Failing the Fabulous Gene |
| Recently legislation that would have fined people $50 for exposing
their underwear in public died in the Virginia state senate. The so-called
“baggy-pants bill” is still on the table in Atlanta, and
a similar ordinance has been passed in a small Louisiana town. Coincidentally,
the irreverent comedian Bill Maher has had
enough of people who won’t dress properly in public. “Admit
it,” he said on a recent episode of his talk show Real
Time, “we're a nation of slobs who won't be happy
until we can go to the mall in a diaper.” A bit of an exaggeration,
but when I go to any public place I know where he is coming from,
and the satire strikes close to home. |
| Trying to enforce a public dress code that forbids low-riding pants
and visible bra straps and thongs is ridiculous. You can’t legislate
morality; why even take a whack at taste? |
| But when did we become such a continent of slobs? When did so many
people lose their fabulous gene? At a time when so many people court
celebrity and its trappings, how did it become so acceptable to be
so absolutely grubby in public? |
| I really don’t get it. It’s as if some people are embarrassed
to try to look fabulous. They seem ashamed to be “dressed up,”
even at events that surely call for it. When did it stop being fun
to be dressed up, to look killer glam for a big night? I honestly
can’t believe so many young women especially are doing themselves
out of the thrill of dressing up. It’s fabulous to be fabulous. |
| Granted there are still plenty of women and men who like to wow.
Darlings, I am sure you are among them! But this subject merits the
question, when did it become acceptable to wear PJs to the mall? When
did it become okay to go out with your hair uncombed, body unwashed,
and nasty feet in flip-flops? Why do people pop for pricey theater
tickets and then sit in the best seats in baggy Bermudas and “I’m
with stupid” tee-shirts. The irony and out-and-out wrongness
of these get-ups in the part of the theater called the “dress-circle
is obvious. |
| I know that time can defeat us all sometimes, and occasionally the
most soignée of us will have to bear public scrutiny with a
chipped nail, laddered hose, or some such sartorial sin. That is not
what I am talking about. I am referring to slovenliness and disregard
for occasion. I wonder about the ladies who get a manicure and then
let it chip off for 10 days. I am flummoxed by those who colour their
hair and then let roots take over. Wouldn’t it be simpler, easier,
and prettier to keep their nails clean and buffed, and their hair
au natural or take the time to use a quick at home rinse. |
| Maybe my concern with grooming sounds superficial. It’s certainly
anyone’s right to think so, but I won’t agree. I think
a certain pride in one’s appearance is healthy. I am not advocating
legislation or my own “baggy pants and bad hair bill”.
I just think it’s time we ask ourselves how society has gotten
so polarized on such a basic issue as public appearance. |
| I hope in DolceDolce I have made it clear I think
fabulous comes in many shapes and styles. It’s certainly not
about being a size zero, sporting a stiletto, or a perfect glossy
pedicure. I know many women who prefer sporty, simple, and unadorned
and still look smashing. They also look neat, clean, and appropriate,
as well as healthy and happy. |
| It is interesting that mental hospitals consider grooming habits
a sign of mental wellness. Taking an interest in and maintaining normal
grooming is a good sign of recovery. Heaven help half of the shoppers
at any supermarket; are they all depressed and in need of therapy?
The mind boggles. |
| How we dress and groom ourselves says a lot to the world about who
we are and how we see ourselves. Fashion is a language, and your look
is always speaking volumes. Appropriate may not be an “in vogue”
idea, but the tide is slowly turning as taste and class seems to be
making a comeback, socially and professionally. |
| Lately many companies have found that casual dress has brought out
the worst in many employees. Productivity suffers when people kick
back and relax in their comfy or clubby outfits on casual Fridays.
Many managers blush in the summer months as they call in the human
resources department to deal with tank-tops, hip huggers, and too-bare-to-believe-it
summer ensembles on both sexes. |
| So my darling DolceDolce readers, I doubt any of
you are prancing about the mall in your PJs, or sporting month-old
pedicures - but we all share the planet with those whose who do. Legislation
is ridiculous, but when even the counter-culture of comedians has
had it, perhaps it is time we all take a stand. |
| What can we do? We can inspire with kindness. Be even more fabulous.
Take every opportunity to dress up and glory in it - after all, you
only live once. Encourage our friends, sisters, and mothers to know
that they are worth the effort. Believe that every day is better with
beauty - and that it isn’t about a size or shape. It is about
care, creativity, and taking time to be fabulous. |
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| Fashion |
Beauty and the Vine |
| Everything old is new again. The ancients knew that wine was good
for the mind, body, and soul. Now modern healers and beauty gurus
are touting the benefits of wine, from its powerful antioxidant punch
to its ability to beautify, heal, and regenerate the skin. Dr. Richard
Mauer, the founder of d’vine, a new
line of wine-based skin care, explains to DolceDolce
readers the science behind beauty and the vine. |
| DD: Why are products based on wine so beneficial
to the skin? |
| Dr. M: Wine is rich in skin-nourishing ingredients
such as grape seed extracts, wine extracts, wine phytoalexins and
resveratrol. |
| DD: Can you explain the different conditions that
wine-based products and d’vine in particular can address? |
Dr. M: Wine is known for its powerful anti-aging
benefits, and d'vine also addresses common skin challenges such as
hyper-pigmentation, acne, dry and devitalized skin. Our signature
d'vine™ essence is what makes us unique. Formulated from both
red and white grape varietals, the complex promotes circulation, protects
capillary walls and inhibits the enzymes that break down collagen.
It also strengthens the skin by acting as an anti-inflammatory and
free radical scavenger.
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Dr. Richard Mauer, founder of d’vine
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| DD: Over the past 20 years we have heard a lot
about the “French Paradox” and
the benefits of “The Mediterranean Diet”.
Can you discuss this approach to health and how vinotherapy fits into
it? |
| Dr.M: We all know the term "You are what you
eat," and our skin is a reflection of what we put in our bodies.
In addition to the cardiovascular benefits of wine and maintaining
a healthy diet, vinotherapy extends the internal health benefits topically.
As one of the most highly concentrated formulations of wine and grape
seed extracts available for spa and consumer use today, d'vine Vinotherapy
offers a highly effective and potent "drink" for the skin.
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| DD: Many women want to address
problems such as hyper-pigmentation and fine lines, but find their
skin is too sensitive to tolerate many of the recommended products,
such as glycolic acids and retinol. Do you offer an effective alternative? |
| Dr.M: d'vine utilizes a non-agressive
approach to improving texture and strengthening the skin. With no
chemical preservatives, but the antioxidant-rich wine, grape seed,
blueberry and pomegranate extracts, each d'vine Vinotherapy blend
addresses skin conditions without irritating sensitive skin. |
| DD: Is vinotherapy suitable for all ages and skin
types? |
| Dr. M: While vinotherapy is suitable for all ages,
the 20s and beyond are a crucial time for both preventing and targetting
the effects of aging. As the first complete line of wine-based products
for both men and women, d'vine contains a wine-based product for every
skin ailment that can be customized for each skin type. |
| DD: This is a relatively new approach to skin care
in North America. Where did it originate? |
| Dr: M: Vinotherapy originated in France during
the mid-1900s. French winemakers began incorporating wine into their
beauty regimens after noticing visibly healthier skin while interacting
with grapes during the seasonal wine harvest and grape stomping rituals.
The origins of vinotherapy may go even further back in history, as
many speculate that the court of King Louis XIV performed wine-based
treatments. |
For more about D’vine or to find a d’vine spa retailer,
visit www.dvineinc.com
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| DolceDolce Note: |
| d’vine features a full line of professional
spa products. They are elegantly packaged, smell fabulously of their
natural ingredients, and are excellent for sensitive skin. |
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today, and forward
to your friends. Because life should be sweet. |
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| Health |
Fall gently back in to your regime |
| Even if you aren’t a student or a mum with little ones to
send back to school, doesn’t this time of year get your motor
racing? It does mine. Once I pass that Labor Day milestone, I feel
my pace picking up. I start counting down to the holidays. To keep
from getting run down, it’s important to eat right, sleep, and
exercise. When that fails, I love these new energy boosters. |
I have used effervescent “European vitamin bombs” since
university to ward off colds, flu, and general fatigue. I also love
to take them when I fly to fight off plane-flu. Here two excellent
products to tuck in your car, desk, and handbag:
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| The makers of Emergen-C recommend that
you save your self and the planet by choosing packets over plastics.
Just mix Emergen-C Acai,
their new berry flavour or any other flavour of Emergen-C
in filtered water and putting it in a reusable water bottle. Good
advice and we agree, use reusable when ever you can. |
Emergen-C Acai has a great tropical taste
with 1,000 mg Vitamin C and 10 times the antioxidant power of red
grapes and twice that of blueberries. www.emergenc.com
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| Restaurateur John MacDonald started EBOOST
to keep his staff healthy and alert. It’s a formula of vitamins,
minerals, and nutrients designed to keep you energized and focused.
Celebrities including Heidi Klum, Kristen
Dunst, and Lance Armstrong
use it. It works fast. Tablets or packets are available. www.eboost.com |
| DolceDolce Tip for Fall: |
Buy a couple of good quality thermos jars or water jars. Make sure
they are dishwasher safe, and get more than one! Be safe: clean them
everyday. Be green: use them with filtered water, or your own fabulous
green tea made as you like it, or your own fresh juices, or even your
own home made soups. Think of all the bottles you won’t throw
out every day! Be smart: Think how healthy your own soup or fresh
tea sweetened with Splenda or stevia is. Remember all the money you
will save for shoes. Think of how delicious your soup is and how fabulous
your shoes will look - oh la, darlings!
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| Health and Beauty |
Wonderfully White |
| Nothing says natural beauty like glowing skin, shiny hair, and a
bright white smile. And few things can ruin a person’s looks
faster than dull, yellow, stained teeth. It can also ruin confidence,
and that is truly sad. Luckily, it has never been easier to have a
stunning smile with simple daily care. |
| Here’s the good news: whitening tooth brushes actually do
work. I tried my first one a few years ago and was amazed at the difference
the “polishing pad’ made. The Oral-B Vitality
Pro-White power toothbrush lets you polish teeth like
pro. It even has a timer, so you will brush the two minutes your dentist
recommends, all for under $25. I love this brush and the price. |
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| New Scope White mouthwash really is different
and fabulous. It has hydrogen peroxide, used by dentists to bleach
teeth. You have to try it to know if it’s for you, but I loved
the super-clean feeling it gave my mouth. The whitening was almost
a bonus. |
| Having a great smile is important; it’s your calling card.
Check the DolceDolce archive for tips from top international
dental experts. Also feel free to send us your questions and concerns,
and we will try to address them in upcoming issues. |
| Food |
Roasted Mediterranean Relish to Serve
on Sandwiches and Panini |
| This is a simple and delicious thing make to at harvest time, when
tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables are cheap and plentiful. You
may have friend with a garden and a windfall of vegetables. If so,
this is a brilliant way to deal with abundance. |
| I keep a jar of this relish all year round, and make it every second
week. It concentrates the flavours of the vegetables and lifts an
ordinary sandwich or store-bought pepperoni pizza into a healthful
and tasty treat. |
| Wash and slice in medium-sized pieces: |
| Tomatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini, and eggplant. |
| I slice the flesh from the sides of the tomatoes and discard the
pulpy middle. |
| Place the vegetables in a shallow pan or on a baking sheet large
enough to hold it all - it may be a bit crowded. |
| Toss with olive oil and kosher or sea salt. Add a few cloves of
garlic if you like. |
| Roast in very slow 275f/120 C to 325 f/160C oven for 1-1½
hours. Check and stir every 30 minutes after the first 45 minutes.
Cook until still soft and a bit dehydrated. Do not burn. Cool and
place in jar(s). |
| You may add little balsamic, 1 tsp. or not. This will keep 2-3 weeks
in the fridge, or if you have a lot, follow the directions on new
canning jars or in freezer bags. Use a 2 cup maximum if freezing and
cool first. I prefer jars. |
| Here we are smack in fall and “back to school” - whether
we are students or not. There is something nice about the seasons,
even if they do make you conscious of time passing. I am anticipating
a great “Indian summer” or “baba leyatum”
- grandmother’s summer as they say in Moscow, I relish it all.
This week I have to admit I hope I have rallied you to may cause:
the fight against sloppiness. But as always darlings, make up your
own minds! I will confess I love some diehard slobs for whom there’s
no hope. While I despair over their public PJ-wearing ways, I love
them no less. But the harvest is coming in and so are the fall clothes.
So, it’s time to cook and shop! Life as always darlings, should
be sweet. |
| Until next week, please sign-up
if you haven’t already - DolceDolce is free
- and forward
us to your friends. |
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| Gracey Hitchcock |
| Editor |
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