This story category covers clothing, accessories, treatments, procedures, products and supplies.

Boxes Casey Phaisalakani

Blue And Orange And Magenta, Oh My!

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For the Canadian material girl, a gift box from Tiffany, Hermès or Holt Renfrew will make her say aah(s).

Boxes Casey Phaisalakani

MONEY WELL SPENT | If you are hunting for a graduation gift for someone who loves to dress up (and sparkle), and you are prepared to spend some money but don’t want to go too, too crazy, consider picking up a little something from Tiffany & Co., Hermès or Holt Renfrew.

Each of these luxury goods retailers, who package their merchandise in gift boxes as recognizable as their names, sells small, and not exorbitantly expensive, jewellery items and accessories that are already ordained classics. These are pieces that get passed along to daughters and beyond, items destined to pop up in fashion magazines 50 years from now (online, of course, because paper mags will have vanished) on their hot vintage collectibles lists—things with the potential to hold or accrue value. Read more

Mother’s Little (Hair Colour) Helper

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Virtually undetectable, hair crayons buy you time between trips to the colourist.

CHEAP TRICK | Dark roots with blonde tresses may be in vogue right now with glamorous evangelists like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow flaunting them, but I am here to tell you that grey roots, as a deliberate style choice, will never be in fashion. Not now, not ever.

So what do you do with the grey in your hair? You could go all Patti Smith and let it show (an idea that does seem to have legs right now, if you read The New York Times beauty pages last Sunday)—or cover it up completely. For those choosing the latter and dealing with the unremitting tide of grow-out, there are two excellent and inexpensive stop-gap products to buy you extra time between dates with the colourist. Read more

Mineral Makeup Is Magic

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Who couldn’t use affordable, flattering, virtually undetectable foundation?

Mineral-MakeupEvery day people ask me, “What’s so great about mineral powders?”

Mineral makeup has an amazing affinity with the skin—it looks like bare skin but better. It is non-comedogenic (will not block pores) so even the oiliest, acne-prone skin can use it. There are no talcs, filters, chemicals or dyes in the product, and there is virtually no risk of allergy so even the most sensitive skin can use it. In fact, mineral powders contain zinc oxide, an anti-inflammatory, which soothes and helps to reduce skin sensitivity. Mineral powders tend to wear extremely well and are quite water-resistant so won’t run. Depending on the type, concentration, and quality of the minerals used, mineral powder can also act as a physical sunscreen. Read more

I’m Throwin’ On My Fauxboutins

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Where to find way less expensive look-alikes of the shoes worn by every woman in Stardom.

Louboutin patent leather pump

Original source: Louboutin's Simple 70 patent leather pump (shown here) feels like the inspiration for the Bay's elegant Christina pump.

SERIOUS SHOES FOR LESS Every year Christian Louboutin does new versions of his “Simple” high-heeled patent pump with signature red sole. For the past two years at least, it has been a lovely shoe: low cut (for a little toe cleavage) with a slightly rounded toe box (for a very comfortable fit) and a three-inch heel (an extremely wearable height). His latest version, the Simple 85, comes in a rich shade of lavender patent leather—you can see it at Holt Renfrew where it sells for $645 a pair.

I first flipped over the Simple a few seasons back when Louboutin introduced the Simple 70 in nude patent with a nude heel. Much as I loved those shoes, there was no way I was going to pay upwards of $700 for the privilege of owning a pair. Read more