anti-wrinkle facial products ranging in price from $38 to $335. The test group used an anti-wrinkle cream or serum on one side of the face, and a moisturizer with sunscreen on the other side.

Results varied somewhat from person to person; however the study concluded that the sunscreen was noticeably more effective in preventing new wrinkles than any of the products tested. Other 'active ingredients' in the test creams did not appear to have an impact on product effectiveness.

However, investigators did conclude that some of the products performed better than others. One of the most affordable in the group, Olay Regenerist, was deemed to be the most effective, while one of the most expensive products performed the worst.

For more details on this comparison, see the Consumer Reports website (subscribers only) or WebMD's summary.

Mamaluv is a mother of three, and environmentalist with no wrinkles whatsoever (She's only 21 for goodness sakes). Ok fine, that was a lie.

Read Mamaluv's blog.

Organic Food: Worth The Cost?

I'll tell you why I need an hour to shop for groceries, but my husband gets the job done in 15 minutes.

I am an obsessive label reader and food sniffer. I reach way back in the milk cooler to grab the jug with the latest date stamp. I read up on nutrition and watch the experts on the Today Show. I attempt to follow the Food Pyramid guidelines for every meal, even when my family looks on dubiously as I proudly open the lid of my latest concoction.

So buying organic food should be a no-brainer, right? Not necessarily.

According to many experts including the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, there are some foods you should definitely buy organic but others you could get away with the non-organic variety.

After 4 years of testing and more than 40,000 samples, their analyses showed some surprising results.

Introducing the "Dirty Dozen" conventionally produced fruits and veggies - starting with the worst: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. Eating from this group will expose you to 15 different pesticides each day on average, but buying organic varieties instead will reduce your total pesticide consumption by nearly 90%.

Surprised? Read on.

The study identified another dozen conventionally grown fruits and vegetables that consistently tested low for pesticide residue (starting with the best): onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and papaya. Purchasing organic varieties of these products is still better, but the benefit is much lower compared to the Dirty Dozen substitutes.

The nonprofit Consumers Union, publisher of the Consumer Reports, recommends organic substitution for meats, poultry, eggs, and dairy as often as possible. Less important are processed and packaged foods such as breads, cereals, canned and dried goods because they lose much of their nutrition during preparation whether the ingredients are organic or not. Lastly, do not place much trust in an organic sticker on seafood. The US Department of Agriculture has not completed certification standards for these products, and misleading labelling is common.

We all know how important food quality is to our health. Choose organic foods when appropriate, and find out if farmers in your area sell your other favorites directly to the customer. You may find the quality and freshness worth the extra effort.


Mamaluv is an environmentalist and mother of three who believes that everything should be organic.

Read mamaluv's blog.

Green Spending: Exercising Your Purchasing Power

What drives your shopping habits? Do you go for quality or the best price? You probably have different criteria when you are out for groceries than when you troll the mall. You might get just as excited about organic apples and potatoes as you did during the after-Christmas sales when you spent your rent money on shoes - but of course shoes are an investment, and end-of-season sales are unique money-saving opportunities. But I digress...

Retailers are starting to notice the growing consumer demand for better quality craftsmanship and natural/organic materials (to name just two) without using sweatshop labor. Some of your favorite brands have made changes to their manufacturing processes because of this marketplace pressure. It turns out the little guy does have a voice - who knew?

In recent years, overtly eco-friendly retailers (such as Mountain Equipment Co-op, etc.) have responded to this niche market that is far from filled. Socially responsible investments (SRI) offer "green" alternatives for your portfolio. Politicians are pledging support for environmental initiatives, including the use of alternative fuel and energy sources. You can see where this is going.

A brief overview of some popular brands shows how consumer pressure is affecting the way conventional retailers conduct business. Two examples of companies that do not use sweatshop labor are American Apparel and No Sweat. Check out this site for more information on sweatshop-free companies in all retail markets. Other brands carry natural, organic, or fair-trade products including Cotton Ginny, The Body Shop, Levi Strauss, Nike (read the label carefully - many stores offer only a few styles using organic materials); some have waste reduction and community support programs, such as The Gap and American Eagle. Department stores like H&M, Eddie Bauer, and Walmart have environmental policies in place; however, because the store inventory is outsourced their suppliers may not have comparable standards. Similarly, most manufacturers use external supplied materials and have limited control over that aspect of their sustainability policy.

You may find social responsibility pages on the websites of your favorite brands. Examine them closely.

While a few manufacturers are sincere in their efforts, others merely engage in what some call "greenwashing", a window dressing attempt to appear eco-friendly but in fact are only on target with existing labor and health legislation and not proactively seeking to improve their impact on the environment.

You may discover that many of those changes only apply to North American plants, but outsourcing inventory from third-world countries where standards are lower or do not exist is still widespread.

To find out more about how your other favorite brands measure up, visit conscious consumer sites such as New American Dream or Co-op America's National Green Pages. If you know of other retailers who are making efforts to improve, please comment to this post and pass on the word!

Sandwich Box - Toronto

My husband has been raving about this place for a while. I finally had a chance to check it out yesterday. It is amazing!!! The best sandwich I've ever had. The selection is fantastic. You can either select a recommended sandwich (I had the grilled veggies) or you can make your own. They have the most delicious bread selection. I had the rosemary focaccia. Wow! Everything comes with salad and it is all packed away in cute little white boxes that you can eat out of. They also have a fabulous soup and salad bar with a huge selection of available toppings (they make it for you - it's very sanitary).

The place looks like it would be really expensive but it isn't. For less than you'd pay at subway or Quiznos you get a far superior sandwich and overall experience. We went to the Richmond Street location. It has really cool ambiance, great music and funky clean decor. There is limited seating so go early or expect to take it to go.

This place is a new favorite for me.

www.sandwichbox.ca

Alanis Morissette "My Humps"

This basically makes fun of every trashy single out there. We love it.

Edward Scissorhands

A play, based on a beloved Hollywood movie done entirely with dancing - no words and sans Johnny Depp sounds like an impossible thing to pull off. But it was amazing.

Last night was the opening night at the Hummingbird Center in Toronto and I managed to drag my reluctant husband along. Apparently he saw the Lion King a few years back and decided he hated live theatre of any kind ever since. Well, this might have changed his mind.

The costumes, music, set design and choreography were amazing and the acting really impressed me. How do you convey a story and genuine emotion with no words, no singing... nada? The performances were very passionate and believable. I am embarrassed to admit I nearly cried at the end. The crowd gave it a standing ovation.

This is a fantastic all ages show that anyone who loves the arts can appreciate.

Check out the preview on You Tube:


ChickAdvisor members get $15 off any seats in the house. There are only 3 shows left in Toronto.

Check out the official website.


*Update: ChickAdvisor members also get huge savings on Edward Scissorhands in St. Paul and Denver.

Sexy Canadian Designers Part 2: Pink Tartan

Pink Tartan is a sporty chic line beloved by A-listers around the world including Kate Hudson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Nelly Furtado. It is the brain child of husband and wife team, Kimberly Newport-Mimram and Joseph Mimran, the "branding mastermind" behind such concept stores as Club Monaco, Alfred Sung and Joe Fresh. It is also one of the most coveted By Invitation Only shows at L'Oreal Fashion Week in Toronto.

The label was founded in 2002 and is carried in over 170 stores across the continent. You can find Pink Tartan in Holt Renfrew across Canada and Saks Fifth Avenue in the US, as well as select boutiques

View the Spring 2007 video from Atomic-clock.tv
or watch the one on PinkTartan.com

Photo credits: www.pinktartan.com