NICHE Style Fall 2017

STYLE MAGAZINE 

ULTIMATE 

GIRLS 

GUIDE 

42 PAGE NICHE EXCLUSIVE 

Be healthy, happy, stylish & fab every day! 

INSIDE: FALL 2017 COLLECTIONS 

FW17 favorites! Gucci, McQueen, Prada, Dior, 

Basso, Cain & newcomer Irina Dzhus 

TRENDING THIS SEASON 

Statement sleeves, over the top florals, 

functionally fantastic handbags, take 

everywhere makeup & scientific anti-aging 

FALL 2017 

Online at NICHE.style

NICHE magazine 

2 . FALL 2017

WWW.NICHE.STYLE . 1





INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

10 

EDITOR’S NOTE 

Seasonal inspiration. 

12 

ON OUR RADAR 

The many personalities of the 

statement sleeve that ruled Fall 

2017 designer runways. 

66 

72 

82 

FASHION FIX 

Textures and colors we 

can’t live without for fall. 

ME, PART TWO 

Editor’s look Inside the 

world of scientific aging. 

WHAT’S IN MY BAG? 

Brittany’s 5 beauty buys 

you really need to try. 

76 

EMERGING DESIGNER 

Inside the exceptionally artistic 

mind and Tectonic collection of 

fashion designer, Irina Dzhus. 


16 

A FANTASTICAL COVER STORY 

Florals are a raging fashion trend for Fall 

2017. Our feature shoot (and cover story) 

takes it to a whole other dream state. 

22 

THE ULTIMATE GIRL’S GUIDE 

TO HEALTHY, HAPPY DAYS 

NICHE magazine’s first ever special feature on everything you need 

to live your best life! 42 pages of MUST read articles for the modern 

woman with an emphasis on the three elements that keep everything 

in balance - emotional, physical and financial health. 

90 

90 

96 

FASHION TRAVELS 

The artisan jeweler and 

her Balinese journey. 

FASHION FORWARD 

3 designer collections 

that are beyond words. 

SKIN PERFECTION 

Skin care products that 

turn back the clock. 

98CLOUD NINE 

A sneak peek at the stunning Fall 

2017 collection by Marchesa - 

that will have you blushing. 




 

STYLE MAGAZINE 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

TRACEY DRAKE 

PAGE 16 

Romantic Fantasy Fall 

Fashion Editorial & 

Cover Story 

CREATIVE & EDITORIAL 

Zena Amundsen, Ksusha Belskaya, 

Christina Benty, Kristen Bovee, Jennifer 

Costanzo, Jane Cross, Rose Davis, 

Elizabeth Dean, Tracey Drake, Lusy 

Duke, Irina Dzhus, Patrick Ellison, 

Tatsiana Ermakova, Brittany Gray, Eric 

Himel, Dana Hutchings, Maria Jennyfer, 

Janet Kinosian, Anastasia Kolenkova, Dr. 

Mark Lupin, Kari-Lyn Owen, Elizabeth 

Parsons, Carmelia Ray, Catriona Ross, 

Charlene Sanjenko, Rebecca Smith 

(wordplenty.com), Sylvia Tennant, Julia 

Terentyeva, Angela Thurston, Erin 

Treloar, Heather White, Flavia Desranges 

Van Der Linden, Sybil Verch 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Adobe Stock, AG Hair, Dennis 

Basso, Bally, Caudalie, Chapung Se 

Bali Resort, Marc Cain, Cosmedica 

Laser Centre, Clarins Group, Chanel, 

Dermablend, Steve Drake, Eminence, 

Everett Collection, FashionStock. 

com, Fashion Wire Press, Tom Ford, 

Anastasia Fursova, Gaiam, Getty 

Images, Glo Minerals, Go Runway, 

Green Kiss, Dana Hutchings, Paule Ka, 

Alana Kumar, La Prairie, LIERAC Paris, 

Lesha Lich, Marchesa, Anton Oparin, 

Emilio Pucci, Rag & Bone, Lev Radin, 

Nata Sha, Shutterstock, Styleograph, 

Temperley London, TopFoto, Versace, 

Vivienne Westwood, Zorah 

SALES & CIRCULATION DIRECTOR 

STEVE DRAKE 

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 

sales@NICHE.style | www.NICHE.style 

All rights reserved. No part of NICHE magazine may be copied, reprinted or 

reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. For permission 

requests, contact NICHE magazine sales@NICHE.style 

Copyright © NICHE magazine 2012-2017 

8 . FALL 2017 

CONNECT WITH NICHE ONLINE


from the 

EDITOR Let’s get right to the heart 

of this fall issue of NICHE. 

Connect with 

Tracey online 

Make yourself a Chai latte, curl up 

in your favorite comfy chair and get 

ready to be inspired with our first 

ever special feature on everything 

you need to live your best life. The 

Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Healthy, 

Happy Days [p22] is 42 pages jam 

packed with thought provoking 

articles written by trusted emotional, 

physical, wellness and financial health 

experts - including Oprah Winfrey! 

Of course it’s also fashion season! 

Marc Cain, Temperley London, Club 

Monaco, Marchesa, Leorgofman 

and newcomer Irina Dzhus [p76] are 

all waiting for you inside this issue. 

Two experiential features in this issue 

that are must-reads! I’m sharing 

part two of my first-hand inside look 

at the world of facial rejuvenation 

treatments at Cosmedica [p72]. 

NICHE columnist Sylvia Tennant 

continues on her Balinese journey in 

search of crystal inspiration [p84]. 

I am thrilled to share with you the ultimate 

GIRL’S GUIDE 

TO HEALTHY, HAPPY DAYS 

@TraceyDrakeEditor 

Follow Tracey online for daily 

fashion, beauty & lifestyle 

inspiration, events & contest 

giveaways just for you! 

Photography: Alana Kumar 

Wardrobe: Karl Lagerfeld, Ralph Lauren, Alfani 

The style team at NICHE magazine 

is sharing our favorite designers, 

collections and trends of this season. 

On Our Radar [p12], Carry Me Away 

[p28], Runway Awe [p66] and Fashion 

Forward [p88]. Designers Alexander 

McQueen, Prada, Market Canvas, 

Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Anna Sui, 

Dior, Dries van Noten, Dennis Basso, 

From everything you wear, to all that 

you are - NICHE wants to help you 

make this your best fall season ever. 

Fall into it... 

Tracey Drake, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

tracey@NICHE.style 



by Jennifer Costanzo 

Now that summer is behind us, it is time for change. 

With the days getting shorter and the nights getting 

cooler, you can’t reach for that cold shoulder top 

anymore. However, there is a new trend in town 

and it is the exaggerated sleeve. The sleeve trend 

started with the cold shoulder and one shoulder 

trend and now it has trickled down to give us the 

statement sleeves. 

The statement sleeve was seen on numerous 

fall runways, from J.W. Anderson, Balenciaga 

and Gucci, to Simone Rocha and Anna Sui. The 

exaggerated sleeves are a nod to the Romantic 

period where fashion designers have reworked 

old styles for the modern era, making attentiongrabbing 

sleeves steal the fashion spotlight for fall. 

The trend quickly made its way to the streets, seen 

on models and bloggers alike. It is not only for the 

ANNA SUI 

Fall 2017 

GUCCI 



catwalk, but also the high street, which caught on 

to the style almost the second it left the runway 

making this trend an accessible one for all. 

For an instant fashion forward look, pick up a top or 

sweater for fall with an interesting sleeve and it will 

instantly transform your look. This trend is perfect 

for the cooler season because it is the perfect party 

piece, especially when the holidays hit. The trend, 

although at first glance may seem a little over the 

top to some and impractical to others, it really 

doesn’t have to be. 

From bell to bishop sleeves, to flounce and ruffle 

sleeves, there is a statement sleeve for everyone. This 

season the bohemian styles have gone and instead 

the exaggerated sleeves are modern and utterly chic. 

From sleek dresses, to cool tops and even knits, the 

exaggerated sleeve adds a unique dose of fashion 

to even the simplest of outfits. Remember though 

to keep the rest of your outfit minimal. A simple 

silhouette in a neutral color palette paired with an 

attention-grabbing sleeve is all you need to finish 

the on trend look. 

STATEMENT SLEEVE: 

dominated FW2017 runways 

AQUILANO RIMONDI 







THE LOOK 

Dress, Anoki. Footwear, No. 21. 

Tights and cuff, Vedovka. 


ROMANTIC|FANTASY 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Anastasia Fursova @anastasiafursova 

STYLIST 

Julia Terentyeva @julia_terentyeva_ 

MODEL 

Ksusha Belskaya @ksubelskaya 

MAKEUP ARTIST 

Lusy Duke @lusy_duke 

HAIR STYLIST 

Tatsiana Ermakova @ermakova_tatsiana 

SET 

Decor - Nikolaj Chumakov @nikolaj_chumakov 

Flowers - SIA @sia_minsk 

Lighting - Smart Studio @smartstudioby 




THE LOOK 

Floral dress, Leorgofman. 

Sword belt, Vedovka. 

Boots, Strategya. 

FROM THE COVER 




THE LOOKS 

(opposite page) 

Floral culotte pants, Vivetta. 

Cargo sleeveless dress, 

Equipment. Sneakers, 

Fendi. Accessories, Rinart. 

(this page) 

Floral culotte pants, Vivetta. 

Black sweatshirt, Vivetta. 

Sneakers, Fendi. Accessories, 

Rinart. 



FASHION | MONEY | HEALTH | FAMILY | SEX | CAREER | BEAUTY| SELF-CARE 

Welcome to NICHE magazine’s first ever, very special feature on everything you need to live your best life! 

Get ready for 42 pages of thought provoking content for the modern woman, written by carefully chosen experts 

on topics that range from style and beauty to achieving work/life balance, with an emphasis on the three elements 

that keep everything else working - emotional, physical, and financial health. 


the ultimate 

GIRL’S GUIDE TO 

HEALTHY, HAPPY DAYS 


5 


LIFE LESSONS YOU CAN LEARN FROM 

OPRAH 

by Catriona Ross 

Oprah Winfrey's beginnings, as she likes to remind 

people, were decidedly unpromising. The unwanted 

result of the chance meeting of Vernon Winfrey and 

Vernita Lee under an oak tree, she was born into rural 

Mississippi at a time when black women were secondclass 

citizens. But she always knew she was destined for 

a different life to that of her mother and grandmother. 

Now, Oprah is one-woman proof that self-belief and 

determination can give you wings with which to rise 

above circumstance and become something great. In her 

working life, she celebrates the hard-won lessons learnt 

by celebrities, by ordinary people who've achieved the 

extraordinary, and by herself along the way. 

HERE'S WHAT OPRAH discovered. 

LISTEN TO YOUR WHISPERS. 

'What you should be doing with your life comes to you in a 

whisper, then a message, 1then a crisis, then a disaster,' Oprah 

once told an audience in Johannesburg, South Africa. How 

often have you looked back at a relationship that turned 

abusive, a job that left you drained, an investment scheme that 

seemed too good to be true, and thought, 'Deep down, I had 

doubts all along'? One of Oprah's mantras is 'Doubt means 

don't': when something doesn't feel right, don't rush forward. 

Listen instead. 

FIND YOUR PASSION. 

Oprah tells the unusual story of an American woman 

who discovered that her 2true passion in life was...plucking 

eyebrows. Now a sought-after eyebrow guru who charges 

substantial dollars to pluck imperfect brows into shape, she 

uses her talent to the service of others and makes thousands 

of women feel like movie stars. Which just goes to illustrate 

one of Oprah's core beliefs: not everyone can be famous, but 

everyone can be great. We all have a God-given gift and a 

passion, and it's our job to find out what this is and use it. 


ULTIMATE GIRLS GUIDE to healthy, happy days 

STAY IN THE MOMENT. 

This is one of Oprah's favorite stress-busting tools. Instead of 

expending emotional energy on worrying about what should 

have happened or what might 3happen next - stay focused on 

the present. Try to keep your energy for right now. The present 

moment is where you have impact and choices, whereas you 

have no control over what is past or what is to come. Try her 

method for getting centered when you start feeling stressed: 

go somewhere quiet, take a deep breath in, hold it for a few 

seconds, and release it. Continue slowly inhaling and exhaling. 

As you focus, surrender to what's beyond your control, and 

concentrate on what you're presented with right now. 

YOUR THOUGHTS ARE POWERFUL. 

One of the reasons Oprah Winfrey is a household name today 

is because, deep down, she always believed she was worth 

more than the package life initially offered her. You become 

what you believe, she says. Growing up in Mississippi in the 

1950s, she was expected 4to grow up poor, with few prospects, 

but, she says, 'I never believed that would be my life.' When 

she was four, her grandmother told her to watch and learn how 

she boiled clothes in a giant pot and hung them out, because 

she'd have to do this too one day. Oprah remembers thinking, 

'No, I won't.' If you believe you'll never be happy, never be a 

success, never find a job you love, you'll inadvertently make 

that your reality. Your beliefs can either propel you forward 

or hold you back, Oprah maintains. Pay attention to your 

thoughts and beliefs, and create a vision for what you want. 

LIGHTEN UP! 

Life is complex and offers 5many things, difficulties, lessons, 

pain, rewards but it can also be tremendous fun. Every day, 

Oprah believes, is an opportunity to laugh, sing, kick up your 

heels and dance. You're frequently presented with moments in 

which you can feel the wind on your face and the exhilaration 

of being alive. Don't miss those moments. 

DON'T WATCH LIFE FROM THE AUDIENCE 

get up there and live it. 



CONFIDENCE IS 

YOUR BEST OUTFIT 

OWN IT! 

by Sybil Verch 

EVER NOTICE HOW CONFIDENT 

PEOPLE ATTRACT SUCCESS? 

Confidence is feeling comfortable in your own skin 

and believing in yourself. You do not need to be the 

smartest, the fastest, the strongest, the best looking or 

the most talented individual to exude confidence. You 

just need to be you! 

No one can give you confidence, it comes from within, 

and there is no secret weapon to obtain it. Confidence 

is like a super power when you realize what it can do 

for you. Confident women have more opportunities 

in life, whether it’s landing your dream job, increasing 

your income, succeeding in business, finding your 

soul mate or embarking on new adventures. 

Confident people come in all different shapes and 

sizes. A young woman I grew up with was full figured 

and plus sized. While some plus sized women feel 

insecure, she didn’t. She owned her body type and 

rocked it! She always looked like a million bucks. 

Her wardrobe was flattering to her body type, her 

hair and make-up styled just right without appearing 

overdone. She felt good about herself and it showed. 

Her confidence made her stunning and allowed 

her inner beauty to shine through. Her charismatic 

personality was a magnet; attracting people and 

opportunities. 

So how do you build your confidence? I have five tips 

to share: 

1. PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS. Don’t try to be 

something you’re not. Make a list of your best 

qualities, talents and skills then ensure that you are in 

a position to showcase them as often as possible. 

2. SET SMALL GOALS AND ACHIEVE THEM. 

Whether you want to exercise 3 days a week, get up 

in the morning without hitting the snooze button, 

learn something new, or complete a task you’ve been 

procrastinating on; make little promises to yourself 

and stick to them. Do what you said you were going 

8172-24-8 

72248 

SYBIL VERCH 

Conceive. Believe. Achieve. Sybil lives by this motto and took charge of her own destiny 

at a young age. Sybil’s financial expertise has been highlighted in many publications such 

as The Globe and Mail and Investment Executive. She is host and executive producer of 

the national television show, The Wealthy Life; a talk-show aimed at helping Canadians 

make smart financial decisions. As an advocate for gender equality, Sybil authored a 

female empowerment book entitled The Female Edge. Through mentorship, sponsorship, 

charitable support to non-profits and speaking engagements, Sybil looks to change the 

status quo and empower women to seize opportunities. Sybil is positive, optimistic and 

enthusiastic and believes you can accomplish whatever your heart desires. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, www.sybilverch.com 

VISIT LITTLECAYMAN.COM 



to do. When you fail to keep promises to yourself, 

you begin to doubt yourself and erode confidence 

rather than build it. 

3. DRESS THE PART. People judge. The sooner you 

realize and accept that fact, the sooner you can use 

this realization to your benefit. If you are going for 

a job interview, be mindful of how you want others 

to perceive you. I’m not saying to be someone you 

are not; be authentic and put your best self forward. 

Fashion is an expression of yourself, your creativity, 

your personality. What does your wardrobe say about 

you? What do you want people’s first impressions to 

be? When you wear something that looks good on 

your body type, and is appropriate for the occasion, 

you will feel good. When you feel good, you’ll notice 

you stand taller, feel happier and exude confidence. 

Confidence isn’t derived from what you wear, but 

wearing the right outfit can give your self-esteem a 

boost. 

4. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. Try 

something new that makes you feel uncomfortable. 

When done, you’ll be amazed at how good you feel. 

The more you do this the more confident you will 

be as you realize that you can do amazing things you 

never thought possible. 

5. TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES. Money 

doesn’t buy happiness, but not feeling in control of 

your finances creates stress and negatively impacts 

your confidence level. Spending less than you earn is 

the first step in taking control of your finances. Avoid 

the temptation to buy expensive things you can’t afford 

in an attempt to shape other people’s perception of 

you. This will not build confidence; it will put you in 

a weak financial position and only temporarily mask 

low self-esteem. 

Bonus tip: Fake it until you are it. Be mindful of your 

body language and facial expressions. Stand tall, put 

a smile on your face and make direct eye contact. Let 

others see the version of yourself you want to be and 

you’ll be surprised at how quickly you start to believe 

it yourself. 

Now that you know how to build your confidence, 

own it - it truly is your best outfit! 



carry me 

FALL FASHION MUST INCLUDE 

GREAT BAGS AND THIS SEASON, 

I’M SHARING MY FAVE ARTISAN 

COLLECTION THAT YOU CAN TAKE 

EVERYWHERE 

We’ve had a few seasons where 

mid-range bags were uninspiring, 

lacking craftsmanship and just plain 

predictable. Personally, I’ve been 

pining for a quality leather bag that 

speaks to me - functional, fashionable, 

a design without an identity crisis that 

is ready to go on 

any adventure, 

planned or spur 

of the moment. 

The brainchild of 

leather designer 

Julie Boocock, 

Market Canvas 

Leather is a snip 

of a business that 

is tucked away 

on Canada’s wild west coast in Tofino, 

British Columbia. Thanks to the 

internet, the genius of Market Canvas 

can be added to your fall wardrobe by 

online order at marketcanvas.com. 

by Tracey Drake 

Each Market Canvas product is made 

to order and Julie loves the challenge 

of a custom order - whether you need 

to modify an existing design or want 

something altogether you! 

The current collection, which includes 

more than twenty different pieces, 

echoes sophisticated modernism 

through minimalist designs, carefully 

considered structure and decidedly 

stylish silhouettes. 

What I love about Market Canvas is 

the quality of the leather hides, which 

are ethically sourced, often from 

British Columbia. Handcrafted, no 

two bags will ever be exactly alike, 

which I must admit I really love! I 

travel a lot and because of the natural 

state of the finished products, my Flip 

bag and Weekender will age gracefully 

and develop more and more character 

as my journey continues. 

EDITOR’S 

PICK 

FLIP BAG 



away… 

WEEKENDER 

BAG 

THE 

BACKPACK 

LARGE 

CLUTCH 

REFINED 

TOTE 



THE POWER OF PLEASURE 

by Angela Thurston 

For many years, I deceived myself into thinking 

that the loss of my sexual appetite was only 

affecting the status of my marital bliss. Other than 

saving my marriage, it really didn’t matter that I 

didn’t ever want or desire sex. I could not have been 

more wrong. 

We live in a culture in which exploring our mental, 

physical, emotional and spiritual natures is fairly 

mainstream and acceptable. Yet, there is still much 

shame and disregard shrouding our sexual natures. 

This is very evident to me, as a result of my own 

personal journey, and because when sex and 

It wasn’t until many years into the journey of 

resurrecting my marriage that I realized that not only 

was my lack of sexual interest affecting this sacred 

union, it was affecting my health, my relationships 

and my overall well-being. This wasn’t about partner 

sex and saving my marriage at all — this was about 

me, saving myself. 

Most of us are not taught that pleasure is our 

birthright. The importance of women’s sexuality 

has been diminished by church and state over many 

thousands of years. Through the generations, we 

have been delivered a distorted, imbalanced, corrupt 

version of our bodies, of love and of our sexuality. It 

is a systemic, insidious problem. 

masturbation become the topic of conversation — 

which is bound to happen when conversing with me 

— people are either captivated, intrigued, hungry for 

more or they become uncomfortable, embarrassed 

and the walls of separation instantaneously appear. 

The majority of women are not tapping into this 

powerful, natural resource that resides within our 

bodies. Most of us don’t even consider factoring in 

sexual pleasure to the equation of our health, our 

well-being or our personal growth regimes. 

We seek out and pay huge sums of money on coaches, 

therapists, alternative practitioners, fitness classes, 

online programs, mindset trainers, and on, and on 



the list goes — and at the end of it all we still wonder 

why we are not joyful, fulfilled or exuberantly 

radiant. The reason for this is simple. We are not 

experiencing and deeply feeling the sensual effects 

of soul riveting pleasure. 

The disassociation and discomfort we have with 

our deliciously sexual bodies contributes to the 

suppression of our becoming fully embodied, 

powerful women. 

This is why it is imperative for us to include sexuality 

into our model of self-love and care. It is the powerhouse 

that fuels the whole structure and organization of who 

we are. It is the sun of our solar system. 

When we hang out on the periphery — only visiting 

our emotional, physical, mental and spiritual selves 

— we are missing out on the internal force that 

feeds and connects the entirety of our beings. The 

magnitude of juice, energy and power of which we 

have the potential to generate — with our sexual 

pleasure — has a direct correlation with the ways 

in which we nourish our relationships, finances, 

careers, health, and creative endeavours. 

In order to cease the struggle, we need to consciously 

bring awareness, intention and relationship to the 

physical and energetic fecundity of our sexuality. 

And it all begins with our sexual relationship with 

ourselves. It is the foundation. 

When we engage in the sacred ritual of self pleasuring 

and orgasm we release dopamine, opioids/endorphins 

and oxytocin; we dissolve physical tension and stress; 

we strengthen our muscular system, which in turn 

supports our organs; we experience deep, intimate 

aspects of self-love; and we learn how to commune, 

journey and co-create with spirit. 

When I emerged on the other side of my psychological 

excavation of exploring why I no longer wanted to 

have sex, and I stripped away all that I had been 

taught and had experienced about my body and my 

sexuality, I began to create my own reality — based 

on how I actually desired to feel about it. 

How do you desire to feel about your sexuality? 

When we explore our sexual natures, engage the 

power of pleasure and discover what truly turns us 

on, it results in genuine confidence, keen insight, 

captivating presence and the ability to create and 

sustain the lives that we envision for ourselves. 

ANGELA THURSTON 

is a sexuality writer, speaker, and educator who leads women 

in creating a potent relationship with their bodies and 

their sexuality. She arouses new paths of inquiry, breaking 

up the congestion of long-standing belief systems around 

womanhood, love, sex and relationships. 

CONNECT WITH ANGELA: 

website: angelathurston.com 

instagram: @angela_thurston 

facebook: facebook.com/awakeningtheancientfeminine/ 



ADAPT 

by Christina Benty 

LEADERSHIP BEGINS WITH YOU. 

Call me crazy but I love Mondays. I get excited about 

new beginnings: the start of the day, the week, the 

month, the season, and the year. 

I am especially eager when the fall arrives because 

it always symbolizes the season of launching and 

learning with the return of routine. So when fall 

rolled around, I was surprised to find my usual energy 

and enthusiasm waning. Like a tire with a slow leak, I 

felt flat and uninspired. 

It was a busy summer, and I spent most of it doing 

the dance of insanity. I am still in the early years of 

a thriving new business and plenty of opportunities 

coming my way. All very exciting! However, it also 

means burning the candle at both ends physically, 

mentally and financially. With too many balls in the 

air, too many people to please, too many rabbit trails 

to follow, I found myself buried in a tsunami of my 

own making. But the real tsunami was the story inside 

my head. I indulged the bad habit of repeating a selfdefeating 

message of overwhelm and I was starting to 

believe it. 

either serve us or they don’t. I like my habits to serve 

me. In order to get back on track, my habits need to 

be intentional. 

Philosopher Morpheus said “There is a difference 

between knowing the path and walking the path”. If 

you truly want to be a leader, then you better lead 

your own life first. Leading your own life means 

embracing the notion that your primary and ultimate 

responsibility is to intentionally take charge of self. 

That means your habits. I preach it, I teach it and I 

believe it. I knew I had to look myself in the mirror, 

and gently give myself some of my own advice! This 

fall, I needed to ADAPT. Maybe you do too? 

It may mean going back to the basics: 

Habits are a redundant set of thoughts, behaviors, and 

patterns that get repeated over and over again. They 

CHRISTINA BENTY 

Christina Benty, MA is the former mayor of Golden and 

the owner of the consulting firm, Strategic Leadership 

Solutions. She uses her superpower to assist individuals and 

teams in building cultures of excellence in leadership and 

governance. She can turn any conversation into one about 

living with intention and leading from the soul. Christina can 

be reached for speaking, coaching and facilitating at www. 

christinabenty.com. Check out her TED Talk on leadership 

here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmDN0PLHZHk 



A SK 

Be the curious scientist in your own life. Ask yourself 

lots of questions. Honest inquiry uncovers your 

current reality. What beliefs are you tolerating that 

don’t serve you? What needs to change? What is your 

super power? When do you feel like your best self? 

What do people thank you for? 

D ESIRE 

The power of aspiration is greater than the power of 

desperation. Now that you know yourself, what do 

you want? Not what does your mother want or your 

children want or your world expect. Get clear about 

what you want and set your intention. When you 

know what you want, you have what Danielle LaPorte 

calls ‘goals with soul’. 

And there you have it. My cheesy acronym ADAPT 

is going on my bathroom mirror to remind me that 

my powerful rituals are what support my health and 

fitness, business and personal goals. Most importantly, 

it brings me back to alignment with myself and my 

belief that leadership is an inside job. 

When I look in the mirror, I want to be the kind of 

leader that I want to follow. 

A CTION 

Does your behavior match your intention? Do your 

actions align with your goals? Create an action plan 

by reverse engineering it. A key piece to playing at 

your absolute best is to ensure that your daily habits, 

rituals and activities reflect your intention. What are 

the steps needed to move you toward what you desire? 

Break them down and write them out. 

P RIORITIZE 

Do those things first before anything else, and when 

you are doing them – be fully engaged. Push back 

against busyness because you can be busy or you 

can be intentional but you can’t be both. As Robin 

Sharma reminds us, ‘Rather than doing many things 

at mediocrity, do just a few things with mastery’. 

T RUST 

Be patient and let go of your need for instant 

gratification. Trust that it is the small incremental 

steps that will move you forward. Life is not a race, 

it is not meant to be conquered. Life is a journey and 

it is meant to be savored, to be experienced, to be 

embraced. Sometimes you get to learn the same thing 

over and over, and that is OK. 

I’M STARTING 

WITH THE 

(WO)MAN 

IN THE MIRROR 



WHO YOU WANT TO BE 

IS WHO YOU ALREADY ARE 

by Heather White 

The world of self-help and self-improvement is at 

an all-time high. Add the internet, a 21st century 

perk to the industry, and you could spend 24 hours 

a day working on tweaking your existence just ever 

so slightly to be more…well, improved. But here’s 

the fundamental problem with the self-help and selfimprovement 

space, and this is coming from a poster 

child for the industry: 

YOU are perfect. Yes, YOU. 

With all your imperfections, quirks, flaws, and 

shadow side. You don’t need to be fixed and you don’t 

even need to be helped. Frankly, what you really 

need is to be revealed. It’s subtle, but trust me when 

I tell you there’s a big difference between improving 

and unveiling. 

From the self-help lens, we begin on a journey of 

exploration to discover the things about us that 

need to be changed in order for us to be happy and 

fulfilled. The trouble is, this model has a fundamental 

flaw. It perpetuates the malware in our inner software 

which is programmed to believe our starting point is 

deficient. In theory, it sounds great; you’re not quite 

right, you need improvement. Here - read this, learn 

this, then change that, and voila, you will be new and 

improved AND this new and improved version of you 

will be endlessly happy, happy, happy. 

BUT… 

And it’s a big but. When we pop this blue pill and sink 

down the rabbit hole of self-help without upgrading 

our dos software programming, regardless of what 

we learn, or how we change or what incredible 

improvements we are able to achieve, we are still 

running the old system with that pesky little belief that 

will still be robbing us of our true joy. The one about 

“who I am is deficient and therefore I must improve to 

be worthy and capable of happiness.” WRONG! 

HEATHER WHITE 

wants to live in a world where people bring their 

souls to work (and life). A sought after Authenticity 

Advocate, Business Advisor and Coach, Heather’s 

sage advice has been featured in The Vancouver 

Sun, Fresh Magazine, Under 30 CEO, The Daily Love 

and on Entrepreneurs TV. 

Based in Vancouver, BC, Canada you can find her 

online at www.heatherwhite.ca 

I am a huge fan of self-help and self-improvement. 

But, we must begin at the beginning. Missing the first 

and most fundamental step is the true culprit that robs 

us of our happiness. The first thing we must change, 

before we do any improving of self is the point of view 

from which we are looking at ourselves. 

Here’s what I mean... 

Instead of thinking you have to improve to be worthy 

and happy, what if, your worthiness and happiness 

were lying dormant inside you. In other words, they 

were not things you had to go out and get. They were 

not rewards for your hard work or gifts for being an 

especially good human. Instead they were birth rights, 

unequivocally yours for the experiencing. What if your 



job was less about improving, 

and more about revealing your 

essence? Kind of like when 

Michelangelo would go to the 

quarry and get a slab of marble. 

He explained the statue was 

already inside. He described his 

role as removing all the excess 

marble that was blocking the 

view of this extraordinary piece 

of art locked inside. 

What if you are an extraordinary 

piece of art already? 

What if you were to start from 

that premise? When we engage 

in personal development from a place of curiosity, 

versus our usual stance of harsh self-criticism, the 

entire dance changes. We choose differently. 

• Instead of self-disciplined, imposed changes that 

rigidly block us from engaging in bad habits, we 

choose life affirming, soul stirring, joyful activities 

that light us up from within. 

• Instead of a calorie restricted diet, and no food 

after 7pm, we choose a nutritional 7-week cooking 

class where we learn to buy, prepare and enjoy, 

delicious, healthy, life affirming meals. 

• Instead of mandating a 30 minute sitting 

meditation practice, because ‘that’ is the path to 

enlightenment, you stop at 

the beach on the way home 

from work every day, because 

those 10 minutes in nature 

tune your inner rhythm to a 

place of peace and harmony 

and you walk through the door 

with an open and gentle heart. 

Which by the way, was what 

the meditation was supposed 

to do, except it left you with 

a sore ass and a stiff back and 

even more uptight than when 

you started. 

The truth is no one knows the 

path to your happiness, except 

for you. People write books about the method that 

worked for them. Allow that to be an affirmation that 

happiness, joy, and fulfilment is alive and well in the 

human experience. But, before you read one more 

book, take one more course, go to one more retreat, 

consider, you are already who you want to be; an 

exquisite work of art. Instead of trying to ‘improve’ 

yourself, what might you do to reveal even more of 

your exquisite essence into the world? 

CHOOSE DIFFERENTLY. CHANGE YOUR DANCE. 



THE PRACTICE 

ERIN TRELOAR 

is a health & wellness coach who 

focuses on helping women feel 

healthier, happier, less stressed and 

more confident. She is the founder of 

Raw Beauty Talks and has interviewed 

over 200 women in a series that 

combines raw talk about beauty, 

confidence & self-love with images of 

the women without make-up, editing 

or filters. 

CONNECT WITH ERIN: 

website: rawbeautytalks.com 

instagram: @rawbeautytalks 

BUILDING SELF-LOVE FOR A HEALTHIER, 

HAPPIER, MORE CONFIDENT YOU 

We step on the scale and feel disappointed. We look at 

ourselves in that picture and cringe. We scroll social 

media and suddenly feel like our own life is lacking. 

X 

I once lived trapped in the belief that only when 

I looked a certain way or reached my goals would 

I attract the things I coveted most in life: love, 

happiness and confidence. It took an eating disorder 

and a roller coaster of highs and lows to learn those 

things will never come from something as superficial 

as your appearance, a promotion or your relationship 

status on Facebook. Love, happiness & confidence 

come from within and we must work to uncover and 

cultivate these feelings so that they elevate every 

other aspect of our life. It all starts with self-love. 

It seems like we hear about self-love everywhere 

these days but what does it really mean? I think of 

it as having a strong understanding of what makes 

you thrive and then making space in your life to 

by Erin Treloar 

O 

practice and honor those things. It doesn’t mean life 

will always be picture perfect and it’s not as simple as 

standing in front of the mirror repeating “I love you” 

to yourself. It simply means that you understand 

what allows you to feel your best and you aim to live 

from that space as often as possible. It’s a balance of 

nourishment, movement, personal growth and selfcare. 

Below are four self-love practices that have 

significantly helped me on my journey to health, 

happiness, less stress and more confidence: 

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY 

If we want to make peace with our body we have 

to start working with it. The first step is learning 

how to listen to all the messages it is sending us 

throughout the day. A body scan is a quick way to 

check in. Find a comfortable position, either sitting 

or lying down. Start to slow your breath, and focus 

on breathing deeply into your belly. Notice the 

thoughts passing through your mind. Slowly scan 

photo credits: Brit Gill (above), Jena Lenzi for The MAMAS Project (right) 


X 

your body from your toes to the top of 

your head and get curious about any 

emotion, tension or pain 

Xsensation, may be feeling. Imagine sending 

Xyour breath to any spots that feel 

Xtight or sticky. Are you happy, tired, 

nervous, excited, sad, hungry, thirsty? 

You might feel uncomfortable at times 

and feel the urge to get up but stick 

with it and ask your body, “What are 

you telling me?” Learning to listen to 

your body and acknowledge what it is 

asking for is one of the greatest ways we 

can practice self-love. 


CREATE A PERSONAL 

NOURISHMENT MENU 

Make a list of things that fill you 

up or give you energy. Avoid listing 

things that you think “should” give 

you energy. Instead think about what 

you would do if all your “to do” lists 

disappeared and you had an hour to 

yourself. Think reading, playing tennis, 

taking a nap, making a beautiful meal, 

hanging out with friends or writing. 

There are a billion people on this earth 

and everyone’s list is going to look a 

little different. It’s all about recognizing 

what nourishes you. 

O 

CARVE OUT TIME FOR YOU 

Now that you have your personal nourishment menu 

the next step is actually making space in your busy 

calendar for the items on the list. Easier said than 

done in this overcommitted world that often has 

us sacrificing our own health and wellness to keep 

others happy. The reality is we can’t show up as our 

best selves when we’re running on empty. It’s lose/ 

lose. Look at your calendar: Cancel or reschedule 

one thing that you already know is not going to fill 

you up or ask a loved one for support so that you can 

create some time for you. 

GIVE GRATITUDE 

Energy flows where attention goes... and nothing 

makes appreciation grow more than appreciation 

itself! Most of us have a terrible habit of focusing 

on all the things lacking in our life instead of 

celebrating all that we have. Creating a ritual around 

giving thanks encourages us to look for the good in 

our lives. The more we look for it, the more we start 

to see. Try starting a gratitude journal or create a 

ritual around dinner where everyone says something 

they are grateful for. 

I believe the number one needle mover in creating a 

life you love is living from a place of self-love. When 

you learn to appreciate, embrace and leverage all the 

incredible things that make you unique, you unlock 

the ability to change your entire life. You can love 

the person staring back at you in the mirror, feel 

amazing in the body you’ve been given and have a 

life you love. 

THE PRACTICE STARTS HERE xo 

X 



YIN YOGA: 

YANG-STYLE’S LESS 

AGGRESSIVE COUNTERPART 

by Janet Kinosian 

A softer, gentler form of yoga seems to be quietly on 

the rise. 

From Los Angeles to London, so-called yin yoga is 

increasingly being taught at studio classes and yoga 

retreats, not to mention via books and DVDs. 

The power or “yang-styled” yoga forms so popular 

in the West -- with their fast shifts between poses 

and emphasis on sweat -- have left a gap for more 

meditative, longer-held stretches, says Paul Grilley, 

a martial arts and yoga practitioner who helped 

develop the yin yoga style along with fellow 

proponent Sarah Powers. 

He says yin yoga is not a new form, but rather a 

return to more meditative, traditional yoga. Slower 

forms -- such as restorative yoga -- already exist, he 

acknowledges, relying on props to aid with poses 

and encouraging students to stop when they start to 

feel discomfort. 

But with yin yoga, he says, the emphasis is not on a 

lack of pain, but rather on how to feel discomfort, stay 

with it and move through it. 

Yin yoga relies on several core poses that, on first 

look, do not appear difficult. Most focus on the lower 

half of the body, such as the hips, pelvis, inner thighs 

and lower spine. The difficulty lies in the length of 

time the poses are held without shifting or movement. 

Each pose is held from two to up to 20 minutes, and 

long, deeply held breaths coincide with the stretches. 

This provides for a meditative and mind-clearing 

practice that helps practitioners learn how to focus on 

the moment, proponents say, thus reducing anxiety, 

tension and stress. 


Some yin poses are similar to 

their yang counterparts, such as 

“corpse pose” and “child’s pose,” 

though most have been altered 

and renamed. 


The faster paced yang-style yoga, 

such as ashtanga or vinyasa, targets 

lengthening and strengthening 

the muscles, says Grilley, who 

teaches yoga internationally and 

wrote Yin Yoga: A Quiet Practice. 

Taoist-based yin yoga targets the 

connective tissues, ligaments, 

joints and synovial fluid and the 

energy channels or meridians that 

the philosophy hypothesizes runs 

through them. 

Adds San Francisco-based 

Powers: “This means that instead 

of coming into a pose for a short 

amount of time and hugging the 

bones close together by engaging 

our muscles, [one] needs to 

pull the skeleton apart nonaggressively 

and with appropriate 

pressure and then remain 

stationary a while, allowing the 

muscles to remain stretched but 

without engaging them.” 

Yin poses are not an attempt 

to stretch the ligaments and 

connective tissue but to load them 

appropriately, she says. 

Kelly McGonigal, a yoga instructor 

and psychologist at Stanford 

University and the editor of the 

International Journal of Yoga 

Therapy, elaborates. “The fourth 

minute [of a stretch] is not like 

the first. If you pull something fast 

and hard, you don’t get a benefit; 

but if you keep applying moderate, 

slow and longer pressure, it will 

eventually relax.” 

EMOTIONAL IMPACT 

Yin yoga’s proponents say the 

physical effects can have a 

profound emotional component 

as well, by teaching practitioners 

how to handle discomfort and 

strong sensations. For that reason, 

yin yoga is being used in addiction 

and trauma recovery programs. 

Dina Amsterdam, a San Franciscobased 

yoga teacher who teaches 

yin retreats nationwide, says she’s 

found that this form of yoga has 

emotional and spiritual benefits 

that “really outweigh what you’d 

think the benefits could be for a 

seemingly simpler practice like 

yin yoga.” 

The centered and contemplative 

breathing seems to help release 

emotion, much like thawing ice, 

she says. 

Also, because much of the 

stretching is done when the body 

is cooler -- as opposed to yang 

yoga, in which the muscles have 

been warmed up -- the resulting 

discomfort helps train the nervous 

system to be less reactive to the 

stress of a stretch. 

Molly Lannon Kenny, founder 

and executive director of the 

Samarya Yoga Center in Seattle, 

says this form of yoga is especially 

rewarding for eager-to-recover 

addicts and trauma survivors 

because of the need to work 

through the discomfort -- basically 

waiting it out. 



Gaiam (named from Gaia, Mother 

Earth) is doing beautiful things 

with yoga and fitness apparel. 

Garments are well made, soft to the 

touch but crafted with purpose for 

hard working fitness enthusiasts. 

Gaiam activewear is fashionable, 

functional and affordable. 

(this page) NIRVANA yoga tunic in 

purple heather, with strappy comfort 

back detail and mesh hem (available 

in regular and plus sizes). 

(opposite page) OM black soft, 

quick dry yoga pant with slimming 

stay-put waistband (available in 

regular and plus sizes). GAIAM yoga 

duffle bag with 8 pockets, secure yoga 

mat holder, and a roomy 20” wide. 

Shown in heather grey/lime green. 

EDITOR’S 

PICK 



“For addicts, when they feel that overwhelming, 

I-have-to-have-that sensation; i.e. I have to have that 

cigarette, food, drink, drug or whatever, they learn to 

feel it, sit with it and see how this challenge unfolds, 

and see that it [both the physical discomfort and the 

emotional tension] can indeed pass, safely,” she says. 

As for the injury potential in muscles that aren’t 

warmed up, South Bay yoga instructor Via Page 

says: “Yin yoga poses are long, held stretches so no 

warming up is necessary -- actually the yin yoga poses 

themselves are essentially a warm-up practice.” 

RELEASE STRESS 

As for those emotional benefits, they’re not limited to 

those who have suffered trauma, Page says. “I’ve had 

many students tell me it’s helped them learn to become 

more deeply relaxed and less angry and stressed-out 

all the time.” 

That doesn’t mean yin yoga stress on inner destressing 

will overtake the hotter, sweatier yang. 

“Yin yoga might be a hard sell in an environment 

where students want a real cardio experience,” Page 

says, “but -- despite this -- yin is, and will continue, to 

grow. Once students get started they can easily see the 

benefits of adding yin yoga to the mix.” 

It’s important to remember that we need both yin and 

yang, she points out. “Yin makes us very flexible and 

helps us with a more spiritually-meditative way of 

doing things, but we need strength-building, as well. 



Kari-Lyn and husband Shawn 

on a giving back contribution 

trip to Nicaragua 

when women transform... 

WE TRANSFORM THE WORLD 

by Kari-Lynn Owen 

I’m on a mission to transform a generation by nourishing 

the hearts, minds and bodies of women and their 

families, because this is the way we’ll transform the 

communities we live in. 


This is my journey. 

BEFORE. 

Life circa 2008 was great! I was married to my college 

sweetheart and love of my life, Shawn. We had a beautiful 

home, two healthy children and great friendships. I was 

the owner of a graphic design business and Shawn was 

a top executive for a big distribution company, traveling 

extensively. At the time, we thought we had it all and 

were doing life right. Little did we realize we were on a 

slippery slope, on a path of near destruction that could 

have easily wiped us out. We had our heads down, 

working hard towards our big dreams, while in reality 

we were burning out, stressed out and moving further 

away from the things that mattered most to us. 

I am thankful, every day, for that painful awakening 

moment when we asked each other, “is this really living?” 

We were apart so often, working as hard as we could, but 

the distance was growing between us and our dreams. 

But it’s actually in those difficult times that we truly get 

the opportunity to grow our dreams. 

THEN. 

To reach the balance we craved, we needed to became 

crystal clear on the things that mattered most to us. 

Being together with our kids was at the top of the 

list. Along with that, being healthy and happy, always 

growing personally and professionally, and being able 

to contribute and make a difference in our families, our 

communities and the world. 

So, we created a plan that would bring Shawn and I home 

from our jobs, and allow us to design a life that ticked 

all the boxes—a plan built around a scalable but secure 

business where we support people with lifestyle and 

sports nutrition. It made sense to us because we had just 

completed a 30-day nutritional cleansing and weight loss


program together using the same 

system. We felt so great, we were 

hooked! Lighter and leaner, we had 

more energy than ever. Better still, 

we felt reignited and hopeful about 

our future. That made us realize 

just how long we’d been “running 

on empty”. Filling up our tanks 

with some much-needed nutrients, 

not only helped our bodies (and 

waistlines!), but also our mental 

clarity and sense of wellbeing. We 

couldn’t turn back. 

Over the years since then, we have 

immersed ourselves in a personal 

growth journey. We realized that 

to grow our business, we had to 

overcome the limiting beliefs we’d 

taken on about ourselves over 

many years. The beliefs that keep 

you stuck in the “way it is”. We 

still get excited that we get to share 

what we’ve learned with others so 

they can go for their dreams, too. 

Helping people succeed is addictive! 

To be honest, at first we thought a 

network marketing model was not 

for us. But who are we to argue with 

the facts? We are living the life we 

designed. And we have seen firsthand 

what the model has done 

for so many families we know. We 

couldn’t have afforded to start up 

a company of our own, with all 

the risk, so we leveraged a global 

business with great products, in 

pockets of our time, and grew from 

there. Knowing what I know now, 

I’m so crazy grateful that I stayed 

open to the possibility. 

NOW. 

Looking back to 2008, we never could 

have imagined the direction our life 

has taken. We now have a global 

business that serves over 190,000 

people. As I write this article, we 

have just returned from a beautiful 

trip. We take our kids traveling 

around the world (including Noosa, 

Australia pictured above) and get 

to experience so many wonderful 

things. Best of all, we get to model 

this for our children; teenagers who 

are immersed in a culture where it 

is normal to believe that anything is 

possible if you plan, back yourself 

and work at it. 

NEXT. 

My mission is to transform a 

generation by nourishing the hearts, 

minds and bodies of women and 

their families. 

I came to my mission late but, really, 

just in time! 

Each of us has the opportunity to lift 

one another, to create freedom and 

a lasting legacy. Now is the time and 

it starts with me, and it starts with 

you. When women transform, we 

transform the world. Our children, 

our families, our communities, 

our world. I’m looking for all the 

“perennials” -- women around the 

world who want to elev8 and live 

strong to live long by growing their 

health, wealth and wellbeing. 

KARI-LYN OWEN 

is an entrepreneur dedicated 

to nourishing women and 

their families to transform our 

communities by balancing heart, 

mind and body. From humble 

beginnings, she’s built a scalable 

income, foundational to elev8, her 

new venture for “perennials” -- 

women who live strong to live long 

with health, wealth and well-being. 

“Kari-Lyn is a full-hearted, full-throttle 

example of a woman creating change.” 

~ Megan Gilmour 

CONNECT WITH KARI-LYN: 

website: elev8yourlife.isagenix.com 

instagram: @kl_owen 



THE HEART OF THE 

MONEY MATTER 

IT TOOK ALMOST A DECADE FOR ME TO REALIZE THE 

IMPORTANCE OF MONEY & RELATIONSHIPS. 

My career was beginning in finance and my life was 

becoming the place to practice my passion. I have 

learned things along the way from books, courses, 

professional designation, but more importantly from 

practice. And while I can’t claim that my husband and I 

are perfect when it comes to money and relationships, 

I can say that we have come a long way. We have shared 

our money journeys and we have come to understand 

and honor each other’s money mindsets. We worked 

hard and our goals and values have aligned. 

One of the biggest causes of dispute in relationships 

is the lack of communication around your differences 

in values, goals, and habits when it comes to money. 

Everyone has a unique money history, story, and 

belief set that can overshadow our partnerships and 

cause disagreements. 

by Zena Amundsen 

Everyone has a money story. What is it? It is your 

relationship with money. It is all the pain and all of 

the joy with some fulfilment, all blended with the 

history of your life. Your strengths and challenges, the 

past intersecting with the present. It is vulnerable to 

confront the memories and put them together. 

Becoming familiar with our own unique story 

means honoring the past, learning from it and then 

creating a new story, with abundance. This process 

is a powerful tool that will challenge your beliefs and 

help you transform your present day money story. 

This is the first step to creating a positive story that 

has you in control and feeling positive and powerful. 

Recognize and move past the feelings that are limiting 

your prosperity and your happiness. 



My first money memory that had to do with the 

concept of money was from when I was about 4 years 

old. I remember shopping at the Salvation Army. I 

can still smell the mustiness and visualize the dark 

packed racks and shelves of used items. My mom was 

a struggling, poor single mom and we shopped at the 

Salvation Army for school clothes and shoes. I knew 

that we couldn’t afford a lot. I knew that Fridays were 

a treat of fries and gravy at the Tasty Freeze. I thought 

that the 3-foot Christmas tree and homemade cut out 

holiday cards as decorations were beautiful. But, the 

used shoes from the Salvation Army that didn’t fit 

properly, and especially the smell of those shoes, has 

haunted me. I knew that we couldn’t afford the brand 

new light-up runners the other children had. I was 

embarrassed by my shoes. 

My first memory is one of scarcity, meaning I felt like 

I didn’t have enough. 

FAST FORWARD 35 YEARS... 

That memory helps me to explain why over the years 

I have too many new shoes that I may never wear. 

It has only been since coming to terms with my 

relationship with money that I realize that there 

is an underlying reason why I have piles of shoes 

everywhere. I don’t necessarily ever wear them, some 

still have price tags and some don’t even fit properly. 

I have finally been able to put together my mindset 

behind buying them. I now stop and ask myself why I 

am truly buying these shoes or feel the need for more. 

What is the true WHY behind this purchase? What 

hole or void am I trying to fill? 

Now don’t get me wrong. I have not cured my shoe 

problem 100%. I have noticed that every once in a 

while a few shoes creep into my closet. I recognize 

that this correlates with when I am feeling vulnerable 

and my scarcity mindset slithers around. I have 

even recognized when I overcompensate with my 

daughters and try to buy them shoes. Somewhere my 

money memory and scarcity kicks in and I retaliate 

without checking in with myself. There is an Ice Cube 

rap song I heard my teenagers listening to once and it 

goes like this: Check yourself before you wreck yourself. 

That is now one of my mantras. 

I have learned to connect my memories and money 

stories to my present self. 

Have you acknowledged your money story? Can you 

honor your story and use it to transform your present 

day relationship with your money? 

Start off this fall with a positive and abundant mindset. 

EVERYONE HAS A 

MONEY STORY 

ZENA AMUNDSEN 

Zena is an author, speaker and certified financial 

planner trying to change the financial world by adding 

heart to business and money. She is the founder of 

Astra Financial Services and author of The Heart of Your 

Money - A Woman’s Guide. Zena inspires women to take 

control of their finances by nurturing a connection to 

money. Understanding family money values has been 

a part of her own journey to financial freedom, and she 

now uses her education and her passion to educate 

individuals on financial topics. 

CONNECT WITH ZENA: 

www.astrafinancial.ca 

facebook.com/astrafinancial.ca 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT LITTLECAYMAN.COM 



A SECRET WORLD OF COSMETIC REJUVENATION 

by Rose Davis 

Your friends are talking about it and it was once 

one of the world’s best kept beauty secrets. Cue the 

internet; the secret is out! Cosmetic tattoos have gone 

mainstream and the results can be astounding. 

In the world of beauty enhancements, we already know 

that a needle can be our friend (hello Botox!), but 

cosmetic tattooing and its lessor known counterpart, 

micro-needling, are quickly becoming modern 

staples of self-care. Yes, needles are scary to some, 

ROSE DAVIS 

is a professional artist and founder of 

Victoria Rose Cosmetic, a VIHA approved 

clinic and salon in Victoria, BC. She offers 

a full range of cosmetic tattoo and microneedling 

treatments, and specializes in 

micro-blading and hyper-realism areola 

tattoo. She is known for her artwork and 

attention to detail. 

CONNECT WITH ROSE: 

Website: www.victoriarosecosmetic.com 

Instagram: FOR MORE @victoriarosecosmetic 

INFORMATION, VISIT LITTLECAYMAN.COM 

Facebook: @victoriarosecosmetic 

but not to worry, topical anaesthetic is used during 

the procedures to significantly minimize discomfort. 

Even so, you may be wondering, why would someone 

elect to do such a thing? We are going to delve right 

into it! 

Cosmetic tattooing is the practice of implanting 

semi-permanent pigment into the skin to enhance 

physical appearance. Unlike traditional tattoo ink, 

the pigment used for cosmetic tattooing is semipermanent. 

Over time, the body will naturally break 

down the pigment; the tattoo will fade and eventually 

disappear. The length of time the semi-permanent 

pigment will last varies by individual, but typically 

ranges from 1-5 years. The advantage of the pigment 

being semi-permanent is that as your features change 

with time, the style of the cosmetic tattoo can be 

adjusted accordingly. 

LET’S TALK COST 

The expression, “pay less, pay twice” should come 

to mind when shopping for your provider. There are 

certain things in life you should bargain hunt for; 

this is not one of them. Cosmetic tattoo and microneedling 

services must be rendered in a professional 

setting with proper sanitization and sterilization 

procedures. Contact your local health authority to 

find out if the establishment you are considering 

has been formally inspected and authorized. Ask the 

artist about their cleaning procedures; find out where 

the artist received their certification; ensure that the 

artist carries professional insurance; and ask to see 

pictures of the artist’s own work. Regulations have not 

yet caught up with the industry boom. Doing research 

will allow you to select a provider who upholds health 

and safety standards to keep you protected while 

enjoying the many benefits of cosmetic tattoo. 



Treatment: MICRO-NEEDLING 

Purpose: To drastically improve the appearance of 

scars caused by acne, trauma, surgery or burns, hypopigmentation, 

wrinkles, fine lines, large pores, loose skin 

and old piercings. Micro-needling is the practice of 

creating hundreds of tiny punctures in the epidermis 

and dermis layers of the skin to induce collagen 

production. It’s an incredible treatment that harnesses 

the body’s natural injury response to improve skin 

integrity and/or release scar tissue tension. After a 

session, your body delivers collagen and elastin to 

regenerate the treated area for up to 9 months. 

Treatment: MICRO-BLADING 

Purpose: To enhance eyebrow shape, symmetry, and 

colour. It’s not a trend; it’s a revolution! This method 

of tattoo simulates the appearance of individual hairs, 

allowing the artist to create an ideal brow shape with 

almost undetectable natural results. This procedure is 

especially helpful for people with asymmetry, vision 

loss, alopecia, over-tweezed eyebrows, hormonal hairloss, 

trichotillomania, scars, and hypothyroidism. 

Everyone looks better with beautiful brows. 

Treatment: LIP BLUSH 

Purpose: To enhance lip shape, symmetry, and colour. 

Choose a vibrant colour or neutral shade to add 

definition to your lips and conceal imperfections. 

Treatment: EYELINER/LASH ENHANCEMENT 

Purpose: To create definition along the lash line. 

Whether you prefer thin and crisp or soft and smoky 

eyeliner, say goodbye to smudging and raccoon eyes. 

For a natural look, consider a lash enhancement; 

pigment is deposited between the natural eyelashes to 

simulate density. 

Treatment: AREOLA RESTORATION 

Purpose: To enhance or restore symmetry and 

colour of the areola(s) and/or nipple(s). After breast 

reconstruction surgery for cancer, patients are often 

left without a nipple or areola. 3D Areola restoration 

tattoos use shading to create the illusion of nipple 

projection on a flat tissue surface. Areola tattooing 

is also used for concealing breast lift, reduction, or 

augmentation scarring. 

Treatment: CAMOUFLAGE 

Purpose: To minimize the appearance of scars or hypopigmentation. 

Flesh toned pigments are blended to 

minimize the appearance of vitiligo, skin grafts, burns, 

and scars from mole removal, surgery, or trauma. 

Cosmetic tattoo clients proclaim: 

“It’s the best thing ever! I wish I 

did it sooner.” 

BEFORE 

AFTER 



PUNT IT TO THE PENTHOUSE 

by Charlene Sanjenko 

WOMEN CONTINUE TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE SAME 10 

FLOORS... OVER AND OVER AND OVER. 

As ambitious women, we cycle from the ground floor 

up to the 10th on infinite repeat. Ground floor to 

10th. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. 

Programs, coaching, and books for women continue 

to play into this cycle of the same 10 floors. And 

when we reach the 10th, bash our heads on the glass 

ceiling searching for more answers - we are simply led 

through the endless cycle all over again. 

The overall participation of women in the labor force 

continues to grow.* 

• Women made up 47.3% of the total labor force in 

2016 compared to 37.1% in 1976. 

• Between 1976 and 2007, employment for mothers 

with children under six years old more than 

doubled from 31.5% to 68.1%. 

However, women’s progress in reaching senior 

management positions has stalled. 

More women are being attracted to leadership, yet 

the challenge remains that the top decision-making 

roles are not being filled by them. Men are two to 

three times more likely to be in senior management 

positions than women who hold only 34.8% of 

all management positions and 37.1% of all senior 

management positions. 

There’s an under-representation in the Penthouse that 

we need to change. 

PUNT IT TO THE PENTHOUSE, our PowHERhouse 

interactive media initiative is designed to encourage 

a dialogue amongst Canadian women regarding the 

importance and timing of doing things differently. 

We’re dedicated to catapulting ourselves and our 

potential up and over that glass ceiling as we Punt 

Our Way to The Penthouse. 

My beef with the same 10 floors is a deeply held belief 

by most women that we are somehow inadequate and 

in need of further ‘learning, developing, coaching, 

mentoring, help’ before we are ready to move up and 

forward with strategic ACTION. It is this very belief 

that is holding us back. 

Here’s the thing: We do our best learning when 

we reach, stretch, and grow into all of who we are 

becoming. We’re never ‘there’, and we never get 

‘there’. The entire step-by-step process of owning 

who we are as leaders involves stepping outside of our 

comfort zone, growing as a result and preparing to 

take the next step. 

SAME 10 FLOORS. 

CHARLENE SANJENKO 

Builder of Strong Women Who Lead. 

A proud Canadian woman of First Nations origin. 

In 2000, Charlene left her National Marketing Manager role 

for an investment firm to build a Media House for Canada’s 

most powHERful women, PowHERhouse.com, utilizing 

media to mobilize, coordinate and communicate collective 

action for impact. 

*catalyst.org/knowledge/statistical-overview-women-workforce 



REPEAT AFTER ME: 

“I am a woman who is up to EPIC SH*T in the 

world. I am a leader. I have a huge impact to 

make. I am talented, capable, and worthy. 

I am ready to be great!” 

P OTENTIAL 

Decide where you are operating currently, where you 

want to be operating optimally, and what you need 

to ASK for in order to get from here to there. If you 

get stuck, ask an honest friend who has no problems 

calling you on your cr*p to give you some perspective. 

U NIQUE 

We have a PowHERhouse saying, “Dig deep to 

differentiate.” Put the time and effort in to get superclear 

on who you are, what brought you to this 

point (your story), what sets your apart, and how it 

all threads into what you are here to do and offer in 

service as a leader in this world, i.e. your IMPACT. 

N AVIGATE 

Know what you are ready for. Commit to a strategy, 

break it into doable steps, and set those steps into action 

with a simple, consistent daily practice. Persistence, 

perseverance, and patience are your running-mates. 

Surround yourself with whatever and whoever you 

need to stay focused, inspired, committed and on task. 

T RUST 

All of this takes incredible courage. It is far easier to 

stay small and comfortable and continue to circulate 

through the same 10 floors. But I believe you were 

put on this Earth for much more and I represent a 

collective of PowHERful women who agree. We 

don’t have it all figured out – none of us do, but we 

continue reaching and growing into the leaders we are 

becoming. We are Finding Our Voice and Taking Our 

Lead. Are you in? 

At PowHERhouse, we are PUNTING IT TO THE 

PENTHOUSE and would love for you to join us! 

Read the extended version of this article, learn 

more about our work and our powHERful women’s 

media collective, Women WE Celebrate, online at 

powHERhouse.com. 



MODERN DATING 2.0 

by Carmelia Ray 

I started working in the dating industry in 1992, before 

Match.com went live and well before social media. It 

is very clear dating has moved to mainly digital meet 

ups, online connections, mobile dating apps and 

online dating. In today’s dating environment, you 

have to know how to navigate the virtual dating waters 

in order to successfully make a real-life connection 

and there’s great news for ladies dating online today. 

According to Match.com’s annual Singles In America 

Survey, 68% of men online admit they want to find 

love. Men also agreed (38%) the number one turn-on 

for men are female entrepreneurs. Go #bossbabes! 

If you’re going to be online, here are some important 

do’s and don’ts to consider to help you find your match 

in the digital dating world. 

CARMELIA RAY 

is an author, speaker, television personality, celebrity 

matchmaker and Canada’s most sought after certified dating 

coach and online dating expert. With over 25 years of 

experience and a passion and dedication to matchmaking, 

Carmelia has established herself as the go-to authority for 

finding singles their true love. In her career, she has helped 

over 7,000 clients and interviewed over 65,000 singles in North 

America discussing real life dating and relationship challenges. 

Currently, Carmelia stars in the second season of the hit award 

winning television series Mom vs 

Matchmaker airing on Myx TV and 

broadcast in over 72 countries. 

CONNECT WITH CARMELIA: 

website: carmeliaray.com 

instagram: @carmeliaray 



CARMELIA’S TOP 5 DATING DON’TS 

1\ DON’T make demands on your profile. 

Men appreciate a strong woman, they just don’t want to 

be in a relationship with one 24/7. There’s always a time 

and place to be assertive and making demands on your 

online dating profile by listing a laundry list of “shoulds” 

would scare any man. This type of profile reads as “high 

maintenance.” 

CARMELIA’S TOP 5 DATING DO’S 

1/DO post an attractive profile photo. 

I would say the single most important way to stand out 

and get noticed online is by posting an attractive online 

dating profile photo. Your profile picture says everything 

about you. In fact, your photo screams for men to either 

CLICK here or SWIPE left. 

2/ DO write a catch-worthy bio. 

While some men may not always read your entire 

profile, many men do. The right guy WILL read your 

profile because he is interested to see if you have things 

in common and if you are someone he might potentially 

click with in real life. Consider your online dating profile 

bio as your personal ad. 

3/ DO create a personalized username. 

In the sea of online dating profiles, the second most 

important consideration after your profile photo is your 

username. When you take the time to personalize your 

username, it helps to attract attention as well as potentially 

initiate a conversation around it. Creating an interesting 

and personalized username also helps with filtering and 

weeding out the wrong types. 

4/ DO highlight your best self. 

There’s a big difference between bragging about 

yourself and genuinely being proud of who you are. If 

you won Entrepreneur of the Year or you were your 

school’s valedictorian, then own it! Be proud of your 

accomplishments and it will attract the right mate that 

will be impressed with your achievements. 

5/ DO be feminine, funny & flirty. 

My three favorite F-words online are feminine, fun or 

funny and flirty. When you are able to write about yourself 

with these characteristics in mind, you’ll have the perfect 

recipe for success. 

2\ DON’T include a negative “need not 

apply” laundry list. 

When you make a list of all the DON’TS, you may come 

across as high maintenance. You can also appear very 

bitter when you write things like, “must NOT be broke,” 

“must NOT be a cheater,” “must NOT be a liar” and so 

forth. You subconsciously look like someone who has 

been burned in the past and will bring that negativity to 

your next relationship. 

3\ DON’T be a negative nancy or debbie 

downer on your profile. 

This seems self-explanatory but I feel it’s so important 

to reiterate. It is much better practice to share who you 

WANT to meet and describe your IDEAL partner rather 

than talk about who you would rather not be with. Putting 

out positive thoughts in the dating world is like putting 

out positive vibes in the Universe. Good attracts good. A 

positive profile will attract the right guy and weed out the 

ones you should not be with. 

4\ DON’T showcase old, blurry pictures. 

Enough said. One of the biggest turn-offs for men and 

women is meeting someone IRL who looks nothing like 

their profile. No one wants to be kitten fished. 

5\ DON’T assume all men are the same. 

Online dating is a process 

and a journey. You may feel 

like you’re on a dating roller 

coaster which is totally 

normal. What’s important 

is that you DON’T paint all 

men with the same brush 

when you’ve had a bad 

experience. Taking your 

worries, insecurities and 

judgements on any date 

will ruin your chances of 

having a good time and set 

yourself up for failure. 



How does the world 

SEE YOU? 

ERIC HIMEL 

is a resident STYLE EXPERT for 

NICHE magazine, a widely known 

celebrity stylist, fashion and 

media personality. Himel attended 

Parson’s School of Design and 

trained under Project Runway’s 

Tim Gunn, then moved to Los 

Angeles and began his styling 

career, expanding his business 

across North America. Himel’s 

roster of celebrity clientele has 

included Jenny McCarthy, Giuliana 

Rancic, Pete Wentz, and Gabby 

Douglas. He’s best known for his 

signature CLOSET PURGE and now 

leverages the online landscape 

offering VIRTUAL STYLING 

SESSIONS. 

CONNECT WITH ERIC: 

website: erichimel.com 

instagram: @erichimel 

by Eric Himel 

Growing up in 

Toronto in the 

70’s (North York 

to be exact) I was 

living in a small 

idyllic community 

not dissimilar to 

Leave It To Beaver. 

I was shy and 

reserved and not 

terribly outgoing. 

I was always the 

shortest boy in 

my class, skinny 

to the point that if 

anyone tells me I 

look skinny today, 

I get worried 

instead of taking it 

as a compliment. I 

was also very pale 

from my diet of lots of sugar and 

no vegetables and had extremely 

buck teeth from sucking my thumb 

until I was 10 years old. I remember 

when I was about 12 or 13 and by 

then living Dallas, I was on the 

precipice of puberty and became 

hyper-aware of how people looked 

and of my clothes and my hair. 

When I was about 14, I announced 

to my mother that I wanted to go to 

a ‘real’ hair salon and start shopping 

at places like Saks Fifth Avenue and 

Neiman Marcus. She said, “get a job 

if you want to shop there”. So I did. 

My very first makeover was done on 

myself and became the basis of what 

I do when styling people today. I 

experienced a mini transformation 

through a good haircut, a good 

wardrobe, 3 1/2 years of braces and 

growing into my face and body. 

I noticed people who had never 

given me second glance were now 

looking at me and I received many 

compliments. On one hand, this felt 

great. On the other, I knew I was 

still the same person on the inside 

which made me sad. But, upon 

further reflection, I realized the 

power of how you present yourself 

to the world and how you can use it 

to your advantage. That is when and 

why I became a stylist. 

Today, I understand that while the 

outside is superficial on it’s own, 

it is just as important as working 

on your inside, so you present 

the best you both inside and out, 

inviting people to get to know who 

you are on the inside. The number 

one quality that I consistently try 

to infuse and teach my clients is 

confidence through how they dress 

and present themselves. 

True personal style and confidence 

should be intrinsically connected 

but getting there on your own is not 

always an easy task. 

Here are six things that you can do 

on your own to take charge of your 

personal style and have your outer 

look mirror your inner confidence. 

PERSONALITY 

In this age of social media and 

celebrity, it has never been harder 

to find your true self. Messages in 

the media constantly tell us who 

we should be or why we’re not good 

enough, all in the name of trying to 

sell something. 

Ask yourself these questions: 


WHO AM I? 

WHAT IS AT THE CORE OF ME? 

WHAT DEFINES MY PERSONALITY? 


From a style point of view, I always 

start by asking a client to try to 

describe themselves using adjectives 

- are you conservative? preppy? 

edgy? alternative? feminine? 

androgynous? These kinds of things 

serve as a starting point to finding 

your style, a style that reflects who 

you are on the inside and what you 

are comfortable with. Identifying 

who you are on the inside, and what 

types of style you relate to is a great 

launching point for figuring out 

who you are stylistically. 

AGE 

These days, age is just a number, 

so don’t worry about dressing your 

age. Age appropriateness, is another 

matter altogether. 30 is the new 

20, 40 is the new 30 and so on… 

but you don’t want to dress like 

your daughter and you don’t want 

to dress like your mother did at 

your age, so what’s a gal to do? My 

advice is to do a major closet purge 

every new decade, and reassess 

where your body is versus your age 

and where you are in your life. My 

personal style mantra is that each 

decade should see you have quality 

or quantity of items in your closet, 

don’t be a slave to trends and invest 

in luxury items. Remember, this 

doesn’t mean you have to be boring. 

LIFESTYLE 

Buying fabulous clothes just because 

you love them isn’t necessarily the 

best approach to creating your 

own style. There is a practical 

element to your personal style as 

well, namely what your lifestyle 

Club Monaco 




dictates. Where do you live? Do 

you have kids? What kind of work 

do you do? Do you travel? What 

are the actual realities of your dayto-day 

life? Take a good look at 

these factors before really investing 

and indulging in your wardrobe. If 

you have small children and don’t 

go to black tie events, don’t bother 

investing in formal dresses. If you 

spend 60 hours a week at work, put 

a lot of your budget into your work 

wardrobe and make it fabulous. If 

you travel a lot, make sure that your 

clothes work for all types of places 

and climates that you venture off to. 

Christian Dior 


BODY TYPE 

The term ‘off the rack’ is misleading. 

One person’s size 6 may not be 

another person’s size 6. With 

misleading sizing these days, one 

can no longer state with absolution 

that you are one size. There is a 

definite time and investment in 

trying things on as you may be a 

size 2 in one brand and a size 6 in 

another or a small in one brand and 

a large in another. While shopping 

online can be highly convenient 

and with brands liberal and easy 

return policies, where items were 

made, what season they were made 

in and who designed them, etc., can 

make you a different size within the 

same brand. On top of that, identify 

your body type and be honest about 

it. Are you short-waisted? Pear 

shaped? Have no waste? Plus size? 

Petite? Have extra long arms or 

legs? These are all things to be hyper 

aware of when looking at clothes 

and identifying the pieces. Once 

you get this down, this is half the 

battle for establishing a great style. 


KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE 

Dressing to please oneself is lovely and fine but could be antithetical to what 

you’re actually dressing for. When it comes to dating, work and social events, 

you really need to ask yourself, ‘Who am I addressing for?’ in order to get 

the best results. That is not to say you should be a slave to other people’s 

expectations, but it just makes sense that if you work in a conservative 

environment, take that into consideration when picking outfits for work. If 

you’re going to an afternoon wedding on the beach, don’t wear a long black 

gown and heels. If you are going on a vacation where you will be walking 

a lot on cobblestone streets, you can still be practical in your outfits and 

footwear and still chic. Part is establishing your own style and using it to 

your advantage and any specific situations in life. 


Ralph Lauren 


TAILORING 

By now, anyone who has read any of my style do’s and don’ts or has seen me 

on TV knows that I never stop talking about proper tailoring. People seem to 

think tailoring is a luxury and not a necessity. Unfortunately, most of us are 

not fit models and because of that, all our bodies are different and very often 

need tweaks via tailoring. Whether it’s shortening a hem, raising a shoulder, 

shortening a sleeve, taking in a garment at the waist or narrowing a dress 

or skirt, tailoring is the number one most important thing that anyone can 

do for their personal style. It can be the difference between shlumpy and 

chic. And remember, buying an inexpensive garment and tailoring it is a 

good investment — remember, you are saving money on the garment itself 

so invest in the tailoring which will take an inexpensive common piece from 

regular to fabulous. Trust me, it’s worth the investment. 

Gucci 




Advancing Medicine: 

IV NUTRIENT THERAPY 

by Kristen Bovee 

Imagine sitting in a comfortable recliner chair with a 

fuzzy blanket over you. It’s the middle of the day and 

you are resting nicely in a calmly lit room with gentle 

music in the background. You have one hour to take a 

rest, read a book you’ve been meaning to start, or peruse 

a magazine, all the while doing something excellent for 

your health and well-being. No, you are not in your 

living room trying to catch up rest where there are a 

million other things you should be doing. You are in an 

IV Wellness Lounge, being infused with nutrients that 

are doctor prescribed specifically for you to improve 

your health. 

As a naturopathic doctor, I have been trained to 

administer intravenous and intramuscular injections of 

vitamins, minerals, homeopathics, and botanicals for 

many medical situations. Intravenous administration 

of nutrients is not a new part of medicine but it is an 

essential approach to integrative and advanced medicine 

that has advantages over other approaches when treating 

chronic or acute conditions or simply optimizing health. 

Why is IV therapy used instead of oral administration? 

When nutrients are infused into a vein or injected 

intramuscularly, a few things happen biochemically: 

1. 100% administration of the dose enters the body. This 

is necessary for people with absorption issues such as 

celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disorders, digestive 

enzyme deficiencies, chronic diarrhea, or for those who 

are depleted from disease or infection. 

2. Biochemical changes take effect immediately. Our cells 

can utilize nutrients and water more efficiently. Taking 

a supplement or consuming nutrients orally are first sent 

to the liver once absorbed through the gut wall. This 

means we may process nutrients before it gets to our 

tissue. 

3. Higher doses of nutrients can be infused in a shorter 

amount of time. This is important for when therapeutic 

doses such as vitamin C is needed. High dose vitamin 



C therapy is used naturopathically 

for cancer treatment and its 

effectiveness is based on its elevated 

concentration in the blood stream. 

Who should have IV vitamin 

therapy? 

There are many cases where vitamin 

therapy can benefit. It is safe, mostly 

painless and easy to administer. 

In less serious situations, people 

can use IV therapy to rehydrate 

themselves after an athletic event, a 

long flight, or after too much alcohol 

consumption - the hangover cure. It 

is also effective for people who want 

a quick energy boost, need to boost 

their immune system when fighting 

an infection, help to optimize 

their nutrients during an athletic 

event, treat headaches, or help with 

hormone balancing. One of the best 

benefits I see in IV therapy is for 

rehydration; our bodies work best 

when optimally hydrated. 

In more serious cases, IV therapy 

is used in cancer treatment, 

fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, 

autoimmune conditions, celiac 

disease, cardiovascular disease, 

mental disorders, and for 

detoxification of toxins, drugs or 

medications. These conditions 

require closely monitored care with 

a naturopathic physician. 

What should I expect during a visit? 

For your first IV therapy visit, 

a naturopathic doctor will do a 

short health intake to identify 

any contraindications with any 

medical conditions you have and 

medications you are taking. They 

will perform a screening physical 

exam and suggest any testing 

needed prior to treatment. They 

will formulate an IV specifically 

for your case. The intravenous 

is administered by a doctor or 

IV nurse and you are monitored 

throughout your treatment, which 

typically take about one hour to 

administer. For quick ‘boosts’, 

intramuscular injections of 

nutrients at lower doses (usually B 

12, B vitamins, homeopathics, and 

or amino acids) are used, and these 

take only a few minutes. For more 

complicated medical conditions, 

you may be required to work long 

term and closely with a naturopathic 

physician to monitor your safely. 

There are many benefits to IV 

therapy and is the reason why I 

have been using this approach with 

my patients since I began practice 

15 years ago. It helps patients feel 

better faster, gets to the root cause of 

disease, and supports detoxification 

of our cells and organs to optimize 

their function. IV therapy can be 

administered to most people of 

all ages and conditions; the basic 

improvement of hydrating the body 

will make one feel better almost 

instantly. This is the beauty of 

advanced naturopathic medicine. 

DR. KRISTEN BOVEE 

is a practicing naturopathic 

physician who has been using IV 

therapy with her patients for over 

15 years. She works at iHealth in 

Royal Oak, Peninsula Naturopathic 

Clinic and will soon be opening up 

a new clinic “Hydrate IV Wellness 

Center” in the fall of 2017. More 

information about her services can 

be found at: www.ihealthgroup.ca, 

www.hydrateiv.ca 

CONNECT WITH KRISTEN: 

www.ihealthgroup.ca 

www.hydrateiv.ca 



We are all on the hamster wheel of life. We pride 

ourselves in our ability to multi-task and get things 

done, rarely asking for help. The truth is that this 

could be effecting our productivity in a negative way. 

Studies have now shown that by always having a 

forward-thinking brain, your focus is less productive. 

While you are working on one task and mentally 

checking off another, neither one is really being 

completed properly. I know we all think we are so 

great at checking off our lists and that we can do it all 

ourselves. No one else could do it better, right? 

On the surface it certainly appears so, but beneath the 

surface we are proving to be more stressed, have lower 

immunity & higher cases of insomnia and anxiety. 

The pressure is about to explode. What can we do to 

prevent this catastrophe? 

ONE SOLUTION... TIME 

Time is a commodity we have so little of in our 

multitasking professional lives. A treasure so rare 

that sitting down to take a moment feels guilt ridden 

and fleeting. 

Controversially, studies have shown that women who 

make time for themselves feel more appreciated and 

productive. Think of the last time you had a vacation. 

Wasn’t it awesome to just unplug and unwind from 

WHERE ARE YOU? 

THE BENEFITS OF SELF-CARE 

by Elizabeth Parsons 

your daily routine? Think of how long you looked 

forward to that ‘carrot’ and how hard you worked so 

you could truly relax once the time arrived. 

What if we took mini breaks for ourselves every 

month? Imagine the reward of self-care. 

Take a deep breath in for a moment and savor the 

idea of true relaxation. Time that is reserved just for 

you. You could have an hour booked off, just for you. 

Every time you meet a deadline at work, or surpass 

one of your goals, reward yourself with time that is 

just for you. 

I know what you are thinking… Believe me – the 

question is not how can I afford this time? The question 

is how can you afford not to make the time? What does 

it cost you when you are sick? What does it cost you 

in missed production deadlines? How does your 

family feel when you are stressed to the max? 

You deserve time and self-care… and the extra bonus 

is that it will positively affect the other peripherals of 

your life – family, relationships, and career. 



WE ARE A SOCIETY OF SHALLOW BREATHERS. 

Even taking a moment in our day to have a deep breath 

brings oxygen and energy to our overworked, deprived 

brains. Like I do, an increasing number of women 

(and men) are using daily mediation to calm our busy 

minds and regain focus and creativity. The powers of 

a calm mind are endless and are now being celebrated, 

as more of us finally understand the real connections 

that happiness and health are deeply rooted together. 

meditation facial I created as the ultimate treatment 

in self-care – encouraging flow of life, that balances 

well-being, mind, and skin. 

MY BEST ADVICE 

Know what makes you happy, make happiness your 

goal and prioritize it. Bring calm and wellness to your 

being – on a very regular basis. Your body, mind & 

family will thank you for it - trust the science. 

I urge you to begin an 

intentional plan of self-care. 

For some of you, that means 

fitness; for others that means 

time spent with a good book; 

and for some it is pampering 

at the spa. The power of touch 

combined with time is a very 

effective tool in reaching a state 

of deep relaxation. Holding 

powers, have for centuries, 

been known for healing and 

improved well-being. Imagine 

a precious piece of time where 

you could be touched and 

guided through a still mind 

meditation all at once. This is 

something I pride in offering 

my clients at my business, 

Heaven the Spa on the Rock – 

including a signature guided 

ELIZABETH PARSONS 

is owner and spa practitioner at Heaven the Spa on the Rock in Victoria, BC. As a 

wife, new mother and busy entrepreneurial professional, she struggled personally 

with finding a work/life balance and creating an intentional path of self-care. After 

finding her own balance, Elizabeth wanted to help others and created the Guided 

Meditation Facial – a highly specialized and effective experience that enables her 

to consult with clients, understand their desired outcomes and help them achieve 

optimal levels of self-care that allows the flow of life back into everyday existence. 

Elizabeth is also the wisdom and energy behind Spiritual Mom Boss, a blog that 

inspires women and mothers to smile and be happy. 

CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH: 

website: www.heavenspa.ca 

blog: www.spiritualmomboss.com 

instagram: @spiritual.mom.boss 



#NICHENATURAL 

DANA HUTCHINGS 

is a business woman, writer, TV media personality 

and self-professed glamazon who found out the hard 

way what happens when you are not 

intentional about what you put on your 

skin. Read about Dana’s Journey to 

Natural Skin Care and Cosmetics on our 

website at www.NICHE.style 

DANA’S 

#1 PICK 

CONNECT WITH DANA: 

website: www.NICHE.style 

instagram: @danahutchings 

YES, these ingredients are used to 

embalm cadavers. Not only that, it’s 

also likely in your makeup. Makes 

you want to go wash your face, 

doesn’t it? As the #NICHEnatural 

columnist, it’s no secret that I am 

an advocate for green products, 

but the question I get asked all the 

time, “How do I make the switch? 

Where do I start?” Women tell 

me that they love their traditional 

products. Trust me, I get it. But it 

is actually easier than you might 

think. First, head to your kitchen! 

METHYLISOTHIAZOLINE. 

IT SOUNDS SCARY, DOESN’T IT? 

WHAT ABOUT PHENOXYETHANOL. 

GO AHEAD, GOOGLE IT. 

by Dana Hutchings 



Many people are cooking with and 

using coconut oil these days. If 

you have a vat of coconut oil, that 

is one way to take your first step. 

I use it to moisturize dry skin 

and to remove makeup as well. 

Multi-purpose, natural and a little 

reminder of Pina Coladas never 

hurt! Argan oil, avocado oil, even 

olive oil. They all do the trick. 

I’m definitely not alone in making 

the switch. Far from it! The green 

beauty industry is taking off. Megan 

Johns, owner of TheGreenKiss. 

com says she is seeing a change in 

her customers too. “Now I get the 

beauty lover, I wasn’t seeing the 

beauty lover come in the door this 

time last year.” 

So how do you know if 

your makeup and skincare 

products are green? 

a growing number of grassroots 

green skin care lines adhering to 

being 100% safe and free of toxins. 

Green is moving into the 

mainstream. Larger beauty 

companies are taking notice too. 

Hair care giant AG is launching a 

natural line, with products such as 

the AG Rosehip Balm is 98% plant 

based, vegan and cruelty free. 

The options are endless, like 

anything it’s a readjustment. I 

know, I know, you likely have a long 

term relationship with a lipstick 

you can’t live without. Well if it’s 

time for a break up, there is truly 

no better time. I say that as I sit 

here typing while wearing Glow 

Jar Restore Clay Mask. A new 

fave I would never have discovered 

if I hadn’t started exploring what’s 

clean and green. 

There are many resources 

available right at your fingertips. 

The app Think Dirty lets you scan 

the bar codes on your favorite 

products, learn what’s in them 

and understand the potential 

health implications from their 

ingredients. 

Products: 

GLOW JAR Restore Clay Mask 

glow-jar.myshopify.com 

AG HAIR Natural Rosehip Balm 

aghair.com 

SAPPHO New Paradigm Organic Lip Gloss 

thegreenkiss.com 

Dr. Anna Sylwestowicz spent 

20 years as an anaesthesiologist 

and concerned by the number 

of friends who were getting 

sick. She started to explore the 

chemicals and toxic preservatives 

added to skincare and makeup. 

“My background in organic and 

physical chemistry allowed me 

to explore and understand the 

complicated ingredient labels and 

I decided to do something about 

it!” Dr. Sylwestowicz began her 

Cielo Skin Care line. It’s one of 



by Patrick Ellison 

5 tips from a mover! 

FOR A 

STRESS-FREE 

MOVE 

PATRICK ELLISON 

is the general manager and operating 

partner of You Move Me Vancouver 

Island. Patrick loves the business 

of moving because he can take a 

tall order from clients and turn it 

into an amazing experience. He is 

passionate about developing his 

team, and providing clients with a 

level of empathy that has not been 

seen in moving before. “To have three 

strangers show up with a truck and 

coffee in hand for the customer, and 

finish the day with a housewarming 

plant and new friendships is 

something you can’t find in any other 

industry. You Move Me moves people, 

not just their boxes.” 

CONNECT WITH PATRICK: 

website: youmoveme.com 

Facebook: facebook.com/ 

youmovemevancouverisland/ 

Whether you are moving for an 

exciting new opportunity or due 

to unforeseen circumstances, 

moving can be a taxing event. 

Leaving your neighborhoods, 

friends and your home, as well 

as the memories attached to 

it, can bring up feelings you 

didn’t even know you had. 

But the good news is moving 

doesn’t have to be stressful 

— and if you can anticipate 

logistical challenges as well as 

your emotions, you can make 

moving almost fun! From 

years of moving experience, I have 

compiled 5 tips to help you complete 

your move stress free. 

1. MAKE A PLAN 

The number one way to alleviate 

moving day stress is to create a game 

plan and give yourself as much 

time as possible. There are lots of 

resources out there to help, like our 

moving day checklist that takes the 

guesswork out of what needs to be 

done. Even if you’re a procrastinator, 

you can quickly check off all of the 

boxes and make sure you don’t miss 

anything important. 

If you are hiring a mover, call early 

for an estimate and get answers 

to your moving day questions. 

Planning ahead will also give you 

time to properly say your goodbyes 

if you’re moving to a new city. Not 

rushing your farewells will help 

you feel less emotional and stressed 

come moving day. 

2. STAY POSITIVE 

If you are having a tough time 

staying positive during your move, 

try to change your mindset and be 

optimistic. Moving can be a great 

opportunity for you to declutter 

your life and rebuild your space 

exactly how you want it. Psych 

yourself up about the chance to get 

rid of old items you haven’t used in 

years. You can even donate them 

to a good cause. You’ll have less to 

move and will feel good about your 

contributions. 

3. GET SOME REST 

When you are tired, it can affect 

your emotional and physical wellbeing. 

You can become easily 

agitated, impatient and forgetful, 

which is not what you want when 

you are finishing those last minute 

moving details. Make sleep a 

priority and turn the lights out 



early the day before your big move 

(and in the weeks prior). Waking 

up refreshed will make the day less 

stressful and keep you clear-headed 

to accomplish your moving day 

goals. 

4. THE RIGHT SUPPLIES 

Knowing you have properly 

protected your items will help 

relieve stress. Newspapers are good 

for packing your less fragile items 

(but keep in mind that regular 

newspaper can bleed ink, so white 

packing paper may be a better 

option for more delicate pieces). 

For your fragile items, bubble wrap 

is the best choice. You can also use 

packing peanuts to fill in empty 

spaces in your moving boxes to 

prevent shifting and damage in 

transit. Moving blankets are a good 

idea for big ticket items (such as 

furniture and appliances) to keep 

them scratch free. 

If funding allows, invest in proper 

moving boxes to ensure the integrity 

and cleanliness of your boxes. They 

will be easier to load into the truck 

because they will all be the same 

size.. New boxes are also a clean slate 

which will make your labeling clear. 

There will be no confusion about 

what is breakable and where it goes 

when you arrive at your destination. 

5. ASK FOR HELP 

Lastly, don’t shy away from asking 

for help. Reach out to your friends 

and family to support you during 

your move. Having a support 

network will alleviate some of your 

emotional stress during your move. 

If you are a do-it-yourselfer and 

don’t want to reach out to friends 

and family to do the heavy lifting, 

be sure to hire movers. Research 

your mover and make sure they 

can handle not only the logistical 

aspects of your move, but the 

emotional ones, too. When you have 

a professional that genuinely cares 

about your personal well-being and 

the safety of your belongings, your 

move will be almost fun. Leave the 

logistics to the professionals and use 

your extra time to properly say your 

farewells as you embark on your 

new adventure. 


commitme 


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annual magazine subscription! 

ORDER A PRINT COPY 

ANY SINGLE ISSUE OF NICHE 

DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR 

ORDER ONLINE AT WWW.NICHE.STYLE 


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nt issues? 



FIX 

by Jennifer Costanzo 

COMMON THREAD: 

THE MODERN WOMAN 

The end of summer is always 

bittersweet. The long, sunny days 

get colder and shorter. Lucky for 

us, the fall 2017 runway shows 

managed to get us excited to reach 

for those warm layers in anticipation 

of winter days. There were four 

quintessential fall shows this year: 

Prada, Alexander McQueen, 

Dries Van Noten and Coach 1941. 

Although all four of these designers 

are very different from one another, 

there was an underlying theme that 

ran through each of their collections 

and that was the modern woman. 

There was a sense of empowerment 

and self-determination within each 

collection, while still remaining true 

to fashion. These runway shows 

did not only leave you wanting the 

clothes off the runway but also left 

you with a powerful message of 

feminine power. 

Dries Van Noten celebrated his 100th 

runway show with his FW2017 

collection. Instead of throwing a 

party, he chose to make a feminist 

statement through fashion. The 

collection was an international 

reunion of 54 models that had 

previously walked for him since 

1993. He dressed each model to play 

up their strength, both as individuals 

but also as a gender. Not only were 


DRIES VAN NOTEN 

RUNWAY 

AWE 



ALEXANDER MCQUEEN 


the models a retrospective of his 

past shows but the pieces too. There 

were prints from his past collections 

that he remixed into modern styles. 

The tailoring really spoke for the 

collection with well-cut pantsuits, 

generous coats and jackets. This 

collection was less about the clothes 

and how to wear them but rather 

about the woman who was wearing 

them. The fall 2017 show was in 

itself a powerful women’s march, 

representing strong, ageless and 

impressive women in unison but at 

the same time completely individual. 

Sarah Burton brought a modern feel 

to the magic of McQueen with her fall 

2017 runway show. The show had a 

message of self-determining women 

and the powerful female warriors 

of Britain’s past. The inspiration 

behind this show came from a trip 

to Cornwall Burton took with her 

team. It was an exercise in returning 

to nature and understanding British 

history. They discovered ancient 

stone circles and the paganism of 

the past and specifically the “cloutie” 

tree. People would tie rags and 

ribbons to these trees with wishes 

and mementos and this idea could 

be felt throughout the collection. 

There were dresses with beaded 

trees, stars and suns traced in black 

and imagery of medieval tapestries. 

Long trailing threads fell from pieces. 

Youthfulness filled the runway with 

loose hairstyles, flat, studded booties 

and sneakers. Alexander McQueen 

could still be felt within the shapes 

and styles of the pieces but Burton 

brought youthful energy and female 

power to it. 



Miuccia Prada has always been 

politically minded, and her fall 

2017 collection had an underlying 

message of feminist issues and 

the way women are perceived. 

The collection was inspired by 

the 1960’s and 1970’s with cord 

flares, patchwork leather, knits and 

snakeskin coats. This led to a more 

seductive look of cocktail dresses 

adorned with crystals and feathers 

topped with coats galore. There were 

prints and colors everywhere on the 

runway. Heavy fabrics like tweed, fur 

and corduroy were perfect for fall. 

Miuccia’s idea of the collection was a 

smart seduction: how to be a woman 

who is not only beautiful but also 

intelligent and an image of a truly 

modern woman. 

PRADA 


Stuart Vevers. Creative Director of 

Coach 1941, has a deep appreciation 

for everything Americana, which 

could be seen at his fall 2017 show. 

He returned to his starting place as 

the designer for Coach 1941 with 

the shearling coat and his outerwear 

definitely stood out this season. The 

look of the collection was thoroughly 

modern but it had personality to it. 

Vevers source of inspiration was the 

Great Plains which you could be seen 

through the set of a broken down 

house frame, tumble weeds and 

prairie grass. Although there were 

fairly feminine dresses sprinkled 

with sequins, and trimmed with lace. 

They were paired with cozy shearling 

lined sneakers, baseballs caps 

and mini handbags. The designer 

managed to pair feminine pieces 

with more masculine items, with 

a tomboy feel as a major reference 

point. Proving that powerful and 

strong women could be seen on the 

runway at Coach 1941 as well as 

many others like, Prada, Alexander 

McQueen and Dries Van Noten. 

As you look to the fall runways for 

inspiration for your own personal 

wardrobe, think of how a piece is 

not only for fashion but also speaks 

to another level of your feminine 

individuality and strength. 

COACH 1941 



face time. 

ME. PART TWO. 

I’m taking an honest and inside look at the world of 

modern anti-aging, and over three issues of NICHE 

magazine, I will share my personal experience with 

several facial rejuvenation treatments under the care 

of world renowned dermatologist and anti-aging 

expert Dr. Mark Lupin of Cosmedica. 


I can honestly say that I feel 

younger now at fifty three, than 

I did two decades ago, at thirty 

three. Back then, I was raising 

young children, building a new 

business, and working hard at 

keeping my relationship on track. 

It was utterly exhausting! I didn’t 

have time for myself nor did I 

make “me” a priority. I was caught 

in the vortex of the superwoman 

syndrome. I tended to everyone 

else’s needs - often working late, 

sleeping poorly, and neglecting 

my skin. After all, when you are in 

your 30’s, you think your vibrant, 

dewy, healthy looking skin is going 

to (a) take care of itself and (b) last 

forever. Wrong on both counts! 

After turning 50, I started to notice 

the tired, lackluster look of my skin. 

Friends would ask me if I was feeling 

under the weather. It shocked me 

because inside, I felt young and 

August 2016 

Youth 

— has no — 

AGE. 

-PABLO PICASSO 


alive! I knew I wanted to make some 

changes. But there are lots of things 

about my aging skin that I love and 

although I wanted rejuvenation, I 

didn’t want to take drastic measures. 

After a very frank conversation 

with Dr. Mark Lupin at Cosmedica, 

a plan was carefully created for 

me. He listened to everything I 

had to say, asked me important 

questions about my lifestyle and 

what I wanted to improve upon. 

Cosmedica is one of those very 

safe places. Not only is the interior 

beautiful so you feel that you have 

arrived somewhere special, but the 

expert team at Cosmedica always 

makes you feel like you are one on 

a million; a rarity in today’s world. 

In part one (NICHE summer 2017 

issue), I talked openly about the 

first two treatments I had - Botox 

and Coolsculpting. In this issue, I 

am excited to share my experiences 

with Ultherapy and Dermal Fillers. 

I continue to take GliSODin skin 

nutrient supplements daily, which 

alleviates fluid retention and 

improves the clarity of my skin. 

Also, I cannot live without my 

Skinceuticals products! Even if you 

don’t try dermal fillers or Botox, 

or your skin never needs laser 

treatment, do yourself (and your 

skin) a favor and check out this 

advanced skin care collection. It 

will change the way you think about 

morning and evening skin care. 

SkinCeuticals 



Ultherapy 

As we age, skin begins to fall and 

droop, brows and eyelids become 

heavy, and facial contours lose their 

shape. Ultherapy is a non-surgical 

treatment to lift and tighten the skin 

in specific problem areas like the 

neck, chin, brows and jawline. It is a 

unique treatment that uses focused 

ultrasound energy to target deep 

layers of the skin and boost collagen 

production. As a result, skin is 

naturally lifted and tightened, for a 

more youthful appearance. As the 

only FDA approved treatment for 

non-invasive lift, Ultherapy is quick 

and easy with no downtime and 

long lasting results. 

DR. LUPIN ON ULTHERAPY 

“For skin toning, tightening and 

lifting, my patients really appreciate 

Ultherapy® for its natural, positive 

results and lack of any downtime. 

Utilizing non-invasive focused 

ultrasound waves, old collagen 

is removed and new collagen 

is stimulated for gradual skin 

rejuvenation. Ultherapy® is the 

only FDA approved, non-invasive 

treatment for lifting and tightening 

the neck, chin and brow as well as 

helping to improve crepey skin 

on the chest. As one of the first 

Ultherapy® providers in Canada, 

we have been fortunate to offer this 

great technology over many years 

and celebrate beautiful results with 

our patients.” 

MY TAKE ON ULTHERAPY 

“Nurse Maureen, Director of 

Nursing Services, performed my 

Ultherapy treatment. I was more 

than a little scared before this 

treatment. I thought it was going to 

be painful - it was not. I thought it 

was going to leave me with swelling 

and downtime - it did not. In fact, 

it was completely non-invasive and 

the perfect opportunity for Maureen 

and I to catch up on our girl chat - 

specifically about grandchildren. I 

don’t get a lot of quiet time in my 

job, and this was like a mini retreat 

for me. I knew the results would 

not be immediate, so now I am 

waiting patiently for my collagen to 

regenerate and the skin on my face 

and neck to lift and tighten. I will 

provide an update in the next issue! ” 

Dermal Fillers 

It is a common misconception 

that dermal fillers inject foreign 

chemicals into the face. In fact, 

hyaluronan is a normal component 

of the skin’s dermal makeup. 

Hyaluronan is the same naturally 

occurring sugar molecule that is 

found in your body and it’s job is 

to hydrate, support and assist with 

biological processes. As we age, its 

natural effectiveness diminishes, 

causing skin to become sallow and 

creased. For my treatment plan, 

dermal fillers are part of an overall 

approach to restore lost volume, lift 

the cheeks, fill in hollows around 

the eyes, and restore support to 

the underlying skin structures. 

There is no downtime, although 

some experience minor bruising or 

swelling - I did not. 

glo -. minerals 

Disclaimer: With any treatment, results vary. It 

is important to choose a physician and clinic that 

are reputable, experienced and where you feel 

comfortable, Ask for credentials. 


DR. LUPIN ON DERMAL FILLERS 

“One of the highest satisfaction 

treatments is application of dermal 

fillers to address aging concerns 

such as ‘the tired look’, and achieving 

a younger look. These multipurpose 

fillers work to restore lost volume 

by lifting the skin and contouring 

about the cheeks, nose and jawline. 

They help strengthen the skin by 

stimulating our bodies’ natural 

ability to make its own hyaluronic 

acid, collagen and elastin, and 

they are fundamental to help erase 

surface lines and even out acne scars. 

Full face contouring, approaching 

and sometimes bettering the results 

of what used to be only the province 

of surgery, can often be achieved. 

The results are immediate and long 

lasting. 

Fundamental to creating beautiful, 

natural results is taking care to 

know and respect each person’s 

particular needs and appreciate 

the fine differences in anatomy. In 

Canada, we are fortunate to have 

over 20 years’ experience with the 

most popular hyaluronic fillers. 

Restylane, Juvederm, Belotero, 

Teosyal, Revanesse and Princess 

are good examples. Some of the 

happiest moments that brighten my 

day are the ‘wow’s and tears of joy 

that my patient’s express when they 

look in the mirror to see the magic 

of dermal fillers.” 

Although it does take a few weeks 

or months to see the full effects, I 

love that with dermal fillers, some 

of the results were immediate. The 

deep apostrophe marks (an editor’s 

curse) between my eyes and at the 

sides of my nose are gone. The 

sunken hollows below my eyes are 

visibly lessened, my cheekbones 

have gained a slightly new definition 

and the youthful little upturn at 

the corners of my mouth is back - 

all in a very minimalistic, natural 

looking way.” 

in this article: 

Cosmedica | cosmedica.ca 

Ultherapy® 

Dermal Fillers 

GliSODin Skin Nutrient Supplements 

Skinceuticals Advanced Skincare 

glo minerals Makeup 

DR. MARK LUPIN 

MD, FRCPC, 

DABD 

is a worldrenowned 

dermatologist, 

clinical 

instructor and 

lecturer in the 

field of nonsurgical 

facial rejuvenation. With 

many publications to his name 

and often quoted as an expert in 

the media, he is dedicated to the 

advancement of best practices. 

Director and founder of Cosmedica 

Laser Centre, Dr. Lupin is uniquely 

qualified both in Dermatology as 

well as with additional training 

in Neurology. He has studied at 

Indiana University, the University 

of Southern California, Dalhousie 

University, University of Toronto 

and UBC, and has sub-specialty 

training in Photodermatology 

(interaction of light and skin) from 

prestigious St. John’s Hospital in 

London, England. 

MY TAKE ON DERMAL FILLERS 

“I don’t like needles - let’s get that 

straight. But as far as needles go, 

this was very tolerable - easy in fact. 

I felt the pricks and needle pressure 

more in the most sensitive skin 

areas around my eyes and mouth. 



EDITOR’S PICK 

EMERGING DESIGNER 

IRINA DZHUS 


DZHUS F/W 2017 

TECTONIC COLLECTION 

the designer: 

DZHUS is a conceptual womenswear brand launched in 

2010 by Ukrainian designer and stylist Irina Dzhus. Avantgarde 

yet utilitarian, DZHUS is known for innovative 

cut, multi-functional transformer garments and austere 

industrial aesthetics. Inspired by the complex structure of the 

ambient, Irina Dzhus delivers unique experimental garment 

construction. 

the collection: 

Tectonic is dedicated to the evolution of Earth, from a newborn 

planet to a stronghold of civilizations and technologies. 

The tectonic process has been interpreted in the architectural 

cut of the garments in this collection: like the continents split 

and reunite, the construction of the fashion forward collection 

disintegrate into modules, which then reorganize into new 

forms, celebrating the infinite cycle of nature. By changing 

their shapes and silhouettes, the pieces adapt to different 

purposes and weather conditions. 

The zoomorphic configuration of the outfits pay tribute 

to the phenomenon of the terrestrial life’s generation and 

development. Associated with fossil prehistoric organisms, 

the collection carries a message about fragility of the material 

existence, value of remembering the roots and importance of 

living in synergy with nature. 

Website: irinadzhus.com 

Instagram: @dzhus.conceptual.wear 

DESIGNER/STYLIST 

Irina Dzhus 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

Lesha Lich 

MODELS 

Maria Jennyfer for PM Management Intl 

Anastasia Kolenkova 



TECTONIC 

TRANSFORMER COAT 

Soft woolen felt coat featuring 6 transformation 

options: the structured hood easily changes into 

different variations of a collar and a cape. The item 

fastens on the front, with a metal zipper. 


DEVELOPMENT 

MAXI COAT 

100% wool maxi coat with complex structured details. 

The piece is made of two-side wool. It fastens on the 

front, with 2 metal zippers. 




CYCLE 

TRANSFORMER COAT 

Denim coat with textured knit 

sleeves. Features a detachable 

hood that transforms into a 

handbag. The coat fastens on the 

front, with two metal zippers. 



Brittany’s 

makeup bag 

It’s time to get layered - not just in your fall wardrobe but your makeup too - but who has the time? 

My top five #WhatsInMYbag favorites for fall 2017 focus on practical beauty products that help you 

look your best all season long, with minimal effort and maximum result. 

by Brittany Gray 

1 2 3 

GUERLAIN 

Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzer 

What I love about this bronzer 

is the matte and warm tones 

without being too orange or ashy. 

I apply it with a big fluffy brush 

anywhere the sun would hit and 

voila! I look like I’ve been to the 

beach and remain glowing, long 

after the summer sun has gone. 

OSIS 

Refresh Dust 

Let’s be honest, who has the 

time to wash and style their hair 

every other day? Not me. I swear 

by this dry shampoo and use it 

in-between washes, at least every 

other day - sometimes every day. 

It leaves my hair bouncy, smelling 

good and fresh to the touch! 

TOO FACED 

Born This Way Foundation 

I’m HOOKED on this fab find. 

This foundation gives amazing 

coverage but doesn’t feel cakey or 

heavy at all. It works brilliantly 

on all skin tones since it doesn’t 

make the face look dry and 

lifeless. The best part about it? It 

lasts all day and night. 


BRITTANY GRAY is a beauty expert, 

entrepreneur and nationally recognized actress and 

television personality. She is the founder of Fancy 

Face Inc., a top luxury mobile beauty companies, 

specializing in hair and makeup services for weddings, 

special events, entertainment industry functions, and 

celebrity glamour. Online at fancyface.ca 

#WHATSINMYBAG 

4 5 

HOURGLASS 

Obscura Palette 

I use this palette every single day and I love 

it because it is compact and fits easily in your 

makeup bag. The colors are neutral so they 

match every lip color and every fabulous fall 

outfit you decide to wear. I love using it with 

a little bronzer in the crease of the eye to add 

that touch of seasonal warmth. You can create a 

natural look or a smoky eye in seconds! 

LADY LASH CLUB 

Mink Lash Subscription 

At Fancy Face Inc., we are obsessed with this 

awesome Vancouver, Canada based company. 

They offer a monthly mink lash subscription, 

where you get a box of lashes each month at an 

affordable price. The company is cruelty-free 

(which I love) and they have the most flattering 

variety of styles from everyday natural and 

night on the town to all-out red carpet ready! 



fashiontravels 

THE ARTISAN JEWELER 

& HER BALINESE 

CRYSTAL JOURNEY 

by Sylvia Tennant 

NICHE columnist, jewelry designer 

and unapologetic fashionista, 

Sylvia Tennant is creating her 

newest crystal jewelry collection, 

and NICHE has the exclusive story 

that begins with an inspirational 

journey to the Indonesian island 

of Bali, and concludes with the 

fulfillment of a dream... 

In April of last year, my boyfriend 

and I found ourselves on a long, 

hot road in what we heard was a 

silversmith village just outside 

Ubud on the Indonesian island of 

Bali. It was barely 9am and we felt 

late already, as the bustling markets 

and villages of Bali had risen hours 

before the sun. My goal was clear – 

I wanted to find a silversmith and 

design a collection for my jewelry 

brand, Zaleska. However, based 

on the mere uncertainty of the 

situation and the newness of these 

weaving, artisan-filled alleys, this 

seemed unattainable. I had no 

expectations as we walked along 

the main jalan, jumping gutters, 

weaving through home studios, 

and ultimately hoping for a sign 

that I wasn’t sure I’d find. It was 

a serendipitous moment when I 

met a smiling young man named 

Made, who invited us in after being 

greeted by his rooster, koi fish, and 

barking (but decidedly friendly) 

I WAS LIVING IN A DREAM STATE, 

WATCHING MY SKETCHBOOK COME 

TO LIFE RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES. 

[day in the life] 

dogs. His studio, located inside 

his family compound, was lined 

with heavy wood and glass cases 

brimming with intricate designs. 

He told us that the giant turquoise 

and silver rings (which I instantly 

set aside for myself) could be sized 

in 30 minutes, and that he would 

drive us to find breakfast at a local 

warung while we waited. The 

energy of this experience shifted 

the course of my business and set 

off a whirlwind chain of events. 


When we returned from lunch, 

I designed a collection within 2 

hours, and it was handmade by 

his wonderful team of artisans in 

7 days. 

My Return to Bali 

I went back to the village a few 

months ago to begin this process 

once again. This time, I was armed 

with a plan, over a thousand 

gemstones, and my lovely mother, 

Mercedes, who guided me through 

the overwhelming moments and 

important decisions with grace, 

patience, and (sometimes) tequila. 

I was living in a dream state, 

watching my sketchbook come to 

life right before my eyes. Once I 

approved the samples, production 

was underway. 

We took this time to retreat to the 

beautiful Chapung Se Bali Resort, 

which was surprisingly close to 

Ubud, considering how exclusively 

remote it felt. 

I sensed a mental shift within 

seconds of witnessing the 

incredible jungle views blanketed 

in thick tropical foliage. Nestled 

on the edge of the Osh Valley, this 

luxury resort sits with modern 

grandeur. We stayed in a private 



plunge pool suite, which was 

generously spacious and recently 

built to accommodate a growing 

demand. The custom furniture 

was designed by the owner, who 

had each piece handmade on 

the island from reclaimed iron, 

wood, black marble, and brick. 

We soaked in the luxuriousness of 

the spa where ponds, unparalleled 

views, and uniquely designed 

treatment rooms are the backdrop 

to an inspired menu of offerings 

for mind and body. During the 

day, we read in daybeds next to 

the infinity pool at Junglefish 

Bali, the “no-beach beach club” 

conveniently located steps from 

our suite. Bali has long attracted 


visitors seduced by its varied 

landscape and cultural opulence, 

and Chapung Se caters to the vast 

majority of luxury travelers. 

In addition to this experience, 

we had the pleasure of staying at 

my favorite local refuge, an Ubud 

bungalow called Merthayasa 2. 

The first thing one notices upon 

entering the hand-carved doorway 

is that it’s magically immune to the 

bustle of the surrounding chaos 

that is tourist season. Orchids hang 

from flowering trees and property 

staff harvest jackfruit and papayas 

from the family garden. The pool 

is private, the complimentary 

breakfast is delicious, and the 

price is right: $35 per night for a 

simple but immaculate suite with 

strong Wi-Fi. Alit and Wayan 

were wonderful hosts and offered 

transport, delicious homemade 

corn fritters, and even lent my 

mother a kebaya (a traditional 

Balinese lace top worn with a 

sarong) throughout our multiweek 

stay. This familial warmth is 

the essence of the Balinese and the 

reason I return each year to build 

my business with them. 

NEXT ISSUE: 

Part three [the finale] of 

Sylvia’s Bali adventure 

includes local inspiration 

and a look at her Balinese 

jewelry collection! Inside 

NICHE - Holiday 2017 issue. 



FASHION 

FORWARD 


eyond 

WORDS 

f/w 2017 

If you follow fashion week (even a little bit) you know that collections 

for FW2017 are breathtaking. Saturated colors, exceptional fabrics and 

imaginative designs. There are no words to describe the elegance and 

beauty of our three favorite collections. We’ll let the pictures do the talking. 

DENNIS BASSO | MARC CAIN | TEMPERLEY LONDON 



DENNIS BASSO 

FALL 2017 | DENNISBASSO.COM 


eyond WORDS 



MARC CAIN 

FALL 2017 | MARC-CAIN.COM 


eyond WORDS 



TEMPERLEY LONDON 

FALL 2017 | TEMPERLEYLONDON.COM 


eyond WORDS 



SKIN [perfection] 

CAUDALIE 

VINOPERFECT 

TWO- STEP SYSTEM 

The effectiveness of a glycolic 

acid-based composition 

and white peony extract for 

complexion evenness 

and a healthy glow. Step 

one is the Concentrated 

Brightening Essence 

and step two is the 

Radiance Serum 

Complexion Enhancing. 

$50/$89 | caudalie.com 

] 

] 


Wasn’t summer amazing? But if 

you are like me, the hot season leaves 

behind skin that is less than perfect. 

Heading into fall, I am so excited to 

share these six brands that have newto-market 

products; each offering real 

and immediate results for a variety of 

facial skin issues. Get ready to treat, 

diminish and banish redness, scars, 

sun damage, wrinkles, visible blood 

vessels and uneven skin tone. 

editor’s edition 


EMINENCE ORGANIC SKIN CARE 

MARINE FLOWER 

PEPTIDE EYE CREAM 

With Smart Collagen+ Complex, this ultra-rich, 

uniquely formulated cream is specifically for the 

delicate eye area, It uses naturally derived plant 

peptides and innovative algae extracts to reduce 

the visible signs of aging including wrinkles, 

puffiness, and dark circles. 

$116 | thefacialroom.com 

LA PRAIRIE 

SKIN CAVIAR ABSOLUTE FILLER 

Infused with potent Caviar Absolute, this anti-aging 

product is one of the best I’ve tried to effectively target 

the loss of volume. It restores tone and density for 

visibly enhanced fullness and works hard to refine 

facial contours. La Prairie is a trusted leader in antiaging 

skin care, and this product is definitely worth 

the investment. 

$775 | holtrenfrew.com 

LIERAC PARIS 

ROSILOGIE REDNESS 

CORRECTION CREAM 

A highly effective, scientifically proven 

cream with neuro-calming peptides 

that treats three types of skin redness: 

sudden and temporary redness, general 

redness, and redness with visible blood 

vessels. Corrective green pigments visibly 

neutralize redness and even out skin tone. 

$40 | lierac.ca 

DERMABLEND 

PROFESSIONAL LIQUID CAMO 

FOUNDATION & SETTING POWDER 

Naturally looking, medium coverage camo 

foundation with SPF protection. Hides blemishes 

and skin imperfections. High performance 

pigments, fragrance free, allergy tested foundation 

and setting powder. Maximum, buildable coverage 

available in 15 shades for every skin. 

$42/$34 | dermablend.com 

ZORAH BIOCOSMETIQUES 

LIFTING PURE ARGAN 

SUPER LIFT SERUM 

This product is vegan, eco-cert natural 

and still packs a big punch. This pure 

argan serum visible lifts and renews 

skin. By activating fibroblasts under 

the skin which increase collagen 

production, wrinkles and fine lines 

are quickly diminished. On the skin’s 

surface, it attaches to skin cells which 

offers an instant smoothing effect. 

$75 | zorahbiocosmetiques.com 



NINE 

SEASON OF BLUSH 

MARCHESA 


The fashion world is having 

a love affair with that sweet 

barely there pink, fondly 

referred to as blush. From 

dresses and handbags, to 

trench coats and stilettos, the 

color is everywhere for fall 

2017. But no one is doing it 

better than Marchesa, who paid 

gentle homage to the color in 

every fabric and treatment 

imaginable. Soft florettes of 

silk tulle, exquisite beading 

and appliqués and Hollywood 

worthy flowing gowns - all 

blushed with Marchesa beauty. 

Check out NICHE magazine’s 

full coverage of this collection at 

www.NICHE.style

NICHE Style Fall 2017

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