Crimes of fashion, literally

Today, it is somewhat uplifting to see Pakistan in the news for reasons unassociated with violence. Nov. 4, 2009 marked the beginning of Pakistan’s first ever fashion week in Karachi. Brave models strutted their stuff down runways displaying the creations of 32 Pakistani designers.

In a conservative Islamic country with a growing number of extremists, it is almost outrageous to see models bearing so much skin. The couture fashions included vibrant flowing Islamic robes, shorts, funky bracelets, spiked necklaces and sequins. Bare shoulders, legs, backs and even tattoos were on display for a full crowd of willing spectators.

Strangely, Kirachi fashion week was a way for designers and fashionistas to send a message to the world. “Pakistan has a different side to it. It’s not just about bombs and Taliban. It’s also about beautiful clothes, beautiful people, and it’s about promoting our country and our culture to the most glamorous profession, which is fashion,” said Rizwan Beyg, Designer.

Madrassas have been popping up all across Pakistan’s countryside for the past two decades. It should not have come as a surprise to anyone when the presence of the Taliban insurgence blew-up in Pakistan this year. Against a backdrop of terrorism and violence, pulling off Karachi fashion week was a huge feat. Fashion week was originally scheduled for October, but was put on hold after a series of deadly militant attacks. When the event finally commenced, beefed-up security was definitely present.

As expected, backlash against Pakistan’s fashion week ensued. Most women in the country sport hijabs or full-blown burqas, so the couture pieces are clearly not accessible to everyday women. Men do not want their wives, daughters and sisters walking around the markets, looking like they just stepped off the catwalk. Admittedly however, a large part of the response on Facebook and Twitter has been rather positive. Urban women in the country are embracing an attitudinal shift towards a more liberal independent Pakistani woman. The success of Pakistan’s first fashion week gives supporters a sense of national pride and a glimpse at a brighter, more fashionable future.

Shut the Door. Have a Seat. And Get Ready for the Ride. By: Amanda Burcul

I'd been dreading Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 since Aug. 16, 2009. The end of season 3 of the AMC series Mad Men. Now that may seem pessimistic to some people. But if I'm being honest with myself I am a bit of a pessimist and in some small way it made me savour this short but remarkable season all the more. The intrigue, the romance, the histroy, the politics, THE OUTFITS!! Every little bit of this season had me so entranced that I didn't want to look way. So that I spent every week anticipating the return of my Sunday night ritual, 2 hours, the same episode in a row. That's right, I watch the same episode twice - don't want to miss any of that Matthew Weiner glory. And truly it takes 2 viewings at least to understand and appreciate the complex story line that is Mad Men. Every little thought out line of dialogue, movement of a character, placement of a poster on a wall. For those of us who enjoy breaking down entertainment for all the nuances it can deliver, this show is packed with details for us to appreciate.

And the season finale did not disappoint. To be honest I wanted to post this blog a bit sooner. To come out with it the day after the episode aired with all my sweet little insights and thoughts poured out into a tight-knit little blog. But I couldn't. The piece of art that I was delivered deserved far more of my attention and careful thought. Well that and I had to take a sick day, weather changes are not kind to me. Though now, after a couple more days of rumination I finally feel ready to give my own summary and review.

***Spoiler alert, from this point onward the blog will reveal plot details***

Will she or won't she? That was the question we were all left pondering on the second last episode of Mad Men when Betty Draper decided to throw a passive aggressive tantrum and let Don know that she wasn't having any of his behaviour anymore, she just wasn't in love. Of course this all came after she had secured a way out with a man she had met, oh, a handful of times (but don't worry - they're madly in love and totally getting married). When will Betty learn? After Don finally comes clearn and starts behaving in a semi-decent and respectful manner, she decides she has had enough and is ready to go. Betty seems to prefer Don as a bit of cad. She really seems to want a bit of a chase, to have a husband she needs to work to get the attention of. Maybe Don should just go back to sleeping with whatever is a brunette and walks with a sway. Will Betty's trip to Nevada with Henry Francis work out? Will Betty really be able to carry on without Don? You'll have to wait until next season people, but if you're a fan of Matthew Weiner and you really (and I mean REALLY) watched The Sopranos, I think there are some guesses you could make. Personally, I don't think we've seen the end of their relationship.

Now Sterling Cooper and Don Draper, what isn't happening in the world of Don Draper?! His wife is leaving him and his family is coming apart. Sterling Cooper seems to have come to the last of its days as Putnam Powell and Lowe seem to be throwing in the towel, or rather passing it off to McCann. And Peggy won't even consider his offer to jump ship and come along with him? Having devotedly watched all 3 seasons I don't think anyone could have said they saw it coming - until they heard him command her to leave, rather than ask. In that moment I just felt so proud. Though I'm not a Team Peggy kind of girl, having her stick it to the man and stand up for her work held a bit of joy for me. 'Equal pay for equal work' anyone? Or in this case at least equal respect. Here we see Don really struggle to grab his footing. For one of the first times in the series we really see him lose his temper and have issues with a challenge. What problem can't Don Draper solve? Apparently it was almost this one as the powers that be in Britain almost got the best of him. But anyone who knows Don Draper knows it wasn't going to be like that. In exactly the type of plot point you were hoping for, he manipulates his way out of the situation and reminds all the viewers exactly why you love this show.

One of the best things about Mad Men is how timely and accurate it manages to be. It hasn't left any political or historical issue unaddressed. And it hits the issues head on, not in some passive 'yeah I guess women had a hard time of it' or 'sure, African Americans really did have a struggle around this time huh?' - Mad Men really takes all the revolutionary things happening at that period in history and uses them to create this rich world of advertising with these deep and diverse characters. This relevance was on display this season as the times continued to shift at Sterling Cooper. Old married far too young, a woman pondered an abortion, another dealt with domestic abuse, segregation boiled, and a president hit new heights beforing falling to an unfortunate low - death. Using the assassination of JFK as a plot line to really highlight the emotional and mental state of the characters was a brilliant move on the part of Weiner. It really paired well with the climactic end of the season and served to move along the story, not just as a scandal happening in the background.

And now here we are. With the end of this episode we have reached a pivotal point in the plot. They're going out on their own. Sterling Cooper be damned, now I'm watching to absorb and become engrossed in the lives of those at Sterling Cooper Draper and Price (and maybe Campbell). To be honest this was a genious and thrilling move for the viewer. And truly they took all my favourite characters anyways! Let's just hope they bring back Salvator and I'm really very comfortable with the turn Mad Men has taken. This new advertising firm is just as exciting as the last, if not more. Because this one has brought Joan's character back to a more central role. This one is going to force Peggy and Pete to work closely together. And this one will show us who Don Draper is. At the beginning of the episode Connie (Conrad Hilton - painful character that he is) seemed to challenge Don to go out and make it on his own. To show that he's not just some man with a contract working as a cog. This is exactly what the fourth season of Mad Men is going to allow us to see. Will Don Draper and the new firm be a success? Will Roger Sterling keep providing the best lines in the show? Will Peggy stick with Duck? Is Pete going to make it as a partner? Will Betty and Henry Francis work?!

Like Sterling said, they've dangled that golden pork chop, and I'm just waiting until next summer to get my piece. Until then, you can find me watching my DVD's and attached to my on-demand.

Go green with your hair, just not the colour

I grew my hair out for over a year. In an attempt to bring it back to life (figure of speech, as hair is dead), I decided it needed a serious trim. Without a regular salon in Toronto, I visited my old friend Laura who is a Sr. stylist at LOKI in Yorkville.

While waiting for my appointment to begin, the receptionist pleasantly informed me that LOKI supports a “green pathway for change.”

Thanks to an organization called Green Circle Salons, hair salons in Toronto and around the world are going green. Guess what they are recycling? It’s hair of course!

Who knew that human hair makes the filter screens to clean oil spills. Someone in England even made a chair out of human hair resin. I know, legitimately creepy, but intriguing.

Hair is a sustainable resource. Some hope that in the future it will replace fiberglass and other materials to make things such as mascara, boat parts, shoes, clothing and structural beams. Shockingly, hair chair designer Ronald Thompson estimates that “a strand of hair can support 8,750 times its own weight, and that a head of hair can support 13 tons and that hair can double its own length before breaking.”

Keeping hair and colour tubes out of landfills supports Green Circle Salons’ bottom line of maintaining environmental integrity in salons. A directory found on their website lists the salons in the Greater Toronto Area participating in the green pathway initiatives.

So if environmental sustainability is on your mind, along with a hurting head of hair, make sure you choose a salon that is aligned with Green Circle Salons, or go see Laura at LOKI.

By Emily