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thrift with me in vancouver

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Haven’t You Heard? You Can Be Healthy Without Restriction!

We all know that being healthy is not an easy task, and requires consistent dedication and discipline to implement habits until they feel effortless. Due to the food industry, humans are exposed to such toxic subcultures of demanding schedules that lead to inconsistent eating times, chemical-filled foods and stress to the point of illness. However speaking from personal experience, I’d learned that no matter what type of health and wellness journey you’re on, you need to make sure your mental well being and stress levels aren’t taking you out while doing it.

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About a year ago, I started to get more into wellness than ever before in my life. I couldn’t eat without wondering what negative effects it could potentially have on my body. I became paranoid by being exposed to toxins and chemicals in our environment (which no can can control... by the way) and paid close attention to what literally any health podcast was saying ever. But such is life and then, I started to realise that being so concerned with my health was making me feel the opposite of healthy and was starting to stress me out. And haven’t you heard? Stress kills. Literally. The World Health Organisation has classified stress as the “health epidemic of the 21st century” and an estimated 75-90% of all doctor visits are stress-related.

I knew that I couldn’t live like this for much longer without driving myself mad so, I decided that I needed to relax a bit and stop being so concerned with my health and trying to prevent any and all disease and illness. Don’t get me wrong, we all need to make a conscious effort to lead a healthy lifestyle, and there’s so many things I have left to improve about it, but part of that is eliminating stress or at least, reducing it as much as you can. There’s no sense in restricting yourself so much that you feel deprived and as a result, unhappy. Our bodies are functioning their best when we are happy and loving life, we thrive off positive energy. It’s important to remember that our bodies are responsible for carrying us through the very highs and lows of being human, and that itself should be enough to want to let yourself indulge every once in a while.

Here’s my advice if you want it - eat healthy most of the time, get some light exercise, avoid toxins when you can but above all... enjoy your life and live! Eat some pizza, order dessert, buy your favourite candy - it’s okay to do these things sometimes! You’ve heard it a million times before: everything in moderation. 

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In times where I’m needing a little bit of a wellness check in, when stress feels like a too-good-to-be-true prevention, I find that podcasts are the most grounding pastime. I like hearing and relating to others and ways they cope with very human experiences. Here are my top 3 picks:  1. The Goop Podcast: I find that people either love or hate Gwyneth Paltrow. I don’t particularly feel one way or another, and I’m not a Goop subscriber. I do however love their podcast which covers everything from emotional to intellectual to physical well being. They have super interesting interviews with people like Dr. Nigma Talib: the queen of good skin. They have episodes on more specialised topics like the health of our soil and how it’s affecting our microbiome, how to detach yourself from material possessions and how to detox yourself without depriving yourself. 

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2. Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain: If anyone’s the most relatable influencer/fashion icon/pop culture superstar, its Emma Chamberlain. We all love her for her authenticity and transparency to her big family of subscribers on Youtube, and her growing popularity on social media apps like Instagram and Tik Tok. Emma discusses a range of different topics and opinions that I know will keep me entertained for the time I’m listening to her. As a listener and following who’s close in age, its pretty fascinating finding commonalities between yourself and someone who was dressed in custom LV for the Met this past Monday. Then again, being relatable is what makes you a good influencer after all.

3. Ben Greenfield Fitness: Ben Greenfield is a former triathlete with a masters degree in physiology and biomechanics. He’s an extreme bio hacker who experiments with everything from coffee enemas to stem cell injections. What I like about Ben is that he actually tries everything he talks about and gets into the super fine details about the research behind these things and exactly how they’re beneficial to your health. He’s kind of like the Bear Grylls of wellness, extreme but at least backed with knowledge. The guest list on his podcast often consist of some of the most unconventional, forward thinking doctors out there who are discovering things that you’d think conjured out of a science fiction novel. I take his advice with a grain of salt because some of it is too extreme, but it’s interesting to learn about all the health trends of the future nonetheless. 

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Faux Leather Frenzy

How the Vancouver-based brand Aritzia leads the conversation of mass-sustainability, with a little help from a fabric made in Japan. I know I couldn’t have been the only one that has fallen victim to mindlessly downloading TikTok at some point over the course of this pandemic. The excruciating and endless nights of boredom, figuring out how to fill your time that didn’t involve sending yourself into a spiralled depression, it was honest work. TikTok became a platform so heavily saturated because of this. It transcended into a plethora of new information and that was, and still continues to be, so easily accessed through the tip of my fingers. So, I’m laying in bed one night, halfway through my allocated TikTok scrolling time before shutting my eyes and I keep noticing a certain pair of faux-leather pants popping up on my feed. I did a little comment stalking, had a look at trending hashtags on the app, and find out shortly after they’re called the Melina Pant by Canadian brand Aritzia. I jumped out of my bed and bolted for my wallet, unhesitatingly purchasing a pair online within minutes. 

As of 5 minutes ago, the #MelinaPant hashtag on TikTok has amassed over 5.5 million views, predominantly of videos with the brand’s stylish target market including employees unboxing and leaving their reviews. The pants’ straight-leg silhouette imitates your favourite pair of vintage jeans, which has been equally as popular during these times. It was just recently that I had learned they’re not only faux-leather but vegan, all credited to a 100% polyurethane fabric that’s imported from Japan. At a price point of $148, the garment doesn’t come as affordable as people would like, although knowing that small piece of information lures me into wanting every 13 shades the style has blossomed into. Finding the Melina pant was almost certainly a win-win, because not only do I feel like I’m being transported back to a time of normalcy when I put them on, I rest reassured knowing no animals were harmed in the process of making them. My only hope is that this sets the precedence for other multi-million dollar companies to start taking the necessary steps to save our Mama Earth, she’s the only one we have. 

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Stepping Out of the Box into Vancouver’s Sneaker Scene

The ultimate local guide to low-key stores that will take your shoe game to the next level. 

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Recognised as the fashion capital of Canada by the Global Language Monitor, Vancouver’s sneaker scene offers a variety of locally loved small business guaranteed to help elevate your look. It might be hard to figure out which ones to check out first, but I’ve got you covered. Ranked in no particular order, here are my top 5 picks for up and coming sneaker boutiques in Vancouver right now:

5. Vancity Original

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I’m starting this list with the premier streetwear and sneaker stop for men and women. Also known as Dipt, this little nook on Hornby Street has an ample selection of coveted garments and sought after sneakers. Established in 1998, you’ll find the latest releases from Nike, Adidas, Puma, Timberland and Reebok amongst their own private label collections, knowledgable and trendy staff members, and store environment.

4. J2 Sneakerbox

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With their store physically representing a classy shoebox, J2 Sneakerbox’s stock consists of kicks slightly more tailored to the demographic that’s been in the sneaker game for a long time. Holding weekly competitions on their Instagram for a random pair, their website also hosts limited edition drops that gives everyone an opportunity to start or add to their collection. 

3. Menu Skateboard Shop

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Located in the heart of Gastown, Menu is an excellent store. Not only does the atmosphere of the place make you feel like you belong in Dazed and Confused but the staff are super welcoming and personable. It’s catered to those who want to procure cool limited-edition kicks from brands like Huf and Vans, to glide along the Seawall in style on their skateboards on a sunny day.

2. Heat Vault

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Adding to the rapport of trendy Gastown stores, Heat Vault offers yet another extensive variety of streetwear essentials to shop from, in person and online. With many options including Nike Jordan Air 1s and collaborations with Off-White, Heat Vault provides a tailored experience to the seasoned sneaker geek at typical resell prices. 

1. Swish Kix

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Swish Kix is an online-based business that has been gaining a lot of traction over the past months. Not only do they stock the most crazed shoes of seasons, but their membership program allows clients to purchase pairs for retail prices rather than resell along other great deals for only $40 per week.

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Reinventing Streetwear with Chris Truong

On Black Appreciation and 90s Culture: 

I Spoke With the Founder of KHOA Collective

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Born and raised in Vancouver, Blanche Fashion Marketing student Chris Truong envisions himself dominating the world of menswear with his upcoming label KHOA Collective, ready for its debut collection to drop in February this year. “I’ve always looked at the 90s and how black culture influenced what and how something was being worn, and the way it continues to influence our fashion decision making in popular culture today,” says Chris, 20. Monogram prints with oversized silhouettes, as well as bucket hats and logo heavy accents are all trends that have been popularised by the Black community. As we reflect and take action on the sociopolitical issues ensued in 2020, it is important to recognise these pivotal movements displayed by the Black community that lead influence on fashion progression over the past several decades.

“Dennis Rodman will always be one of my biggest inspirations…” he says in an excited tone, “The basketball culture back then definitely set the energy for sneaker culture to explode in our current fashion climate, and that’s what KHOA aims to embody.” The entrepreneurial mindset seems to come naturally to Truong. As an already acquainted business owner reselling sought after sneakers, Swish Kix, having a skillset that includes resilience and curiosity may speak for the brands longevity and success.

“I think it’s important for brands to adapt and change over time,” says Chris, “We’re living in the middle of many different forms of rebirth — we’re finding new ways of understanding the world in the middle of a pandemic, in the middle of racial injustices and political battles… And in a smaller context, living in a period of time where fashion is evolving to fit the many demands of progressive society. It’s tough to ignore these demands, especially being apart the generation that is leading the conversation.”

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Gisou vous plaît?

I tried the hyped honey infused hair oil, and here’s the verdict.

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Only very recently did I become apart of 31-year-old Dutch beekeeper and influencer Negin Mirsalehi‘s 6 million Instagram followers. And if you’re familiar with her abundant, glossy, flowy hair… #hairgoals doesn’t even begin to cover it. She credits this to an old family recipe for a Honey Infused Hair Oil, which she’s used she was a little girl. Since sharing this recipe with the world as well as launching a honey-honouring haircare collection, Negin has since turned down a $800,000 brand ambassadorship with a major haircare label in favour of founding her own vision. I’m in love with it.

The art of harvesting honey runs deep in Negin’s ancestry, as a sixth generation beekeeper, it was Negin’s mother who was a hairdresser in training that found its benefits for maintaining long luscious locks and repairing damages. After testing countless recipes and concoctions of oils, they stumbled upon the perfect formula. Fast forward to 2013, Gisou made its official launch online. Using goods cultivated in the Mirsalehi family, the brand is well known for its signature line of products within the cosmetic industry.

“Gisou is committed to caring for the Mirsalehi Honey Bees in the same way my family always has. We put their well-being first in everything we do. From my family’s beekeeping legacy to the Mirsalehi Bee Garden, Gisou’s heritage stems from a passion for honey bees.” - Negin Mirsalehi, 2019

My birthday was this past April, and if it wasn’t for one of my best friends Holly I don’t think I would’ve tried this product. So props to her for making this blog poat even possible, I’m a loyal Olaplex girl so and as an Aries I inherently believe that shifting my routine is a tough gig but the beautiful packaging enticed me too much not to – was I about to have 6 million followers worth of hair? I sure had hoped so.

There are a few different ways to use this product. My favorite is to apply a few drops to my hair after a shower (while it’s still damp) and let dry. It leaves my hair so soft and shiny. I’ve also used it as an overnight treatment, applying 2-3 dropperfuls to my hair and wrapping it in a towel while I sleep. This also made my hair feel beyond incredible – it’s an intensive treatment I incorporate once a twice a week, and *especially* leading up to a special occasion. Lastly, I’ve added a few drops into a hair mask for extra nourishment and shine.

Gisou’s hair oil is versatile, but most importantly it’s effective. I’ve always struggled with hair oils making my hair too greasy or heavy since I have such fine hair, and tended to just use them on my ends. But, this is truly the first hair oil I can apply to my entire head without those concerns and if it’s helping me mend my relationship with my previously-box-dyed-then-turned-blonde-again hair then… that’s definitely worth something.

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And while the 3.4 fl oz version is pricey ($115CAD) like… ouch! The 1.7 oz version is a little more palatable at $60CAD. Since you only need a little with each use, I would recommend getting the “luxe travel size.” I’ve had it for almost two months and haven’t even used a quarter of it. I know that when I do eventually run out I will be repurchasing – it’s the best hair oil I’ve used by far and I consider it one of my holy grails. This is your sign to follow suit.