The Kit Compact May 2016 by The Kit

JOY RIDE Here we go! Max your fun in the sun with cool-girl swimsuits, grown-up tiaras and summer beauty looks like whoa

MAY 2016 | TORONTO

CF SHERWAY GARDENS CF TORONTO EATON CENTRE

REISS.COM/CA

IN THIS ISSUE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Laura deCarufel @Laura_deCarufel @LauradeCarufel CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jessica Hotson @jesshotson EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Kathryn Hudson @hudsonkat BEAUTY EDITOR

Rani Sheen @ranisheen FASHION EDITOR

Jillian Vieira @JillianVieira MANAGING EDITOR

Eden Boileau @lilyedenface ASSOCIATE BEAUTY EDITOR

Natasha Bruno @Natashajbruno

ASSISTANT DIGITAL EDITOR

Carly Ostroff @carlyostroff ASSISTANT EDITOR

Veronica Saroli @vsaroli

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTORS

Sonya van Heyningen @svanh7

PHOTOGRAPHY: CARLYLE ROUTH (DECARUFEL). HAIR AND MAKEUP: SHERI STROH FOR PLUTINO GROUP/BITE BEAUTY (DECARUFEL)

Kristy Wright @creativewithak DESIGNER

Amber Hickson @amblynncreative PUBLISHER

Giorgina Bigioni ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Tami Coughlan

PROJECT DIRECTOR, DIGITAL MEDIA

Kelly Matthews

Direct advertising inquiries to: MARKETING MANAGER

Evie Begy eb@thekit.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

Jennifer Berry, Kate Carraway, LeeAndra Cianci, Barbara Czarnecki, Anne T. Donahue, Christina Gonzales, Susana Hong, Jaclyn Locke, Cia Mandarello, Luis Mora, Aniya Nandy, Carlyle Routh, Sheri Stroh, Jenna Marie Wakani, Paul Weeks, Aaron Wynia, Romy Zack INTERNS

Kara Anderson, Stephanie Choo, Rivital Grunbaum, Sehee Jee, Aloisa Macedonio, Emily Skublics, Amanda Yevdaev, Estelle Zentil

The dark days of winter have bright s p o t s — n a m e l y, guilt-free Netflix and sheet-mask Fridays—but it’s the sunny months that really rule. (Guys, a moment for that weekend in April when the snow fell like an evil offering and we all died a little inside.) Now we’re in the full swing of spring, when the days of sun-warmed shoulders and steamy pavement glimmer on the horizon. This issue is a tribute to that excitement, the sense of hope and possibility, the urge to wear neon green liner and tiny terry cloth shorts, while hopping a fence to an after-hours pool party. “Paradise City” (page 22)—our take on languid cool-girl swimwear, envisioned by fashion editor Jillian Vieira, beauty editor Rani Sheen and creative director Jessica Hotson—is a mash-up of influences, chief among them Kids, Dogtown and Z-Boys and JLo circa “Jenny from the Block” (#neverforget). It’s 1995 meets 2004 meets the best of this summer’s swim and beauty looks. A similar adventurous spirit infuses “20 Things You Should Know How to Do” (page 17), a package helmed by executive editor Kathryn Hudson, which offers everything from expert hair tips on nailing perfect weekend waves (useful!) to a mini-manifesto on why we should accept compliments (no more “Ugh, it’s just Zara”). The overall message is that it’s time to get out there and seize life by the bandeau. Be brave. Be bold. Gather your favourite people and go forth into the sun. I’d love to hear how you’re spending your time off. Connect me with any time @Laura_deCarufel with #TheKitCompact.

@thekitca @thekit

PRESIDENT AND CEO, STAR MEDIA GROUP

David Holland EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TORONTO STAR

Michael Cooke

THEKIT.CA | MAY 2016 |

5 / OUT & ABOUT “It’s officially music s e a s o n — o u r 6 ix Index spotlights the must-see concerts (Biebs!) and lots more.”

7 / THE TWO OF US “Meet two adorable Toronto sisters, who clearly wo n th e g e n e (jean?) lottery.”

22 / PARADISE CITY

“Hit the pool deck in cool-girl swimwear and the season’s hottest beauty looks.”

9 / LOOKBOOK “On this month’s shopping list: onepiece swimsuits, high-tech gloss and a gift guide for Mom.”

14 / GIRL GANG “All hail the return of the mom jean, as modelled by Toronto fashion girls and their... babies.”

17 / THE HANDBOOK

“How to do 20 very important things, including deal with squad drama, get that raise and ace cocktail convos.”

32 / FIRST PERSON “Brave soul Christina Gonzales very candidly recounts her DIY Brazilian adventures.”

thekitca

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LAURA DE CARUFEL

thekit

ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: AARON WYNIA. HAIR AND MAKEUP: SUSANA HONG FOR P1M.CA . HAIR AND MAKEUP ASSISTANT: CIA MANDARELLO FOR P1M.CA. MODEL: MICHELLE KRUMOV FOR SUTHERLAND MODELS. HUNTER JACKET, $275, HUNTERBOOTS.COM

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29 / THE HAUL

30 / MAKEUP LESSON

34 / LAST WORD

“O ur b e a ut y e d i t o r, R a n i Sheen, shares this m o nth’s obsessions.”

“Yes, you can bronze without looking like Valentino. Learn how a l o n g w i t h s eve n Toronto women.”

“Best. May TwoFour. Ever. Use our long-weekend g u i d e to m a ke it happen.”

CANADIAN CHARITY PARTNERS: Book an appointment or drop by any Benefit BrowBar during the month of May to take part in the Bold is Beautiful Program. Visit boldisbeautiful.com/ca for a list of locations.

#BoldIsBeautiful

*100% of the purchase price of all brow wax services sold in May at the Benefit Boutique and Sephora Brow Bars in Canada will be donated to the following registered Canadian charities: Habitat for Humanity Canada (118950120RR0001) and Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation (133740316RR0001). Donation amount excludes taxes. Benefitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s donations will be split 50-50 between the charities.

OUT & ABOUT

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Ah, May. The warm weather brings people out of their parkas and into the markets. Luckily, there are plenty to choose from.

Blossom and Bloom Show, seasonal Union Station, 65 Front St. W.

Thirty new vendors will showcase accessories, sweet treats and everything flowers on May 6 and 7. (This is where you’ll find the perfect gift for Mom.)

Check out the newest names in Canadian fashion as more than 60 designers present their collections from May 6 to 8. New this season: Entry is free!

Waterfront Artisan Market, monthly HT0 Park, 339 Queen’s Quay W.

With his third world tour, Justin Bieber challenges audiences to dig deep and explore what their true purpose is. Totally kidding. Catch the pop star dancing, singing and swaggering at the ACC (40 Bay St.) on May 18 and 19 during his Purpose tour.

Queen Bey graces the 6ix in a not-to-be-outdone concert at the Rogers Centre (1 Blue Jays Way) on May 25 for her Formation World Tour. #Slay. #Bowdown. #Etc. Ultra-hip band the Kills performs at the Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Ave.) on May 21. Use a whole can of texturizer before you go—singer Alison Mosshart’s hair is beyond.

SNAP:

PHOTOG FEST

So, did you know that Toronto is home to the largest photography fiesta in the world? Scotiabank ’s Contact Photography Festival celebrates its 20th year with a program focused on established and emerging Canadian talent. Check out workshops and artist talks across the city, and look out for the saturated, dreamy snaps by Angela Grauerholz, Andrew Quesada, Vikky Alexander and “UofT Drizzy” (an Insta account that imagines Drake attending the school). More info at scotiabankcontactphoto.com.

Selena Gomez picks up where the Biebs leaves off a few days later on May 22 for her Revival Tour. Coincidence? (Jelena forever.)

enter here: doors open toronto Feel like a #baws and get into any building you want—almost. More than 130 locations in Toronto will welcome the public (for free) during Doors Open on May 28 and 29. New attractions this year include the Billy Bishop airport, the Deaf Culture Centre in the Distillery District and—our personal fave—activities at City Hall like colouring pages designed by five local mural artists.

Try Teppan’s rolled ice cream and refuel with Station’s coldbrew coffee and views of the lake on May 28 and 29.

DAT E S

Left: Vikky Alexander’s St Sebastian, 1982. Right: Sarah Anne Johnson’s Uck, 2015.

18+ ways to love Toronto this month

MAKE SOME NOISE: TALENT

The TFM is back on May 7, bringing beautiful local blooms from White Oak Flower Co., Floralora and many more.

H OT

TEXT: VERONICA SAROLI. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES (MAKE SOME NOISE); TORONTO STAR (JANE’S WALKS, DOGS, CBC); ISTOCKPHOTO (CITY ILLUSTRATION, SELFIE, ARROWS); COURTESY OF VIKKY ALEXANDER AND COOPER COLE (ST SEBASTIAN); COURTESY OF STEPHEN BULGER GALLERY (UCK )

awkward

THE 6IX INDEX

Toronto Flower Market, monthly Shaw Park at CAMH, 1001 Queen St. W.

From left: Native Child & Family Services of Toronto, MaRS Discovery District, Commerce Court.

May 4 Burt’s Bees and Pink Tartan have teamed up on a T-shirt and lipstick to help Wildlife Preservation Canada. For each tee sold, 10,000 wildflowers will be planted.

THEKIT.CA | MAY 2016 |

The annual Power Ball bash is going down June 2 (231 Queens Quay W.). This year’s theme is Pleasure Principle: Think cocktails from BarChef, food from Parts & Labour and at least one art piece evoking ecstasy and euphoria (esp. since last year’s gala had an edible octopus chandelier).

The Art Bar Poetry series, which showcases more than 100 cool poets a year, celebrates 25 years at the Black Swan (154 Danforth Ave.) this month. Grab one of the few open mic spots during the Tuesday shows and slam while you can—the series ends later this summer.

WANDER: M AY MADNESS

Inland, seasonal 135 Peter St.

PARTY: POWER PLANT BALL

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May 6-8 Jane’s Walks honouring La Jacobs are on across the 6ix, so this is the weekend to explore your ’hood or discover the connection between skateboarding and the financial district.

May 7 Surround yourself with dogs in Liberty Village (80 Lynn Williams St., parking lot) at Pampered Pooches T.O. Dedicated dog owners can pick up fancy pet food and get pro pet glamour shots and vet consultations.

May 10-22 Big feet may keep you grounded, but they’re hard to shop for. This month, Stuart Weitzman hosts special trunk shows carrying fall footwear in sizes 4 to 12, in narrow to wide widths, at several locations across the city.

May 13 Need a worthy excuse to stay up all night? Join CAMH’s #onebravenight fundraiser by posting a selfie at dawn on the 14th to show support to the one in five Canadians who live with mental illness.

May 28 Music fest season is here. The CBC Music Festival is bringing Alvvays, Tanya Tagaq, Hey Rosetta! and more to Echo Beach. Score a food truck treat or check out the kids’ area, new this year.

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THE TWO OF US

IN THE JEANS For sisters Taylor and Danielle Reynolds, creative cool runs in the family

Photography by Jenna Marie Wakani

STYLE SETTERS

Meet the definition of millennial multi-hyphenates: 22-year-old Taylor, a Ryerson University media production student who makes short films, and 24-year-old Danielle, a social-channel manager at Free Agency and moonlighting prop stylist. In the pair’s spare time, they’re busy producing inspiring images for their Insta accounts—think “negative space, unconventional cropping and plays on colour”—and attracting followers like moths to a social media flame (just count their respective 58K and 10K devotees).

TORONTO BLACK BOOK top cut “Civello [269 Queen St. W.] for my biweekly fringe trim.” —Taylor

THE LOOK

For the sisters, honing their personal style—a meeting of “’90s minimalism, ’80s athleisure and menswear tailoring”—means looking to the past. “I’m a low-key history nerd, so I love the historical element to fashion,” says Danielle, which is why it makes perfect sense that vintage mecca Chosen (1599 Dundas St. W.) is their go-to shop for closet staples like trench coats and Harley-Davidson tees.

best cocktail “The Blessed—made with lemon-and-rooibos-infused vodka, orange-flower water, egg white and Chambord —at Northern Belle [913 Dundas St. W.]” —Danielle morning coffee “Empire Espresso [668 College St.] for their lavender honey latte.” —Taylor

#TBT

“In kindergarten, I brought Taylor to school for show and tell, inspired by the Robert Munsch classic,” says Danielle. These days, the siblings are just as attached at the hip: “A day together spent exploring, taking photos and ending with a good meal and pot of house-brewed tea at Kadbanu [771 Dundas St. W.] is a day well spent.” —Jillian Vieira THEKIT.CA | MAY 2016 |

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green boutique “The Detox Market [420 King St. W.] for all my natural beauty needs.” —Danielle

Taylor Reynolds (left, @taylurreynn) and Danielle Reynolds (@daniirey) in Chinatown on Spadina Ave.

guilty pleasure “Street meat! The spicy Italian sausage at the Queen and Spadina stand will always have my business.” —Taylor

ART DIRECTION: SONYA VAN HEYNINGEN

LOOKBOOK

NOW TRENDING

Your gotta-have-it Toronto shopping list: statement sunnies, knockout swimsuits, next-gen lip gloss ALL EYES ON YOU

It’s 2016, so our chance to define the decade (sartorially, obv) is already half gone. When it comes to accessories, sunglasses have always been a memorable mark of the times: Consider the teeny-tiny tinted frames on ’90s darlings Mary-Kate and Ashley and the frameless, rhinestoneflecked versions worn by Paris Hilton, Britney Spears et al. in the often regrettable oughts. This spring, designers made a strong case for our decade’s signature style: over-the-top plays on throwback shades. Primary-hued ski-goggle-like shapes showed up at Stella McCartney, while a very Lolita-esque pair—with one lens a red-tinged heart, the other a reflective star—caught showgoers’ attention at Giamba. When we look back on this moment, there’ll be a little nostalgia and a lot of personality as far as the eye can see. —Jillian Vieira. Photography by Paul Weeks.

THEKIT.CA | MAY 2016 |

KAREN WALKER SUNGLASSES, $386, KARENWALKER.COM

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FASHION FILM INSPO

SCOTCH & SODA BRA, $75 (WITH MATCHING UNDERWEAR), SCOTCH-SODA.COM

Sun-baked nostalgia, jealousy and style combine to create movie magic in new flick A Bigger Splash.

FACE TIME

WARRIOR QUEEN Lessons in fierceness from Charli XCX

“MAKEUP MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A BADASS. LIKE A WARRIOR.” —CHARLI XCX

GETTY IMAGES

MAKE UP FOR EVER AQUA XL EYE PENCILS IN D-62, M-92 AND M-30, $25, SEPHORA.CA

Charli XCX is a selfdescribed “mercurial girl,” especially when it comes to her makeup. That’s why the 23-year-old British pop star is keyed up to be the face of Make Up For Ever’s Aqua XL Eye Pencils, which come in 20 shades, from lemon yellow to iridescent indigo. “The pencils last the whole time I’m on stage and don’t run, drip, nothing,” she says at the New York launch party. And if you’ve ever seen XCX—who favours non-breathable latex outfits purchased at “stripper stores”—command a stage, you know that’s saying a lot. When we meet, XCX (born Charlotte Aitchison) is sporting a four-shade, cat-eye-shaped shadow look that spreads across her lid like a blue morpho butterfly. In fact, she says, such transformative looks are a cosmetic version of liquid courage. “When I’m on stage, makeup makes me feel like a badass,” she explains. “Like a warrior.” Considering she has just launched her own label, Vroom Vroom Recordings, because “there aren’t enough female execs in the industry, and I really wanted to be one of those people,” it sounds like she’s ready for battle. —Veronica Saroli

LIGHTNING ROUND Fave food “Buffalo chicken pizza. Weird, I know.” Drink order “Vodka with Red Bull—or with passion fruit and champagne. It’s really good; it’s called a Pornstar Martini.” Time it takes to do a cat-eye “Maybe five minutes. I start from the inside and then I do the wing and then I join them up.” Beauty staples “Rose water, a really good mascara, and I love the Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Lip Palette.” Drake or Bieber “Can I have both? Is that possible?”

THE POP ART INFLUENCE Director Luca Guadagnino used this 1967 painting by David Hockney as a jumpingoff point (pun intended).

THE LOVE QUADRANGLE WILFRED FREE SHORTS, $65, ARITZIA

ELIZABETH AND JAMES SUNGLASSES, $262, NEIMANMARCUS.COM

THE ITALIAN-ISLEWORTHY LOOK BRAVE BRACELET, $70, BRAVELEATHER.COM

MOST WANTED: SHAKE IT OFF Lip gloss needs to work harder. As our attention spans shrink (right, millennial think pieces?) and we become more difficult to surprise and delight, beauty companies are looking for ever more creative ways to hold our attention. The latest innovation to make us squeal: these sponge-tipped lip oils. A blend of natural oils (peach kernel, sweet almond and cranberry) with poppybright pigments (in 10 shades), these oils smell like apricots, blackberries or citrus and leave a semi-sheer, semi-glossy, fully pretty finish on the lips. Consider the gloss category disrupted. — Photography by Paul Weeks

LOOKBOOK Dakota Johnson as Penelope, the reckless daughter of a record producer, goes for a taken man (Matthias Schoenaerts), the boyfriend of her dad’s ex. (Not that it’s complicated.)

THE AMATEUR NOSE A Toronto pie maker sniff-drives a rhubarbinspired scent

HEIDI KLEIN, $435, NET-A-PORTER.COM

ERES, $550, ERES, CUMBERLAND STREET

REISS, $145, REISS, EATON CENTRE

ANITA, $120, ANITA.COM

BETH RICHARDS, $330, BETHRICHARDS.COM

TAVIK, $138, SIMONS.CA

BILLABONG, $100, BILLABONG.COM

H&M, $50, HM.COM

THE NOSE

Charlene Dalton, manager of the Pie Commission, 887 Dundas St. W.; 935 The Queensway THE SCENT

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d o n e

t h e i t s y - b i t s y b i k i n i m a y h a v e l y r i c a l n o t o r i e t y, b u t w e ’ r e c u r r e n t l y v i b i n g o n s u p e r - s e x y m a i l l o t s

Hermès Eau de Rhubarbe Écarlate, $149 (100 mL), 130 Bloor St. W. THE NOTES

Rhubarb, red berries, white musk

THE VERDICT

LANCÔME JUICY SHAKERS, $28, LANCOME.CA

“Rhubarb is very subtle. When we’re baking rhubarb pie, I can smell it only if I pass the oven—not from across the room. This scent brings me back to going to the farm with my parents. When you smell red berries, straight away you think of summer and being outside; you smell the flowers, the strawberries.”

THEKIT.CA | MAY 2016 |

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WE ARE HANDSOME, $342, WEAREHANDSOME.COM

L*SPACE, $210, SANDPIPERS

J.CREW, $182, JCREW.COM

AERIE, $60, AERIE.COM

AMAIÒ SWIM, $550, AMAIOSWIM.COM

JOE FRESH, $34, JOEFRESH.COM

KARLA COLLETTO, $450, EVERYTHINGBUTWATER.COM

LA PERLA, $975, LAPERLA.COM

OLD NAVY, $45, OLDNAVY.CA

ARAKS X QUENTIN JONES, $470, ARAKS.COM

TOPSHOP, $70, THEBAY.COM

MIKOH, $275, MIKOH.COM

fit to be tied

HOW TO ACE MOTHER’S DAY

Let her know you’re grateful that she got you from diapers to driver’s licence. First, assess her aesthetic, then peruse our handy gift guide of gorgeous accessories, indulgent beauty treats and blissful spa treatments. Now shower her with the attention she deserves

A washedout fold-over bag brings life to a summer dress

WARMED LAVENDER HONEY WRAP

$210, Four Seasons Spa, 60 Yorkville Ave., fourseasons.com

INDIGO CLUTCH, $28, INDIGO.CA

This body wrap starts with a dry brushing to stimulate circulation; then a warmed white mud infused with French lavender and honey is applied all over. You’re wrapped in plastic wrap and blankets like a burrito and enjoy a blissful 20-minute head massage while the mud sinks in. After a shower, sweet-smelling lotion is massaged in to seal in all that moisture.

ALTUZARRA

JUST A TOUCH

A choose-your-own-adventure guide to the more artful (read: less hippy-dippy) approach to tie-dye

Max out a simple maxi with dip-dye detail

IN AL

SWEET GARDEN ROSES FROM SWEET WOODRUFF (442 DUFFERIN ST.)

IS T

L AM

STUNNING RANUNCULUS FROM BOTANY (626 COLLEGE ST.)

ROBERTO CAVALLI

RAQUEL ALLEGRA PANTS, $300, NET-APORTER.COM

Li’tya Kodo is an Aboriginal AustralianinspiredINDIGO treatment, which starts with a CLUTCH, $28, foot soak and smudging ritual. A blissful INDIGO.CA full-body massage follows, with techniques designed to increase energy flow—it feels like pinching and twisting of your back and shoulders. Bonus: Proceeds from sales of the oils and scalp mask go to the Aboriginal Australians who make them.

SOOTHING SUCCULENTS FROM DYNASTY (1086 1/2 QUEEN ST. W.)

$175, Elmwood Spa, 18 Elm St., elmwoodspa.com

UT FUGITA DERIA ET, NULPARUNEQUIA RUSTIC POSIES FROM I L L U T V O L E S T A D I PATCHOULI (199 QUEEN ST. E.) APIT,

LI’TYA KODO TREATMENT

GIFT GUIDE

BCBGMAXAZRIA

Amp up your athleisure with multi-hued track pants

Pair with indigo denim to offset acid brights

A LOTTA LOOK

THAKOON

EXPRESS DRESS, $70, EXPRESS.COM

24 KARAT GOLD FACIAL

DIESEL TOP, $190, DIESEL.COM

BAMM BAMM BEAUTY

First there was the Paleo Diet, now there’s paleo beauty. The Dirt’s balms, scents and toothpastes are just as whole-foody and nutrient-rich as its L.A. founder Shannon Drake’s fridge. We’re sure it’s Flintstone-approved. THE DIRT MCT OIL TOOTHPASTE IN ROSE CACAO MINT, $19, DIRTY BALM LIP TREATMENT, $13, GIVEMETHEDIRT.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER STIGTER (RUNWAY)

$190, Sweetgrass Spa, 111e Queen St. E., sweetgrassspa.ca

This is 75 minutes of layer after layer of biodynamic Dr. Hauschka cleansers, exfoliators and masks, plus a rose oil arm, leg and foot massage. For the pièce de résistance, thin sheets of 24-karat gold leaf are gently pressed onto the face, then massaged into the skin to promote cell regeneration and to make one look more like JLo.

AU NATUREL

OLIO E OSSO BA LM I N B ER RY, $ 3 8 , B I B ELOTA N DTO K E N . C O M . C A M B I E B L A N K E T, $ 1 1 0 , C A M B I ED ES I G N .CO M . PUPA MIL ANO LUMINYS BAKED ALL OVER ILLUMINATING BLUSH POWDER IN 03, $29, REX ALL. TORY BURCH DRESS , $465 , TORY BURCH , YORKDALE. PANDORA BRACELET, $55, PANDORA. NET. TAMMY FENDER BULGARIAN LAVENDER BODY OIL, $85, SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM

PASTEL PRETTY

HOMESENSE TERRARIUM, $20, HOMESENSE. L’ORÉAL PARIS LA VIE EN ROSE BY COLOUR RICHE LIPSTICK IN JULIANNE’S PINK, $11, DRUGSTORES . BANANA REPUBLIC SHOES, $148 , BANANA REPUBLIC . RW&CO. DRESS, $180, RW- CO.COM . TOCCA E AU DE TOILET TE IN EMELIA, $82, SEPHORA.CA. ROSE & CO. PATISSERIE DE BAIN GIFT BOX OF 6 BATH FANCIES, $36, ROOM2046.COM

MINIMALIST COOL

JENNY BIRD NECKLACE, $145, JENNY-BIRD.CA. THEFACESHOP WHITE GINSENG COLLAGEN P E A R L C A P S U L E C R E A M , $75 , T H EFAC ESHOP.CA. JUDITH & CHARLES JACKET, $475, JUDITHANDCHARLES.COM. ILIA MOONDANCE R ADIAN C E TR ANSLUC ENT POWDER , $ 40, CLEMENTINEFIELDS.CA. ALESSI VASE, $147, ALESSI.COM. MARC JACOBS CUCUMBER EAU DE TOILETTE, $65 (100 ML), THEBAY.COM

ARDITH 373 RONCESVALLES AVE. At this minimalist, crystal-dotted store, fitness is more than just a trip to the gym: It’s a lifestyle. Here, yoga-retreatready cleansing sage and high-performance leggings round out a chic selection of off-duty activewear. HOI BO BAG, $138

MUTTONHEAD 337 RONCESVALLES AVE.

DR. WHO FACIAL

$250, Gee Beauty, 2 Roxborough St, W., geebeauty.ca

This isn’t your drift-away-to-whalesounds spa treatment. The 90-minute Dr. Who facial at this bright, white, modern spa means business, and its business is baby-soft skin. No cleansing/exfoliating/ moisturizing stone goes unturned—it includes diamond-tipped microdermabrasion, extractions, a collagen mask and an Intraceuticals oxygen treatment.

Outdoorsy types flock to this homegrown brand’s flagship for its unisex basics. Count on its sleek toques to help you navigate those chilly nights when camping up north. TOPO DESIGNS BAG, $224

SHOPPING MAP

THE WEEKENDER UPDATE

Pack for any May Two-Four escape with a ramble along Roncesvalles Illustration by LeeAndra Cianci

FROCK 97 RONCESVALLES AVE.

FRENCH GLAMOUR

ARQUISTE ART DECO VELVET CANDLE, $ 9 5 , E T I K E T. C A . LOVE ST Y L E LI FE BY GAR AN C E DO R É, $ 39, I N D I GO.C A . LEE SAVAGE B AG , $ 1 ,76 0 , N E T- A- P O RT E R . COM . DOLCE & GABBANA DOLCE ROSA EXCELSA EAU DE PARFUM, $109 (50 ML), THEBAY.COM. YSL LA LAQUE COUTURE IN SAVAGE PINK, $29, THEBAY.COM. CALL IT SPRING SHOES, $50, CALLITSPRING.COM.

Expect paralian-perfect jumpsuits and twee separates that are just right for a Prince Edward County excursion. The brimming accessory section—which includes homegrown designer favourites like Jenny Bird, Pilar Agueci and Erin Templeton—is a can’t-miss.

T E S T D R I V E : T H E P R I N C E S S D I A R I E S It’s time to reclaim the tiara

LOOKBOOK

Hi, I’m Jenn. I’m 32 and I’m cur- crowns you’d expect to find at a big rently wearing a tiara. I didn’t know I fat wedding. As I gazed at my face needed a diamanté crown until I saw adorned by a diamanté halo, someHedi Slimane’s grunge prom queens thing happened. I felt edgy, like a on the Spring 2016 Saint Laurent run- makeup-free, zero-effs-giving Agyway: The tousled waves, slinky slip ness Deyn in a leather moto vest. I dresses and old school wellies gave was the people’s princess, neither me all the Hole-“Live Through This”- an overly made-up tot nor an infanmeets-Kate-Moss-at-Glastonbury tilized adult. feels. Miuccia Prada and Nicolas The first time I wore my bejewGhesquière followed suit with elled head accoutrement out for a signature quirk at Miu Miu drink, I paired it with high-waisted and a futuristic Sailor kick-flares, a tee and matte cerise Moon mood at Louis lips—after all, Slimane said a tiny Vuitton. Then came crown goes “with everyGigi Hadid in Tommy thing.” I got immediHilfiger’s Fall 2016 ate attention, albeit show (below), workmore of the “girl ing a prim frock and a at her bachelormini-crown. Call it a ette” variety than royal meeting of the “nonchalant Frozen, Kate Midfashion girl” type. dleton and ’90s Still, I accepted fashion hysteria: the free rum and Tiaras are having coke from the a moment. Yo r k v i l l e b a r My last manager after tiara-as-acceshe proclaimed sory phase was that they’d roughly 24 “never had a years ago and real princess was, admithere before!” tedly, more ageWhat folappropriate. For a lowed over the girl obsessed with high next week were heels and lipstick, an grins at my local ornate diamond topper b a k e r y, s m i l e s o n on a Tuesday afternoon sidewalks and a surwas normal. Now that I’m prisingly courtly recepall grown up, could I still tion at the hipster café. I Clockwise from top: embrace princess culture Princess got the best table because, Elsa, Sailor without looking like a sad Moon, Saint Laurent, I assume, the power of the Princess Jasmine, Disney reject? The Hilfiger tiara simply demanded it. Hilfiger, Louis look—all Peter Pan collars Tommy During my short reign, Vuitton, Miu Miu. and cute mini-crowns—felt the jewel-encrusted headcostumey, but Saint Laurent’s girls, wear gave me surprising confidence. who are more likely to reach for a sep- But I realized that people weren’t tum ring than for sequins, appealed to nicer because they thought I was me. Since I rarely let a trend exclude royalty (or royally bonkers)—they me, I set out to find my crown—and were picking up what my tiara and I some texturizing spray to rough up my were putting out there: an exhilaratblowout (self-blown, of course: What ing self-assuredness and liberating joie do you think I am, a princess?). de vivre born of a decision to not care I strode into tween accessory whether I was naturally “edgy” enough mecca Claire’s and asked the clerk for my new fave accessory. for the, ahem, adult tiaras (she The power of the tiara, I learned, pointed them out, unfazed). As I isn’t really how it makes you look tried on various rhinestone mon- but how it makes you feel: stately strosities, I happened upon a sweet and commanding. Slimane was right: tiara that was, dare I say, taste- That really does go with everything. ful—a far cry from the oversized –Jennifer Berry FROM LEFT: ASOS, $27, ASOS.COM. CLAIRE’S, $14, CLAIRES.COM. JENNIFER BEHR, $1,735, JENNIFERBEHR.COM

BAGGU BAG, $105

MUST LOVE DOGS

Toronto style powerhouses—seen here with their pooches—prove that the new mom jean has serious fashion bite By Veronica Saroli | Photography by Luis Mora

TREND NOTE Back in 2003, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler immortalized the oft unflattering mom jean, with its snug high waists and its yards of fabric extending out like a 100,000-gallon infinity pool. But now, street-style doyennes are having the last laugh, working elevated, roomy denim from Off-White, See by Chloé and Vetements and—in a pinch—refitted vintage gems. (Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh would be proud.) HAIR AND MAKEUP BY SHERI STROH FOR PLUTINO GROUP/ BITE BEAUTY. HAIR AND MAKEUP ASSISTANT, ROMY ZACK FOR PLUTINO GROUP

BLAIRE BORINS, 28, HERMÈS COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, AND ED (LEFT) AND FRED, BOTH 8

ERIN KOBAYASHI, 34, WRITER, AND LUNA, 2

Borins’s toy poodles follow her around with what can only be described as Mary-had-a-little-lamb-like devotion. “Too many shadows,” Borins says, half joking. Brothers Ed and Fred were originally bought for two young family friends—hence the rhyming monikers—but as the kids grew and their interest waned, Borins took the poodles in for a weekend, which turned into five years of cohabitation. “Their whole life is dependent on me taking care of them,” she says with a laugh. “But they’re horribly behaved.”

One Christmas morning, Kobayashi discovered an eight-weekold Catahoula-leopard-and-German-shepherd-mix puppy under the tree. Cute, right? “It was basically like finding out you’re pregnant and giving birth in one day,” she counters. Like any proud parent, Kobayashi praises Luna’s smarts and credits the dog for making her less selfish. However, Kobayashi’s pride took a beating recently when she entered Luna in a dog selfie contest. Competition was tough: “She came in second place—she was against a cockapoo with 1,000 Instagram followers. Dogs don’t care if they lose, but I do.”

EMILY SCARLETT, 33, H&M CANADA COMMUNICATIONS AND PRESS MANAGER, AND BOADIE, 4

Getting Boadie, a 55-pound English bulldog with a penchant for drooling—and who requires daily wrinkle cleaning—up on the block for this photo was easy for Scarlett, but it would throw out the backs of mere mortals. Once situated, Boadie flashes a big Cheshire-cat grin, his charm melting hearts around the studio faster than you can say Oscar Isaac. “They make you happy all the time,” Scarlett muses about the allure of pets. “It’s unconditional love. No matter what happens, they’re always there for you.”

GAP TOP, $25, GAPCANADA.CA. HERMÈS SHOES, $1,175, HERMÈS. JEANS, BORINS’S OWN

TOPSHOP TOP, $22, THEBAY.COM. JEANS AND SHOES, KOBAYASHI’S OWN

H&M TOP, $40, JEANS, $50, SHOES, $60, HM.COM

GIRL GANG

BROOKE MANNING, 31, OWNER OF LIKELY GENERAL, AND JANE, 2

They say dogs resemble their owners, but the likeness runs deeper between Manning and Jane, her husky-shepherd-mix rescue dog. “You form this instant bond,” says Manning. “You become like each other in a weird way. Pets want to do everything for you, and you want to do everything for them.” For Manning, that meant overhauling her business model: She opted not to stock food in her retail space so that it could become pet-friendly. Now, to the delight of customers, Jane parks herself right by the door. OLD NAVY TOP, $15, OLDNAVY.CA. JEANS AND SHOES, MANNING’S OWN

NATASHA RAMKAY, 24, MODEL, AND MOLLY, 5

When the tiny Cavalier King Charles spaniel pup arrived home for the first time, the Ramkay family came up with her name on the spot. “She just looked like a Molly,” Ramkay explains. The naming may have been easy, but getting used to Molly’s woeful expression was not. “She’d look so sad all the time. We were like ‘What did we do?’” Years later, Molly still looks glum, but Ramkay reassures us that she’s got nothing to pout about. “Dogs live in the moment— they’re not planning their next meal. They’re not stressed.” BANANA REPUBLIC TOP, $62, BANANAREPUBLIC.CA. TOPSHOP JEANS, $80, THEBAY.COM. ALDO SHOES, $120, ALDOSHOES.COM

JENNIFER LEE, 33, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, FILLER MAGAZINE, AND PICKLE, 10

Every Christmas, Lee travels 18 hours with her Australianshepherd mix, Pickle, to Saint John, N.B., to visit her family. Sure, she could hop on a two-hour flight, but Pickle likes car rides, and Lee likes Pickle, so they drive. The duo have a special bond: After moving to Toronto from the U.K. following her master’s, Lee was lonely. “I kind of needed a friend,” she says. Even now, “depending on your partner’s work schedule,” she says, “you might see your dog more than anyone else.” BANANA REPUBLIC TOP, $62, BANANAREPUBLIC.CA. LEVI’S JEANS, $108, LEVI.COM. WINNERS SHOES, $130, WINNERS

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IN YOUR PAPER THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016

FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016

TORONTO STAR

HAIR TREND

MOST WANTED

LONG STORY

IT BAG Top-handle purses ruled the runways

How to wear the season’s hottest look

page 2

星期四 2016年4月21號

mercredi, 6 avril, 2016

FRAGRANCE

SIGNATURE SCENT

美容告白

渴望擁有

春日美容

dernières tendances

la mode du printemps

Do you need one? page 7

妳的採購清單從這裡開始 page 3

Les indispensables de la saison, de la belle bohème à la sirène séduisante

page 3

完美肌膚頂級化妝師締造易於上妝好膚質的快速方法

潮妝

藍色熱潮本季大熱美妝潮流 page 6

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» page 4 MOST WANTED

GROUNDBREAKING MAKEUP page 3

le plus convoité

S O U T H

A S I A N

le sac du moment

E D I T I O N

Féminin, avec une bonne dose d’attitude, ce sac est l’indispensable de la saison

中文版

» page 3 ACCESSORY REPORT

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BEAUTY CHALLENGE

SPLURGE VS. SAVE “I decided to try two diametrically opposed makeup budgets for a week each and see what the differences were.” page 7

profil

MODERN ROMANCE

beauté moderne

Après une ascension fulgurante vers la gloire, Freida Pinto s’est fait un nom à Hollywood. Pourquoi se sent-elle toujours intimidée face à d’autres célébrités?

SPOTLIGHT

SKIN DEEP

Canadian actor Sarah Gadon makes a strong statement in spring’s softest ruffles and bows

The skincare industry is bringing spiritual healing to your vanity, one blessed serum and reiki facial at a time

page 4

» page 6

BY ANNE T. DONAHUE

TORONTO STAR TOUCH Ever y Thursday, The Kit t a ke s ove r th e B re ath e life s t yle se c tio n o n th e Toronto Star Touch tablet app. Look for exclusive galleries and videos.

THE KIT This weekly beauty and style must-read is in select c o p i e s o f T h e To r o n t o Star, The Vancouver Sun, Edmonton Journal, Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen and Montreal Gazette. PHOTO: NORMAN WONG. PETER PILOTTO DRESS, $7,310, SIMILAR STYLES AT CANARY, 214-3514400. ANZIE RING, $675, HOLT RENFREW

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ON YOUR TABLET

I grew up with an overly cautious approach to the occult. I was taught that Wicca, horoscopes, crystals, tarot—basically anything supernatural— were the equivalent of straight-up devil worship. This is why, in grade six, I ratted out my best friend for bringing a spell book to school. (I confessed only two years ago.) But then I grew up, and teen rebellion gave way to 20-something spiritual experimentation. My friends were seeing psychics, practising magic and doing tarot readings, so I dutifully acquired a few crystals and a deck of my own. The fashion world was getting on (Ouija) board, too: Stylists began studying shamanism, tarot readings popped up at cult-y boutiques, and astrologer Susan Miller became a fashion-world darling. Space-clearing sage became a signature scent. Continued on page 6

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THE HANDBOOK

20 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW TO DO

1. ACCEPT A COMPLIMENT Because you’re good enough One of the best Vines I’ve seen to date (that didn’t involve sweet dogs or insane children) features Beyoncé on a daytime talk show. The host, mid-sentence, says, “You are Beyoncé,” and Bey responds, “Thank you.” She thanks the interviewer like her own name is a holy site. It’s a tiny accident during a random publicity opp—but I loved it. I already do something like it. When my husband says I have pretty eyes, and I’m feeling like a scamp, I say, “I know!” I’m good with compliments when I’ve earned them, but not about things that come easily, or genetically. But my eyes are big and blue and surrounded

with ourselves. The show Inside Amy Schumer featured a sketch about women responding to compliments—on clothes, pregnancy, promotion—with responses like, “I look like a whore locked out of her apartment,” as though they could take the compliment only under duress. And lately it seems that bigupping other women has become another side of the same compulsion: We no longer like anyone, we “looooove her!” because she is “the BEST.” To be the right kind of good, we are supposed to be a little bit less, and make someone else a little bit more. But you can’t take a better salary or get into a better relationship without first accepting a compliment—it’s the ground level of acknowledging your own value. So slimy social-media

h compliments when I’ve e arned them , b u t “ I’m good wit by long, black lashes (this is a statement that women—you, right now—are socially conditioned to understand as “bragging”), and just jokingly agreeing with the compliment gives me a blast of relief, having undone one little knot in the complex system that’s been fixed in place to make women feel bad about existing. Receiving compliments well—without shame, equivocation and origami-awkward body language—can be hard. It’s supposed to be. The cultural construct of femininity suggests wo m e n avo i d se e m in g like we’re okay

2. IMPRESS LIKE A PR #BOSS

randos or street harassers aside, the next time you’re greeted with positive attention, say thank you, once, and keep it rolling. Appreciate that the person delivering the admiration invoked the will to say something, because, in the same way that taking credit can feel off limits, so can vulnerability. And should the spirit move you, return the favour. If a Cool Teen compliments your dope shoes, you have an obligation to tell her how to avoid paying retail for designer. Once you’re able to take a compliment without having an attack of imposter syndrome, bank the ones that mean the most to you. Recently a friend told me I seemed “peaceful,” and it felt like she’d released a flock of singing bluebirds from her purse. The exchange can be a powerful communion—and a step toward a better life. —Kate Carraway

“DON’T RUSH TO RESPOND TO EMAILS—THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY AND SAY IT PROPERLY.” —SUZANNE COHON, ASC PUBLIC RELATIONS

t ha t gs in

no t abo ut t h

HANDLING EDITOR: KATHRYN HUDSON (PACKAGE); TEXT: VERONICA SAROLI (IMPRESS); CARLY OSTROFF (DENIM). PHOTOGRAPHY: CARLYLE ROUTH (MODEL WITH SUNGLASSES); ISTOCKPHOTO (FRAME, BUBBLES)

You’re already a perfect 10, but who says the scale ends there?

genetically.” asily, or e e com

3. CARE FOR YOUR FAVE JEANS With intel from top denim designers

Embellished

“I recommend either dry cleaning or handwashing them in cold water, then hang drying.” —Paige Adams-Geller, Paige Denim

Distressed

“Don’t wash them. Put them in a dryer inside out, with a dryer sheet, and tumble for a while just to air them out. That’s the best way to preserve age.” —Phillip Lim

Fringed

“The fringe takes a little extra attention, so I recommend handwashing inside out (I use Woolite Extra Dark, which helps preserve the colour), and then hanging to dry. Definitely don’t put them in the dryer, as the fringe might tangle.” —Scott Morrison, 3X1

4. IMPRESS LIKE A PR #BOSS

“DELIVER A CONFIDENT HANDSHAKE. IF YOU LACK CONFIDENCE, PEOPLE WILL PICK UP ON IT RIGHT AWAY. CONNECT WITH A FIRM GRIP, A WARM SMILE AND EYE CONTACT.” — CHRISTINE FAULHABER, FAULHABER COMMUNICATIONS 5. FEEL GOOD IN A SWANK STORE

Luxury shopping is like sex: You shouldn’t do it if it makes you feel weird. The right way to hit a high-end store is simple: Walk in, stroll about like Regina George from Mean Girls, and then drop some cash—or inhale the sweet perfume of expensive handbags and breeze your way out without spending a dime. Either way, enjoy yourself. The salespeople aren’t there to judge. They’re your partners in this rendezvous— only invited to follow your cues and tell you you look pretty. And if they don’t? They’re not doing their job.

6. CHOP YOUR HAIR, DON’T CARE Because taking your look into your own hands feels like freedom

I started cutting my own hair in 2009 when I was young and impulsive and reactionary. One February morning—before a shift at American Eagle and high on a recent screening of Almost Famous—I cut my own bangs. Then, proud that I’d morphed into a Cambridge-dwelling Zooey Deschanel, I never trusted anybody else to touch them. My hair confidence only escalated. One afternoon a year later, I cut my hair into a bob. And since that worked out, I just kept cutting it, emerging that summer as Jack White’s twin—or, more specifically, a woman full of regret in a baseball cap. Fortunately, as the 2010s progressed—and I kept cutting my own hair because I had no money to get somebody to do it for me—I ended up a maverick of DIY. I could indulge in spontaneity, bask in pride when somebody complimented my self-stylings and go to sleep knowing that, despite all warnings to the contrary, I could do what so many other people couldn’t: cut my own hair. Brave enough Now a grown-ass woman with enough money to eat and to get a to cut your own haircut (#imagine), I’ve been warming to the idea of entrusting my locks hair? Follow to a person trained in that specific skill. “Cutting one’s own hair properly these tips from is difficult for one big reason: Your head is on the same body as your Toronto hairstylist arms,” affirmed Melody Bostelaar, a friend of mine and stylist/co-owner Melody Bostelaar. of Toronto’s Lebel & Crowe. “I’m a major fan of teaching my clients the CUT DRY. “Cut basics of trimming their own bangs, but when it comes to an overall your hair in the haircut? My aunt Barbara can make you a Geocities website, but there’s way you typically a reason I asked a web developer to make our site.” wear and part it.” But if I gave up my regular beauty regimen of standing over the CUT UPWARD. sink and hoping for the best, where would my reactionary energy go? “It softens the line, Besides, I’d recently learned to twist my hair into sections and cut the which can save a ends, so as far as I was concerned, I was a pro. “That technique makes self-haircutter from me cringe,” Bostelaar corrected. that a-five-yearMaybe my dull scissors are a testament to days gone by. Because old-cut-my-bangswhile I’ve changed a lot since I started reacting to life events with freshly with-craft-scissors cut bangs, I still see my era of self-styling as a necessary part of my look—which I’m evolution. It was empowering to be fully in charge of my look not completely (Jack White hair included) and comforting to know I was shitting on. It could willing to take risks that others weren’t. work for some.” Ultimately, cutting my own hair taught me that I’ll CUT SHARP. do what I want; that I can be reckless and screw up “Get some real exponentially, but still deal with the repercus- scissors—if they’re sions. Even if that means getting really pulling, you could be into hats. —Anne T. Donahue causing split ends.”

“I could do wh at s o

h ot

an y

people couldn’ t TO TURN DOWN ANOTHER DATE:

“I had a good time, but I don’t feel enough of a connection. Good luck!” 7. HAVE THE PERFECT RESPONSE WHEN DUDES ON THE STREET TELL YOU TO SMILE

LET’S ALL GIVE A STANDING O TO ILANA AND ABBI OF BROAD CITY FOR REFINING THE ONLY APPROPRIATE REACTION TO THAT INFURIATINGLY OBNOXIOUS REQUEST.

TO QUIT YOUR JOB:

Never, girl. Go in person.

ut m

8. DON’T GHOST COPY AND PASTE THESE SENTENCES INSTEAD

TO BAIL ON PLANS:

y ow n

“I’m sorry to cancel at the last minute, but I just don’t feel up to going out. Next time, first round is on me!”

i r .”

THE HANDBOOK

at th e

w Schill

e r, wh o h a s p e n n e d a c tu

al ha

ir-p u

ing s ce “TV storytelling nes fo r thrives on conflict, but real AM friendships are about balance. To figure out if things are getting toxic, ask yourself: Are you giving them more than they’re giving you? Does your friend push you to do things you don’t want to do? If yes, confront them. It’s going to be hard because they’ll probably get defensive. But be honest and be firm. In season four of Friends, Joey and Chandler have a big fight because Chandler crossed the line and kissed Joey’s girlfriend. It’s so hard for Chandler to be honest, but he forces himself. In turn, Joey is a good model for dealing with a toxic friend because he stands up for himself. It’s heartbreaking. Every friendship has rocky times—the key is deciding what’s crossing the line. But sometimes people do bad things because they’re hurting. You have to allow room for forgiveness. It’s so hard when you’re in an emotional place, but try to take a step back and figure out why someone’s doing what they do. At work we talk about that all the time: What’s our character’s motivation for doing dramatic things?”

WIT

EAL

WEAR WHAT FEELS GOOD

e utfit for th t o r at import an you

FIRST DATE LOFT TOP, $62, LOFT. COM. COURTSHOP JEANS, $177, THE FUTURE OF FRANCES WATSON, TORONTO. WHITE HOUSE BLACK MARKET SHOES, $135, WHBM.COM

ENGAGEMENT PARTY

CACHAREL DRESS, $775, BARNEYS.COM. LELE SADOUGHI RING, $175, HOLT RENFREW. TOPSHOP SHOES, $110, HUDSON’S BAY

YES, YOU CAN HAVE A BITE

“I don’t care where you are: It’s not rude to share your food. You can switch plates back and forth or even just switch chairs. I enjoy a sharing style of food and am so bored by a place where everyone orders their own dishes anyway.”

KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF

“It’s sadly common for people to scoff at the menu in front of the server or say food ‘ s o u n d s w e i r d . ’ I t ’s someone’s place of business, and they are practising their aesthetic, so it’s very insulting.” TEXT: KATHRYN HUDSON. PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL WEEKS (PLATES)

1 1.

“Dress code trips a lot of people up because the newer breed of nice restaurants has loud music and feels casual. If you’re paying $100 and over per person, that’s high-end; $50 to $75 is mid-range; and below that is casual. You should always dress in a way that you feel comfortable, but the easiest option? Google image search the restaurant and look on Instagram to get a quick sense of the atmosphere.”

10. D

MINTZ’S TOP RESTO PICKS Bar Raval (505 College St.), Black Hoof (928 Dundas St. W.), Anne’s Magic Kitchen (414 Dundas St. W.)

“Asking your server ‘What should I order?’ is annoying. They don’t know what you like. It’s like asking a stranger to recommend music. A good way to phrase it is ‘Can you tell me what specialty I would feel bad about missing on the menu?’ And you are under no obligation to order the dish if it doesn’t appeal.”

“That’s old-world etiquette, but if you decide to share a meal with someone at a restaurant that has formalized courses, surely you can manage to carry on a conversation while only one of you is eating. Order what you want.”

ASK WHEN NEEDED

JUST BECAUSE YOUR GUEST ORDERED AN APP DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO

“Nobody should leave their phone on the table, unless you’re a doctor on call. It’s rude. Everyone takes pictures of their food now, which is fine, but put it in your purse when you’re done. Even if your phone just lights up when you get a text, it stops dinner conversation.”

“I compulsively fold my own napkin and put it back on the left of the plate when I get up from the table, but it really doesn’t matter where you leave your napkin—on the table or your chair. At a high-end restaurant, a server will refold your napkin to let you know they’re working. It’s a nice touch to say, ‘Hey, while you were gone I made things nicer for you.’”

PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY

DON’T STRESS ABOUT YOUR NAPKIN

ge No

“When a waiter brings you the wine to taste, they aren’t asking if you like it, they’re asking you if it’s corked—one in 10 bottles is. If the wine is fine, they’ll go ahead and pour it for the table. Also, a server is sizing you up and deciding how to treat you. When they see you swirling and sniffing, they know you’re interested in wine, so they might tell you about terroir. If you just say ‘Tastes good,’ then they won’t bother.”

k sta

SWIRL LIKE YOU MEAN IT

Bac

and

s si

g ra

s AA

w per

CONDUCT YOURSELF CORRECTLY WHEN OUT FOR DINNER Toronto resto critic Corey Mintz has enjoyed about a billion meals across the city, so we scored his guide to modern etiquette

rM r i te

BIG MEETING

TIGER OF SWEDEN JACKET, $549, TIGEROFSWEDEN.COM. JOSEPH PANTS, $665, JOSEPH-FASHION.COM. NEWBARK SHOES, $620, NEWBARK.COM

12. IMPRESS LIKE A PR #BOSS

“NEVER HAVE CHIPPED NAILS OR WEAR A STRONG FRAGRANCE TO A JOB INTERVIEW.”

— DEBRA GOLDBLATT-SADOWSKI, ROCK-IT PROMOTIONS 19

T AN ART 1

R STA

“ You want something that resonates with how you want to feel when you wake up: I want to wake up on the bright side, so that’s the kind of art I choose for my home,” says Brooklyn-based artist Edward Granger (left), who stars alongside his bright works in the latest Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren campaign. Tip: Check out shows like OCAD’s Gradex (ocadu.ca) and torontooutdoorart.com, or go online to artbombdaily.com or eyebuyart.com.

17. ST YLE YOUR HAIR WITHOUT STRESSING Harry Josh, the B.C.-born N.Y.C.-based hair guru breaks down the two killer styles that can take you anywhere

I CT

ZAC POSEN

AT WORK THE PERFECT BUN

1. “Gather your hair and tip your nose up, before putting on your elastic. When you lower your head, your hair is pulled taut.” 2. “Once you have your pony, spray the tail with hairspray until it’s starchy, so it won’t slip out later. Then brush it out, and spray again.” 3. “Start twisting, and pin the edges in place. Keep twisting as you wrap the hair around. People want to think it’s easy like a gym bun, but it’s not. You’ve got to twist as you pin so it stays tight.”

16.MASTER FILTER-LEVEL MAKEUP IRL 14. ENJOY YOUR OWN COMPANY Because you need quiet to hear your thoughts

limb, and it made the pain of parting sharper. Alone, I walked the city and got to know its secrets. I ate noodles in Chinatown and was ignored by rude salespeople on I grew up in a leafy suburban Bloor Street. I sat in Trinity Bellneighbourhood outside Montreal woods Park on a blanket, watchthat had almost no other kids. ing the sun go down. My older sister made me pay to And I realized I liked it. I heard play her Gameboy and was only my own thoughts for what felt interested in trying to cram me like the first time in years, and under the couch. Needless to say, rather than deciding everything I spent a lot of time by myself. So by popular vote (Do we like him? as a teen, I revelled in the clichés What are we eating for lunch?), of going to the bathroom as a I listened to my own cravings. pack, shopping as a herd and Sure, I soon made friends—the generally moving through life as kind who make you laugh and part of a judgmental swarm. Then you can ugly cry in front of—but in university, I lived in a Quebec I never forgot how grounding it town the size of a stamp in a hairfelt to be alone. spray-scented apartment with my S o n o w, w h e n I g e t t h e best friends. We had one bathchance, I try to channel those room, and for three years, I rarely moments under the trees in Trineven peed in privacy. I loved it. ity Bellwoods, when everyone Adulthood came with a side seemed to be part of a guitar cirof se p a r ati o n th o u g h . Af te r cle but I sat alone, a circle of one. graduation, I moved to Toronto If I’m out to dinner in New York or by myself. I had no one to borL.A. for work, I don’t bring a book row my earrings and then break or an iPad. I sit at the bar, order them, and no one to sit with over a Negroni and take my time with coffee, rehashing the previous the menu. I might share a smile night ’s indiscretions . I could with the person sitting next to feel my friends around me me, but I never strike up a conlike a phantom versation. Because, at least for the evening, the only voice I want to hear is my own. —Kathryn Hudson 15. GET YOUR MONEY RIGHT: A GLOSSARY

GET THOSE ARCHES RIGHT “The most important step in using brow mascara is to desaturate the wand to get the right amount of product,” explains Maribeth Madron, Maybelline global brow expert. “You start at the ends and go backwards to coat the hairs, then smooth the wand back across the brows. If you have fine brows and you don’t go in both directions, you’re wasting an opportunity to add fullness.” MAYBELLINE BROW DRAMA EYEBROW MASCARA IN SOFT BROWN, $12, DRUGSTORES

CREATE A NATURAL FLUSH “With powdered blushes and bronzers, take a brush and use it to press the powder right into the skin, so it mixes with anything creamy like foundation or cream blush underneath,” says Christy Coleman, a Beautycounter makeup artist. “It will look like it’s a part of the skin, rather than a powdery layer sitting on top.” BEAUTYCOUNTER COLOUR SWEEP BLUSH DUO IN WHISPER/TAWNY, $49, BEAUTYCOUNTER.COM

TO MO’ MONEY AND NO PROBLEMS

Interest rate: Look up how much your credit cards charge you when you don’t pay off your card in full, and write it on your heart: You could be paying 20 per cent annually for the privilege of swiping. Why now: Your main goal during your 20s is to pay off any debt, so you have a solid foundation down the road. 20

Debt consolidation: In essence, this is just lumping two or more bills together to net a lower interest rate and make your debt easier to pay off. Why now: I mean, why not?

Automatic withdrawal: Get your bank to automatically shave money off each paycheque (most experts recommend aiming for 10 per cent) and funnel it into your savings. Why now: You can’t spend money that never makes it near your debit card. Once it’s set up, you will legit forget about the pain.

RRSP: This is basically a place to park (and grow!) your money until you retire. You can invest up to 18 per cent of your salary, but don’t worry if you don’t have much cash to spare after rent—unused RRSP room can be carried forward. Why now: Investing early gives your money time to grow, and you get a break on your taxes now when you make a contribution.

THE HANDBOOK SAY SOMETHING

Avoid borin

CAROLINA HERRERA

ON THE WEEKEND MODERN WAVES

TEXT: KATHRYN HUDSON (ALL EXCEPT MAKEUP AND HAIR); RANI SHEEN (MAKEUP AND HAIR). PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL WEEKS (MAKEUP); PETER STIGTER (RUNWAY)

Find common ground

Bypass pleasantries and go darker: “What is your least favourite city you’ve ever visited?”

18 MAKE

“MEDIUM TALK”AT A PARTY

Even good convos need to end. Don’t stick around too long

Kick things up. “What were you scared of growing up?”

Stalled? Get things rolling with a random Q: “If you could face swap with one celeb, who would it be?”

19. ASK FOR A RAISE THE RIGHT WAY We asked David Dingwall, author o f N e g o ti ati n g S o Eve r yo n e Wins (not to mention lawyer, former cabinet minister and former CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint), how to secure a salary bump

conversation you might act nto a ht i

TFSA: This account is just a means of saying non, merci, to taxes: Invest up to $5,500 a year and don’t pay any tax on the investment income you earn #buylowsellhigh. Why now: Unlike an RRSP, a TFSA lets you take money out at any time without penalties, so it can be a great tool when saving up for that trip to Iceland.

Commenting on the weather is OG small talk. It’s a conversational safe zone, but don’t set up camp there

rig

M . A . C P E N U LT I M AT E EYELINER IN RAPIDB L ACK , $24 , MACCOS METICS.CA. COVERGIRL T R U N A K E D WAT E R PROOF EYELINER DUO IN CASHMERE ESPRESSO, $13, DRUGSTORES

After “effToronto-weather” sentiment, ask a simple revealing question like “Where else would you want to live?”

Ask what they do for a living

mp ju

“Use a brown pencil in the centre of the eye and extend it out, giving it a little kick at the end. Then, trace that with black liquid liner,” suggests makeup master Diane Kendal. “You have to make it so there’s no holes [in the line]. The black liner just gives it a little more depth.”

“OMG, it’s a thousand degrees today”

ta l

d an

PERFECT YOUR LINER

gs ma ll

1.“Wrap even sections of hair around an iron, holding the ends out.” 2. “Do not spray the crap out of the waves for fear that they’re going to fall. You’re better off having a curl that looks natural as opposed to a tight ringlet.” 3. “Instead of tousling, brush the curls with a paddle brush (or any brush with bristles that’s not designed for a blowout) so they are smooth and cohesive—you should not see the definition of each curl.”

Experts agree that everyone’s favourite convo topic is themselves, so basic bio questions are a good jumping-off point

1. Have a prelim chat: “You want to gather information about your performance: any complaints, your impact on the company and the market value of your services. You ask the questions, they provide the answers.” 2. Be clear during the meeting: “If you’re looking for a raise, never give them your number first. It’s

Don’t mindlessly ask why people like their job. Be unexpected: “What did you want to be when you were a kid?”

EXCUSE YOURSELF TO REFRESH YOUR DRINK

lly enjoy

very important that you communicate your value to the company beforehand. If you’re looking for a $1,000 raise, anchor the discussion with a $1,500 raise.” 3. Then stop: “The most important thing after you ask the question: Shut up and listen. Let the other person talk.”

20. SHOP A SALE The Kit’s marketing manager, Evie Begy, says sales are her superpower. Believe her—she once scored a Jonathan Saunders dress for 90 per cent off. Here are her rules for shopping like a superhero. 1. Take a step back to see what stands out on the rack. It’s a quick way to zero in on interesting pieces and get the good stuff first. 2. Don’t shop only your size. Often sale items don’t have a standard fit (hence their spot on the discount rack). 3. Remember economist Daniel Kahneman’s theory that losses loom three times greater than gains (which won him a Nobel Prize): If you enter a sale with strict expectations (“Acne moto or nothing!”), you’ll end up heartbroken about what you didn’t find and miss out on what you could have found. 5. Make friends with the salespeople. They might give you a heads-up about the next sale, or even tuck a piece aside before it hits the floor.

PARADISE CITY Sun-warmed concrete, extreme heat alerts and fences to hop: Summer in the city is coming, and there’s nowhere else we’d rather be. Keep things cool with the season’s glossy skin, sleek hair and high-energy hits of primary colour Photography by Aaron Wynia Fashion direction by Jillian Vieira | Beauty direction by Rani Sheen

CITY AND COLOUR

A pool day is your runway when you bring the squared-off liner, twisted pigtails and splashes of Day-Glo yellow, orange and green. OPPOSITE PAGE: BETH RICHARDS SWIMSUIT, $320, BETHRICHARDS.COM FAR LEFT: J.CREW SWIM TOP, $58, JCREW.COM. JOHN + JENN SHORTS, $119, JOHNANDJENNCOLLECTION.COM. H&M SHOES, $15, HM.COM TOP: NETTLE’S TALE SWIM BOTTOMS, $70, NETTLESTALE.COM LEFT: HUNTER JACKET, $275, HUNTERBOOTS.COM

CONCRETE DREAMS

Mix swimwear with street clothes and racer glasses with red lips for total pool-deck domination. OPPOSITE PAGE: MALORIE URBANOVITCH DRESS, $357, MALORIE.CA. LACOSTE SWIM TOP, $75, LACOSTE.COM ABOVE: MINNOW BATHERS SWIM TOP, $60, LIKELY GENERAL. H&M SWIM BOTTOMS, $13, HM.COM. FIDELITY DENIM JEANS, $218, FIDELITYDENIM.COM TOP RIGHT: BETH RICHARDS SWIMSUIT, $320, BETHRICHARDS.COM. JOHN + JENN TOP, $110, JOHNANDJENNCOLLECTION.COM. LINE TOP, $165, TNTFASHION.CA RIGHT: NIKE SUNGLASSES, $185, NIKEVISION.COM. LEVI’S JACKET, $148, LEVI.COM

DEEP DIVE

A slick plait and sick mani paired with a slouchy jacket and NBD kicks are guaranteed to get you through the dog days of summer. OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP: WILFRED FREE TOPS, $45 EACH, ARITZIA.COM. BOTTOM: CONVERSE SHOES (LEFT), $75, GETOUTSIDESHOES.COM. SEAVEES X J.CREW SHOES, $99, JCREW.COM TOP LEFT: BETH RICHARDS SWIMSUIT, $320, BETHRICHARDS.COM. JOHN + JENN TOP, $110, JOHNANDJENNCOLLECTION.COM. LINE TOP, $165, TNTFASHION.CA BOTTOM LEFT: LEVI’S JACKET, $148, LEVI.COM. MINNOW BATHERS SWIM BOTTOMS, $85, LIKELY GENERAL TOP RIGHT: HUNTER JACKET, $275, HUNTERBOOTS.COM HAIR AND MAKEUP: SUSANA HONG FOR P1M.CA/ORIBE. HAIR AND MAKEUP ASSISTANT: CIA MANDARELLO FOR P1M. CA. MANICURE: NAKED BEAUTY BAR. MODELS: KENNA FOR ELMER OLSEN MODEL MANAGEMENT AND MICHELLE KRUMOV FOR SUTHERLAND MODELS. CREATIVE DIRECTION: JESSICA HOTSON SHOT ON LOCATION AT ALEX DUFF MEMORIAL POOL, CHRISTIE PITS PARK, TORONTO

THE HAUL

“This Gray Malin photograph makes me dream of summer (it’s also my screen saver).”

BEAUTY DESK

Beauty editor Rani Sheen receives endless packages and parcels, most of which get stored away. Here, the products that never leave her sight

1. GET YOUR GREENS

All kale, all the time: Let this deeply cleansing clay mask do its work while you eat your greens for optimal purifying results.

“I wish I’d been backstage in the ’90s! The next best thing: Nick Waplington’s book The Isaac Mizrahi Pictures: New York City 1989-1993.”

NIP + FAB KALE FIX CLAY MASK, $16, SHOPPERS DRUG MART

2. BLUE VELVET

The silky texture of this marine shadow allows you to deposit saturated colour for a bold blue eye. Plus: The embossed flower never disappears. CLINIQUE LID POP EYESHADOW IN SURF POP, $22, CLINIQUE.CA

3. FIND YOUR LIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL WEEKS. ART DIRECTION: SONYA VAN HEYNINGEN

Strobing is already on the wane, but our appreciation for an on-point glow is n ot . D o it sof tly, s u b t l y, w i t h t h i s gleamy highlighter. HOURGLASS COSMETICS AMBIENT STROBE LIGHTING POWDER, $48, SEPHORA.CA

4. POWDER RANGER Pulverized rose petals are an especially lovely feature of this extra-gentle powder exfoliator from Montreal. Just add water or cleanser.

“I live for these ‘bourgeois’ braids by Laurent Philippon at Mansur Gavriel Spring 2016.”

THEKIT.CA | MAY 2016 |

CORPA FLORA ROCK‘N ROSE ULTRA FINE EXFOLIATING FACIAL POWDER, $28, CORPAFLORA.COM

5. GOLDEN SHOWER Cleansing oil has m a d e i t s w ay to th e s h owe r. T h is one shimmers with

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gold flecks, foams up a little and leaves behind a tropical floral scent. NUXE PRODIGIEUX SHOWER OIL, $16, SHOPPERSDRUGMART.COM

6. MARBLE FINISH The rich swirls of rose and mauve in this baked, marbleized blush deliver a just-kissed flush t h a t ’s e s p e c i a l l y pretty on darker skin. COVERGIRL TRUBLEND BLUSH IN DEEP MAUVE, $14, DRUGSTORES

7. GOLD STANDARD Created by Hollywood hair-treatment pro Philip B ., this creamy foam smells spicy and boosts fine hair without a hint of dryness. PHILIP B. RUSSIAN AMBER IMPERIAL VOLUMIZING MOUSSE, $42, MURALE

8. OOH LA LA The C ar ven Parisienne is feeling sexier these days. Smell like her with this rich floral blend of Egyptian jasmine, tuberose and iris with juicy mandarin. CARVEN L’ABSOLU EAU DE PARFUM, $151 (100 ML), HOLT RENFREW

9. NAILED IT A D io r- b ra n d e d dot ting tool plus blush and Aegean aqua polishes equals adorable high-fashion nail art. DIOR POLKA DOTS COLOUR & DOTS MANICURE KIT, $38, THEBAY.COM

MAKEUP LESSON LUCIA, 25

Skin tone: Fair with an olive undertone Pre-party perspective: “I grabbed some random bronzer and ended up with major shimmer all over. I kind of got away with it because it was the late 2000s, but I felt conspicuous and not particularly pretty.”

LET ME GLOW

Pro pick: Elizabeth Arden Sunset Bronze Prismatic Bronzing Powder in Warm Bronze, contoured from ear to cheekbone.

Radiant tanned skin is a rite of summer, but who needs the sun damage? We got a group of Toronto friends together for a full-on bronzing party

The verdict: “I have more life! It helps define my face.”

By Natasha Bruno | Photography by Jaclyn Locke

Maybe it’s because I was worried about looking like an Oompa Loompa, or because I assumed the colour would disappear on my brown skin, but I’ve never really given bronzers a fair shot. This summer, though, I’ve decided to go for the faux glow, inspired by the desert-bronzed skin on the Michael Kors and Hervé Léger runways. To make sure I was doing it properly, I invited over six friends with varying skin tones and bronzing experience as well as Toronto makeup artist Aniya Nandy—an aficionado who divides her own bronzers into summer and winter shades—to teach us her golden ways. I realized two main things: I’m not alone (my friends didn’t know what they were doing either) and bronzers should not be applied like blush. Here’s what we learned. p r o

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Makeup artist Aniya Nandy’s top radiance recos

1. PICK THE RIGHT PROD For the most naturall o o k i n g g l o w, l e a r n what shades and text u re s wo r k b e s t f o r yo u r c o m p l ex i o n . I f you’re f air with pink under tones , look for n e utra ls . “ Yo u d o n’t want to add to the pink you already have, but you don’t want it too brown because you’ll look orange,” explains Nandy. If you’re olive, g o f o r p e a c hy - g o l d formulas to warm up the skin . If you have a d e e p e r s k i n to n e , choose rich hazelnut or chocolate shades to avoid looking muddy.

2. CONSIDER YOUR SKIN TYPE If you’re dealing with breakouts or flakiness, say no to creamy or s h i m m e r y fo r m u l a s . “Those are going to put troubled skin under a magnifying glass,” says Nandy. If you’re prone to dr yness, however, soft shimmers can help add the luminosity that parched skin lacks.

3. ENSURE YOUR BRONZER AND BRUSH ARE BFFS Choose a big, fluf f y, round brush for applying powders . Liquids and creams can leave harsh lines, so go

MELODY, 22

Skin tone: Dark with a red undertone Pre-party perspective: “I have a bronzer but I don’t know what to do with it.”

for a flat-top stippling brush. “This brush can really buff the cream in so it doesn’t look like it’s sitting on top of the skin,” explains Nandy. To use bronze r as a contour on darker skin, use an angled brush and apply colour under the cheekbones.

4. FOLLOW THE SUNSHINE For a vacation-equivalent gl ow, a p p ly b ro nze r where the sun would naturally hit your face. “ It ’s a ll in th e hig h planes: the cheeks, the corners of the forehead, a little on the nose,” exp l a i n s N a n d y. “ I ’ll even put a little above the eye, on the crease.” Dust your cheekbones first, and don’t doubledip for the rest of the face. “Just use what’s left over on the brush.” And if you’re freckled, fo ll ow th e sp e ckl e s . “That’s where the sun

will go. They’re like a little map.”

5. IMAGINE A “3” SHAPE For a foolproof application, start at the apples of the cheeks and blend your bronzer in an outward curve up to the forehead along the hairline, then back down that curve and out again, passing over the hollow of the cheeks and just under the jawline.

6. DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR NECK U s e a ny l a s t b i t s o f bronzer on your brush to warm up your neck and collarbone. “You want your neck to match your face and your chest. Your chest gets a lot of sun naturally, like the face, but your neck is hidden by your chin, so it’s going to be lighter,” says Nandy. Bonus: “It’s also slimming.”

Pro pick: Guerlain Terracotta the Bronzing Powder in 09 Intense, applied as an angled contour under her cheekbones and complemented with a pop of blush on the apples of her cheeks. The verdict: “My cheeks are brighter. It’s very different from what I’m used to. I love it!”

LAURA, 25

Skin tone: Ivory with a pink undertone

KARA, 30 (RIGHT)

Pre-party perspective: “I think my usual bronzer is too matte and sometimes it looks muddy. I apply it primarily to my cheeks and I don’t feel like I spread it evenly.”

Skin tone: Tan with an olive undertone Pre-party perspective: “I usually put it in the hollows of my cheeks like a contour.” Pro pick: Sephora Collection I Love Cushion Bronzer in Light/Medium brushed in a circular motion onto cheeks and forehead and down the neck.

Pro pick: Essence Sun Club Shimmer Bronzing Powder in Sunloved—which isn’t too golden or too shimmery—swiped onto cheeks, forehead, chin, neck and eyelids.

The verdict: “It’s not where I would have put it. My cheeks look fuller in a good way.”

The verdict: “This feels warmer and more natural.”

SHOPPING LIST Pick up one of these glow-getters to score a sun-kissed look

CLARINS POUDRE SOLEIL BRONZING & BLUSH, $42, CLARINS.COM

TATA HARPER CONTOUR VERY BRONZING CHEEK TINT, $53, SEPHORA.CA

MAGGIE, 29 (LEFT)

Skin tone: Fair with pink and olive undertones

ESSENCE SUN CLUB SHIMMER BRONZING POWDER IN SUNLOVED, $5, SHOPPERS DRUG MART

Pre-party perspective: “I use bronzer like blush. It just kind of happened.” Pro pick: Tata Harper Contour Very Bronzing Cheek Tint, applied in circular motions on the cheeks and temples.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY BEACH STICK IN IBIZA, $48, CHARLOTTETILBURY.CA

The verdict: “I look like I’m partway through a beach vacation—that perfect gold.”

KAY, 26

Skin tone: Fair with a pink undertone Pre-party perspective: “I’m afraid of bronzer. Sometimes people look orange—I look worried.” Pro pick: Clarins Poudre Soleil Bronzing & Blush dusted from ear to cheekbone, then up to the hairline following a “C” shape. The verdict: “It’s the way I always hope I’ll look when I’m first out in the sun.”

THEKIT.CA | MAY 2016 |

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NATASHA, 27

Skin tone: Mediumdark with a golden undertone

SEPHORA COLLECTION I LOVE CUSHION BRONZER IN LIGHT/MEDIUM, $19, SEPHORA.CA

Pre-party perspective: “I wonder what the point is since I’m already tan.” Pro pick: Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Ibiza, blended outward from the apples and down to the jaw, staying away from the T-zone to avoid shine overload. The verdict: “It warms and enhances my colour—like I just came back from the Mediterranean but without the debt.”

ELIZABETH ARDEN SUNSET BRONZE PRISMATIC BRONZING POWDER IN WARM BRONZE, $48, SHOPPERS DRUG MART

GUERLAIN TERRACOTTA THE BRONZING POWDER IN 09 INTENSE, $62, GUERLAIN COUNTERS

GONE GIRL

The straight-up bare necessities of at-home hair removal, from a DIY Brazilian waxer. (Yes, you read that right.) By Christina Gonzales | Photography by Paul Weeks

Across my bathroom countertop, I’ve laid out everything I need to get it done in under 30 minutes: latex gloves, wooden spatulas, soft wax, fabric strips, cornstarch and witch hazel. The hard wax is heating in the kitchen. “Let’s do this, bitch,” I murmur—a “good luck” and “more power to you, girl,” pep talk of sorts. I swing my right foot onto the counter. I’ll never feel more ready to perform a Brazilian wax on myself. It’s actually not my first time. Five years ago, my debut attempt at an at-home Brazilian took place over two horrifying hours in my bathroom turned torture chamber. After glancing in the mirror, I panicked: My skin was irritated and red, and the job was patchy at best. The inner folds (which, when smooth, give you that post-wax swag) were still fuzzy. Needless to say, I did not feel swaggy as I hobbled like a penguin toward my bed. Another three years went by before I tried it again, this time with a better outcome. Then last year, at 28, it became a money thing, a freedom thing and a power thing. Much of the current feminist movement revels in the nonconformity of letting pubic hair grow; but I rule my own hairlessness. My experience has shown me that aspiring at-home Brazilian waxers need two things: bravery and a real understanding of their bodies. If you squirm at the idea of yanking on that strip, and if you’ve never examined the goods down there, don’t try this at home. Though my self-taught sessions have yielded decent results for a DIY job, my technique is admittedly amateurish. I decided to up my game with the help of Alaa Abbaasi, waxologist and owner of Allure Body Bar (735 Danforth Ave.), whose vast knowledge in the realm of hairless nether regions soothes me.

“We do so many bushes a day that we know the best way to do it at home,” Abbaasi says matter-of-factly, adding that for newbies, it’s a good idea to piggyback on a recent pro job. “People who want to try an at-home Brazilian should do it two weeks after a professional wax, since the hair will be sparse.” I’m already in the swing of DIY waxing, so I move right on to her next instruction: Your skincare must always be on point. “Exfoliate at least four times a week,” Abbaasi advises, adding that it’s best to use products that are as natural as possible. Like the keen student I am, I implement a ritual using Fuzz Wax Bar’s all-natural line: Scrub every other day, moisturize after every shower and treat with a weekly V-Mask—which is exactly what you think it is and feels just as it would on your face, only much more awkward. My bedroom door is shut, and I’m standing in the middle of the floor, my feet spread. This is “V time,” and disturbances are not welcome. I watch videos on Snapchat to pass the 10 minutes it takes for the mask—a blend of clarifying tea tree oil

and kaolin-based clay—to set, then rinse off with a warm cloth. Finally, I spray on witch hazel, a natural, anti-inflammatory alcohol that is also key for post-wax care. Next, I make sure I have the right wax. In my naïveté, I’d assumed any off-the-shelf product would work on the entire vulva. I’d been using Parissa’s Persian Cold Wax, an unheated soft wax (soft wax is generally taken off with a strip), but its goopiness never worked well on those hard-to-reach crevices. I needed hard wax as well, which you warm up, let cool on your skin and then pull off without a strip. “It’s the best solution for up the labia and even around the clitoris at the top,” Abbaasi advises. After washing the area with soap and warm water, I pat it dry with a clean towel and dust on a thin layer of cornstarch. Soft wax works well on the easy-to-see bikini areas: I pull the skin taut, apply the wax evenly, press down a strip, and then lift it off with one swift tug. Arriving at the folds and anal crease takes under 10 minutes.

WAX ON, WAX OFF

Everything you need (besides courage) to pull off a clean DIY wax job

Hot, strip-free wax is essential for delicate areas and generally hurts less to remove. PARISSA STRIP FREE HOT WAX, $15, SHOPPERS DRUG MART

Warm wax gets so sticky—this roll-on keeps mess to a minimum. NAIR ULTIMATE MICROWAVEABLE & RINSABLE ROLL-ON BODY WAX, $15, DRUGSTORES

A new step to add to your skincare routine, certainly, but one that will pay off come ingrown season. FUZZ WAX BAR V-MASK, $35, FUZZWAXBAR.COM

Exfoliation equals max smoothness, which equals max success.

A kit with all the pro tools to wax anywhere on the body (shout-out to toes).

BUTTER ME BODY GREEN APPLE SHEA SUGAR SCRUB, $28, BUTTERMEBODY.COM

BLISS POETIC WAXING MICROWAVEABLE WAX KIT, $59, THEBAY.COM

FIRST PERSON

SUMMER PREP Get ready to bare (almost) all AT H O M E

More privacy, less $$$ and you can do it at 3 a.m.: DIY beautifying is a snap—if you have the right tools

SUN-KISSED HAIR

The key to at-home hair lightening is keeping it subtle—anything more should be done by a pro. This in-shower treatment takes you a shade lighter in just five minutes and is applied before you wash your hair. The effect is bright rather than bleached, and it works best on hair that’s already fairly light. JOHN FRIEDA SHEER BLONDE GO BLONDER IN-SHOWER LIGHTENING TREATMENT, $13, DRUGSTORES

BODY BUFF

You might’ve seen coffee-based scrubs taking over shower selfies on Instagram (our policy is #nonudity but to each her own)—this one has the coarse scrubby texture, stimulating caffeine and antioxidants of coffee plus moisturizing coconut oil and tingly peppermint. LITTLE BARN APOTHECARY COFFEE + MINT BODY SCRUB, $36, BIBLOTANDTOKEN.COM

SELF-BRONZE

These coated wax strips for outer bikini areas are a serious bargain. SWEET EASE BIKINI WAXING KIT, $6, WALMART.CA

A soothing gel that softens hairs to prevent ingrowns with glycolic acid, aloe vera and vitamin E. PRINCE REIGNS INGROWN SERUM $32, WAXON.CA

THEKIT.CA | MAY 2016 |

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VITA LI B E R ATA M A R U L A D RY O I L SELF TAN, $65, SEPHORA

PEDI PRIDE

We’re calling the pedi colour of the year right here, right now. Drum roll, please: milky baby blue. Do what you feel, but periwinkle toenails peeking out of a white pair of the season’s essential rope flatform sandals = summer 2016 perfection. SEPHORA COLLECTION FORMULA X POLISH IN FREE SPIRIT, $13, SEPHORA ART DIRECTION: KRISTY WRIGHT. INSTAGRAM.COM: MATTHEWSTYLIST (HAIR), WINDSORARMS (BUFF), LUXEGROWTO (BRONZE), NAKEDBEAUTYBAR (PEDI)

Finally, I’m ready to use the warmed hard wax, which has a pudding-like consistency. I use a spatula to mix it and begin to gather what looks like a blue lollipop of wax on the stick. I touch my fingertip against it to gauge its temperature, then pull the skin taut and spread it evenly onto the inner folds. I stand in a monkey’s squat to let the wax cool and harden. Picking up the end feels uncomfortable and I find myself squirming as I pluck at the left side. But I know by now that it’s best to be quick— rip off the Band-Aid, so to speak. Once my fingers firmly grip a piece of the hard wax, I tug briskly, then repeat on the right. I’m pumped with adrenaline, in this race against myself, so the sting is instant, but it doesn’t linger. Two minutes later, I look down and my eyes light up. The hard wax pieces are laden with hair, and I’m smooth AF. I’m amazed by my handiwork, revelling in my success with a spontaneous series of inelegant poses in front of the full-length mirror. “Nailed it, bitch,” I say—a pat on the back, a “well done” and “more power to you” of sorts.

A subtle at-home self-tan starts with exfoliated (but not moisturized) skin. Then, you need a tinted formula to help you see where you’ve applied it and avoid missing spots, like this marula-based dry oil that spreads easily, builds well and nourishes as it burnishes.

AT TH E S PA

Let someone else worry about your pasty limbs and coopedup-all-winter feet—Toronto spas are ready to serve

SUN-KISSED HAIR

When the sun shines brightly, you want your hair to as well. Balayage master Matthew Collins applies babylights to mimic sun-splashed hair, then adds lighter pieces around the face, at the tips and across the surface of the hair for a sun-kissed effect that lasts all summer long— sun exposure just makes it better. BALAYAGE, $220, BRENNEN DEMELO SALON, 316 ADELAIDE ST. W. (NEW LOCATION OPENING SOON ON AVENUE ROAD), BRENNENDEMELO.COM

BODY BUFF

A serious scrub at the start of summer smooths out nooks and crannies that are impossible to reach without double-jointed limbs. At the Windsor Arms, a rubdown with a mix of sea salt, grapeseed oil and essential oils of your choice leaves you polished and glowy. (Add a stint in the halotherapy salt cave to soothe irritated skin or psoriasis.) AROMATHERAPY SALT GLOW, $60, WINDSOR ARMS HOTEL, 18 ST. THOMAS ST., WINDSORARMSHOTEL.COM

SELF-BRONZE

You have to be Kim-K comfortable with nudity to get a full-body tan (just you in the buff and your spraygun-wielding technician), but it’s the best way to get even, blotch-free colour. Luxe Glow in Forest Hill is a studio inside a house so you feel more at ease—or owner Brittany Wielgosz will come to you. SPRAY TAN, $50, LUXEGLOW.CA

PEDI PRIDE

Besides gossip mags, a sick foot massage is the best reason to visit a nail bar for your pedicure—Naked Beauty Bar gave us one of the best foot rubs (with rich shea butter) in recent memory. Aficionados BYO polish—see above left for the colour of the season. SIGNATURE PEDICURE, $35, NAKED BEAUT Y BAR, 889 DUNDAS ST. W., NAKEDBEAUTYBAR.COM

LAST WORD

Miss pink and neon facade and walk into wrong restaurant.

5 p.m. on Friday: Unplug that phone charger from your computer and peace out! Roll the dice.

ALBA BOTANICA FACIAL SUNSCREEN LOTION SPF 40, $10, WHOLE FOODS

Your Uber driver is donating all profits to charity. Everyone feels good about their choices.

COACH JACKET, $800, COACH.COM

Head to the Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Ave.) to catch CanadianHaitian producer Kaytranada perform.

Line up at Tsujiri (147 Dundas St. W.) for a matcha sundae. Wait! Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Angel Café (191 Dundas St. W.) is open! Trade spots with another player.

Hit up Camera Bar in Stephen Bulger Gallery (1026 Queen St. W.) for a free movie at 3 p.m 22 on Saturday.

GUCCI SHOES, $940, SAKS.COM

Support Toronto (r)etailers without even leaving your house. Bookmark curriculumshop.com.

DYNAMITE TOP, $30, SKIRT, $40, DYNAMITE.CA

PLAY TO WIN

Make the most of the May long weekend, ’cuz, girl, you earned it By Veronica Saroli

RULES OF PLAY

Roll the dice and advance (when your outfit slays) or slide backwards (when you party foul). Either way, you’ll navigate three glorious days in what we believe to be the best city on earth. You may even see The Weeknd.* *The Weeknd sightings not guaranteed. 34

GAME PIECES

Need Advil? Go back to bed. And back one space. #restchild

Step in gum wearing new Gucci mules. Le sigh.

Expose limbs to sunlight for first time in forever.

Sip bizarre-but-itworks cocktails in the hidden basement boîte the Cloak Bar (488 Wellington St. W.). Forget the number to text to get in? Go back one space (or check @thecloakbar for the digits). 11

Wear: a bomber jacket bold enough to distract from your day-three hair.

Stroll through 401 Richmond’s (401 Richmond St. W.) indoor and rooftop gardens., but forget to reapply suncreen!

Feeling brave? Mackenzie House (82 Bond St.), the last residence of Toronto’s first mayor, is said to be the most haunted house in the 6ix. 16

Your heroic retelling of that time someone attempted to cut in line at Sam James Coffee Bar slays.

Oh, wow, what a great super-original Instagram of your brunch. Move back a space.

Run to one of the new swank workout joints to hit the 6ix, like Crossfit YKV (175 Avenue Rd.) or Spokehaus (70 Dan Leckie Way). Jump (leap!) ahead of another player.

QUO BLUSH STICK IN PIZAZZ, $15, SHOPPERS DRUG MART

Piano Piano (88 Harbord St.) picks up where Splendido left off, serving up cuisine from chef Victor Barry. Can’t miss the pink facade with neon flowers.

Finally found the perfect coral lippy. Your look now matches your “hell yes, summer!” attitude.

FARMHOUSE FRESH GUAC STAR, $29, BLOSSOM LOUNGE

Turn the tables on brunch, and do dinner for breakfast with a boozy shake and breakfast burger at Saturday Dinette (807 Gerrard St. E.).

Suggest trying out Toronto’s first cider-only bar, Her Father’s Cider Bar (19 Harbord St.).

Hop on the 506 to Allan Gardens (19 Horticultural Ave.) for a free garden stroll. Gardens are good for your health, like wine and dark chocolate.

Ride the Rocket till you hit Souvenir Studios (1232 College St.), a pitch-perfect shopslash-studio carrying the most aesthetic Canadian goods.

Cuddle up with The Spectacular Now (Miles Teller, yo!), new to Netflix in May. Pair with sriracha ketchup chips and a face mask.

NO DICE?

No prob. Get crafty: Cut out the dice, lay them face down, and then pick two to simulate a roll.

compact

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK PHOTO (ILLUSTRATIONS). GETTY IMAGES (THE WEEKND). INSTAGRAM.COM: DESCENDANT_PIZZA (TOP PIZZA SLICE), MAKERPIZZA (BOTTOM PIZZA SLICE), SATURDAYDINETTE (BRUNCH)

8 p.m. on Monday: Argue about dinner: Detroit-style from Descendant Pizza (1168 Queen St. E.) or hipsterized classic from Maker Pizza (59 Cameron St.)? There are no losers.

| MAY 2016 | THEKIT.CA

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