It was 2003 at the Toronto Film Festival and I was a newly minted Canadian stringer for People magazine.
I can’t say I wasn’t enjoying the power that my press badge afforded me that year; doors opened, publicists waved me through, A-list celebrities stopped to talk to me on a dime.
Because smart phones were still a new phenom, and the iPhone ephemera non-existent, I had a bird’s eye view of celebrities unguarded and letting loose at various parties that simply wouldn’t be possible today.
Over imbibed on champagne and enjoying the exclusivity of VIP after hours access, I recall a young male Los Angeles director telling me about the nefarious practices of Harvey Weinstein. He mentioned Gwyneth Paltrow and the Machiavellian sex pact that she previously had to make with Weinstein to sustain all of her Miramax roles.
I balked in disbelief.
Gwyneth Paltrow—she of the alpha female variety, with baked-in familial ties to Hollywood, seemed pristinely above something as seedy as the clichéd Hollywood casting couch?
“Trust me it’s true,” he said with an authority that made me feel sheepishly naïve.
Why do I mention this instance in the wake of the recent Harvey Weinstein scandal?
Before I go on, I want to make it abundantly clear, I believe all women, full stop.
It’s just that when we speak of entertainment, or specifically Hollywood, lines become blurred and statements are vetted, or alternately—fully written by publicists. This is a business based on public opinion, likability and keeping up appearances, and the truth isn’t always applicable. The truth can put brands and businesses in peril.
Many celebrities came forward since the New York Times piece about Harvey Weinstein broke two weeks ago. Each of them a unique weather system of their own truths, accounts, and opinions. I could not help but become obsessed with championing Rose McGowans Twitter feed, and thought Canadian Mia Kirshner had written the most compelling and moving op ed, that is until I read Canadian Sarah Polley’s op ed.
Meryl Streep had a statement of veritable shock and awe, George Clooney had a ‘safe statement’ that pivoted in every direction but straight—specific enough to mention that he “never saw anything,” and Gwyneth Paltrow had soft core allegations towards the man that she worked with repeatedly.
Gretchen Mol took the opportunity to tell the world that she was never one of Harvey’s girls.
Jessica Alba remained silent and continued to tweet about Haircare + Decluttering Ones Life for her business The Honest Company ←yes the irony is thick.
Blake Lively another rumoured compliant, was radio silent for 48 hours until her latest film “All I See is You” is due out and a story about her beingharassed by someone ‘other’ than HW is added to the mix. The title alone: Blake Lively Shares Her Own Story of Hollywood Harassment feels like publicity driven clickbait pablum, and I wonder if again this was a choice, a buffer, a diversion to be put out as to not takeaway from her new film. It’s hard to believe she was spared Harvey’s advances.
Georgina Chapman announces she is divorcing her husband, articles about Marchesa’s fate hanging in the balance are written and within this maelstrom of empathy, support, accusations and announcements, I can’t help but feel like I’m witnessing a “Wag the Dog” performance on the part of many. The mechanism of the statements themselves, are like a Shakespearian play with “entrances and exists,” the perfectly synchronized press releases in conveyer belt succession feel like an expertly played chess game.
Beyond the victims statements and brilliant op eds, plus anything and everything Lena Dunham wrote, it felt like a parade of people TRYING to save their own asses?
The truth? Maybe far more of our favourite actors, the ones who even put out statements of accusations did so as a defense mechanism. Perhaps they were even in touch with Weinstein’s crisis team as they put out their statements. Perhaps, some were even willing (insofar as it wasn’t under forced duress) participants in the unthinkable trade of sex for the promise of career advancement.
I don’t want to shame anyone, but where are all these A list celebrities who, according to Weinstein’s recurring trade pitch/preamble, went along with his offer? And, am I terrible for even thinking this? Does it even matter who they were or weren’t in light of this bigger picture?
One of the few people to expose the truth that “everybody knew” and admit his own personal culpability of silence was director Scott Rosenberg. It’s a must read. Yes, it’s brave, but let’s face it, he has far less to lose with his transparency than the above aforementioned.
Even Vanity Fair featuring a black and white photo of Weinstein on their latest issue with the sobering caption Game Over, took Miramax’s ad dollars for decades. They actively sacked stories that were percolating about Weinstein and yet here they are to add their truths into the ‘shake down’ Cuisinart.
I revert back to that night in 2003 when, whether fact or fiction, I became privy to the Weinstein rumours/heresy and I was not remotely seeking it out. I was merely an off-duty/unknown freelancer and even I got an earful.
You want the truth about Harvey Weinstein and the rest of Hollywood, their knowledge and or complicities’?
Maybe we can’t handle the truth.
Maybe it’s obliquely liminal like one of my favourite quotes from August: Osage County the Pulitzer play turned film, distributed by the Weinstein Company, natch.
In the scene, character Tracy Letts played brilliantly by Juliette Lewis tells her judgemental sister about sacrifices that she’s had to make. Sacrifices she’s not proud of but that were made for her own survival.
“My point is, it’s not cut and dried, black and white, good and bad. It lives where everything lives: somewhere in the middle. Where everything lives, where all the rest of us live, everyone but you.”
*Post is very content heavy, give it a minute to fully load all media…you won’t regret it!
Greetings gorgeous foxes!
I’m back with my annual juicy listicle of all the latest beauty trends and products, to get you front-of-the-line ready for fall 2017.
You rememberfalldon’t you?!
But first, a histrionic confessional on the ‘challenges’ of maintaining ones FOXY-ness with age.
*Shouldn’t every fall beauty guide have one?
Cue Beethoven’s spring sonata
Voice Over: “Le aging is like a melty ice cream cone in summers dead heat…”
((((RECORD SCRATCH)))))
Cue the Darth Vader theme followed by a random death knell
“…You’re licking up the drip on one side while there’s two other streams on the opposite end already sticky-ing up your new mani?! It’s a NEVER-ENDING dance of attempting to contain THE DRIP, and, AND! with each passing year the pace of THE DRIP is faster and less resistant to licks, serviettes or say, overnight retinols?!
(BDB: Big Deep Breath)
…Like a game of carnival whack-a-mole, I am constantly trying to beat Le Aging into submission until a skeevy-looking carnie gives me a stuffed Pokémon doll, but the elation of winning doesn’t last, NO IT NEVER DOES, cause there’s a hole in the side of that stuffed Pokémon doll and now your car is filled with 1000 tiny plastic pellet balls forcing you to start the whole process over again, and, AND! can I tell you, that lately? I’ve started losing tinkle-control? and soon I’m going to have to get myself a pair of old age-y ‘signature’ glasses, and I just can’t keep up this maddening CHARADE ANY LONGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!?!?!?”
Old Age-y ‘Signature’ Glasses
*Clears throat nervously
“And so…FALL BEAUTY! (takes in a dramatic big inhale, letting out a breathy yogi exhale…)
…quite the view, isn’t it?”
SKIN CARE I’m an absolute fanatic when it comes to skin care. I mean, If the canvas ain’t flawless, no-ones going to be able to appreciate the artwork on top, am I right honey? I’m constantly on the hunt for new products and procedures to keep my skin as foxy as possible—and this falls bounty does not disappoint!
Glossier Glossier is a highly affordable NY skin care and makeup line with prices ranging from $12 – $35 currently disrupting the online beauty market. Created by Emily Weiss a former fashion assistant at W and Vogue, Glossier offers a simple, yet effective skin care line that promotes a fresh and dewy glow buoyed by its mission statement of “skin first, make up second.” If the long lineups outside its Manhattan flag-ship don’t convince you, nor their throngs of celebrity fans like Kate Bosworth and Alexa Chung— trying the products first hand will!
I ‘glowingly’ recommend their Milky Jelly Cleanser $22, Soothing Face Mist $22, Priming Moisturizer $27, their Super Glow Vitamin C Serum $35, and their Mega Greens Galaxy Pack Mask $27
Caudalie
Natural skin care doyens Caudalie, are celebrating their 20th year in the beauty biz by launching a limited-edition gold accented bottle of their bestselling face mist Beauty Elixir $59. Spokesmodel Rosie Huntington-Whitley, likes to spray the elixir after she cleanses her face or to set her make up—leaving her skin toned and radiant. Check out my incredible Caudalie giveaway at the end of this beauty guide!
NuFACE
While I’ve never had a weight problem, my Achilles heel since forevs has been my jaw line or my SAGGING JOWELS. Specifically, the fact that they have always been slack in nature unless I’m beaming from ear to smiling ear, which let’s face it is exhausting. I’ve tried everything non-invasive to pull those suckers up from filler to collagen facials, but the results were temporary with LE GRAVITY always winning out.
The solution?
Daily, at-home microcurrent courtesy of NuFACE technology. While you may have seen similar devices on late night infomercials, NuFACE is the first and only FDA cleared, multi-solution handheld device. Known as the “5-minute facial lift” The NuFACE Trinity® $325 improves, skin tone, facial contour (i.e. lifts those suckers!) and reduces wrinkles on an ongoing, cumulative basis.
I like to think of them as adorable Despicable Me minions that make my face foxy.
But my absolute favourite, is their Trinity Ele attachment ↑ $149 which, among others feats of magic, lifts! lifts! LIFTS a hooded brow! I’ve been doing Botox for years, mainly for the lifting effect because my brow area is like a Parisian café awning. Alas→ ‘BO no more, ‘Bo No ‘Mo!
Honourable Non-Endorsing Mention: MDMA SKIN
Yup, Madonna’s skin care line MDMA Skin previously only available in Japan, is now available as of last Tuesday, September 26th at Barneys.com
Always cognizant of staying relevant with ‘the cool kids,’ Madonna shot a promo vid with The Fat Jewish, whose millennial audience—let’s be clear, won’t be able to afford her gimmicky $600 magnet removing mask?! No offense but no sooner would I endorse a celebrity’s skin care line, than I would purchase any of their perfume lines?! And while I’m certain Madge’s skin is space age perfection, she needs to back the EFF up on that filler needle, as she’s lookin’ exactly like my childhood Cabbage Patch doll preemie as of lates!
↑Spot the difference?
Hey Madonna, I love you to infinity, but you need to get Jane Fonda’s derm + co. on your speed dial. Whoever her team is, they are performing Le Aging skin sorcery, sans Cabbage Patch cheeks!
MAKE UP Everyone knows I’m a devout follower of the church of ARMANI foundations, but choosing their products every year would be lazy, mais non? So, while I firmly believe no one will ever do a better job at make up coverage, texture and their diaphanous finishes (their sheer fluids are heavenly)—the marketplace is still brimming with contenders who are making their very best attempts to compete.
Milk makeup recently launched their 1st full-coverage foundation after their famed blur stick and skin tint became a cult favourite with top beauty bloggers. The new matte oil and silicone-free formula comes in 16 shades and will run you around $50. Rihanna’s new line Fenty Beautyis for women of all shades, cultures and races and is disrupting the beauty space in a huge way. Her Pro Filtr Soft Matte Longwear Foundation $34 comes in 40 shades, ushering in a new era of beauty inclusivity for all.
CONCEALER
Besides my sagging jowls, another beauty malady of mine are dark circles under my eyes. No matter how much sleep I get (and let’s face it, I’m a professional napêur) I still can’t get rid of the bags under mes yeux. To date, the best undereye cover up I’ve ever tried is Bye Bye Undereye from it cosmetics, a line that originally started on QVC, eventually bought by L’Oréal , and just recently starting selling at Sephora’s worldwide. Promising 8 hours of sleep in a tube, their magic potion costs $32 and covers like a dream.
*Don’t even pretend you haven’t ordered Cindy Crawford’s Meaningful Beauty backed by Dr. Sebag’s (pronounced Se-BAHH) proven melon extract found ***ONLY*** in France during a late-night infomercial coup!
EYES
It gets considerably more difficult to reinvent the wheel when it comes to fall eye makeup, but the following runway looks managed to do just that for fall 2017.
Best in Show: Alberta Ferretti
I was full-on mesmerized with Alberta Ferreti’s fall 2017 eye makeup when I wrote about thered eyeshadow trendback in the spring. Makeup artist Tom Pecheux created a baroque eye that combined a pop of red in combination with black shadow and liner, finishing off the look gold highlighter in the corners of these unknown models eyes below. Amateurs, Pfffft!
Best in Show: La Perla
Makeup artist Erin Parsons created an exotic fairy-maiden look on an array of brunette models from refreshingly diverse backgrounds. This sultry + glossy burgundy eye was paired with a metallic pink that brought out the model’s darker eyes and prominent bushy brows. The lips highlighted the au courant floating lip liner trend which you can read about in the lips section below. All in all, it was a highly covetable, gorgeous eye that also deserves a Best in Show nod.
Get the glossy effect courtesy ofKevin Aucoin’sThe Exotique Diamond Eye Gloss $46
Get in Line…
Lining the eye CREASE in inventive ways is a mammoth trend for fall 2017. Theirry Mugler displayed a variety of preciously-thin graphic lines that added a striking, futuristic modernity to his runway show.
…And a half-moon line directly in the crease was shown at Tome + Emilio De La Morena.
*Spot the floating lip liner on the Emilio De La Morena model ↓
I personally prefer the usage of a liquid liner and highly recommend the spanking new smudge proof Beauté Couture Liquid Eye Liners by YSL $38.00
They come in 8 amazing shades (I love the green!) and in 3 different finishes matte, satin or shimmer for a bevy of different looks.If your preference is a pencil liner, just make sure the tip is HELLA sharp, and remember practice makes purrrfect foxy kittens!
Powdery Blue Lilac
Powdery, bluish lilacs placed in unexpected nooks of eye real estate is all the rage for fall 2017 as seen at Derek Lam, Prada and Mary Katarantzou
If you want to replicate this fall trend I highly recommend Pat McGrath Labs Mothership I Subliminal Palette $125. Mix up the 2 right bottom and top shades for an intoxicating blue lilac eye wash.
Monochromatic Metallics
Sizzlingmonochromatic metallic eyes are everywhere for fall 2017. Whether you choose to use a cream or shadow appliqué, just make sure that no one dares to dim your sparkle!
Whether your contouring, highlighting, strobing or just wanna get glowing, the ever-competitive landscape of the contour/highlight space has never been so beautifully abundant!
The biggest news out of the fall 2017 beauty cognoscenti was makeup artist Mark Carrasquilo’s purple/pink mixture of two $5.00 lipsticks (Manic + Triangle by LA Matte Flat Velvet Lipstick) that looked incredible on every model.
Inspired by the gorge purple hue, here are my top picks for fall 2017 that unfortunately aren’t as affordable as the H&M “big win,” but are IMHO worth every cent!
Tom Ford
Nobody and I mean N.O.B.O.D.Y performs lipstick magician-ship like Tom Ford Beauty. His collections always bring to mind a slow drip of sexuality and new monied lamé. Standouts from his new GIRLS collection in ultra rich + sheer colours are Georgie, Isamaya (so fun to say!) Loulou & Nico $44
Pat McGrath
Pat McGath’sMatteTrance™is a richly pigmented formulation that adorns the lips in a lightweight veil of opaque colour $38. Favourites are Magenta Violet & Deep Void—a deep blacked purple.
Pat McGath’s MatteTrance™ is a richly pigmented formulation that adorns the lips in a lightweight veil of opaque colour $38. Favourites are Magenta Violet & Deep Void (a deep blacked purple)
Steal This Lip↓
Montreal make up artist Leslie-Ann Thomson recently performed this maquillage opus on model Diane Chiu, and I’ve got the insider intel on how to get this covetable grape lip!
Line the lips with Dirty Mind Velvet Matte Lip Pencil from Nars $27 and then fill in the lips, add Burgundy Lip Mix Mac $19 with a lip brush and highlight with Fenty Beauty Killawatt in Trophy Wife $42
Now strut you FOXY thing!
Best in Show: Floating Lip Liner
Another trend that seemed to permeate fall 2017 beauty was the nomenclature of ‘floating lip liner.’ Roughly translated, it means some rando beauty editor created a highly clickable moniker for the very antiquated usage of pencil and highlighter in the outer corners and rebranded it as a bona fide THANG. The cupids bow and top of the lip has always been a hot bed for perfectly placed highlight, but this fall, the look was paired with a finger blotted or barely-there lip with some interesting icy white accents.
From L to R:Erin Featherstone (first 2) + Emilio De La Morena
Gradient Lipstick
A similar looking trend that has been all the rage in Korea for the last 2 years is the The Gradient Lip (aka the ombré or two-toned lip)
The can be performed DIY style with either foundation or a highlighter (or combo of both!) all over the lips, drawing the lip colour on the top and bottom innerlip and blend/blot with finger tips ↓
Laneige pronounced ‘La Neige” like snow in French, is a south Korean beauty brand sold at Sephora. Their two toned lipstick $35 combinations are incredible but availability may differ from store to store, and some Sephora’s are fazing out the lipstick line—so if you want them all, you’ll have to go to the direct source!
NAILS
While I normallyget the crux of my nail art inspo from Korea, this year I’ve focussed mainly on the work of expat Jin Soon Choi, owner of 3 nail salons in New York and the famed polish line Jin Soon.
From the Prabal Gurung runway, nail maestro Choi, was inspired by the idea of nails dipped in paint using the new colour “Toff” $18. It’s a great transitional shade and I’m a big fan of the French Mani done with colour as you can get an extra week of grow out!
Prabal Gurung
Julie Kandalec for Essie created a twist on the modern French manicure at Tanya Taylor using colours “Go Overboard,” “Bahama Mama” + “Smokin’ Hot.”
Tanya Taylor
Tanya Taylor
Choialso dida smoky teal nail at Phillip Lim with her nail colour “Charade,” but I also love “Beau” and “Heirloom” as alternates.
Phillip Lim
Charade
Beau
Heirloom
And lastly, I have no idea who makes either of these colours, but I find this caramel hue to be deliciously inspiring and quite apropos for fall. If you have any clue what either of these colours are, or something similar, do reach out lover heads! Rhianna’s nails were done by celebrity nail artist Maria Salandra @redhotnails but my request for colour intel went ignored.
And there you have it my foxy lovelies, fall beauty à la LONG READ. I don’t begrudge you if you needed to use the facilities for 2-3 tinkle breaks during this extensive list. As for myself I took 100-127 tinkle breaks writing this.
In fact I’m tinkling right now…
Wait…did somebody say CONTEST ALERT?
I’m giving away a Caudalie gift package worth aprox $300.00 In fact the following goodies are spokesmodel Rosie Huntington-Whitley’s must have, can’t live without Caudalie products. Who says I don’t get you up close and personal with the STAHHHHHH’s?!
From left to right: Instant Foaming Cleanser, Glycolic Peel, Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, VineActive 3 in 1 Moisturizer, and the 20th anniversary gilded bottle of their famed Beauty Elixir!
Contest Rules
To Enter You Must be 18 Years or older and be a Canadian resident. To repeat this particular contest is for Canadian residents only.
You must follow me on either Twitter @popcultrainman or in Instagram renee@popculturerainman or follow my blog the Pop Culture Rainman popculturerainman.com and if you are not a wordpress user there is a convenient email sign up on the main right hand page. On either Twitter, Instagram or in my blogs comment section you must post “I want to win the Foxy Caudalie Giveaway from” (give me credit) from Twitter → @popcultrainman or Instagram renee@popculturerainman and hashtag #PCRBEAUTY.
1 lucky winner will be randomly chosen by lottery bot Tuesday, October 10th, 2017 at 7pm eastern standard time. The winner will be announced here and on my social media channels.
CONGRATULATIONS BRENDA PENTON from NL, CANADA! 👍🏻 You’ve Won! 🎁
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and comments, and please enter the contest FOXES!
This Monday marks May 1st, the fateful month ice cream shops officially open for business, if they aren’t already.
On the topic of the colour black—or rather the absence of colour, I personally try to limit wearing it (female sacrilege I know!) and it certainly isn’t the most appetizing of hues, n’est pas?
Fact: I’d rather drink bath water than eat black licorice—no joke.
While black ash ice cream surfaced last spring, the trend will fully permeate the foodie zeitgeist for summer 2017, ceremoniously making its way to an ice cream shop near you.
Black is the new Vanilla…
I’m always fascinated by the genesis of trends and how they find their way towards mainstream utopia.
In the case of black ice cream, all roads lead to the sheer inventiveness + complex flavour combinations found in Japan. Places like Hakodate and Otaro, which are found on the northern island of Japan just below Sapporo, and Saitama which is closer to Tokyo.
Flavours like soft serve black squidink, black sesame, black curry and deep espresso have been Japanese ice cream mainstays for years, as have wasabi, miso, + basil flavours. In some instances the black colour is created by bamboo charcoal powder, which is known to known to absorb impurities and excessive odours.
50 Shades of Grey…or Black?
Black Sesame Soft Serve ↑
While the crux of black soft serve combinations seem to take on a matte texture, the black sesame soft serve can fluctuate from a darker to lighter grey. *Click on each photo for some of their respective flavours.
Black Sesame Soft Serve Japan
Squid Ink Soft Serve Japan
Black Soft Serve with Shredded Coconut
…and simply by proximity, Vancouver and Los Angeles are well known to have adopted an abundance of Japan’s and all of east Asia’s culinary delights.
Case in point Little Damage in Los Angeles has a black almond-charcoal soft serve that is taking over Instagram. Dubbed as “Goth Ice Cream,” the sweet treat is cheekily being referred to as ice cream that’s as “dark as your soul,” including their handmade black waffle cones.
But if we are giving credit where its most certainly due, huge kudos needs to go out to Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream in NYC for premiering the viral phenom that started it all, black Coconut Ash ice cream. The owner Nick Morgenstern, achieved the colour from a form of coconut ash activated charcoal, that wait for it—tastes like coconut and may temporarily dye mouths inky black. Fetching, really!
Triple Scoop of Coconut Ash at Morgensterns NYC
Black Teeth is the New Pearly White!
Oh So Instagrammable, Coconut Ash + NYC Graffiti
And lastly, black ice cream has landed in la belle province of Montréal courtesy of NDG’s Ca Lem—which means ice cream in Vietnamese. Ca Lem offers up an assortment of Asian flavours like taro, red bean, green tea, coco ash and black sesame. Unfortunately Ca Lem is only opening in mid to late May, but trust me, they are worth the wait!
*Click on photos for respective flavours.
Coco Ash
Coco Ash in a Cone
Black Sesame Soft Serve
Cherry Sorbet + Black Sesame
Will the black ice cream phenom have staying power in North America or is it a here-today-gone-tomorrow-Starbucks Latte, coveted soley for its Instagram potential?
Time shall tell, my kittens!
“I scream you scream, we alllll scream for BLACK ICE CREAM!”
You will never see me wearing it and I haven’t worn red lipstick since the 90’s—despite it pulling together a LBD like nobodies business. But here’s the thing, I also avoid wearing black if I can. Bizarro world, I’m aware.
I do enjoy a matte red poupée blush on cheeks and I’m certainly a fan of the highly wearable clash of red and pink worn together— Nicole Richie really sells the trend setting combination below.
Nicole Richie Wearing House of Harlow 1960
If forced, I definitely gravitate to more of a blue-red or cherry-red, however anything with even the slightest tinge of orange in it, and I’m heading for the hills! I even go as far as avoiding posting anything with red in it on my Instagram when I can help it, and as you guessed it black-anything.
Perhaps this iswhy no one is more surprised than myself to be intrigued by the latest red eye shadow trend I’ve seen scurrying up in my Pinterest feed and in fall 2017 previews?!
I actually REALLY like it. So much so that I would even deign to try it!
But where to begin?
From where I’m standing, I would say that it looks best on brunettes with hazel-to-light green eyes and can be worn matte…
… or glossy
Wanting further insight on how to wear a ‘red eye,’ I prompted Canadian makeup artist Simone Otis for her expert opinion.
“Red eyeshadow and eye liner are super hot right now,” says Otis who sees it as a singular “monochromatic” wear ie; just the eyes and nothing else.
↑A monochromatic wash of red eye shadow, with darker red eye liner on the water line.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t wear any makeup. A perfect canvas of matte or dewy skin, nuanced by adroit usage of highlighter & gloss can really make this look pop, as do a generous set of eyebrows.
Photo & Makeup Simone Otis
“It’s not a subtle look,” says Otis who recommends it for anyone who likes a “bold or fashion forward look.”
***
What truly got me jazzed about this trend was this photo of Bella Hadid at Alberta Ferretti’s fall 2017 show. Her incredible eye makeup literally stopped me dead in my tracks. I had to perform some “due dilly” and find out who was behind this stunning artistry that would somehow make red eye shadow palpable for me?
Granted, Hadid’s eye balls are kaleidoscope dreamy and would make an appliqué of fresh mud look covetable, but that doesn’t mitigate this make up mastery.
Love This Look. Photo: Alberta Ferretti Fall 2017
After some sleuthing, I discovered that famed make-up artist Tom Pecheux was the great and powerful Oz behind this phenomenal look.
The secret to this head turning red eye makeup is using it in combination with black—and lots of it. Pecheaux traced the waterlines, and blended the top and bottom lashes + the inner/outer lids in black liner leaving the center lids completely bare.
He used Mac Chromecake in Basic Red— a highly pigmented water-activated formula that can also be used for fake tattoos and body painting. He finished off the look with yellow/gold highlighter in the corner of Hadid’s eyes which brought out the yellow specs in her intoxicating ice blue green eyes.
Telling Allure.com back in February, Pecheux explained…
“by having the red eye shadow just in the center of the eyes, it comes as a surprise when you blink or move your head. Because first all you see is black, which always looks great, but then you see a flash of red and you’re like, Ooh!”
***
So what’s your verdict?
Is it an “Ooh” or an “Ew“….
Wearable or emblematic of severe sleep deprivation and/or a hideous eye infection?
One would have to be pop culturally myopic to have not clocked in on the Instagramable boom of unicorn-everything as of late. From #UnicornFood to the stand alone #Unicorn hashtag signifying the originality of someone or something—this trend is currently flying through the digital landscape by the nanosecond.
Humans have long been fascinatedwith themystical & mythical (or is it?) tale of the unicorn dating back to The Bible. As one legend describes it, the fiercely dangerous and exotic hybrid animal could not be caught unless “a virgin held it to its bosom“—which strikes me as rather PERVY?!
Personally, I’m much more inclined to evoke a childhood Hello Kitty/Hello Pony-esque version of the unicorn. I want to go on a Never-Ending-Story ride on one or French braid their hair, even though a straight braid is all I’m capable of. I also like the idea that it could be male or female, or ideally—genderless.
…Also, in my flight of fantasia, unicorns tinkle glitter rainbows and poop FUNFETTI…ummm ’cause they can!
Wait a minute, now that I think about it—I totally need all unicorns to be GIRLS!
#AllUnicornsareGirls #SorryNotSorry
Being a unicorn can simply lend itself to magical thinking, to being undefinable & ageless, to a visual of Drew Barrymore giggling as she sneaks extra popping boba on her cotton candy FROYO ← I mean how presh is that last one?
However you interpret the legend of the unicorn, enjoy this seminal pop culture list of the latest trends and inspo that you can incorporate into the ***magic*** of your everyday life!
UNICORN FOOD
While the “unicorn trend” surfaced back in2016, the culinary #UnicornFood trend has been exclusively a 2017 phenom!
As you can see, the emphasis here is on the sweetest of confections—from macaroons to the Insta famous #UnicornCake to my personal favourite a healthy blue algae #UnicornLatte from The End Brooklyn.
I’m convinced this is what Zsa Zsa Garbor’s orgasms would have looked like through Kirlian photography ↓
*Maybe that last joke was more of a ‘grower and not a show-er?’…”WELL THATS WHAT SHE SAID!” (oh lord help me I cannot be stopped.)
…Serve your unicorn delights with an ‘electroplated’ flatware set courtesy of Urban Outfitters and this party train is just getting started!
UNICORN HAIR
I’ve alwaysbeen super clear thatwhen a trend ends up on theshelves of yourlocal pharmacy—it’s simmering towards oblivion, if not sudden death.
That being said, there’s always the exception to the rule—andthe#UnicornHair colour trend just isn’t letting up.
While I would always recommend a colourist before a DIY job, for those of us on the aging accelerant train towards hair BREAKAGE (totes opposite of a party train!) I would recommend the ease and convenience of a wig!
Wearing a wig these days ain’t no big THANG—think Gwen Stefani, Rhianna and that obscure-unknown Kylie Jenner for modern day touch points.
Unicorn Hair Totally Care…
Plastik Magazine’s Plastik Storehas some super fun versions. Left: The Unicorn (natch!), Top: Cotton Candy & Bottom: Pastel Dream
And, AND…all of the STAHHHH‘s and Hair & Beauty Bloggers swear by UniWigs. They have an enormous assortment of human and synthetic hair wigs, extensions, toppers and pieces that can be easily shipped all over the world.
Their Trendy Wigs selection can give you the unicorn hair of your dreams, plus I love the idea that many of them come with realistic roots + prestyled textures and layers! From L to R: ‘Lucy‘, & ‘Tonya‘.
UNICORN MAKEUP
While there are bounties of unicorn makeup examples on the web here’s some brand new products + a whole ‘lotta inspo to get that ethereal glow.
Anastasia Beverly Hills “Moon Child” kit can be used all over your GORGEOUS selfandTarte Cosmetics just launched their “Unicorn Collection” of playful horned make up brushes, ‘lights’ mascara and highlighter compact.
…These Unicorn Tears products are absolute staples for the worlds hottest beauty bloggers. Too Faced Lip Crème in you guessed it “Unicorn Tears,” Farsali Primer in “Unicorn Essence” and JUST ANNOUNCED Pat McGrath will be launching this “Cyber Clear” eye gloss (also for cheekbones and lips) on April 11tth, 2017 exclusively at PatMcGrath.com
Cyber Clear Eye Gloss Pat McGrath
But truly the Farsali product shot does little to show off the sorcery of what Unicorn Essence can do, so I give you this demo by YouTube juggernaut Isabel Bedoya.
*Please excuse the “Night at the Roxbury” sounding ear-hemorrhoid playing in the background.
And lastly for some full makeup inspiration check out the following examples for next-level incandescence. L: Instagram’s beauty doyens @johannaherrstedth and R: @ohmygeeee (also wearing a Uni Wig!) *Notice the highlight on cupids bow and nose.
UNICORN NAILS
Truthbe told there’s far too many literal translations of #UnicornNails out in the digital ether, and the bulk of examples are painfully tacky. Nails in the shape of stiletto swirling unicorn horns?
…I’d prefer the swallowing of my own vomit, thank you very much.
Instead, I offer up the Spring 2017 nail swatches from Soho New York’s titans of nail art Paint Box Nails with enough INSPO and variety to last you throughout the entire summer!
UNICORN STYLE
Are we there yet?Were just rounding the corner to our last installment, which is Unicorn STYLE.
Again, any lazy hack could point you towards boardwalk tees with iron-on unicorn EVERYTHING, but this is a piece of about tapping into the radiance of your ownimagination.
LITERAL has no place here.
Instead, I do what the best trend spotters in the industry do, make connections and introduce previously untapped ideas.
A huge trendthat istaking shape for Spring 2017 is the HOLOGRAM sneaker. All of these examples conjure up the fantasy and alchemy of the unicorn, and look at YOU SUPERSTAR, YOU’RE SO ON TREND!
Vans Classic Slip Ons in Holographic Silver
MisBehave Holographic Rainbow Lace Urban OG
Converse Paradise Party Hi Top *Sold at Free People
…Should the hologram sparkle not suit your strut, these new Nike Air Max LD-Zero in baby pink should do the trick!
…for summer brides-to-be who see themselves more as a show stopping ingénue, how drop dead G-g-g-g-orgeous is this Marchesa tulle gown? Add on those sparkly Chuck Taylor’s and you’ve got yourself a ‘Unicorn Bride!’
Kimonos are still coasting on a trend high and Montreal expat Rita Ghanimé infused her design expertise & undeniable sensual allure to her custom Made with Love line. This season Ghanimé’s kimonos are inspired by Anäis Nin and moonlight refracting sequins that she will ship from her home base in Los Angeles.
…and lastly accessorize like a boss with these go-big-or-go-home Gucci dazzlers, a suggestive unicorn top-knot bun (the scarf need not be Gucci ladies) and Kate Spade’s Jeff Koonz inspired Unicorn Balloon Clutch!
That’sit for me, now please excuse me as its time to lay down for a ***Unicorn Dream***…which is essentially me frolicking around with Charlie Hunnam in an sea of Lucky Charms marshmallows set to Enya’s “Orinoco Flow…”
Who among us isn’t a quasi shut-in during the bleakest month of February—spooning ones cat as if she/he/non-identifying/were your emotional LIFE RAFT + the only reason to get out of bed in the morning to face the overwhelming dark sludge of ones existence?
Ohhh, just me? *clears throat nervously…
**MARCH** isthemost opportunemonth to reinvigorate your POP CULTURE diet and get up to speed on all of the latest need-to-know releases & cool hunter happenings!
It’s time to STOKE that inner fire leave the darkest recesses of my duvet & pillow fort as the world around me you begins to thaw for the coming spring!
GET OUT!
TheMontreal en Lumierefestival is continuing on until March 11th and **TONIGHT** is Nuit Blanche—a culturally edifying array of guided tours, workshops, installations, parties, performance art, gastronomy and films just to name a few! Open until 3am, there is a king’s ransom of stimulating and inspiring offerings (over 200 FREE activities!) adroitly sprinkled across Montreal in an easy-to-navigate landscape. This year Nuit Blanche has joined forces with Montreal’s 375th Anniversary for an “Expo 67” themed evening of programming that is sure to add a memorable dimension to the annual indoor/outdoor event.
Grammy award-winning artist/producer duo The Chainsmokers (how cu-uuute is Drew Taggart?!) have been dropping Hansel + Gretyl-esque musical bread crumbs over the past year like “Closer” and most recently “Paris.” Finally, their debut album Memories Do Not Open[Columbia] is set to release April 7th, and will feature “Paris” as well as 10 additional never-before-heard tracks from the hit making duo.
Jamiroquai
I feel like I may have willed this next one as I have been dreaming of a NEW Jamiroquai album forevs?! Ok fyyne, I don’t have that much power but Jay Kay is BACK after a 7 year absence and according to the response on my Instagram, the world is COLLECTIVELY thrilled by this! Ok, FYYYNE, just 65 of mainly my friends but whose counting? Be sure to download the e-n-t-i-r-e Automation [Virgin/EMI] album when it drops on March 31st, like any good 90’s kid would do.
…I can’t for the life of me control the rest of you impatient millennial maniacs!
PODCAST
On February 15, 2014, fitness guru Richard Simmons disappeared. He stopped teaching his regular exercise class at Simmons, cut off his closest friends, and removed himself from the public eye. Nobody has heard from him, save for arecorded telephone interview he had with TODAY’s show Savannah Guthrie about a year ago. Missing Richard Simmons follows documentarian (and former Daily Show producer) Dan Taberski as he tries to piece together CSI-stylewhat happened to the famed fitness guru. The six-episode (so far) podcast which has reached #1 on the charts has gripped listeners but I think it’s all “a bunch of horse pucky”—something Simmons would totally say, at least in public. Apparently behind the scenes he has quite the potty-mouth.
The man gave us his glorious lubed up legs and 24-7 glittery gay-enthusiasm for decades—all-the-while concealing his own lifetime battle with depression. Can’t we let him have some WELL DESERVED alone time without making him into an absolute mockery?
For SHAME people, For SHHHHHAME!
*But listen to the podcast anyway, cause its ‘hella entertaining.
BOOKS
Sleeping Reading is truly one of my life’s greatest joys. Here are 2 spanking new reads tostimulate ‘yo synapses for the month of March.
One Day None We’ll All Be Dead and None of this Will Matter[Doubleday Canada] is a collection of brilliant essays by Canadian Buzz Feed editor Scaachi Koul. And just because that holier-than-thou “real journalist” smarty-pants would never deign to follow me back on Twitter, I can still take the high road and give praise where it’s due. *Curtsey.
Whispers… “what. a. thunder. c**t.”
South and West[Penguin Random House] is penned by none other than THE Joan Didion and details her account of a visit to New Orleans back in the 1970’s. Both non fiction titles are available on March 7th at my favourite place in the world besides my own bed, Chapters Indigo.
POP UP
Toronto friendsicles: (I’m bi-provincial if you didn’t know), you must attend this ONE DAY ONLY cereal pop-up café—CEREAL BOX CAFÉ on March 10th, at 867 Dundas, St W Toronto, ON.
Between the hours of 5-10pm you can choose from some of your favourite childhood or adulting cereals, some unknown international flavours “Chocella from France anyone?,” toppings akin to the ones found at your favorite frogurt spot, and AND your choice of 8 different types of milk including STRAWBERRY!?!?
Don’t dare miss it!
Netflix
Comedian Dave Chapelle flexed his comedic A-game on his debut SNL appearance back in November 2016—raking in the seasons highest ratings (6.2 million viewers).A day later I tweeted that Chapelle should “get his own show back” and that this time he would definitely take the $50 million that he famously gave up in 2005 before fleeing to Africa.
Even better than I predicted, Chapelle was offered $60 million for three separate hour-long Netflix specials. The first two of said specials—Deep in the Heart of Texas and The Age of Spin were already pre-taped shows done in 2015 and 2016. They both premiere on Netflix on March 21st and here’s a video preview.
No word on the yet-to-be-taped all new 3rd special, but you will hear about it here first, so stay tuned!
***
So there you have it, some of the latest cool-quotient consumables for the month of March.
If you’re just tuning in tadpoles + kittens, you might recall that the last of the mammoth motif trends was the pineapple?
…And in the revolving door of trends where EVERYTHING changes and if you aren’t careful you could be guilty of being “sooooo 5 minutes ago,” this years appliqué-on-everything is… THE STAR!
We first got a glimpse of this STARRY trend on Stella McCartney’s F/W Jeans + handbags & she’s continued into spring 2017 with her platform brogues with playful mirrored stars in a selection of incredible colours!
*Printed mid-rise straight leg jeans $495.00, faux leather platform brogues $1,140.00, Falabella mini star tote aprox $650.00 and up
Designer-to-the-stars (how Meta!) Elie Saab dedicated her ENTIRE ready to wear Spring/Summer 2017 collection to the star trend from head to toe including accessories.
Designer Rixo London have some amazing cosmic love Spring 2017 offerings…
…St Laurent is stylishly on trend with their stunning black denim skinny jeans and pink star appliqué leather sneakers.
…And super sexy + edgier than thou CanadianjewelrylineTOVA has a wall-to-wall STAR STUDDED S/S line (*I’m running out of clever metaphors here) and can be purchased through their Instagram @tovastore
…How about some star nail inspo to go along with the trend? Cute for the toes too!
And lastly, but not least-ly—Emma Stone owned the 2017 Golden Globes red carpet wearing this g-g-gorgeous diaphanous silver star dress by Valentino.
…and this brings me to you-saw-this-coming-from-around-the-cornerSEGUE of the title track from Emma Stone’s + Ryan Gosling’s LA LA LAND…
“CITY OF STARS…”
You heard it here FIRST friendsicles! The STAR TREND is totally a thing. So get on it!
“…Might not know it now….Baby, but I are, I’m a star…”
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the relentless tag team fu**ery of 2016.
**Newsflash** 2016 was a stinking pile of doggie doo doo—lit on fire and left on everyone’s front porch leaving an inescapable STANK that permeated throughout the entire year.
The never-ending yarn of loss,social injustice, terrorism + the congealed, rotten stench of the Trump campaign spooled on and on with seemingly no end in sight?
The crushing weight of (attempting?!) to condense it all was simply too overwhelming for me come deadline time.
Looking back, once 2016 took my idol Prince—I effectively went into “I’m officially dead inside” auto-pilot, and everything blurred into oblivion shortly thereafter.
…I’m still not done bawling my eyelashes off FYI.
Little did I know it would be a full year of mourning beloved musical artists, writers and personalities that shaped the tapestry of my LIFE’S PATCHWORK QUILT. Artists taken suddenly and without warning—Bowie, Prince, George Michael, Carrie Fischer and her mother Debbie Reynolds—not but 24 hours later? Singer Sharon Jones (I thought her Cancer was in remission?!) Alan Thicke? Harambe the Gorilla?!?!
For the first time in years I had SEVERE creative fits and starts trying to write my annual ‘Best of’ review.
A review, which by way, brings alllllll the boys to yard and makes my traffic stats skyrocket.
But I couldn’t pull it together—I couldn’t feign genuine enthusiasm. My stabs at humour + time-honoured recipe of wittier-than-thou nomenclature felt hollow and quite frankly, disrespectful.
What good could my picayune “best of list” + a couple juvenile GIFS do, for a world drowning in the daily BRINE of horror and sadness?
And, AND!!—If I don’t address some of the REAL issues I’ll feel irresponsible, but if I delve into them too deeply I’ll need a Kanye 5150 stay of the ‘exhausts’ and the ‘tireds’ cause its. all. too. Painful.
At its core The Pop Culture Rainman™ is an entertainment blog—long on comedic intelligentsia and short on tackling hard news à la Christiane Amanpour. That’s not to say I don’t personally step in deep puddles, but I prefer to stay on-brand whereas this blog is concerned. Either way, I felt mud-stuck and didn’t have a clue on how to balance funny, with say, the growing panic of what was happening in Aleppo!?
I wanted to crawl into a dark corner with a bag of weed gummy bears, 3-ply tissues and a clickity lamp.
…I simply didn’t have it in me to hold up 2016’s hair while it threw up all over the universe.
***
It (((still FEELS))) like a terrible Sophie’s Choice of abandonment. I work tirelessly year-round collecting photos and text, preening and priming, for what I pride myself as being a list like no other and it was all for naught.
I feel like I Mariah-New-Years-Rockin’-Eve’d all of my dedicated + loyal followers (all 27 of you!), and I sincerely apologize. I mean haven’t you read enough reductive lists fawning over the slushy, syrupy soft-serve that NBC’s This Is Us has coughed up? Aren’t you tired of the year end/new year Instagram posts from basic b’s that think they are being WAYYYY DEEP with #GoodVibesOnly hashtags?
You deserve better than that. We all deserve better than that. I pride myself on curating a list that is a salve to the onslaught of surface tripe out there. I promise to be back next year.
‘Cause even if 2017 isn’t able to serve it up on its finest Reynaud dinnerware, at least we know it can. never. get. worse.
In the meantime, have a look at my Instagram as I did cover a lot of the past years trends there.
Before signing off, I do have to say a few words about losing Prince. If you haven’t read my piece Prince Can We Talk—doing so will help give you context.
I thought I would honestly get to finally meet him in person in 2016 after months of talking strategy with his personal publicist. After a lifetime of fandom. After 5 concerts and 3 on stage appearances with him. After a bedside declaration to my dying mother in her last weeks.
Prince was the Swiss Army KNIFE of MUSICAL GENIUS. It’s like LOSING a COLOUR, or losing a LETTER OF the alphabet permanently. It’s NEVER going to be the same.
I will still name my first book Pop Life after Prince. The only difference will be that, meeting Prince will not be the tying up of my life’s work, like I had planned.
But perhaps that is the grand lesson. We are never done learning, growing and disrupting are we?
The **holiday season** is officially upon us! To mark this most momentous and joyous of occasions I am giving away 2 book sets of the years most pop culture worthy titles—with a healthy dose of Canadiana, ’cause really—there’s no place like home!
I can’t extol the virtues of reading more; whether for pleasure, inspiration, relaxation or to buttress the ’ol noggin —it’s one of my life’s simplest and yet, greatest pleasures!
As a book purist, I love the tactile feel of REAL books, and I’m bringing that gift to you courtesy of Indigo Chapters & Pop Culture Rainman Reads!
TAH DAH! It’s the Razzle Dazzle of READING!
Check out these incredible titles! Each gift pack will include:
The Best Kind of PeopleZoe Whithall
What if someone you trusted was accused of the unthinkable?
With exquisite emotional precision, Canadian award-winning author Zoe Whittall explores issues of loyalty, truth, and the meaning of happiness through the lens of an all-American family on the brink of collapse.
*In the interest ofpop culture, many have compared it to a modern day “Ordinary People.“
The Girl With The Lower Back TattooAmy Schumer
#1 New York Times Best Seller
“Amy Schumer’s book will make you love her even more. For a comedian of unbridled (and generally hilarious) causticity, Schumer has written a probing, confessional, unguarded, and, yes, majorly humanizing non-memoir, a book that trades less on sarcasm, and more on emotional resonance.” —Vogue
Born To Run Bruce Springsteen
The fiercely private Bruce Springsteen opens up about his strained relationship with his late father, his on going battle with depression and life on the road as lead singer of the tight knit E Street Band since 1972.
“Richly rewarding…Bruce Springsteen proves that he has takenon life fully engaged both in living and examining it, and in doing so, he’s delivered a story as profoundly inspiring as his best music…It’s alternately brutally honest, philosophically deep, stabbingly funny, and, perhaps most important, refreshingly humble.” —Los Angeles Times
Shoe Dog Phil Knight
For all you sneaker heads and high top kick lovers, read all about the sneaker brand that changed the game forever. In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world’s most iconic and profitable brands
Canada Mike Myers
In this instant national bestseller, comedy superstar Mike Myers writes from the (true patriot) heart about his 53-year relationship with his beloved Canada.
Mike Myers is a world-renowned actor, director and writer, and the man behind some of the most memorable comic characters of our time. But as he says: “no description of me is truly complete without saying I’m a Canadian.” He has often winked and nodded to Canada in his outrageously accomplished body of work, but now he turns the spotlight full-beam on his homeland.
Keep them all or re-gift some away for the holidays—its up to you!
THE RULES
Contest is open to Canadian residents only
Must Be 18 Years or Older
Must follow me on either Instagram @reneepopculturerainman orTwitter @popculturerainman or follow my blog The Pop Culture Rainman.
For Instagram you must write “I want to win the chaptersindigo pop culture giveaway from reneepopculturerainman” #MakeItMerry #PCRReads on my Instagram or your own with a photo of the books
For Twitteryou must write “I want to win the @chaptersindigo pop culture book giveaway from @popcultrainman #MakeItMerry #PCRReads on my Twitter or your own with a photo of the books
For Blog Comments just post below in comments section. No need to post the photo!
Do the above on at least one social media channelor in the comments section on my blog. Don’t forget both hashtags!
↑ Copy and Paste + POST this photo for Insta or Twitter ↑
GOT IT?
Winners will be randomly chosen and announced by December 19th, 2017.
GOOD LUCK!
XOXO,
RESULTS UPDATE! The Winners of my Pop Culture inspired MULTI PACK Book giveaway is Ophelia Chang from Twitter and Zara Alexis from my blog The Pop Culture Rainman! Congratulations to the Winners!! Happy Holidays EVERYONE!!
November was a standout month for pop culture trends, innovations, transportation’s + mannequin challenge funifications!Check out this pop culture infused time capsule of all the THANGS that gave my inner Jell-O its wiggle this past month!
Animalic Perfumes
The NYT published an article at the end of October 2016 on “Animalics” a new niche trend in perfumes that bring out ones primal BEAST. Read all about it here
While the idea is not new, it is one that seems to be cresting as of late with both niche and indie perfumers getting attention for their unique takes on the trend.
Victor Wong a Toronto gaming programmer-turned-perfumer came up with the idea for his unisex brand Zoologist a few years ago. He was drawn to scents that seemed to reflect the wild animal kingdom —intense musk’s + strange and densely shocking smells. He created his line that takes the user on a wild journey that tells a detailed story about each animal. It should be noted all of his scents are hybrid synthetics—no animal’s are harmed!
Zoology is a nicher than niche concept for avid perfume collectors, pop culture enthusiasts, trend hunters and certainly anyone involved in the way-beyond-my-comfort-level cosplay world of furries.
Zoology’s Bat perfume won the coveted 2016 Art & Olfaction award—a pretty incredible feat for a first time indie perfumer—and it has a huge cult following! This is definitely not a first timers perfume line although we can all agree that The Nightingale, a pink floral chypre with rich scents of saffron and rosy, powdery Japanese plum blossoms is one of the lines most wearable scents.The pink liquid and feminine bottle alone, will delight anyone who (like myself) likes to collect eclectic perfume bottles
Cruelty-Free Winter Jackets
If you know me personally (hey! lucky you), you know my well documented distaste for the fur industry and the unregulated barbarian practices that take place across the globe—and yes even in CANADA. Far too many people are blindly buying into fur-as-a-fashion-statement or as a deluded sign of stature? Murdered coyote framing the faces of thousands of unconscious tweens via Canada Goose isn’t my idea of style people (parents I’m talking to you!) It’s not the 1700’s and you aren’t a Courier de Bois paddling up and down the river in your canoe?! It’s 2016 and there are cruelty-free OPTIONS available to keep you warm and looking great!
Quartz Co.
In what just may be a world first Quebec’s Quartz Co. unveiled a true innovation in winter jacket insulation. They partnered up with Quebec’s Fibres Monarch who had 5 years worth of research and development under their belts to bring milkweed insulation to the marketplace! Milkweed is a natural fiber that is grown all over Canada and not only does it help trap cold, but unlike fur or down feathers it also ABSORBS the cold! Speaking of down feathers, depending on where the jackets are made, this can also be a cruel practice–so do your research before you buy! Best of all, with Quartz co. jackets no animals are hurt in the process and milkweed is also natural habitat for the sustainability of the monarch butterfly!
Beautiful, natural milkweed!
The bad news: Quartz Co. sold out completely of their milkweed jackets for the 2016/17 winter season. The inaugural roll out was a limited edition.
The good news: The 2017/2018 jackets are already finished a full production line with a brand new array of colours ready for next season!
Another Canadian Co. WULLY Outerwear from Toronto is offering up an amazing incentive to trade in your fur coats for $300.00 off on their amazing animal-free parkas. Watch Below!
Wow Air
You must have noticed that half of everyone you know posted Iceland vacation photos to Instagram in 2016? That’s because Wow Air the incredible low fareairline that launched in Canada last May has travel deals to Iceland and Europe that are out of this world! New European destinations were announced this November go online and ch-ch-check them out!
Iceland has become a hotbed for pop culture footnotes in the past few years with celebs like Beyoncé + Jay Z vacationing there and Justin Bieber using the incredible scenery to shoot 2 of his music videos in 2015 & 2016! The famed HBO fantasy drama Game of Thronesshot in Iceland and even The Simpsons got in on the Reykjavik spirit complete with a champagne party in the famed Blue Lagoon baths. And just last month Miss Iceland—Arna Ýr Jónsdóttir (try saying that 3x’s fast!) made international headlines when she bowed out of a Las Vegas pageant (and all pageants indefinitely) when she was told she had “too much fat” to compete!?! VEGAS YOU CRAY! In fact all ‘beauty’ pageants are an affront to feminism and should have no place in modern society.
*Click on photos for a detailed look and captions ↓
Bey & Jay Outdoor Excursion Fun!
The Biebs in the Glacial Icelandic Waters
Game of Thrones Shoot
The Simpsons Under an Aurora Borealis Sky
Gorgeous Miss Iceland
Mannequin Challenge
Mannequin challenges started to go viral online in early November 2016. Should you have no contact to the outside world a Mannequin challenge is a viral video craze that shows intricately laid out scenes captured on video with people frozen on spot many of them set to Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles” song, which for the record I think is a big stinkin’ pile of doo doo, but hey it is the #1 song in the US right now.
Choosing a favourite is really like an impossible Sophie’s Choice of decision-making but here is my top 5.
1.High School Mannequin Challenge “The Real Royal Family”
This was the first all-student high school mannequin challenge that I saw in early November and I believe it set a precedence for all others to follow.
2. Zach King
King’s gravity defying ping pong stance boggles the mind. Is this real life?
3. Boxer Dog
Sit Ubu Sit…GOOD DAWG!
4. London Underground
Cramped spaces, strangers politely cooperating in unison on a moving vehicle? Say no more!
5. Lebron James, Michelle Obama and the Cleveland Cavaliers...set to classical music, natch!
Which Mannequin Challenge(s) were YOUR favourites? Let me know????
That’s all she wrote for November, the anxiety soup of December deadlines await…eek!
Stay tuned for Part 1 of The Best of 2016 Coming SOON!
Photo Credit: Peter Strain for Variety Magazine
Canada Mike Myers
The Pop Culture Rainman™ 