Put a lid on it

Put a lid on it
3 Steps to find the perfect hat for you.

Hats! Hats! Hats! It’s a love/hate relationship for many, but they are the new accessory for fall that can say a lot about your personal style. Celebrities have some of most sought after domes for a stylish hat, many have popularized a particular style of their own. If we re-cap on a few famous names, Ashton Kutcher started a trucker hat phenomena and the Britney Spears and Kevin Federline duo brought back the fedora with much class as they could muster, and it worked. Even if you don’t have celebrity status you can revamp your wardrobe with a few simple tricks. There is the perfect hat out there just waiting for you to wear it. Many hat virgins believe that there is not a chance that they can pull off that funky fedora or a tantalizing top hat, but with the right style and a few pointers they might be pleasantly surprised. When selecting a hat the first thing you must remember is: it’s all in the details. The perfect hat should compliment your face shape, your body type and the have a good overall fit.

Step 1. Finding the perfect hat starts with determining the shape of your face. If you do not already know your face shape, the simplest way is to look in the mirror and trace the outline of your face. It is easiest to use an eyeliner pencil or some other kind of oil-based pencil. Once you have decided which category you and your melon belong to it is time for the next step.

Face shapes:

Square: Your head will be equally wide at the forehead, cheeks, and jaw line.
Tips: wear the hat at a slant or have the brim sitting asymmetrically

Heart-shaped: The forehead will be broader and then taper into a small, narrow chin.
Tips : wear the hat straight across the eyebrow and hairline. Try to avoid a crown(the part of the hat that sits on your head) that is narrower that the width of the cheekbones.

Round: The forehead and chin will be round with wide, full cheeks. Tips: Choose hats with high brims and angular shapes. Avoid round, circular, or floppy-shaped hats these will only emphasize a round face.

Oval: You will have wider cheekbones and then narrow down to the jaw line and chin. Oval face shape will also be narrow up towards the forehead. Tips: You can get away with almost any style of hat. Feel free to play with all the gorgeous shapes and styles.

Step 2. Determining your body type is necessary in terms of proportion. The general rule of thumb is if you are on the smaller side a smaller hat is right for you. If you are on the bigger side than a larger hat will work best.


If you're petite:
Choose hats with a small brim and low crown. Avoid big hats, which can be overpowering to small frames.

If you're tall:
Choose hats with a wide brim and a shorter crown. Avoid narrow, angular-shaped hats.

If you're full-figured:
Wide, full-brimmed hats can add balance to a curvy figure.


Step 3. The last and final step is to make sure that the size is correct. Size is all objective to what you feel is snug to your head but you do not want the hat to be falling off or to have a death grip on your noggin’. The average size for a hat is 22” diameter, so go from there. If you shop at a specialty stores, such as a hat shop you should be able to find most hats in this size. Specialty stores may cost a little more but they carry a wider range of sizes and styles, they can also help if you’re unsure about your size.

Whether it’s a bowler, fedora, porkpie, beret, newsboy cap, or even an optimo your fashion objective is to have to a new accessory that looks great on you. So go ahead have fun, cater to your cranium.

DRESS to impress

Three of Toronto’s most chic boutiques carry dresses that are nearly impossible to find is any other store.

Tired of showing up to events where you are wearing the same dress as the girl standing twenty feet away from you? Three of Toronto’s stylish boutiques carry dresses that you will not be able to find anywhere else. Out go the days where you showed up to an event in the same dress as three other people and in come the days where everyone takes notice of your ensemble when you walk in.

HONEY

Honey is found in Toronto’s west end in Sherway Gardens. For a boutique that has been open for less than a year, it has created quite the stir among shoppers. At the grand opening, the news station Citytv was there to report on the new chic boutique. It is quite the breath of fresh air among shoppers at Sherway Gardens considering it offers a variety of clothes that you can be sure will not be found in others boutiques. Honey carries a wide assortment of cocktail dresses found at every price point. Even the thrifty fashionista would be able to find herself a dress at Honey. From intricate beading to electric blue silk dresses, you can definitely find a unique dress that everyone at that party will envy.

RISQUÉ

Found on Bloor Street between Spadina and Avenue Road in the Annex, this boutique has a knack for dresses. Risqué is home to several bold, evening dresses. You can expect to find all the colours of the rainbow in every possible material. Especially around Christmas and New Years, Risqué offers countless dresses for every holiday party. The boutique name “Risqué” reflects perfectly on the merchandise in store. The dresses have that extra oomph that every fashionista is searching for. If you are a trendy, chic gal who loves to be the center of attention, then Risqué’s dresses fit the bill.

PEACH BERSERK

If you are looking for that little black dress, this is definitely not the store for you! By far one of the most fascinating stores in all of Toronto, Peach Berserk is located on Queen St. West. This colourful boutique is home to some of the most outrageous, unique looking dresses in Toronto. Not only does Peach Berserk make their dresses but they also print the fabric the dresses are made from. Also, if you found a print you really wanted to see on your next party dress, Peach Berserk would be more than willing to make that happen. They also offer silk screening workshops so you can learn how to make that fabulous fabric on your own. The dress options are endless in this boutique. You can pick out one of their colourful creations from their racks or you can turn your favourite painting into your new favourite party dress. If you are looking for that one-of-a-kind dress that nobody else will ever have, Peach Berserk is the place to find that dress to impress.

How to Strut Your Stuff Like Laura Hollins (A.K.A. Agyness Deyn)

Fake name? Check. Platinum blonde locks? Check. Rock star boyfriend? Check. Fashion’s most talked about model has a unique approach to style that seems to be catching on.

From the Street Up

The first thing that you’ll need to do if you want to dress like Agyness Deyn is to stop second guessing yourself. Wear whatever feels comfortable and whatever you feel is fashionable and wear it with confidence; and of course it wouldn’t hurt if you wore something with a bit of a punk influence. Fashion’s newest “it” girl Agyness Deyn (whose real name is Laura Hollins) has taken over the fashion industry. It’s almost impossible to open a magazine today without seeing her picture; from Rodarte to House of Holland to Oscar de la Renta, Agyness Deyn is proving that she is more than just a punk from the U.K. streets. Her face is everywhere; her “laissez faire” attitude and unique style are something to be admired and her eclectic sense of fashion is more proof that fashion trends are making their humble beginnings on the streets. Fashion, with the help of “Aggy” Deyn, is allowing us to express our inner rebels.

Out With the Young and In With the New

Agyness Deyn is the fresh new face of fashion; she is different, and uniquely pretty in a boyish way. She exudes confidence and personality and she is replacing the 16 year old, doll faced girls that grace the runways. She is providing inspiration for future designers, trends and even models by expressing individuality and pushing the boundaries of what’s trendy. She makes bold fashion choices when it comes to bright colors and prints and isn’t afraid to mix and match to show off her personal style and hopefully she can encourage others to be just as creative. She is a reminder that fashion is about individuality and self-expression, and not about always following what’s in but instead creating your own trends. It’s no wonder that Henry Holland, of House of Holland, chose her as his muse for his fall 2008 collection.

Madame vs. Mademoiselle

It’s hard to ignore all the comparison to Kate Moss and it would seem that Agyness Deyn is following in her footsteps. Not only did she knock Kate off of Tatler’s, a U.K. based publication (think Vogue), best dressed list but she is now a spokes model for Jean Paul Gauthier’s new fragrance MaDame, which is a little reminiscent of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle ad campaign in which Kate was Chanel’s Mademoiselle. With all the attention that she’s been getting it’s no surprise that the British model is being compared to the likes of Kate Moss and Twiggy. If she is a preview of the future of fashion, one can only get excited!

Precious Medals

Precious Medals

The do’s and don’ts of metallic apparel for the winter season.

Bronze, silver and gold: when it comes to the near future of winter 2009, the runways are already demanding a gleaming collection of flashy metallics. Although superhero-like and fashion forward sporting metallic’s can be done the right way or the tacky way. The metallic “futuristic” look is often perceived as sticky plastics and cracked finishes, but here are five do’s and don’ts for these precious medals to ensure your “intergalactic” yet couture look. When wearing metallic’s as a base make sure to shop for high quality fabrics and proper cuts. There is nothing worse than wearing a garment fitted just so that the shiny fabric highlights bulges and some definite problem areas. Also, for the love of fashion please, please do not wear something that is a knock off of genuine fabric, to end up looking as though you wrapped yourself in a roll of aluminum foil before going about your day. When selecting metallic’s in accessories, go for gold and silver. Nothing feels more glamorous in a worn out season than carrying that absolutely adorable gold clutch. Everyone strives for gold anyways, would you settle for a penny looking purse in copper when gold compliments your style and your personality, no. Silver hand bags are the perfect way to glisten amongst those in the dreary midst of winter. If you carry a fabulous bag than you will feel fabulous. Trust me on that one. Nothing completes an outfit better than shoes, when shopping for the right shoe to match your futuristic style, go head over heels for steel. Shoe-boots with a steel heel or a flashy steel finish is all you need to complete the metallic trend from head to toe. Trust me, they will be a total steel, get it. From head to toe your dressed trendy and not spacey but what is more difficult than trying to scope out those perfect accessories? When purchasing accessories for this season of metallics, do not at all ever try to match them piece for piece. This is where a solid metal with little detail gives you the ideal image in pulling off this tricky trend. Basics people, nothing looks worse than matching flashy sequin earrings with a shiny dress and hand bag. Tone it down to an everyday look while still flashing the trend. Last but not least, nobody feels complete without the perfect make-up. Do a subtle shimmer. Grey tones with a little bit of sparkle are flawless for day wear and to add a little something extra for the eyes, try dotting a tiny bit of gold or silver ever so gently into the corners of your eyes to give that innocent yet mysterious look for the evening. Gloss up with a neutral shade and peek-a-boo sparkles in the mixture to express your kisses. Precious medals are in this year so remember your five do’s and don’ts with metallic’s and I promise you will not look like an alien from some space world sporting aluminum foil.

Green With Envy- A Look at Today's Best Beauty Booty

Green With Envy
A Look at Today's Best Green Beauty Booty

Natural beauty products have made leaps and bounds since the days of hemp hand cream and henna hair colour. A look at some of the best natural brands out there today.

Face Off!
Gone are the days of natural skincare being akin to oatmeal masks. Today's eco-skincare products not only hold their own among industry standbys, but also tout many additional benefits like earth-friendly packaging, natural ingredients and eliminating harmful chemicals. After all, if you can't pronounce it or ingest it, chances are you really don't want to be massage it into your face. Try:

Dr. Hauschka: Since 1967, this Swedish brand has been delivering a holistic approach to skincare.
Harnn and Thann: Hailing from Bangkok, this line can be trusted for an environmental friendly packaging, products, and ethical manufacturing of it's products.
MyChelle: Vegetarian and vegan friendly products.

I'm Just So Fresh and So Clean!
Suds up the natural way, and start your day off right with the latest in natural body care. Loaded with natures finest exfoliants, like sea salt, sand and grains, cleansers nowadays needn't be chalk full of drying, oil-stripping chemicals to leave the skin sparkling. Work up a lather, rinse and repeat. Try:

Jason's Natural Cosmetics: Wide range of certified organic products for the whole family.
Carol's Daughter: This line made with wholesome ingredients, has a cult celebrity following.
Kiss My Face: A trusted old standby, originators in natural beauty.

I'm Ready for My Close-Up!
Flawless, luminous skin is what we all dream about. Achieving it naturally, without harmful chemicals, has become easier with a plethora of natural make-up on the market. Mineral infused foundations have the ability to transform even the sallowest sister into a glowing goddess. Chemical free powders and concealers help eliminate unsightly redness, and tackle even the ruddiest complexions. Try:

Bare Escentuals: Known for it's cult classic mineral make-up I.d Bare Minerals powder.
Cover FX: Pure mineral make-up, dermatologist recommended products.
Cargo: Ground breaking formulas, award winning products, unbeatable selection.

Pucker up!
Studies have shown that a women may ingest four pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. Considering the fact that some lipsticks have shown traces of the toxic chemical lead, there has never been a better time to go natural. Pucker up with the most luxurious lipsticks hand-picked by Mother Nature herself. Try:

Korres: Straight from Athens, Korres delivers products with top quality plant extracts, and no synthetic ingredients.
Yu-Be: This Japanese brand is high in glycerine and vitamins, making it ideal for dry lips.
Juice Beauty: Certified organic ingredients, and paraben, fragrance and petroleum free products.

High Five!
Probably the most obvious offender in chemical beauty products, is nail polish. The chemicals used to make our favourite polish, like toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthate (DBP), have all been linked to cancer. Over time, these chemicals can leach into our system, an extra we didn't bargain for with purchase. Luckily, there are some great natural alternatives, which are water-based, and water soluble. Try:

Sante Kosmetics: Phthalate-free polish makes this a safer alternative to traditional polish.
Honeybee Gardens: Water-based polish and completely odour free.
Suncoat: Water-based polish, chocolate scent and a wide range of colours.

With the abundance of amazing natural beauty products available these days, teaming up with Mother Nature has never been so alluring for beauty junkies everywhere. Whether converting completely, or simply substituting certain products for new green alternatives, a girl simply cannot lose.

Accessorize! Accessorize!

We all love to dress up and look our best, but when your outfit goes from just right to your inner thoughts telling you “just one more bracelet!” things can get a little crowded. Use these tips to figure out if less is really more.

Child’s Play
Remember the days of playing dress up? Well, for some this is still a daily occurrence. Try to refrain from piling on everything in your closet. It may have been fun when you were a kid, but doesn’t seem to transcend too well through the ages. A helpful way to ease your way into minimizing your look, is to follow the simple rule of taking off the last piece you put on (keeping in mind that the last thing put on was an accessory of some sort).

Bo-ho to Hobo
We may all secretly (or openly) wish to dress like one of the Olsen twins, but even they can sometimes over do the Bo-ho look. The key to pulling this look off with out over accessorizing (which with this style is way too easy to do) is to pick out garments that already have that theme “built in.” One example could be as easy as a great floral dress complemented with a large floppy hat and boots. Those pieces paired together alone scream bohemian chic. But if you just can’t help yourself, a few bangles on your wrist would also give this outfit the right vibe.

Everything in Moderation
With the winter season upon us, we all have the tendency to throw on the layers. Though keeping warm is a priority, there are always ways to do this while still showing off that great figure. Still a hot trend for the Fall/Winter season is scarves. They come in so many wonderful colours, patterns and fabrics that you could virtually wear one every day of the week, and still have your style look new and refreshing. Pair a cozy wool scarf with a form fitting long sleeve shirt and jeans, and you have that highly sought after, easy going outfit for those seemingly endless days of school.

When you just can’t seem to Play well Together
Picking which accessories to go with what you want to wear can be the best part to putting together an outfit. But you have to be careful when coordinating each piece. Some accessories just don’t work well with certain garments. A halter dress for example, should be left alone when it comes to necklaces. The neck line of a halter dress is perfect just as it is. There’s no need to clutter it up with anything. Though, if you are feeling a little bare, slipping on a flashy ring or skinny bracelet could be the finishing touch to this ensemble. And just because it’s the winter, doesn't mean you have to put away your dresses either. Simply put on a great pair of tights or leggings to chase away that winter chill.

Issue Theme

The loose theme for the issue is THE FUTURE ISSUE. We may still use the idea of "Fash-Forward".

Words That Describe Oh, George!

• Urban
• Sassy and Sleek
• Slightly Off Beat (Quirky)
• Insightful
• Interesting
• Appealing
• Independent local designers
• Underground Fashion
• Vintage
• Art
• Music
• George Brown Fashion
• Sophisticated
• Forward thinking
• Sexy
• Bright
• Motivational
• Creative
• Unique
• Trendy
• Innovative
• Splashy
• Current
• Future of Fashion
• Edgy
• Risque
• Polished
• Attention Grabbing
• Avant-Garde
• Knowledge
• Fresh
• Crisp
• Chic
• Modern
• Glam
• Elegant
• Professional
• Unified
• Seasonally Appropriate
• Image Conscious
• Eye Catching
• Luxury on Student Budget
• Fashion Shows
• Runway Styles
• Indie
• Hip: i.e. "Zine"
• Instyle
• Up to Date
• Merchandise
• Catchy Head Titles
• Fabulous
• 'New'
• Media
• Diversity
• Different
• Raw
• Controversial
• Real

London Fashion Week

Hey Everyone!
Just saw some amazing photos from London Fashion Week on the Toronto Sun website. Loving the unique designs by Julien Macdonald!! Check it out for yourself @ ... http://www.torontosun.com/life/2008/09/15/6773826.html
xoxo
Samantha

Suggestions For Oh, George! Fall/Winter

• Have more editorial photo shoots
  
• More photos
  
• Better quality pictures (Some are too dark in previous magazines)
  
• More art influence
  
• Interesting photography (artistic)
  
• More pictures/graphics/drawings
  
• Eye-catching cover
  
• More interesting background for each page of the magazine instead of just white
  
• Publish ads that push borders
  
• Keep content fresh by publishing stories that are unique
  
• Innovative pieces
  
• Good writing; quality over quantity
  
• Good number of readers
  
• Push writers to go out on a limb and make BOLD predictions of future fashions/trends
  
• No extras ie. horoscopes, quizzes etc. and fill with more pieces by students
  
• Really geared towards market; more interviews with young designers, entreprenuers, bands
  
• Local designers
  
• Interview with Dagg and Stacey-Fashion Editorial
  
• Interview Peter Papateau/Serge Icerbel (Lush magazine fashion director)
  
• Interviews with new, Canadian designers
  
• Interviews with students from George Brown
  
• Promote GB fashion students within our programs and community
  
• Promote GB students who have started their own clothing and jewelry lines
  
• Music Section- ie. bands, CD reviews; music with fashion tie-ins
  
• Reviews of fashion shows
  
• Neighborhood Spotlights- ie. stores that are lesser known in the Annex, Yorkville, etc.
  
• Local finds, shops, gems
  
• Toronto style hotspots ie. discovering the city; toronto fashion map
  
• Local Toronto fashion scene
  
• Comparing fashion in Toronto to fashion in an other city ie. Tokyo
  
• Fashions in Korea (will be traveling there in Oct.)
  
• Travel
  
• Seasonal trends- ie. XMas fashion
  
• Perfect drinks/coctsails for Christmas season
  
• How to throw an awesome party
  
• Makeup and hair matching your outfit
  
• Top ten trends and how to work them
  
• ‘Must haves’ from Fashion Week or for the season
  
• Advice column about common fashion problems
  
• ‘Fashion Police’ but choose stylish people and comment on why they look good
  
• Interview people on the street about how they would describe their style
  
• ‘What’s in your Bag?’- popular magazine in Japan
  
• Look into different parts of the fashion industry; different genres
  
• Grunge vs. Luxe inspiration
  
• Incorporate many different fashion styles in to the writing ie. grunge, hippy, etc.
  
• Environmental issues
  

Oh (No!), Canada

By Emily Felker

Canadian fashion is on the slow decline. With our homeland brands selling out to American powerhouses, we are losing our fashion identity and becoming more and more dependent on America for our fashion requirements.
This past year marked another tragic decline in Canadian fashion. We began to lose one of our most successful companies to an American super seller. Lululemon Athletica is on the road to selling out. Lululemon was smart brilliant in finding their niche market, and then was able to appeal to the masses.
Undergoing enormous expansion from their one store in Vancouver to over 120 stores in North America, Japan and Australia lead to the inevitable, and merging with American investors. Lululemon sold to a US private equity firm, Advent International, for an estimated $225 million, giving Advent International 48% share of the name, later dividing this into public shares. Although Lululemon is commendable for keeping the slight majority Canadian owned, they did however begin to take the dive into giving up their Canadian status. They had the opportunity to rebuild a name for Canada, and put a brand out internationally that would remind the world that Canada still exists in the fashion world. We are losing our reputation in fashion and becoming the northern part of the USA, instead of distinguishing ourselves apart from them.
But retailers are not the only ones selling themselves to the States. We are the consumers are as well. Even though our market has been penetrated with many American retailers, we ourselves are taking our money to States where we can get more bang for our (high Canadian!) buck.
But it is ever so tempting to shop in the States. Markdowns are unreal, and merchandise is readily available and in a greater variety then we are used to. And pumping out fast, inexpensive fashion is not just a niche market, but a booming business taking over. There is much more variety and assortment, and many items that the Canadian market does not offer.
Even with regular priced merchandise Canadian shoppers will find a huge difference in price. Mark-ups in Canada can be as high as 60% on merchandise, whereas the USA usually averages in at 30%. One prime retailer guilty of this is Abercrombie & Fitch. In Canada items can be up to $20 more than if purchased in the USA. so really, if you can make the trip across the border to make these purchases, why wouldn’t you?
Most retailers (Victoria’s Secret, Macy’s, Dillard’s and many more) in the USA offer their own credit card, which in turn gives you a discount on your first purchase, and sometimes all to follow. So if you were sign up while shopping with the intentions of cancelling the card right after, you can save even more on your shopping trip. Caution: using the card may inhibit you to spend more than planned, this tactic is only for the strong willed.
American retailers will give you any reason to stay in their stores and shop. Service is much better in their stores, and with them throwing added discounts at you, it becomes harder to turn down and not to spend more.
While America bombards us with their brands, it does become a rarity to see Canadian merchandise in their stores. A certain smugness and prides comes with seeing Canadian designs present in their department stores. For instance, in Strongsville, Ohio Dillard’s has a large women’s section dedicated solely to the Nygard collection. It is complete with LCD monitors showing his designs as well as an impressive photo of Peter Nygard himself. There is Canada, making its stand. And in a big way. And let us not forget Lida Baday, who was able to make her stand in the American market.
But is there a consumer consciousness that will prevent us from shopping in the States? And do people really care whether or not they support Canadian fashions and retailers?
Unfortunately, I don’t think so. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the almighty dollar. If people can spend less and buy more, they will do so. Just seeing the price differences in the States are eye opening. And if people can shop there easily why not do so for the lower prices? On the other hand, seeing the differences in prices can cause frustrations in Canadian shoppers about their home shopping, because they don't understand why there are drastic price differences. Even with our dollar higher it has been in a long time, Canadian prices are hardly being adjusted. Some retailers (like The Bay) claim to be lowering their prices to accommodate our dollar, but it has been hardly noticeable.
The Canadian market needs to accommodate to our new-found higher dollar, and make the prices we pay for our merchandise more reasonable in comparison to the States. Our own fashion industry which although small but mighty, needs to be cultivated, in order to provide for Canada. We cannot completely ignore American fashion but it should supplement instead of supply our industry.

Dollars for scents…make sense?

Is it aromatic sense or perfumed poisons? Be aware, care and bare your identity in a whiff.

Working in a clothing store in Toronto, I have experienced perfume departments wafting through the racks in the form of customers, brusquely demanding service through their clouds of odour repellant. All that I can think is, “What are you trying to hide?”

It is a democratic world; anyone who's anyone can put out a scent. In 2006, department stores carried 1,160 different fragrances for women compared with 756 in 2002, according to NPD Group, a market research firm that tracks consumer product sales. Along with another zillion other perfume home products, we are living, breathing pungent bouquets of aromatic scents.

All these synthetic scents have billions of dollars of advertising behind them to tell us what these smells mean and would mean to other people. Although the messages can be varied-- from Latino superstar to underage nymphomaniac--one message is clear. Own a piece of aspiration—security, fame, wealth and/or sex appeal—in a bottle.

The science of smell is deeply rooted with our ideas of self. According a summer 1995 article in Brain Briefings by the Society for Neuroscience, olfactory information travels up to the brain where memory, emotions and conscious thoughts are processed. By taking advantage of this, advertisers have slapped on brand identities to scents to appeal to the customer—you.

However, underlying these intentions is that we can understand our identities by the choices of our consumption. And by buying (or not) into these products, we define ourselves, without saying a word, where we stand in mainstream culture.

The same NPD survey in 2006 also found that a growing number of women are choosing not to wear fragrance, largely due to fragrance fatigue as well as the worry of the effect of perfumes on others. Many people are concerned that their scents were leaving bad impressions or even causing allergies.

However, even if one chooses not to buy into the commercial perfume industry as a social concern, the real issue here is that scented products can be dangerous to health. In the Renaissance, perfumes were worn to cover up body odour. Today, fragrances are added to bad smelling toxic poisons to increase their appeal and thus their usage. An example is a product like Lysol bathroom spray. On the bottle it clearly states that it is toxic and that it should be inhaled directly. Scratching the surface a little deeper, doesn’t it seem a little incongruous that an air freshener should not be inhaled? What about over continuous usage over time?

According to the October 2007 Journal of Chromatography, the increased use and production of synthetic musk compounds, used to mask unpleasant odours, are being detected in the environment like lake trout and in human breast milk. Not only is synthetic musk unable to biodegrade, it accumulates in the food and reproductive cycle. In 2005, two Stanford researchers Luckenbach and Epel, have shown these musks have the potential to compromise the body’s immunity system over time. With growing concern especially from European public interest groups, some countries have banned the use of certain musks e.g. Japan.

An additional problem in body products is the use of perfumes. The perfume industry is highly secretive in order to maintain competitiveness. Government regulations require only the listing of chemicals that may be toxic. Although certain chemicals are under toxicity regulations, it does not take into consideration a person’s combined diet of perfumed products. In addition, if the ingredients are not known, how does one decide if it is toxic?

The health issues associated with scented products are immense, and some problems outlined above are the tip of the iceberg. If you still cherish the waft of a fragrant toss of hair, major supermarket chains have dedicated organic and natural areas in urban centres, while natural and organic stores are growing. Unfortunately, many ingredients listed on the back of many products do not denote if they are truly natural or synthetic.

If the product is organic, another guideline is to check for the certifying organization. Generally, according to a SPINS survey that analysed the growth of organic and natural bodycare products from 2006 to 2007, very few products meet strict USDA organic codes.

A good rule of thumb is that the shorter and simpler the list, the better. Long lists of components generally indicate artificial preservatives, petrochemicals and phtalates.

Instead of choosing a spritzer perfume with preservatives, which could be allergy inducing and react horribly in the sun, why not mix your own? Natural essential oils can be found at most natural food stores and this enables you to alter your scent as the mood strikes. Oils also tend to be subtler in fragrance and can be therapeutic.

Finally, perhaps we should consider the purpose of perfume itself. In most cases, it is a short term strategy to cover up bad odours. However, odours are usually messengers of bad diet, stress and lifestyle. Bacteria on the skin breaking down sweat cause the smells. By covering it up, not only are we absorbing chemicals through the skin, it is avoiding the real problem—an honest change in mindset.

A truthful evaluation of one’s diet and lifestyle may show a high intake of processed foods, insufficient fruits and vegetables or simply not drinking enough water. It could be deep-seated anxieties are not addressed and cause hormonal imbalances that result in smelly toxins.

If there’s one thing L’Oreal advertisers have it right, it’s their slogan, “Because I’m worth it.” Paying attention to diet and lifestyle choices is truly self-respect. Part of the process may be that we should accept ourselves for the way we smell, good or bad, and then work to be healthier and happier. This way to claim individuality definitely requires more work. But the results will speak for themselves and can only make us stronger, both mentally and physically. So I say--this summer, throw your scents out the window and breathe!