Dynamite is growing up just like her longtime customers. The Montreal-based retailer is celebrating 30 years of business with a stylish makeover geared toward young professionals. Smart and snappy, the chain’s upcoming fall collection is fresh and sophisticated and is inspired by the street style in London with a ’90s sleek, sporty American vibe.

The versatile designs, in stores Aug. 11, take women from work to play with classic leather jackets, textured tees, jersey dresses, jumpsuits, leggings and flattering form-fitting sweaters and accessories.

Store locations will also be revamped and receive a touch of glam with modern accents in 115 locations around the world. Founded in 1975, Group Dynamite, which also owns Garage retail stores, operates more than 300 stores.

Dynamite’s burgundy flare dress, $44.90.

Big collar sherpa jacket, $99, is part of Dynamite’s fall collection.

Jumpsuits are all the rage this season. Pair it with a jacket or blazer for work and transition to a night out. Find it at Dynamite for $59.90.

It tricks and it teases, delights and deceives. The eye thinks it knows what it sees, and yet, it is often willingly deluded. Bedazzled and blinged, the body is a perfect canvas for a water-blue trompe l’oeil that amuses and confuses the most rational mind.

The human eye can perceive 10 million colours — give or take a few. But given the chance, the human brain is willing to be tricked and teased into seeing something that isn’t there — or believing anything at all.

That slight-of-hand and trompe l’oeil deception was the inspiration for this blue-on-blue themed photo shoot created by writer and stylist, Julie Beun in collaboration with Citizen photographer Ashley Fraser and body-paint artist Heather Unhola to transform model Taylor Blaine into a trick-of-the-eye canvas. It was shot at the Ottawa School of Dance.

Blue quartz drusy set in brass with gold links, $168, Originals by Andrea.

Preciosa crystal necklace, $146, and Preciosa fringe necklace, $248, by Ottawa jewelry artist Andrea Kolpaska of Originals by Andrea.

Layered stone and stacked bib necklace, $88, Express: Bayshore Shopping Centre and Rideau Centre, Express.com.

Sterling silver blue quartz druzy ring, $178; quartz, .925 silver and pearl necklace, $220. Originalsbyandrea.com

Silver aquamarine and crysocolla pendant and chain; Silver turquoise and tassel pendant and chain; Drop silver and turquoise earrings, Zahara-jewellery.com

Petrificus petrified wood, topaz, moonstone and kyanite necklace, $459, at Zahara Jewellery in Westboro Village or Zahara-jewellery.com.

Multi gemstone pendant set in brass with Italian leather, $368, Originals by Andrea.

Isabelle Gauvreau’s paintings explore the beauty and sensuality of women’s naked bodies. Now the visual artist is turning her creative eye to dressing them with the opening of Isabelle, a new boutique in the ByWard Market.

“It’s a small space, but it’s a great space,” says Gauvreau of the tiny shop located on a premium fashion strip on Dalhousie Street. Victoire and Workshop Studio & Boutique are on the same block; Ottawa fashion designer Frank Sukhoo is down the street and Amanda May Lingerie is only a few doors down.

But the day before Mayor Jim Watson and guests were invited to toast Isabelle’s grand opening on Thursday evening, the boutique was still in chaos. Dressed in an elegant black tunic and grey linen harem-style pants, Gauvreau was doing her best to stay calm despite the fact the bathroom sink was sitting upside-down on the floor in the middle of the boutique and a stack of her ink, charcoal and gold-leaf paintings still weren’t hung on the walls. It didn’t help that the air conditioning wasn’t turned on overnight.

“It’s a family affair,” quipped the mother of two, who had recruited her brother and mom, along with a band of close friends, to help pull everything together in time for Thursday’s cocktail party.

Two years ago, it was Gauvreau’s partner Marc Agostini who suggested combining her love of art and fashion by opening a high-end, European-style boutique and mini art gallery in one. She was hesitant at first, preferring to focus on her paintings instead. But when the retail space recently became available, she took a leap of faith.

Described by its owner as a “shopping destination for women,” Isabelle carries two of Gauvreau’s favourite designer clothing lines: Sarah Pacini from Italy and Saint James of France.

Artist Isabelle Gauvreau is opening a fashion boutique/art gallery on Dalhousie featuring clothing by Sarah Pacini and Saint James.

“We can dress women for work. We can dress you for your events. We can dress you for your vacation,” says the professional stylist of the versatility of the two collections. Though both classic and timeless, Sarah Pacini designs are more “urban, modern and feminine,” she says, while the striped cottons and cosy Merino wools prevalent in the Saint James tops and sweaters give them more of  a “by the sea” casual look and feel.

But do you have to be pencil-thin like a runway model to wear them? Absolutely not, insists Gauvreau, 41. “You can be any shape or size. Every woman is beautiful in her own way and my goal is to make that happen,” says Gauvreau, adding, “And I want to make it a fun experience.”

If you go

Where: Isabelle, 238 Dalhousie St.

Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Prices: Sarah Pacini jackets range between $465 and $630; dresses start around $450 and sweaters are $365.  Saint James cotton striped tops are priced from $140, wool cardigans, $200 to $400 and dresses from $150.  Unframed paintings by Isabelle Gauvreau start around $1,000.

Extras: Special events, including wine tastings, charity jewelry sales and art shows, will be held in the boutique starting this fall.

Contact: 613-793-0493; isabelleboutique.com

Saint James is a featured line at Isabelle, a new store on Dalhousie Street in the ByWard Market.

In need of a fashion fix after the cancellation of Ottawa Fashion Week? Montreal is launching its Fashion & Design Festival Aug. 20-23 with 50 shows, 300 participants and shopping galore. Organizers expect crowds of about 550,000 at the free outdoor extravaganza that promises something for everyone.

Located at Quartier des Spectacles, the cultural heart of the city, FDF is bringing together emerging and veteran designers, major retailers, artists and artisans, entertainers and multimedia wizards. After pulling the plug on Montreal’s Fashion Week, producer Groupe Sensation Mode decided to focus on their annual summer street festival, now its 14th year.

“We have made a lot of changes and additions to the festival this year,” said Chantal Durivage, co-founder and co-president of Groupe Sensation Mode. “With a new location, the addition of FDF Collections, which is curated by renowned blogger Garance Dore and iconic designer Nathalie Rykiel as our honorary president, this year’s edition of the festival is shaping up to be our biggest one yet.”

Activities begin at noon with events like a stiletto race and outdoor yoga and a fashion music happy hour daily at 5 p.m. The party gets started each evening at the main runway stage with shows featuring a mix of music, video and design.

Fashion designers showcasing their wares include Melow by Mélissa Bolduc, D Moment (a collective show featuring about 10 designers) and Roxanne Nikki, as well as recent fashion graduates. Some of the brands taking part in runway shows include Le Château, La Vie en Rose, Dynamite, Forever 21, Target, Guess and Montreal’s Henriette L. Boutique. Of course, there’s plenty of shopping to be had, with 25 pop-up shops. Festivalgoers need to purchase a ticket if they want to see the spring/summer 2015 collections of Ève Gravel, Travis Taddeo, UNTTLD, Mylène B, Niapsou Design and ying gao on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19 at the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art.
Honorary chair Nathalie Rykiel, an author and former model who carved out a career working in her family-run fashion house, will deliver a lecture on the theme of elegance.

For a detailed list of events, visit Festivalmodedesign.com

Kick up your heels at Montreal’s Fashion and Design Festival, Aug. 20-23, at Quartier des Spectacles, the cultural hub of the city.

The Drake General Store Shared Unisex Ottawa Tee is based on artwork by artist Paul Dotey.

Oh, Canadiana! A visit to the Drake General Store, which opened a boutique in Hudson’s Bay Rideau Centre on Friday, will leave you singing the national anthem and craving a stack of pancakes slathered in maple syrup. Modelled after an old general store, the charming shop offers a cornucopia of vintage-inspired and contemporary treasures. There’s maple candles, syrup and toffees, Canadian and Ottawa-themed T-shirts, tin plates and mugs, camp blankets, flasks, key chains, jewelry, wooden bread boards, men’s bow ties and a whole lot more.

Toronto entrepreneurs Joyce Lo and Carlo Colacci are behind the venture, which they started in 2008 as a gift shop in Toronto’s hip Drake Hotel. The two popped up on the radar of Hudson’s Bay that same year after selling the retailer one of their Caribou Throws, a comfy blanket featuring the Bay’s iconic stripes. This led to collaborations on several clothing collections and eventually a permanent retail space for the duo at the Bay’s Yonge Street location. They also have two other Toronto locations. The partners are behind a slew of lifestyle and fashion brands, including Shared, Held in Common and Arborist.

“We are proud to be in a partnership with Hudson’s Bay and to be promoting a Canadiana brand,” says Lo, 37. “Drake General Store is a lifestyle gift shop with books, housewares, cotton tees, sweaters, sweatpants and food items. It has a classic general store and flea market vibe with antique fixtures.”

Drake General Store can be found on the main level of Hudson’s Bay Rideau Centre, 73 Rideau St., and at drakegeneralstore.ca.

Carlo Colacci and Joyce Lo of Drake General Store.

Drake General Store 1834 Body Lotion was named for the year that Toronto was incorporated as a city. This rosemary and grapefruit lotion can be found for $22.

Drake General Store Ottawa is full of eclectic Canadian treasures and opened Aug. 8 at Hudson’s Bay Rideau Centre.

Bring the scent of the Great North with you on your adventures with the Drake General Store Travel Maple soy candle, $11.

Powdering her cheeks, rugged jawline and nose, the tension in Giselle’s shoulders begins to slowly subside. With each stroke of a contour brush, her mood lightens.

Dressed in silk pyjamas and with her long, shiny black hair tied back neatly, she draws a Kohl eyeliner expertly around her hazel eyes adding dramatic shadow on her eyelids and mascara.

Slipping into a dress and donning a sassy wig, she sheds a layer of emotional baggage as she transforms into a drag queen.

“The ritual of putting on makeup makes me feel comfortable, more confident and builds my self-esteem. When I was growing up, I was told I was a dirty, ugly Indian. Now I’m told I’m beautiful.”

Giselle grew up as Daryle Gardipy, a Cree in Duck Lake, Sask. He was sent to residential school from the age of five to 13, and suffered relentless bullying by mostly other students.

Daryle Gardipy, the volunteer treasurer for Capital Pride, is better known as Miss Giselle Gotti Chanel.

Despite being the youngest in a family of nine children, his father scraped together enough money to send him to a private school for two years. He later studied accounting and graduated with a business degree.

He is also working on a memoir to be entitled Life’s a Drag Until You Succeed from Residential School to Royalty.

He moved to Ottawa 14 years ago but says his life changed for the better when he attended a drag queen event in Ottawa.

“When I moved to Ottawa, I found Giselle and became Giselle in March 2007. I’m finally in my own skin. Daryle and Giselle are one person. I’m more relaxed as I transition and dress as a woman.”

Related

• Profiles in pride: More than just a celebration
• Party or protest? For Ottawa's Capital Pride, it's both
• Weekend highlights at the 2014 Capital Pride festival

Giselle was the first aboriginal to win the title of Miss Gay Ottawa in 2005 and Queen of Capital Pride in 2006. She now dresses in drag about 40 times a year, has 40 wigs to prove it and boxes of dresses.

She is gaining fame for her Tina Turner and Shania Twain impersonations and has travelled the country appearing at shows with friend and mentor Dixie Landers, a top Bette Midler impersonator.

Giselle enjoys shopping at Sirens and Melanie Lyne because the staff support who she is and prefers to wear MAC cosmetics whenever she can.

“Each drag queen has a drag mother. I was lucky to have several teachers along the way. I’ve picked up a lot of makeup tips but prefer my own way.”

With a sassy wig, Giselle is ready for fun.

Giselle is the volunteer treasurer of Capital Pride, a 10-day festival celebrating pride in Ottawa’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. There are 83 events around town, including the Pride Pageant on Aug. 23 outside of City Hall at the Marion Dewar Plaza.

Last year’s winners — King (Jasper Cox) and Queen (Koko Domenique Shennel) — relinquished their crowns Friday night at Nature Nocturne: Pride.

Sixteen contestants, who submitted an application explaining why they wanted to win and what they would do for the community during their reign, are vying for the title of Miss or Mr. Capital Pride. They will be judged on a talent (lip-syncing to a favourite song) and an evening gown event.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.capitalpride.ca.

The Process

1. Miss Giselle begins her makeup regime by donning comfy silk pyjamas, pulling back her long black hair and powdering her face.

2. With each stroke of a brush and drawing on liner, Giselle becomes more feminine and her mood lightens.

3. Giselle, who enjoys impersonating Shania Twain and Tina Turner, looks forward to dressing in drag and going out with the girls.

4. Daryle is a distant memory as Giselle transforms into a drag queen.

5. Transforming into a drag queen is like feeling at one in your own skin, says Miss Giselle Gotti Chanel, who won the title of Miss Gay Ottawa in 2005 and Queen of Capital Pride in 2006.

Photos and video by Darren Brown 

There’s nothing more exhilarating than bombing around the city in my 1987 VW convertible on a sunny summer day. But unless my hair is pulled back with a headband or tucked under a ball cap, it’ll be whipped into a tangled, nesty mess. Calling it tousled is too kind.

Ottawa hairstylist Shonn Bidner, who recently opened a small salon on Dalhousie Street called Not Just Makeovers, has just the cut for me, vowing that “even at its worst — like coming off the Queensway in a convertible — still falls amazingly into place.”

His secret — not to mention innovative — weapon? Mother Nature.

Three days a week, the veteran Edward Scissorhands — he’s been cutting hair for 38 years and he’s only 53 — carries his salon chair into the grassy backyard behind his shop and uses the natural light and wind “to create the most amazing, free-flowing” hairstyles.

Shonn Bidner cuts hair three times a week outdoors behind his Dalhousie Street salon.

“It’s too beautiful to be inside,” says the single father of two, who on a recent visit was dressed from head to toe in black with slick, wrap-around sunglasses covering his eyes. At first glance, he could easily be mistaken for The Edge, rocker Bono’s trusty sidekick in the band U2. “The lighting is 1,000 times better out here and there’s a good vibe, a good feeling.”

He admits clients are at first apprehensive about having their hair cut and styled outside, but the quiet, green setting is an easy sell.  The chilled sangria his colourist Huong Ha —  she goes by Anna — serves in a champagne flute is not too hard to take either, especially on a hot day.

Armed with only a straight razor and comb, he texturizes my already short do as the sun reflects off a large mirror leaning up against the building. “The convertible style is not a particular cut. It just means whichever way the wind blows, it should look good.”

Reporter Karen Turner gets a cut, spritz and style by Shonn Bidner.

Bidner has never been shy about thinking outside the box. When he was only 22, the self-confessed hot-shot hairdresser with a ponytail and MC Hammer hip-hop pants — they were all the rage in the early ’80s — converted an old church on Lyon Street into a swanky salon for Ottawa’s elite. To get a leg up on his competition, he bought a shiny Rolls-Royce to chauffeur his clients back and forth to their appointments.

“Ottawa is ultra-conservative. It didn’t fly,” recalls Bidner, who at the height of his career in the 1990s had a client list of more than 3,000 names and was charging upwards of $100 a cut. Driven by ambition, ego and greed, he honed his hairstyling skills in Montreal, Toronto and Europe before turning his attention to real estate, snapping up commercial properties and rental apartments.

“I realized I was not meant to be a landlord,” confesses Bidner, adding, “There was a lot of conflict,” including evictions, litigation and “lots of drama,” he says.

When interest rates spiked to 19 per cent in the late 80s, the boy with every imaginable toy — from sport cars and boats to high-end investment properties  — was forced to sell to avoid going bankrupt. “Overnight, I lost everything. I didn’t go bankrupt, but I had to liquidate everything.”

By then divorced, Bidner says it was time to re-evaluate his life. That’s when he decided to return to his first love. “I love hairdressing. I have a passion for it.”

Listening to Bidner talk about his high-flying career, chronicled in an oversized album bulging with photos and newspaper clippings, he admits he made many mistakes and was so driven to succeed that he let his ego rule his decisions. “I started out as a real artist,” he quips. “I didn’t listen and did what I wanted.”

But he’s hoping his small Dalhousie salon, which opened about a month ago, will be fresh start for him. After much soul searching and  “a lot of internal work” over the past few years, Bidner says he’s trying to lead a simpler life.

“I’m content with my quiet lifestyle now. There’s no drama and no conflict,” says the laid-back stylist, who lives on the water in nearby Chelsea, Que. “It’s very peaceful.”

Though he won’t rule out running a big salon in the future, he’s enjoying his small one-man operation, cutting hair in the great outdoors. “It’s very cool.”

kturner@ottawacitizen.com

If you go

Where: Not Just Makeovers, 113 Dalhousie St.

Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: haircuts from $70

Contact: 613-800-5223

Shannon Stewart, a head buyer for Harry Rosen, offers the lowdown on key trends for fall.

Outwear

Shearling coats: If you want to add one statement piece to your wardrobe this fall, make it a coat or jacket, says Stewart. Shearling coats, in particular, evolve ever so slightly in style and technology each season and now boast ultra lightweight, luxurious material while still being one of the warmest things you could own. The look is also getting a colour update with rich blues and navy grabbing the limelight from classic black and browns.

Mixed media: Jackets with more than one material (think flannel wool fabric with nylon details or flannel front with knit cashmere sleeves) is all the rage this autumn. “One brand that is excelling at mixed media is Moncler,” says Stewart, Harry Rosen’s assistant general merchandise manager.

A Moncler coat is right on trend for men this fall.

Shoes

Statement sneakers: In recent years, the athletic trainer has been transforming into a work of art. Speckled in paint, studs or buckles, high and low-top kicks are all about mixing streetwear and luxury. Sneakers with a suit? Sure, it’s bending the rules, but it’s also the very definition of cool. There are no boundaries any more. “Shoes are upping the ante on the rest of a man’s outfit. While men dress more casually, more thought is being put into what’s on their feet. Designers are interpreting this in a way that works for their collections.”

Statement sneakers for men are a must-have for fall.

Boots: The boot is back, baby. High and low, dressy and casual, designers are having a blast with boots this season. “It’s what designers are doing with boots that is interesting.” Stewart says designers are taking classic footwear like brogues and military, low-ankle and Chukka boots, and updating them in a more refined way with lace detailing and interesting textures such as pebble-skin. Larry Rosen admits that shoes are becoming a big part of the companies business. He plans on opening a standalone shoe boutique inside his new Ottawa store this fall at the Rideau Centre.

Texture

Fabrics with milled finishes and a bit of texture are popping up on suits, sports jackets and trousers this fall. Layering your clothes that feature eye-catching textures allows a man to transition from summer to fall in style. “Fabrics have lightened up considerably, which is much more comfortable,” says Stewart. Classic patterns like houndstooth and herringbone are being updated in subtle ways and will shine brightly in cooler temperatures.

Colour

Toned down greys and navy doesn’t mean washed out and bland. “They are the two main colour stories of the season. Layer your textures. A beautiful grey flannel combined with a grey knit is wonderful.”

Grey and blues are the two major colour stories for fall, says Shannon Stewart, a head buyer for Harry Rosen. The formal ZZegna blazer covers all the bases.

Dressing for elementary school need not be all about Spider-Man T-shirts, hockey jerseys and outfits best suited for teenagers. Finding cool, comfortable threads for kids that are age appropriate and durable doesn’t need to take a lot of work, says Sarah Kelly.

The owner of Elm Hill Kids,  a medium to high-end boutique in Kanata’s Signature Centre for baby to 10 years old, says purchasing two to three pieces that mix and match with clothes already in your child’s wardrobe is ideal. Washable jeans, cosy knits, leggings, cotton T-shirts and slip-on sneakers are good basics for fall. Layering and accessorizing with caps, headbands and jewelry such as bangles and cotton necklaces are fun and fashion forward for youngsters.

Kelly started her store, which is named for the street she grew up on in Norwich, England, in 2012. An experienced retailer, she moved to Canada in 1984 and has a daughter who is university-bound this fall.

“The bottom line is that you want your child dressed in comfortable, washable clothing that moves with them. Clothing that is too restrictive means they won’t enjoy themselves in the school yard. It’s also got to be age appropriate. No one wants an eight-year-old looking like a teenager.”

So keep your chin up and walk the halls in style. Here are six looks for fall from Elm Hill Kids, 499 Terry Fox Dr., www.elmhillkids.com

BFFs: Beauty, left, wears a purple knit dress by Hatley with co-ordinating grey cable knit leggings, $21.99, and necklace by Peppercorn Kids. Sloane is stylish in a purple/aqua knit dress from Hatley, burgundy cable knit legging, $21.99, and Peppercorn Kids necklace, $16.99.

Too cool for school. Beckett, 5, wears a grey plaid shirt by Appaman. $48.99, grey jeans by Noppies, $46.99, red hoodie by Ripzone $36.99, Haute tots grey beanie, $19.99, and black Chambray Toms, $38.99.

School-yard patrol: Beauty is on the scene in Deux par Deux purple jeans, $29.99, and white bamboo T-shirt, $22.99, navy Hatley hoodie, $47.99, Peppercorn Kids necklace, $16.99. The Keep Leaf Lunch Bag is $17.99

First in line: Sloane is ready to go in a Hatley lilac swing tunic top, $39.99, Deux par Deux green skinny jeans, $29.99, and Violet Water Dot Toms shoes, $48.99. The Keep Leaf lunch bag is $17.99.

Beauty is on the scene in Deux par Deux purple jeans, $29.99, and white bamboo T-shirt, $22.99, navy Hatley hoodie, $47.99, Peppercorn Kids necklace, $16.99. Sloane is ready to go in a Hatley lilac swing tunic top, $39.99, Deux par Deux green skinny jeans, $29.99, and Violet Water Dot Toms shoes, $48.99.
James Park / Ottawa Citizen)

Waiting for the bell to ring. Beckett, 5, is always on time in Noppies navy pants, $42.99, and multi-colour plaid shirt, $42.99, and blue Chambray Toms, $38.99.

Top trends for elementary schoolchildren

Layering: Not everyone can afford a new wardrobe each day for a week. Throw on bright accessories and a colourful tank or T-shirt with your jeans, layer short and long tops and fling a denim jacket or sweater over your ensemble to spice things up. No one will be the wiser.

Washable fabric that isn’t restricting: Let kids be kids. You want your child wearing clothes that move with them. Cotton, light knits and washable jeans are perfect for this time of year.

Plaid: From tees to sneakers, plaid is popping up on everything this season. Switch up a solid colour T-shirt with plaid shorts or skirt and you’ve got several new looks.

Tunics: An ideal layering piece as we transition from summer to fall and winter. Add tights or jeans and a sweatshirt and undershirt to get the most out of a tunic. Legging and jeggings are an ideal companion to a tunic or dress. Cardigans and sweaters for girls with quirky whimsical detailing and patterns are trending, says Sarah Kelly of Elm Hill Kids.

Pants: Move over skinny jeans, there’s a new leg in town. Slim-fit pants with adjustable waistbands are in. Bright, colourful track pants and shorts are  hot for tweens and teens and are a carry-over from last season’s love affair with neon shades.

Athletic wear: Comfort is king but it doesn’t have to spell sloppy. This is where fashion meets function. A top trend on the runway last season, the athletic look means cool varsity jackets and T-shirts and stylish track pants for tweens and teens.

Colour: Grey, black and silver hues are expected to be a popular colour combo or on their own with a wide age range of school children, Kelly says.

Delaney Holley came home from Toronto last week overwhelmed, with blisters on her feet and desperately in need of a good sleep in her own bed, but then again … she had a crown.

Not just any crown, but the bedazzled Miss Intercontinental Canada 2014 crown Holley, 23, won as part of the annual Top Model Search Canada. She also received the People’s Choice award from online voters.

One of three titles — the others are Top Model of the World Canada and Miss Supranational Canada means Holley, who works part time at her grandparents’ tractor dealership in Renfrew and is a recent University of Ottawa graduate in communications and business, will head to Amman, Jordan, in October, where she’ll compete on the international stage against some of the most accomplished and beautiful women on the planet.

Not that she’s letting a little thing like that intimidate her.

“The end result crosses your mind and you think ‘that would be fantastic to win,’ but I focus on the small steps along the way,” she says. “I don’t feel nervous because I’m just doing what needs to happen, every day along the way.”

If that sounds nonchalant, it fits in perfectly with how she got into the whole pageant caper in the first place.

Raised in Renfrew by Shirley-Ann and Bernard, who encouraged their three daughters to try every sport and volunteer for local charities, Holley fell into pageants by default after a friend of her mother’s, who was organizing Miss Teen Ontario East 2009, came up short on contestants and asked if the shy middle Holley girl would sign up.

Caroline, Hannah and Delaney Holley formed a country pop band called Holley a few years ago and have seven CDs and are working on another.

Although she was used to singing on stage with her sisters, all of whom were privately voice-trained and earned Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 8 certificates, she says “she had been shy about speaking in public. The pageant just opened up all kinds of possibilities for me. I ended up loving it.”

In fact, one of the judges, from then modelling agency Barrett Palmer Models International, suggested she try modelling, which has since landed her on the Ottawa Fashion Week catwalk, in magazines and on TV’s The Social and Steven and Chris with Ottawa-born fashion stylist, Erica Wark.

“I remember my first audition was for a fashion show at the Rideau Centre and I was so nervous, I thought I was going to pass out.”

Not a tremor of that anxiety showed itself for the Top Model Canada 2014 competition, which pitted 20 young women from across the country against each other and involved a weeklong series of photo and video shoots, seminars, rehearsals, a fashion show and of course, the pageant itself, all under the watchful eye of judges, agents and talent scouts from around the world.

Holley says her win means she can use the title to advance both her charity work and the country pop band, Holley, she formed years ago with her sisters, Hannah, 25, and Caroline, 21. The trio already have seven CDs and are working on another.

“I think for us music is something we love doing and it allows us to sing in public and be on stage and allows us to work with volunteering and fundraising. Ultimately the goal is to use music as a platform for a charity or organization.

“I didn’t know if I was going to find a permanent job or what when I graduated in June, so I signed up for the pageant on a whim. And now? It has set me on a different course for this coming year. It’s going to be a good year for growth.”

The other two titles, Top Model of the World Canada and Miss Supranational Canada, were won by Savanagh Walker from Saskatchewan and Gabriela Clesca Vallejo, a University of Ottawa student studying international development and civil law.

With just three years of modelling under her belt, notably for Ottawa designer, Gwen Madiba, Vallejo says the competition was an eye-opening experience.

“It was a lot for me. I really loved the experience, but I am still a bit overwhelmed by it. I learned a lot in those five days and now I’m very happy to represent my community in Ottawa and it’s my way of saying thank you to Canada,” says Vallejo.

The 20-year-old, who was born in the Dominican Republic and lived in Haiti before immigrating to Canada with her parents, will travel to Poland in December to compete as the Canadian representative in the international edition of the Miss Supranational pageant.

Gabriela Clesca Vallejo, a University of Ottawa student studying international development and civil law, was named Miss Supranational Canada. She competes in Poland in December.

Fall is nipping at our heels, so it’s an ideal time to think of the coming fashion trends and transitioning your wardrobe from summer to autumn. Alexis Honce, the lead wardrobe stylist for TV personality Marilyn Denis and many other high-profile clients, offers tips and tricks on how to wear this season’s four main footwear trends. “This time of year is always an exciting one in fashion and shoes and boots are an easy way to update your closet without spending a fortune. Play up your personality and experiment with fun patterns, colours and new trends.”

Trend No.1: Gladiator sandals are a great transition shoe from summer to fall. Metallic hues and stud detailing add visual interest to footwear.

1. Gladiator:Who says you can’t wear sandals after Labour Day? These strappy sandals have straddled seasons and centuries. The trend, which has outlived its expectancy on the runway and the street, has been revamped with stud details, rich textures (think snake skin) and comes in chic metallic hues. Keep yourself looking cool until the socks come out.

Trend No. 2: The peep-toe bootie and sling-back boot are easy to wear from day to dinner. The look has been revamped with lots of texture, cut-outs and lace-up fronts, which lengthens the silhouette of the shoe.

No. 2 Trend: The sling-back bootie is minimal in design with a feminine esthetic, beautiful pointy toe and skinny five-inch heel. This grey suede bootie is $79 at Zara.

2. Peep-toe and sling-back booties: These boots will take you from day to dinner. “They used to have more of a rock-star vibe, but they have been reimagined with interesting textures and visual details such as cut-outs and lace-up fronts, which lengthens the silhouette,” Honce says. With a narrow toe and five-inch heel, sling-backs are likely your go-to shoe at night. “A skinny heel is feminine and sexy but may hurt your feet. Use an insole in the sole for added protection.”

Trend No. 3: Designers have taken the classic pump and updated it with fun prints and pops of colour.

3. Classic pump: Freshen up with colour and prints, the classic pump never goes out of style. “Designers have given the pump a modern makeover with interesting animal prints, pops of jewel-tone colours. and cut-out accents. Leopard print should be a staple in everyone’s wardrobe. Make sure you find the right insole for support in your arch and the ball of your feet.” To protect your tootsies from aches and pains, she recommends a line of insoles and gel spots from Dr. Scholl’s, which provide soft cushioning when wearing heels from desk to dinner.

Trend No. 4: Motorcycle boots are all about attitude and heavy hardware with oversized buckles and thick zippers. The look is easy to wear with jeans or add a pair of tights with a flirty dress.

4. Motorcycle boots: Pair with jeans or a flirty skirt and you’re off to the races. “The motorcycle boot is all about attitude and heavy metal hardware such as oversized buckles and zippers. Tan, brown and black leather with metal detailing add visual interest to your overall look.”

Hallie, 13, is ready to go in a Lululemon tank, $22.99, Abercrombie pants, $14.99 and Plastic by Gly denim jacket, from Boomerang Kids.

Punch in the word micro-fashion on Pinterest and up comes dreamy images of beautifully dressed children from toddlers to tweens. Same goes for Tumblr and Instagram. There are dozens of pins of moms and daughters of varying ages stylishly outfitted in identical attire. The term, and growing social media trend, is all about dressing kids like mini-adults rather than in tutus, frills and fairy princess and Batman T-shirts. The Hollywood set is embracing the trend with Kim Kardashian and daughter North in matchy match ensembles, future fashion icon Suri Cruise turned out as neat and trim as her mom Katie Holmes and even bonny Prince George is decked in more pragmatic clothing.

Krista Thompson is president of Boomerang Kids franchise corporation, a prolific chain of resale stores founded 20 years ago whose inventory caters to babies up to 18-year-olds. She says Ottawa customers have also been moving away from child-like clothing.

“The trend really began on social media with moms sharing images of their kids dressed up just like them. It’s not a sexualized, cleavage-showing look. Stores like H&M and Zara are offering the same clothing for children and adults because kids are becoming more highly stylized. Forget the princess shirts.”

Thompson and her business partner Heather Meek took over Boomerang Kids seven years ago. There are now five stores in Ottawa and one each in Toronto and Montreal. The pair also own Rikochet Resale, a gently used clothing store for women.

“Our clothing is 65 per cent less or better in price than new. For example, 80 per cent of our jeans are under $5. We take the quality of our clothing very seriously.”

To illustrate how to put together the micro-fashion trend on a budget, Thompson dressed seven children, aged one to 13, whose moms all own Boomerang stores in Ottawa.

Catch him if you can. Noah, 2, sports a Gap sweater, $9.99, from Boomerang Kids in Orleans.

Chic and classy, Eva, 3, wears a Guess jacket, $12.99 and pretty Jack & Jill dress, $18.99, from Boomerang Kids Westboro.

Jacob, 5, strikes a fashionable pose in a gently used shirt and jeans, $9.99 each, from Mexx. Clothing from Boomerang Kids in Orleans.

Lilie, 4, is as pretty as a picture dressed in a Mexx blouse, $9.99 and scarf, $4.99, from Boomerang Kids.

Andon, 1, rocks the micro-fashion trend wearing gently used clothing from Boomerang Kids, which includes Andy & Evan vest, $11.99, Children’s Place shirt, $6.99, and spiffy bow tie, $4.99.

I confess: The first thing I do when I get home from work is whip off my bra. It’s not a pretty sight, but after hours of wear, the clip enclosure on the back of my bra feels like it’s cutting into me. If I could stop wearing a bra altogether, I would, but my family would disown me.

So, who knew something as simple as a tiny silver magnet could be so life-changing? In 2009, Canadian lingerie retailer, La Vie en Rose, launched Magnetic Attraction, a microfibre push-up bra with a handy magnet in the front to keep the girls reined in. Translation: No more painful, cumbersome, hard-to-reach hooks.

This summer, two new designs were added to the collection: a soft cotton push-up bra and a lightly lined microfibre version minus the built-in boob squeezer. The latter is intended for bustier gals or women who prefer a more natural look when wearing a plunging neckline.

I put the new cotton bra to the test and was not only impressed by the comfortable fit, but the powerful strength of the button magnets embossed with the La Vie en Rose trademark bloom. When those little guys meet in the middle, they don’t want to let go.

Much like putting on a shirt and buttoning it up, the bra straps slip over the shoulders easily and the soft cups snap together in the front. With no hooks bulging out from its centre, the band running across your back is smooth, perfect when wearing close-fitting tops or dresses.

If you need extra support or want a fuller cleavage, there is a small ring and hook to connect the shoulder straps and to pull the cups closer together.

Cost: $29.99 for the cotton push-up available in white, grey or black; $39.95 for the microfibre bras (white, beige or black) and $39.95 for a lacy style (white or black only)

Info: lavieenrose.com

Kelly Dunlap started her career in theatre in England, so it’s no surprise, really, that she’s now a professional milliner.

Known as The Saucy Milliner, Dunlap, who has a passion for juggling and theatre, has opened a small boutique inside The Studio Cafe in Hintonburg. She recently returned to Ottawa to be closer to family after living in Vancouver for 11 years and before that, for seven years in London.

A hat-devotee from the time she was a toddler, she finally realized her destiny eight years ago.

“I used to get in trouble in grade school for wearing hats,” says the 39-year-old.

Kelly Dunlap and Crystal Beshara, owner of The Studio Cafe, enjoy a cocktail at the Moscow Tea Room on Sussex Drive.

When she made the move from trouble-making hat-wearer to hat-maker, she was working in the film and television industry in Vancouver as a background actor and stand-in. She dabbled in props and set decoration and took a part-time job in a hat shop on Granville Island. At that time, she began by making smaller headpieces, which eventually segued into proper millinery.

“The early pieces just made me want to learn more about proper millinery techniques with regards to blocking felt, using wire in construction,” she says. “There are so many different techniques in millinery, you could spend your whole life learning.”

She began learning the trade by borrowing dust-covered books about hat-making from the 1930s and 1940s from the Vancouver Public Library. She then found a male mentor in San Francisco and a female instructor in Portland.

Wooden hat blocks line the shelves of her small space in Hintonburg, which are beautiful pieces of sculpted wood in their own right.

“This one is by one of my (block-makers) in the U.K., who also make blocks for the royal-appointed milliners,” she says, explaining that certain milliners hold, by appointment of the Queen, a warrant that acknowledges them as people who could potentially make hats for the royal family, among others. “I have to put my order in and then it takes about nine months to get them. When I order, I order several blocks because it takes so long to fill.”

She has paid anywhere from $40 to $700, the latter from the royal-related gents for a hat block and also purchases blocks from other milliners and vintage shops. She once contacted a Montreal woman who’d been making hats for 50 years and was selling off her blocks through an online ad. Dunlap, who had been working on a TV show that had just wrapped up, jumped on a plane from Vancouver and was delighted to find the woman hadn’t exaggerated when she said she had “hundreds” of them. Hat blocks recently became trendy in the home-decor world thanks to influential taste-makers dubbing them as pilgrim chic and making their prices jump from $40 to $140 on eBay.

Dunlap steams and moulds her own hats from scratch on her many blocks, which sets her apart from some other designers who simply add trim and other details to pre-made hats.

“Over the years, I’ve really cut down and curated my collection so that all the ones I have now, I use — except for a couple I love from the ’40s.”

Milliner Kelly Dunlap is surrounded by hat-block moulds in her space at the back of The Studio Cafe on Somerset Street.

She’s made hats for customers and events all over the world, including for the Kentucky Derby and Australia’s Melbourne Cup. She’s shipped several to New York City and all over Canada. Custom pieces involve a design consultation and then a fitting with clients, from the original design to the end product. She finds her supplies — from high-grade millinery felt made from rabbit fur and sinamay to silk organza and porcupine quills — mostly online and on the advice of others she trusts in the business.

“It’s really tough,” she says. “You can’t just go to the milliner’s supply store like you could 20 years ago.”

Dunlap, who will attend the Ottawa Signature show in November, can’t bring herself to cater to the trends for the sake of sales. “I can’t just make hats to cater to a particular market; I would lose sleep over that. I know some people who do, but I’m not wired that way. That’s why sometimes I’ll block a hat and then it will sit there for six months (before being trimmed and completed) because the inspiration’s not there yet.”

Though she isn’t a slave to trends, she is attempting to make a collection that’s more contemporary, or at least timeless and she plans to create a spring collection now, just as designers in the fashion world do. Still, her heart resides in the 1940s because it’s the best for silhouettes, she says. The ’40s are followed closely by the 1920s — think Downton Abbey — in her personal decades draw.

Part of the appeal of the newly opened Studio Café location, which is owned by longtime chum and artist Crystal Beshara, was the idea that she can host hat-making classes, particularly popular fascinator-making workshops, in the classroom space at the back of the café. In addition, Dunlap offers in-house parties where she can go to a person’s house and teach a group of women to make fascinators and felt-blocking workshops.

“When I moved to the Ottawa Valley from Nova Scotia as a young child, Crystal was my first friend. We used to have sleepovers together and I was always amazed at her drawings. We kept in touch over the years.”

The Saucy Milliner

What: Collection of hats by milliner Kelly Dunlap

Where: The Studio Cafe, Gallery & Workshop, 1089 Somerset St. W.

Website: TheSaucyMilliner.com

This fetching fedora by the Saucy Milliner is called the Dandy and features an asymmetrical brim and leopard-print band with porcupine quills.

Crystal Beshara is picture perfect and ready for cocktails at the Moscow Tea Room on Sussex Drive wearing a stylish oxblood-red rabbit fur hat made by good friend Kelly Dunlap.

Crystal Beshara, who looks like she travelled in time from another era, wears Kelly Dunlap’s Ingrid design, a plum-coloured 1940s silhouette, which is priced at $325, and features fresh water pearl embellishments. Dressed in clothing from Judith and Charles in the Rideau Centre, Crystal wears a silk Cora blouse and grey wool Carlton coat.

While some third graders are playing with Monster High dolls in their spare time, eight-year-old Noémie Pound is busy organizing a fashion show that will see 25 models strut the runway next month to raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Since April, the little girl with the big heart has been going door-to-door asking Ottawa businesses to participate and donate clothing to Happy Hearts, the charity fashion show and silent auction she’s hosting Oct. 3 at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. She now has 30 sponsors, including Ivivva, The Gap, Kunstadt, MEC and Old Navy, 25 children, including CHEO patients, to model the trendy fashions and a venue with a seating capacity of 700.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this big. It’s snowballed,” quips Pound’s mom Catherine, a pediatrician at CHEO and researcher with the CHEO Research Institute, who credits her daughter’s feistiness, not to mention irresistible smile, for the overwhelming community support. “She’s a determined little girl.”

It was after a sleepover at her friend Victoria’s that Noémie first pitched the idea of organizing a fundraiser to her mom. “At first, I kind of laughed,” she admits. “But then I saw the look on my daughter’s face and I knew she was serious.”

Pulling together a charity event is no easy task, especially when you’re only eight years old. But with the exception of driving her daughter to canvas stores and fielding a few phone calls, Pound says Noémie tackled the project on her own.

And the pint-size fashionista never lost sight of her goal: “I really want to give a lot to CHEO and CHEO research so I can help the kids who are sick,” says the Grade 3 student at Lamoureux, a French Catholic elementary school off Heron Road. “My goal is to raise $10,000.”

So, will she be modelling at her own event? Absolutely, says her proud mother. “She loves being in the spotlight. She’s a little stage hog.”

If you go

What: Happy Hearts, a charity fashion show and silent auction for CHEO and CHEO Research Institute

Where: Canada Aviation and Space Museum, 11 Aviation Parkway

When: Oct. 3 starting at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $25 for adults, $12 for children (five to 11), free for children under five and $62 for family of four (two adults, two children under 12)

Available: At the door or in advance at goo.gl/21NfKf

Kiehl’s, a skin and hair-care company, is rocking out with its biggest project to date in Canada by teaming up Montreal band Simple Plan to help teens in need.

Called Kiehl’s Rocks for Kids, the initiative hopes to raise $40,000 for the Simple Plan Foundation through sales of their iconic Ultra Facial Cream ($56/ 125 mL). Kiehl’s, which opened in 1851 as an apothecary in New York City and has developed a reputation for its blend of cosmetic, pharmaceutical and herbal knowledge, opened its first store in Ottawa at the Rideau Centre Sept. 10.

Sébastien Lefebvre of Simple Plan says the group started its philanthropic foundation eight years ago after hearing stories from fans about their daily struggles and hardships.

“Our goal is to help youth who have illnesses and social problems. It’s no secret that music can help people. We concentrate on ways to make a difference.”

Simple Plan teams up with Kiehl’s to raise funds for their foundation through the sale of Kiehl’s Rocks For Kids limited edition Ultra Facial Cream.

Lefebvre says it’s “pretty rad” to be collaborating with Kiehl’s and that all proceeds from the sale of the cream will go toward the foundation as well as $1 from every transaction till Sept. 14 online at kielsgives.ca or in stores during Kiehl’s Shop For The Cause. On Sept. 19, the band will play a free concert in Toronto for fans. Kiehl’s will livestream the concert and donate $1 for each view.

Lefebvre, 33, and his Simple Plan bandmates, met in high school, formed their group in 1999. They are working on their fifth album and take part in several charity initiatives, including We Day. They have raised $1.2 million to date for their foundation.

The hip Ottawa store location features an antique chandelier, 1952 Harley Davidson bike to symbolize the company’s adventurous spirit, wood floors and a product testing hub for customers to experiment with products.

As a young girl, Anna Wong struggled to find products to help her with her skin condition, keratosis pilaris, which presented as irritating red bumps along her arms and legs.

“As a teenager I was extremely self-conscious about my marks and unsuccessfully went through many chemical treatments with a dermatologist,” she explains.  “It was by chance that I finally found a solution years later, during a trip to the Rockies, where I stumbled upon a natural and organic soap which drastically minimized the look of my bumps and reduced the itchiness.”

That would be the start of her new journey into the world of healthier and safer beauty products.

“I started consciously switching each and every product that touched my body but found it particularly difficult to find comparable quality natural products – foundations that wouldn’t smell funny, eye shadows that would stay and have different colour options,” Anna says.

Due to poor availability in Ottawa, Anna says she had to source her products from a variety of online shops and from particular vendors during travels. “I was very excited to see terra20 open and am now enjoying the great selection of cosmetics.”

Among her current favourites: 100% Pure, a fruit dyed makeup line, and the make up remover from Santé Naturkosmetik.

When Anna came to terra20, she was on the lookout for a great, safe mascara, a lip gloss that works (a “non-plasticy” one), and a face highlighter. “I prefer products that are made in Canada,” she says.  “I also love how terra20’s icons make it really easy to know what’s important about the products.”

Our cosmetics specialist, Samantha, got to work on Anna, using products from a variety of lines including Canadian-made products from Sappho (foundation and powder), Pure Anada (blush), and Fit Glow (lip gloss).

After her makeover, Anna was very pleased with her results.

“Samantha tried a few things that I would not have considered, like an orangey blush. It’s cool to try new colours, but so easy to stick with what you know,” she says.  “I love how she knows about skin tones, eye shapes, and what you do to enhance them the best. She really expanded my knowledge.”

Facts to Improve your Cosmetics IQ

• A 2008 Health Canada study tested 26 lipsticks and found lead in 21 of them.
• When seeking products without scent, look for the label “Fragrance-Free,” not “Unscented.” Often fragrances (which can contain phthalates) are used to mask the scent in products.
• Parabens are chemicals with endocrine-disrupting effects; they mimic the hormone estrogen, have a possible link to breast cancer, and are the most wide- spread preservative used in cosmetics.
• As there is no official definition, “hypoallergenic” means that the manufacturer has used ingredients with minimum potential for causing allergy. However, everyone reacts differently to various ingredients.

This story was produced by Postmedia’s advertising department on behalf of terra20 for commercial purposes. Postmedia’s editorial departments had no involvement in the creation of this content.

After 18 years on Elgin Street, the Loft hair salon has moved — not closed as some clients have heard — into a delightful 1887 Victorian home in Centretown. The full service salon and spa, which opened last month, has been renamed the Loft Urban Salon and is now one of the largest in Ottawa.

“Some of our clients were told by our competitors that we had closed,” chuckles Bruno Racine, who runs the company with partner Paul Valletta. “We bought our MacLaren Street building 14 years ago, which housed our other business Le Spa. We’ve merged the two and are now under one roof.”

A renovated 1887 Victorian home is the new premises of The Loft Urban Salon.

The hip, modern 6,000 square-foot-space with sparkling chandeliers, eclectic art and gleaming counters, bustles with staff (52 in all) colouring and snipping hair while clients relax in sleek red chairs. There’s a manicure bar, makeup station and, on the third floor, a quiet spa area for manicure and pedicures, facials and massage. The basement is reserved for The Loft Academy, where student stylists spend 11 months learning the tricks of the trade.

“We have 26 cutting chairs, 14 colour stations and two private esthetician rooms,” says Racine. “Next summer we are converting our balconies into outdoor garden retreats for our clients.”

On Wednesday, Daniel Thompson, whose Canadian-based cosmetic and beauty company bears his own name, was at the salon to consult with Racine and offer mini makeup services to Loft clients. Thompson, who worked in the spa business for 20 years in Calgary before launching his own line in 2008, offers 108 products in 14 different categories. As the face of his brand and head makeup artist, he likes to keep in touch with his customer base as much as possible.

Canadian makeup founder Daniel Thompson offered mini makeup session with customers at The Loft Urban Salon on Sept 10.

“Ottawa is such a great market for us,” says the 40-year-old. “People here care about quality, style and affordability. We are a green, healthy lifestyle company wrapped up in sexy packaging that looks like it belongs in Holt Renfrew but with drug store prices.”

Racine, who was creative director for Ottawa Fashion Week for several seasons before it was cancelled in June, met the Toronto-based Thompson last year when the latter came on board as a one-time makeup sponsor for the bi-annual event. Racine is launching his own gala next spring to raise funds for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. He hopes that The Loft Gala will raise $75,000 for the Maplesoft Centre’s coaching service. Tickets go on sale next week at $200 each ($250 in January) for a night of fashion, musical entertainment and more at the Hilton Lac Leamy on May 9.

There are 26 cutting chairs and 14 colour stations at the Loft Urban Salon on MacLaren Street.

The Loft Urban Salon

Where: 429 MacLaren St.

What: Full service spa and salon and teaching academy in a restored Victorian house

Website: Hairloft.ca, Loftgala.ca

The Loft Urban Salon has 52 staff and a hair academy in its basement.