Reflection issue I

2016 | Issue I

Featuring

Dynasty George

www.taimurandnazir.studio

|

info@taimurandnazir.studio

kenchensf.com

Maria Aristidi Photography www.mariaaristidi.org

Letter from the editor

Mission statement Reflection Magazine is a publication aimed at revolutionizing women’s self-sense of beauty in their reflection.

We advocate for confidence in every individual’s unique style and aesthetic.

Through our distinctive view and portrayal of fashion and beauty, inside and out, we promote the celebration of young, undiscovered talent in clothing design, while steering away from the conventional notions that are currently placed in the fashion industry. We strive to be a contribution to the day when women will look in the mirror and not feel the need to compare themselves to an impossible, edited, and unrealistic image of perfection. Instead, they will appreciate the glamor and elegance they possess in their own expression of style.

Paul Andrews Publisher

Dear Readers, We are excited to present our first edition of Reflection Magazine.

may be struggling with the same issues. You will also discover natural

Our international fashion magazine aims to help young women

beauty remedies, advice on body image and self-esteem for the

revolutionize their sense of beauty in their own reflection while

summer months, and style tips to keep you looking your best. This issue

advocating for confidence and self appreciation of personal

seeks to help you discover natural beauty in some of the most unlikely

uniqueness. This magazine helps women from around the world

places. May you be empowered by our stories and passions, while

think, dream and overcome issues that many face on a day to

celebrating your own radiant life----- shining through your own beautiful

day basis. We offer a unique blend of articles ranging from up

Reflection.

and coming fashion designers around the world to other topics pertaining to women’s interests such as style, health, beauty, and much more.

In this issue, you will discover young talents in the fashion industry, ranging from Brooklyn to Hong Kong. You will be blown away by their ready-to-wear collections and hear about their lives and inspirations. You will also find personal stories written by women who have struggled with inner demons and overcame personal issues. We hope these true stories help empower any woman who

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Please enjoy. We welcome your comments, ideas, and opinions. Please do not hesitate to contact me at: caitlin@reflectionmagazine.net.

Sincerely, Caitlin Santomauro Editor

Paul Andrews

Exective Editor Joe D’ambrosi

Art Director Nazir Abbas

Managing Editor Catlin Santomauro

Graphic Artists Joe Klaus Nazir Abbas Virgina deGuzman Anthony Belizaire Anthony Anastasiou Winkie

Media Correspondant Richard Brooks

Marketing&Sales Scatto Savit

Contributing Writers

Caitlin Santomauro Aleta Love Chloe Hines Olivia Jannuzzi Rose Marie Colucci Jacinta Liu Germina Paola Dela Cruz Catherine Provenzano Nadia Bercovich Sara Kate Egan shoruk Khaddour Prangthong Srirungthum Edwin Allan Diaz Paulina Gueorguieva C.M.S

Photographers Nazir Abbas Kevin Sperando

Cover Artwork Nazir Abbas

Contact

1.800.680.3213 Publisher@reflectionmagazine.net

Copyright Information Reflection Magazine (ISSN 1931 – 5295) is published monthly by UA Media, Inc., 24 Woodbine Avenue, Northport, New York, 11768. All contents copyright 2016 by UA Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction or use in whole o rpart of the content without the prior written consent of UA Media, Inc. is strictly prohibited. All logos and trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Although the writers and the publisher have exhaustively researched all sources to ensure the accuracy and the completeness of the information contained in this publication, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. The opinions expressed in all materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of UA Media, Inc. or Reflection Magazine. Printed in the United States of America.

Thank you to our internet sources for other images used throughout this publication

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Publisher&CEO

Contents of this issue 2016 | Issue I

Designer Dynasty George

Featured Designers

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Kay KwonHong Kong

22 40

Ioana Cioacu Alice Haliday

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Dynasty George

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Joseph Li 9

josephliportfolio.tumblr.com

Contents of this issue

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As Seen Through Blue Eyes: You Have Survived Girl Exposed: Sexuality Secrete Life Part One Style Up With Pink Tartan

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Improvin Your Bod Image is a W

hat do you think of when you hear the word summertime? For many people, summertime means wearing flip flops, getting pedicures, going to the beach, and time to kick back and relax. But for women who struggle with body image, summertime accompanies feelings of anxiety and dread, as we show more skin and prepare to put on our bathing suits.

The reality is, no one is born with a poor body image.

So why is it that so many women struggle with this issue?

The answer may not be specific to one thing, but rather a combination of things, such as society, the media, circumstances in our lives, or family dynamics. At what point does someone begin to develop a poor body image?

Let’s take a look at the media and the emphasis our society places on beauty. Do you remember watching Snow White when you were growing up? It is a beautiful love story. It is also a story about a wicked witch who becomes enraged after the mirror tells her she is not the most beautiful, and her mission is to get rid of the woman who is more beautiful.

What is the underlying message here? Not only is it important to be beautiful, but it is important to be the most beautiful, in other words, perfect. It is helpful to recognize that these underlying messages begin at a very young age.

For young women, the pressure to fit in and have the

“perfect disorder will call came to life had distorted extreme being in depress were loo reality, M she was diet, and just exis others, where s or choo chose to

Cont to do w feelings statistics an eatin Rahkone

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rish fashion designer, Alice Halliday, has a uniqueness that is clearly shown in her fashion. What makes this young design er stand out from the rest is her big strides in the industry that she makes by creating nothin g but handmade pieces. “The fashion industry can be very wasteful and [just] throw-away”, says Hallida y, “trends come and go so fast, it seems like such a waste. To me, sustainability is so important.

There is so much fabric already on this planet, why not use it, instead of creating more!” Hallida y prefers designing based off of materials and fabrics first, playing around and draping them on a mannequin and starting her work from there, rather than drawing out a design first.

Halliday’s love for fashion started when she was just nine years old and making clothes for her Barbie dolls. Even back then she though t outside the box, making doll clothes not just out of fabrics, but anything that would create an interesting shape such as leaves, flowers , and toilet paper. As she grew older, she ditched the dolls and started making her own clothes and sold her first works in local shops and market s.

In her 2013 collection, “R.I.P = Relove It-Please”, all the designs, colors, prints, and patterns were inspired by two important ladies in Halliday’s life: her grandma Isobel and her friend Nicola, who had unfortunately passed away the year before. “Both women were very creativ e, had a love for fabric, and a great sense of style.

They

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Featured Designer

HONG KONGS

UP & COMING

DESIGNER Let’s talk about Kay Kwok By: Aleta Love

This upcoming fashion designer is originally from Hong Kong,Kay Kwok studied for a Bachelor’s degree in Womenswear at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, later obtaining a Master’s in Menswear from The London College of Fashion in 2012. He also interned at Alexander Mcqueen and designed costumes for Muse’s 2012 world tour and a Hong Kong based band.

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KWOK local designer creating the most buzz at the moment is Kay Kwok.

Launching his label just two years ago, he is gaining popularity at rapid speed. Already shown at London Fashion Week he caught the eye of New York Times fashion editor Suzy Menkes. Kwok is a firm believer in fashion education, which he says has improved a lot in Hong Kong in these past recent years. His personal growth stemmed from fashion design studies at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.This gave him the confidence and the skill set to go to the prestigious London College of Fashion.Jimmy Choo and Patrick Cox also attended there at one point and time. He also worked at Alexander McQueen. “Hong Kong gave me key skills, like pattern cutting and computeraided design,” says Kwok, adding that London further honed his creativity.

Kay Kwok’s designs are more than just designs, they are tools for self-expression and stepping outside the box. He creates his pieces to strive to give people the opportunity to express themselves through contemporary fashion, he believes it’s all about finding your own identity: “Designing is an artistic outlet for me, just like it should be for others who are choosing to wear my pieces.”

Kwok was the first Hong Kong menswear designer to show his first collection during London Fashion Week in 2013. He’s now well on his way to becoming one of the most influential Chinese designers in the industry by his out-of-the-box looks. “My goal is to create artistic, bold and creative designs for people to wear and self-express on a daily basis,” said Kwok.

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HONG KONG

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KAY KWOK H is last autumn-winter collection featuring extraterrestrials patterns.

The collection is influenced by the themes futurism and technology, and coupled with computergenerated prints with asymmetrical cuts and a out of this world colour palette. Kwok says he values creativity over monetary gain, not an obvious choice for many up-and-coming designers. With all this talent he was give the opportunity, by a famous company Joyce for his design work. “I was first approached

by Joyce after my degree show, but I turned them down as I wasn’t ready,” says Kwok.

It’s an offer that most new designers in Hong Kong would give anything for, but Kwok turned it down.

He turns down Joyce two more times before finally being ready and letting them buy and sell his

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collection in their stores. He wanted to make sure everything was perfect.

His eponymous menswear line is available at Joyce at Pacific Place, Admiralty now.

Kwok finds himself most inspired by current affairs and his fascination with the galaxy. The latter seems to be the most notable in his designs:”It is so exciting to be moved by something to the point where it gives you goosebumps.”

Find his collection at Joyce, G/F New World Tower, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2810 1120, www.joyce.com.

It’s a must buy, if you are one who wants to stand out, this brand is for you!

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K

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Photos courtesy of http://www.fashionglossaryuk.com/

KAY KWOK

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As Seen Through Blue Eyes

You Have Survived Everything You Have Gone Through

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hen I met my former flame I knew that he was my person. I knew, because as I got to know him our demons knew each other.

We had both come from broken families, with terrible fathers. I remember when we shared stories about one another his darkness was what drew me in, because it felt like home.

He didn’t tell me about his loss for a long time. But it eventually seeped into life that he had a brother.

Born sick, and lived a life of hospitals and doctors and prognosis’s. Destined to not grow past his childhood, he faced all odds and lived life well into his teen years. But it was cut short when his condition spiraled downward at an alarming rate.

I asked to borrow a comic book from my boyfriend when I noticed his brother’s name on the side. My friend came over later in the week and just so happened to pick it up and I told her how weird it felt to be reading a book that belonged to a ghost. She looked me in the eyes and told me that I should feel honored… and then I did.

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His loss made me reflect back on my loss.

The first friend I lost was when I was 16. She was by far one of the coolest people I had ever had the chance of meeting. She lived 45 minutes away from me, but I would hop in my old car and make the drive, she called me Kerry from Northport. We would hang out and smoke cigarettes and think up of pranks. I was too naïve to know she was into heroin. It had been over a month since we had last spoke or hung out but I will always remember the day of that phone call. I was getting ready to go out to speak about philosophy with my boyfriend of the time and our friend with his friend who was a professor. I was wearing a red and white polka dot dress and a red winter coat. Her boyfriend called me and I was really confused because he never calls me. I picked up and when he told me that she died that day I immediately started calling him a liar.

I must have called him a liar for a good five minutes in complete denial thinking it was all a sick joke. That night my boyfriend told me I was the prettiest sad person he knew. I remember we had a torrential downpour, and it was perfect because that was how I felt. I didn’t go to

B

Lying awake in the time between late night and early morning and you can’t differentiate between the two are

the funeral. I didn’t want to deal with the idea of death just yet.

The second time death came and took a friend away from me was 6 years later, my brother’s girlfriend of 5 years. She was basically like a sister to us because she was always staying over. She was the kind of person who had this amazing sarcastic sense of humor and her and I would always hang out and talk about how crazy my actual sister was. The last time I ever saw her was a serendipity happenstance run in at the movies. I was with my boyfriend and we were going to see Inception when I spotted her and my brother. We went and got pizza together before the movies and went and saw the movie together. My brother broke up with her a few months later. I remember the day because I was driving to work to Dave n Busters, a job I despised. There was horrible traffic on the Northern State and when I finally saw why, I saw a car that was so mangled I said out loud to no one in particular that that person was dead, whoever they were. I got yelled at for being late, and I tried to ask how I should know when there is going to be a horrible car accident and leave early. I got reprimanded for my smart mouth.

the times when loneliness seeps in, and so, I would turn to stories of people who have felt such strange and bizarre things as I have. Now it is my turn to give back, because we all need to make a mark, a stain, something...before we are pushed aside for a younger, fresher perspective.

I want you to know that if you really think about it, you have survived everything you have gone through.

You will be ok.

saw him we went and hung out at his house. We drank beers, and played games. He was always a shy quiet introvert, kind of like me, but in small hangouts were when I got to know him. My boyfriend was closer to him than I ever had been. Motorcycle accident. They say he died with his eyes closed… a sign he was ready to go, but my god he was so so young. The day we found out, we all got together, got as much beer as we could carry, and took off to the ocean. We walked the sandy shore until it was just us. Everyone proceeded to get really drunk and talk about all the good he brought to everyone’s lives. It was a real loss. He was one of those people who could always see the good in everything, even in the complete bad of the bad he would be smiling and showing us the good. For each empty can, we lined on the shore until it spelt his name. It made me realize that a funeral does not need to be suits and appetizers and formalities. It can be pure grief in the form of a group, on a beach, with beer.

Sometimes we don’t get to choose the ending.

Sometimes we move forward, not necessarily because we want to, but because that’s how we’re programmed.

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lue Eyes is my pen name for the right to be extremely honest and open with a variety of subjects and ideas, without jeopardizing my identity. I am writing to you because in times of great stress and great problems many of us seek the comfort of words and thoughts of people who have been there before.

Later that night I was over my friend’s house watching Inception on her TV when my mom called me to tell me that there was a horrible car accident and my brothers ex girlfriend had died. I realized that I was there. Why would the universe do this? That the last time I saw her I was watching Inception and how strange life can be in those moments of tragic coincidence. I went to her funeral. My brother didn’t.

The last time death revealed himself was both to me and my former flame. It was the summer. The last time I

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Featured Designer

DESIGNER IOANA CIOLACU IS BREAKING GENDER BOUNDARIES

BY C HLOE HINE S

D

efined by a combination of timeless powerhouses and cutting-edge newcomers, the anticipated arrival of Berlin Fashion Week year after year is one of the most exhilarating events in Germany. Through the shows, exhibitions and exclusive after-parties, there is always one designer that emerges from the scene as an iconic representation of the season. This year, that was Ioana Ciolacu.

with much success. Her show at Berlin Fashion Week 2016 was playful by means of “panda-style” makeup utilized on each model, as well as a colour palette that softened the entire aesthetic of the show. Not only were the designs and make-up huge hits with high-brow publications and the likes, but her playlist was also a major success – proving that the entire experience lay in the details, rather then simply the fashions.

Trained in architecture, and later in fashion design and technology, Ciolacu’s designs transcend what’s left of traditional gender boundaries. An amalgamation of architectural rigidity and unisex aestheticism, Ciolacu is defining the upcoming season with a refreshingly street-smart ready-to-wear collection that exudes the, “I don’t give a f*** – but I do” Berlin mood. Determined to create a sophisticated street-wear collection that would be both accessible and comfortable for the modern minimalist, Ciolacu launched a diffusion line in 2014

The newest collection, the Capsule unisex collection, is structurally exquisite and sustainable – all fabric scraps are sent to the Calarasi Village in Romania to supply and maintain the traditional making of rag rugs. The Capsule collection offers the famous “Doodle” items – colorful, block-screen printed sweatshirts that can be personalized with the included water-resistant marker. However, we’re pretty confidant Ciolacu has already made a permanent mark on Berlin.

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IOANA CIOLACU

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Photos courtesy of http://www.gettyimages.ca/

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Photos courtesy of http://www.gettyimages.ca/

IOANA CIOLACU

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GIRL EXPOSED

SEXUALITY E

arly on in life I understood what beauty was. It was gifted to me in my artistic ways of appreciation. I appreciated every sunset. How the little droplets of morning dew and how they glowed early in the morning.

How my street would steam after a hot summer’s rain. Beauty is everywhere and in every form.

As I got older this idea grew more complex.

While dealing with body dysmorphia (a psychological ailment where your body image is illogically skewed as to how it actually looks).

I would look around and start to compare myself to other girls. After awhile and quite a bit of therapy later, the body dysmorphia was no longer an issue, but I didn’t stop looking at other girls. I was no longer comparing, I was appreciating.

I lost my virginity when I was 15 to my first boyfriend. I thought it was what I was supposed to do. Looking back now, I know that I was way too young and should have waited. As they say, hindsight is always 20/20. After that relationship ended disastrously I had sworn off men. I was turned off from men, but I was still looking at these girls around me. I was envious of their bodies, their curves, and their legs. I wasn’t just appreciating anymore. I was turned on. I thought that anything that provoked these

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deep and powerful feelings had to be beautiful.

I met a lesbian right around then and she introduced me to the world of bi-sexuality. She ended up becoming my first girlfriend. It was wonderful and full of emotions and sensations that I hadn’t felt with a guy before, but like most things in high school, it ended. I didn’t date too much after that. I had a fling with one of my best friends that professed her sexual attraction to me after my new found bi-sexual status. I got fairly promiscuous with men because I just could not find a sense of satisfaction anywhere. I was so confused. Men had the parts that I wanted but women help my appreciation and attention so much more.

We live in We in aa world we worldwhere where have freedom we the have the of choice. freedom choice.

I came to the conclusion in my head that I was neither gay, straight, nor bi. If I had that deep and powerful emotional connection with someone it really doesn’t matter their parts. That’s what I told myself, it sounded profound and was accepted. It was accepted by everyone but me. Am I gay? Am I straight? Is bisexuality even a thing or am I just confused? Well, confused is definitely the answer and it definitely didn’t feel beautiful.

I’m an adult now and I haven’t dated a girl since high school. I’ve barely even dated men since high school either. Although I still go out with and sleep with men, I still have this intense attraction for the female body. I am still sexually aroused by women just as much as men, but I’m still confused. Am I supposed to have an answer to this question yet? All the answers that I’ve ever given out haven’t sit right with me. How do I not know the answer to my own sexuality yet?

Every time I have a bad date with a man, I swear up and down that I’m going back to dating women, but I don’t know how! How do I flirt with a girl? How do I let her know that I’m into her and how will I know if she’s into me? Sexuality is such a confusing thing. So is beauty, as well as love.

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After a while of pondering this thought I came to the realization that you don’t have to understand something that is beautiful. My confusion is such a lovely thing because I’m not trying to stick myself to some standard that is being pushed on me. I’m able to voice my confusion about what I want and that in itself is a wonderful feeling. We live in a world where we have choice.We Wecan can love love who who we have the the freedom freedomofchoice. want, sleep with who we want and even marry who we want. Having that choice is the most fascinating part about living in this world today.

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Taking New York by storm Caitlin Santomauro

Featured Designer

Dynasty George

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Dynasty

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ew York is one of the biggest fashion capitals in the world, filled with young woman discovering who they are and using fashion to help create their own identity.

Dynasty George's collection “Creciente”, meaning “Growing” in Spanish, was inspired by young women's journey of self-discovery, growing up, and transforming from girls into women.

Dynasty George is a Puerto Rican American from Brooklyn. She is part of the 2016 Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) NYC graduating class.

She was first inspired to become a fashion designer after seeing the movie “The Cheetah Girls”. The movie is about a group of girls from NYC who attend a talent high school and create a singing group together, striving to make a name for themselves. The movie inspired Dynasty mainly because the cast has so much diversity and it was the first time she saw real positive Black and Hispanic female leads on TV. She fell in love with the clothing in the movie and loved how each character wore similar but different outfits based on their individual personalities. “That whole concept really struck a chord in me to start designing for my

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Dynasty was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York in an area that was once called “Starrett City” but is known now as “Spring Creek Towers” and has lived in the same apartment building for 19 years.

Growing up she lived with 7 people; her mother, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, older sister, and younger brother. During her childhood, Dynasty was constantly surrounded by family and spent most of her time playing with her siblings. The area in Brooklyn where she grew up was nice, but was surrounded by bad areas and bad influences. Her mother was strict about who Dynasty hung around with and how much time she spent outside, only allowing her to go to the park if she was accompanied by an adult or her older sister. Due to the amount of time she spent indoors as a child, her imagination grew tremendously which began to expand her creativity as a child. From a young age she always loved to draw and design. She would design her dream bedroom, cars that could turn into airplanes, enjoyed drawing cartoons, and by the age of 9 she began drawing clothing.

and lifestyles that I wasn't exposed to living in my neighborhood.

friends and family... I drew outfits for my mom, sister, aunt, grandma, my friends at school, and even characters on TV. I loved having a target customer and making clothes that I thought were trendy but still matched their personal aesthetic”.

beautiful. The women in her family all had different body types, hair, skin tones, and personalities which ultimately inspired Dynasty “I became infatuated with the idea of creating clothing that helped compliment their bodies and express who they are”.

Dynasty's family has always been very supportive and proud of not only her accomplishments, but also the kind, forgiving, and courage person she has grown to be. Her mother has always been supportive and pushed her to be the best person she could possibly be. Being raised by 3 women and her sister helped open her eyes to the diversity of women and how differences make us

Education has played a huge role in Dynasty's life. Her mother would tell her, “you are a minority but you're going to be a smart minority”. As a kid she did not get this statement, but as she grew up she began to understand her mother's meaning. “Being educated is something that no one can take away from me; school and books opened my eyes to new opportunities

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Dynasty began her education of fashion design at The High School of Fashion Industries. There she learned about fashion illustration, sewing, draping, and ended up graduating as the Senior Class President and earned her CTE Certification in design. She continued her studies in Florence, Italy the summer after high school, taking a fashion illustration course at the Lorenzo De Medici Institute on a full scholarship.

Following her summer in Italy, she began at FIT in NYC and continued to study fashion design. She spent her fourth semester studying abroad, once again in Florence, Italy at Polimoda and received her Associates degree in International Fashion Design. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design back in New York, specializing in knitwear.

She just recently graduated from FIT in May of 2016 where she received her degree in Fashion Design with a minor in Art History.

Dynasty's collection “Creciente” is a sum of projects that she executed while studying at FIT that ended up unintentionally telling a beautiful story. Each garment comes with its own story and plenty of memories.

“I'm very proud of it and it's all very personal to me. My clothing are like songs to me, they were each written at a different stage in my life and reveal a part of who I am”.

“Creciente” was inspired by young women's journey of self-discovery and growing up but also Dynasty’s own personal journey of becoming the woman she is today.

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DYNASTY GEORGE

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DYNASTY GEORGE

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Her favorite type of material to work with happens to be yarn. After starting knitwear, she began to love that you could knit with any kind of string and make a garment out of it.

She explains that the quality, texture, size and fiber of yarn dictates the outlook of the garment and you have to consider all aspects when designing. “I like to experiment with yarns that have unique textures and fiber contents because it adds volume to the garment”. She also loves to work with lace because she feels it has always been very feminine and romantic to her but also empowering in a way. “I always wore lace on my best and important days because feeling like a beautiful feminine princess mades me feel happy and confident”.

lace ivory top. She enjoy shopping at thrift stores and likes to accessories with hats. She considers her style and clothing very feminine and romantic but also bohemian and sometimes classic. Her favorite time periods for clothing are the 1920's, 1950's, 1970's, and 1990's. She feels that her style embraces trends and attributes from all of these time periods. Some of her favorite designers include Ulla Johnson, who she currently interns for, Isabel Marant, Valentino, Docle and Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Elie Saab, Rodarte, Chole, Chanel, and Alexander Wang. “I feel like all these designers and brands are really innovative and have strong influential fashion powerhouses. They all have clothing that I admire and express a different part of who I am”.

Dynasty just graduated from FIT and has already caught people's attention with her creative skills in fashion design. She has many aspirations for the future of her brand. She is looking forward to selling her brand at boutiques and top retailers and is also thinking of owning her own store one day and becoming a lifestyle brand. “My dream would be to have a cute boutique in Brooklyn or Soho. I would really love to show at Fashion Week, have my clothing featured on the cover of WWD, an ad in Vogue, and a solid customer base. I want people to love and relate to my clothing. I want woman to find must have, one of a kind, staple pieces that they can't live without in my brand”.

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Her collection is filled with feminine pieces like long flowing skirts, a silk body suite, and hand made corsets. Her personal favorite outfit from this collection is an ivory corset with hand-beaded pearls on the side paired with a blush pink lace gorge skirt. It was created during her fifth semester at FIT and she distinctly remembers this being the point of her academic career where she stopped designing pieces that would simply please her professors and started designing things that made her happy. She designed this garment to be something that she would adore and want to wear herself. “It wasn't the all black minimalistic look that everyone at FIT always does and promotes but it was a melody that sang from my heart, straight to the dress form and I was proud of it”.

Dynasty's signature look is a vintage floral or printed skirt with a

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DYNASTY GEORGE

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e n O Part

Secret Life

Story of a Privileged Girl Gone Wrong.

The Secrete Life of a Privileged Girl Gone Wrong is an ongoing story of my personal life’s struggle battling addiction, lose, and losing my sense of self. I want to share my story with you in hopes that any young girl battling addiction can hopefully relate and see that she is not alone in her struggles.

Also, putting my story out there for the world to see I hope will bring realization to stereotypes people have on addicts. Addiction does not care who you are, where you are from, what race your are, what gender, what religion you practice, it can and it does happen to all types of people. I did not come from a broken home. I was not abused as a child. I was raised in a loving family, with parents and grandparents

who taught me values and morals. But the diseases of addiction still got me in its grips and held me down for years. My story is real and it is scary. My life has not been pretty. But in order to save another suffering addicts life, I must share my story to help prevent other girls from hitting the rock bottoms that I did.

My hopes are to raise the next young addicts bottom, that she will get help before she has to experience the things I had to experience.

No one deserves to live a miserable life and if you are struggling with addiction I want you to know that there is a way out and if you reach out for help there are people who have been exactly where you are and they are willing to help in anyway they can.

With Love, C.M.S.

This is part one to my story, my childhood and the early years of my addiction when I did not know or believe that what I was doing was wrong and was not normal. hen I was younger, I never really felt like I

W

From the second I snorted my first line of coke I knew I

fit in. I remember always trying to be like

found my “drug of choice”. It was perfect for a young

the others girls. I would dress like them, do

teenage girl. It made me outgoing, kept me up at parties,

my hair like theirs, and even based all my

neutralized my drinking, and most importantly kept me

decision making on what I thought they would do. I

skinny. This love affair lasted all through both my high

never actually felt comfortable in my own skin. I had an

school and college careers. During high school my friends

amazing childhood, I was brought up in a large, loving,

always knew exactly what bathroom I would be in, at

Italian family, where everyone was extremely close and

exactly what time, and they would come just to score a

got along perfectly. I was also the odd one out or “black

line from me.

tantrums, screamed and yelled if I didn't get my way, and eventually pushed my family away to hang out with my friends. Little did I know, that I was demonstrating “addict behavior” at such a young age.

Yes I was showing signs of “addict behavior” since the

During my teenage years I always preferred coke over pills, but that all changed when my boyfriend of 2 years died in a tragic car accident. I was 17 years old, lost the only person I have ever loved (up until that point at least), and I didn't know where to turn. A mutual friend handed me a xanex during his wake and right away I knew this

age of 9, but I did not touch any sort of mood altering

was some sort of miracle drug that just made you happy

substance until I was 12 years old. This is when I found

and erased all pain from your life...or so I thought. It

alcohol and marijuana. The first time I ever had a drink,

wasn't long until I was popping 4-6 full xanex bars a day

I was taking shots of vodka at a close childhood friend's

and living in a complete black out. I wouldn't know what

house. I ended up blacking out, throwing up all over

day it was, I wouldn't remember seeing people, I turned

myself, fell down a flight of stairs, and allegedly had to

into a legitimate zombie girl who eventually no one in

have her older brother and his friends throw me into the

school wanted anything to do with. Fortunately, a few

shower...naked, at 12 years old. I did not remember that

months passed and my pill phase seemed to be over. At

night, but I do remember waking up and thinking that I

this point in my life my parents were convinced that I may

couldn't wait to do it again (even after finding out that 4

have a drug problem, but since I put down the xanex cold

older boys saw me completely naked covered in throw

turkey, completely on my own, I convinced myself that it

up). I achieved a sense of calmness when I drank, and

was proof that I did not have a drug problem at all, even

soon after found the same feeling by smoking weed.

though I was still using heavy amounts of coke, weed, and

Usually, starting to use mind altering substances at such a young age will eventually lead to more hardcore drugs in your future. My family warned me but I did not care. I always remember idolizing the bad kids in movies, thinking it was cool to skip school and smoke cigarettes, so the “druggie” life seemed exciting to me.

By the age of 15 I started experimenting with pills and it wasn't long until I found my first love...cocaine.

just discovered acid, ecstasy and mushrooms. I convinced myself that it was all in good fun and that I was young and one day will grow out of my bad girl phase... wrong again.

I am still alive and well, but my story does not end here...

C.M.S.

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sheep” when it came to my family. I acted out, threw

Featured Designer

I

rish fashion designer, Alice Halliday, has a uniqueness that is clearly shown in her fashion. What makes this young designer stand out from the rest is her big strides in the industry that she makes by creating nothing but handmade pieces. “The fashion industry can be very wasteful and [just] throw-away”, says Halliday, “trends come and go so fast, it seems like such a waste. To me, sustainability is so important. There is so much fabric already on this planet, why not use it, instead of creating more!” Halliday prefers designing based off of materials and fabrics first, playing around and draping them on a mannequin and starting her work from there, rather than drawing out a design first.

In her 2013 collection, “R.I.P = Relove-ItPlease”, all the designs, colors, prints, and patterns were inspired by two important ladies in Halliday’s life: her grandma Isobel and her friend Nicola, who had unfortunately passed away the year before. “Both women were very creative, had a love for fabric, and a great sense of style. They were nonconformists and both showed a lot of appreciation towards my work,” says Halliday. The ideas are endless when you reuse common items and make them into something beautiful, and Halliday has certainly proved this. “I think clothing is so much more interesting when it has a story to tell!” Says Halliday. It’s this outside of the box thinking and a great eye for detail that makes

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Halliday’s love for fashion started when she was just nine years old and making clothes for her Barbie dolls. Even back then she thought outside the box, making doll clothes not just out of fabrics, but anything that would create an interesting shape such as leaves, flowers, and toilet paper. As she grew older, she ditched the dolls and started making her own clothes and sold her first works in local shops and markets.

Alice Halliday’s works something you don’t want to miss.

Halliday’s style is bohemian mingled with elegance, old blended with new, romantic yet bold. She hails from Skibbereen, Ireland, and studied Art and Design at Warwickshire College, then graduated from the University for the Creative Arts Epsom in 2010. “The tuition I got there was invaluable and it really helped me develop my own signature style,” says Halliday. She pulls her inspiration from historical costumes, religious iconography, old photography, and of course, nature.

Fairytales, myths, and folklore are also a source of inspiration for Halliday. Some of her favorites are Alice in Wonderland (which inspired her collection: “Waking Up in Wonderland”), A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, The Flower Fairies, and other magical stories. Though her works tell a story on their own, some collections have literal stories that help emphasize the feel and message of the collection. Her collection, “Wayside Wanderers”, tells the story of three children who “have been wandering all summer” and they find shelter in an abandoned house for the winter. The dresses and accessories made for this collection further tell the story of the three children, and makes the story come alive in a much different way. Halliday says, “I took inspiration from the nomadic, gypsy lifestyle. I had in mind a very bohemian feel, taking influences from a mix of ethnic cultures, particularly India, with lots of texture, rich colors, and mix matched prints.”

It’s easy to notice that hearts are a common motif throughout her works. When

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asked about the significance, Halliday said, “I just love the image of the Sacred Heart and the heart itself as a motif, it’s just very pleasing to the eye and symbolizes love, warmth, and wholeness. I love my work and I put so much love into what I do.”

So what can we expect from Alice Halliday in the future? For starters, she is about to introduce her first bridal collection, which is definitely something worth checking out.

Similar to her previous lines, her recent work is full of bright and bold beautiful colors, sheer fabrics, floral and mix-matched patterns that flatter each other well. Her 70’s collection is full of paisley patterns and unique fabrics which gives the line a funky and groovy feel matched well with vintage. In another new collection, “From Meadows Sweet to Trick or Treat”, Halliday continues to perfect creating whimsical and dreamy fashion pieces that look as if they were pulled straight out of a fairy-tale.

Her inspirations for her recent work were taken from all over the world, “from Mexico to my home-Ireland” and particularly Japanese street style and traditional oriental costumes, which is definitely becoming popular in the fashion world lately. “You will always see a balance of old world elegance and contemporary design in my work.” Like the heart symbol, a new motif in her work is the shamrock, adorned with black lace trimming (vintage, of course!).

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Alice Halliday’s work is definitely something worth checking out. Plus, it’s a good feeling wearing something that is not only beneficial to the environment and is sustainable, but it tells a story and carries history, and can be a part of your own story.

You can find Alice’s work in her Etsy shop: AliceHalliday.Etsy.com, or if you’re ever in Ireland you can see her work in Brocade & Lime in Cork and Atelier 27 in Dublin.

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Advertise with us.

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STYLE UP

WITH

PINK TARTAN

SPRING 2016

BY RO S E MARI E CO LUC C I

Four Pink Tartan looks that are simply dashing for spring/summer 2016 and well suited for today’s modern, active women.

Style&Fashion

Kimberley Newport-Mimran, the co-founder of the brand Pink Tartan, launched the product line in 2002. It was her love of retail and fashion that led her along this path starting at the age of 14, when she first began working as a retail sales associate in her home town of Niagara Falls. Consequently, she moved to Toronto to further explore the fashion world and nourish her personal growth in this field.

Enrolled at George Brown College in 1989 to study apparel manufacturing management, she joined the buying team at the Hudson’s Bay Company after graduating in the program.

The three years spent in this position allowed her to gain knowledge and experience with international brands and quickly moved to the

product development and merchandising offices at Club Monaco.

Following several successful seasons on the design side of the label, she became the senior director for its newest venture, Caban, an extension of the Club Monaco brand After taking time to start a family, Kimberley Newport-Mimran and her husband, former Club Monaco CEO Joseph Mimran, launched their own clothing line. Pink Tartan was born, a womenswear brand relating to the emergence of a lifestyle that focused on modern and sophisticated sportswear designed to inspire women to use clothing from daywear to evening style.

In 2010, continuous success brought Pink Tartan to open its first flagship store in Toronto’s affluent Yorkville neighbourhood. Its brand’s ready-to-wear concept pursued on enriching the line with a mix of casual wear with clothes fitted to amalgamate an active lifestyle.

Today, Pink Tartan can be found at luxury retailers such as Holt Renfrew, The Bay, including US department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus. Pink Tartan also retails in over 170 specialty stores across North America and internationally from Dubai, to Japan, to England.

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T

hese looks compensate the entire theme for 2016 spring collection that display Canadian designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran’s focus for the season. Trendy, with a twist of 70’s look, the season’s collection is designed with the right dosage of sophistication and proper tailoring that brings sportswear to define itself as being effortless yet sensible. With simple styles that easily convert from daywear to evening wear, this designer line contains its luxury theme as “living in your clothes.”

Style Up a White Two-Piece Outfit A closer look reveals this tank top has many advantages. Beautifully, shapely arms are showcased by this outfit. Consequently, being self-conscious about your arms, opt for a tank top with a cupped sleeve or elbow length that will uniformly pursue the same stunning effect as this look. As well, measure the bust line to make sure the size fits suitably around this area. Often, fashion faux-pas can be easily corrected by avoiding garments that have a pulling effect.

Choose a garment that is accurately proportion to your bust size will have a positive outlook on your overall fit.

Complementary to the tank top, is a free-flowing couture skirt. Held together by a waistband, the pleats are lightly sown in continuation with its A-line result, holding the outfit to its standard of being lavish yet simple. Designed in a three-quarter length, this dimension agrees to a multitude of facet from being summery and fresh, to keeping it practical and functional. Added to its length is a generous net-hem broadening the skirt a few more inches, stretching its composure to reveal summer’s carefree accent.

Prudently designed, this chic skirt has many benefits. Hips that are narrow and straight will appear to be in fuller due that its pleats are sewn all around the waistband adding heaviness to your figure. On the other hand, hips that are round, opt for skirts that have less pleats, sewn in strategic points such as some at the front and some at the back instead of pleated all around. Pleats may be tightly sewn together much like a row of ruffles, or largely spaced out causing less bulk. Hips are gorgeous, no need to hide them.

Instead, enhance them tastefully will remain your best alternative.

Complete this look wearing sporty footwear or flats to horn an energetic, sassy look. Or you can promote this outfit with an opened-toe platform.

The choice is yours. Furthermore, jewelry plays an important part in enhancing any outfits. Add a brocade choker or a string of pearls, or place your bet on a pair of silver earrings to strikingly commemorate your personal style. Making this outfit work for you will make you feel your very best.

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Style&Fashion

Style Up a White, Thigh-cinched Dress The dress continues to drift downwards without being too close to the body. This is a fantastic body hiding feature that has numerous positive outcomes as whether you are slim or hefty, this style will discreetly cover the abdomen and tummy area. And to further vent the characteristic of this dress, the cinch at the thigh level is controlled by the string that ties tastefully on the side in a stunning bow. This allows you to take-in or takeout as much space as you need for a comfort, tailored fit. The cinched thigh elongates the allure of the dress, stretching the silhouette to seem longer and taller.

Lengthwise, this dress falls above the knee ideal as a summer gear on its own. Viewed as a smart garment, it completes numerous aspects of summer life.

Yet, you can easily upgrade this dress to the next level. To promote a personalized self-style, add a white, short sleeve t-shirt underneath the dress for those frisky summer mornings as you head out to the tennis court or to one of your favorite activities. Tone on tone creates one look, however you can vary your t-shirt from flashy pinks to sarcastic reds for daring effects.

Another way to make full use of this dress is to wear it with leggings or legged-shorts for hobbies and active occupations such as biking or mountain climbing. You simply won’t regret the flexibility and ease with which to wear this designer dress.

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Moreover, for those cool evenings as you head downtown, enhance this dress with a black bolero or a shadowy shawl, or a sprawl of your choice to enjoy your outfit. As no matter how you style up this dress, you will continue to look great.

As no outfit is quite complete without footwear, glam this dress with tennis shoes that can easily be exchanged for comfortable wedge sandals, especially made for summer travels, long walks and sightseeing tours. The choices are endless; from ballerina slippers to high heel shoes for a night in the town, to summer booties for your own spike. This dress will put in control of your style wherever you go.

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Style Up an Orange and Brown Stripped Outfit To own this outfit, start by selecting a horizontal stripped top with a good, upper body fit. You know the garment is appropriate when you can move without feeling constrained the way a tight top would feel. Make sure your arms fit flawlessly, especially as this is a summer top. You can always opt for a top that has a sleeve juncture at the shoulder (long or short) if you feel uncomfortable wearing sleeveless.

Next, verify the bust line. The wrong size would cause pulling at the front, usually at the breast level towards the arm seams. Having difficulty finding a linen top, alternate for a stretchy fabric, much in the same way a t-shirt has woven fibers for easy accommodation. Of course, the cropped aspect of this outfit is the real blast. If you can’t find a top that flares away from the body, an awesome replacement is a cropped t-shirt that will hold itself snug around the upper waist, without feeling insecure that the garment will create movement.

As for the skirt, this style calls for a pencil-skirt. Perhaps to better acquaint yourself with this pattern, choose a straight skirt without any particularities and see how a pencil-cut fits your curves.

Straight skirts mean this type of tailoring usually settles snug at the waist and slightly boosts the roundness of the hips and abdomen. If this cut flatters your silhouette, it means the tailoring is suitable and the measurement between your waist and hips are proportioned. Feeling uptight in this type of cut, whether due to waist, hips or abdomen glitches, opt for a bigger size. This does not mean you’ve gained a size, by all means! Upping a size causes less difference between the waist and the hips, and will therefore uniform your silhouette. Another alternative is to opt for a fabric that has stretch knit in the material will cope beautifully with your shape. The best you can do is to try on different skirts to evaluate what works As for footwear, you can streamline the color of your sandals or wedges from the adorning strips of your outfit.

As this outfit bends towards a 70’s look, choose a heel adjacent with its décor. Style up to personalize a retro look.

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Style&Fashion

Style Up a Pant-suit for Various Occasions The next great characteristic of this jacket is its onebutton feature, suitable for shaping your figure. Onebutton design makes it optional to wear it opened or closed, without removing any of its anticipated chic.

So if you’ve always had difficulty finding a jacket that fits due to your bust line, or a jacket to camouflage a problematic waistline, a one-button design allows to curve your mid-section. Its designer cut has perfectly tailored seams tucking this area to model your silhouette. You could never go wrong with this kind of style, especially as you mix and match this tailored jacket to create other outfits for yourself. You will always feel well-dressed.

The bell-bottom pant as an entity is another versatile piece appreciated for spring and summer wear. Its cut is sassy and youthful with immense possibilities of matching with other tops for self-styling. Easy to wear and flexible, harmonize it with ruffle tops, wrap tops, belted-tunics, or tailored shirts. The pant should have a good fit, allowing movements to be supple while feeling snug at the hip. Avoid under-sizing as this fashion fauxpas may create unnecessary bulges, nor do you want to oversize to default a baggy effect. Your best approach is to dress within your hip/waist range, conscious that hips and waist delineate your silhouette. Sometimes, shopping for the right pant may require a little more work, but in the end, your efforts will be pay off when you find the correct proportion.

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Styling this entire outfit, whether using the same pieces for a customized look or decomposing the pieces to use them separately, is what will accentuate personality and certainly worth investing your money.

Timeless, even immortal, presented in a short, turned-up collar for additional poise, remains a favorite amongst fashionistas.

Once your outfit is assembled, it’s the ideal time to showcase your favorite shoes. Due to the three-quarter length of the pant, focus on exposing those superb shoes stored at the back of your closet for the right occasion. Try spiked heels if you’re in the mood to elongate your legs, or opt for a gladiator sandal for your own patent look. Originate what looks fabulous on you!

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Style&Fashion

BY C HLOE HINES “That for us artists, the crafts will be our salvation,” a quote from none other than Walter Gropius, director of the Staatliches Bauhaus in April of 1919, rings true today for creatives around the world just as much as it did for the Bohemian population in Weimar at the time. The phenomenon of the Bauhaus can easily be recognized in industrial designs and visual art of today…but fashion?

TEMPER Berlin, opening its flagship store just short of a year ago on Simon-Dach Straße in Friedrichshain, has accomplished a fashion fusion of Bauhaus aesthetics and Parisian femininity. Offering a hint of colour to the dark palette-inspired streets of Berlin streetwear, TEMPER is more concerned with creating a sense of elegance and a touch of edge. Founder, Stephanie Gorzynska, makes every piece by hand, providing limited seasonal collections with high quality materials. Our current obsession? The “Bauhaus Jacket,” in gold. A piece with such a great cut and clean lines that it seamlessly flows as a reminder that a minimalist and shiny spring season is upon us.

The experimental nature of TEMPER is another aspect to appreciate – whether it be the high-end,

yet quaint feel of the interior of the boutique or the personal shopping experience usually involving Gorzynska herself. We live in a world where personal interactions with designers is hard to come by, but not with TEMPER – willing to work with your every comment and suggestions, Gorzynska has opened Pandora’s Box for a new wave of fashion where individual attention and intellectual commentary allow her collections to evolve, leaving us feeling as though her pieces are permanent in existence, yet transient in style. It is in this very environment that her pieces have become recognizable and also have developed a sense of ‘collection security’ without ever settling for the status-quo.

TEMPER Berlin, in it’s short existence, has defined itself as a a local and pure powerhouse, understanding both the curvature and eccentricities of the human form as well as the importance of simplistic individualism.

Gorzynska is not not excited for the upcoming celebration of TEMPER’s first anniversary, but for what the bright future holds for TEMPER and and sense of community that local Simon-Dach has provided.

TEMPER BERLIN, SIMON-DACH-STR 22, 10245 BERLIN 54

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Photos courtesy of http://www.temperberlin.com/

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Photos courtesy of http://www.temperberlin.com/

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Girls Only

Black Sheep: My Own Personal Ugly Duckling Chronicles

BY JAC INTA LUI

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“One white covers a hundred ugliness” is an actual saying in Chinese, and that little proverb doesn’t really work in my favor, as I am probably one of the darkest Chinese women you’ll ever meet. Having lived in Singapore and Taiwan, I’ve seen firsthand how obsessed the women in Asia are with white skin; a level of dark-phobia that triggers ladies to carry umbrellas in broad daylight to protect them from the oh-so-dreaded UV rays. But I was born and raised in Canada, so the whole stigma against dark skin doesn’t affect me right?

WRONG.

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M

y parents are originally from Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada over 35 years ago, where they had my three siblings and I. I was born a typical Chinese baby with snow white skin, but became consistently darker as each year passed. Perhaps it was the long hours of playtime outside sparked by my undying love for the sun, or a kink in my family’s genetic history; I was the coco puff at my Chinese-bilingual elementary school, where more than half the student body were Chinese.

The Chinese are quite blunt, and whether it was from my friend’s parents or my parent’s friends, I was used to hearing comments like

“Wow, why is your daughter so dark?” “She needs to spend less time outside.” “Is she really Chinese?” “She looks... ‘healthy’.” As a young child overhearing these judgements from the adults, I was led to view my dark coloring as a negative abnormality. What was worse was that I had thick unruly hair while most of my friends who had pin-straight hair, and my mother had my hair disastrously permed when I was in Grade 3, adding further insult to injury. Dark skin, an Asian fro, glasses and weird teeth - I was not the definition of a pretty little girl in the eyes of the Chinese community.

Even my own grandmother favored my lighter skinned cousin, who was the same age as me.

The perceived lack of acceptance in my young eyes spurred a bigger need to confirm to Asian standards, and in high school, I started to fill my bookshelves with fashion magazines from Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. I tried Japanese hair straightening, engaged in unhealthy eating habits in attempts to be a size 0 (which tragically is the norm in Asia), and even ordered skin-lightening pills that cost me almost $200, an obscene amount for a high school student’s budget.

But still, I remained dark and unhappy. Once, a boy yelled at me screaming “Cha Mui”, a derogatory term directly translated as “Indian Girl.” I was so angry I saw white, and in retaliation I swiftly decorated him with his

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Girls Only lunch of chicken and rice. I had my revenge and narrowly escaped his stampede of rage to destroy me, but inside I was still extremely hurt.

Ironically, it was when I left Canada to live in Asia that I finally began to accept myself and see past my skin color. Upon college graduation, I moved to Taiwan in pursuit of my high school dreams of becoming a Chinese pop singer. But contradictory to my own expectations of blending with the locals who I would’ve thought myself to gravitate towards, I started mingling with the expat community in Taipei. I was meeting people from all over Europe, Australia, and South America, and felt refreshed to be exposed to so many different cultures. I started to see a completely different person in the mirror, and awoke to a new sense of acceptance, as my physical differences didn’t make me the odd man out, it just made me unique. Just like everyone surrounding me.

the first time in my life, despite having been alive for 24 years. I gained more confidence in my own individuality as NYC is a place where being unique is placed on a pedestal.

I felt comfortable in my own skin, and on a physical level I let my hair and skin just be, and resulted in a glorious head of wavy hair and a healthy tan year round. I felt more beautiful than I ever did in my life, and that stems from the confidence I gained in loving myself and treating my body right.

So there you have it, my personal chronicles of being an ugly duckling blossoming into a unique swan of sorts. But the main thing to get out of this is, regardless of it being my expat friends telling me I am pretty, or the Chinese community telling me I’m not, it was when I accepted myself that I really grew into my own skin. The confidence that shines through when you love yourself is the fairy dust that makes you gorgeous.

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After a year in Taiwan, I decided on a whim to move to New York City, the unofficial diversity capital of the world. The minute I stepped foot in New York, I felt at home for

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Girls Only

Understanding & Coping with Girl Cliques

BY GERMIN A PALO DEL A CRUZ

“You can’t sit with us”, sounds familiar? This is one of the famous dialogues from the movie Mean Girls. It became one of my favourites for the reason of the accurate portrayal of girl cliques. It reminded us of the popular girl’s in school; the girls who have her eyebrows on point wearing tight dress walking the school hallway. Yes, those girls who seems like having a perfect life and have a cool set of friends. If you’ve ever encountered cliques either by being bullied by them or being one of them let’s understand first what it is, how to handle and avoid them.

UNDERSTANDING CLIQUES Clique is a group that have a leader and a strict rule to follow. People inside the clique think that they are better than anyone else. They often show vibes of exclusivity; wherein only few “worthy” people can join them. Maintaining and gaining popularity is the main goal of this group. Cliques will let you feel IN and not an outcast, thus making one feel important. This is more prominent during high school days as teenagers are still finding themselves. Because people are creatures of habit, these girl cliques may carry even in to adulthood.

From a former mean girl myself, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. I have to say that that kind of friendship is exhausting as there is also backstabbing. There was a time that I became cautious to which friend would I tell my secrets to. Rudeness is our facade to insecurity. We always tagged along with the queen bee, fearful of her wrath and to lose our position at the same time. We are terrified to be an outsider that we followed what she said even if that means sacrificing our freedom rather than doing what we loved.

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COPING WITH CLIQUES Whether you’re one of the mean girls or not, cliques are synonymous to bullying and peer pressure. For those people who get bullied by these cliques, you need to realize that bullying is not your fault. Truth is, there is something about you that’s threatening these mean girlsperhaps you are smarter and prettier. Or it can be you, showing weakness. We should always remember that all bullies want to show their power and authority thus preying on the weak. You need to show them you are strong and they don’t have control over you. Always keep this in mind: Bullies are the weak one, not you.

I know it can take a lot of courage to leave and decide to remain on the outside but for those people who do belong in this group needs to recognize that this kind of friendship is shallow. You should never let this kind of friendship define who you are. Just be yourself and don’t let other people change you.

Friendship is one of the most beautiful things in the world. It’s always great to have BFF who understand and supports you all the time. Friends who can give us comfort and a shoulder to cry on when times get rough, however if they are bringing out the worst in you then you have to think twice about that kind of companionship. True friendship is when differences in personalities and beliefs are appreciated and accepted mutually.

Lastly, give yourselves a chance to meet different kinds of people. Who knows? The next person you’ll meet could be your soul sister. It’s better to be less popular and only have one to two true friends than to have a bunch that are not real to you.

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VIRGINIA DEGUZMAN social media | design | photography | mix media behance.net/virginia_deguzman

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health

Improving Your Body Image is an

BY C ATHERINE PROVENZAN O

The reality is, no one is born with a poor body image.

So why is it that so many women struggle with this issue?

The answer may not be specific to one thing, but rather a combination of things, such as society, the media, circumstances in our lives, or family dynamics. At what point does someone begin to develop a poor body image?

Let’s take a look at the media and the emphasis our society places on beauty. Do you remember watching Snow White when you were growing up? It is a beautiful love story. It is also a story about a wicked witch who becomes enraged after the mirror tells her she is not the most beautiful, and her mission is to get rid of the woman who is more beautiful. What is the underlying message here? Not only is it important to be beautiful, but it is important to be the most beautiful, in other words, perfect. It is helpful to recognize that these underlying messages begin at a very young age.

will call Melissa. Melissa was 23 years old when she first came to my office. She came in for counseling because her life had become unmanageable. Melissa struggled with distorted body image and low self-esteem, which was so extreme, it prevented her from engaging in social activities, being in an intimate relationship, leading to isolation and depression. Whenever she went out, she believed people were looking at her, and thinking about how fat she was.

In reality, Melissa was beautiful, smart, and likeable.

However, she was consumed with obsessive thoughts about food, diet, and exercise, so much so that she went from living to just existing, and she was very unhappy.

Melissa, like many others, hit the bottom. She knew she had a choice- stay where she was, and risk living in a selfimposed prison, or choose life. The decision was not an easy one, but she chose to live.

Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders have little to do with food, and more to do with difficulty managing feelings that are otherwise too painful to feel. United States statistics reveal as many as 20 million women experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives (Wade, Kelski-Rahkonen, & Hudson, 2011).

For young women, the pressure to fit in and have the “perfect body” can be overwhelming and lead to an eating disorder. Such was the case for one of my clients, whom I

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W

hat do you think of when you hear the word summertime? For many people, summertime means wearing flip flops, getting pedicures, going to the beach, and time to kick back and relax. But for women who struggle with body image, summertime accompanies feelings of anxiety and dread, as we show more skin and prepare to put on our bathing suits.

truth is, “weThestart to believe

what we tell ourselves after a while, and our thoughts are very

powerful.”

In my work as a psychotherapist, I often encounter young women with eating disorders. First and foremost, if you struggle with eating disorder, it is important to be under the care of a medical doctor and advisable to see a nutritionist to monitor your diet. Women with eating disorders often struggle with perfection, low self-esteem, self-loathing and poor body image. Most of them would argue that if their outward appearance would change, their feelings about themselves would then change. However, improving the way you feel about yourself is an inside job. In doing so, it is helpful to examine the relationship you have with yourself first. This can be valuable for you, even if you are not someone who struggles with an eating disorder.

I like to do this by asking my clients to complete the following exercise: On a piece of paper, write down the characteristics you would look for in a friend. The list typically includes: someone who is loyal, someone who makes you feel good about yourself, someone who is fun, positive, and someone you can count on. I will then ask them to make a list of all the characteristics they would not want in a friend. This list typically includes: someone who is negative, someone who puts you down, someone who is not trust worthy, and someone who makes you feel bad about yourself. I will then ask them to compare both lists and consider what kind of friend they are. Just about every person will identify themselves with the list of characteristics they would

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consider in a good friend. I will then ask them to think about the relationship they have with themselves.

You can determine the quality of your relationship with yourself; by the way you talk to yourself. Are you critical of yourself? Do you scrutinize your thighs?

Or do you cheer yourself on, and tell yourself you are beautiful? Most people are surprised to learn how critical they are of themselves. Interestingly enough, most people would not choose to associate with someone who would make them feel as badly as they make themselves feel on a daily basis. Can your relationship with yourself alter your self-esteem and body image? You bet. The truth is, we start to believe what we tell ourselves after a while, and our thoughts are very powerful. If we have negative thoughts about ourselves, low self-esteem and poor body image are likely to follow. If you fall into the category of not being a good friend to yourself, don’t worry many people do. That is until they realize they are hurting themselves and then make a concerted effort to do things differently.

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Calling a Truce Try to say one positive thing to yourself every morning, to start off your day. It could be a compliment; it could be acknowledging something that you did that you’re proud of. If you have difficulty coming up with something, consider what a friend would say to you and build off of that.

Try not to compare yourself to others. When you do, you are always looking at the worst in yourself, and the best in someone else.

Shift your focus. When you find yourself focusing on your flaws, do your best to try to shift your focus to your positive traits. If you can’t think of a positive trait, think of what your friends would say about you. When you shift the focus away from your flaws you will feel better about yourself.

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Face your fear. If you’re uncomfortable about going to the beach or a social event, try not to isolate! Instead, wear something you feel comfortable in, and tell yourself you will have fun, even if you don’t feel that way at the time. You might actually have a blast!

It is important to be consistent. You will be disappointed if you change your behavior for a few days, and expect your relationship with yourself to change. It will take time, but remember you are worth it!

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Types of Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa Deliberate starvation and/or highly restrictive eating, persistent fear of gaining weight, distorted body image, continuous dieting, abnormal weight loss, absent or irregular menstruation.

Bulimia Nervosa Binge eating, usually in secret, vomiting after bingeing, abuse of laxatives, diuretics, and diet pills, denial of hunger or consumption of drugs to induce vomiting, compulsive exercise.

Binge Eating Disorder Consumption of large amounts of food in a small period of time followed by physical discomfort and emotional distress, significant abnormal weight gain.

Recovery is a process involving small steps forward and often times a few steps back. It involves facing yourself, learning to confront the hard stuff, finding your voice, and learning to love yourself. There is no way to go through the process without feeling. You can’t heal what you don’t feel, as I often tell my clients. I like to think of it as a journey to a healthier, happier you.

I believe that everyone is beautiful and unique in their own way. Whether you decide to celebrate and acknowledge yourself is your choice. I hope you do.

Catherine Provenzano, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist, who utilizes an eclectic approach to treatment. Her office is located in Port Jefferson, NY. She has worked extensively with individuals who struggle with anxiety, eating disorders, chronic illness and loss. For further information, visit: www.catherineprovenzanolcsw.com DESIGNED BY WIN-KYE CHEONG

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New York.

London.

Paris.

Berlin.

Milan.

Hong Kong.

Reflection.

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Is it true? I thought Oil was for cooking?

BY NADIA BERCOVICH

S

omebody tell me the truth! There is so much information out there about which oils are great, and which are basically evil, but what is the difference? and what should we focus on? Natural oils, such as coconut, olive, avocado and even essential oils of all kinds, each have their unique properties, and most of them are useful for various purposes, but the most important factor here that no one seems to mention, is the intuition you have about your own skin.

No one knows your beautiful body like yourself. I personally advocate for coconut oil, as it feels the lightest and most clean when applied, it also has excellent absorption, which means, It can be used as face moisturizer!

Coconut oil is also amazing for our luscious legs, it works as shaving cream and lotion all in one, it will really dig deep into those dried up layers of tissue, that regular creams, do not usually get to.

Coconut oil is also antibacterial, feel free to use it on small cuts, to soften scars, and even to brush your teeth! You might have heard of “oil pulling� this refers to swishing the oil around in your mouth for 30 seconds, and as it passes through your gums, your entire blood circulation system will get an immune boost!

Another crucial factor to keep in mind when using oils, is that less is way more! I mean it!

There is a fine line between softening your skin, and completely breaking out! so when using powerful natural oils, we need to be mindful of the doses. Usually, a small dab on your index finger is enough for our face, neck and shoulders. It is also best to apply it when our porous are closed, so not right after your shower

when they are open and breathing, but about 30 minutes later. I believe some of the people who stopped using oils in their beauty routines, were using too much of it, and perhaps lost faith in these miracles from mother earth! But you will get really good at perfecting the amount after a few uses, and I am confident you will love them!

Switching it up is a good trick too! Our skin love diversity, olive oil is a great replacement, and it works very well in an alternating pattern with the coconut oil. Treat heavier oils such as olive, or avocado, for a once a month special treatment, think perhaps a deep hair conditioner, or a deep-tissue leg massage. Remember our skin is our largest organism, and when it absorbs products, they go right into our system. Would you eat a spoonful of some shelf lotion?

You can definitely eat a spoonful of coconut oil, it tastes great, and it even aids with a bit of weight loss, when combined with a healthy diet and exercise routine.

My last tip is to invest in good quality oils, try to get organic, first pressed, uncooked oils, they are usually only a few dollars more than the hyper processed. Also just organic would be great! $1015 for a big jar which should last you a 4-6 months, even if you are using it as a full body moisturizer daily. I hope you enjoy playing with these options.

Coconut oil is also amazing for our luscious legs, it works as shaving cream and lotion all in one, it will really dig deep into those dried up layers of tissue...

�

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“

liven up your travel look Sara K. Egan

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Style&Fashion hen on the move, it’s not always easy looking chic and fabulous. Lugging around heavy bags,

while going halfway across the world on scraps of sleep and far too long without a hot shower, doesn’t leave much room for primping. These essential and handy items can spiff up your look instantly though, and can be used in a variety of situations. Go from feeling uncomfortable and drab, to rolling like a jet-setting star ready to fly the friendly skies - or cruise the open road - in top style.

Let’s start out the fashion lineup with a true classic. The good ol’ scarf

Scarves have the bonus of

doesn’t get enough praise for all

warming you up when it gets chilly

that it can do. First off, it simply pops

on the airplane, while sightseeing,

some flair in the neck area in lieu of a

or wherever your travels may take you. In case you end up anywhere

necklace, as necklaces tend to break

with stricter dress codes, a scarf

when luggage pulls on their chains

can assist with that as well. On top

or catches on their charms. For more

of all this, they’re lightweight and a

attitude, scarves can take the duty of

breeze to pack.

a belt if needed, go on a ponytail or from a purse to paint a touch of color and individuality. The possibilities really are endless; don’t be afraid to get creative!

Continuing with roady-friendly accessories, a suave hat or smooth set of eyewear can not only be lifesavers, but instantly put a spring in your step too. When those sunny vacation days get to be a bit much, a cool splash of shade is all you need to survive. Wear both for double darkness. They’re also perfect for covering your resting eyes while in transit or waiting around in airports

or train/bus stations. We can’t

want to!) wear them every which

forget to mention the punch and sass

way you go. They make everything

they add to any outfit, casual or not.

so much easier, even when it comes

Be sure pack at least one of these

to packing. Their flatness means they

big hitters!

can squeeze into even the tiniest of

Next up, the ever-versatile ballet flats. They’re comfy, they’re cute, they’re simple to slip off in the security line or in the car when your feet feel cramped. Something about them is whimsical, and reminiscent of our favorite old shoes from childhood that we wanted to wear every day and everywhere. Well, luckily while

nooks left in your bag...so you can store an extra color if you want.

The same can definitely not be said for those towering heels we always wish we could pack! Even more, with ballet flats’ ability to dress up or chill out an outfit, you might consider having another one or two pairs of these power players around.

roaming around, you can (and will

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as a headband in the hair, or hang

Style&Fashion Larger parts of your outfit aren’t immune to rebuffing either, so will get a quick mention here. Wear colorful or printed leggings with a jazzy cotton tunic for an ultracomfortable and trendy way to travel. Throw a couple cotton dresses into your suitcase for the same effect, of

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which can also be used for any number of outings and occasions upon arrival. Excellent! These outfit essentials are such flexible, useful items to have on any journey you embark on, whether it be for a quick weekend getaway or round-the-world expedition.

A fun twist is to combine your road wardrobe

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revamping with some special souvenir shopping, because why not? Local flea markets often have curious selections of hidden gems - and at hard to beat prices - to help you spice up your travel outfits in no time. Clothing boutiques that are unique to an area can also be interesting to peruse. Having wearable souvenirs to enjoy for years to come are much better than nick-nacks collecting dust.

Treat yourself!

With a few basic and practical items, whether you bring them with or buy them en route, you’ll be miles-high with style.

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3 4 1. Painterly Brushed Square Scarf (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/) $34.00 2. Columbia Women’s Sun Ridge Hat (http://www.columbia.com/) $38.00 3.

Sunglasses (http://www.hm.com/) $9.00 4. Chinese Laundry Endless flats (http:// www.zappos.com/) $60.00 5. Pepper Lace-Printed Leggings (http://www.guessfactory.com/) $16.00

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