A little while back, The Grid’s Briony Smith approached me about an article she was writing. It was about women who don’t wear much (or any) makeup. While it’s true that my routine takes all of five minutes to complete, I should also note that a) I love makeup – the packaging, the colours, the clean lines of a Clinique ad, and b) I’m just too lazy and spastic to actually apply it on myself. I’m not making a statement (well, apparently I am) but merely deciding that more time devoted to something else (usually steaming my clothes or picking out accessories) is more important than gilding the lily. But I digress…

Even though my product list reads like a Rexall flyer, my makeup bag is Furla and was purchased on a delightful trip to Italy many years ago. I think that every item you have should be special (but not necessarily expensive), even if it’s hardly used. So what’s inside?

Rimmel Hide The Blemish concealer; CoverGirl Look Clean Pressed Powder; Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara; M.A.C Mineralize Blush; Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil; and a tiny vial of Marc Jacob’s Daisy perfume and a perfume solid of Marc Jacob’s Lola.

In my purse is ChapStick, cherry flavoured. And I keep my moisturizer close too – it’s Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Cream with Royal Jelly.

If I do ever want to look a bit more made up, I’ll use a M.A.C Eye Kohl pencil – I’ve got two colours: Blooz and Powersurge.

To take it all off, I use Rimmel’s Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, which is the only makeup remover I’ve tried from drugstore to department store that doesn’t irritate my eyes. To wash my face I use Cetaphil, and to tone I use Aveda’s Enbrightenment Brightening Treatment Toner. My skin is pretty sensitive, so I try to keep it calm with as few (and as gentle) products as I can.

Even if I’m not wearing makeup – and I mean none, not some that just gives the illusion of facial nudity – I will always wear scent. Some folks are up in arms about perfume, lamenting on Twitter that people need to stop wearing it. I wholly disagree – they just need to wear less of it, and usually, a better bottle. My standbys: Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga Paris, and Carthusia’s Fiori di Capri. They each smell very different but have lovely floral underpinnings. While I consider makeup an extra, I think of perfume as an accessory – there’s no greater compliment than someone saying “You smell so good!” after giving you a hug.

Celebrate the opening of the Ontario College of Art & Design’s (OCAD) Student Shop! This long-overdue space features wares by students and alumni like Julie Moon, Winnie Truong, Fantasy Camp, Blood of the Young, and Lisa Visser.

The shop is housed inside OCAD’s Student Gallery, and the opening reception runs from 6-8pm tonight. It’s happening in conjunction with the exhibition To Precipitate Shadow, a collection of works by Stacey Croucher, Ursula Handleigh and Jessica Tai curated by Amanda Rataj.

OCAD U Student Gallery, 285 Dundas Street West, Toronto.

Photos by Jared Sales

As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Keira Morgan, owner and designer of the Handsome&Lace line, is no stranger to this expression. The Toronto-based accessories label is noted for its bowties and ascots, for both men and women, made out of recycled material.

Everything found in Morgan’s collections (The Neck Tie Reformatory, a line of pieces for men, falls under the Handsome&Lace brand) is created with 100 per cent upcycled material. Upcycling is a method similar to recycling; however, it occurs when an item’s purpose is altered completely and given more value. Material such as vintage fabric and old neckties are deconstructed and eventually redesigned into the dainty headbands adorned with elaborate bows, necklaces and dapper bowties that are found in the collection.

But why so much influence involving ties? Handsome&Lace was established in 2009 after Morgan took up an interest in men’s neckties, to the point where she began wearing them and embellishing them herself. “I was sewing buttons and lace to them and I kind of liked that look”, Morgan recalls. She then began to upcycle old neckties and eventually clothing and vintage fabrics to create accessories. Morgan also gravitated toward creating accessories for the sole reason that they can add flavour to outfits. “You can lift pretty much any outfit with just one little accessory,” she explains. The ascots are one of her favourite pieces from the collection. “I love wearing mine. It makes me feel pretty no matter what I’m wearing.”

Every Handsome&Lace piece is uniquely handcrafted. Morgan says she is not one to follow trends. “I try not to stay too in tune with the fashion scene… I want to sort of be distant to that so I can make sure that everything I’m making is directly from my mind.”

From gingham to floral, and paisley to plaid, the collection caters to almost anyone. According to Morgan, the Handsome&Lace woman is a trendsetter – someone who exudes confidence, whereas the Handsome& Lace man, artistic and creative, is more sensitive and in-tune with his feelings.

Pieces from the collection can be found at Toronto Custom Suits and Off the Cuff in Toronto, alongside the label’s online Etsy shop. “I’m really picky about where I put my things,” Morgan says. “I want to make sure that my market is going to these places.”

So far, everything is going well for the brand. But what’s in store for the label within the next few years? “I’m hoping that my neckties are a household name,” Morgan says. In the meantime, she is currently working on some prototypes for suit shops located in both New York and Toronto. She has also scheduled meetings with a few large retailers.

Creating a brand comes with both success and failure. Morgan’s mantra to starting up a label is to “go with the flow”. “It’s always worked for me… Good things can come with bad things, so don’t get upset if things don’t go exactly how you planned,” she says. “It could work out for the better.”

Photo by Courtney Lee Yip

Before Ben Caplan committed himself to music, he contemplated becoming a Doctor of Philosophy. Inevitably, through our conversation about music, tours, and his feature-length album, this positively passionate and wonderfully well-read musician convinced me of a new philosophy to live by: If you see a man in a coffee shop with a guitar and an outstanding red beard, go sit down and speak with him. If you’re lucky, that man will be Ben Caplan. 

Tell me about Ben Caplan and how you got to be here, now.

Well that’s a broad question… I started playing music when I was a kid. I just used to plunk away melodies on a shitty Casio keyboard, until I got a guitar when I was thirteen. I pretty much didn’t put it down once I got my hands on it. Then, I started writing songs early on. The more time went by, the more I realized that it wasn’t just a hobby, but it was all I wanted to do. So… I decided to just go for it. I put out my first full-length album in October and I’ve been on tour since then.

Tell me about your album, In the Time of the Great Remembering.

It was a labor of love. My goal was to make a record that I had always wanted to hear. I was playing with sounds and techniques and approaches – putting things together that I hadn’t heard together before. It’s vocals, violin, clarinet, saxophone, flute, upright bass, drums, guitar, banjo, and piano. I had this sound in my head and I couldn’t find it anywhere else in the world. So, I got to make it myself.

In the Time of the Great Remembering – what does it mean?

It means a lot of things. It’s a weird title I guess. But, it means different things to me at different times.

Right now, I’ve been reading a lot about developing the language and the understanding of what Canada is, and means, and where we come from. Dealing with issues of our past and the fact that Canada is not a European nation, nor is it the same culture as America. We lack the language to talk about who we really are. We overlook the fact that Canada is built on three pillars – Canadian, French, and Aboriginal cultures. I think a lot of important things have been left out of the Canadian story. Right now, I feel that we’re either at the peak of ‘the great forgetting’ or we’re at the beginning of ‘the great remembering’.

What were you doing before the album? Did you know that this – being a musician, touring – is what you wanted to do?

I was working in Halifax – I didn’t have a career or anything like that. I’ve known for a while that this is what I want to do. I started university in 2005, thinking that I wanted to be a Doctor of Philosophy. I saw myself taking the academic route, but within two or three years I realized that I didn’t want to live in academia. I want to play music. I want to be on stage.

It takes a big leap of faith to leave academia and become a musician – but then again, becoming a Doctor of Philosophy is probably just as difficult.

I think my odds of having a successful career as a musician are probably better than my odds of becoming a successful Doctor of Philosophy.

You’re in the middle of your tour right now. How has it been so far? And what’s coming up?

Yes. It’s a six-month tour I’m on right now. So far it’s been great. It’s just great. I love being on the road. I love experiencing new places, meeting new people, and getting to perform every night. In October I toured in Europe for the second time. I got to see all kinds of places I had never been before. I was in 10 different Dutch cities, a couple of dates in Belgium as well, and some shows in Germany and the UK. And now, I’m going back to all those places again in the spring for a two-month tour this time.

Out of everywhere you’ve been so far, have you found any favorite places to play?

It’s hard to say. A show that will be really special forever is the show that I played in Rotterdam. It was my first European tour date that was at a club and I was the headliner – the only band on the bill – and the place sold out. I had no idea what to expect, and I got out onto this stage… We had a sound guy set up for us on the stage, and there was another sound guy at the bar, and then, there was another guy running the lights. It was this full-scale production and we were the only band playing! The place was packed full of people – sold out a 250 person venue. The crowd just went nuts. It was so unexpected… I had never played there before. Who were these people? And why did they know who I was? Why were they there?

There were a lot more shows that were like that, fortunately. But, that show, being the first one, will always stand out as being a really, really special night.

You’re from Halifax. I always hear wonderful things about Halifax. I want to know what you think makes Halifax wonderful.

I love Halifax. I love love love Halifax. And you know, the truth is… If I had to pick my favorite place in the world to play, the answer would probably be Halifax.

My favorite part is the great unity that exists there. Whether its entrepreneurs and people starting small business ventures, or painters, or musicians, everybody just kind of cross-pollinates. There’s a really wonderful creative scene and it doesn’t matter how people express themselves. It just seems that there is a broad network of people who are trying to make their city, their world, their country a better place. It’s great to be around that energy.

So, what’s next for Ben Caplan?

I guess I’m just going to keep touring and writing songs… Maybe having some ‘me time’. I don’t have any ideas about signing a big record deal. If in ten years, I’m doing exactly what I’m doing right now, I would be thrilled. I’m kind of doing exactly what I want to be doing already.

Ben Caplan plays Toronto’s Supermarket (268 Augusta Avenue, Toronto) tonight, Wednesday, February 22nd.

Photo from istockphoto.com

Growing up on the West Coast, I was surrounded by lean, rosy-cheeked folk, hiking beaches and trails, munching meatless delights, and extolling the virtues of fresh clean air. Whether it was making the move to the Big Smoke or just the natural slowing of my metabolism, in my near decade in Toronto I’ve been horrified to experience the “big creep” — the steady addition of a pound or two to my waistline (and bottom!) each year. I need help.

Enter portion control. That marathon I ran in October may have meant the fulfillment a personal goal, but those long, lonely miles did little for my looks. According to Canadian health law expert Timothy Caulfield, who explored the science behind simple things that improve our health in The Cure for Everything!, eating less is the only effective path to a skinnier me. So what does that mean?

Lisa Young, nutritionist and author of The Portion Teller Plan, says that on average, food servings are two to five times what they were in the 1950s. And over the past forty years, dinner plate sizes have grown 25 percent. Since people (myself included) tend to eat whatever is on their plate, they don’t often think about how much is actually in front of them.

Eat Right Ontario suggests the following rules of thumb for determining how much you should eat per meal:

Protein: The amount of meat, beans, or tofu in your dinner should fit in the palm of your hand.

Carbohydrates: Eat a portion roughly the size of your computer mouse.

Veggies can be consumed more liberally — say, two open palms’ worth.

Oil or butter: Use an amount about the size of your thumb tip.

Many of us have fallen victim to what Young calls portion distortion. We’ve grown so accustomed to supersized meals that oversized portions of food now look normal. My own meals are about to undergo portion contortion — I hope to prove Caulfield right.

Photos provided by dace

Dace Moore first began to explore her interest in fashion while spending her childhood in the beautiful surroundings of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. From teaching herself how to sew, to collecting vintage patterns at thrift stores, her appreciation for fine quality garments began early on and has continued to grow into her own designs for dace, her brand of contemporary womenswear and home accessories.

Moore’s pieces are not only versatile but flattering and timeless as well. Plaid caught up with the designer to learn more about her label.

Can you tell us a little about what it was like growing up in Okanagan Valley?

It felt like California, with the beaches and hot desert sun.

Have you always had an interest in fashion?

Yes, I had all my mother’s vintage Barbie clothes, which I loved!

Can you tell us about your experience at the Blanche Macdonald Centre for Applied Design?

I went to learn pattern drafting and ended up taking the whole program, which I am grateful for because it got my foot in the door.

What did your position as Production Manager/Designer at United Snow and Skate teach you?

I learned how to do local [and] off-shore manufacturing and eventually took over design for the girl’s collection.  It was a great experience because there were only four of us running the show.  I learned office duties, accounting, production – everything you need to know about running a business

Where does the inspiration behind your designs come from?

Every collection is different; sometimes it’s fabrics or people, or even things that I am going through in my life.

Can you give our readers an idea of some of the things that are important to you when creating a collection?

I guess most important would be the question, “Would I wear it?”.  I am also very fabric driven, so I tend to be drawn to more beautiful and natural fabrics

Has your childhood appreciation for fine quality items shaped who you are now as a designer?

Quality over quantity – I feel like I only keep things that have longevity so I try to keep that in mind when I am designing.

How do you choose fabrics to use for your pieces?

Colour, touch, drape and sometimes price.

Can you tell us what colours you like to work with and why?

I always tend to have some sort of mix of cream/black/camel/navy….they seem to be colours that never go out of style.

You also design accessories. Can you give our readers an idea of the different kinds of accessories you create and how you feel they represent the dace brand?

Yes, I have done some homewares including duvets, pillow cases, blankets and napkins.  I started doing duvets because I found that the main selections were from IKEA and I wanted something different.  The other accessories we have done with local designers, and it is always fun to sit and brainstorm with them on what we could make together.

Are there any pieces in your collections you feel every woman should have as a staple in their wardrobe?

The “Timothy” pant; they fit everyone and most people who have one pair have multiples.

I’ve noticed a few high-waisted bottoms in your collection. Is this a trend you feel will continue to grow in the future?

High-waisted pants are not for everyone, but I think something in between would continue to grow.

Do you think high-waisted pants can be universally flattering?

High-waisted pants can be worn differently on the body; I never thought I could wear them because I have a short torso but I cannot live without them now.  Does that answer the question?

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you and your designs?

I appreciate all the support over the years, it means a lot to me.

Roxy Music’s enduring influence can be heard all over the airwaves today, and there’s good reason why. Their mix of art house experimentation and catchy rhythms have inspired everyone from Radiohead to Frank Black.

Recently their tune “Love Is The Drug” was done over dub-style by Todd Terje, and the newly released video will definitely get your mojo working. Created and directed by Ferry Gouw (with additional sequences generated by Anna Boberg),  it’s an explosion of colour, graphics and of course, babes (the biggest of course being lead singer Bryan Ferry). But really, it’s hard to steal the spotlight from Eno’s gold lamé gloves and leopard print jacket.

Download the single now.

White’s alright, but why not coordinate your ear gear with your wardrobe this Spring?

Urbanears, the Scandinavian brand of headphones, brings the noise in a range of stellar new colours for the season, from mustard to mocca and everything in between!

No matter what your preference, from large and loud (the “Plattan” has an classic outsized headphone look but can collapse to fit a tote bag easily) to the mini and marvelous (the “Bagis” is an ear bud with attitude), you’ll enjoy excellent sound and style. Each pair comes with a fabric cord to maximize wear-and-tear, plus a one-year warranty. Happy hearing!

Photos by Istoica

New York Fashion Week came to a close yesterday, and while there were many lovely looks seen throughout the week, a few collections stood out to us by virtue of not just their cohesive, chic style but also our national pride.

Canadian born, Paris-based designer Calla Haynes set hearts a-flutter with her ultra feminine, retro-tinged F/W12 collection featuring mottled prints and sweet schoolgirl silhouettes.

Haynes teamed up with dream girl Leith Clark, who styled the season’s pieces with her usual understated charm. Above, Haynes puts the final flourishes on her looks before they’re ready to be photographed.

Pops of pastels were subtley mixed with navy and emerald to create a perfect Fall palette.

A graphic element was incorporated by way of a well-tailored coat in beige and black, underpinning the rest of the collection’s whimsical abstract sensibilities.

Adding to the overall effect, the model’s nails were given a similarly textural treatment to the clothing – matching need not be boring, after all.

Stay tuned for more of our favourites from NYFW!