Founders of Ottawa apparel brand Octopied Mind aim for mindfulness, inspiration and inclusivity

 There are so many fashion brands out there, but Sarah and Jill, the founders of Ottawa-based fashion and lifestyle brand Octopied Mind are using clothes to spread an important message. They are all about promoting mental wellness and self-acceptance and pride themselves on being as inclusive as possible with clothing

How To Stay Both Stylish And Warm This Winter

 The winter season is slowly coming back into our lives and we’re not sure how we feel about it. On the one hand, we must agree with some proud Canadians who rightfully enjoy this season and cherish all its festive vibes and associated holidays. Who doesn’t love having a White

Karissa Besharah is Designing for the Modern Woman

 Born and raised in Ottawa, Karissa Besharah is a designer pushing limits in the women’s fashion industry. Growing up, she always found a need to be creative, whether it was designing home decor, costumes or repurposing clothes in her closet. After attending Richard Robinson Academy of Fashion Design, Karissa had

Valentine’s Day looks for the Practical Feminist

 Valentine’s Day –a day we celebrate love, relationships, and happiness. It is also a day many of us experience crushing expectations to look as sexy as possible for a date. Here we have outlined some practical tips on looks for that infamous night of love as we redefine sexiness into

Popular Retailer Rebrands as Mark’s Well Worn and Opens New Store in Ottawa

 Mark’s (formerly known as Mark’s Work Warehouse), has opened a new east end store in the capital at Ottawa’s Place D’Orleans Shopping Centre. The popular retailer is one of the oldest, respected and representative clothing brands in Canada, and a leader in its market niche with over 380 stores across

Ontario Looks to Bolster Laws on Corporate Uniforms

 If your business operates in the retail, travel, event production and/or hospitality industries, or in any other industry that requires employees to wear a uniform, be sure to make note of proposed Ontario legislation that seeks to limit what your company can mandate what its employees must wear as part

From Casual Streetwear to Glitter & Gold, The Ottawa Vintage Show Has it All (+GIVEAWAY)

 Attention all glittery girls –  and guys too. One of the most coveted fashion events in Ottawa is just around the corner. This amazing day I speak of is The Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show happening this Sunday, November 6 at the Shaw Centre from 10am-5pm. Forget everything current, because for

Voguemobile — Ottawa’s Fashion Truck

 Hold on to your hats Ottawa, because street style is being redefined, and it has wheels! Voguemobile is our city’s first mobile fashion boutique. The fashion truck rolled into O-Town neighbourhoods this month, selling unique designer clothes in a new and convenient delivery system. Follow Voguemobile online to stay up

Celebrating Style For The Working Mom

 Photo by Valerie Keeler Photography.    Whether she leaves her home for an office or not, every mom works. The challenge is stepping out in a functionally chic outfit. Finding a balance between fashionable and functional is possible if you have the right pieces to ensure success. 1 THE JACKET

Capital Catwalk Showcases Best of Local Fashion Designers

 All photos by Mireille Sylvester,   Ottawa’s fashion community dressed to the nines to raise money for cancer on January 30. The University of Ottawa branch of HerCampus, an online magazine for university students, hosted its 4th annual Capital Catwalk in support of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. The glitzy

Three Fabulous Thrift Stores to Get You through the Holidays

 Wearing mom’s old jeans from the eighties may not be a fashion faux pas anymore. The masses are flooding vintage and consignment stores, on the hunt for new, one of a kind finds with one of a kind prices. Despite the appeal of finding a diamond in the rough though, thrifting can

Mellow Yellow

 Fun, fresh and often associated with the warmer months of the year, yellow is a worn-to-be-seen colour that will liven up your wardrobe this season. The sunny shade was seen on the Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Burberry Prorsum and Naeem Khan runways and the statement shade is also a sunshine basic at budget-friendly stores. Whether

Fashion Goes Green

 Photo credit: MIV Photography Bayshore Shopping Centre and H&M collaborate for eco-fashion initiatives through “Conscious Exclusive” line We wake up every morning, head to our closet and skim through racks of clothing. Some pieces are our favourites, some are fashion staples and some have never made the cut. Inevitably, the story

Native Man Celebrates Sobriety with Art

 Donnell Taylor of the Constance Lake First Nation paints to seek wisdom of his ancestors to deal with his addiction. On April 1, 2014, Donnell Taylor set his foot on Ottawa soil. A native man from the Constance Lake First Nation was continuing his "good journey," which started back in

5 Safety Tips for Women Travelling Alone

 A few precautions help reduce risks so you can focus on fun, globetrotting author says Perhaps more than ever, women are willing to ditch their travelling companions and go solo when it comes time to hit the road and see the world. A survey by Small Luxury Hotels of the

In Full Bloom

 Above: Kate Spade / Michael Kors / Kate Spade / Michael Kors / Kate Spade Never Have Florals For Spring Felt Fresher From Kate Spade to Michael Kors, floral prints are all over the spring/summer runways. From graphic to abstract, the trend is easy to incorporate into your current wardrobe and

Celebrating the Cultural Fusion of the Métis

 Featured Image: Internationally-acclaimed troupe, the Asham Stompers promote the richness of Métis culture through dance.   Métis arts, language and symbols are expressions of a unique cultural fusion. The people of the Métis Nation are distinct from other Aboriginal peoples. Their culture and traditions come from the combination of Aboriginal peoples and

Outstanding Obaaberima

 Photo credit: Jeremy Mimnagh Looking for something incredible to do this week? Head to the National Arts Centre to see its latest production Obaaberima. Playwright and actor Tawiah M'Carthy won a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best Outstanding Production in 2013 for his masterpiece. The play actually won three Doras in total:

Capital Consignment: AMHstyle

 Stepping into AMH Style is like stepping into the closet of your most fashionable friend. All the enviable, personality pieces she’s been sporting? She found them here. The women behind this cream of the crop consignment shop are sisters Alison and Joanna Hughes. Citing experience in the fashion industry as

Ottawa Antique Market: For Serious Antique-Lovers

 The Ottawa Antique Market is one of the city’s retail gems. Located on Bank St. in Ottawa South and tucked in the side of the building, stepping through its doors transports you to the best flea market you’ve ever laid eyes on. You can shop all the usual suspects commonly

Support the Community and Score Some Steals at Salvation Army

 Over 100 years ago, General William Booth recognized a dire need for affordable goods, particularly geared towards the disadvantaged and excluded groups in the community. As a response, he created the Household Salvage Brigade, a group responsible for the collection of used household and everyday items. Today, we see Booth’s

Customize Your Clothing: Fiore Apparel

 Screen printing, custom clothing and embroidery—the options are endless at Fiore Apparel. The quality custom-made clothing Fiore is known for tells clients, “You design it, we will create it!” Edy Alan, manager at Fiore Apparel, started customizing clothes many years ago from home. “He had about ten sewing machines in

Ottawa’s Fabulous Vintage Clothing Scene

 Flowers & Vintage is a lovely vintage boutique that doubles as a flower shop in the heart of Centretown. Idyllic and whimsical, it’s a place to go not only to shop but to be inspired. Housewife Vintage is responsible for the truly fabulous collection of vintage and second-hand clothing, shoes

Fast-forward to Fall

 Bright hues, chunky knits, sumptuous coats – fall 2014 is full of easy-to-wear pieces you’re going to love. When it comes to colour, fall fashion is all about breaking free from traditional autumnal hues in favour of more unexpected ones. Pantone Color Institute’s Leatrice Eiseman says that, “colour transcends time

Goodwill Hunting

 Walking through Goodwill is much like perusing a well-organized local garage sale or flea market. With a keen eye, a great find could quite possibly be on your radar. However, it’s just as likely that you’ll depart empty-handed. That being said, Goodwill is still a spot to add to your