mila kunis - SHE Canada Magazine

ETRO
GETS EASTERN
INSPIRED
EXCLUSIVE:
SUSAN LANGDON
TALKS TORONTO
FASHION
INCUBATOR
SHERYL SANDBERG’S
LEAN IN
MILAKUNIS
+ GEMFIELDS
MAYBELLINE
NEW YORK’S
IQBAL
THEBA
TALKS
glee
JUNE/JULY 2013 $4.99 CAD | Dhs 18.08 AED | £3.28
SUMMER
BEAUTY
PICKS
Humaima
Malick
SANJAY DUTT’S FINAL LEADING LADY
SHE CANADA
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Editor/Publisher KAMRAN ZAIDI
Executive Editor PRIYA KUMAR
Advertising & Marketing Executive MUNIRA QURESHI
Art Layout Coordinator DANYL GENECIRAN
Fashion Assistant LIZ GUBER
Travel Contributor ROBIN ESROCK
Social Media Manager ERUM ZEHRA
Features Contributors ELOISE ALBA, INGRID KWONG
Pop Culture Contributors EKTA MUKHI, PARVEEN SINGH
Marketing Assistant DIANA BABA
Subscription Inquiries:
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COPYRIGHT © 2013 KAMRA ON PRODUCTIONS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN PAKISTAN
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IN EVERY ISSUE:
EDITOR’S NOTE 6
SHE ONLINE 7
CONTRIBUTORS 8
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 9
STYLE SCOOP 10
HE 62
∙ HE Said, SHE Said
∙ Glee’s Iqbal Theba
∙ Fashion Ideas for HIM
∙ Car Pride Auto Spa
SHE CARES 74
∙ Lady Fatemah Trust
SHE DEBATES 76
∙ The College Husband Hunt
HEALTH/WELLNESS 78
∙ All About Cleanses
ON THE ROAD 84
∙ Cruising Up the Yangtze
BEAUTY 86
∙ Zen Spa
∙ Beauty Buzz
∙ Backstage with Redken
BROWN GIRL PROBLEMS 93
QUOTE/UNQUOTE 94
∙ Famous quotes on Friendship
FEATURES:
FASHION CENTRAL 18
∙ Payal Singhal
∙ Mila Kunis for Gemfields
∙ Etro’s Far East Movement for
Spring/Summer 2013
∙ World MasterCard Fashion Week
∙ Ashtiani by Golnaz Ashtiani
∙ Mackage Spring/Summer 2013 WMCFW
COVER STORY 32
∙ Humaima Malick
SPECIAL FEATURES 46
∙ 30 Things to Have and Know Before Turning the Big 3-oh
∙ The Toronto Fashion Incubator with Susan Langdon
∙ MAX Agency
∙ Nausheen Shah: The Darling of Street Style
∙ Hafsa Lodi: Journalist in a Jumpsuit
SOUTH ASIA 36
∙ Manish Malhotra Visits London
∙ Bollywood Update from the Source
THE ARTS 72
∙ Moroccan Film Festival
RESTAURANT REVIEW 68
∙ Dining at House of Moments
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S
ummer is finally here. The sun is out 14 hours a day, the 400 is
packed on Friday afternoons and for us urbanites, patio season is
in full effect. The brighter days and shorter nights have a euphoric
effect on us Canadians. Unlike our neighbours to the south, it’s hard
for us to take the warm weather for granted (see: sub-zero cold snap
back in mid-April 2013). As a luxury/lifestyle publication, SHE is
thrilled to make the most of the season within our pages.
June/July is packed with fashion picks, whatever your needs this summer.
Heading outdoors to a music festival? Don’t miss this month’s Style Scoop.
From Summer Dresses to Crop Tops, SHE has you covered.
EDITOR
S.M. Kamran Zaidi
If you’re looking for something more formal, think back to the Fall/Winter
2013 runways this past fashion month. We couldn’t help but notice South Asia
is continuing to dominate, so this issue we’ve focused on Etro. A beloved label
both in Europe and South Asia, they took note of who their target clientele is
and paid homage to the beauty of South Asian textile design (p. 22). Speaking
of the Eastern influence, the SHE office was so blown away by Mila Kunis’ new
campaign with Gemfields that we simply could not help but find out more
about the starlet and gem brand that prides itself on ethically sourced stones
(p. 20).
That brings us to the talented, beautiful and impeccably dressed Nausheen
Shah. A star on the street style scene around the world, Shah’s career has proven
that success in the fashion industry has taken on a new form. She’s a globetrotting trendsetter who happens to have several columns running in various
New York City-based papers. Find out why we’ve dubbed her the real-life
Carrie Bradshaw (p. 54).
Finally, there has been much discourse in the media about what it means
to be a modern career woman today. With the release of Sheryl Sandberg’s
Lean In (p. 92), everyone seems to have an opinion about what it is “to have it
all.” Perhaps the most notorious opinion came from Susan Patton, Princeton
alumna, Class of 1977. She advised current undergraduate women, via
Princeton’s newspaper, they ought to find a husband while in the company of
the only men worthy of them (i.e. Ivy League coeds). ”Pay as much attention to
building that part of your future happiness as you are in terms of building your
career,” said Ms. Patton. “If you wait 10 years you’re going to be up against those
real hard years in your early 30s when the men you are actually going to be
interested in marrying will already have been married and probably have a baby
or two at home.” It’s an interesting topic that we weighed in on in SHE Debates
(p. 76).
Now that you’ve been briefed, take this issue outside with you and soak up
the great weather while it lasts.
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FESTIVAL FASHION OVERLOAD!
Just because Coachella has come and gone doesn’t mean that the sun has set
on music festival season. With Osheaga in Montreal and Edgefest happening a
mere ferry ride away on Toronto Island, SHE Canada Online will be bringing
you fashion tips, survival guides and must-see shows all summer long. All the
information you could possibly need this festival season is just a click away!
Mail to: SHE Canada Subscriptions, 1999 Avenue Road, Suite 202, Toronto, ON, M5M 4A5, Canada
SHE CANADA
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“What do you love most about being Canadian?”
PRIYA KUMAR
LIZ GUBER
ROBIN ESROCK
Having the best of all four seasons. It’s easy
to take hot summers and snowy winters
for granted. It wasn’t until I lived abroad
(France and India), that I realized how
great our weather actually is.
As a young child growing up in the
Ukraine, Canada came to my knowledge
when it appeared as an answer to a
crossword puzzle. Little did I know I
would come to call this place home, and be
grateful for all the joy and opportunity it
has opened up for me.
I love being able to eat poutine, carry
loonies and toonies, order a double-double,
and use over 2000 other Canadian words
you won’t find south of the border.
Skookum!
Executive Editor
Fashion Assistant
Travel Contributor
MUNIRA QURESHI
ELOISE ALBA
INGRID KWONG
Ryan Gosling. No further explanation
needed.
Being able to live in a country inhabited by
diversity, culture, maple trees, the world’s
longest coastline, and the beavers that built
a dam visible from outer space.
Our multiculturalism. Our equal
celebration of race, religious leanings and
cultural backgrounds is the most wonderful
attribute of our great nation.
Beauty Contributor
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Features Contributor
Features Contributor
Your feature on Prabal Gurung for Target was well done,
however I found myself wanting to snap up every item,
yet unable to do so as this collection was not released in
Canada! Don’t tease us next time, SHE!
Harpreet, Scarborough
Whilst in the process of re-decorating my living room,
I stumbled across your feature on Fourth Eye Gallery.
What a fantastic resource for original South Asian art!
I’m excited to support an artist as well as this gallery
with a purchase.
Laila, Mississauga
I sat down one evening in a comfy chair, cup of tea in
hand and took my time to enjoy your lengthy feature on
Coco Chanel and the book review that followed. It was
a fascinating journey through fashion history. Coco was
certainly a polarizing and iconic figure.
Saloni, Orlando, Florida
I found your “Top 5 Ingredients to Avoid” round-up to
be very comprehensive and easy to understand. Finally, I
know what MSG is and will stop avoiding certain foods
based on hearsay only.
Meera, Montreal
I found your rating of the Spice Girls’ VIVA Forever
musical to be extremely generous! I didn’t think 3 out of
5 was good representation of the capabilities and talents
involved.
Anjali, London, UK
The highlight of your last issue for me was “The Definition of Beauty” article. What a thought-provoking topic;
it’s certainly sparked my interest in the controversies of
the modeling world, and I was also happy to discover
Cameron Russell’s inspiring TEDTalk.
Tara, Vancouver
It was a treat to see Arjun Bhasin featured for his work
on Life of Pi especially the sketch of his costume design
for Pi Patel after seeing the movie recently.
Farah, Lahore, Pakistan
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Sun season is here and the only thing as pervasive as the
sundress is sunshine itself. From the French Riviera to the
docks off Lake Jo’, these fun and flirty frocks will turn a
regular Summer into an Indian one!
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ROBERTO CAVALLI Printed Silk Maxi Dress, Price on Request
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RED VALENTINO Printed Taffeta Dress $750
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DAY BIRGER ET MIKKELSEN Crocheted Cotton $400
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MOSCHINO CHEAP & CHIC Embroidered Poplin Dress $795
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J. CREW Swiss-dot Silk-blend Dress $350
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CHRISTOPHER KANE X J Brand Stretch-denim Dress $486
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THEORY Nikay B striped Cotton-jersey Dress $245
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CARVEN Molleton Jersey Dress $430
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ACNE Mallory Crepe de Chine Dress $300
10 ISABEL MARANT Melissande Printed Silk-crepe Maxi Dress $1,455
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Coachella in Palm Springs and Ultra
Music Festival in Miami may already be
distant memories, but Canada’s music
festival scene is just getting started.
Edgefest 2013 on Centre Island and
Osheaga in Montreal bring together some
of the world’s top acts for several days of
music, food and of course fashion. Not sure
what to wear? We’ve got you covered.
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ROXY Savage 2 Dress $39.95
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CAMILLA AND MARC Astral Peplum Crepe top $340
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3.1 PHILLIP LIM Jersey Tank $121
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H&M Denim Dress $34.95
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H&M Cropped Top $14.95
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MISSONI X HAVAIANAS $54.99
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TINSELTOWN LOVE Cut Off Shorts $24.95
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H&M Crocheted Cropped Top $19.95
ÉTOILE ISABEL MARANT Shaper Owl-intarsia
Cotton-blend Shorts $290
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Simple yet chic, sandals are a summer staple for both day and night—
on the beach that is. Pair them with your favourite swimwear and soak
up the sun with these open toes.
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SAINT LAURENT Jerry Flat Sandal $1,115
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CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Vildo Flat Gold $775
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TORY BURCH Metallic Tumbled Leather Emmy Sandal $195
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GUESS Rana Sandal $110
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MICHAEL KORS Sondra Jelly Thong Sandal $59
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MIU MIU Cherry Flat Sandal $595
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Forgoing the beach? With 14 hours of daylight this season, dance the night
away in these gorgeous sling-backs. From two-toned Manolo Blahniks to
pinked and punked Louboutins, you can rock these heels ‘til the sun comes up.
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VALENTINO Crystallized Suede $895
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BCBG MAXAZRIA Pippa Pee Toe $250
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MANOLO BLAHNIK Margolina $1,200
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CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Clou Noeud Spiked $1,195
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CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Flo Sling $845
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Bronze, gunmetal, rose gold, copper—for every metal there is a corresponding shade.
These pieces may look winter appropriate, but given the never-ending chill we’ve
experienced in Canada this year, we say go for it! Even in July.
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ESTEBAN CORTAZAR Lamé and Stretch-crepe T-shirt $270
2
WILLOW Leather and Metallic-twill Jacket $1,640
3
LANVIN The Happy Medium Metallic Woven Canvas $2,590
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MARC JACOBS Baroque Eugenie Metallic Quilted $495
5
GUCCI Studded Metallic Leather Platform Sandals $895
Tops are out on a limb,
literally. Spring’s hemlines
are cropped to reveal the
season’s come-hither zone.
Temper the look with
festive prints, charming
florals, or tints of sunlight
and sand.
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Dolce &
Gabbana
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Balenciaga
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Balmain
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THEYSKENS’ THEORY Cropped Leather Tank $425
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MIU MIU Cotton and Silk Organza Peplum $530
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MISSONI Elsa Cropped Crochet Knit $530
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ALEXANDER WANG Cropped Silk Georgette $135
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TOPSHOP Floral Jacquard Crop Top $48
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CHRISTOPHER KANE Printed Silk Bustier $950
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TOPSHOP Tiger Lattice Suntop $40
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VERSACE Printed Jersey Bustier $1,045
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PETER PILOTTO Lara Silk and Crepe Peplum $1,540
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Presents her ‘TAJ’ Collection
at Lakmé Fashion Week 2013
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Modern Indian Designer Payal Singhal showcases the movement
of women in India today through her collection ‘Taj’.
By Ekta Mukhi
In an industry bursting at the seams with fresh design talent, Payal
Singhal manages to shine through. Coming from a family of creative
minds—her grandfather was a renowned painter and her father, a
fashion industry pioneer—the arts ran through her veins. At the
young age of 15, Singhal submitted sketches for the preliminary
round of retail giant Shoppers Stop’s design competition. Her fresh
and modern take on traditional Indian clothing garnered her the
prestigious “Designer of the Year” award.
After her national recognition and newfound talent, Payal pursued
a design degree from Shreemati Nathibhai Damodar Thackersey
(SNDT) University in Mumbai and further continued her education
at Parsons School of Design and Fashion Institute of Technology
in New York. It was Singhal’s exposure to a Western sensibility
that enhanced the growing global design appreciation that later on
became her forte. In 2000, she officially stepped foot into the fashion
world by creating her very own clothing label.
She charmed her audience at the Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW)
Summer/Resort 2013 when she debuted her “Taj” collection of
wearable, versatile and comfortable pieces—a mantra she has upheld
since starting out. The collection combined contemporary silhouettes
with hand-woven textile and was inspired by the fine details, intricate
filigree, jaali patterns, and floral inlays of Islamic
architecture. The pieces were aimed at the trendsetting summer brides and set to a backdrop
of the extravagant lifestyle of colonial India. As
Singhal reveals, “This collection represents an
authentic summer bride that exudes elegance and
tradition—her style statement is experimental
with an edge.”
runway in fully encrusted red pants combined with a matching red,
long-sleeved choli, and a tulle dupatta, displaying Singhal’s modern
take on summer bridal wear. Singhal explained that they deliberately
kept the blouse simple stating: “the main show of a bride should
be her jewellery.” When interviewed about the designer and her
latest collection, Aditi Rao Hydari said: “We feel that Indian clothes
are high maintenance. But these clothes are so wearable. Everyone
talks about swades but there was also rebellion against the Swadesi
Movement by women who wanted to wear Western outfits. The
silhouettes represent that.”
Apart from showcasing in India, Singhal’s collections have
been shown at various other prestigious fashion weeks such as the
Singapore Fashion Festival and the Fashion Week of the Americas.
Her label now retails from her signature stores all over the world—
from her flagship stores in Mumbai, to her retail outlets in New York
and New Jersey, Hong Kong, and the Middle East. With over thirteen
years of experience, Singhal’s versatility is apparent—her well-crafted
pieces cater to coy Indian brides and New York “it” girls alike.
British Vogue Editor, Dolly Jones once described the designer:
“Singhal creates gorgeous dresses for dressing up in downtown New
York with just enough of the genuine Indian magic that designers all
over the world try to recreate.”
With Payal, the possibilities are endless.
Her skillfully created pieces were a mélange of
swadeshi dress codes and sartorial styles. Short
anarkalis were teamed up with luxurious salwars
and asymmetric tunic blouses were a unique
match for traditional saris in katarva cotton,
banarasi or mulmul silks. Singhal also played
with velvet and asymmetric kurta cholis, and
matched them with three distinct coloured saris:
kiwi lime, sunset yellow and cream. This is a
collection that would indeed cater to the girl who
dreams of having either a rustic seaside nuptial
or a grand week long celebration.
Singhal also presented the famous wedding
trousseau (the honeymoon wardrobe)—silk Sufi
Falda pants with striking structured cholis and
soft sensuous saris were paired with free flowing
kurtas. Embellishments were a key component of
the collection as resham, silver and gold taar, pita
kora, filigree, jaali and trellis patterns dazzled on
the outfits.
Actress Aditi Rao Hydari, star of London,
Paris, New York and Murder 3, walked the
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By Priya Kumar
“If someone presents you a gift with a gemstone in it, knowing that they put thought into where it came
from gives it more meaning. It’s easy to buy something that looks impressive, but knowing that it’s ethically
sourced and that no one suffered to produce it is, to my mind, the most important thing.” – Mila Kunis
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These days, landing a luxury brand campaign is a sure sign of
success for any Hollywood leading lady. Hot on the heels of her
Dior campaign, Mila Kunis became the new face of Gemfields—
the world’s leading producer of ethically-sourced rare coloured
gemstones. The company selected Kunis to be their brand
ambassador as they felt it was, “[a] natural fit. Mila was chosen for
her natural beauty, versatility, intelligence and love of rare coloured
gemstones.” Shot by Mario Sorrenti, the campaign will run in
Vogue, Vanity Fair and W throughout 2013. The alliance certainly
signifies a career high for Kunis, whose film Oz: The Great and
Powerful opened strongly in the box office this past March. Kunis’
staggering career trajectory can be described as nothing short of
remarkable since entering the industry as a young child.
Three years ago I was working in the fashion department at
Blackbook magazine in Midtown Manhattan. Known for being
ahead of the curve, the pop culture glossy regularly features up-andcomers before they are truly consumed by fame. For the December
issue of that particular year, Mila Kunis was slated for the cover. I
recall wondering why. It had been years since That ‘70s Show had
been on the air and she had done little else (notable) since. That
is with the exception of Judd Apatow’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall
(2008). Called her breakout film role, it was she who made Jason
Segal forget Sarah Marshall.
Little did I know, the best had yet to come for Kunis. In her
Blackbook interview she spoke of an upcoming psychological
thriller about the world of ballet called Black Swan. She told my
colleague, Ben Barna, “I just skipped about 10 years of ballerina
training and started as if I’m a professional. Everyday, I tore the
ligaments in my calves and I would think, ‘What am I doing to
myself?’” At the time, the project was shrouded in secrecy: “It’s like
a real-life version of Swan Lake…I can’t talk about it. It’s not even
that big of a deal. It’s a [expletive] movie. It’s not like I’m saving the
world.” She reportedly went on a 1,200 calorie a day diet for the role.
Coupled with intensive cardiovascular training and four hour long
daily ballet classes, seven days a week, Kunis lost 20 pounds for the
role of Lily. The Darren Aronofsky film would ultimately catapult
her to the Oscars—it was nominated for five gold statuettes and
permanently cemented Kunis on the A-list.
Born in the former USSR (now the Ukraine), Kunis immigrated
with her family to the States at the age of 7. Speaking almost no
English, Kunis’ parents enrolled her in an acting class to bring her
out of her shell: “I was new to America so my English wasn’t so great
at that time so [my parents] were like ‘you know what? We’ll send
you to a little class where you can make friends and learn English
and what not’. It ended up becoming an acting class for little kids.
But really an acting class for little kids just means ‘we’ll take your
money and baby-sit your kids for a couple of hours’. It’s not like
they’re going to teach you method! So I went to this so-called acting
class. And this is where luck comes in: my manager—who is my
manager to this day—was there. She showed up that one day and
saw me. Long story short my parents were like ‘we don’t really want
you to be an actor. We want you to be a doctor or a lawyer’ and I
was like ‘that’s fine, but this’ll be an after school activity’ and they
were like ‘we work full-time, you go to school full-time: let’s see how
this fits in.’ Then the first thing I went out for—like the first Barbie
commercial or whatever—I ended up getting. I was nine years
old. And then from nine to fourteen I worked quite steadily and
then I got a TV show, and so forth and so forth. So it was all pretty
organic.”
By the age of 11 she’d landed the coveted role of young Gia
Carangi in the Angelina Jolie bio-epic Gia. Episodes of Baywatch,
7th Heaven and a commercial for Lisa Frank soon followed, but
Kunis got her big break when she landed a role on FOX’s That ‘70s
Show (1998). The producers were uncomfortable casting minors
for the roles of the leads, so when they asked her if she was 18,
she responded she would be on her birthday. She didn’t mention
which birthday. Kunis was 14 years old when she was cast as Jackie
Burkhart, Ashton Kutcher’s on-screen squeeze.
Kunis soon landed the voice of Meg Griffin on Family Guy
after Lacey Chabert had to drop out before the second season due
to scheduling conflicts with Party of Five. While her face never
appeared on screen for the role, she began to be recognized in public
for it: “I’m fine if I’m walking down the street in sweatpants and a
sweatshirt. No one looks twice. But if I open my mouth and start
talking, that’s when I get in trouble,” she once said at a press call for
Black Swan.
While Black Swan remains her most high profile endeavor to date,
Kunis is perhaps best known for her work in romantic comedies.
On her role opposite Justin Timberlake in Friends with Benefits,
Manohla Dargis of the New York Times wrote that, “Ms. Kunis
is fast proving that she’s a gift that keeps giving to mainstream
romantic comedy…her energy is so invigorating and expansive and
her presence so vibrant that she fills the screen.” This says nothing
of her role as the disgruntled girlfriend in Seth MacFarlane’s Ted,
which grossed over half a billion dollars at the box-office worldwide.
When MacFarlane initially came up with the idea for the project,
he felt Kunis was too young for the role, but because the film was in
development for years, she grew-up and was ultimately cast.
It’s no wonder Kunis has been tapped by Gemfields to serve as
their brand ambassador this year. “As a company we are passionate
about colour and fully committed to ethics, transparency and the
sustainable development of the communities in which we operate,
and finding the right partner who shares these values was vitally
important,” Gemfields CEO Ian Harbottle says of Kunis. “Mila
has blown me away with her energy, enthusiasm and dedication.
Her individuality and the natural way in which she expresses her
humanity set her apart.”
Kunis recently travelled to the Gemfields mine in Zambia, Africa,
which produces 20% of the world’s emeralds. It was here Kunis
immersed herself in learning about Gemfields’ ethically sourced
gemstones and environmentally-friendly mining practices. She
also had the opportunity to visit community projects, schools and
farming co-ops sponsored by the luxury gemstone brand. “While in
Africa, I learned that the entire journey that each Gemfields stone
takes is carefully considered and that the environment and the local
communities where its mines are located are held in the highest
regard,” Kunis says of her trip. “I truly believe in Gemfields’ mission
of ethical mining, and I absolutely have fallen in love with the rarity,
beauty and history of emeralds.”
Apparently, the film-going world shares a similar sentiment for
Kunis herself.
On May 3rd, 2013, FHM named Kunis “Sexiest Woman in the
World.” Her first major sci-fi film, Jupiter Ascending costarring
Channing Tatum, is slated for release in Summer 2014.
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Etro’s “fantasy world” of pretty,
practical, and print spawns a
Far East movement.
By Eloise Alba
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If there’s one thing to be expected of the Italian
fashion house, it’s original fabric design. Rooted
in her father’s colourful beginnings (paisley being
the Etro seal of identity), Veronica Etro abides
by tradition and puts her modern spin to it,
showcasing engineered hand-painted prints for
spring.
The influence of her floral motif veered Far
East—Chrysanthemums and Lotus flowers were
omnipresent through the pomp. And while the
designer presented curtain-raisers that were
distinctly Oriental in nature—the cheong sam,
the kimono, and the judo suit were rendered in
shades of rust and ecru—it was clear that the entire
collection enveloped culture and tradition from
neighboring nations.
An asymmetrical Indian sari was reinterpreted
in full glitzy regalia, complete with the season’s
horizontal band trend. “The stripes came from
sportswear and the martial arts,” said Etro of their
use. Other pieces took a less conservative route with
raised hems and exposed bustier necklines.
The looks appeared balanced and uncluttered
despite the busy textile that was the pièce de
résistance. “I really needed to keep the shapes
clean, primal, and almost rational, to show off the
decorativeness of the prints,” the designer reasoned.
“And with the prints I was interested to use other
things than just flowers - animals like parrots and
butterflies to bring them alive.”
The spectacular display of jewellery could not be
overlooked. Single fissure fabrics, albeit delivered
in modern spearmint hues, were highlighted by
traditional gold-plated neckpieces while beaded
bangles and chandelier earrings accompanied looks
alike.
The razzle-dazzle in this spring’s Etro show definitely did not
disappoint. Its signature combination of eccentricity and elegance
made appearances from start to finish—much like the esteemed
clientele during the Italian brand’s launch party in Mumbai almost
3 years ago. The flagship store’s dark walnut and gray lacquered
paneling, colourful orange and fuchsia carpets, and 1,500 square feet
of floor space served as the backdrop to names like Rocky S, Harman
Baweja, Jacqueline Fernandez, Condé Nast’s Alex Kuruvilla and
Krishna Mehta who were all in attendance that night. Sanjay Kapoor,
Managing Director and Deepika Gehani, Creative Director both of
Genesis Luxury hosted the night’s festivities.
Since its opening in India, Etro as a fashion house continues to
showcase itself among the country’s luminaries. Actor Harman
Baweja once shared his thoughts on the brand saying: “I have been
an Etro male for a while, it was such a pleasant surprise when I found
out it was opening in Bombay. When I am traveling I am always
looking out for this stuff. He added: “It stands out of the ordinary. It
is retro in a way, but it is retro with the odd colours and designs, and
when I say odd, I mean it in a nice way.”
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And why wouldn’t he be (an Etro male)? The boutique menswear
collection is as vibrant and punchy as its women’s counterpart often
seeking inspiration from the country (India). In fact, its most recent
Spring/Summer 2013 collection titled ‘Milano to Mumbai’ looked to
the Mahabharata for inspiration.
“To me, India means the country of colours and paisley. It’s the
place of origin of extraordinary culture, with a strong influence that
has global reach. Many ancient Indian stories have fascinated me
and been a great source of inspiration in my work and creativity. To
me, the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata all contain
intriguing stories about love and passion that manage to elevate, thrill
and reveal,” confesses designer Kean Etro on his Indian inspiration
for the Spring/Summer 2013 menswear collection. “The Indian
market is very important; it represents the future and gives us the
possibility of sharing values and aesthetics that are a combination of
our culture and that of India,” he adds.
It’s no wonder the brand continues to possess a strong presence in
South Asia— much of its notable aesthetic can be attributed to the
charm and mystique of the land and its most recent collections are no
different.
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MASTERCARD
By Liz Guber
Immediately following the end of Fashion Month
(the collective term for New York, London, Milan
and Paris fashion weeks), Toronto offered up its own
brand of fashion and frivolity, showcasing Canada’s
take on the Fall 2013 trends.
Toronto Fashion Week has gone through a bit
of an identity crisis over the years. With countless
changes in name and location, the event hasn’t
always succeeded in establishing a unique platform
for showcasing local design talent. When news was
revealed last year that IMG would be taking over,
reactions were mixed, but most were eager to see if
the fledgling event could evolve into a world-class
fashion showcase.
After years of taking place at Nathan Phillips
Square and a brief stint at Exhibition Place, it seems
that World MasterCard Fashion Week has finally
found its proper home in David Pecault Square;
the ample space, central location and proximity to
hot dog stands for starving fashionphiles made for
a natural fit for the event. Inside the tent, creature
comforts were enhanced with loads of lounge
seating for the high heel clad and even a manicure
bar courtesy of Essie.
The week-long event presented the usual mix
of industry up-and-comers as well as seasoned
fashion week veterans. Sid Neigum followed up his
TFI New Labels win with a stand-out collection
of cool separates in vivid whites and Godzilla-like
textured knits. Perennial favourite David Dixon
showed a collection of expertly tailored cocktail fare,
but it was his ice-crystal accessories that stole the
spotlight. Fashion spectators travelled back in time
at the shows of Chloe Comme Parris, who showed
an unabashedly grunge collection straight from the
nineties, and Kimberly Newport-Mimran of Pink
Tartan, who sought inspiration from the sixties,
featured swinging skirts, capelets and cocoon coats.
Elisha Cuthbert, Stacy McKenzie and Jeanne
Becker were some of the famous faces in attendance,
and although Toronto’s street style photographers
have yet to reach a paparazzi-like presence in
the city, there
was plenty of
“peacocking” taking
place inside and
outside of the tent
despite the chilly
March weather
subduing the
flamboyance of the
attendees’ outfits.
In recent years,
fashion weeks
around the world
have swelled
into circus-like
performances. It
seems with each
round of shows the
true purpose of a
fashion week—to
present garments to
buyers and industry
tastemakers and maintain a profitable garment
industry—has been overshadowed by grandeur and
pageantry. What Toronto needs more than bloggers
in the front row or big name sponsors behind the
Week is a supportive and respected environment for
designers seeking their big break. With IMG at the
helm, the little fashion week that could is well on its
way to transforming from a municipal vanity project
into a world-class Fashion Week.
From the reaction of attendees both backstage
and at the front of the towering white tent, it seems
that Toronto has an undeniable hunger for fashion.
Even the shows held in the smaller studio venue—
often by a little known designer have people lining
up around the corner, willing to stand at the very
back and crane their neck for a glance at the goods.
This is a city fully ready to embrace a home-grown
fashion culture, and with luxury boutiques like Rac
and TNT Gallery picking up lines from Sid Neigum
and Ashtiani, Canadian fashion is well on its way to
becoming a marketable, tangible commodity.
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Ashtiani by Golnaz Ashtiani returned to the tents at David
Pecault square for another triumphant collection. Unlike
seasons past, this show was a departure from the designer’s
usually more optimistic offerings. A darker colour palette of
deep jewel tones and sharper, more austere silhouettes made for
a thoroughly grown-up collection that nonetheless retained the
quirky and edgy aesthetic that Ashtiani is becoming known for.
Proportions and textures were mixed to create fresh new
shapes for the Fall season including an elongated cocoon cape,
triangular strapless necklines and subtle hemline flares. This
collection also marked the designer’s foray into accessory
design. Some of the most memorable looks were complemented
by oversized fur clutches in mustard and cobalt.
One of the most prominent themes of Ashtiani’s show was
the exploration and manipulation of geometry, both in print
and silhouette. Panels were joined at hard angles and style
details such as pockets and slits further marked this theme.
Golnaz Ashtiani, who studied at the London College of
Design, has been gaining prominence on the Toronto fashion
scene following her TFI New Labels win back in 2010. Her
latest collection in the more intimate studio space, had the
fashion-savvy crowd packed shoulder-to-shoulder. With all
eyes on this young talent, there’s little doubt that her designs
will be hitting the streets in a huge way come fall.
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In case you were wondering, the name comes from the incorrect
pronunciation of the French word maquillage—meaning makeup. The
brand, which boasts a flagship store in the New York City neighbourhood
of Soho, and presence on stocklists at Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel,
Saks and Holt Renfrew, specializes in luxury leather and outerwear. Eran
Elfassy and Elisa Dahan designed a polished collection for Fall 2013 that
nonetheless managed to exude street-style cool.
For any brand specializing in outerwear, the Fall runway season is the
perfect time to shine. Mackage took things up several notches this season
and offered up arguably the best collection of the week. With a colour
palette of merlot, mustard and orange and modern, flattering silhouettes
and cuts, it looked as if the models would strut straight past the runway
and onto the streets if they could. Leather A-line skirts in black and a more
traffic-stopping orange were paired with sleek button-downs and leather
leggings. For outerwear, the design duo showed a range of classic styles
including the motorcycle, the trench and the varsity jacket.
Along with stellar ready-to-wear, Mackage debuted a line of handbags.
Meticulous attention to detail and classic style lines give Mackage’s
handbag collection timeless appeal, with standout pieces including a black
leather satchel with cobalt blue python insets and a smaller, boxy black
number with an arrow shaped closure and chunky gold hardware.
With another successful collection behind them, Dahan and Elfassy
of Mackage have a clear vision for their brand, and with the likes of
celebrities Halle Berry, Freida Pinto and Eva Mendes wearing their
designs, Mackage is well on its way to becoming an iconic Canadian label.
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Besides being one of the most recognizable names in talent representation, MAX Agency is also a onestop shop for all of your promotional needs. Whether putting together a fashion show, print advertisement or
marketing campaign, MAX has you covered for a fraction of the cost of an ad agency. MAX also has access to
an extensive roster of art directors, choreographers, photographers, make-up artists and hair stylists available
to complete your project from start to finish. Regardless of the size of the project budget, we are available to you.
2063 Yonge Street, Suite #202, Toronto, Ontario M4S 2A2
tel: 416-482-5392 | fax: 416-482-4109 | [email protected] | www.maxagency.com
30 SHE CANADA
Are you a new actor/model looking for a head start
in your aspired career? Talent Shop Academy can
open doors of learning and opportunity for you.
Are you a seasoned actor/model? Talent Shop
Academy can make sure you are getting the right training,
preparation and representation.
The insight you will gain as our student will give an incredible
boost to your acting career. Our classes are taught by industry
professionals who can transform amateur actors into stellar performers.
Talent Shop Academy
1999 Avenue Road, Suite 202
Toronto, Ontario M4M 4A5
Tel: (416) 644-7790 | Fax: (416) 482-4109
[email protected] | www.talentshopacademy.com
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HUMAIMA MALICK
Life Imitates Art for Bollywood’s
Latest Scene Stealing Ingénue
By Priya Kumar | Photography Abdullah Haris | Makeup/Styling Toni & Guy
Designers Zara Shahjahan, Mahin Karim & Quiz | Coordination Encyclomedia PR
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Bollywood made international headlines this past spring and it had
nothing to do with awards season. Sanjay Dutt was arrested for his
involvement in the 1993 Bombay bombings that left 250 dead and 700
injured. Masterminded by organized crime racketeer Dawood Ibrahim,
the bombing was the deadliest terrorist attack in Indian history. Dutt’s
sentence of three and a half years stemmed from his purchase of weapons
from Ibrahim’s gang. “There are many other people who deserve pardon.
I just want to say with folded hands that when I’m not going for a pardon
then there’s no debate about it,” he said in a public statement. While
Dutt appears to be accepting defeat in this saga that has spanned two
decades, the court approved completion of two Bollywood projects,
worth an estimated Rs. 3 billion, is underway. Sher is one of these projects;
costarring Vivek Oberoi and Bollywood newcomer Humaima Malick, the
film ironically chronicles the life of Gujrat’s seedy underworld.
Shot in the dry heat of Rajasthan, Dutt plays gangster Sharman
Munjha. Malick narrates the story as Munjha’s widow forced to take
over his empire. Amid a flurry of speculation about the fate of the film,
Humaima Malick has found herself caught in the middle. Back in June
of last year there was much talk about the nature of her relationship with
Dutt. She adamantly denied these claims of impropriety to The Times of
India almost in jest: “For God’s sake. Not him, please! I already have a man
and the world knows it. I respect Sanjay Dutt. Here in Rajasthan we don’t
even talk….I only say ‘Salaam Sir’ when I see Mr. Dutt. In my family we’re
taught to respect elders. That’s about it.”
She went on to say, “Mr. Dutt plays my husband in Sher. But we don’t
have a single romantic moment to share. Thank God for that! He’s so much
my senior. Unko main jitni izzat doon kam hai. I like the way he looks after
the people around him. Beyond that we don’t talk. I’ve my entourage from
Pakistan to give me company. Even when I did Bol, my co-star Atif Aslam
and I were hardly close friends. Actually Ali Zafar, not Atif is my buddy
from the Pakistani entertainment industry. I am completely bewildered
by the politics of Bollywood. I want to stay out of it.” Wise words from the
young Malick.
Since her TOI interview back in 2012, I managed to catch up with the
leading lady. Best known for her role as Zainub Khan in Bol, Malick’s
career has been a work in progress for over a decade now. She started out
at the age of 14 as a model, pounding the runway for veteran Pakistani
couturier Deepak Perwani. Unsure of where her career in the spotlight
was going to take her, she says, “Back then even I couldn’t have imagined
how great everything was going to turn out, but I always knew that I
wanted to do something creative and that I wouldn’t ever be satisfied with
ordinary pursuits.”
Malick comes from a relatively large Pakistani family. One of six
siblings, she always had their support, especially that of her parents.
“Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly my family has always been
very supporting. My parents always made me feel that I could accomplish
anything, and I think if it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be here today.”
With childhood aspirations of becoming Miss World, the epitome of
pomp and pageantry, Malick found celebrity on a road less travelled. Her
role in the Lollywood (a moniker for Lahore’s film industry) blockbuster
Bol has been called less than glamorous and she goes au naturel by wearing
almost no makeup in the film. Malick attests her “sheer determination” to
winning the lead. “I went through the usual procedure of auditioning,
screen testing etc, and initially they had a couple of other actresses in
mind, but I fought hard for it, and thanks to God I got it,” Malick attests.
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The industry wholeheartedly approved of her
performance, and in March 2012 she made an
appearance at the London Asian Film Festival.
Alongside other A-list nominees including
Freida Pinto and Shilpa Shetty, Malick had an
overwhelming feeling of having made it at that
point: “At first I couldn’t even believe that this
was happening to me! It was such an [out of]
body experience, when we got to London and
I felt extremely blessed and humbled to be in
such great company. Frankly, I was glad just to
be nominated,” she says of her win.
Speaking of Miss World, there is another
famed beauty queen Malick is said to have links
to—former Miss Universe, Sushmita Sen. There
have been whispers about both having been
romantically involved with cricketer Wasim
Akram. A recent widower, Akram has denied
the relationships on both counts saying he’s
too dedicated to his two young children to
be worried about dating. It’s probably for the
best given the more than two decades age gap
between Malick and Akram.
The Akram affair isn’t the only scandal that
has followed Malick to Bollywood. Having
married actor Shamoon Abbasi in her early
20s, they divorced after only a few months: “I
have one mantra, and that is ‘no regrets’. We
are meant to go through the experiences we do
to come out stronger on the other end. I had a
pretty great childhood and I wouldn’t trade one
day of it!”
With a second Bollywood film in the
pipelines—she will be starring opposite
Sharman Joshi in a Vidu Vinod Chopra directed
film—Malick has her plate full. In regards to
what she sees herself doing in the future, she
says, “As an artist, I know there is so much more
out there that I’d like to try and do, but you
never know where life will lead you. For now I
just feel very lucky to be where I am and to be
able to do what I love. One can only hope that
continues.”
I closed our conversation by asking what
advice she would share with young actresses
trying to break onto the scene. She succinctly
advises, “Don’t give up on your dreams; it’s what
makes us human.” Her ability to effortlessly
court the media, coupled with her on-screen
charm and radiant beauty make her a recipe
for success in film. Having prevailed over both
Lollywood and Bollywood by the age of 25, it
really is only a matter of time before Hollywood
comes knocking.
36 SHE CANADA
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By Priya Kumar & Parveen Singh
46 SHE CANADA
Back in 1997, Pamela Redmond Satran wrote an article in Glamour magazine called “30 Things Every Woman
Should Have and Should Know by the Time She’s 30.” Even in its day, before social media was a “thing,” it went
viral. Glamour realized the momentum created by the article and put out a book of essays by renowned women
exemplifying each item on the list. As all of us at the SHE office inch towards 30, we were inclined to put together
a South Asian Edition of “30 Things SHE Should Have and Should Know by the Time She’s 30.”
SHE Should Have:
1 One old boyfriend that both she and her parents can agree was
suitable.
2 One decent set of real jewellery from South Asia.
3 Something perfect to wear to every function should a cousin
decide to marry with three months notice.
4 A salwar kameez she’s not ashamed to be seen wearing.
5 An ethnically involved childhood she’s not bashful about sharing
with others.
6 A past juicy enough to share in her old age—censorable for minor
grandchildren.
7 Accepted that old age is inevitable and may not include the joint
family arrangement she grew-up in and is accustomed to.
8 A Facebook/Instagram/Twitter account inaccessible to snooping
cousins and nosy aunties.
9 A resume that outlines the direction she (and no one else) wants
her career to go.
10 A plan B should things not go as planned.
11 One aunty who always makes her laugh and one who lets her cry.
12 A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a chiffon sari.
13 The strength to stand up to her mother-in-law, especially if it
involves the children.
14 A parlor that threads her eyebrows to perfection and doesn’t charge
more than $3.
15 A solid start on a satisfying career both she and her closest
relations can be proud of.
SHE Should Know:
16 How to give herself a blow-out and create the perfect corkscrew
curls using only a flat iron.
17 How she feels about the prospect of marriage, kids and living
with her in-laws.
18 That flawlessly fusing her desi values with North American
culture is important in maintaining who she is.
19 How to live without being surrounded by family (even if only
with non-blood related roommates).
20 How to achieve the perfect winged eye, and what her actual
foundation shade is.
21 Where she stands on religion.
22 That being South Asian means she is blessed with beauty and
brains and not to waste them on silly things.
23 How to bargain for a good deal.
24 That her skin is beautiful even without whitening creams and
that desi black hair turns brassy when treated with peroxide.
25 That her parents gave her everything and can (still) take it all
away.
26 How to handle a rishta with grace—regardless of her feelings
towards the custom.
27 How to speak her mind without being rude or arrogant.
28 Where to go—her mom’s kitchen table or a Moksha yoga
studio—when her soul needs soothing.
29 That Bollywood movies aren’t real.
30 Why they say life begins at 30 (we left this one unchanged for
effect).
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FOR ASPIRING ACTORS/MODELS,
GETTING A FOOT IN THE DOOR
HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER
With TIFF just around the corner, Toronto is about to be flush with the
buzz of celebrities walking its streets during the month of September.
PRIYA KUMAR had the opportunity to talk with MAX Agency about how
one might break into this seemingly impenetrable industry
M
AX
Agency, one of Toronto’s
most successful model and talent
management companies, has truly
changed how productions source
their talent. An industry icon, MAX represents
women, men and children throughout Toronto,
Montreal and Vancouver. Besides scouting and
developing talent, MAX services a diverse clientele
keeping them on top of an ever-changing industry.
We had the opportunity to speak with Jennifer
DeFaria, Senior Agent, about a day in the life at
MAX, and here’s what she had to say:
What do you look for in potential talent?
We represent a wide spectrum of talent. For us to
consider potential new talent, they must possess
the following attributes: a marketable look,
passion for the industry, a high level of dedication,
willingness to accept criticism and learn from it,
and most importantly, an outgoing and positive
attitude!
Explain your scouting process. Where are the top
places you like to scout and why?
At MAX, we love to develop and nurture
new talent. We like to update our roster
seasonally with fresh faces. Besides
having open calls at the MAX office
[see maxagency.com for further
details], we also scout at various
events and locations, from
beauty pageants to music
festivals—you never know
where you’ll find the next
STAR!
Can you tell us about
your model’s/actor’s
path of going from
undeveloped talent to
auditions to having a
solid career?
We are very selective
with
the
talent
that we represent.
Everybody that walks
through our doors
must undergo a 3-step
screening process. The
initial screening is done
over the phone. If we feel
you fit the requirements, we
then set up an appointment
for you to meet with an
agent. The agent then does a
more thorough evaluation and
screening. If the agent sees potential,
the talent’s application is then discussed in-house
with the booking department to make the final
decision. If accepted, we sign a contract for 1 year
of representation and the talent must undergo
training that is provided and paid for by MAX
Agency. The classes are done by the industry’s
top professionals and casting directors to ensure
all of our talent have the best possible training to
ensure a high level of success at auditions. Because
MAX is a principal film, television and modeling
agency, all of our talent is submitting for a wide
range of projects thus increasing their chances for
auditions and bookings.
Toronto has been known as Hollywood North for
years. Where did this name originate? Do you still
feel it fulfills this nickname?
Hollywood North is a phase used to describe
the Canadian film industry. Toronto is one of
the major cities in Canada that has a significant
amount of studios and films being produced. It has
become a convenient destination for producers
due to the fact that it’s more cost effective as
opposed to shooting in L. A. This is largely due to
the city’s versatility—Bay Street can pass for Wall
Street in New York City, the Bridal Path could be
Beverly Hills or anywhere else for that matter. We
have projects that are continually coming in from
major production studios, as well as TV series,
that are being filmed in Toronto. I don’t see it
slowing down anytime soon!
What is the benefit of being represented by MAX (as
opposed to a competitor?)
MAX Agency prides itself on standing out from
the crowd. We have been in the industry for
13 years, and are comprised of a great team of
professionals that genuinely care about our talent.
We give everybody personalized attention to help
guide them and build their success. We are also an
agency that will invest in our talent. We provide
all of our talent with the best possible training in
the industry to ensure our talent is given all the
tools to succeed!
The agency’s clients include the who’s who of the
business and entertainment worlds and include
companies such as Nike, CBC, GM, Coca Cola,
Sony, McDonald’s, Hugo Boss, TD CanadaTrust,
L’Oreal, Motorola and countless others. Its sharp
acumen for talent recognition and development is
just one of the reasons MAX continues to be a strong
national brand and a leader in the entertainment
business. We hope to see all you industry hopefuls
participating (as opposed to spectating) next year
at TIFF!
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By Priya Kumar
It’s hard to believe, but back in 1986 the fashion industry was the
City of Toronto’s second largest industrial employer. Economically
speaking, Toronto was a very different place back in the mid-eighties
than it is now and as a result, the Fashion Industry Liaison Committee
(FILC) proposed an incubator program to the City to help facilitate
growth. A year in the planning, the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI)
was founded and brought new life to Toronto’s already thriving
fashion industry.
A non-profit, TFI aims to support and nurture small business
entrepreneurs in the fashion industry. Their mandate reads: “TFI plays
an essential role in the growth and promotion of the Canadian fashion
community by helping creative entrepreneurs to develop the business
and professional skills they need to thrive and survive.” They do so by
offering a space to these entrepreneurs to learn the ropes including
marketing, sales, business, planning, exporting and cashflow—many
subjects that are not necessarily taught in design school. In addition
to the educational aspect, members are also offered the use of an
in-house studio space open 24/7, stocked with all the machinery
and equipment a creative entrepreneur may need. TFI even provides
promotional and sales opportunities like press days to allow their
talent to maximize on the benefits of being a member.
TFI is set in a historic, century-old building by Exhibition Place.
Originally called the “Music Building” for it’s wonderful acoustics,
the Incubator was not allowed to change anything about the structure
due to its heritage status (nor would they). The dome-shaped edifice
has a certain grit about it, but is appropriate for its current purpose.
The exposed brick walls, cement floors and pre-war windows are quite
charming.
With past esteemed alumni including David Dixon, TFI is an
incredible opportunity for creative entrepreneurs across Canada to
take advantage of. I recently met up with Susan Langdon, TFI’s fearless
leader and Executive Director. As the ED since 1994, she manages the
daily operation of TFI and its programs. Here’s what she had to say
about the institution known as the gem of Toronto’s fashion industry:
For you personally, tell me a bit about your career as a designer prior
to TFI and how it prepared you to mentor this new generation of
Canadian designers.
I went to Ryerson. I took fashion design and graduated there and then
worked for a number of companies as I was learning the ropes. [I did]
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everything from junior, junior, junior assistant designer to eventually
having two financial backers and having my own line. The last
financial backer was a company called Kimel Enterprises and that was
a wonderful experience. I had my own collection called “Zekura” and
it was an After Five evening collection sold across Canada, the US and
a little bit into Europe. It was really wonderful because it was sort of
my baby. Did I make a lot of money? No, there is not a lot of money in
fashion so I was supplementing my income during this whole time by
teaching part-time at Ryerson. It was while I was at Ryerson teaching
my class one day, that one of the full-time tenure staff came in to do
my evaluation, because you have to be evaluated when you are just
a part-timer. After class she came up to me and said, “I really like
your teaching style. Have you ever heard of a place called the Toronto
Fashion Incubator?”
The truth was Langdon had heard of TFI. In fact, six months prior, she
applied to be a volunteer because she felt so strongly about their cause,
but never heard back. According to the professor, this was because the
current Executive Director was terminally ill. They happened to be
looking for a new ED and she felt Langton would be ideal for the role.
It was a wonderful opportunity, but at the same time I had two other
applications going because had found out that my backers were
pulling out. This was ‘92/’93 and Canada was hit with a very hard
recession. I couldn’t afford to buy the business out because you needed
a few million and so I was actively looking for other things, so I
applied to something called the Matinée Fashion Foundation which
gave out grants to designers upwards of $25,000 to take their business
in a new direction and so I applied there and then I also was invited
by Ryerson to apply for full-time tenure because I loved teaching parttime and so I thought, “OK, so you have these three different things.”
And so it ended up, yes I did apply to TFI and would you know it, I
got all three.
How did you make your choice?
I chose TFI. I said to Matinée, “I’m honored but I can’t take the money
because I’m going try something else and they kept saying, “Are you
sure? You can take the money still.” No, I couldn’t do that. You know
the one thing I’ve always applied is my integrity because it’s such a
very small industry and everybody knows everything. I have now
been in the business for over 30 years and that is the one common
thread, pun intended, that I’ve carried through my entire career,
integrity. I think people know me for that. Before I took this job
I asked some of my
contemporaries [who had been
members]: “What did you think
of this place?” And some were
positive, some were negative,
almost everyone said that there
was a challenge with it but I love
challenges. It motivates me and
I think that’s why I love TFI.
So much because every day is
a financial challenge when you
are running a non-profit, you’re
always thinking, “How am I going
to meet that bottom line, how are
we going to save up for that rainy
day, how are we going to manage
with our government grants being
cut back every year, [with] some
of them are gone completely
now?”
How have you supplemented
these cutbacks?
Mainly through corporate
sponsorships, but we’ve also
looked to social enterprising,
created our own proprietary
books and items for sale online.
For example, we sell a number
of different guidebooks: How to
Start a Fashion Business, How
to Prepare a Business Plan for
your Fashion Business…etc. Each
guidebook is worded specifically
for fashion designers and creative
people. We also sell lists on our
website so if you are looking for
a list of fashion media or sewing
contractors or Canadian retail
buyers we have a lists on our
website, so all that helps to bring
money in.
How do you find the industry
differs in Toronto versus let’s say
New York or another bigger city?
There is so much money outside of Canada, no matter where you go.
We in the industry here, everybody wears 10 different hats and money
is very hard to come by. We are grateful for the wonderful sponsors that
we have like P&G Beauty and Grooming, Target, Flare, Rogers. But in
the States probably these kinds of partnerships would generate a lot
more investment. It is just the nature of the game. They have a bigger
budget to work with.
How would an aspiring designer from Ryerson or George Brown go
about to applying to TFI and what sorts of cost are associated with
becoming a member?
We have two different kinds of memberships. The outreach
membership is open to anyone. It’s $130 a year and it gives you access
Monday to Friday 9 to 5. For students we sell the same membership for
half price—$65 a year.
It is very reasonable.
Extremely reasonable. We know who our target audience is, because
I was the target audience, a struggling designer. If you have just
graduated and you are carrying a lot of student debt, we are very
mindful of our pricing too. So there is just an application you fill out
and pay your membership fee if you want to be part of the resident
program, which involves having a studio here full-time, 24/7. We
need: a bank reference, we need three industry references, you need
to provide us with one year cash flow projection and then there is an
interview process where I see samples and look at the portfolio.
SHE CANADA
51
52 SHE CANADA
So there is a selection process?
Yes, because there are only 10 spots. There are only 10 studios. We
have vacancy and show seats but it’s not about just renting to anyone
because the resident program is very prestigious. If I feel someone
who is not ready [has] potential, then we will take a chance. If
someone isn’t ready because they don’t get it or they don’t understand
what an innovative yet commercial product is, then I will send them
away. I will send them away with homework. I’ll say “you’re not ready
because [x, y, z], If you would like to apply again, this is what I would
like to see from you”
Back then we were doing everything on our own but as the interest
started to build, corporations started hearing about it and they
realized we were getting a lot of buzz. That helped us increase our
prize to $10,000 cash and a feature in a magazine. Now the winner
of New Labels is going to receive $25,000 cash from Suzanne Rogers
personally, a feature in Flare magazine and the opportunity to work
with Target Canada to create a line that is going to sell in Target stores
across Canada in 2014. [Target] is going to create a promotional and
marketing campaign around that winner. It’s a phenomenal prize,
because [they’ve worked with designers] like Jason Wu and Missoni.
TFI is located in a Toronto heritage building. Tell
me a little bit about the space.
We used to be over at Queen and Dovercourt, which
is a really great neighborhood but we were in a
building that was sold to a condo developer and so
we had two months to find a new home and through
my connections with the City of Toronto, I was told
about this place. The funny thing is I came in for a
tour and the CEO walked me around and said, “See
all this black on the wall? Don’t worry we will clean
it up for you.” “Well what is it anyway?” [I asked].
And she says “Back in 1987,” which coincidently was
the year TFI was actually incorporated, “the unions
had a grievance with the City of Toronto so they
torched the building, [it was] arson, and so they had
to rebuild the domes. All of the inside was scorched.”
I said, “No, leave it to me like that. It’s history. That’s
what gives it character. That’s what tells a story about
the building.” It’s a great feature.
Tell me about some of the mentors at TFI.
We have 22 volunteer mentors who give
approximately two to five hours a month to meet
with our members about all different types of topics.
We have a lawyer, a chartered accountant, people in
sales and marketing, public relations, eco-friendly
retail, importing and exporting.
TFI’s new labels competition has become the show to
watch. How did the idea for such competition come
about? What kind of opportunities does it open to
the winners?
It started back in 1992 as a platform to showcase
up-and-coming designers during Toronto Fashion
Week. Back then it was only established designers
who showed, so New Labels started off as just a
one runway show featuring members of TFI. Then
eventually it became so popular, you couldn’t feature
all of the designers on the runway so we had to
narrow it down. There was a judging process where
the prize was being in the show. There were 8 or 10
people in the show then we decided the show was
too long so we had to narrow that down to about
5 different people and then we threw in a small
cash incentive of $2,500, which we have been able
to increase with the help of corporate sponsors.
SHE CANADA
53
By Priya Kumar
54 SHE CANADA
s her surname suggests, Nausheen Shah has
conquered the fashion world. She’s currently
a Fashion and Luxury Travel Contributor
for the New York Post and the Fashion &
Accessories Editor for Olivia Palermo’s style-site,
oliviapalermo.com. And if that’s not enough
on her plate, Shah also runs her eponymous
site called “A Shah’s Life” (http://ashahslife.com) in addition to
styling celebrities, including our November cover girl, the Grammy
nominated, EDM vocalist Nadia Ali. On top of her various projects,
Shah has also made herself a household name among prominent
street style photographers around the world.
I recently caught up with Shah after the whirlwind of Fall/
Winter 2013 fashion weeks, to discuss her career, personal style
and why she feels most at home in Paris. Believe it or not, Shah
grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. “I was a princess of Pakistani
and Persian parents. I was born a lover of cheese, brats, and surfing
Lake Michigan,” she says of herself in her “About Moi” section on “A
Shah’s Life.” Growing up in suburban America, she watched her elder
sisters dressing up to go out. Shopping soon became a pervasive part
Madison. Because she also minored in Spanish, she decided to study
abroad in Seville, Spain in her fourth year. “I just had a really life
changing experience and decided that I didn’t want to do medicine.
When I came back I fell into a job working for a law firm in Chicago
for about four years.” It was at this point Shah came to the realization
that fashion was her true calling. She had decided to apply to the two
best schools in the States, namely Parsons and FIT. She ultimately
went with FIT for their study abroad partnership with renowned
design school Polimoda in Florence, Italy.
“It is so different; Italy is very over-the-top fashion-wise. I fell in
love with Dolce & Gabbana. Everything was about ripped up jeans
and really Italian style like lots of gold and black and Roberto Cavalli
prints and really short skirts. Very machismo—that [influenced] the
way I was dressing.” It was in Italy where she fell in love with tailoring
and draping: “Creating the product by hand was more gratifying than
just sketching it out.”
Not long after completing her program at FIT did she land a
position at Catherine Malandrino. “When I worked with Catherine
it was really exciting because I loved her designs, and she was more
accessible in Wisconsin than Zac Posen was.” Incidentally, Shah also
went on to work for Posen. “Zac Posen was always my dream…it’s
incredible to see how their minds work and how they think of what is
going to be the next big trend.” It prepared her for her ultimate role as
a fashion writer and stylist by offering insight into how designers put
each piece together and expect it to be styled.
Speaking of styling, I insisted on hearing more about her working
relationship with Nadia Ali. One of the biggest names in electronic
dance music (EDM), Ali has been an ubiquitous part of the scene
ever since her single “Rapture” dropped back in 2000. She and Ali
met in the DJ scene. When it came time for Ali to find a stylist to
work with on several projects, she approached Shah because there
was a certain level of trust and friendship, not to mention Ali’s love of
Shah’s style sensibility. It was certainly a learning experience: “I didn’t
know what it was to request and pull clothing and all that, until I
started working with Nadia. It was a whole new animal to me.”
of her adolescence. “My mom would take us shopping every single
weekend and I’m not joking. I would look at clothes and see how the
progression of trends would come through and what I would like.
I think I just always dreamed of the big brands one day, but they
weren’t always accessible to me at all growing up.”
Incredibly, Shah pursued pre-med at the University of Wisconsin,
Of the styling process, Shah says: “Nadia loves things over-the-top.
She loves the glitz and the glam. It’s always about making [her] the
most beautiful, over the top, picturesque goddess…Sometimes you’ll
notice that we’ll make her a little bit more soft and beautiful or we’ll
make her a little bit harder. We just play in the different levels of that.”
All in all, Shah has styled Ali for the videos “Rapture”; “Pressure”;
and “Feels So Good” by Armin van Buuren, in addition to her Queen
of Clubs album cover and promotional material. “I never thought I
would be a stylist, ever. So that was a huge growing experience.”
SHE CANADA
55
“Wow, I’m a Writer”
Going from pre-med to fashion to ultimately, journalism
seems an almost unnatural transition. Shah explains, that writing
came very naturally due to all the worldly experience she had
with cuisines, travel and of course fashion. “One of my friends
told me to start a blog…documenting all these new things I was
doing. For me, I thought it was silly, but I took her advice and did
it.” The blog was so well received that even Olivia Palermo (The
City-alum and Manhattan “it” girl) took notice and reached out
to Shah about contributing to her site.
Having been involved with Olivia Palermo not only sent Shah
to all the most coveted shows during fashion week, but also
paved the way to her writing “proper stories,” as she put it. “That
led me to becoming her Fashion Editor…and to me meeting the
fashion editor at New York Post,” who asked Shah if she would
cover all the Europe shows for them. “I would have never in a
million years guessed that I would be a writer.”
Carrie Bradshaw is Fiction
Did you ever find yourself wondering how Sex and the City’s
Carrie Bradshaw made ends meet? Of course in the early seasons
she had her financial woes (having figured out she spent $40,000
on shoes over the years, she ultimately borrows Charlotte’s
Tiffany’s engagement ring to put a down payment on her
apartment), but how was she even able to pay bills with just one
weekly column? Carrie Bradshaw is a fantasy. And while there is
no real life equivalent, Shah comes pretty darn close. The main
discrepancy between the two Manahattan-based writers, besides
fact and fiction, is the sheer number of projects Shah is involved
with. “It is definitely a juggle, that’s probably the proper word,”
Shah confesses. Her extensive travels for fashion have also led to
the Post’s travel editor approaching Shah for the Travel Section
because she’s so regularly on the road. “I don’t know how I juggle
it to be honest. Fashion weeks are very, very, very, strenuous
because I try to mix in the travel with the fashion and I have
three people that I need to report back to.”
Paris, Je t’aime
So where does a citizen of the world consider herself most
at home? She says simply and succinctly, “Paris.” I press, why?
“I love Paris. It’s a fantasy world and I live my life as a fantasy
and I don’t take my life very seriously. I just kind of think what
I want to do and find a way to do it. I don’t think about the
repercussions…I live my life like a dream…and Paris feels like
that dream setting to me. It’s just everything seems so perfectly
done, from the little cafes to the beautiful museums to the
manicured gardens and the language itself. French is just so
beautiful and poetic to me. Just the way the words roll off the
tongue—to me it is just a beautiful sound. You know Paris for
me is my hometown.” She even ends her correspondences with
“Bisous NYS.”
Shah lives for a living. While there is much debate about print
being dead, she has carved a permanent niche for herself that
combines good taste, striking photography and the ability to put
her experiences into words so arresting, readers cannot help but
continue to come back for more.
56 SHE CANADA
Check out more of Nausheen Shah’s work at http://ashahslife.com/. You
can also follow her on Twitter @nausheenshah or on Instagram under
@nausheenshah
SHE CANADA
57
JOURNALIST
Liz Guber sits down with Hafsa Lodi: writer, designer and all-around fashion“it” girl.
58 SHE CANADA
I first became acquainted with Hafsa Lodi when she took the
initiative to reach out to us here at SHE to collaborate. Everyone at
the office instantly became a fan of her blog “Journalist in a Jumpsuit”
and her impressive editorial portfolio, which includes features in
UAE-based Velvet Magazine as well as cover stories for the Ryerson
Journalism Review and Gulf News. After launching her own fashion
line while finishing up a Journalism degree from Ryerson University,
there’s no denying that when it comes to this young ingénue, girl’s got
the goods.
For Lodi, creativity and fashion were ingrained early on: “My
grandmother used to sew my sister and me matching nighties, my
mother always encouraged arts and crafts, my aunt is a painter and
my younger sister is a mixed media artist, so creativity has always
been all around me. I started taking sewing lessons at 9 years old,”
she says.
a daily dose of personal style, travel diaries and trend reports. It’s also
the best place to view Lodi’s own creations.
Lodi’s personal style, featured frequently on her blog through outfit
posts (better known as #ootd in hashtag speak), can be described
as worldly, regal, if not a bit eclectic. She accessorizes sparingly, but
always thoughtfully, and her self-designed pieces are frequent outfit
focal points. Having travelled all over the world and resided in both
Toronto and Dubai, I was eager to hear her take on the differences in
the international fashion scenes. “These days, with street style that
is both trendy and quirky being so in vogue, I think internationally,
fashion has become much more experimental and fun. In Toronto
there’s probably more variety, while I’ve noticed here in Dubai,
women tend to stick to the same trends, without adding their own
touches.”
Lodi hit her stride
professionally when she
approached the Editor of Velvet
Magazine, who happened to
be looking for a Dubai-based
writer at the time. Lodi’s
previous freelance and internship
experience paid off and she
became a part of an international
team of fashion reporters based
in fashion capitals like Paris
and New York. Lodi’s work
from home set-up is certainly
enviable to most. “Our meetings
took place over Skype,” she tells
me. As a contributor at Velvet,
Lodi was privy to the crème de
la crème of fashion: “I also got
to meet and interview celebrity
designers like Roberto Cavalli
and Giuseppe Zanotti when they
came to Dubai.”
One can hardly participate
in a fashion discussion these
days without mentioning social
media. Bloggers have become
the new tastemakers and Lodi’s
blog “Journalist in a Jumpsuit”
is a part of this shift towards
accessible, digital fashion
reporting. Lodi started the blog
as a school assignment and
it ultimately became a longstanding passion “While creating
the blog, I thought I may carry
it on after the class ended, so I
wanted to name it something
that reflected my passions for
journalism and fashion both! I
also am a huge fan of jumpsuits,
and thought it would be fun
to feature different jumpsuit
styles on the blog.” Visitors to
“Journalist in a Jumpsuit” receive
SHE CANADA
59
When she’s not working on her blog or projects for
Velvet, Lodi focuses on the design of her clothing line.
Her latest collection, titled “Bedouin Ballerina” features
one-of-a-kind textile design by Lodi herself. “I created
a cotton print with Arabic text, sentences that translate
to things like ‘I write in fountain pens,’ ‘I dare to wear
lavender lipstick,’ ‘I eat cupcakes for breakfast’ and ‘I’m
incomplete without silver, gold or glitter’.” The custom
textile was juxtaposed against pastel blues and yellows
as well as an Aztec print to create statement pieces that
are versatile enough for either day or nighttime wear.
“My aim is to create stylish, one-of-a-kind items for
young women who dress to stand out in a crowd, are
bored with the monotony of the current high street
market and like to mix Eastern and Western fashion
aesthetics,” Lodi adds.
Over the course of our interview, one thing is
evident: Lodi is truly motivated to achieve great things.
She hasn’t let the glitz and glamour of the fashion
industry go to her head. To all the hopefuls with big
dreams of making it in the fashion industry, Lodi offers
up some wise words, “If you want to get noticed, find a
gap in the market and fill it with something you think
will appeal to a large group of people, and don’t be
afraid to go over the top! But also—don’t make fashion
60 SHE CANADA
your life. Too many women these days obsess over
fashion to the point where it consumes them, and they
don’t care about anything else. Be aware of current
world issues, and don’t blow all of your money on
expensive bags, shoes and clothes. Stay grounded, and
stay real.” As Hafsa Lodi continues to follow her own
advice, there’s no doubt she’ll carve out a real presence
for herself in the world of fashion and journalism, no
doubt whilst in a jumpsuit.
SHE CANADA
61
Ever since my two best friends became mothers, all they seem to
talk about day in, day out are their kids. And as much as I adore
the kids, I just miss having a normal, casual conversation with my
best friends. I want to laugh and gossip and talk about things that
now seem trivial to my friends. I don’t know how to bring it to
their attention without affecting our friendships.
HE:
Have kids! No, I’m just kidding. Try steering the
conversation in a different direction—perhaps bring up old
memories, adventures, etc. At the same time you must realize that
this isn’t a phase, your friends will want to talk about their kids now
and everyday for the rest of their lives. You can hope that as time
goes by, motherhood will stop seeming so novel to them, and the
conversation will once again begin to resemble its old form.
SHE:
Why don’t you suggest getting away from everything
and going for a spa day or a girls’ night out. They may be less inclined
to talk about kids on such an occasion. It’s a tough spot, as you don’t
want them to take offence or feel like they can never speak about that.
I still keep in touch with an ex, which makes my fiancé
uncomfortable. I love my fiancé, and we are both excited about our
upcoming wedding but over the years my ex has become a really
close friend that I value. Does this mean I have to cut him out of
my life entirely?
HE:
A close male friend always threatens a guy, and should
that friend be your ex, it only makes matters worse. Let’s reverse
situations, if your fiancé were still friendly with his ex, would that
bother you? If yes, then you already know what you have to do.
Sometimes you just need to ask yourself what’s more important.
62 SHE CANADA
SHE:
You aren’t obliged to do anything you don’t want
to. However, how special of a friend has he become? If he is that close,
then your partner needs to understand his value, and whilst the both
of them being friends might be hard, you may be able to maintain a
friendship if you restrict your encounters to lunch. This may erase
any doubts. The key is to be completely honest about your friendship
with him, and he’ll appreciate you for that.
The other day, during lunch hour, my boss wanted to order in some
food and asked all the other employees if they wanted anything,
except me. I felt bad, but thought it may have been an oversight.
A week later she did the same thing again. I’m beginning to feel
unworthy and it’s taking a toll on my self-esteem. Must I approach
her about this?
HE:
This is not something that should affect your selfesteem. Is there another reason that is leading you to feel unworthy;
do you feel like you can work harder? Or, I’m going there, do you talk
about your weight and exercising a lot? She may just be trying to be
polite and not get in the way of your health regime. It’s a professional
environment at the end of the day, so approaching your boss about
this may not be the right move. Let this one slide.
SHE:
You need to focus on your work, and as long as
you’re doing everything right, do not let anybody or anything affect
your self-esteem. It may or may not have been on purpose. The
perfect job in the worst working environment can make a sane man
crazy. Observe her behaviour over the next month, and if things don’t
seem to improve, you can arrange a meeting and ask her if everything
is all right or if something about you bothers her. However, speaking
about lunch and food to your boss may seem petty.
glee
Liz Guber catches up with Iqbal Theba, one of the first South Asian actors on American network television.
SHE CANADA
63
Some might know Iqbal Theba as Glee’s Principal Figgins, a
poker-faced headmaster who has delivered some of the show’s
most memorable zingers. Others may recognise him from his
many television appearances on shows such as Friends, Nip/Tuck,
Community and Weeds—and that’s just to name a few. There’s no
denying that Theba’s brilliant comedic abilities shattered Hollywood
stereotypes and added some much needed diversity to network
television.
Karachi-born Theba stumbled into acting from humble
beginnings. “I went to the University of Oklahoma and got myself a
BS in Construction Science Management, had a job in my senior year
at a construction company—hated it and didn’t know what to do with
my life. A friend invited me to see a play and it got me thinking about
acting. I went back to college and after a couple of months of studying
acting I fell in love with [it] and decided major in it.” Three years
later, Theba moved to New York to further hone in on the skill. In
1991, he moved to Los Angeles with a mere $37 dollars to his name.
He recounts holding down jobs ranging from waiter to dishwasher to
cook, or as Theba calls it, “typical struggling actor stuff.” After landing
parts in national commercials and made for TV movies, Theba
started appearing in guest roles on popular sitcoms and primetime
dramas.
The life-changing role of Principle Figgins on Glee came to Theba
by complete serendipity. The role originally called for a Caucasian
actor, but after some difficulty casting the role, his Nip/Tuck
producers suggested Theba for the part. For the past four seasons,
Theba has been part of an award-winning ensemble cast on the show
about a high school glee club. The show, which chronicles the trials
and triumphs of a group of misfits in a high school in Ohio, often
through song and dance, has covered the music of such legendary
artists as Journey and Britney Spears. Unprecedented success
has launched the cast into superstardom, with Lea Michele, who
plays uptight diva Rachel Berry, becoming one of Hollywood’s top
actresses. Fans of the show, dubbed the moniker “Gleeks,” are fiercely
loyal. The success of the television show has spurred a spin-off called
The Glee Project, serving as a reality TV-style audition for Glee, with
the winner receiving a 7 episode contract. Theba has appeared on
The Glee Project as a judge. When asked if he anticipated the runaway
success of Glee, Theba answered “I did know it was a great script and
I had high hopes for the show. But I had no idea it [would] become
an international phenomenon with a passionate following.” Theba
describes working on the show as the “best experience I’ve had so far”
adding, “It has changed my life in many ways. My wife likes me a little
more, now.”
Flipping through any back issue of SHE, one will come across
features on South Asian actors who are dominating entertainment,
and this is no coincidence. Mindy Kaling, Noureen DeWulf and Aziz
Ansari are some of the famous names becoming pop culture icons
and reflecting a more diverse world through hilarious, touching
and poignant performances. “I LOVE the fact that South Asians are
everywhere now. When I started out in the early ‘90s it was almost
impossible to find a good role as a South Asian Actor. I was told
by many agents that there was nothing for someone ‘like me’,” says
Theba. Not surprisingly pleased to see so many fellow South Asians
on screen, he adds, “But I never gave up and kept faith. Twenty years
later things have changed a great deal....for the better. TV is much
more open-minded.”
64 SHE CANADA
Theba proudly maintains his deep roots to his homeland. In fact,
he was in Pakistan recently for a slew of family weddings: “Four of
my nieces and one nephew were getting married. It was a fun, hectic,
and an amazing trip.” He is also a big fan of Canada and is planning
a summer trip up north—“I love visiting Canada. I was in Toronto
last year with my friends Matthew Morrison and Dot Marie Jones to
represent Glee at the Canadian Upfronts. I had such a great time!”
The Canadian Upfronts is a splashy press event held every year by the
big Canadian television networks to reveal which shows, both new
and returning, have been purchased by the networks. The Upfronts
offer a chance for fans to meet the stars of their favourite shows as
well as to catch a glimpse of the upcoming television season, while
offering advertisers a chance to bid for prime commercial slots.
Currently Theba is reprising his role on the fourth season of Glee,
and has recently made an appearance in the Gerard Butler romantic
comedy Playing For Keeps, in which he truly steals the show playing
a landlord with a sense of humour. As film and television continue
to embrace actors of every ethnicity, there’s no doubt that Iqbal
Theba will also continue to surprise and delight audiences with the
memorable characters he brings to life on-screen.
SHE CANADA
65
2
Camo is the new black! The
utilitarian print is surprisingly
versatile this season as seen in
the runways of Mark McNairy
and Dries Van Noten. Pair
the busy pattern with bright
blues and oranges for outfits
that won’t blend in. Finish the
look with a classic sandal or a
trendy woven slip-on.
1
Mark McNairy
3
4
5
Dries
Van
Noten
1
LANVIN Bow Tie $125
2
GUCCI Shawl Collar Cardigan $1,520
3
RAG&BONE Striped Cotton Jersey T-shirt $85
4
SLOWEAR Incotex Shorts $280
5
H&M Trousers with a button $29.95
6
ZARA Cross Strap Sandals $69.90
7
VALENTINO Camouflage Cardigan $1,020
8
VALENTINO Camouflage Cotton T-shirt $290
9
VALENTINO Silk Tie $130
10 ARMANDO CABRAL Bula Woven Leather Slip on $290
66 SHE CANADA
6
7
8
9
10
For full details on products and services, call 905.823.1000 or visit www.carprideautospa.com
Spring is upon us and you know what that means: flaunting your best accessory—your car!
Car Pride Auto Spa gives us the lowdown on detailing your ride for “show” season.
The Root of the Problem
An ongoing dilemma every car owner must face is whether to opt
for a machine wax or a simple hand wax. First things first, the whole
hand vs. machine (wax) conundrum is really dependent on the
intention of the owner. Are you simply looking for an additional
layer of protection for your paint? Or do you need a more in-depth
detailing job (removing scratches, swirl marks, and other defects)?
Read on and decide.
The Helping Hand
If a protective layer or a mere shine here and there is what you’re
aiming for then Car Pride Auto Spa recommends their Hand Wax
service. As the name suggests, hand waxing involves the hands and
four equal pressure points pushing down on a pad or mitt. The task
is quite daunting (so be glad you’re not the one doing it) and can be
done using a number of waxing products. At Car Pride Auto Spa,
paste waxes as well as spray variety are available. The difference?
Certainly, paste waxes provide a much thicker layer of protection
and shine compared to the latter. They last longer, too. Spray waxes
on the other hand, go on quick and are great at restoring shine and
enhancing a good coat of wax already on the surface. (Think of it as
a booster.) The plus side of a good hand wax-on-wax-off job is the
value of an individualized and meticulous service.
The Full Throttle
Unlike hand waxing, machine waxes allow for a more thorough and
uniform finish. That’s not to say the hand doesn’t do the job. But in
most cases, mechanically operated devices are more consistent and
true to type. Car Pride Auto Spa’s Machine Buff/Orbital Wax has a
number of uses and it is not uncommon to have these coupled with
other services to achieve the best results. For instance, overspray
oxidation (small rust spots) removal requires an intensive Orbital
Buff service and the corresponding wax product. The Machine
Wax option is also used for removing swirl marks, correcting paint,
and treating clear coat burns—a result from touch-free car washes
utilizing extreme pressure washers and aggressive soaps. Many
vehicles develop these clear coat burns under their side mirrors or
under their license plates—spots where cavities are available for water
to accumulate during a wash. With the right wax, compound, polish
and technique, most of these burns can be restored and you can be
assured of spotless paint, buffed out scratches, and protection against
UV, acid rain, and chemical dust.
The Finishing Touch
Machine and hand waxing can be complimented with a number of
services such as clay barring, compounding, and polishing. In either
case, the objective is the same: a clean and shiny vehicle. At Car
Pride Auto Spa, detailers assess your vehicle and recommend the
best option for you—the right buffer, the applicable wax, compound,
polish, and the proper techniques are all on the agenda.
The Full Shebang
From simple car washes, maintenance packages to full fine interior
and exterior detailing, Car Pride Auto Spa has all your vehicle’s
detailing requirements covered. And it’s not just your car getting the
royal treatment—you are too. Their luxurious lobby complete with
free Wi-Fi and fresh Starbucks Coffee makes waiting a breeze. But if
waiting just isn’t your thing, Car Pride Auto Spa also provides free
shuttle services to the GO station and nearby locations.
Car Pride Auto Spa is a truly unique one stop shop located at 2380
Royal Windsor Drive, Mississauga, Ontario. Try them out—you’ll be
wishing you’d discovered them sooner.
For full details on products and services, call 905.823.1000 or visit
www.carprideautospa.com
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By Priya Kumar
“I’m a preacher of right now, of living in the
moment. I don’t even wear a watch. I’ve seen too
many people suffer because they are living in the
past or worrying about the future. The best time
is right now,” Hamid Kouchak told Toronto Life
when his art gallery and fusion restaurant House of
Moments opened in Leslieville last year. Kouchak, a
businessman of Persian decent, is an entrepreneur.
He bought the space, formerly a hair design studio,
back in 2011 and had many ideas for it. Ultimately,
he settled on turning it into an art gallery that
also served up unique fusion creations for the
gourmand set in Toronto’s most up-and-coming
neighbourhood.
Forming an alliance with restauranteur Henry
Kim and executive chef Daniel Park, House of
Moments constructed a whole new cuisine: Eastern
Fusion. Instead of fusing a European sensibility
with oriental spices, House of Moments combines
the Middle East with the Far East—the menu is
Persian-Indian-Japanese. Items that caught my
eye included Mumbai Magic (salmon, tuna and
avocado on top of Mumbai yogurt sauce and a
lentil chip topped with unagi sauce, $15) and the
Lobster Butteryaki (steamed and pan-fried lobster
served with roasted cherry tomatoes and basmati
rice served with mango sauce, $39).
And what of the gallery? Kouchak’s journey to
opening this enterprising eatery heavily involved
the arts. After working at the helm of his own
telecommunications firm, he decided to sell and
see the world. His travels took him to all corners of
the globe: “I took four years off and just travelled.
I started in Central and South America, then made
my way to Asia and India.” During his expedition,
he acquired quite a bit of Eastern art including
several vintage Buddha statues. Not unlike the
world-renowned Buddha Bar, House of Moments’
centrepiece is a carved wooden Buddha that hangs
above the bar.
Ideal for corporate events and weddings, the space
can quickly make room for whatever occasion you
may have in mind. Its Jaipuri antique room dividers
both create a sense of coziness while maintaining
the ambiance of the space. We’re thrilled to find a
venue that’s a refreshing alternative to suburban
banquet halls and sterile hotel conference rooms.
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For reservations, call House of Moments at 416.901.6003.
386 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4M 2T4.
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SHE CANADA
71
INTERNATIONAL FILM
FESTIVAL OF MARRAKESH:
THE BOLLYWOOD TREATMENT
By Ingrid Kwong
72 SHE CANADA
As Bollywood celebrated its centennial in 2012, the International
Film Festival of Marrakesh held in Marrakesh, Morocco last
December, paid tribute to Hindi cinema. The 12th installment of the
Marrakesh Film Festival welcomed the largest Indian delegation ever
assembled at an international festival. A large number of Hindi films
were screened throughout the week of November 30th to December
8th, 2012 at an open-air venue at the gigantic Jemaa El Fna Square.
The Indian film industry has certainly left its mark on the world with
great acting, exhilarating soundtracks and well-choreographed dance
routines. Some longtime Bollywood fans were lucky enough to see
Indian cinema’s biggest stars and filmmakers presenting their films to
Moroccan audiences. The festival screened some movies from 2012
as well as those from years past. Titles of the Hindi films screened
included Don, Don 2, Jodhaa Akbar and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
Some of the greatest Bollywood stars of all time graced the red carpet
including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan
and the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai. It was definitely a film festival to
remember and a very proud moment for the Bollywood film industry.
was a lot of fun actually. Being at the Marrakesh Film Festival just
made me feel how lucky I was to be on that podium with so many
big stars of our country. It was actually very shocking for us to know
how famous Bollywood is internationally.” Bollywood actress and
singer, Priyanka Chopra, made an appearance at the Film Festival
closing ceremony wearing a black sari with a gold sequined border,
as well as a blouse with lace detailing from Ritu Kumar’s Panchvastra
collection. Chopra’s vibrant magenta lips were the perfect pop of
colour, completing her fabulous ensemble.
Perhaps the most unexpected guest of the night was none other
than famed French shoe designer Christian Louboutin. The design
virtuoso attended the tribute to Hindi Cinema at the Film Festival on
November 30th, as well as the Dior dinner hosted at Hotel Selman
with Marrakesh Film Festival Director Melita Toscan du Plantier on
December 2nd. Louboutin has been a big fan of Bollywood since he
was a child and it’s a passion he has yet to grow out of. As a school
boy, Louboutin was so mesmerized by the performances of veteran
actors such as Hema Malini and Dilip Kumar that he would talk
about them non-stop in class. So much so, that his friends avoided
him and called him an alien behind his back. Some of his favourite
Bollywood movies include Devi, My Name Is Khan, Devdas, and
Mother India. The shoe designer added that he loves magical movies
that combine great acting with amazing soundtracks that get stuck in
his head for weeks—sounds like a Bollywood film to a tee.
Two outstanding red carpet stunners were Priyanka Chopra and
Alia Bhatt. The latest Bollywood “it” girl and daughter of filmmaker
Mahesh Bhatti, Alia Bhatt wore a peach-coloured lehenga by Manish
Malhotra. When asked about her fashion sense, she modestly
commented she was not fashion conscious until she met Karen
Johar, the director of Student Of The Year. Speaking of her visit to
the Marrakesh International Film Festival, the ecstatic Bhatt said, “It
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73
T
he economic situation in the Palestinian West Bank is
becoming desperate. Due to the political situation in
the region, economic activities are at an all-time low
and unemployment is on the rise. Even people who
are employed suffer as their employers, notably the
Palestinian National Authority, are unable to pay their
salaries. It is estimated that presently 65 percent of the population in
the West Bank lives in poverty. This means hidden starvation, especially for families who already were poor before the current economic
recession and do not have reserves to fall back on. Families headed
by a woman and without a male breadwinner, the sick and the elderly
are hit hardest. Most Palestinian families are large. In some regions,
the average family comprises no less than nine members, most of
them children of school age, who all rely on a sole breadwinner.
Humanitarian Relief Society (HRS), a Palestinian humanitarian
organization active in the West Bank, especially in Arroub refugee
camp, therefore proposes to distribute a 20-kg sack of rice to 350 extremely poor families. Rice is the main staple of the Palestinian diet
and is eaten for lunch and frequently dinner. Most families cannot
afford to purchase a sack of rice and resort to buying small quantities
on a daily basis. Little money remains to purchase other ingredients
of a nutritious meal, for example vegetables, cooking oil and meat
or chicken. Eating only or mainly carbohydrates leads to malnutrition in the long run, especially among children, who need all kinds
of nutrients to grow and develop healthily. A family who has a sack
of rice will be able to spend its daily cash supply on other food items
and will thus eat sufficiently and have a more balanced diet.
74 SHE CANADA
A sack of rice will enable family providers to adequately feed their
families for a month or more. Assuming an average family size of
seven, which is a conservative estimate in Palestine, 2,450 people will
benefit from this project, at least two thirds of them children. A mere
four Euro are sufficient to improve a person’s nutrition for a whole
month.
Dear LFT donors: When you sit down for your daily meals, think
of those who look at an empty table and have to go to bed hungry. By
giving a small part of what you spend on food every month, you can
significantly improve their lives.
To Donate or Get Involved Contact:
September Lodge, Village Way,
Little Chalfont
Buckinghamshire
HP7 9PU
[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0) 1494 762 063
Fax: +44 (0) 1494 762 286
Mob: +44 (0) 7798 761 020 / +44 (0) 7798 769 030
The Lady Fatemah Charitable Trust is one of the first charities to use its own unique text
code, LFCT14, to raise funds by using JustTextGiving, a service available to Vodafone
subscribers internationally.
In the spirit of the LFT, this is a new service which has no set up or associated costs for
the LFT and every penny donated via text goes directly to the LFT. Once your donation
has gone through, you can also add Gift Aid to the donation, which we recommend as it
gives us an extra 25% on your donation.
For more success stories and information about how to donate, please visit:
http://www.ladyfatemahtrust.org/
SHE CANADA
75
By Eloise Alba
On March 29, 2013, Guest Contributor and Princeton alumna Susan
A. Patton submitted a letter to the editor, which she branded as a
letter to her daughters. “If I had daughters, this is what I would be
telling them.” The article published in The Daily Princetonian received
a multitude of responses and began a social media storm surrounding
Patton’s alleged anti-feminist agenda.
In the open letter, Patton talks about what we, as women need to
know that no one is telling us: “Find a husband on campus before
you graduate.” Her argument for such an untimely life decision stems
from her reasoning that smart women can’t (shouldn’t) marry men
who aren’t at least their intellectual equal. “As Princeton women, we
have almost priced ourselves out of the market. Simply put, there is
a very limited population of men who are as smart or smarter than
we are. And I say again—you will never again be surrounded by this
concentration of men who are worthy of you.” Arguably, she makes a
76 SHE CANADA
valid point—women (people, actually) deserve a partner, who can
reciprocate comparable attributes, intellectually (or otherwise).
But why Susan Patton so boldly professed a young woman’s need
to snag a husband in college (Princeton at that) is uncertain.
Perhaps Patton is a traditionalist—a worried mother committed
to providing counsel to her would-be daughters. Perhaps Patton’s
intention was to preserve the elite Princetonian bloodline by
promoting intermarriage—a sociological pattern referred to
as “assortative mating” or “marriage homogamy.” Or perhaps
Patton had simply missed the mark on delivering her advice in
a constructive manner, as I would’ve liked to believe. But in her
official response to Huffington Post, she firmly asserts: “Some
people have asked me to clarify whether I intended [the published
article] to be read as satire. My letter was serious. I sincerely
feel that too much focus has been placed on encouraging young
women only to achieve professionally.”
Last March, we celebrated International Women’s Day. We at SHE
even dedicated a blog post to commemorate the event and celebrate
women—from our commendable inception, our achievements, and
our journey from unjust beginnings to today’s gender and status
equality. If Patton proclaims that the cornerstone of our future and
happiness will be inextricably linked to the man we marry, then are
we to revert back to the age when we were made to believe that our
lives were inherently defined by our men? Are we, future movers and
shakers, expected to watch the ship of careers and professional success
sail by?
“There aren’t a lot of well-educated women who would be
courageous enough to completely sell out the feminist movement
responsible for securing women’s equal social, political and economic
rights (to the degree that we have them) in favor of the 1950s mentality
that a woman’s worth is determined by her marital status,” explained
Donna Brazile, CNN Correspondent in an article addressing the issue.
To encourage a woman to seek a mate worthy of the intelligence
she possesses is one thing, but to rigidly express the existence of a
biological clock for self-discovery (finding a husband) is quite unfair.
How does one take a sip from wisdom’s goblet if they’re barely of the
age to vote? And secondly, who makes Patton all knowing when it
comes to what women need in a man? Intelligence is important, no
doubt, but intelligence is but one facet.
You see, as women we have personal requisites—qualities that we
look for in a husband. I think it’s safe to say the odds of an absolute
commonality in these traits are non-existent. Furthermore, knowing
what we want and getting what we want is one thing. And knowing
what we want as opposed to what we think we want or what we actually
need is a different debate altogether.
In a continuous effort to defend her piece, Susan Patton referenced
“The Ivy League Hustle,” a book by author Nikki Mugler about men
being intimidated by educated women. It was an attempt to recruit an
approving opinion, quite honestly. Either way, Ms. Patton mentions
Mugler’s name once more in an interview with Megyn Kelly on Fox
News to which the author responded: “If I had married a Princeton
man as an undergrad, by now I would have divorced one. Sure, it is a
decent group of “soaring intellects,” but getting married before you’re
ready just because there’s a nice selection is like overstuffing yourself
at the buffet just because the food is there: nausea-inducing and will
probably lead to unwanted weight gain. Kudos to anyone at Princeton
who was ready for marriage and found their mate: it’s probably fun to
get each other’s college references, and yes, you’re more likely to match
intelligence-wise, but that’s really not reason enough for me to make a
premature life decision.”
Everyone has a story—a version of happily ever after that does not
necessarily entail a setting like Princeton, an Ivy League university, or
any university for that matter. I met my husband when I was 18—fresh
out of high school and into my first year of college in Australia. He, on
the other hand, was a student in his senior year at a university in the
Philippines. We were in different worlds—literally and figuratively. I
was beginning the notorious life of a college student and he was just
ending it. We kept a long distance relationship for 2 years, which,
mind you, was not an easy undertaking, before I moved back home to
Manila to complete my Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and
Marketing.
After graduation, it was expected that I continue the family legacy—
set foot into the corporate world, which was code for: work for the
family business, get married in the church down the street with 200
guests in attendance (some of whom I would have yet to meet), and
have children—two or three, preferably. The closet Bohemian in me, on
the other hand, had other plans.
My inner urge to feed my soul resulted in a 13 hour plane ride to
Madrid, Spain. Being half Spanish, I had always longed to acquaint
myself with my roots. So, I did. I ate paellas, drank sangria, danced
the Flamenco and brushed-up on my Spanish. In short, I enriched
myself with the vibrant culture. It was in Spain, during that period in
my life, alone, and so far-flung from the norm I had come to know,
where I developed my love for the arts, for fashion, for cuisine. It was
there I bought my first journal, where I wrote my first piece, where I
discovered my passion and my purpose. It was there, I found myself.
After my significant chapter in Spain, I returned home once more,
where I coveted a much sought-after position at a top magazine. Life
was where it was supposed to be. Or so I thought. A few years later, my
husband (boyfriend at the time) proposed marriage and informed me
of our move to Canada. I had finally found my place, so was I ready
to move again? It didn’t feel right—not yet, not now. I had so much
to do, still. My fiancé then offered me a deal. (Sounds serious, doesn’t
it?) It was simple: “Come when you are ready.” A year and a half later, I
was ready. I left my job, got married in a small resort town off Malaga,
Spain with a handful of attendees, packed my bags, and then moved to
Toronto. It was a decision that had to be made out of sheer certainty if
regret was to be avoided. That is my story.
You see, life changes; people change. Who we are in college does
not define who we will be years down the road. We’re not expected
to fathom the inner workings of ourself halfway through our lives. If
that were the case, then there would be no need to forge ahead. Had
I succumbed to the expected, would (my) life be where it is today?
I needed to undergo—to laugh, to cry, to succeed, to fail, to find, to
lose—to be sure.
To choose a partner is a matter of monumental proportions not
driven by a set of essential rules. Because if a formula for life and life
partners existed, what would you say to the millions of women out
there who believe in living and destiny? Fate, as some would say, is
the mysterious force believed to control our future. The idea that one
could, one day, enigmatically spill her Double Shot Espresso, no milk,
two sugars on the navy blue pinstriped blazer of a stranger, only to
marry him 9 years later.
In her letter to her “daughters,” Susan Patton offers a piece of advice:
“At your core, you know that there are other things that you need that
nobody is addressing. A lifelong friend is one of them. Finding the
right man to marry is another...Of course, once you graduate, you
will meet men who are your intellectual equal—just not that many of
them.”
That’s okay Susan; all we need is one.
SHE CANADA
77
By Liz Guber & Eloise Alba
With claims of weight loss, increased energy and better overall
health, various permutations of cleanses have surged in popularity
in recent years. Although most claim to detoxify the body and rid it
of various toxins, many start a cleanse expecting miraculous weight
loss results. Because they require little to no preparation or culinary
skill, cleanses are easy to partake in and offer an immediate sense
of accomplishment and discipline. Read on for a breakdown of four
popular cleanses and decide for yourself if cleansing is simply a
glorified eating disorder.
THE MASTER CLEANSE
What is it?
This is the cleanse that started it all; this detox dates back to the
1940s. The Master Cleanse substitutes all foods for a beverage made
from lemon, maple syrup and cayenne pepper.
Why do it?
Proponents of the cleanse claim that it has the power to remove
toxins from the body caused by poor nutrition, alcohol and
environmental pollution. The Master Cleanse significantly reduces
caloric intake and does result in weight loss, however temporary.
Warning: Common side effects from the Master Cleanse include
fatigue, dizziness and nausea. The cleanse can leave a person feeling
deprived of food, which can and does result in binge eating. A serious
side effect of the cleanse is loss of muscle mass as the body tries to
compensate for loss of energy. There is no scientific backing to any
of the Master Cleanse’s claims and any weight loss resulting from the
cleanse is likely to be temporary.
THE JUICE CLEANSE
What is it?
Also known as juice fasting, fresh juices from fruits and vegetables
are the sole source of nutrition for the duration of the cleanse, which
varies from 48 hours to two weeks and beyond.
Why do it?
The primary reasons people opt for juice cleanses are to rid their
body of toxins and lose weight. Others consider juice cleanses to cure
chronic pain, cancer, depression, arthritis, severe infections that resist
antibiotics, autoimmune diseases and many other incurable diseases.
78 SHE CANADA
Warning: Scientists and dieticians have largely dismissed the detox
benefits of juicing as a marketing gimmick. Side effects from juicing
include a slowed metabolism, nutrient deficiency and muscle loss.
Diabetics should be particularly careful when it comes to juicing
and juices containing grapefruit can be harmful in combination with
certain prescriptions.
THE HOLLYWOOD 48-HOUR
MIRACLE DIET
What is it?
Got a big date this weekend? The product’s instant results are
definitely unparalleled. Significant weight-loss (up to 10 lbs.) in
just two days! The Hollywood 48-hour Miracle Diet is a specially
formulated blend of natural juices and botanical extracts that charges
your body with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and natural
oils while igniting your body’s natural fat-burning flame. The miracle
broth’s 32 oz. bottle is diluted with another 32 oz. of water for a total
of 64 oz. to be consumed over a 48-hour time frame. The 400-calorie
bottle is dispersed into four servings (per day). In addition to
the recommended dosage are eight glasses of water as well as an
abstinence from food, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy solution, are willing to sacrifice
your body’s daily recommended intake of nourishment, and aren’t
bothered by somewhat unfeasible claims (sorry, it’s true), then drink
up.
Why do it?
No pills, no catch, no strenuous exercises and no long book to read
to achieve results. If you’re like one of the many success stories (as
reported by the Hollywood Miracle Diet website) that testify to the
proven results of this miracle worker, then you’re lucky. It’s simple, it’s
fast and apparently, it tastes good too.
Warning: Magic juices come with a hefty price tag. A 32 oz. Miracle
Diet bottle will set you back about $20. Furthermore, many health
concerns such as an increased risk for gallstones are associated with
VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diets) by causing a shift in balance of bile
salts and cholesterol in the gall bladder. And while you may think
you’ve hit the diet jackpot, The Hollywood Diet says to maintain
weight-loss: eat fruits and vegetables, cut down on meats, sugars,
oils, flour, dairy, and fatty food. Exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a
week. Oh, and don’t eat after 6 PM.
THE AYURVEDIC CLEANSE
What is it?
Ayurvedic cleansing is an Indian detox technique that entails a
complete mind-body-soul immersion. The program is characterized
by three steps: preparation, cleansing, and post-cleansing. The Purva
Karma is the preparation phase and includes a change in lifestyle
and eating habits—no sugar, no wheat, no dairy, no meat. Caffeine
is also eliminated from the diet and an increased intake of vegetables
as well as daily exercise is vital. The actual cleansing period is called
the Pancha Karma and involves a combination of herbal drinks and
laxatives. The final rejuvenation stage allows for the transition into
your normal routine.
Why do it?
The Cleanse addresses more than just the physical being. Sustaining
a harmonized way of life, as opposed to a trendy celebrity-promoted
diet, is key. Because of its partial-fasting nature, the Ayurvedic
Cleanse is a healthier, more balanced alternative to intense liquidonly regimes. You receive the benefits of a restricted diet without the
low energy, low nourishment repercussions. The ultimate goal of the
Cleanse is prolonged mind-body-soul living.
Warning: Apart from a lengthy commitment, a supplementary
meditative process is recommended—a moment of silence each day,
a weekend away from civilization or a fast from the media. So, if
you’re a couch potato, internet-obsessed city dweller, you may want to
rethink the Cleanse altogether.
If you’ve decided to go ahead with one of these cleanses, take a few
days to mentally prepare. Psych yourself up and get excited—doing
this may help you stick with the cleanse for its entire duration. Make
sure that friends and family members are supportive of your decision
and listen to their input. Remember that cleanses can be dangerous,
find out the real reason you want to start a cleanse, and don’t lie to
yourself! Whatever your reason, do some in-depth research and
educate yourself on the risks and rewards.
SHE CANADA
79
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High-end fashion has fallen short—baby short,
that is. From Burberry to Baby Dior, take a
stylish stroll with your bundle of joy in these
adorable designer duds.
3
2
1
6
5
4
7
1
RALPH LAUREN Trench Coat $115
2
BABY DIOR Lace Porte Bonheur Socks $64
3
MARC JACOBS Eliz-A-baby Diaper Bag $298
4
JUICY COUTURE Pretty Ruffles Bikini $58
5
BABY DIOR Cotton Piquet Polo Shirt $110
6
RALPH LAUREN Big Pony Polo Dress $39.50
7
BURBERRY Check Body Suit $72.50
8
JUICY COUTURE Suede Boots $58
8
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81
By Munira Qureshi
The summer season is upon us, which means sun soaked weekends,
patio get-togethers and epic BBQs are around every corner. All that
outdoor time creates lasting memories but can also have negative
repercussions on our skin if we don’t protect it from the UVA and
UVB rays that Mr. Sunlight gives off.
During the summer, when the UV index is at its strongest, it’s
important to wear sunscreen of at least 30 SPF to help minimize
deep rooted skin damage. An essential dose of Vitamin D and ample
protection from the sun’s rays will benefit your skin long-term.
Now I’m not saying that you should bid the sun and a nice summer
tan goodbye, you just need to be smart about it. Luckily, SHE has
complied a few tips to ensure that you still get your summery glow,
minus the consequences.
1. When deciding on a sunscreen, make sure to choose one with
both UVA and UVB protection in order to shield your skin from
shortwave rays that age and longwave rays that burn your skin. These
sunscreens are usually categorized as Broad Spectrum. So make sure
to read the product label and make the well-informed choice.
2. Apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure to ensure
that the ingredients in the sunscreen have been well absorbed and are
less likely to wash off when perspiring.
3. Cover all areas of your skin that will be exposed to the sun. This
includes your face, arms, hands, legs, feet and even the back of your
ears. This also means your décolletage area (neck and collarbone)
ladies, depending on your outfit of the day. Sunscreen should be
reapplied throughout the day if exposure is direct or lasts for more
than an hour. But if reapplying is impractical for you, a useful trick
is to dust yourself with a good mineral powder formulated with SPF
(CLINIQUE Super-balanced Powder Makeup SPF 15 Mineral-Rich
Formula). On a side note, studies have shown that the sun’s rays are
strongest between 11AM to 5PM so if you’re one to be extra careful,
try to avoid these times altogether.
4. Wear a hat! The wide rimmed accessories are not like they used
to be. Nowadays, hats come in a variety of shapes, colors and styles
so you can be sure they are both fashionable and functional. They
make chic additions to any summer outfit and more importantly, they
shade your face from the sun.
5. Wearing sunscreen built into your makeup is not always enough.
For best results, apply a topical moisturizer underneath your SPF
foundation or cover up for sun protection at surface and skin cell
levels.
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6. Almost everyone forgets about applying sunscreen to their lips,
which usually is the most susceptible part of the body to burn. By
replacing your regular chap stick with a safe lip balm, you can enjoy
your time outside without having to worry about your lips peeling or
any discoloration.
7. If you have sensitive skin and/or are acne prone, make sure to
choose a lightweight sunscreen with at least 5% zinc-oxide as these
sunscreens are usually chemical free. They don’t clog up your pores
either and offer excellent UV protection without leaving your skin
feeling greasy or heavy.
8. Enjoy yourself outdoors this summer! Just make sure you’re always
“skin smart” about it!
SHE CANADA
83
By Robin Esrock
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Boat trackers pull us forward, the strain visible from their brows to
their grass sandals. For millennia, men like these have helped boats
navigate the narrow channels that splinter off the giant Yangtze River,
using rough ropes to heave wooden vessels up the shallow waters.
Today, they perform this arduous task for tourists. As I look around
the surrounding valley, it resembles a construction site, or more
accurately, a deconstruction site. Piles of bricks sit alongside old
buildings and huts that have been stripped of anything of value. The
giant Yangtze, the third biggest river in the world, has been dammed
downriver in what the Chinese government has called the single
greatest engineering feat of all time.
hazy early hours, through five massive gates that dropped us meters
at a time. Controlling the Yangtze has been a national goal since
the early 1900s, as a means to manage flooding, harness power, and
facilitate transport along the river. Since its ground breaking in 1994,
it has been both a source of national pride, and global controversy.
Environmentalists rue the consequences, archaeologists can only
guess the wealth of history that has been submerged, and locals
argue the impact of displacing millions of people. In the end, a
commercially exploding country dependent on coal and holding one
out of every six people on the planet desperately needs a source of
sustainable energy.
The river waters have risen 175m above sea level, displacing an
estimated two million people above the water line into futuristicsounding New Immigrant Cities. The Three Gorges Dam is a
hydroelectric project so vast in scale that it generates the equivalent
energy of 18 nuclear power plants. While you can’t actually see the
Great Wall of China from space, you will be able to see the impact
this massive project has on Asia’s biggest river. With the opportunity
to board one of the dozens of luxury riverboats that float down the
Yangtze, I am ready to experience firsthand the breakneck change
transforming the region, and the entire country.
Attractions have been built above the water line to provide more
incentive to tourists—foreign and domestic—to visit the region.
The Three Gorges Village was a gorgeous vision of life in the past.
Walking along the emerald green tributary, visitors see beautiful girls
singing on old wooden boats, young boys playing the flute, nobility
and peasants in their daily life. There were musical performances
and even a traditional wedding, in which I somehow ended up as
the groom. The mother, a male actor, gave me away to a beautiful
bride, toasted us with firewater (rice wine) and before I knew it I
was throwing sweets into the crowd. Beautiful pagodas, temples and
music—there exists a China that tourists want to see, and the China
that exists today. On the final journey to Chongqing, the world’s
largest municipality with a population of 28.8 million, I could still
see the remains of inundated villages. The dramatic change along the
Yangtze showed me a country embracing the future with such gusto
and scale, it appears the past and with it the fabled boat trackers, will
survive solely for the pleasure of tourists.
With its neon-covered buildings and upscale fashion malls, you
may not have heard of Wuhan, but the starting point of my Yangtze
adventure has a population of over 10 million people. It feels a little
like capitalism run amok—an overwhelming sense of shopping and
advertising and neon and industry, linked by a chain of impressive
bridges choking with traffic. Considering the amount of product
manufactured in China, I found the selection available in malls and
markets surprisingly limited. But I didn’t come here to shop. I came
to see the Yangtze, the 6400 km river with an ancient history that has
divided and inspired China through the ages.
Luxury riverboats cater to a largely Western clientele, and
cruises like the Yangtze Star offer sumptuous meals, spotless
cabins, nightly entertainment, excursions, and two staff members
to every one passenger. Floating between the mighty Three Gorges
of the Yangtze—Qutang, Wuxia and Xiling—has always drawn
travellers, and fears that this will change because of the dam have
proven unfounded. Certainly, some towns no longer exist, and
the charm of the boat trackers is definitely threatened by progress,
but the increased water level also allows riverboats to travel where
before they could not. Under a hot, white Chinese sky, we passed
ancient hanging wooden coffins belonging to the Ba people who
inhabited this region two thousand years ago. The scenery was
lush, the canyons rocky and steep. In the late afternoon, we floated
between the giant Wuxia Gorge, which was all the more remarkable
considering we are so much higher today than we would have been
just a few years ago.
A cargo boat overflowing with coal passes us on the right. “See,”
says an Italian tourist, “one day, this river will be black.” China has
come a long way away since Chairman Mao swam in the Yangtze.
Years of unchecked industrialization have polluted the river yellowbrown, impacting fish populations, threatening its native river
dolphin to extinction. Since the Yangtze no longer flows its natural
course, the risks of an environmental disaster are ever-present.
At the Three Gorges Dam visitors’ centre, the scale of the dam is
clear. The planet’s largest locks transfer cargo and cruise ships from
one side of the dam to the other. It was a four-hour journey in the
Vancouver-based Robin Esrock is the cohost of the OLN/CityTV series Word
Travels. You can follow his adventures at www.robinesrock.com
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By Ekta Mukhi
s its name implies, Zen Spa located at the Double Tree
by Hilton Hotel in Etobicoke, is a peaceful sanctuary
to escape from all the daily hassles of life. Besides the
physical benefits gearing you up for a great summer,
it also replenishes the soul.
Preet Chawla, co-owner of the Spa, gets candid and
fills us in on both the facilities at Zen and some of the
most popular treatments offered. Located in a hotel
popular with tourists and businesspeople alike, Zen
Spa is about 5,000 square feet and offers just about
every spa treatment under the sun. From service
rooms to couple rooms, a hot tub and a massive slide
pool, Zen is the quintessential urban getaway with
regular clientele the world over.
As Chawla firmly believes, “Spas are essential. They
keep you young and given the kind of lifestyle we all
lead today, your body cries out loud for relaxation.”
From facials to massage therapies, esthetics and paramedical facilities, Zen Spa takes pride in offering
a variety of services that specifically cater to each
person’s unique needs. Their Swiss line, GM Collins
and Banana-Choco facials are certainly the ultimate
treat for your face, whilst their popular hot stone
massage will undoubtedly relax all the muscles in
your body and ease that stress away.
Keeping in mind the varying requirements of
each client, Zen Spa designs packages to ensure
that the body and mind are taken care of, offering a
complete range of services in various combinations
and permutations. Its Signature Style Zen Package,
a Complete Detoxification Package or a Specialised
Getaway Best Friends Package for Two all offer
various treatments you may not necessarily think to
mix and match. Sounds tempting, right?
Zen Spa is located at:
655 Dixon Road,
Etobicoke, ON,
861J3,
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(416) 249-8886
In this day and age stress looms on every horizon;
you absolutely need a short break to regroup. Instead
of planning a trip, which requires a great deal of effort
and finances, a spa day is really quick and affordable.
Whilst a foot scrub can invigorate you, therapeutic
massages, facials, manicures and pedicures have
their very own psychological benefits. A body that
is well taken care of, directly correlates to the mind
in deterring the aging process by improving and
regulating your blood circulation and pressure.
GRACE LEE
Lead Makeup Artist
Maybelline New York Canada
We recently caught up with Grace Lee, Maybelline New
York’s Lead Makeup Artist, and posed some everyday
beauty questions. She graciously took the time to give us
her two cents. Here’s how it all went down:
1) If someone slept in and only had 5 minutes to get
ready, what would you recommend doing to create the
perfect look in no time?
You can easily do a quick makeup in 5 minutes. I would
apply Maybelline New York Dream Fresh BB Cream
(best product!). It will moisturize, conceal and provide
SPF in one step. Next, apply Maybelline New York
Volum’ Express The Rocket Mascara. This gives instant
volume fast! For a healthy dose of colour on the cheeks,
I suggest a little bit of Maybelline New York Dream
Bouncy Blush. It easily blends into the cheeks using
your fingers. Apply a lipstick like the Maybelline New
York Color Whispers by Color Sensational because
they provide sheer coverage with hint of colour. It is very
easy to apply.
2) When dealing with an oily complexion, what sort
of cover-up/foundation do you recommend that won’t
cause breakouts?
I would stick with powders or we have a new FIT ME!
Shine-Free Foundation Stick that just came out that is
AMAZING for oily skin.
3) What is this summer’s biggest makeup trend?
Bold bright lips!
4) When applying makeup, is there a certain order you
keep in mind? Does base always go on first?
Base usually does go on first. You apply it first so that
you have a palette to work on.
5) Out of all the Maybelline Vivid Colors, which is a
universal shade that suites most skin tones?
I would have to say On Fire Red or Shocking Coral.
Most people look great in red or coral!
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REDKEN AT WORLD
MASTERCARD FASHION
WEEK: ASHTIANI
By Liz Guber
Everywhere you looked backstage at World
MasterCard Fashion Week, there was a different,
eye-catching hairstyle to behold. With cans of product
misting up the air and skilled hands working their
magic, the team at Redken, led by Jorge Joao created
a variety of looks to complement the many runway
shows taking place over the course of the week. For
Ashtiani by Golnaz Ashtiani, the low ponytail with
waves at the crown was a look alluding to a collision
of textures: “Above the ponytail we have this finger
wave texture. It’s a wet look, but yet very wavy, very
compressed to the head, very tight. Then we’re going
into a low ponytail, but dry, soft textured ponytail that’s
just got a wave to it.” Joao assures us that this is a look
that is extremely easy to achieve at home by applying
product to the hands and running fingers through the
hair to create movement and texture. Control Addict
28 Hairspray was used to keep everything in place
along with Fashion Work Finishing Spray for shine
and extra hold. The overall look was futuristic yet
classic, perfectly echoing Ashtiani’s creations.
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In the February Issue of SHE, we discussed how Princess
Jasmine changed Disney forever. Besides being the first
ethnic Muslim Princess, she was one of the few who did
not “need” her prince to move forward. It seems that the
team at SEPHORA could not have agreed more and put
out a collection of beauty products that pay homage to the
fearless heroine.
SEPHORA says, “This spring embark on a magical
beauty journey with the Disney Reigning Beauties Jasmine
Collection by SEPHORA, a collection of colour cosmetics,
a signature fragrance and princess-worthy accessories
that are inspired by the adventure and enchantment of
the classic Disney animated film, Aladdin. The Disney
Reigning Beauties Jasmine Collection by SEPHORA
captures the rich, exotic colours depicted in the film and
will awaken your sense of adventure and help grant your
beauty wishes.”
With quirky and ethereal names like Mystical Wonder
(a vibrant purple eyeshadow), Berry Tale Romance (orchid
nail lacquer) and A Whole New World Eau de Parfum,
SEPHORA truly captures the spirit of the film’s characters
in this exciting new collection.
The standout product of the collection
for us is definitely the Three Wishes
Eyeliner Set ($50). Being South
Asian, one can never have too
many options when it comes
to eyeliners. The Disney
Reigning Beauties Jasmine
Collection by SEPHORA
is available for a limited time
beginning in Spring 2013 at
all SEPHORA locations across
Canada.
1
Three Wishes Eyeliner Set $50
A Whole New World Eau de Parfum Spray, 50 mL $70
Magic Carpet Ride Eyeshadow Palette $36
A Whole New World Perfumed Body Shimmer $54
A Whole New World Perfumed Oil Rollerball $23
One is Never Enough Nail Lacquer Set $29
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LEAN IN: WOMEN, WORK,
AND THE WILL TO LEAD
O
$28.95 at Chapters, Indigo, Amazon.ca
Review by Priya Kumar
n a trip to the States over Easter weekend this
year, I sat down for tapas with an old friend from
undergrad. Now living in South Carolina, working
as a school psychologist in one of America’s roughest
school districts, she was justifiably burnt out by
the stress of her job. She even felt taken advantage
of—being young and lacking the years of experience necessary, she
was unable to choose her district and by default was assigned the most
troubled ones. I was reading Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In at the time and
recommended she pick up a copy to put her situation into perspective.
“Facebook’s COO put out a book on women in the workplace and I
really think you should read it,” I told her. She responded with wideeyed surprise, “Facebook has a girl COO?”
Not to disparage my friend in any way—in fact, she’s highly
educated, extremely dedicated to her students and very well read—
Sandberg is an major player in post-modern feminist thought. As the
chief operating officer at Facebook, she has ranked both on Fortune
Magazine’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and Time’s
100 Most Influential People in the World. Sandberg graduated from
Harvard Business School (HBS) in the early ‘90s and began her career
at McKinsey & Co. on the west coast, but soon moved back to D.C. to
become the chief of staff at the US Treasury Department under Larry
Summers. She then returned to the west coast after several years where
she ended up at Google for over half a decade as the vice president
of Global Online Sales and Operations. This was all prior to being
approached by Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook.
With such an impressive CV, Sandberg knows a thing or two
about what it is to lead both a successful career and a household with
two young children. Back in 2010 she gave a TEDTalk, encouraging
women to “sit at the table” and essentially “lean in” to their careers.
The video went viral and received two million hits. Lean In takes a
deeper look into the obstacles women face in the workplace, especially
those created by women themselves. And while she touches on the
myth of having it all, a thriving career and a happy family are not
mutually exclusive.
With chapter titles that include “Success and Likeability” and “It’s
a Jungle Gym, Not a Ladder,” Sandberg talks readers through starting
a successful career as a woman fresh out of undergrad to the family
planning phase of life. While innumerable aspects of the gender gap
are touched upon, here are a few figures that really struck a chord:
“A 2011 McKinsey report noted that men are promoted based on
potential, while women are promoted based on past accomplishments.”
(Joanna Barsh and Lareina Yee, Special Report: Unlocking the Full
Potential of Women in the U.S. Economy, McKinsey & Company
(April 2011), 6)
“Women are also more reluctant to apply for promotions even
when deserved, often believing that good job performance will
naturally lead to rewards.” (Dasvaux, Devillard-Hoellinger, and
Meaney, “A Business Case for Women,” 4)
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“In 2006, only 20 percent of mothers whose husband’s earnings
landed in the middle (between the twenty-fifth and seventy-fifth
percentiles) were out of the labour force. In contrast, a whopping
52 percent of mothers with husbands in the bottom quarter and 40
percent of mothers with husbands in the top 5 percent were out of the
labor force.” (David Cotter, Paula England, and Joan Hermsen, “Moms
and Jobs: Trends in Mothers’ Employment and Which Mothers Stay
Home,” in Families as They Really Are, ed. Barbara J. Risman (New
York: W. W. Norton, 2010), 416-24)
Sandberg peppers the book with several humourous anecdotes and
stories—by the end she feels like a friend. It would be great if this book
became required reading for every undergrad freshman; by touching
on her own experiences and regrets, Sandberg allows readers to gain
great insight from her past.
The memoir is not without its critics. Called elitist by some and
unrealistic by others, one of Sandberg’s biggest critics include Sylvia
Ann Hewlett, CEO of the Centre for Talent Innovation in Manhattan.
She chimes in saying that while the mentors Sandberg advocates every
woman have in her career are fine, sponsors are better (she references
Larry Summers as being Sandberg’s sponsor). This sponsor is in a
much more powerful position to take you along with his/her own rise,
alleviating years of flailing in what she calls the “marzipan layer” of
middle management.
Critics aside, Sandberg has started a long overdue dialogue. In
fact, she has opened the floor to Facebook users under the URL www.
facebook.com/leanincommunity: “Our mission is to create a global
community dedicated to encouraging women to lean in to their
ambitions.” The debate will undoubtedly continue long after Lean In
has had its run on Bestsellers Lists around the world. In the immortal
words of PepsiCo’s CEO Indra Nooyi, “Leadership is hard to define
and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow
you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.”
PARTY-GIRL PROBLEMS
SKIN DEEP
I’m a 20-year-old girl and I have very conservative South Asian
parents, however I frequently go out to nightclubs because I love
to get dressed up and go dancing. I tell my parents I’m sleeping
over at my friend’s house and we end up going out ‘til 3 in the
morning, her parents are very easy going. This past weekend my
male cousin saw me at a nightclub dancing away on the dance
floor. He was very upset and told me he will be telling my parents.
I’m dead if they find out. Please help!
My cousin always gets compliments on how great her skin looks
and my mom is always nagging me about my skin, and telling me
to take better care of myself like my cousin does. I’m getting quite
tired of it. What my mom and others don’t know is my cousin who
is only 25 years old gets Botox treatments regularly. Should I let
the cat out of bag or continue dealing with my nagging mom?
Communication is the key here. I suggest you beat your cousin to
the punch and tell your parents where you were first. Lying to your
parents is a huge no, no. This is a perfect example of the dual cultural
norms we’re faced with as South Asian Canadians. While at the age
of 20, you’re considered an adult—you can drive, vote and even drink
if you so choose—you’re living under your parents’ roof and are still
their responsibility. The last thing they would want to imagine you
doing is hanging out on the street at 2AM. Let them know what went
on—if there was a special occasion fill them in. They more likely than
not will be surprised and somewhat hurt. They may even attempt to
take away some of your freedom. Face the music. And once you have,
sit down with them again and hammer out new rules for your social
life. Explain that we live in a different time and space than they did
growing up and there is nothing socially devious about spending time
with your girlfriends on the town. Finally, if it will put their minds
at ease, promise to check in when you arrive at your friend’s house
at night. This is a polarizing topic for South Asian parents and their
Canadian born children, so it’s up to you to meet them somewhere
in the middle. As for your cousin, feel free to smack him upside the
head for me.
I think you’re capable of asking your mother to get off your case
without outing your poor cousin. We all have our beauty secrets that
are better kept unsaid. If you’re looking for more (natural) ways to
better care for your skin, consider the following—rub a good beauty
serum into your skin prior to bed nightly (Lancôme Génifique),
never forget to wear an oil-free sunscreen during the day and be sure
to use a good foundation with spot reducing qualities (CLINIQUE
Even Better Makeup SPF 15). I’ve also been told, from a very reliable
source (Shirley Wu, Beauty Concepts), applying a layer of collagen
daily will do wonders for your skin. And keep hydrated. Two litres of
water a day, minimum.
STICKS AND STONES
I’m in my last year of high school and there are a group of students
in my school that constantly bully my Desi friend and me by
calling us rude names like Paki and terrorist because we both wear
hijabs. The one time I stood up to them they told me to go back to
my country. I don’t know how to deal with this. We are harassed
everyday. What should we do?
Report them to an authoritative figure. Immediately. This is nonnegotiable. Over the past several years, teen suicide has become
commonplace across North America because of bullying. Believe it
or not, most schools now have very firm policies against this crime.
Yes that’s right, I just called it a crime. Minors have been arrested
for inflicting emotional pain upon their peers. There is reason for
this—just like a physical crime, an emotional one can take just as
long to heal. If you feel like a snitch, get over it. You’ll teach these
ill-mannered classmates of yours that they should know better than
to hurl racial slurs in 2013. If you want someone to talk to on a more
regular basis, call the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. They will
set you down the right path when it comes to handling bullies.
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FRIENDSHIP
“Depth of friendship does not depend on
length of acquaintance.”
RABINDRANATH TAGORE
“Lots of people want to ride with you in the
limo, but what you want is someone who will
take the bus with you when the limo breaks
down.”
“Each friend represents a world in us, a world
not born until they arrive, and it is only by this
meeting that a new world is born.”
OPRAH WINFREY
ANAIS NIN
“Friendship is not something you learn in
school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning
of friendship, you really haven’t learned
anything.”
MUHAMMAD ALI
“True friends stab you in the front.”
“Man follows the same creed as his friend, so
consider carefully who it is you befriend.”
PROPHET MOHAMMAD (PBUH)
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