The Better Alternative

It might be wildly inappropriate that back-to-school is on my mind even if summer has just hit Vancouver. But with a lack of inspiration combined with the strange weather (too cold for sundresses, too warm for cardigans; actually, perfect for yogawear, which is exactly what 99% of the population here is wearing. Shudder) it's hard not to.

It's been pointed out to me that I hardly ever live in the present. It's true. All day, little daydreams of collegiate striped sweaters, riding boots, leather bags in all the shades of autumn leaves dance around my head.Here's the compromise I'm willing to make: A versatile flat with a mary-jane strap. In both white and black, I can wear with dresses during the summer (once it heats up.. which will be soon hopefully). But come fall - on come the freshly pressed trousers and knit sweaters. So what if it's all fantasy? Let a girl dream.

Aldo shoes, $40

Foie Gras or Alpaca

I'm not a very hands-on, craft-oriented person, I admit. I love the idea of having mad talents in making things, but all my 'finished products' consist of two unraveling scarves and half an iPod cozy.



Luckily there's way more crafty people to compensate for less talented people a moi. Check out this cardigan I found on Craftster.org. C'est un beaute, n'est-ce pas?

The colour! The dress! And it's all handknit! God, I feel like one of those telemarketers, except the cardigan doesn't deserve to be on a sad little TV ad.

And better- the little knitter also blogs. Read her trials making the sweater (plus some of the woes of standardized testing, genius).

Ten Reasons Why I Belong in New York:

1. I like to walk. Fast.
2. I once flagged down a city bus. Translation: Just imagine my skills at snagging taxis.
3. I already live in a city with real expensive real estate, so I wouldn't have to adjust to living in a small apartment.
4. I can subside on coffee, gum, and the occasional bagel if need be.
5. I will suffer walking around in stilettos during the day.
6. City smog makes me happy.
7. I'm a big fan of expensive restaurants. And dingy little food-y places too.
8. Lots of people, being in a crowd. What better way not to feel lonely?
9. I love clothes and street style.
10. People watching is my sport.

Rethinking the Gap (And Others)

Recently I published an article on the Gap and their products. However, a comment from Isabel, saying how she didn't need sweatshop-produced products got me thinking. As consumers, we should be rethinking about our purchasing choices. (I may not be the most aware person, but now I'm really thinking.)

Which leads me to: Anti-sweatshop labour and vegan-friendly products and clothing lines in Canada, do they exist?

There's American Apparel for one. Their t-shirts and hoodies (and everything else) are not produced in a third-world child-labour factory, which is exactly what I'm looking for.

But locally in Vancouver, fair-trade clothing can be found at De Lino's. The store sells only clothing using all natural and fair-trade materials. And there's some pretty cute items to be found, such as this Jaci cardigan.

Globally, there's People Tree clothing. One of the biggest, and first companies to promote and sell fair-trade clothing, it aims at sustainable development of producers in developing and impoverished countries (whew, long run-on sentence).