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Evio’s new lip serum supports domestic violence safe houses

 

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Female-founded Canadian beauty brand Evio’s latest Hemp & Peppermint Lip Serum does more than nourish lips. Alongside the launch, brand founder Brandi Leifso has initiated a letter campaign calling for Canadian domestic violence police unit funds to be reallocated towards underfunded support organizations. “Like many others, it wasn’t the police that helped me when I was experiencing an abusive relationship. It was the safe houses and domestic violence support organizations who took my fear seriously, provided me with a safety plan and helped me heal,” said Leifso in a statement. “The government needs to reallocate funds to organizations who are doing meaningful work on the ground and saving lives.” Those who order the Lip Serum — available in both a clear and tinted shade — … Read the rest

Pride Month 2021 is upon us — and while you’ve been gearing up for all of the virtual events taking place, we curated a lineup of Pride-ready clothing and accessories that not only look fab, but have a charitable element to them. (We did the same for beauty products that give back for Pride, too.) Consider shopping from brands that have partnered with organizations like the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, which defends the human rights of Black transgender people, or The Trevor Project, a leading organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention to LGBTQIA+ youth.

If you want to explore on your own and make a positive impact on LGBTQIA+ business owners, check out Shopify’s curated list of small businesses in conjunction with the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. Through the Shopify Shop app you can discover and shop from over 60 merchants like The Little Gay Shop and … Read the rest

Since the idea of Pride began as a protest, it felt natural to speak to Ben Barry — the outgoing chair at Ryerson University’s School of Fashion and the incoming dean of fashion at the Parsons School of Design — about what the occasion means to him.

Barry has built a reputation as an advocate for “justice and liberation in fashion.” Included in this mandate has been an effort to decolonize the industry and emphasize more sustainability and accessibility-focused approaches to how it operates. The fruits of his labour will be evident at the Mass Exodus presentation on June 10 — a virtual iteration of the School of Fashion’s graduate runway show that will be hosted by Canada’s Drag Race winner, Priyanka.

Priyanka’s presence, as well as previous hosting duties being bestowed upon multi-hyphenate and former FASHION cover star Vivek Shraya, points to Barry’s unique ability to address many ideas … Read the rest

With the release of the final season of Kim’s Convenience, series stars Simu Liu and Jean Yoon are speaking about racist storylines, subpar pay, and a lack of Korean voices behind the scenes of the Canadian sitcom.

Co-created by playwright Ins Choi, the show follows a Korean-Canadian family running a convenience store in Toronto. Since its debut on CBC in 2016, Kim’s Convenience has been a cult favourite. Over the course of its run, the show has earned praise for its deep and well-rounded representation of Asian communities. But after its fifth and final season was released on Netflix last week, new revelations depict a toxic environment behind the scenes. Here’s what went down with the show, according to two of its stars.

Racist storylines and lack of Korean voices

On June 2, Simu Liu (who played Jung Kim) shared a lengthy Facebook post airing grievances about his experience … Read the rest

Did you get the memo that capital-G red carpet Glamour is back? In the case of the 2021 BAFTA Television awards, quite literally, too. Michaela Coel’s exquisite gown by London-based creative Maximilian Davis boasted bright red bell sleeves and eye-catching cut-outs on both sides of its silhouette. Coming or going, it was a breathtaking look, especially since Coel paired the piece with bold gold jewellery by Alighieri — another London label, helmed by Rosh Mahtani, who last year was the first jewellery designer to be given the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. And to keep the local love going, Coel — whose revolutionary show I May Destroy You won multiple awards including Leading Actress and Writer: Drama for Coel herself — brought along a glossy black version of Simone Rocha’s coveted Egg bag.

But that wasn’t the only glimpse of Rocha’s elegant designs on the recent BAFTA TV … Read the rest

After his farewell from fashion in 2020, Jean Paul Gaultier fans were crushed. But the house of JPG is back with a Spring 2021 ready-to-wear collection. Plus, two of Canada’s leading fashion institutions have major news, including a book launch showcasing the creations of design graduates and a student preview show hosted by Canada’s Drag Race winner Priyanka. Read on for more of the week’s biggest fashion news.

Jean Paul Gaultier returns to ready-to-wear

The house of Jean Paul Gaultier has unveiled a Summer 2021 ready-to-wear drop. This is the label’s first ready-to-wear line in six years and it initiates the start of a new era, without Gaultier’s direction. The collection, titled Les Marins, takes on Gaultier’s signature maritime vibe while continuing to blur the lines of gender — an important keystone that’s been in place since the house’s inception in 1976. Sailor stripes on … Read the rest

Fancy Face just launched a skincare line

 

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Fancy Face Inc., one of Canada’s leading hair and makeup services brands, specializing in wedding and special events glam, as well as providing an endless array of other services (like masterclasses, maternity photoshoot makeup and more), has officially entered the skincare game. This week, the brand launched Fancy Skin with two new products: the Daydream Rosewater Cream and the Poetry in Potion Serum. Both products are suitable for all skin types and wear beautifully underneath makeup or on their own. “We wanted to ensure we created luxury products at an affordable price point to continue to champion our mission in both simplifying the beauty routine and helping women find their fancy from the inside out,” says Brittany Gray, founder and  CEO of Fancy Face. The launch of Fancy … Read the rest

Father’s Day is approaching and we have a few (dozen) suggestions on what to gift the dads (and dad-like figures) on your list. The notion that fathers are the hardest people to shop for is sometimes a reality and with that in mind, a roundup of more than 40 items ranging from a North Face tent to a fancy Aarke water carbonation machine surely contains just the gift that says, “Thanks, pops.”

For the more fashion-forward father, trousers from Fear of God or a beaded David Yurman bracelet may do the trick, while Ten Garments Every Man Should Own — a new book by Pedro Mendes, one of Canada’s leading male style experts — will be great for anyone looking to upgrade their wardrobe game. A homebody will surely appreciate linen slippers from Muji paired with a new set of mugs that have been hand-finished in Portugal. But sometimes the … Read the rest

Ellie Kemper is known for the adorable girl-next-door she plays in basically all her roles — most notably as Kimmy in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Erin in The Office. When her name was recently trending on Twitter, some fans thought perhaps it meant they were getting a reboot or spinoff of their fave sitcom. But this is 2021, and nothing can be so simple. The actual reason Kemper was trending was because of an old, resurfaced photo of her as the “Queen of Love and Beauty” at St. Louis’s Veiled Prophet (VP) Ball, an organization known for its racist past and possible ties to the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan (KKK) group. *Sighs* Here’s what to know about this strange turn of events.

What exactly happened with Ellie Kemper?

It all started on May 31, when someone tweeted about the VP Ball in St. Louis, Missouri, calling it “a … Read the rest