Streetwear really overtook the luxury industry in the 2000’s. Fast forward to today, Chanel, the once known classic maison is joining the streetwear era by making sweaters with logos, a classic streatwear must. Don’t even start with Louis Vuitton. We can really thank the streetwear community for this shift in the luxury fashion.
Well, streetwear started in the urban areas of NY in the 80’s. Some also attribute it to the skate board area in Los Angeles. Japan should also be included in the expansion of streetwear. Kids in Bronx simply wanted to express themselves, little did they know they will wave in this new segment of the luxury fashion industry. You have the high-end streetwear brands like Supreme, Vetements and of course Off-White, the mid brands like Yeezys, Hereon Preston, Y/P Project and my new favourite AMI by Alexandre Mattiussi. You can also consider sport brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma part of the Streetwear conversation.
This post is about Off-White.
Here are couple of my favourite Off-White looks:
You can check out my off-white review on my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/zzieiX0PEEQ
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There is a new fragrance on the market from the House of Chanel; Le Lion de Chanel. Another tale for Leos who share the same astrological sign as Gabriel. Gabriel Chanel, born a Leo on August 19th, was always been connected to her zodiac sign so much so that the lion became the emblem of the house. She embodied her zodiac proudly and often drew inspiration from it. You can spot the lion in many of her chefs d’oeuvre, whether it be cufflinks, handbags, jewelry and now in Chanel’s fragrance collection.
Le Lion de Chanel is a warm, majestic and refined fragrance. This perfume offers notes of amber mixed with middle notes of labdanum and patchouli with touch of bergamot, lemon and vanilla for bold and majestic scent. Let us face it, the idea of the lion is always mighty and commands respect. Astrology lovers may be particularly connected to the added meaning of the perfume. Trust me, although I am Virgo, I love me a good story behind a scent. However, if reading stars are not quite your thing, this fragrance will not disappoint. Le Lion de Chanel delivers an oriental elegance hard to resist.
The packaging of this perfume is very much to my linking, simple and yet sophisticated. Le Lion de Chanel is available in 75ml and 200 ml Eau de Parfum. Ladies and Men can both rock it well. This perfume is latest addition to Les Exclusifs de Chanel Fragrance Collection. This collection is geared towards people who enjoy the art of perfumes and want to stand out with a unique scent.
You can buy LE LION DE CHANEL on the official Chanel website HERE.
Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube for luxury beauty and fragrance reviews and follow me on Instagram to stay in touch.
]]>Greetings from mother earth where we are living through a global pandemic. These are unprecedented times and unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions. You may find yourself quarantining, self-isolating or practicing social distancing as you should. Just like you, I am experiencing the same discomfort as we don’t know how long the storm will last. I realize your inbox may be flooded with emails from every organization you have interacted with, trust that this will not be your typical COVID-19 response message. This crisis has prompted me to express gratitude for my health and I use this extra time I have to care a little more for it. I find myself splurging on skin-related activities from the comfort of my little home. So I thought it would be best to share some of my doings with you with the hope it will help soothe your anxiety and prompt you to care a little more for your skin.
That being said let us talk skin, the human body’s largest organ. Well, the skin is a protective barrier between the outside environment and the inside of the body. Yet, it is easy to forget to care for it in stressful times. There are many ways to care for your skin from inside out like drinking plenty of water (8 glasses per day) and maintaining a healthy diet. My goal over the next four weeks is to give you the tools to care for it from the outside-in so that by the end of quarantine season you step out with a divine glow. We will start with moisturizers.
Moisturizers are essentials for a healthy skin regimen. They can either add moisture to the top layer of the skin (epidermis) or create a seal to retain your skin's natural moisture. Moisturizers can also have a smoothing and hydrating effect that makes fine wrinkles less noticeable. They are mostly needed during the cold months when you expose your skin to the dry heat indoors and wind chills outdoors. These environmental stressors affect your skin considerably, so it is important to you chose a moisturizer that serves your skin needs. There are three basics you need to consider when it comes to choosing the right moisturizer: your age, your skin needs and your skin type. Today, we will focus on age.
My golden rule for moisturizer is it must contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are just that: anti-oxidants. They are molecules that fight the oxidation of the skin caused by free radicals responsible for oxidizing the skin, therefore, causing it to be dull or age prematurely. So here is what to look for when choosing a moisturizer for your age:
Remember, the skin will age inevitably. But there is the intrinsic aging (20%) that occurs naturally and the extrinsic aging caused by free radicals, sun exposure and environmental stresses and other stresses you can prevent (80%). Do your part, take a proactive approach and let the skin age organically.
Now that you know what to look for based on your age, next we will discuss moisturizing for your skin needs.
Sustainable luxury is attainable. Buy Well and Resell.
Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube for luxury beauty and fragrance reviews and follow me on Instagram to stay in touch.
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I was drawn to a man’s fragrance at a holiday party. The sweet wood sap paired with dry fruits and the vanilla notes in his perfume created a warm, opulent and iconic smell. I shared how lovely his perfume was. He was quick to correct me he was not wearing perfume but a cologne instead. I gladly pointed out that Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille he had on, was not an eau de cologne but an eau de parfum. Our conversation evolved into different types of fragrances.
Ever wonder why one scent is more dominant than another? Well, let's go back to the basics. Perfumes contain many layers of notes at different concentrations. These two factors are often reflective of the price. Prices increase gradually from the least concentrated to the most concentrated. Concentrations levels also affect the length of time the scent will last one's body.
Perfumeries assign different amounts of oils to perfumes to serve a broad range of customers. The intensity and longevity of a scent decrease with the percentage of aromatic compounds. Let’s take Tobacco Vanille, if Tom Ford were to manufacture the eau de toilette version, he would dilute the concentrations of oils in its eau de parfum. The finished product would sell at a much lower price.
Perfumes are classified into five categories:
Here are some of the very best deals worth checking:
Shop reasonably dear conscious consumer!
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We first stopped for an aperitivo at Duomo dal 1952. We savoured different types of fresh pasta, grilled or sautéed vegetables, and tasty fishes. Next on our list was the Duomo Cathedral, a true gothic masterpiece. This church is home to more statutes than any other in the world. Our wonderful guide and proud Milanese, Constanza Milano, shared old fables of Duomo which was built over 500 years thanks to the donation of every Milanese. Duomo Di Milano is a true symbol of the city.
As a fashion lover, the Golden Quadrilateral was a must see. This is shopping area is denoted by glittering windows. Whether it is Prada, Emilio Pucci, Bottega Veneta, the golden quadrilateral offers you a chance to immerse into Italian fashion.
I was grateful to share this experience with my Cecilia. Milan, you are forever in my heart.
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1. Carat
"Carat" refers to the weight of a diamond. In ancient times, diamonds were weighed using the seeds of the carob tree. Industry professionals may refer to carats as points. One carat equals 0.20 grams or 100 points. For example, a jeweller may refer to a diamond that weighs 0.30 carats as a 30 pointer. Taken by itself, carat does not determine a diamond’s value. Two diamonds of equal carats can have very different prices depending on three other factors within the 4Cs. However, all things being equal, the price will increase with carats, because larger diamonds are rare and coveted.
2. Clarity
Before I touch on the clarity of a stone, let's review how a diamond is formed. With carbon being the main element, natural diamonds are the result of carbon exposed to tremendous heat and pressure deep in the earth. As carbon crystallizes to form a diamond, other elements can sneak into the process and cause blemishes. These blemishes are often tiny and invisible to the naked eye but they do affect the value of a diamond. Absolutely flawless diamond is extremely rare: it is called loupe clean.
"Clarity" refers to the number of blemishes. The fewer inclusions a diamond holds, the higher the value.
3. Color
"Color" refers to the tint of the diamond. Diamonds can be found in all the colors of the rainbow, from deep cocoa to warm yellow, lively green to mesmerizing pink, intense red or deep blue. Most diamonds have a slight tint of yellow or brown color. The closer to absolute colorless a diamond is graded, the higher its value. Diamonds are assigned a letter grade from “D” (colorless) to “Z” (light yellow).
4. Cut
Most ladies know how they want their engagement ring shaped. Well, "cut" simply refers to the shape of the stone. The shape (emerald, pear, round) is often a matter of personal taste but beware the quality of cut is crucial to the diamond's final beauty and value. Diamonds are renowned for their ability to transmit light and sparkle so intensely. The perfect cut must facilitate the light to optimally travel through the stone. So when you chose a cut, chose one that will enhance your sparkle the most.
With all that being said, have fun using the chart below when you select your next diamond.
]]>People from all corners of the world visit Amsterdam for its charm and tulips. While Antwerp is by far the most important centre for diamonds worldwide, Amsterdam is the second hub in Europe for cutting and polishing these rough stones into brilliant gems. Gassan diamonds, a family-run diamond company known for its impeccable diamond polishing reputation, opened its factory to tourists visiting the Netherlands. There are few opportunities in the world to walk inside a fully-operating diamond polishing laboratory and I could not pass on this one. Experienced staff guided visitors through all the processes of the diamond chain, and they offered the possibility to take a closer look at stones of different size, colour, clarity and cut. Here my little summary of the process behind this brilliant stone:
Rough diamonds have strange shapes. Diamond experts analyze and mark the stones using a precise laser beam to determine how it might be cut to the greatest advantage.
This step is all about cutting the stone into distinct pieces.
Now that the stones are small, this is the groundwork for polishing. Two diamonds are grinded against each other to shape them into a round shape.
Polishing is about giving the diamond its brilliant sparkle. The most popular polished diamond is a round brilliant, which has a total of 57 facets. Gassan Diamonds has been able to add 64 more facets, which gives a standard diamond more brilliance. The 121 facets cut is patented worldwide.
Diamonds are the hardest material on earth and among nature’s most precious and beautiful creations. In the next post, I will share tips on how to choose a diamond. Stay tuned!
]]> 2. Tone: Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner
3. Treat:
I had few extras such as a clay mask, face oil and hydrating gel I would only use when necessary. My skin was very pleased with Drunk Elephant.
Happy Skin, Happy Life!
]]>Carthusia is a scent born in Capri, an island in Italy’s Bay of Naples. Legends tell that in 1380, the father prior of the Carthusian Monastery of St. James, taken by surprise by the news of Queen Joan of Anjou of Naples coming to Capri, picked a bouquet of 80 most beautiful and scented flowers of the island. These flowers remained in the same water for several days until the father decided to throw them away. Then, he noticed a very pleasant smell. He sought answers to the father alchemist who explored the combinations to understand the beautiful aromas. The first perfume of Capri was born.
Fast forward in 1948, the prior of the monastery found notes of the ancient perfume formulas and with permission of the pope, shared them with a chemist from Torino. This chemist opened the smallest perfume laboratories in the world to commercialized this scent calling it "Carthusia"
Nowadays, as in the past, all stages of production are still carried out by hands to maintain the craftsmanship of the Carthusian monks.
Carthusia fragrances are very fresh and give you the feel of wandering through the gardens of the island. I was able to pin down my top three:
Carthusia boutiques are only located in Italy. However, you can request samples online and the company will ship them to your door. Online orders are also available.
]]>Christine Nagel, first female perfumer at Hermès found the perfect balance of leather, cornerstone of Hermès’s success and roses, central piece of perfumery. Before joining the French House, Christine was the creator of many Jo Malone fragrances and recognizable scents like Miss Dior Cherie, Giorgio Armani Si and more. Christine was thrilled with a new role at Hermès because it offered extensive freedom. There are no budgets to dictate the raw materials nor there are timeline restrictions to launch a fragrance. Unlike other colognes, it can take up to four years to develop a perfume at Hermès. Christine developed Galop within a year. She drew from her chemist experience to balance the softness of Turkish rose and the power of the Doblis leather. The stirrup glass bottle fastened with an orange leather tie celebrates the equestrian heritage of the brand. Galop d’Hermès is only available in 50 ml and 125 ml bottles. Personally, Galop is not my favorite earthy fragrance by the luxury giant. I always find myself gravitating to Terre d’Hermès, a unisex fragrance that radiates woody, vegetal and mineral elements. Regardless, I celebrate Christine’s risks taking approach and I should recognize her achievements at the realm of Hermès fragrances. Galop d’Hermès is one chef-d'oeuvre!
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In Autumn of 2016, Olivier Polge, current in-house perfumer at Chanel reinvented the iconic scent and launched N°5 L'Eau. This perfume would be described as a modern take on the original scent. L'Eau is centered around the idea of freshness. It preserves the Rose De Mai but reworks the greener notes. L’Eau features citrus notes fused with a floral bouquet of jasmine flowers and roses enhanced by Ylang Ylang mixed with the sweetness of cedar and white musks notes. Every 30 milliliters of a bottle of Chanel N°5 contains the scent of 1,000 jasmine flowers and 12 roses from Pégomas.
Real fur is increasingly a divisive topic in fashion. My vegan friends find real fur attires disgusting to say the least while my non-vegan friends do not really care as much. Animal lovers or not, we can all agree the revolution of faux fur has started regardless of where we stand on the spectrum.
Animal rights activists are boosting the vogue for veganism with anti-fur demonstrations. These protests are increasingly popular. Their voices are being heard. Gucci was first to announce it will go fur-free in attempt to adapt to modern times. Tom Ford followed suit few months late. Over 90% of designers taking part in London Fashion Week stated they will no longer be using fur. The British Fashion Council chief executive, Caroline Rush said the agency will not intervene in the creative process however they believe in the rights of humans and animals and would encourage any designer to make ethical choices.
Our very own Canada Goose is the target of PETA “ Canada Douche” Campaign. Oh yes, PETA is coming for Canada Goose. Playing the devil’s advocate, Canada Goose has reviewed their fur policy to be more transparent about the source of down from farm to factory. But the company does not share the view that animal products should never be used in any consumer products.
Let’s get real for a moment, I have always wanted to own a real fur coat. Whenever I walk into a fur store, I run to feel the softness of the fur. I appreciate the warmth on my skin. On the other hand, I emphatic to the feelings of animal rights activists. Now back to the topic, millennials are turning to faux fur. Faux fur is soft and luxurious are real fur and it can also be more versatile when it comes to designs. Some fur makers are displeased in the faux fur trends and contend fake fur is the lease ecological product because it is done with plastics and non-renewable materials. Urrgggh there is a plausible argument on every side. All these arguments are driven by our personal feelings when it comes to animals. I would like to think wearing fur is a personal choice and we are to respect individual choices. As long as there is a demand for fur attires, they will continue to be made and the protests will continue to stay prevalent.
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It is undeniable 2017 was the year of Gucci. From the slick runway designs and celebrity endorsements to the spamming of our social media platforms, Gucci was everywhere to be seen.
It was not a surprise when the Lyst index named the Italian fashion house the hottest brand of 2017. Gucci topped the list for most googled brands during the same year. The creative audacity of the director, Alessandro Michele was just what the brand needed to revamp their global image. Gucci had previously lost market share and was in search of someone who could disrupt the industry with a never seen before ingenuity. Alessandro, an incognito designer among fashion's biggest names worked behind the scenes at Gucci for 12 years. He learned from the best: Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Venturini Fendi at Fendi. Later, he was hired by Tom Ford to design bags for Gucci. He has since climbed the ranks up to Creative Director.
Gucci extended their reach to millennials by appointing a young committee of advisors. Millenials bought into Gucci's collaborations with Instagram poets and special pop-up events where they could personalize their handbags with butterfly and flower motifs. Hence, the brand scored the highest engagement on Instagram.
Gucci recorded an explosive growth in revenue and earnings. The Italian megabrand sales spiked up by 42.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 reaching $7.6 billion in revenue for 2017. Their marketing formula worked.
Gucci has found the momentum many competitors searched. With audacious advertising campaigns, rebranding, improved store concept, Gucci dared to be bold and the house is now thriving. Let's see if the brand will continue this momentum in 2018.
Here are some of my favorite Gucci designs of the year:
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You donate them with the hope that a less fortunate person will use them. You select your best used clothes carefully, fearing the person who receives them might be insulted by their quality. You have been taught old garments must not go to waste when another person can buy them at half price at the thrift store.
Fast fashion forces you to keep up with the trends, the clothes you purchased a year ago, and in some cases, even four months ago are no longer cool to wear. You must get rid of them by any means.
Surprise, surprise! Used clothing resale is a multi-billion dollar money-making machine. Most of the clothes we donate for free are sold to second-hand clothing merchants, who sort garments, then bundle them in bales for resale to third world countries. At least 70 percent of donated garments end up in Africa. The United Nations commodity trade statistics reports over $2B of second-hand clothing were imported from western countries. Canada is the seventh largest exporter, with $185M in exports annually. Kenya, Angola, Tanzania, just to name a few countries where Canadian unwanted clothes end up.
I challenge you to think these clothes are helping the continent's most needy people. Recent reports show how these clothes are undermining the local textile industry with low prices they cannot compete with. A handful of African countries are now saying no to your unwanted clothes. Rwanda took the first step by raising the tariffs to curb the imports of these goods. Remember Rwanda was also the first nation to ban the use of plastic bags, how progressive are they?
If African countries no longer want our recycled clothes where would they end up? Recycling remains an issue.
Today, less than 1% of second-hand clothes are recycled. Few fast fashion leading brands such as H&M, Zara, Asos are taking action to implement sustainable programs for the use of recycled textiles by 2020. They have also launched take-back programs. They want you to donate your unwanted clothes and even get coupons in exchange. H&M has the most established and widespread of the in-store recycling programs, with bins in many of its more than 4,200 stores worldwide. They promise to make new clothes or use them for insulation, carpet padding and more. Remember, these are baby steps to solve a bigger issue. Nevertheless, they are steps in the right direction.
As a fashion lover, I urge you to think about the ways you dispose of your used clothes by becoming a conscious buyer. Buy with a purpose, look for long-lasting fabrics made of recyclable materials (non-blended fabrics). And remember, you can never go wrong with a good fashion investment piece, such as the Chanel bag you were always dreaming about. Once you are fed up with your clothes, bring them back to life by redesigning them. You can also request your favorite brands to establish recycling programs. There is power in the numbers.
Fashion is not a moment, fashion is an identity.
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