I was one entertained recently at MARO Supper Club for the Africa Comes Alive fundraiser, where Canadian jewellery designers teamed up with Cascata Blu swimwear to raise awareness and funds for the A Hi Kulene Area Development Program (ADP) and World Vision Canada.

Photo Credit: Korby Banner

Jewellery designers  donated and created African-inspired pieces that were auctioned off at the event – includi C’est Joli, Colette Harmon, J. Rox, Jewellery by Karen, Monikque Jewellery, Melissa Clemente Designs, Rita Tesolin, Sylvia Brade, and Tracy Borlase. Each individual piece will be up for grabs during the live auction directly following the fashion show with all proceeds raised to be donated to the cause.

ABOUT CASCATA BLU
Cascata Blu is sexy beachwear designed by Torontonian, Cheryl Gushue. Gushue designed a junior line right out of college working with stretch fabrics creating sexy clubwear that was sold at a trendy Toronto retailer Urban Behavior. Her work has been featured on Fashion Television, in TChad Magazine and received national media exposure as a finalist in the esteemed TFI New Labels competition. With the investment of her new partner Joan Kelley, Cheryl is now full force ahead creating Cascata Blu.

Imagine sporting a turban with matching muff this winter?! Well I won’t be buying the new Headmistress warm, winter (wow, so pricey) ‘Durocher’ accessories, but I do like them!  All from Headmistress:

Gloves $140 | Turban $140 | Muff $260

I don’t remember much about buying these shoes, but I do remember questioning whether they were hot or not. In the end I bought them because they were just too odd to pass up. Over the years, I’ve been too shy to wear them, but too fascinated to toss them!

As it turns out, my funky heels came in handy as I was getting ready for last week’s Tana Spring 2012 Shoe Trends event at Black Moon Lounge. Not only was fashion guru Adrian Mainella hosting it, but there was also a competition for the best shoes. To my surprise, Mainella picked my kooky vintage kicks as the best of the evening! (I won against a pair of Balenciagas and Calvin Kleins!) I won a gift card for Browns Shoes and a basketful of awesome Tana shoe care products!

As I was digging through my newly acquired booty, I felt guilty. Like most folks, I don’t mind dropping big bucks on shoes, but I tend to be lax in the care department. I instantly fell in love with the Tana® Shine Sponge in neutral, since I can give my shoes a quick high gloss shine, before I head out the door! I’m also looking forward to cleaning my summer shoes with the Universal Sandal Care before I put them away for the season. Thank you Tana!

I have to tell you about these shoes. And to be honest, if I wasn’t already obliged, I might keep just keep them to myself!

Unassumingly dapper, equally comfortable, priced amazingly and even ethically contrived, Urshuz is a revolutionary approach to footwear. Currently the styles available are only made in men’s sizes, but once the women’s line is launched (I hear it’s in the works and I hope it’s similar to the men’s), I’ll be joining the revolution!

Urshuz, conceived by Canadian shoe designer Grant Delgatty (K-Swiss, Vans, et al.), is an interchangeable shoe. That is, a combination of uppers and soles that you can attach or reattach to each other, creating a different shoe every time! Both uppers and soles come in a variety of colors and materials (leather, suede, jute) for you to essentially mix and match. Popular combos are a grey lace-up sneaker with a bright orange sole or a leather low-cut shoe with a ‘baltic’ blue sole – but with the creative freedom to choose your own shoe combo at a great price, you can interchange however you like!

My man received a beautiful cognac colored (sienna) leather pair of low-cuts with a co-ordinating cork sole, exactly his style! Not only do they look pricey with the premium leather and perforated lining, the ergonomic thermo plastic rubber sole is apparently “moccasin-comfy”, so he says. And the combination costs $75US! Awesome! For Christmas I’m considering the perforated white sneaker for $40 and because the sole is so comfortable, the attachable flip flop upper come summer.

“Unassumingly dapper, equally comfortable, priced amazingly and even ethically contrived, Urshuz is a revolutionary approach to footwear.”

Urshuz uppers and soles are interchangeable using a patented looping system – elastics that loop onto locking channels in the soles making it easy to attach and reattach. Once you get your groove on (using a little tool that hides in the sole), you can assemble a shoe in a few minutes. Even if you don’t want to do the labour yourself, you can get another pair of Urshuz at about $65 for top and bottom. And then, when you’ve had enough, Urshuz has a recycling program for your old soles.

In Canada, Urshuz is available in select stores in Quebec but can be easily purchased online. In the US, several Urban Outfitters are carrying the line, which means we’ll likely be hearing more about the brand. Find all stores online >

So although we’ve been seeing colored tights out and about for a few years now, as predicted they’ve just recently become popular with the masses. (Doesn’t it always take awhile for people to embrace color?!)

I’ve always loved my color tights – such a great way to add color and interest to an outfit! Don’t be afraid: give your legs some color with a black dress, pair with prints or even keep your outfit all in the same hues.

Secret’s beautiful fall colors include gorgeous deep tones like charcoal, deep teal, black iris, blackberry, sangria and chili pepper.

Colored Legwear at Fendi Fall 2011:

Balenciaga Pre-Fall 2010:

Kate Spade Fall 2009 Colored Legs:

More: H&M Fall 2011 | Milly by Michelle Smith

For Fall 2011, Secret also has *affordable* fashion tights in various patterns and textures, animal print leggings, cable knit legwarmers and of course all different color nylons. Find them everywhere!