Brazilian Blowout Queen of Toronto

Brazilian Blowouts are blowing up in Toronto

Brazilian Blowout is a semi-permanent hair smoothing treatment which caters to all hair types as it’s customizable.  Method done by temporarily sealing a amino acids to protect the hair from frizz. This is done to make frizzy hair look and feel soft, shiny and no frizz. The treatment starts at $200 and up depending on hair types and lasts three months or longer when using their aftercare products.

 

Frizz is frizz it does not discriminate. Men also have it done.

Brazilian-style treatments’ and Keratin smoothing treatments’ are sweeping salons. They react with hair’s cuticles to make its outer layer lie flat but not damaging the bonds of the hair. ‘The strands becomes stronger and straighter,’ explains California chemist Doug Schoon, who consults to the beauty industry. The treatment takes one to three hours, and lasts three months. (This is different from the Japanese thermal straightening treatment, essentially a perm, which takes a whole day in the salon and removes all the bonds of the hair which means it will not hold a curl.)

How do they work?
With the Brazilian, a technician in rubber gloves coats each hair with a smoothing  solution, *. Brazilian super nutrient complexe.  *.  about a quarter-inch away from the scalp. Hair is blow-dried again, and a flat-iron is passed over it. You can wash and style the hair anytime afterwards there is no downtime with the Brazilian Blowout solution.  Prices can range from $300 to $500, depending on the salon and how long your hair.

Concerned about fumes,  The Brazilian blowout has no formaldehyde and no relaxers,  it is amino acid-based. ‘My Google search found it contains no formaldehyde. Rachelle White Wind has even gone above and beyond and had to live blood analysis test done which proves there was no chemical in her bloodstream after doing Brazilian blowouts for 10 years full-time.  All air quality test results are posted on her website www.bbto.ca proving there is no harsh chemicals.

Schoon, though, argues formaldehyde is a gas, and that a gas can’t be an ingredient in a product. (Formaldehyde is a by-product of heat; the flat-iron on the solution releases tiny traces into the air. Health Canada’s warning, however, encompasses all forms of formaldehyde, and says elevated levels in any form pose a risk.) Generally, says Schoon, Brazilian-style smoothing treatments contain formalin’the fixative solution formed when formaldehyde is mixed with water and methylene glycol. ‘And the International Nomenclature of Cosmetics Dictionary recognizes formalin by the name methylene glycol,’ he told me. While Schoon concurs that sensitive individuals may experience short-term symptoms such as irritated eyes or skin, headaches or difficulty breathing, he opines: ‘These suggest that salons should improve their ventilation.’

What about treatments that claim not to contain these ingredients’such as Keratin Complex? Roberto Barbosa, owner of Toronto’s Salon Escape, which provides the service, says, ‘It contains timonacic acid, which, when heated above 450°F, breaks down into miniscule amounts of bonded formaldehyde. But our flat-irons don’t even go to 450°.’ (For the record, this product is banned in Australia and parts of Europe.)

The future of Brazilian hair treatments
These treatments obviously work well on hair that needs taming, and many women are loving the results. Says Darren Praznik, head of the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association: ‘There’s still a scientific discussion going on. We appreciate Health Canada’s engagement in this and that it’s an independent reviewer mindful of risk factors. They’re the final arbiter.’

Says Gary Holub, Health Canada’s media relations officer, regulatory communications: ‘We are continuing to follow up on incident reports related to other Brazilian- style hair treatment products.’

Until more brands are tested and the results released, this is all’pardon the pun’a little tough to straighten out. Meantime, if you’re reluctant to take the plunge and get one of these treatments, you can at least take some comfort in knowing that waves and curls are a big trend this season and Brazilian Blowout Toronto is the place to go.

Rachelle is a super-skilled make-up artist and esthician that has decided to

What is the difference between a Brazilian Blowout and a Keratin Treatment?

The hair-straightening effect of a Brazilian blowout typically lasts about three months where a keratin treatment typically lasts three to five months. This all depends on how often you shampoo and the natural texture of your hair. Rachelle suggests only washing the hair once or twice a week after getting one of these treatments and using sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners when you do.

In fact, one of his favorite tricks to make these treatments last longer is to simply wet the hair in the shower, rather than washing it with shampoo, and applying only conditioner most of the time.

What should I know about the application?
The time between when you get the treatment and when you can first wash your hair afterward depends on the brand your stylist uses. Each company has slightly different specifications for its products. The same goes for the the application and the amount of time the service takes, but generally it includes washing the hair, applying the formula and blow drying it straight and then using a flat iron to seal it in if necessary.

Masterlift Forklift 2019 Workplace Fashion Calendar

In autumn 2018, Masterlift Forklifts in Oakville had the idea to make a 2019 print calendar. They did this as a thank-you present that they could distribute as a Holiday Gift to their best clients who would, it was hoped, then display and use in their Shipping & Receiving departments. This would exhibit Masterlift for their whole world to see and come to know as the best local forklift rentals sales and service company in Canada.

Masterlift reckoned that people at work in truck loading bays would like to see the forklift equipment they know best being operated by attractive females wearing fashionable clothes. The idea that pretty girls could spend the days as well-dressed shift workers being productive in dirty places driving Masterlift Forklifts was curiously intriguing to them, and they hoped their clients would find it equally compelling.  The 2019 Masterlift Print Calendar is filled with female forklift operators made to look fantastic with proper lighting, makeup and fashion.Masterlift Forklift calendar shoot in Oakville 2019
The Art Director’s idea was to showcase feminine subjects in masculine settings and try to capture something she calls ‘curious beauty’.  She styled their clothes, picking the best pieces from what they each brought to the shoots. Making a workplace fashion “lookbook” by styling their own clothes was one of the biggest challenges. Because they were making a print calendar, they had to prepare at least one picture for every month of the year, and each model’s clothing had to reflect the season. Additionally, the Art Director asked Masterlift’s own rentals and service clients if she could shoot pictures at their job sites to demonstrate the diversity of the forklift rental company’s clientele.  These locations also had to be dressed, with other branding removed or eclipsed, and in some cases professional lighting was required to get good looks in dark spaces. But in the beginning the team had no clear idea of how many locations they could get, and whether these would have interior or exterior elements. So the first shoot was Summer, and the rest were left to fall where they may.

Feast your eyes on Shannon Tebb from Shanny in the City, a personal matchmaker in Toronto. She was one of the three models that the company photographed on that first Thursday in September. They got lucky as the weather on that autumn morning was hot and warm and they could get the calendar’s summer shots.  Shanny is seen in this picture posing at Rosehill Wine Cellars in Etobicoke, Ontario.  At this location the forklift moves wood and the lighting was the sun pouring in through the open loading bay door.

Shannon Tebb at Rosehill Wine Cellars in Etobicoke

Shanny has a polyester blend white floral pattern blouse and ripped jean shorts.  She had cute little work boots and yellow hard hat too. Unlike other fashion shoots were the model is silent, Shannon blogged about being a Masterlift Forklift model on her own blog where she documented her role in the production and was kind enough to show the world images of herself selecting the free wine cellar accessories that Rosehill bequeathed to her as gifts that morning.

Spirits ran high the day Raymi Lauren visited Maverick Distillery in Mississauga.

Raymi the Minx

There is nobody quite like Raymi Lauren who is Raymi the Minx, another Toronto blogger and fashionista that posed for the Masterlift 2019 print calendar wearing a pink satin dress.  She was photographed at Maverick Distillery which makes TAG vodka, and I suppose this why the Art Director selected evening wear.  The forklift operator’s costumes were always just on the edge of what’s possible, that is to say, it is possible someone could go to work wearing a satin evening dress, but only if they worked in a vodka distillery.

forklift model at Approved Cold Storage

Here is Erin working on the Masterlift brand forklift at Approved Cold Storage in Burlington. This refrigerated freight warehouse requires winter clothing be worn at all times; brr its cold in there.  The Art Director selected this attire from the clothes she brought and it was very similar to what the other workers were wearing – warm pants, winter coats and hats.

In many of these images you can see the photographer, Joel Levy at work.  Joel is also the editor of Toronto Guardian magazine and in his capacity as a local news gatherer he has developed a terrific interior photography style.  In these shots he mostly used a separate flash on a tripod to light the subjects two-stops over exposed and then he under-exposes the shots overall in the camera by a couple fstops so the picture ends up having nice contrast; there are rich blacks in the corners but the model is perfectly exposed.  See below how flat the space looks in the normal fluorescent overhead lighting. Joel’s photography style gives these flat spaces more dimension.

Below is Stella Adewolu who is a paralegal with real style  and she was photographed on the shop floor of Islip Filters which is an oil and gas pipe filter manufacturing plant in Oakville. She was dressed in a black spandex style jumper a low-cut front and she looked gorgeous in the red forklift against the yellow duct curtains in the facility.

Joel levy photographer with Stella Adewolu as forklift fashion model at iSilp Controls in Oakville

Below is Laura Bilotta from Single in the City at Dan’s Welding in Burlington, and this was a terrific shoot that had lots of natural excitement with people welding in the background. Laura wore a gorgeous fur shawl with black jeans and a low cut top. Her gold and silvery jewelry also stood out in these photos. This was where the Art Director threw away reality and went full fantasy.  The model had a great time and Laura Bilotta blogged about being a forklift model on her dating and relationship advice blog on her Single’s Matchmaking website. The post displays off some of the best pictures and details other parts of the welding plant.

Laura Bilotta at Dans Welding

Would you like a copy of the 2019 Masterlift Forklift Calendar?

Jessica’s Fashion from the Streets of Markham

By Jessica Cianchino, Miss York Region World 2018

In the Greater Toronto Area, downtown Markham is the newest downtown.  This is my city!  Markham has many diverse cultures, many thriving and expanding businesses, and a wide range of entertainment for people of all ages and ethnicities.  And this small town turned big city, like myself, is just beginning.

Markham’s potential is well known.  As Canada’s High Tech Capital the area is a great place to live and work, and relax after work – its easy to find fun here.  My growing city has come to life with the development of a new and impressive downtown core, and this new commercial section hosts many modern attractions.  Cineplex VIP Cinema, as well as other diverse restaurants and boutiques are why my family and friends love going downtown.  Also, a merry-go-round designed specifically for the city incorporates all Canadian-themed sculptures. Experiencing the Pride of Canada Carousel is yet another reason why people should come see the amazing attractions in downtown Markham.

Property developers in Markham prove they are environmentally aware with every new building they erect; the Remington Group encourages green commercial developments. This development group set-up their own Environmental Quality Control program in an attempt to emphasize the importance of preserving the environment while expediently developing the downtown core. Remington Group’s green work was awarded LEED ® which is a fold status for residential and commercial buildings. This organization has implemented green practices in the newest urban areas by introducing natural light, solar power and fresh air.  I’m so proud that the city in which I live is not only growing in business and tourism, but also in environmental consciousness.

My style is influenced by Hip Hop music and urban culture.  The way I style myself mimics what I’ve seen in downtown Toronto, but I put my own twist on it. I usually dress in athletic wear, influenced by the sports I play, infused with styles from big city streets. People my age dress similar to those from the big city, however being from Markham makes my style unique to me.

Walking through our new downtown, I can feel the essence of my city captured through the street art made by local artists. The shops and restaurants run by local residents are bigger now and almost make me feel like I’m in a smaller version of downtown Toronto.  The City of Markham is growing into a city that will provide great opportunities and entertainment to its residents and it welcomes newcomers. It’s astonishing to witness my city grow into a bigger community attracting the attention of others all across Ontario. I remember growing up here before there was a downtown. Its so amazing to be able to watch my city flourish and expand into a successful place that welcomes all kinds of people, just as it has for myself and my family. I look forward to seeing the ongoing progress in the coming years. This new urban center, no matter how much it changes, will continue to be the heart of our community, and I am so proud to be a part of representing this growing metropolis to the rest of the world.

photographer: Peter Gonsalves

Fashion Lookbook with Alice Li, Miss Ontario World 2018

Miss World Ontario 2018 Alice Li is no stranger to the world of fashion. She has walked Toronto Women’s Fashion Week twice and also designs her own line of couture gowns.  Alice Li’s Instagram feed is filled with the latest styles and it’s full of color. Want to know where she gets everything? Today, she will take us through a few of her iconic looks during her reign as Miss Ontario!

Alice Li at BMO field and CanEggs photo shoot
Every girl needs a little black dress, right? It’s one of those basic essentials that your wardrobe always starts out with. Alice went to a VIP balcony viewing party for the Toronto Wolfpack Rugby League in a versatile black dress that suits many different occasions. The Wolfpacks were playing against the London Broncos at the Toronto Allan A. Lamport Stadium which was within perfect view from the 19th floor balcony. If you ever visit Toronto, you’ve got to check out at least one sports game! Aside from the game on this busy day, Alice wore this dress as a master smoothie maker for CanEggs egg white powder and as a makeup model for Modern Makeup Canada. You can’t go wrong with this outfit from Winners! She styled the plain black dress with shoes from Sirens that finished the look with a pop of colour. That’s always an advantage of wearing solid colors – you can get creative with how you style everything else without being too much!
Alice Li - Miss Ontario World 2018, evening gown
Now here is another one of Alice’s favourite looks… from Hudson’s Bay! This asymmetrical shoulder gives the dress just the right amount of style, without overpowering its simplicity of pure red. The silhouette gives it a very classic and polished look, perfect for a day or night out. She decided to match the dress with a pair of Mirelivia shoes from Call It Spring to give it some summer vibes! In the photo above, Alice is also styled with merchandise from the official TTC Shop – notice the umbrella is a map of the Toronto subway system. Given that this photo was taken in the heart of downtown Toronto at Nathan Phillips Square, you can’t get anymore Toronto than this!

Miss Ontario World 2018 - Alice Li, street fashion Toronto
This is an outfit that gets people talking and heads turning! Alice fell in love with this dress as soon as she saw it at Marla’s and here she is standing in front of the University of Toronto’s historic Hart House.  Hart House is known to be Hogwarts-esque with its architecture and interior design, for all the Harry Potter fans out there!  Gold and red is such an uncommon color combination but for this dress, it works!  Alice is pairing it with shoes from Nine West and a timeless pink purse from Guess. This whole look is elegant but cute at the same time! Would you head to school in this outfit? At the University of Toronto, fashion is our passion!

Skater Girl Fashion in Calgary

by Kansas King, Miss Calgary World 2018

When you have a longboard, you never know where the trail is going to take you.

Calgary skateboard fashion

Shaw Millennium Park is the largest skatepark in North America.  Skaters from all over the world come to this Calgary hot spot. It has ramps, bowls, tunnels, anything your adrenaline junkie heart desires.Calgary skatepark - Shaw Milenium skateboard park, Calgary Alberta

beauty at the skatepark

There isn’t just skate equipment here though. There are over 60 unique murals around the city, which bring a modern vibe to a seasoned town.

Your wardrobe should reflect your interests. Skating downtown brings casual and sporty together.

The board you choose describes your personality, so rock it.   Landyachtz is the Canadian company that you will see a majority of Calgarians riding.

girl at skateboard park, low angle, skateboard fashion for girls

Wear your favorite band tee and snapback, show off that skater side. Oh, and you see those poles in the background? Those were lasers made in 1999 when the park was first built. Unfortunately, they had to be permanently shut down because they distracted airplanes. The more you know…

July just creeps in, and all of a sudden it’s Stampede. It’s time to kick off your Converse, grab your cowboy boots (that you bought last minute) and go downtown!

Calgary boots as fashion in the stampede

The Calgary tower may no longer be the tallest tower in the city, but it still stands out amongst the rest. The days are longer and the days are hotter, soak it in, because it won’t last long!

Girls, put on that cute dress you bought from The Store Upstairs boutique in Airdrie, and eat all the mini donuts you want, because The Calgary Stampede is only two weeks of the year.

In the background you can see Bloom, a winning art project created in 2013. The sun is setting on The Calgary Stampede. The horse trotting, country music, and carnival games ring in your head. Can’t wait to see what next year brings.

Calgary is full of amazing paths throughout the city. Riverwalk is one of the most popular pathways. During the day, it is a little piece of heaven for lovers of the outdoors. It’s a great place to longboard. Gliding across bridges, inhaling fresh air, hearing the flow of the water under you, and seeing smiling faces as you drift by. Not only does this pathway decrease the amount of cars on the road, but it gives a calm and safe getaway from a busy life.

Romantic Hot Spots in Calgary at Night

St. Patrick’s Island pedestrian bridge is a popular spot when the sun starts to go down.

Now boys, if you are planning a date with that cute girl you met at Stampede, this might just be the place for a romantic walk. Take her for a nice dinner at Booker’s BBQ Grill and Crab Shack, listen to some Blues music, then watch the sunset over the water.

The night isn’t over quite yet, there is more to see when the lights go down. The Scotiabank Saddledome takes the spotlight up on Scotsman Hill. You can hear the C of Red, as they cheer when the Calgary Flames score a goal.

The night ends with bright stars in the sky and great memories in mind.

Fashion Gambles at the First Greenwood Stakes

The first ever Greenwood Stakes happened at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday the 26th of May 2018.  This is a fashion event in an equestrian setting.  The festival is being dubbed Toronto’s newest society event at the races.  Big tents, food vendors, music and games took over the Woodbine Racetrack that warm Saturday afternoon until 7 p.m. in the evening.

horse race at Woodbine Racetrack - 2018 Greenwood Stakes

The event was crowded from 1pm to 4pm as eight hundred guests squeezed into the track-side enclosure at the east end of the Woodbine Raceway Grandstand. This area was made over with faux tropical trees and upscale patio furniture. The central terminal was a cavernous big-top tent that accommodated several HPIBET stations and cold food vendors which is similar to how the place is setup during Queen’s Plate event in July.  Outside the main area there were a variety of vegetarian and meaty sausage distributors, sushi makers and a pork-on-a-bun shop.

The people at this event were the real attraction; almost everyone here was an original and stylish entrepreneur or high profile business executive. Below is Christy Fenn a model and fashion designer, and Richard Carmichael a veteran web marketing strategist in Toronto.

Greenwood Stakes was filled with influencers who make media on Instagram and Twitter. Anyone can see their work by typing #GreenwoodStakes into Google or any social media platform. Here’s a dapper crew playing Jenga with foot long 2x4s at Greenwood Stakes at approximately 2pm. The Angry Orchard cider people had a big spread right beside the track.

Jenga for Greenwood Stakes game

Instagram influencers at Greenwood Stakes had all manner of things to photograph and some brought fascinating accoutrements to add to the scene. The lady below had a bird on her hand.

There were hats of all types, and men with stylish vests or suspenders over white cotton shirts. Lots of suit jacket blazers over matching dress shorts (very chic) and deck shoes worn with no socks. Almost all the ladies wore colourful hats or fascinators in their hair.

Hats were mandatory at Greenwood Stakes. Both men and women wore very fashionable designer hats.

beaver felt hatmakers at 2018 Greenwood Stakes

Look above. These two gentlemen were NOT country music stars, but in fact stylish hat makers; they are clever craftsmen who make authentic old-school felt hats out of beaver fur.

2018 Style Stakes Best Dressed Awards at Greenwood Stakes

The 2018 Style Stakes Best Dressed Awards challenged the Greenwood Stakes attendees to step up their style game and push the fashion envelope for a chance at one of two $500 cash prizes and to become Greenwood Stakes Style Ambassadors in 2019.  At 3:30 pm, notable fashion industry judges selected ten finalists, five women and five men to bring on stage and show off their clothing ensembles.

The judges then awarded the coveted Belle Du Jour and Gallant Sartorialist awards, respectively. So who won? The information.

Cocktail Jockey Mixology Showcase saw five of Toronto’s top nightclub mixologists square off in head-to-head competition where they worked on stage to shake up the ultimate twist on a classic horseracing themed cocktail.  The winner would earn bragging rights and their cocktail recipe would become a signature cocktail at the Greenwood Stakes. So who won? This information.  Throughout the compound there were fruit-filled drink stations. Most alcoholic concoctions were ten dollars each and composed of rye, vodka or gin.  The ladies liked champagne cocktails.

Track-side bars lined the promenade and were tailor-made for sharable moments for our Instagram generation.  Toronto’s top mixologists smiled for cameras and shook up their own unique takes on the classic champagne cocktail, the mint julep, and other famous bourbon libations that are commonly associated with horse races.  These upscale bartenders were competing to create the perfect summer refreshment; they were inspired by recipes dating back to the early 1800s.  Led by Cocktail Director Evelyn Chick, the Cocktail Jockey Showcase featured custom cocktails that were handcrafted by Zak Doy (of the nightclub, Figo), Casey Ryan (of Civil Liberties), Sally Gillespie (Pretty Ugly) and Tyler Newsome (of Bar Raval).

The horses were famous too.  Among the runners was the 2016 Queen’s plate winner Sir Dudley Digges, and other celebrity horses that were big winners throughout the years.

the horses at Greenwood Stakes, woodbine Racetrack

They were running to win the $175,000 Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes which is a long-standing tradition that is now, informally, part of the Greenwood Stakes celebration at Woodbine Racetrack. Are You Kidding Me paid $5.60, $2.80 and $2.20. He combined with Melmich ($3.50, $2.40) for a 4-1 exacta worth $13.20. A $1 trifecta of 4-1-2 (Gigantic Breeze, $3.10) paid $16 and a $1 superfecta of 4-1-2-3 (Tizzarunner) returned $122.30. Tiz a Slam, also trained by Attfield, finished fifth while Sir Dudley Digges and Hollywood Critic completed the order of finish.

The Music was also impeccable. There was live music from one of Toronto based folk-rock quartet, Birds of Bellwoods, and popular DJs Eric Carver, Simon Jain and Conor Cutz, who covered a variety of genres including Hip Hop, RnB, Dancehall, Classic and Deep House.

The Art at 2018 Greenwood Stakes Pop-Up Art Gallery was curated by Toronto-based creative director, video producer and clothing designer Meghan Kraft.  The exhibit featured works from emerging Toronto artists including: Alpo Snow, Arturo “Duro the Third” Parada, Briony Douglas, Coup de Tête, and Jacqueline Poirier A.K.A. The Crazy Plate Lady.

Streetchic, very stylish, high fashion group of horseracing fans at 2018 Greenwood Stakes

Fashion gambled and won at 2018 Greenwood Stakes as $ was raised for charity.

Laura Bilotta Styles a Noble Savage to debut Wing Woman Paint Night

Laura Bilotta, the matron of Ontario’s largest singles event company and speed dating enterprise, Single in the City tried something new on Thursday 5th April, 2018 when she teamed up with Julia Chatterji of The Studio Paint Bar to stage a womens’-only Paint Night in Mississauga.  All this was new to the firm;  an official ‘women’s only’ event has never before been attempted (with tickets sold online – Laura did once invite female members to watch The Bachelor at a bar in Oakville, but tickets were sold at the door). More significantly, Laura Bilotta has never before tried a Paint Night.

Without question, the event was an unqualified success.  Twelve ladies shared plenty of laughs while painting a jewellery clad caveman on a 16 x 20-inch canvas.  It was an interesting experience filled with creative instruction. The activity yielded immense satisfaction as the twelve ladies communicated their own perceptions of the subject on their canvases.

Martin waits to be painted at Paint Night in Mississauga

The male model was a young man named Martin Dasko, a semi professional wrestler who performs as The Latin Lover, and is also the author a popular student finance blog, Studenomics. He said afterwards that it was the strangest thing he’s done in a while, and it made him feel sexy.

paint night with Studenomics, Single in the City

Paint Nights are very stimulating for all participants. The simple act of painting a pretty picture tickles the primary motor cortex of the brain which makes friendly people even more receptive to social programming. Its Julia’s belief that this healthy activity streamlines the complicated act of making new friends. Painting breaks down barriers, and the people who came out that evening soon found themselves relaxed and having a good time.

The Male Model was Made More Adorable by Jennifer Turner of Modern Makeup

The handsome Martin Dasko of Studenomics was specifically selected to sharply contrast Laura’s distinctly feminine messaging.  This physic is inspirational and it seem hard to imagine how anyone could improve such a naturally beautiful man.  However, it happened. One hour before the show started, Martin was expertly groomed by makeup artist Jennifer Turner.

Martin being styled

It wasn’t enough to have an attractive man as the subject for this artistic exercise; Martin’s muscular body needed even more adornment. A chunky silver necklace, two solid silver bracelets, and a thick solid silver skull ring were lent to Laura for the show by an upscale jeweler she knows…

silver jewellery for paint night

Lent for one night to the production, the silver ornamentation was all handmade by On the Other Hand custom jewellery in Toronto.  It’s worth noting that the lustrous accessories had a trans-formative affect on our hero.  Wearing these resplendent creations made the man feel more confident, and more ‘adorable’. The high fashion silver jewellery literally ennobled the subject.  In this way, Laura created a ‘noble savage’ with great masculinity to contrast the theme of feminine solidarity in the manifesto she was set to debut later in the evening.

Martin Dasko of Studenomics at Paint Night

The bright silver ornaments were specially selected to contrast Martin’s well tanned skin and animal print apparel.

The animal print costume was part of the initial plan and made it through all stages of creative planning and acquisition. Here is an image Laura snapped while buying leopard print textile at Designer Fabric in Toronto.

buying leopard print velour at Designer fabrics in Toronto

Leopard print fleece textile was obtained at Designer Fabrics in Toronto and was waiting for Martin Dasko when he appeared at the restaurant. But it had not been cut into a costume yet, so the wait staff had fun trying their hands at styling the evening’s hero.

The leopard print loin cloth was fashioned on-site by many hands. Everyone had some idea of how the cavemen suit should look, and there was enough material to try several different approaches.  After some waitresses at the restaurant tried their hands, Jennifer Turner of Modern Makeup arrived and took over and styled Martin as a ‘couture caveman’ in a Fred Flintstone style frock which was initially conceived with a shoulder strap.

Martin was coiffed as a cute cavemen by Jennifer Turner of Modern Makeup

jenn turner with Martin Studenomics

Laura Bilotta was among one of the last people to arrive at the venue, and almost upon entry, she asked Jennifer to remove Martin’s shoulder strap.  This meant that Jenn would have to do the costume all over again, but I dont think she minded.  Laura insisted saying that the seat belt shaped strap covered the paint subject’s best feature, pointing out Martin’s well-developed pectoral muscles.

Jenn wrote a detailed account of styling the paint night on her Modern Makeup blog.  She wrote on how she “brightened the area under his eyes and hid a bit of redness. He had never had his makeup done before so he wasn’t sure what to expect. Luckily he trusted me and I didn’t make him look ridiculous. Laura wanted me to oil Martin’s chest but instead I applied a little bit of extra shadow and highlight to showcase his muscles.”

Jennifer applied make-up to the entire top half of Martin’s body. She used her brushes to tone his face and accentuate his muscles. While many observers didn’t think Martin’s body could be improved, Jenn really proved her skills as the finished product, a perfectly coifed caveman, was even more compelling.

Single in the City’s very first Paint Night event began humbly with some opening remarks from Laura who introduced Julia Chatterji of Studio paint Bar and Martin Dasko the noble savage to twelve female painters. The assembly of eager artists wet their brushes with anticipation as they surveyed the subject waiting to be sketched and coloured on their canvases.

The gender specific event concept corresponds with something else Laura has been working on for a few weeks, something she calls The Wing Woman Collective. This is a new archetypal behaviour model that is defined in part by a central Wing Woman Code of Honour.

Laura Bilotta Used the All-Female Audience to Debut her Wing Woman Collective

In the shadow of the #MeToo movement, and in connection with our society’s reaction to powerful men preying on younger women, Laura unveiled a code of conduct for Wing Women.

What is a Wing Woman? A Wing Woman is a charismatic female who helps both boys and girls meet new people romantically while not actively seeking companionship herself.

As the ladies painted their pictures, and while Martin stood silently listening, Laura listed the Ten Rules in the Wing Woman Code of Conduct.  This will certainly be its own blog post on Single in the City at some future date, but until then you can see some of these commandments listed in order in the photo opposite (which expands when clicked).

After a relaxing ten-minute break in which some delicious appetizers were served, the ladies returned to their brushes to put the finishing touches on their masterpieces.

When the evening wrapped up, and participants were starting to get a little antsy; the painters were waving their canvases around to dry the paint enough for travel. It was at that moment Keith Travers appeared in the restaurant with an armful of empty picture wooden frames.

Keith Travers is the builder behind Eastview Homes, Oakville, Burlington building contractor. Being an artist himself,  Mr Travers really enjoyed himself as he joined Laura and Julia  traipsing around the paint studio selecting the best images to win the walnut frames.

Everyone came away with something. All the participants who came out that night got SWAG bags stuffed with cosmetic samples, skin moisturizing products and gift certificates from Mississauga hair salons and beauty bars. Plus, they all got to keep their paintings of course, and the five best works-of-art got frames.

More importantly, this unique Paint Night experience marks another milestone in the continued evolution of Single in the City’s premium event management service. This is how Laura Bilotta maintains her reputation for pioneering new formats, pushing the envelope of creativity, while maintaining a safe environment for clients making lifelong connections.

Alice Li Crowned Miss World Ontario 2018

On Sunday, January 21, 2018, after two days of competition and at the end of three hour show, Alice Li was crowned the new winner of Miss World Ontario 2018.

Miss World Ontario is the provincial qualifier to Miss World Canada, the official preliminary to Miss World.  Fifty contestants from all across the province were judged on a wide range of criteria including interviews, charity work, evening gown, swimsuit, and photogenic.  Alice Li, the winner of the competition is a 24 year-old graduate from the University of Toronto who studied business for her undergraduate and graduate programs.

What does it take to win a beauty pageant? We sat her down our new Provincial queen to ask her some questions.

 

Photo: Joshua Best Photography

Why did you decide to compete in a beauty pageant?

From what I can see, beauty queens are jacks of all trades, but masters of none. What I mean is, the winner is always someone who is well-rounded, but doesn’t necessarily need to score highest in every single category. That’s exactly what I do. I know a little bit of everything, but I don’t consider myself an expert in any one particular thing.
 

Did you think you had a chance at winning?I believe that healthy sportsmanship means going into a competition aiming for your personal best. You have to set yourself realistic goals and define your own meaning of success. Success could be finding the courage to walk up on that stage, or finding confidence in a swimsuit, etc.

My personal goal was to place in the Top 3.  With over six years of experience competing in beauty pageants I obviously believe I have what it takes. To me, finishing Top 3 would be a personal win, but look what happened. I did not expect to place first! That’s also why half of my crowning moment photos did not turn out well because I was so in shock, I suddenly didn’t know what to do or where to stand.

At Street Chic, we are all about fashion. Tell us more about your wardrobe for the competition!

This year I went with more of a pink theme. There were fifty contestants there so and anything that makes you standout is worth the effort.

In the morning, showed up to rehearsals in this super adorable Ted Baker dress. Although there is no dress code for rehearsals, I still like to put a bit of effort and feel like myself. After all, fashion is a way to express your personality and I thought this dress was so “me”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My interview outfit was also pink and I went with a fitted, sleeveless Calvin Klein classic. You can’t go wrong with Calvin Klein for a modern, elegant look.

I went simple with the accessories and wore these gorgeous pearl earrings from The Modern Princess. So my approach to the beauty pageant and the classic dilemma of  ‘What should I wear to the interview?’, was to dress business casual with a pop of style.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

For my evening gown, I took a risk and wore a pink tulle ballgown from Mac Duggal. In beauty pageants, big ballgowns are typically not as popular as sexier styles.  The top bodice is embellished in rhinestones and features a low waist. It was an interesting silhouette because the accentuation was on my hips instead of my waist. I’ve never competed in a ballgown before but it was fun to feel like a princess on stage! I guess it all worked out in the end, and perhaps that means pink is my best color.

Photo Credit: Charlie Lam Photography

We heard it was also your birthday? Happy birthday!
The competition date this year actually fell on my 24th birthday. Out of fifty girls, I was the 24th contestant, with a last name starting with “L.” I didn’t plan any birthday celebrations because my mind was completely focused on the competition. However, all the girls were so supportive throughout the weekend and after my crowning onstage, everyone actually started singing Happy Birthday. I could not have imagined a better way to celebrate.
 

What was the hardest part about the competition?

One of hardest part about the competition is staying focused because so many different thoughts run through your head at the same time. For example, when walking onto stage for evening gown, you’re trying to walk up the stairs elegantly without tripping over your dress. At the same time, you’re smiling and making eye contact with the judges. In your head, you’re reminding yourself of the choreography so that you don’t walk the wrong way. Cameras are flashing from all directions while you’re blinded by the stage lights. But to showcase your true personality, you’ve just got to take a deep breath and let everything flow naturally.

Photo Credit: Charlie Lam Photography

As the ambassador for Ontario, what is your goal this year?

I believe that the most valuable asset we own is time. You cannot buy time or trade it with others. That is why I want to dedicate my time volunteering within my community. I have many charities and nonprofit organizations that I will be working with this year, including the Good Shepherd Ministries and Children’s Wish Foundation. Such an amazing start to 2018 and I look forward to this new journey!

mwc
Photo credit: Joshua Best Photography

 

Toronto Fashion Meets at Buonanotte on Mercer

Buonanotte, the night club at 19 Mercer St in downtown Toronto is where fashion meets, and When Fashion Meets is a monthly free networking meetup that’s filled with some of the brightest local lights in fashion, beauty and bling.

This meetup happens here and on some level it probably does help the fashion industry, but I think its done more to help the club.  Buonanotte lives on borrowed time.   The boxy three story building that contains this lounge business and the one beside it, and another on the same street will all be demolished later this spring to make way for more tall residential condo towers.  So in many respects, the When Fashion Meets event is just a moment in time…. look around people this space won’t exist in a few months.Hello from the organizer.  This author has forgotten your name.  Its the opposite of what’s supposed to happen at this event.  People come here to get and record phone numbers and work out creative ways to help each other.   This meet and greet is for monthly networking & brand building and socializing.

This platform gives creative people in commercial art, fashion, and beauty industries an opportunity to network with each other and promote their existing products or launch new goods and services.  The free networking event is open to all fashion industry entrepreneurs & professionals such as models, clothing designers, clothing or personal stylists, hair stylists, make-up artists, fashion bloggers, all manner of photographers, beauty brands, buyers, casting agents, fashion and beauty retailers, and of course media-makers and fashion lovers of all stripes.

Below is Jessica who runs a modeling agency talking to Jim who is a dry cleaning magnet.  Jim was dressed business casual, and Jessica was dressed fashionably unique and that was indeed the dress code request in the meetup description.

The free event begins at five pm and goes till nine.   There are few rules.  You can’t be camera shy and you really should bring business cards.  This author has more or less abandon the idea of business cards as being ‘old fashion’, but they are necessary or you end up explaining why you don’t have one all night.  When you first walk in the dance club, the lady at the door asks you to put a business card in the bowl. It is from this vessel that a special guest or VIP speaker will pull your business card at the end of the event. If your card is pulled then you will be declared a winner, and will take home a prize. Jim the dry cleaning magnet won the prize.

The meetup is perfect for new product launches, and indeed each month a new product or brand is selected (from all that apply) to launch and promote their wares; they can speak and be amplified, or even put on a slide show.  At this event young designers and fashion industry entrepreneurs of all stripes can introduce their work to what is becoming a large receptive live audience and active following.

Toronto Fashion Industry Meet Up Group: Toronto Fashion Industry Meetup.  Don’t go if you’re camera shy as there are plenty of people (including this author)  taking photos & videos during the event.  Photos are published on their social media pages -follow on Instagram, @torontofashionindustry

sharp knit vest When Fashion Meets – The Banker’s Vest

Now let me tell you a story.  The young man you see here on the right wearing a brown fedora is a Bay St banker.  He came to the event originally wearing all black. I came to the conclusion early in the evening that he was kinda boring; his account manager job and TD bank lifestyle is not interesting, and consequently he’s rather dull himself. So the story begins with this boring guy on his way out the door.  He had accompanied another chum to this meetup, and that guy had gone off somewhere, and now he found himself alone and was leaving.  But on his way out, wearing all black, he was literally in the right place at the right time. 

The incredible red & white & black vest, a garment hand-knit by a lady you will see later in this photo series, was at that moment just being raised up into the air to be photographed by a group of admirers.  And its heavy you understand, and the senior-citizen creator couldn’t hold it up long enough to be photographed. And there he was just walking by, exiting the club because he was so boring just as she was holding it up.  She needed a mannequin, and here he was wearing all black – it just happened.  He put it on and wore it around all night. That’s right – he stayed at the party for another hour or more because now you see suddenly he was fashionable, and original, and cool.

The piece is unfinished, in case you’re wondering.  The lady who knit the work, Aneth, hopes to attach sleeves and giant black buttons that are cross ties? and not round buttons at any rate.  Below when you see the lady who knit the garment (not Lily, but Aneth below) you get the idea that anyone, at any age and from any walk of life can participate in a fashion movement and ‘move the needle’ in terms of human perception to redefine what is attractive? and what is ‘chic’?

Below is the knitwear vested banker with Lily Liao the founder and matron of Street Chic.
Now the sharp and confident banker in his knit vest is trying to make stitches with another sweet lady at the party, a young fashion designer at Ryerson.  Can you guess how that worked out?  You’ll have to, as this author doesn’t know. I left before he asked for her number, but to make my story more profound I’m going to choose to believe that he did ask and he did get her number, and the only reason she said ‘yes’ was because of his colourful apparel.

This is the lady who knit the vest.  Aneth. She is amazing.  This lady is hard to understand due to her accent (Eastern European? but where exactly ?) and its doubly hard to make out her words in a loud echoey dance club.  Regardless she’s an incredible talent and her work is high quality because she’s very passionate.



Aneth Plesea ? Is that her name? Its a cryptic brand.

Matty makes lip balm.  He is always so happy.  He is so sickeningly pleasant this author just wanted to punch him, and give him a fat lip.  He was okay with that.


That was last month’s When Fashion Meets.

Street Chic’s Guide to Smart Shopping & Managing Money

In Toronto, with sophisticated urban shopping complexes like the Eaton Centre and Yorkdale and the boutiques along Queen Street West, Distillery District and Yorkville, there are so many places to spend your hard-earned cash on cute outfits, accessories, and whimsical fashions. It’s almost too easy to get lost in the thrill of finding the perfect pair of boots and spending more money than you can actually afford.  So we’ve created a list of tips to help you shop smarter so you can still enjoy the many perks this great city has to offer without maxing out your credit cards.

Know the Ins and Outs of Your Finances

The best thing you can possibly do is to make sure you know exactly where you stand financially. How much money do you owe in total across all of your credit cards, loans, and lines of credit? What is the minimum payment for each of those accounts? Can you focus on paying down or paying off any of those debts before adding new debt?

If you’re uncertain where to start, we suggest ordering a credit report from one of Canada’s two credit bureaus – Equifax and TransUnion. It’s actually best to order your report from both of them because the information they have might differ slightly as the two companies generate their reports independently of each other. This is your opportunity to get an overview of your financial situation as a whole and to understand what your FICO score is and how it will affect your likelihood of being approved for any loans in the future.

Your FICO score is a three-digit number that reflects your financial history and tells lenders whether you’re a trustworthy borrower or not. Much like a grade on a report card, lenders use your FICO score to decide whether or not they should lend you money. This is also your chance to correct any errors you find in your report to ensure the information is as accurate as possible. Even one minor inaccuracy can negatively impact your score. If you find that you’re still overwhelmed and uncertain how to best start paying down your loans, another option to look into is debt consolidation.

Create a Budget

Once you know where you stand financially, you can create a monthly budget for yourself. Start off by figuring out how much you owe in credit card and loan payments each month and put aside enough money to – at the very least – cover all of your minimum payments. Next, add up how much money you’ll need for rent or mortgage payments, utilities, car payments, cell phone payments, groceries, etc.

Figure out exactly how much money you’ll have coming in each month, how much money will be going back out again to cover your bills and other expenses, and finally how much you’ll have leftover.

Of the money left over, decide how much you want to put aside into a savings account and finally, how much expendable income remains. Whatever is left is yours to spend as you please!

Practice the 24-Hour Rule

Just because you know how much expendable income you have available to you doesn’t mean you should rush to blow it all in one place or on one item. As tempting as major sales can be, give yourself permission to really think about any expensive purchases before handing over your money.

This is where the 24-hour rule comes in handy. Essentially it boils down to giving yourself 24 hours to think about a large purchase before coming to a decision. Walk away from the store or exit the browser tab and sleep on it. If you still want it just as badly after 24 hours, you’ll feel better about your decision and less likely to regret it than had you impulsively charged it to your credit card.

Keep Your Receipts

There’s nothing worse than buyer’s remorse and feeling like you’ve just thrown your money out the window in exchange for something you don’t even want anymore. This is why it’s a good idea to get in the habit of keeping your receipts. Whether it’s a new dress or a microwave, so long as you still have the item in the original packaging (or in the case of clothing, haven’t removed the tags), you can almost always bring it back to the store and either get a full refund or store credit.

The same often applies to online shopping. Amazon makes returns easy (and you don’t have to pay a cent when sending back items) but you’d be surprised by how simple it is to return the items you’ve purchased online from other retailers too. Get in the habit of reading the return policy before making an online purchase to be safe, but generally speaking any online retailer with a brick and mortar location will let you return the items you purchased in store rather than having to ship them back.

Get Perks and Rewards for Shopping

If you’re going to spend money, you may as well be rewarded for it, right? From cashback to travel points and access to exclusive events, most banks and major credit cards offer a variety of perks that are absolutely worth taking advantage of. If you’re a frequent shopper at a specific store or chain of stores, it’s worth looking into any loyalty programs they may offer as well.

When you live in a city like Toronto surrounded by an incredible array of great shopping options, it can be tricky to control your spending. It’s amazing how much more enjoyable you’ll find shopping when you know that you’ve got your spending under control.