Designing the Difference

Cyndi Lauper might wanna have fun (she just wanna, she just wanna), but have you heard about her latest initiative with Spring shoes?  Ms. Lauper, along with Moby and Simple Plan have teamed up with Spring and War Child to design three limited edition wallets to help raise awareness about the War Child charity and raise funds to build schools in developing countries.  The cheap and cheerful wallets retail for only $5 and are made of Tyvek, a super fabric that's waterproof and virtually indestructible - perfect for any kids or teens you might know.  The best part of all is that 100% (!) of the net proceeds will go towards building a better future for children in war-afflicted areas.  

The wallets are available now at all Spring stores and online here. While you're there, be sure to check out their Design the Difference contest and get creative for a cause.  Happy weekend, everyone!

Founded in North America in 1999, War Child is a non profit organization that works with children all over the world to reduce poverty, to provide education and to defend their rights. War Child works tirelessly to help children whose lives have been torn apart by conflict, providing them with the means to build a brighter future.

Found: A Mayjah Motivator

If I had to choose between sweating it out on a treadmill or sweeting it out on my couch with a Dairy Milk bar, I would always choose the latter, if it weren't for my guilt and the fear of a big gut.  Yes, I'm not the most motivated when it comes to working out and try as I might, I have yet to ever experience a runner's high or feel super elated after lifting weights.  For me, the biggest motivator of all is cute workout gear.  Throw me a pair of pink trainers, a hot pair of pants and a cool ipod armband and honestly, it does more for me than any whip-wielding personal trainer.   I'm superficial, I don't care, and I am madly in love with this tank.  I'm buying it and running everywhere in it - backwards, of course :)

The Fit Lace Tank ($39.50) is part of the brand spanking new GapBodyFit collection which beautifully melds fashion with function.  The pretty and practical line features details like flat seams, wicking to keep skin dry and fade-resistant fabric to help you run, downward dog and lounge in style.  Get it now at select stores or online at www.gapcanada.ca.   Your holiday bum will thank you!

Back in Black

 

Tom Ford and Stella Tennant, photo courtesy of Vogue US 

In the fashion world, Tom Ford is about as A-list as you can get.  Everyone wants to be his friend or his muse and no matter what he designs, waiting lists follow.  As creative director at Gucci and YSL, everything Tom touched turned to cool and his name became synonymous with high fashion and impossible glamour.  In 2005, he launched his eponymous brand, focusing on menswear, beauty, fragrance and eyewear but this past fall, his highly anticipated womenswear collection was previewed.  The runway show was shrouded in secrecy:  media cameras were smartly, shockingly left off the guest list, a handful of images were released to the public and only a select group of his friends (including Anna Wintour, Joe Zee, Nina Garcia and Carine Roitfeld) were asked to attend the event at his Madison Ave. boutique.  Finally, the video of his Spring 2011 runway show has been released and in Tom Ford style, it's totally seventies and completely OTT.  Keep an eye out for Beyonce, Julianne Moore, Rita Wilson, and Lauren Hutton vamping it up alongside the usual suspects:  Daria, Natalia, Amber and co.   Impossibly glamorous, incredibly confident and seriously sexy.  Enjoy!    

A Fresh Start

Ginta Lapina, Andrej Pejic for Marc by Marc Jacobs, by Juergen Teller 

Izabel Goulart, Alessandra Ambrosio, Isabeli Fontana, Maryna Linchuk for Dolce & Gabbana, by Steven Klein 

Iselin Steiro and Malgosia Bela for Chloe, by David Sims 

Abbey Lee Kershaw for Tom Ford Eyewear, by Tom Ford 

Anja Rubik for Giuseppe Zanotti, by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

Joan Smalls for Gucci, by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Karmen Pedaru for Gucci, by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Laetitia Casta, Malgosia Bela for Roberto Cavalli, by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott 

With a desk piled high with papers, a few extra pounds under your studded belt and a head full of resolutions that you're committed to keeping, it's no wonder you might be feeling a little overwhelmed.  Only a few days into 2011 and the little wheel in my head cannot stop turning with everything I hope to achieve this year.  I want to make friends and family a priority over work, eat better, exercise more, and truly try to enjoy what I have now instead of always wishing for the next thing.  I know that I won't be able to do it all and chances are, I'll fall back into some (okay, a lot) of the old habits that define me but I'm feeling decidedly optimistic about the year ahead.  Fashion, for me, is a blissful means of escape from the real world;  cheaper than a plane ticket to St. Barth's, and less destructive than a bottle of Mount Gay Rum or torrid love affair.  Plus, I see nothing wrong with wanting to swim around in a pool full of pretty, if only for a little while.  Spring fashion campaigns have sprung so I implore you to abandon your list of to-do's and join me, won't you?   Shizzo!  Just broke my last resolution.  Happy to be back and hope you all had a lovely holiday.   As always, Real Life Runway is a two-way catwalk so if there's anything you want me to cover this year, don't hesitate to let me know!

xo

It's Finally Here!

2010 has been quite a year.  In my life, I've yet to experience a year so full of heartbreaking lows and breathtaking highs.  In hindsight, I think I will look back at 2010 as a year that helped me learn a lot about myself and how truly essential it is to surround yourself with family and good friends.  I am thankful for them every day and grateful to you, my new friends, for reading Real Life Runway and joining me on my little fashion journey.  Your comments and letters have meant everything to me this year and I cannot thank you enough for your support.  As for where RLR is heading, there are a lot of super exciting things in the works for next year and I cannot wait to share them all with you.  Until then, I'm off to spend time with my favourites for a week full of tobogganing, turkeys, cookies and carols.  I hope Santa is good to you, whether you've been naughty or nice, and I wish you a happy, safe and ever stylish holiday.

Lots of love,