The Body Shop: Beauty with Heart

Model & Activist Lily Cole, The Body Shop's new global brand ambassador - photo: The Body Shop  

Johanna (aka rlr mini) and I, ready to hit the exclusive Pulse Boutique media preview - photo: Strategic Objectives

The Body Shop's 'Top 10' Gift Bag (scroll down for the giveaway) Photos by me

Last Friday, rlr mini and I woke up bright and (somewhat) early to head to the Toronto Eaton Centre.  The motivation?  The unveiling of The Body Shop's brand new (and much-buzzed-about) Pulse Boutique.  We strolled through the newly-renovated store to test out new products (everything from radiant BB Cream to shimmery Beautifying Oil) and reminisce about our old favourites (Johanna was obsessed with White Musk in highschool while I was a strawberry and kiwi lip gloss addict.  Remember those??).  Like us, The Body Shop has grown up, with its sophisticated new space, impressive makeup wall, and luxe-looking packaging. And of course, The Body Shop, as always, is way more than just a pretty face; its Beauty with Heart initiative aims to meld ethical practices (think zero animal testing) and Community Fair Trade ingredients with beautiful products (check out the video below to see the program in action and don't forget to follow The Body Shop on Facebook & Twitter to stay perpetually in-the-know about all of their new products and amazing initiatives)

We walked away with impressive swag bags filled with The Body Shop's 'Top 10' products including my can't-live-without Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover.  The best part?  The Body Shop gave us 2 extra gift bags to give away to you!  Yay!

Simply tell us your absolute fave product (past or present) from The Body Shop to win 1 of 2 'Top 10' Gift Bags (over $150 retail value each).  Contest closes at midnight this Wednesday!  Bonne chance, mes belles!  For all of the event pics, click on the thumbnails below x  

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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Wrap

Photo via mbfashionweek.com

It's a wrap for New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring '13.  The standouts? Loads of patterns and nudes with pops of bold colour.  If you have 2 minutes (and a bit), this video is a great little recap of the upcoming season.  Enjoy! x

Nordstrom North

Nordstrom Department Store will be arriving in Canada in 2014 - image source: Nuance Marketing

Marihenny Rivera in Haider Ackermann for Nordstrom's Portraits of Style Lookbook Fall '12 - shot by Daniel Jackson

And the American retail invasion continues today with the official announcement that Nordstrom will be opening up shops in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver starting in the fall of 2014.

Nordstrom will be taking over former Sears stores at Calgary's Chinook Centre (fall 2014), Pacific Centre in Vancouver, and Rideau Centre in Ottawa (both spring 2015), with a brand new store planned for Sherway Gardens (fall 2016..booo!).  You know what this means, right?  More choice = More temptation = Je suis screwed. Pardon my French.

You Know What You Need?

You need a fashion shower.  Que???  Check out Anna Dello Russo in this new video for H&M. Her OTT accessory collection hits H&M stores Oct 4th.  Lesson #1:  Don't miss it.  And just to recap, here are ADR's fashion lessons to live by:

1) Fashion is a declaration of your own freedom

2) Between style and fashion?  Absolutely fashion.

3) Fashion is always uncomfortable.  If you feel comfortable, you never get the look.

4) Fabulous at EVERY age.

5) Wearing night clothes in the daytime is unexpected.

6) Somebody wearing your same outfit?  Wonderful! You made the right choice.

7) You must wear outfit ONCE!

8) Wear a coat as a dress.

9) It doesn't matter the size of your body.  Fashion flatters everybody.

10) Fashion jewels personalize your style.

First person to tell me Anna Dello Russo's actual age wins a gift card to H&M.  It's really a toss-up in the crazy-fabulous competition.  

Karl or Anna?  Hmmm...I love them both so...

CIAO! X (Image and video courtesy H&M)

Layer Up, Buttercup

When temperatures drop, as they’re bound to do (sorry!), it’s time to layer up for a look that’s both practical and pretty. The good news? You can pile on the pieces (or peel them off) depending on the ever-shifting forecast.   Check out my 3 easy ways to load on the layers for fall at iVillage.ca this week, from the new way to suit up for work, to casual weekend layers, to the Rooney Mara way to wear your LBD after dark.