For the first look, Lynn paired this colourful, striped Maxi Dress with this black Sanded Silk Touch Blazer. The dark stripes at the top of the dress contrast with the bold stripes at the bottom – along with the A-Line shape – which helps the body appear slimmer, making it a great dress for anyone to wear. The jacket, with its beautiful tailoring, makes the outfit perfect for an y busy business woman. “When you wear jackets this season,” explains Spence, “push the sleeves up for a more modern look.”

As peplum is everywhere this season, the second look saw Lynn pair a beautiful, white peplum blouse with a fitted magenta blazer and a pair of dark jeans for an day to night outfit she called “sophisticated and cool”. To contrast the bright colours, Lynn chose organic, wooden jewellery. Against the white top, the details in the wood stand out beautifully and then to match the organic textures in the jewellery, she paired the whole look with a great python bag.

“The safari, animal print look will never go away and will always be fashionable come Spring,” Spence offered as she introduced this third outfit. Since the fit is flattering to any body shape, this dress can be worn with or without the belt and is perfect for the office or travelling since it’s light and easy to pack. Thanks to all the little details and trimmings on the jacket, it really takes the dress to the next level. Just remember to “keep all the tones the same when mixing prints.

Leopard Print Shift Dress // Bangle // Bead Necklace // Wood Necklace // Hobo Bag // Peachskin Ruched Utility Jacket //

This pretty yellow jacket, with is Anorak drawstring details, picks up the small yellow details in the geo-print dress and gives you that much needed boost of colour to celebrate Spring. The dress is sleeveless, jersey and lined with a knotted waist, making it the easiest dress to wear this season…and it will hide a multitude of sins, as the high neckline elongates the body, giving the look a more ladylike appearance. A beaded or golden necklace will pick up those daffodil colours in the dress and finish the outfit off perfectly.

This incredible sequined dress, paired with a navy jacquard jacket adds a touch of elegance to your Spring wardrobe. The blue tones are one of this seasons biggest colour trends and the addition of fresh whites throughout brings vibrancy to the whole look. This gorgeous jacquard blazer, with floral detailing, balances the boldness of the sequins, making the outfit look more modern. Instead of trying to add more dazzle to this look with your jewellery, try a graphic and matte accessory.

Rounding out the show, Lynn showed the versatility of this great maxi skirt: just pull it up around the bust and it can be worn as a strapless midi-bando dress. Two great looks in one great item! The tunic can we worn fitted to skim the body, or sized-up to allow the top to fall away, giving it a looser, more casual look. Pair the whole thing with a chunky, graphic necklace to contrast the soft knit in the dress and you’re ready to hit the town!!

To watch the entire episode, click this link. Find all the great fashions featured on the show at www.nygard.com or click the links below the image. Happy Shopping

The event, entitled Bright Choices, saw the excited guests mix and mingle over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before taking their seats to watch an extraordinary fashion show, featuring collections from Peter Nygård, Bianca Nygård, Tan Jay, ALIA and Not Just Pants (NJP). The charismatic models, all adorned in the season’s key statement pieces and using a host of fun seasonal props, kept the crowd cheering from start to finish.

Left // Aqua Tile Chiffon Top // Marine Blue Capri Pant // Left Middle // Geo Printed Knotted Waist Dress // Right Middle // Cowboy Chic Collection Coming soon! // Right // Bright Blush Ruched Cardi // Leather Look Knit Dress

Peter Nygård // Spring/Summer Collections

Left // Metallic Strip Knit Top // Waterfall Jacquard Pants Left Middle // Pinstripe Zipper Ankle Pant Pinstripe Zip Front Jacket with Cuff // Right Middle // Aztec Ruins Sequin Top // Control Waist Knit Leggings // Right // Pintuck Front Sleeveless Shirt // Animal Paisley Capri Pants //

TANJAY // Spring/Summer Collections

Left // Zip Front Cardigan // Comfort Waist Straight Leg Pant // Left Middle // Cascade Cardigan // Right Middle> // Tie Dye Print Cardigan // Right// Comfort Waist Straight Leg Pant //

ALIA // Spring/Summer Collections

Left // Pink Crew Neck Tank // Campshirt Coming soon! // Left Middle // Stretch Denim Pull on Capri // Right Middle Denim Tie Detail Capri // Right// Stretch Denim Pull on Capri // Space Dye Jacquard Knit Top // Space Dye Jacquard Knit Cardigan //

Not Just Pants // Spring Collection

Left// Coming soon! // Left Middle // Coming soon! // Right Middle // Brooklyn Flare Leg Pant // Sequined Top // Button Front Cardigan // Left // Crush Knit Top // Black Button Cardigan // Capris Coming soon!

The highlight of the night took place when 12 breast cancer survivors graced the runway, their presence fostering an aura of hope and courage and reiterating the company’s ongoing commitment to help eradicate the disease.

Breast Cancer Survivors Modeling Bianca Nygård’s Sahara Spring Collection

In true NYGÅRD fashion, the event ended with an unforgettable grand finale. The models, sporting Carmen Miranda-esque hats, and accompanying two lavishly costumed Brazilian dancers, gathered on the catwalk as a blast of confetti announced the arrival of a stunning model in a one-of-a-kind Peter Nygård creation “Goddess Gown” whom the designer himself toured around the runway to the applause of the guests.

Barely There

Get the Look // Barely There Tunic // Luxe Jersey Maxi Tube Skirt //

A draping silhouette is key when trying to elongate the figure, flattering your overall body shape. And nothing fits the bill better than this GORGEOUS MAXI SKIRT! In an easy to care for, soft, jersey knit, this skirt is perfect for the busy fashionista. Maxi skirts can be seen everywhere, from the runway to the real world, so don’t miss out on this growing fashion trend!

Tier Dress

Get the Look// Leather Look Knit Tiered Dress //

Mixing textures and patterns is also a trend callout for Spring 2012. Structured femininity is about taking classic silhouettes and updating them for 21st century women. This tiered ruffles dress, done in this updated leather look knit, for example, is a unique take on the traditional spring frock.

Dress to Impress

Get the Look// Printed Ruffle Column Dress // Ruched Sleeve Cardi in Driftwood // Silver Drop Earrings //

Turn heads in this printed ruffle column dress! The print is warm with tones of blush and driftwood grey, the ruffle detail adding texture and interest. The column design is fit to form, helping not only to create the coveted hourglass silhouette, but also help you spring out of Winter’s heavy layers and show off your beautiful figure!

Beautiful Biker

Get the Look// Leather Look Moto Jacket // Shadow Play Burnout Side Ruffle Top // Sanded Silk Cropped Cargo Pant // Feather Hoop Earrings //

The moto jackets is back and more important then ever this season! Updated with subtle peplum waist details, button up stand collar, asymmetrical zipper details and a new leather look knit, this jacket adds a little edginess to the everyday prim and proper.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and as the stores fill with red heart shaped boxes, chocolates and candy, we start to wonder what we’re going to do for the people we care about on February 14th.

But Valentine’s Day isn’t just a romantic occasion; it’s a day to celebrate all the people in your life that you love and care about. So take a moment to surprise someone with a thoughtful gift that says how much you care. Nothing is better for the winter blues than a chance to celebrate with friends and family.

One of our favourite things for a great Valentine’s day present is something hand made with love. Michael’s Craft Store has a plethora of online ideas for everyone on your sweetheart list and their family friendly crafts are the perfect thing to do with your kids over the weekend!

Another great way to share the love on Valentine’s day is to bake. Nothing says ‘I care’ more than home baked goodness. It’s easy. It’s fun. And with all the great, colourful and delicious recipes out there, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect thing for co-workers, kids or even that special someone. One of our favourite Valentine’s recipes are these red velvet cupcakes with brownie hearts. Not only is it one of the most delicious cupcake recipes you’ll ever find, they look absolutely precious too!!

Recipes & Images from Sarah Yoon from milkandhoneycafe

Accessories are also a great gift to give to anyone on Valentine’s Day! Orange is this year’s key colour and a shoulder mini flap over bag is the perfect thing for any women who want to stay on trend this season.

Burnt Orange Over the Shoulder Bag

But Valentine’s Day is also a day to look YOUR best, and picking an outfit that really makes you feel that way is imperative, so here are three great Valentine’s Day outfits as chosen by your NYGÅRD editors:

For Valentine’s dinner out with your favourite girlfriends, this beautiful Magenta Kimono offers a classic silhouette, its silk touch fabric providing a comfortably chic look for whatever trendy places the night has to offer.

Who needs bouquets of roses when you can adorn yourself from head to toe in one of Spring’s trends: great floral prints. Give this beautiful blouse a try. Pair it with the matching skirt, or a pair of white pants. Perfect for day or night wear.

Kimono Impression // Garden Party // Ruffle Column Dress

For a soft, romantic look this Valentine’s day, try this beautiful Ruffle Column Dress. Its sophisticated blush print is perfect for the occasion, and the fit-to-form silhouette is sure to get the attention of whoever you find yourself dinning with.

If jewellery is the thing you’re looking for, why not pick up some great colour blocking pieces to wear on this special day. These pieces provide the perfect opportunity to incorporate Spring’s biggest trend: colour blocking into your wardrobe in an easy and effortless way.

Hoop Earrings // Geometric Necklace

Let us know what you’re doing this Valentine’s Day and what your Valentine’s Day style is!!!

In part one of Detoxing…the Right Way, I explained the importance of detoxing, and hopefully made it clear that if you plan on doing one, doing it properly will ensure that you don’t do more harm than good. A proper detox, I went on to say, is three-pronged, including diet, exercise and some supplementation, and then delved into what, from a dietary perspective, a proper detox looks like. In this part, I will look at the other two parts of the detox trifecta: exercise and supplementation.

EXERCISE/LIFESTYLE
As your skin and lungs are two of the organs involved in the detoxification process, exercise is one of the best ways to encourage detoxification. With an increased heart rate, comes sweating and deep breathing, both of which eliminates toxins. Let it be said, however, that you know your own fitness level, so exercise accordingly. If you haven’t worked out in years, consult a physician before hitting the treadmill like a marathoner, or start with 20-minute walks. If exercise is already in your daily repertoire, then carry on.

Ensuring that stress and negative emotions are minimized is also an important part of detoxification. Studies have shown that negative emotions are tied to an increased production of free radicals, which are damaging to the body. That said, although extremely tough, do everything in your power to be stress free during your detox. Yoga is a good way to exercise and minimize stress. You can also try breathing exercises and meditation, or just going to that white sand beach in your mind when things get a tad bit crazy.

SUPPLEMENTATION
If the diet and exercise components are in place, then herbal teas and supplementation can be used to not only encourage the detoxifying organs, but also support them. Look for supplements that contain herbs like milk thistle, which supports the liver, dandelion, which supports the kidneys, and fiber sources to encourage healthy bowel movements. Additional antioxidants, such as green tea extract, can also be used to help protect the body. Before adding any supplements to your detox, consult with your health care practitioner, as these herbs can interact with medications and may be contraindicated with some health conditions. 

Ultimately, detoxes are great. Just make sure that the one you choose addresses diet, exercise and supplementation. If it doesn’t, avoid it. And always remember, if you feel more comfortable being guided, a naturopath can design an individualized program just for you.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to Dr. Cristina about an individualized detox program, she can be reached at drcristina@thehealthloft.ca.

With the holiday season now officially over for another year, detoxing from all the heavy meals and celebratory drinks is probably at the forefront of your mind. And with good reason: Detoxing is important, as it helps eliminate the unwanted build-up of toxins, from both internal (natural by-products of daily functioning) and external (pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, etc.) sources in our bodies.

Although the human body has an incredible ability to withstand these toxins, in this day and age the extent of our exposure is typically more than our body can handle. As toxins accumulate in the body’s tissues, they can disrupt our health. Studies have shown that excess toxins can be linked to a plethora of health issues, including headaches, asthma, mood and mental status changes, weight gain, allergies, insomnia, joint pain and so on.

The organs responsible for the elimination of toxins include the liver, kidneys, digestive tract, lungs and skin through urination, healthy bowel movements, exhalation, and sweating. A proper detox should both support these organs and protect tissues from the by-products (mainly nasty free radicals) produced in detoxification. 

But how then does one decipher which of the numerous detox methods posted on the Internet, advertised in health food stores, or championed by friends, to use? Are the Master Cleanse, Wild Rose Herbal D-Tox Program, juice fasts and colonics all created equal? The answer is NO. Some can actually do more harm than good.

Realistically, detoxes don’t have to be as hard and strenuous as we often make them out to be.  In fact, the harder they are, the more damaging they tend to be. There’s no need for drastic changes or starvation. A detox should simply take any excess burden off of the eliminating organs, and encourage them to do what they do best: detoxify. 

To do this, a detox should include diet, exercise and some supplementation. But remember, supplementation without any dietary and lifestyle changes, will only amp up the body’s detoxification processes without lightening the burden, and therefore, will not give optimal results. 

DIET
Despite the ads preaching that starvation or supplementation is key, diet is the most important part of a detox. Foods play a large role in providing the body with the necessary building blocks to support the body’s detoxification function, and also nutrients like antioxidants that protect the body’s tissues from damaging free radicals and toxins. 

Today’s North American diet is high in red meat, dairy, gluten, soy, corn and refined sugar. Unfortunately, these foods are known to cause inflammation in many people and are often ridden with pesticides, growth hormones and additives, which leads to toxin build up. The diet is also high in processed foods, which have essentially been stripped of the nutrients the body needs for detoxifying.

So when thinking about doing a detox, first take the time to think about what you’re eating, and look at the ingredients of the foods you purchase. You’ll probably be surprised with what you find! 

Eat as much fresh, organic whole foods as possible. This will encourage a diet of optimal nutrients and contain less external toxins. Incorporate dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, bok choy, spinach and collard greens, carrots, celery, cucumbers, zucchini, asparagus, Asian mushrooms (shitake and oyster mushrooms), legumes, sprouts, quinoa, and brown rice. Protein sources can include salmon, chicken, turkey and lamb.  

Try to avoid inflammatory foods such as pork, beef, potatoes, gluten, soy, corn, refined sugar, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, dairy, coffee and alcohol, or foods that are void of nutrients and full of additives, such as pre-packaged or processed foods. 

And don’t forget to drink at least two litres of water a day, to encourage cleansing and hydration.

Check back on Friday for part two of Dr. Cristina’s blog on detoxing. If you have any questions or would like to speak to Dr. Cristina about an individualized detox program, she can be reached at drcristina@thehealthloft.ca.

Our beautiful model Angela, has the final touches put on her outfit before stepping behind the camera.

Bright & Bold Patterns are trending for Spring!!!

Behind the scenes, hairstylist Roger Medina get Angela ready for her close up!

What is Colour Blocking?
“Colour Blocking”, in essence, involves combining two or more “blocks” of colours in one look. No patterns. No stripes. No polka dots. Just solid blocks of colour. This bold use of color is a great way to kick start your Spring wardrobe, moving you away from the darker, colder tones of Fall and Winter. You can colour block with clothes, handbags, makeup and accessories, giving every woman a myriad of options. This trend does require a little bit of thought before you dive in. For example, it can be easy to go wrong and end up with something that just doesn’t work when mixing bright, intense colours. The easiest way to get around this is to colour block using brights and blacks, or brights and whites. Using black or white as a base allows the other colours to pop all the more, and will give you a perfectly styled look.

Get the look at www.nygard.com!!!

What Colours go Together?
To avoid clashing, use this quick and handy colour wheel to find the perfect blend of tones and hues for your look. Use the rule of thirds and create an equilateral triangle on the wheel. Where the triangle’s points touch, choose two of the three colours to block with (see below). If you’re feeling adventurous and what to add another colour, be sure to pick something outside your triangle to avoid the classic “blue, red and yellow” primary clown combination.

How to Colour Block
Wondering why colour blocking is so popular? The answer is that it’s one of the best ways to emphasize your best features! Simply dress the parts of your body you want to accentuate in those bright, colourful hues while using darker colours to give the rest of your body a sleek and chic look as darker colours have a wonderful slimming effect.

Shop more great Colour Blocking looks from Bianca Nygård at www.nygard.com!!!

Remember: when colour blocking, don’t combine more than three colours. It can get messy and, as always, the more colours you add, the more chance there is that you’ll clash.

But don’t forget to be adventurous. Colour blocking is about being bold and trying something new. Don’t worry if you get it wrong the first time. Fashion is about experimenting and playing. And after really getting into this style for Spring, you might even find that these bold colours help you feel a bit more confident and bold yourself!

Take an exclusive behind the scenes look into the design & development of the Spring 2012 Bianca Nygård Collection. Hear what designers Alia Nygård-Daneault and Lynn Horrill have to say about Spring trends and get a peak at how the collections was inspired, how the samples are produced, and (of course) an up close and personal tour of the Spring 2012 Photoshoot.

Shop the Spring Collections at www.nygard.com

From set to screen…

Our beautiful model Amanda getting her hair done on set.

In this video, see how samples are made!!

Enjoy the beautiful fashions from Bianca Nygard’s Spring 2012 Collection!!!

Snickerdoodles
 

 
Snickerdoodles are one of those classic Holiday recipes that never goes out of style. With its buttery cinnamon flavour, this cookie is a treat and always fills the house with a deliciously wintery aroma.

Candy Cane Cookies
 

 
A sure fire hit with the kids, both to eat and to make, is the Chocolate Chip Cookie with Candy Cane topping. The colourful candy cane sprinkles make this treat even more of a decadently delicious dessert than it is without.

Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
 

 
Finally, what list of Holiday Cookies would be complete without a traditional Gingerbread recipe? But this year, try a variation. These mini Gingerbread sandwich cookies are the holiday’s answer to the classic Oreo cookie! Great for snacking while wrapping!