About Ashleigh McKenna
After first subscribing to sweetspot.ca to get to know her new city, Ashleigh McKenna now gets to help find the sweet stuff worth sharing as Editor and General Manager. Go behind the scenes from favourite manicure spots to product sneak peeks and more.
Fashion Cheats
girl about t.o. Toronto
(Jun.11.09)
It was unrealistic to think I'd never cheat.
I can remember being younger, driving past women walking in skirt suits and sneakers and thinking wouldn't they just look better in their heels?
Granted, I was getting a ride, had yet to spend a full day in heels (or on my feet), let alone tried walking to and from anywhere in them. I admit, I now know better.
And while I'm still willing to suffer sometimes for an outfit (and risk causing permanent damage to my feet), I also feel it necessary to admit that I cheat. Often and without remorse.
1. Hardly all Heels. These days I'll swap in a pair of cute flats when I know I'll be walking a lot (practical though they might be, full running shoes really are best paired with other athletic gear). With the nice weather we've been getting in Toronto, that means everything from my morning commute from Bathurst to Bay along Bloor to taking an extra 10 minutes to stroll to nearby midday events and just stash some heels in my bag (thank heaven for big ones - and co-workers who do the same). And sure, sometimes flats themselves can finish an outfit but either way, I won't be walking in 4-inch anything.
2. Shampoo Saving. I have been battling my thick mane most of my adult (OK, adolescent and onwards) life. Its one saving grace though is how well it hides a little grease. Gross as it might sound, I don't need to wash my hair every day (in fact, I find doing so dries it out). A little Cake Beauty Satin Sugar Hair Powder and I'm good to go. Since baby powder can make us brunettes appear to be prematurely aging, this dark-tinted stuff gets me out the door without betraying my secret (or what was a secret).
3. Steam Saviour. In high school when my straightener once broke right before a big night out, I tracked my mom on her cell to get tips on using the actual iron (she survived the '60s after all). While I don't recommend it, that was the last time I remember having an ironing board out. Now when I have a dress, blouse or other delicate item (i.e. no wrinkle-release tumble in the dryer), I just hang it over the door and turn off the bathroom fan while I shower. The steam usually does exactly what I need and I save an extra step. (Though it might be time to graduate.)
Though I still can't use 2-in-1 shampoo; that's one cheat that's never worked for me.
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