Faith Style

I’ve been following Faith 47’s work for a couple of years now, and every time I see one of her images I’m immediately taken. Faith47 is South African. She illustrates and paints her world; asserting herself through the images and words she creates, and often leaves on walls.  Her canvas is diverse, her work finding its place in whatever environment she may find herself, either blending in with the texture of a location or standing out with an unmistakable presence.  Faith’s awe with the world and her quest for inspiration from a closeness to the universal humanity makes her work is a process of self realization and dialogue with the people and places. It is powerful in its subtlety and beautifully frank – both gentle and harsh.  Her words are poetic images; never without meaning which leaving her audience, to reflect on what they are seeing.

[Manifestation] We hear it more and more these days as individuals realize the power of thought. The act of manifestation has a direct effect on our ability to acquire our inner most dreams. From the dawn of day, the power of thought has been the secret.

Self Realization + Thought = Our Desired Future

Thoughts become things. Gandhi imagined non-violent change. Albert Einstein imagined riding a beam of light and discovered relativity. Martin Luther King imagined a world where people are judged solely by the content of their character. Nelson Mandela imagined a South Africa free of apartheid. It was through each of their thoughts that created some of the most powerful changes in human history.

Still skeptical about the power of manifestation? I don’t blame you. “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha. Do your own experiment. First – research, read up on our leaders, and find out more about the law of attraction, power of thought, visualization, manifestation and then – take action.

What are your thoughts? We live in a society which operates in autopilot (at times myself included) and it is crucial for us to wake up from this state and start living consciously. We get into a routine of doing and not so much thinking or reflecting. Why are we doing the things we do? Our minds are muffled by the white noise and therefore we neglect to listen. We’ve been brainwashed and manipulated into the need to follow, to purchase, and to collect. It is that materialism that has caused spiritual lethargy in human beings because we are relating much more to our physical surroundings than to our soul’s needs. We are not spending enough time reflecting and looking inwards. “Be the change you want to see in the world” Gandhi so wisely said. And that means starting with ourselves.

• Meditation can help with clarity.
• Walking benefits your brain power, improves your mood and allows you to connect more deeply with your thoughts.
• Journaling, Robin Sharma says “Writing in a journal will make you a much cleaner thinker, leading you to much clearer actions. Record what you are learning about yourself and life. List your goals, hopes and dreams. Note your feelings and frustrations. Self-awareness is the foundation of world-class leadership”
• Mind Map, A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing. Create your own.
• Accountability Partner, similar to a business mentor, coach or a goal-setting buddy is a trusted and respected individual that will act as a goal-setting moderator. The idea is to hold regular meetings with your Accountability Partner who will challenge, motivate, mentor, encourage and inspire you to achieve maximum results.

Creating your own personal manifesto is critical to obtaining what you really want. Gwen Bell wrote a great guide “How to Create your Personal Manifesto”. Start there and let your soul be your guide.

Do you have a Vision Board/Map, Inspiration Board, or Dream Board? Essentially the exercise of creating one will help to manifest what you truly want. Check out Jamie Ridler Studios and participate in her online full moon dream board sessions.

This is my vision board:

My personal manifesto/life list is represented in the word cloud above.

Find your style at Portobello East market, which takes place the last Sunday of the month. Meet local artists and designers and shop for one-of-a-kind fashion and art on the 3rd floor of The Burroughes Building in the heart of Queen Street West!

Do something different this weekend and go down to 639 Queen St. West (The Buroughes Building) on Sunday October 25 to support the local artisans and their craft. You never know, you just might pickup something you love. One of Toronto’s best fashion designers Nancy Rosa of mymommadethat will be there selling her fabulous dresses which are consciously made of unused vintage fabrics + textiles lovingly found across Canada. The dresses are also always manufactured locally leaving little to no environmental footprint on our planet. Check it out and have fun!

 October 23-24 (that’s this weekend), Banana Republic will take 25% off your purchase total when you print and present this coupon.

Happy Shopping!

Online Series: Use the web and Faith Style’s coveted resources to stretch your budget and you’ll be the smartest, most stylish shopper around.

Search for discount codes or printable coupons (to use in-store)

• www.redflagdeals.com
• www.fatwallet.com
• www.reesycakes.com
• www.retailmenot.com
• www.styleforfree.com

Pink Tartan is an iconic Canadian fashion brand that is reflective of designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran’s own personal style — pretty, polished and elegant.

Kimberley began her fashion career in retail at the age of 14, before pursuing a merchandising and manufacturing degree at George Brown College. By 1990, she was the senior merchandise manager at Club Monaco, a position she held until her move to senior manager at Caban eight years later. Her dream of starting her own line that catered to busy, on-the-go, fashionable women was realized the year after her daughter (and muse) was born. In 2004, the Canadian designer opened a Pink Tartan showroom in New York.

Kimberley is a role model whom I had the pleasure of meeting at a Women of Influence seminar last year. She spoke eloquently and passionately about what she loved. I could not help but be entranced by her words. If we can all strive to do what we love we will have accomplished our goal (our destiny). The one thing she said that I remember very clearly – “The moment you are not open to learning is the moment you cannot grow.”

Pink Tartan is available at Holt Renfrew.

A girl can never have too many shoes and this pump would be a great additional for the fall season. Sexy yet sophisticated this bootie could be worn with a multitude of outfits. Think sexy secretary meets polished professional.

Our scent is a powerful thing.  It helps make first impressions and leaves a lasting effect on those we encounter.   Choosing the right scent is as important as choosing the right clothes.  It has to be the perfect expression of who you are and be comfortable on your skin.  Something that smells great in the bottle or on someone can be the total opposite on you.

Every woman should have more than one fragrance to choose from.  The fragrance you wear at the office should not be the fragrance you wear on a hot date.  “When choosing a fragrance, think of your favourite foods.  If you love fruit like oranges, you’re probably a citrus person; if you love Indian food, you may love spicier notes like cardamom” says Benedicte Bron, associate vice president of fragrance development at Bath and Body Works.

Fragrances are grouped according to the type of scent they deliver.  There are many types like:

1. Floral Fragrances: These bear the scents of various flowers, most commonly rose, lily, jasmine and others. Mixed with scents like vanilla, they create a lighter fragrance. Most of the fragrances in the market today are floral fragrances. These are the ones mostly preferred by women. The men also love this smell, especially when used by their loved ones.
2. Citrus fragrances: These have the fragrances of fruits like lime, lemon and mandarin. They create a refreshing aroma.
3. Oriental fragrances: They are made from spices, resins, amber etc. They are widely used for creating exotic aromas.

Some easy to follow Fragrance Dos and Don’ts will help make sure your scent is as powerful as you.

Do

• Choose a fragrance that suits you.
• Change your fragrance with the change of the seasons. Stronger scents are best suited for colder temperatures while soft flora’s and citruses are best in warmer temperatures.
• Shop for fragrances in the afternoon when your sense of smell is at its peak.
• Apply your fragrance after you have showered and dried off completely.
• Apply fragrance to your pulse points for maximum effect.
• Wear fragrance everyday.

Don’t

• Overdo it. One or two squirts is usually enough.
• Spray fragrance near pearls or costume jewelry. The alcohol in it can strip these jewels and remove their coating.
• Buy fragrance without testing it on your own skin first. Spray a little on your own skin and wear it for a few hours to see how it reacts and also to determine how long it lasts.
• Always wear the same one.

The latest fragrance news….SJP fans unite another must have fragrance is on its way!

SJP NYC is inspired by her Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw.  This fruity floral scent is like a “party in a bottle” according to Parker.  With top notes of Italian Mandarin, White Osmanthus and Wild Red Strawberries this fragrance is set to hit the market in February.  A great kick off to the SATC 2 premier in May.

What’s your favourite fragrance and why?

Do you have a hard time keeping your high heels on for extended periods of time? Here are a few quick tips to make it through the day (and night). As Nina Garcia says “…every stylish girl knows that when the sun goes down, the heel goes up, and as gravity teaches, all things must come down. And the classic ballet flat will be waiting for you when it does.

• Keep a pair of flip flops or ballet flats with you in your purse. Go ahead and change them out for commuting via subway, after a late night out with the girls or running errands over your lunch hour at work.
• Try inserting Dr. Scholl’s gels or Foot Petals for additional comfort.
• Opt for flats instead of sneakers to ensure you always have a polished look.
• Look for pumps with a built in platform. These are the heels that appear to be 4″ off the ground when really they’re only 2″. Christian Louboutin is legendary for this style.
• The thicker the heel the better the comfort, just make sure it is aligned with your style and is not so thick that it weighs you down.
• Change your heel height a couple of times per day. This helps to exercise your feet and leg muscles and prevent built up tension.
• My choice of high heel exercise is taking a tennis ball and rolling it under each foot with some pressure.
• In order to help your feet bear your body weight and carry you for a longer stretch on a high heel, know the exercises. Checkout this clip for the little things you can do to help your feet and make sure you stay in your high heels into old age!

Ballerina flats are classics, and they’ve earned their place in most women’s wardrobes. Feminine and versatile, ballet flats can be worn with jeans, pants, capris, and they even work well with some dresses — and assuming you get a good pair, ballet flats can be extremely comfortable as well. They are good for even the most devout high heel fan to take a break from heels every once in a while and slip into a pair of flats — and happily, you don’t have to sacrifice style to do it. Stock up!