Deryn Schmidt recalls the 1940s in autumn–winter 2012 collection

Hot on the heels of her début at New Zealand Fashion Week last year, Deryn Schmidt has become a household name synonymous with feminine fashion. Having showed as part of the new generations show at Fashion Week, her collection was one of the most sought after and highly praised by both local and international media and buyers, but here at Lucire we have known all along that she was destined for greatness.
With Joy of Life, Schmidt recalls the bygone era of the 1940s' postwar glamour. Sharp tailoring mixes with soft, owing feminine lines to create a modern interpretation of the uniforms of yesteryear. A very French inuence is noted in the collection with the easy wear glamour and joie de vivre way of dressing.
The collection embraces the freedom and celebration of women, and is about expressing your identity as women. Beautiful silks, wools and cashmeres mix with merinos silk cottons, linen.Buying a canada goose parka from seller in another country. For the rst time, the Deryn Schmidt brand also introduces NZ leather and velvet adding to the brands tactile ethos, ensuring that garments will be treasured pieces that can be enjoyed today as well as years to come.
Wartime black and greys are brightened up with juicy berry shades of currant, boysenberry, cranberry and oranges. Honey and mustards also add pops of colour to liven up your winter wardrobe.
Our pick of the collection would have to be the Belle dress. Schmidt's signature skill of being able to drape fabrics beautifully against he body is evident in this dress, hand sewn pleats fall effortlessly skimming the body while giving you the feminine lines of the '40s. The bliss dress is also a wardrobe must as well, the perfect shirtdress, it is attering and the drawstring waist nips in and ows out beautifully.
For winter, Schmidt's exceptional tailoring is evident in the many coats that will be sure to sell out. Our two favourites would be the Exuberant jacket, which is a swing jacket featuring only the nest wool cashmere but pieced together with New Zealand leather, it recalls the ghter jackets of wartime pilots. The Identity coat, a masculine military style pea coat will also be another must-have. Its beautiful wool cashmere will have you sinking into it, while the contrast panels skim and atter your gure.
The new collection will be available in stores and online from February onwards.

Color makes a splash on the slopes

Color makes a splash on the slopes - and at SnowSports Industries America show in Denver

Bright colors, bold patterns and easy silhouettes are dominating the slopes this season in Colorado and other places where people play on snow in winter.

And signs point to at least some of those ideas continuing next winter, judging from apparel and accessories presented at last week's annual SIA Snow Show in Denver.
Manufacturers and retailers said that color and pattern in ski and snowboard clothing have been driving business.

"The brighter the colors, the faster it sells," said Mary Mancini, apparel buyer for Colorado Ski & Sports and five other skiwear stores in the Denver and Boulder area. "It pops on the snow."
Linda Rodney, national sales director at Sport Obermeyer, said the trend is a reaction to the challenging

economy. "When things are gloomy, people like to be bright. A big trend we are seeing is bright and printed bottoms to match the bright jackets that have been popular for the past couple seasons."
Snow wear designers, like those creating ready-to-wear, continued their infatuation with prints. Brands showed florals, plaids, stripes, graphics-influenced optic or geometric effects, artsy abstracts and watercolor scenics. Nothing was out of bounds, and as in mainstream fashion, color-blocking and asymmetric color treatments were also prevalent.

Not everyone wants to make such a splash, however, and what's trending among snowboarders and fashion-forward types who demand high-performance apparel to go with their state-of-the-art equipment is a more reserved, sartorial look. Muted colors, matte rather than shiny fabrics and understated menswear-inspired styling was shown by such brands as Holden, as well as category killers like Burton.
Jeanine Pesce of the trend forecasting service Stylesight said khakis and browns have returned. She called it "neutral mountaineering," and cites such influences as Carhartt for the resurgence of muted colors.

In a number of booths at SIA, the looks shown for the children were miniaturized
versions of adult styles, from Obermeyer's metallic quilted jackets to Nobis' streetwear-inspired parkas. Kat Jobanputra, chief operating officer of Specialty Sports Venture, said children's clothing has been selling well. "Parents are buying the good stuff and the higher-end skis and snowboards for their kids. Junior wants the same thing as his parents."

10 Trends from the 2012 Snow Show
1.Buying a canada goose parka from seller in another country. Sartorial: Borrowing from the boys, skiwear designers used gray flannel wools, muted brown tweeds and all manner of checks in looks for both men and women. Those materials, combined with double-breasted styling or belted trench-style design, made the trend look suited for the streets as well as the slopes. Burton went as
far as creating a plaid parka that looked like a collared button-down shirt. A muted palette of khaki, dark brown, black, navy blue and dark reds in matte finishes furthered the haberdashery feel.
2. Color blocking: For the last season or so, and continuing into spring, mainstream fashion has been obsessed with combinations of color. And at SIA, color blocks made the transition from ready-to-wear to active sportswear, appearing as stripes, squares, checks and disjointed bits of solid fabrics. The trend showed up everywhere from high-end technical collections from such makers as Spyder to children's looks from Obermeyer.
3. Asymmetry: You might want your skis lined up just so as you head down the hill,
but having things purposely askew is a fashion statement. Bits of fabric, cut shardlike and placed on angles in a garment, showed up, as did zippers placed off-center, or zig-zagged over the front of a jacket.
4. Studio space: It's been long suspected, and now confirmed: snow sports apparel designers are also artists who wield their design tools as freely as artists creating watercolors, oil paintings, abstract masterpieces, digital and graphic works.
5. Metallics are forever: Just when we thought the craze might be dying down, the luxe end of the snow sports category again emphasized silver, gold and bronze fabrics.
6. Fur sure: Fake or real, fur trims continued on a hot streak.
Lining hoods, topping boots and dangling as pom-poms from hats, you couldn't miss it.
7. Knit wit: When you think about knits and skiing, merino wool classics like Dale of Norway come to mind. But not only are the veteran brands changing, they're inspiring a new flock of companies to turn those so-so snowflake sweaters into something much more alluring. Krimson Klover of Boulder introduced skirts, jumpers, cowl-neck dresses and legwear in charming patterns while Icelandic Design of Longmont showed Asian-motif jacquared wool blend sweaters and added striped sleeves to jacquard designs to lend a sporty touch. Boulder-based Neve debuted styles it created in collaboration with designer Nicole Miller, including a hooded V-neck design and a color-blocked hooded poncho.
8. Technical ability: Manufacturers used new-generation fabrics that were thinner, softer and stronger than ever, while also being able to repel water and keep the wearer warm and dry. Manufacturers touted their use of Thinsulate, Primaloft, Gore-tex and a host of other materials, so smart shoppers will be reading all the hangtags on a garment they're considering purchasing to familiarize themselves with a product's features.
9. Shifting into neutral: While bright colors grab attention, the fashion-forward side of the business has been seeing renewed interest in neutrals and muted jewel tones. Looking at the slopes in Aspen, where the Winter X Games were underway at the same time as SIA, it was easy to see the trend to deeper colors among the top athletes.
10. Down not out: The softness and warmth of down insulation can't be beat, and fabric innovators continue to make it lighter, more compressible and even stretchy. Bergans of Norway's Myre parka mashes into a built-in stash bag that you can put in a pack and pull out when you need a little more coverage. Spyder Active Sports uses stretch down in its Chrono parka for women and Upside Down jacket for men. Also new are DWR (durable water repellent) finishes that help down stand up to the elements.

Movie being filmed in downtown neighbourhood

Women in fur coats and matching fur hats, wearing bright-red lipstick, walked with young men in fedoras down Stewart St. on Monday, as a purple vintage 1950s Ford parked on the side of the street capped off the feeling that you had stepped back in time.

The actors and props are part of a new feature movie, Foxfire, being filmed in Peterborough until the end of the week.

Producers Jennifer Weiss and Simone Urdl explain the film is based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates about girls from broken homes in Upper State New York in the 1950s who form a secret society to fight economic oppression and a male-dominated society.There are tons of canada goose jacket discount around nys.

The movie, by award-winning director French director Laurent Cantet, filmed for 11 weeks in the summer including in Sault Ste. Marie, Hamilton, Brampton and Port Hope. Cantet has won the Palme D'Or for best film at the Cannes Film Festival.

Monday marked Day One of a week-long winter shoot before the movie heads to post-production. It's expected to be released in time for the Toronto International Film Festival in September,The north facial area along with the Chilliwack Parka by way of canada goose sale cheap. say Weiss and Urdl.

"We're very happy to be in Peterborough," Urdl said. "We're just praying to the snow gods that the snow keeps up all week."

Urdl says she has a farm in Campbellford and helped choose Peterborough as a shooting location partly because she knew the city well.

They also chose Peterborough because the city still has some 1950s architecture, including the houses on Stewart St. as well as older schools and factories.

They also plan to shoot a scene outside Prince of Wales Public School, at Jeff Purvey's Fish and Chips on Rubidge St. and in the downtown area where there are older-looking factories.

There are about 70 crew members on site including some local people hired to mill about in the background, they say.

Having the crew in Peterborough during a typically slow tourist season is a real economic boon to local hotels, restaurants, caterers and other amenities, says Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation (GPAEDC) communications co-ordinator Kate Young.

Peterborough is listed as a place to film in Ontario through the Ontario Media Development Corporation, which offers tax incentives to film in the province, especially in more rural areas, Young says. The GPAEDC is the contact for that listing.

Director Laurent Cantet's film The Class (Entre les murs) won the Palme D'Or at Cannes in 2008 and was nominated for an Academy Award. Similar to Foxfire, The Class also featured young, first-time actors.

Chabad at Mont-Tremblant moves to new home

Mont-Tremblant is known worldwide as a ski centre and après-ski hot spot, but this famous Laurentian Mountain resort is actually a popular holiday destination year-round.

The rolling mountains and picturesque lakes and rivers provide an ideal setting for summer activities such as cycling, hiking, golfing and canoeing.

About 90 minutes north of Montreal, the resort village, with its many hotels, spas, boutiques and dazzling mountain-top casino, caters to international tourists that include Jewish visitors from around the world.

It's not uncommon to see some of them attending Shabbat services and holiday celebrations at Chabad of Mont-Tremblant (819-681-0337), a Jewish centre, which used to be housed in a condo in the resort. The centre recently relocated to 110 Chemin Desmarais, which is a two-minute walk from a ski hill.

Rabbi Yisroel Mockin and his wife, Liba, who have been running Chabad of Mont-Tremblant since its inception six years ago, say they are thrilled with the centre's new home and very appreciative of the generosity of their supporters.

"People have opened their wallets," she says "It's been overwhelming.

"Like most Chabad centres, we are not funded by Chabad headquarters. We have to do our own fundraising."

According to Rabbi Mockin, it was a challenge to find a new home within walking distance of the resort. "We found a humble house on a humongous property. It's 1.3 acres."

The resort did not permit display signs for the centre, he says. "Now we can have a sign and be more visible."

He explains that many people made a serendipitous discovery of the centre on the ski hill when they noticed him, his wife and their seven-year old son, Mendel, wearing jackets with Chabad Tremblant printed on the back. "We're a skiing family. The jackets helped direct people to the centre."

He acknowledges that having the shul in the resort village was very convenient. "People could ski in and ski out. It was an incredible location."

But, ultimately, it was hard to accommodate all the visitors in the cramped quarters of the two-bedroom unit. "It was very tight. We were bumper to bumper.,authentic canada goose jackets are available from selective retailers all across the world."

"It was a wonderful atmosphere," adds the rebbetzin. "It was very international and very heimish. Every weekend we would have a new community."

Rabbi Mockin says her cooking has always been a big draw. "The kiddush my wife puts out is unheard of."

He describes the centre as a meeting place for Jews from different communities. "People come to Tremblant from all over – New York, Israel,The north facial area along with the Chilliwack Parka by way of canada goose sale cheap. Mexico, England…

"When people go on holiday, they're more relaxed and more open to meeting people."

The centre has also become a place for networking, he says. "I've experienced people making business connections."

And younger people are also connecting he says. "We've had teenagers meet at Chabad, and they stay in touch through Facebook."

The centre also attracts Jews of diverse religious backgrounds – from people who attend shul weekly to those who are non-observant, he continues. "We've had people coming to shul on vacation who don't normally go to shul when they're not on vacation."

Chabad tries to help families staying in the condo units "create a home away from home," he says, pointing out that kosher food can be ordered through their website at www.chabadtremblant.com. It also has details of hotel discounts through Chabad.

The centre is the brainchild of Rabbi Mockin, a member of the Chabad community in midtown Montreal.

He was running a summer camp for some 400 boys just north of Tremblant when he came up with the idea of setting up a Chabad centre at the resort. He was encouraged to proceed by his father, Rabbi Berel Mockin, head emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Quebec.

The Mockins – they also have a 20-year-old son, Peretz, and an 18-year-old daughter, Chaya – divide their time between Montreal and Mont-Tremblant.

The couple had a busy winter holiday season because this year Chanukah overlapped with Christmas.

"On the years when the two holidays coincide,There are tons of canada goose jacket discount around nys. we've always had a bigger bash," says the rabbi.

Kids ecommerce retailer Wellies And Worms to stock new Swedish clothing brand

Wellies and Worms, the leading UK online retailer of childrens outdoor clothing has announced it is to stock Kozikidz, the Swedish childrens waterproof and clothing brand. The retailer has added Kozikidz to their existing portfolio of fun, stylish outdoor clothing brands that include Hunter, Hatley, Spotty Otter, Hippychick,Do you need any sell canada goose winter jackets supply and demand information? and Littlelife to name just a few.

Kozikidz design eye catching waterproofs that not only look good,There are tons of canada goose jacket discount around nys. but also conform to strict safety regulations. Their wet weather gear is 100% waterproof,The north facial area along with the Chilliwack Parka by way of canada goose sale cheap. practical and robust which is perfect for rainy days outside. They also stock a fantastic range of winter coats, dungarees, salopettes, and accessories such as thermals, scarfs and mitts, all suitable for cold British winters or ski trips abroad.Their large range of outdoor wear means they can kit out your child to keep them cosy, warm and dry during the unpredictable British seasons.

Wellies and Worms co-founder and Director; Graham Cox says "Generally children are not affected by bad weather, they still want to run around and play outside and that's fine as long as they are wearing suitable protective clothing to do so. We decided to stock Kozikidz because their garments are unique, highly practical and excellent quality. They are not the cheapest, but there is a level of attention to detail in their design that you simply wouldn't find in most mainstream high street shops. Already the classic Kozikidz cerise and lime jacket is selling extremely well for us and we expect the Oxford Jackets to be a big seller in the spring."

Kozi Kidz have already become one of the fastest selling brands of childrens clothing in Europe. Graham says,Men's ralph lauren hoody is the the necessary coat for any handsome man in both spring ang autumn . " Kozikidz really have thought of everything. They make bright, weather tight clothing with special features such as detachable hoods,Shop popular stores to find moncler outerwear on sale. reflective strips and zipped pockets. The colours appeal to kids and the safety and practical features appeal to parents. We think they'll make a fantastic addition to our existing range of childrens waterproofs from Hatley, Hippychick and Spotty Otter."

Wellies and Worms specialise in outdoor childrens clothing, including wellies, raincoats, waterproof jackets and all-in-ones, kids backpacks and toddler reins. Priding themselves on first class customer support and aftercare, they offer offer free courier next day delivery on orders over £40 aswell as free returns and one free exchange per order, regardless of the initial order value.

Snow Day Activities at BRAHM

Winter has finally made an appearance in the High Country, and area families now have an educational and fun option for children out of school due to inclement weather. The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum and Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation are expanding their day camp offerings to include Snow Day Camps from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for K-6th grade. Camps will be scheduled as soon as an announcement on Watauga County schools is made. Parents may call (828) 295-9099 ext. 3006 or visit www.This is often not authentic moncler coats can be cool and even brilliant.blowingrockmuseum.There are tons of canada goose jacket discount around nys.org for details. Each camp will have 20 openings available on a first-come-first-served basis. Activities will include art- and history-related lessons,The north facial area along with the Chilliwack Parka by way of canada goose sale cheap. gallery tours, an art project, a snack, and,If you want to buy jacket, authentic moncler jackets womens is the best choice. if the weather allows, outdoor recreational time at the Blowing Rock Parks and Rec (please send children with warm jackets).

At least two adults will be present for each camp, along with a student volunteer from Appalachian State University’s College of Education.,authentic north face jackets generally have a custom lanyard at the lace of collar, The cost for the full-day program is $30 per child for the general public and $25 for BRAHM members. Campers should be dropped off at 10 a.m. at the BRAHM Educational Center entrance (enter through the lower level of the adjacent parking deck) and picked up at 4 p.m. at the Parks and Rec department at Memorial Park. All participants must have the required forms on file with the Museum; parents of children attending a BRAHM camp for the first time may download the forms from the website and drop them off the day of the camp.

Fire officer to give tips along canal

A FIRE service boat safety advisor will be out on the Kennet and Avon Canal from next week, to offer free safety tips and smoke detectors to boaters.

Canal boat safety is a priority for the service, given the amount of waterways in the Wiltshire area.

Safety campaigns have been run along the canal for the past two summers, but this year is the first time the service has visited boaters in the winter.

Boat safety advisor Rob Buckland will visit boat dwellers and users between January 31 and February 7,canada goose jackets to give advice on issues such as smoke alarms, cooking, fuel storage, flares, life jackets and general water safety.

He said: "At this time of the year, those families living aboard their boats will be storing more fuel, so the risk of fire is increased.

"I'll be giving advice on fuel storage, as well as general safety guidance, and I'll also install smoke detectors free of charge,The north facial area along with the Chilliwack Parka by way of canada goose sale cheap. where necessary. We have seen a significant drop in accidental boat fires over the past couple of years, but there was an incident at New Year which showed that the risks are always there."

From Structured Suits to Luxe Sportswear

Check Out The Fall 2012 Trends from Paris and Milan Men's Fashion Week
FashionTV captures the handsome men of the runway – Francisco Lachowski, Andrea Preti, Adrien Sahores, Clement Chabernaud, and even top male supermodel David Gandy at this season's Paris and Milan Men's Fashion Weeks highlighting the Fall/Winter 2012-2013 season.

This is the season for menswear, which typically doesn't have the same buzz as couture or womenswear, to shine! Unlike the bright and eye-popping colors and loose fabrics of Spring/Summer 2012, the Fall/Winter 2012-2013 provided the perfect venue to showcase Fall colors (burgundy, black, gold, copper) and textured Fall/Winter fabrics like wool, tweed, jersey, and velvet.

Men's fashion this season came in the form of two types of looks that were prominent this season. There were the structured suits, of course, which this time were made even more lavish with long coats and textured fabrics to add to the dark, haunting and romantic themes of shows like Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, and Songzio. While other shows like Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, and Frankie Morrello were more colorful in nature, these casual looks came to the forefront in a more rugged nature with geometric patterns and plaid prints or with loose pants and oversize capes. When the looks weren't rugged,The north facial area along with the Chilliwack Parka by way of canada goose sale cheap. they were sporty—and as sportswear is a common element of Paris and Milan Men's shows, it was nice to see the looks either overtly casual but still containing that sport element or less dressy than the typical overdressed duds.

One of the most fabulous aspects of this season's Paris and Milan Men's shows for Fall/Winter 2012-2013 is that some of the designers focused on themes and stories to describe the pieces that made up their collections. Dolce & Gabbana, for example,,authentic canada goose jackets are available from selective retailers all across the world. were inspired by opera in Palermo in the year 1910.

While the male models were draped in overcoats and lush velvet textures, waiters in tux and tails gave out champagne to the audience. During her show, designer Vivienne Westwood and her husband, who is in charge of the VW menswear line, wanted to call attention to the icebergs in the North and South Pole, and focused her collection on luxe garment wearing polar explorers of the 20th century, complete with icicle makeup in their hair, beards, and on their faces. Other themed shows include the materialistic meets meditative Frankie Morello show and the army and free bird-ridden Dior Homme collection.canada goose jackets

Throughout to the Fall/Winter 2012/2013 season, designer labels like Missoni, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, and Cavalli honed in on trends like colorful geometric patterns on jackets and sweaters, leather and wool for long coats, and suits with lavish prints, like the suits found at Jean Paul Gaultier and Moschino (both brick patterns!), and loud colors like Roberto Cavalli.

FashionTV brings you the latest trends and themes of all the top menswear runway shows during Paris and Milan Men Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012-2013.

All good things come to an end

As an audience in Milan was applauding the finale of their D&G line show last September, designer duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were putting the final touches to a press release that would announce its closure after 17 years.

"We have a lot of new projects to start in the same way as many years ago, when D&G was born," they said in the statement released immediately after the event, much to the surprise of an industry that had come to love the pair's more blinged-up, youthful line.Men's ralph lauren hoody is the the necessary coat for any handsome man in both spring ang autumn . "D&G will become part of Dolce & Gabbana [their mainline range], giving even more strength and energy to our collections."

But as the pieces from that final spring/summer 2012 collection arrive in stores this month, there will be plenty of shoppers disappointed by the news that the label is no more.The north facial area along with the Chilliwack Parka by way of canada goose sale cheap.

Dolce & Gabbana's D&G range encapsulated all the wit and hyperbole of the pair's main label, but at a fraction of the price, and bore all the brash bravura and glamorous gusto that the stereotypically loud and proud Italian fashion industry is known for. From logo-tastic denim for the conspicuous consumer to short and skimpy cocktail dresses and sex-kitten winter knits, D&G was clever and cartoonish, eye-catching and immediate.

"D&G was something of a fashion journalist's dream," says Alex Fury, fashion director of SHOWstudio.com. "A single theme,Shop popular stores to find moncler outerwear on sale. served straight-up with no muss or fuss. Colour, glitz, lots of bling, plenty of logos, too much shredded denim. That kind of energy and exuberance really feels as if that's what the best of Italian fashion is all about."

Stefano Gabbana says of his main label: "For us, Dolce & Gabbana is the dream. Our roots. Dolce & Gabbana is the Mediterranean, Sicily..."

"While D&G represents what we live now," finishes Domenico Dolce. "Very much influenced by music and by the street. The collections did share some elements, although they were two separate worlds which started to become closer."

What the lines have in common is a similarly irreverent treatment of icons and the popular myths around femininity: while the mainline has reflected everyone from glamorous widows to wide-eyed ingénues, the D&G line once took Queen Elizabeth II as its inspiration, with models in silk headscarves and long tartan skirts. It was quite a departure from the usual clubbers' vibe but somehow entirely fitting according to the designers' flamboyant minds.

"D&G changed a lot throughout the seasons," continues Gabbana. "When we launched it in 1994, fashion, the economy, everything was quite different from today. People wanted fun things,Do you need any sell canada goose winter jackets supply and demand information? a kind of fashion that would be a crossover of styles and inspirations, with no age restrictions. D&G allowed us to free our creativity in a completely different way compared to Dolce & Gabbana."

Design signatures such as ocelot prints, graffiti tags, gold chains and hyper embellishment were not so much a by-word for extreme glamour as a billboard advertisement for it, and the final collection stands a joyous synecdoche for a label at which too much was just enough. For its swansong, models dressed in garments made from the twisting, pinning, knotting and ruching of classic foulard scarves, printed with everything from psychedelic paisley to porcelain and nautical emblems, strutted along the catwalk to a remixed soundtrack of Prince's "Kiss" and James Brown's "Sex Machine". High camp indeed.

"Corsetry dresses, lace, ocelot and, of course, scarf prints are incredibly iconic to the brand," says die-hard D&G fan Lauren Stevenson, who is head of communications at My-wardrobe.com – where an exclusive capsule of D&G pieces has just launched, in celebration of its final collection. "Every season, they feature these elements within the collection, which give you a chance to buy into classic D&G pieces with a twist of the trends of the season... The panic is starting to set in."

The designers plan to assume the D&G spirit into their mainline label, meaning that prices are higher and pieces perhaps less overstated, but they are keen to promote the closure of their second line as a beginning rather than an end.

"What we have been trying to do is to introduce the young generation to the sartorial soul of Dolce & Gabbana," explains Stefano Gabbana. "Next to the classic signature jackets and trousers you now find new shapes which are close to the D&G spirit, yet speaking the Dolce & Gabbana language."

"The D&G logo will not disappear," Domenico Dolce assures the insignia's fans. "We did show on the Dolce & Gabbana men's runway belts and T-shirts bearing the D&G logo.canada goose jackets This is just the first season – in the future this merging will be more clear."

And the message too is clear: D&G has grown up. And a generation of shoppers will proudly watch as it takes its first steps as a new concept at the Milan womenswear shows next month.

Images tell Maier's dual story

Few things fascinate like a double life. And nanny Vivian Maier had one.

Her workaday world involved minding the children of well-to-do Chicago families. But Maier's private life was her own, closely guarded and hidden from view.

Until now. After Maier died at 83, she moved from obscurity to art world prominence.

In 2007 a Chicago auction was held of a mysterious cache of negatives found in an abandoned storage locker. In a serendipitous move, Chicago real estate agent John Maloof paid $400 for the images. Maloof essentially discovered the enormous output of this unknown nanny, who turned out to be a talented street photographer who took thousands of photos during her lifetime but never shared them with anyone.

Maier's photographs have proved to be a treasure trove of a unique photographic sensibility and a window into 1950s and 1960s America, as seen through one woman's eyes.

For anyone who romanticizes the 1950s or '60s as a more innocent, less brutal time, Maier gives evidence to the contrary in her shots of disheveled drunks, the homeless, a man being hauled away by the police or the carcass of a dead horse and a road kill cat in city gutters.

Maloof has published a book, “Vivian Maier: Street Photographer,” featuring some of the exceptional black and white images Maier shot. And since that inspired initial purchase in 2007, Maloof has acquired more than 100,000 of Maier's images.

Following his lead, an entire cottage industry of Maier interest has arisen, with gallery exhibitions, a documentary film in the works and the emergence of another collector, Jeff Goldstein, who procured his own collection of Maier prints and a catalog of 15,000 negatives.

Atlantans can see fascinating photographs drawn from the Goldstein archives that make up a small portion of Maier's impressive body of work at Buckhead's Jackson Fine Art, where 20 contemporary prints and seven vintage prints are on view.

Maier's quirky, charming black and white images, shot with a medium format Rolleiflex camera,,authentic north face jackets generally have a custom lanyard at the lace of collar, bring to mind such masters of the form as Elliott Erwitt, Lisette Model, Ruth Orkin, Helen Levitt, Walker Evans and iconic French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, the subject of an exhibition last year at the High Museum of Art.

Born in New York to a French mother, Maier grew up in France after her father abandoned the family when she was 4. Maier returned to America sometime in the 1950s to work as a nanny.

Though she's been characterized as a slightly eccentric Mary Poppins-type who would whisk her young charges away to the Chicago stockyards, art films or a Chinese New Year parade for a field trip, don't expect anything Disney from Maier's work.

A streak of sophisticated wit is evident in images like one shot through a father's milk-white legs as he hefts a chunky baby out of the ocean surf. In an equally funny image of large-meets-small, a chubby toddler sitting on a blanket hefts a baby doll above its head. The doll's humorously sideways expression suggests a tiny creature caught in Godzilla's clutches.

In addition to gravitating toward such funny views of daily life, Maier's images are equally arresting for their formal properties, including a real knack for off-kilter compositions.

Maier never married or had any children, yet her images capture the unique spirit of children. She was clearly very fond of them. An image of a young boy, dressed up and sporting eyeglasses with a lens blacked out with paper — suggesting an injury of some kind — is a heartbreaker. He's standing in the road and his vulnerability is palpable.

While some photographers render children cute, Maier's images suggest their complex interior lives, a circumstance she no doubt learned while on the job.

City life is another favorite Maier theme, conveyed in images of a homeless man folded into himself, crouched on a city sidewalk.

Never dwelling in just one key, Maier also conveyed the joy and vibrancy of city life, in groups of African-American children playing on the streets or a humorous shot of an intertwined couple kissing on a beach, lost to the teeming crowds around them.

Though New York photographer Weegee famously made his elderly female subjects freakish,The north facial area along with the Chilliwack Parka by way of canada goose sale cheap. Maier offers a more humanistic treatment.canada goose jackets Maier shoots these isolated, older ladies on city streets in frilly hats and fur coats or looking windblown and miserable in thin cloth coats and kerchiefs.If you want to buy jacket, authentic moncler jackets womens is the best choice. Perhaps Maier saw a foreshadowing of her own future in these isolated women.

There is more evidence of Maier's unique sensibility in her many clever self-portraits. A tall, simply dressed woman, Maier can be glimpsed in photographs of her shadow on the sidewalk, reflected in a shop's security mirror or as a distorted reflection in a plate glass window. These canny self-portraits suggest any photographer's hidden presence, lurking in the margins of their own photos.

Maier's nanny vocation and photographic avocation were mirror images of each other. As a nanny, Maier had special access to the private lives of her employers. But such hired help is also kept at a distance. Maier was thus a three-fold outsider: a photographer observing life through the lens of a camera,This is often not authentic moncler coats can be cool and even brilliant. a nanny raising other people's children and a European transplant.

Maier retired from nannying sometime in the 1990s, but at least three of the children she cared for remember her fondly. John, Lane and Matthew Gensburg, whom Maier tended to growing up in Chicago, took care of their beloved nanny in her old age. They ensconced her in a nice apartment and ensured she had great medical care while she recuperated from a fall in 2008.

Maier died in 2009. She was described as a “second mother” to the Gensburg boys in her obituary, which helped Maloof track Maier's identity down after his spontaneous purchase of those mystery negatives in 2007.

Like too many artists, Maier worked in obscurity when she was alive, and has only found fame after death. But her work lives on, providing fascinating insight into one woman's unique vision of life.

Snowplow crews toil day and night to clear Issaquah streets

Come winter, the nonstop struggle between man and Mother Nature unfolds in a teeth-rattling ride aboard city snowplows.

Snow, split into quarters from tire tracks, clung to the streets late Tuesday afternoon in Montreux, a tony neighborhood on Cougar Mountain named for a city in the Swiss Alps. In methodical maneuvers, city snowplow driver Kyle Patterson edged back and forth along cul-de-sac after cul-de-sac, pushing snow from the roadway to form dirt-flecked berms along the street.

In the process, snow cascades from the plow and light powder is compacted into something more akin to spackle.

Each large snowplow truck in the city fleet resembles a mustard-yellow box atop gargantuan tires, a Tonka toy for a giant. Empty, a large truck tips the scales at about 30,000 pounds. Loaded, full of sand and de-icing fluid, the total balloons to about 60,000 pounds.

(The city operates seven snowplow trucks, a larger model for main roads and a smaller model for difficult-to-maneuver side streets.)

The drivers, dressed in fluorescent jackets the same color as a highlighter pen, ride in the snowplow cabs beneath a flashing amber light. Most drivers use earplugs to block noise from the rumbling engine and brakes screeching like a pterodactyl.

The job requires a nimble hand on the steering wheel and the levers used to manipulate the plow — not to mention patience, precision and pluck, for the lumbering trucks remain susceptible to the same road hazards as other vehicles,wholesale canada goose outlet despite the bulk and chains meant to ensure traction.

Sometimes,authentic canada goose coat in difficult conditions,men canada goose parka for cheapcheap canada goose “these things still slide, even with all of that weight,” Patterson said.

If the forecast calls for snow, a choreographed sequence is set in motion to clear streets and stage equipment for other possible problems, such as downed trees.

Crews toil around the clock in 12-hour shifts to shove snow from the roadway and, if necessary, drop sand and de-icing fluid onto the roadway. (Drivers usually head home between shifts,canada goose parka jackets but the Public Works Operations shop contains cots and a shower just in case.)

Patterson started at noon Tuesday and, not long before sunset, reached Montreux. The crews rely on laminated sheets outlining road priorities. Drivers then radio status updates to supervisors.

The policy for snow removal ranks major arteries and access to mountainside neighborhoods — Highlands Drive Northeast, for instance — as top priorities. Then, as conditions allow, crews plow the side streets branching out across the city.

Patterson, en route to the Public Works Operations facility along First Avenue Northeast after the stint in Montreux, stopped at The Grange Supply to fill up on diesel. The tab for fueling a snowplow is about $150.

The constant use amid harsh weather exacts a toll on the vehicles, despite the trucks’ tank-like resilience.

Dave Boyle, a city heavy equipment mechanic dubbed a “savior” by snowplow drivers, mends the wear-and-tear on the trucks. The most common issues stem from chains on the tires, brake components and the rubber plow edges, he said.

Motorists present another challenge to snowplow crews.

Though the snowplows carry a sign on the rear to remind motorists to remain at least 100 feet from the vehicle — “some people follow it, some don’t,” Patterson said — and a flashing light, motorists sometimes drive too close in the hope to ride on clear streets.

In Issaquah, road conditions differ from neighborhood to neighborhood, due to changes in elevation.

Snow might blanket Forest Rim — Squak Mountain’s highest-elevation neighborhood — even as the lowlands remain bare. Other neighborhoods at higher elevations, such as the Issaquah Highlands and Talus, also require additional scrutiny from road crews.

(Outside Issaquah city limits, King County Roads Services Division teams handle roads in the unincorporated county and the state Department of Transportation is responsible for interstate and state highways.)

The snow offered the initial test. Forecasters called for snow to turn to rain Friday, and for temperatures to climb into the 40s. The abrupt shift means Public Works Operations crews could face flooding in Issaquah before the week concludes.

So, teams delivered generators to key sites throughout the city to run pump stations if electricity failed amid the snowstorm. Officials also stationed utility trucks across Issaquah. If the snowstorm led to flooding later, crews planned to swap chainsaws meant for hacking apart fallen trees for road closure signs to direct motorists around floodwaters.

“We’ve been through this so many times before that we know,” Jeffrey Estrin, a longtime city maintenance worker, said during a drive around the city late Tuesday afternoon.

In the meantime, crews criss-crossed the city to remove snow from streets. High on Squak Mountain, Estrin rolled down a window to address a resident building a snowman on a snow-covered island in a cul-de-sac’s center.

Lamb: Celebrating sweater weather

Winter is here, and despite months of unseasonable warmth, some people are complaining.

Not me. I've actually been waiting for Mother Nature to snap off a couple of cold days. The reason is simple – this is sweater weather.

You see, I come from sweater people. My mother is Norwegian, and my father was Irish.ralph lauren sweater Name two cultures that have done more with wool.

When it was time to bury my father, we skipped the jackets he never felt or looked comfortable in and sent him off in his favorite cardigan – fitting for a librarian.

I have a number of very nice suits, but they are only pulled out of the closet for funerals, weddings, gala events or the occasional dress-like-your-favorite-corrupt-politician party. Hello, Huey Long!

Sweaters are my preferred approach to looking presentable. No muss, no fuss. Maybe a little fuzz,wholesale canada goose outlet but nothing you need a stylist or tailor to fix.

And while suits are impressive in their complexity – buttons, folds, vents, pockets, hidden pockets, hidden pens in pockets that will eventually leak and ruin the suit – there is a stoic simplicity to sweaters. Suits may look sharp, but that's all for show. Sweaters get the job done.

Think about it. In any movie where someone is dropped in the wilderness and needs to get back to civilization, they are always wearing a sweater. Survivalists don't wear sport coats.

Suits may be more stylish, but sweaters have more personality. Put a man in a cable-knit turtleneck and he'll either look Hemingway-esque or like someone who got shanghaied onto a fishing boat. But nobody says their friend in a double-breasted gray flannel suit looks "positively F. Scott Fitzgerald-ish."

The converse is also true. If a suit doesn't look right, it's "ill-fitting." When a sweater doesn't work, it's "Cosby-licious.cheap canada goose"

Of course, sweaters aren't just fit for men. The fairer sex makes pullovers far sexier.men canada goose parka for cheap Lana Turner earned the label "sweater girl" for being a knockout in a knit top. Though, truth be told, Turner could make a Snuggie look sexy.

But a disturbing trend in sweaters is emerging. Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum made news sporting sweater vests with his name printed on the breast.

I have a beef with sweater vests, specifically: Tubby fellas, don't wear them – it makes our arms look like they are oozing out of our body like a sausage extruder.

Santorum credits his "style" with helping him gain momentum during the recent Iowa caucus, saying, "the vest gave me this power."

What power? He looks like a bad golfer or a league-average bowler. He does not look like a president. If you have your name embroidered on the front of an article of clothing, that's a work smock, not a sweater.

Santorum's not pulling the wool over anyone's eyes. If he wants to look presidential, he should arrange for his plane to go down in a remote, wooded area, where he, in a sturdy Woolrich sweater, must fight his way through the elements and packs of wolves – or other Republicans – back to the campaign trail.

If that doesn't get him elected, it should at least get him a movie deal.

A sweater vest? That will only get him a call-back for a job at Walmart.canada goose parka jackets

Karl Lagerfeld plans Chanel exhibition

KARL Lagerfeld (pix) is planning an exhibition on Chanel's tweed jackets.wholesale canada goose outlet

The designer will launch the show - which is set to run for seven weeks - in Tokyo, Japan in March in order to "reaffirm the brand's commitment to Japan and re-boost its image in a vital market", according to Chanel's president of fashion Bruno Pavlovsky,

Bruno added to WWD that the exhibition will comprise around 100 photos from the forthcoming book 'The Little Black Jacket,' by Karl and stylist Carine Roitfeld, depicting celebrities and other personalities in Chanel jackets.

During his time in Japan, Karl will also launch the winter couture show and open a pop-up shop.

The focus on the Japanese market is just one of the many projects Karl has lined up for 2012,canada goose parka jackets this month he is to launch a 100-piece women's line - which will retail from US$95 (RM295) to US$450 (RM1,395) - on net-a-porter from Jan 25 with sales on karllagerfeld.com to come on Feb 28.

Karl said of the new range: "It's my today's taste and style and a reflection of how I think a great number of people would like to be dressed now."

Although the collection is defined as "ageless," it is mainly targeted at women in their late teens and early 20s with its preponderance of denim and leather.

Natalie Massenet, founder and executive chairman of The Net-a-Porter Group, added to WWD: "We believe in this collection based on Karl's talent,authentic ralph lauren polo his global appeal, and the product itself. It's a very strong, well-edited collection with a great mix of street attitude and timeless chic. It also is an entire wardrobe that mixes and matches well with itself," she said.cheap canada goose "While it has great contemporary price points,men canada goose parka for cheap it has enough edge to resonate with a sophisticated fashion consumer who is looking for great new items at any budget." - Bang Media

Mugler's 'supermen' open Paris fashion shows

Supermen strode the catwalk on day one of the Paris menswear shows Wednesday as Mugler sent out sharp, futuristic suits for autumn-winter,cheap canada goose worn under giant-shouldered jackets and military-style capes.

Best known as Lady Gaga's stylist, the label's creative director Nicola Formichetti took "formal, military dress uniforms" as his starting point to explore the idea of male heroes, almost "superhuman" in their proportions.

"It is that exaggerated, heroic silhouette, hyper-masculine and formal that we were interested in, and how it transforms men," he said.

Formichetti and menswear designer Romain Kremer threw open the creative process in preparing the collection, streamcasting the run-up to the show online and inviting feedback from fans.

Higlighting the open process, the first two models stepped out to a pounding dance soundtrack with cameras on harnesses strapped to their bodies.

Followed sharp-cut suits in deep red, blue,canada goose parka jackets green or black, that paired tapered pants with cropped jackets, overcoats and military-inspired capes -- all round-necked and big-shouldered in a nod to vintage Thierry Mugler designs.

Sexy ironworkers stepped out bare-chested with long aprons worn over slimline trousers.

Natural wools, cottons and leathers were given a plastic, rubber or lacquered finish, while heavy silk jacquard fabrics were reworked as head-to-toe patterns, like on a maroon three-piece suit worn with outsized overcoat.

Earlier, a duo of young designers opened the five-day menswear shows, with Japan's Arashi Yanagawa at the label John Lawrence Sullivan citing David Bowie as a key inspiration for his colourful, dandyish autumn-winter line.

The designer, a former boxer who named his label after a 19th-century boxing champion, contrasted checks with stripes, shiny with mat fabrics, luminous greens and violets -- and also threw the occasional boxing glove or knuckle-duster into the mix.

Newcomer Yohan Serfaty showed a collection for his label Y. Project built around leather,men canada goose parka for cheap suede and sheepskin, with pants cropped at mid-calf, roomy boots zipped open at the back,authentic moncler jackets womens and high zippered collars to keep out the cold.wholesale canada goose outlet

In Milan, Gucci tries on Bohemian as Richmond rocks

From Gucci's Bohemian grunge to John Richmond's rock 'n' roll attitude and Etro's feathers, fashionistas were treated Monday to a reinterpretation of menswear classics for autumn-winter 2012.

Gucci designer Frida Giannini came up with "a vocabulary of intellectual luxury for new rebels" inspired by Austrian-born actor Helmut Berger, she said, dubbing the result "Visconti Grunge" after Berger's director and partner Luchino Visconti.

The collection features oversized, destructured coats, sailor's jackets cinched in the back with big metal buttons, all in rich materials: velvet, British textiles and silk prints.

Short, close-fitting jackets make for a dynamic silhouette, with discreet embroidery or prints of roses and irises — black on midnight blue, maroon on golden brown.

Injecting a rock element was a vintage leather jacket paired with biker boots, or for really tough guys, a black rapper-style coat of sheepskin and beaver.

Weekend accessories include riding boots zipped up the back, and velvet or varnished leather slippers for the evening.

Sober but intense hues dominate but make room for the occasional "decadent red and peacock green touches", Giannini says.

Mixing and matching is the thing: a heavy wool jacket wraps around a delicate silk vest worn over a bare torso for a sensual vibe.

British designer John Richmond unveiled his own rapper coat,There are tons of canada goose jacket discount around nys. but a shorter version, striving for "elegance with rock 'n' roll attitude", but in earth tones: brown, grey, taupe and maroon.

The biker's jacket comes in a hound's tooth pattern, the parka is in super-soft wool and the hunting jacket is loaded with zippers.

De rigueur next winter will be Richmond's Pete Doherty-style hat or his wool cap in grey or white. The bomber jacket is in red and black checks with a leather yoke.

A military officer's jacket combines leather, lizard and hound's tooth, a mixing and matching of materials that is trending this season.

Weekend suitcases will bulge with Richmond's oversized woollens.

By day, suits are understated plaids and stripes, but when night falls the rock 'n' roll mood returns, with black silk shirts and jackets printed with skeletons or skull-and-crossbone motifs sure to turn heads. A tuxedo trouser trimmed with sparkling braid completes the look.

Etro has a more mystical appeal with a collection titled "The Great Flight: From the Everyday to Myth."

The idea is to "melt the traditional elements of the masculine wardrobe ... like drinking a cup of hot chocolate under the covers", the programme explains.

Clearly in a party mood, Etro suggests sumptuous coloured feathers galore, for next winter's frills, ties, bags, shoes and hats.

For a night at the theatre, why not a grey frock coat with lemon yellow trim, accessorised with an ultra-light scarf floating over the shoulder?

Or turn on the brights with an orange-red jacket over an orange pullover and yellow and orange plaid trousers.

Milan Menswear Shows - Grazia's Top Trends!

It's menswear time! And don't they look lovely? From Miuccia Prada's star-studded catwalk, featuring Adrien Brody and Jamie Bell, to Thom Browne's bonkers but brilliant sportswear for Moncler, Grazia Daily has helpfully trawled though all of this season's men's shows in Milan. Our aim? To help you steer the boyfriend/husband/clueless friend towards a place called fashion for Winter 2012 – and here are our top four pointers.

Where womenswear leads, menswear will follow, right? Well, this season menswear has followed womenswear into the drinks cabinet of colours. Specifically burgundy. We loved all the boozy hues on offer for the boy's next winter, from the Pringle knits to this amazing Neil Barrett coat (above left). And the blue? Well it's kind of royal. Or mid. But definitely not baby, or electric, or turquoise-y. More Tory blue than anything. And preferably as a suit, as Salvatore Ferragamo (above right) showed, or maybe just a hint on a shirt or a collar like at Bottega Veneta and Costume National.

A history for you: Way back in 2005, Scott Shuman started The Sartorialist, arguably the best and certainly the most famous street style blog on the interweb, on which he would snap, primarily, immaculate suited-and-booted men and would reference all manner of things which non-fash-industry men had hitherto been oblivious to. Pitti Uomo? Exactly.

However, what started as two-way conversation between Shuman and his readers morphed into something else entirely, when audience's at the men's shows suddenly appeared to become jam-packed full of guys wearing immaculate suits and looking around for Shuman, lest he should photograph them. And now, the whole relationship has gone full circle because this season, the men's shows - from Corneliani (above) to Bottega Veneta - were full of suited-and-booted looks which could have easily come straight from the audience, or the Sartorialist website. Do you see?

Ok, so we know that ‘grey' hardly counts as a menswear trend when 90% of all menswear available on the highstreet and in the boyfriend's closet is already grey. But lo, for Autumn / Winter 12 it has been decided that grey is going to be a trend, and not just an accident. Why, look at Christopher Bailey's Burberry Prorsum show (above), or that or Missoni! And, therefore, the boyfriend is to be instantly deemed fashion-forward when he puts on a t-shirt which was, at one stage, black. Although actually, black is also very now as evidenced by Jil Sander. So even if the aforementioned black t-shirt has not faded to grey, there's no need to panic. Phewf.

Dolce & Gabbana (above right) and Prada (above left) both indulged in what is more sensibly called ‘Victoriana' but which we're going to call ‘Sherlock style'. Double breasted coats, high collars, butThere are tons of canada goose jacket discount around nys.toned-up shirts, and capey fabulousness. We're a fan of this. Now all that's needed is for the boyfriend to embark on a bromance with Jude Law and we are SET.

Leather trousers. Everywhere. Jil Sander (above left), Calvin Klein. Heck, even Bottega Veneta (above right). Is this really going to be a thing? Really?! And, if so, can we avert our eyes until it's over?

Prada Displays Its Star Power

It was a red carpet, and it had to be, given the stellar lineup on Prada 's runway Sunday: From Adrien Brody in a rich red coat to Gary Oldman in a spiffy black morning coat, and the rest of a star-studded cast.

"It's about power. But it started with the idea of characters," Miuccia Prada said backstage, claiming that when she called up a bunch of actors — that's folks like Tim Roth and Jamie Bell — they all just happened to say "yes."

And why wouldn't any vibrant character want to play male model walking a carpet with an imitation of a palazzo mosaic, laid out like a game of chess. The clothes were spiffy in their fine elegance, with decorations from medals to flowers on the lapels. For evening, the tailoring turned to old-style silken smoking jackets and dressing gowns.

What the designer seemed to be saying, after her dynamic but simplistic racing car theme for her last women's collection, was that if men like cars, they like power, with all the trappings of formal tailoring and linear coats even more.

With heads held high by layers of colorful roll-neck tops, followed by a high-collar shirt, this was a major outing for updated classic tailoring, right to the upper-crust evening wear.

Ms. Prada, who always sets the standard in Milan, was putting her personal fashion power behind a return of fit and elegance, but with many more coats than suits.

"It was a parody of power," said the enigmatic Ms. Prada,There are tons of canada goose jacket discount around nys. whose own power over the fashion industry will only be strengthened by this performance.

Idle Tampa Bay Lightning falls into East basement

Evgeni Nabokov earned his 300th career win as Michael Grabner scored the go-ahead goal with three minutes left, and the Islanders beat the Sabres 4-2 Saturday.

The win moved New York out of the Eastern Conference basement and combined with the Hurricanes' 4-2 win over the Bruins to put the Lightning in it. Tampa Bay and the Islanders have 38 points, but the Lightning gets the bottom spot because it has played more games.

Carolina, with 39 points,The north facial area along with the Chilliwack Parka by way of canada goose sale cheap. moved into the 13th spot in the 15-team East.

Nabokov, 36, made 23 saves to become the 26th NHL goalie with 300 wins.

"I want to keep playing because I'm not ready to look back," said Nabokov, who improved to 7-11 this season. "I am having fun doing my job."

He recorded 293 wins during a decade with the Sharks before joining the Islanders this season after being claimed off waivers last January. Only the Devils' Martin Brodeur, the Oilers' and former Lightning Nikolai Khabibulin, and the Canucks' Roberto Luongo have more wins among active goalies.

"I'm enjoying the guys here,canada goose jackets and I want to keep working toward the playoffs," Nabokov said. "We still have 40 games left."

The Sabres, beset all season by injuries, have lost a franchise-worst eight straight road games in regulation. "This was another tough night for us," said Lindy Ruff, the league's longest-tenured coach. He has been behind the Buffalo bench since July 1997.

Game highlights: Jay Harrison scored the winning goal with 1:30 remaining for the host Hurricanes, who rallied for the 4-2 victory over the Bruins. The Hurricanes have won all three of their meetings with the Bruins this season. … The Red Wings won their 14th straight home game, equalling the team home winning streak record set in 1965, 3-2 over the Blackhawks in overtime on Todd Bertuzzi's second goal of the game. … Patrick Marleau scored off a rebound with 2:57 left to lead the Sharks to a 2-1 victory over the host Blue Jackets. The Sharks extended their point streak to eight games. They are 6-0-1 in the new year and 6-0-2 in their past eight.

Around the league: Next season's Winter Classic will be between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs and played at the University of Michigan's stadium, according to a report on the league-run NHL Network. But the report was not an announcement by the league. It said the league was expected to make an announcement before the Jan. 29 All-Star Game. This would be the first Winter Classic with a Canadian team. … Flyers wing James van Riemsdyk is out indefinitely with a concussion. He was hit in the head in each the Flyers' past two games, general manager Paul Holmgren said: "He reported (Friday) not feeling like himself."

Migrant remarks on the nose

Teresa Gambaro, the opposition's citizenship spokeswoman, has raised interesting issues regarding new migrants. She differentiates between them and ''Australians'', saying new migrants need to be taught about Australian culture on issues such as health, hygiene and lifestyle. She also says recent arrivals are not integrating into the community.

What research is she privy to that leads her to this conclusion? Does the Coalition, if voted into office, plan to give all new migrants a bag containing deodorant, toothbrush, soap, etc, and a guide to the acceptable norms of behaviour?

Gambaro's comments, which rely on a crude racial stereotype of migrants being smelly foreigners, are deeply offensive.

The first thing we must remember is that we are all migrants here, unless you are Aboriginal. Gambaro, whose parents were migrants from Italy, would do well to learn from their experiences.

Instances of prejudice against people of other ethnic backgrounds are not uncommon. Most migrants ''integrate'' very well with the passage of time. The majority are hard-working and resilient. Is it fair to focus on the few that may have problems and use that to promote prejudice? A spokesperson for a major political party has responsibilities, one of which is not to allow debate to sink to such a level that the real issues are ignored and sound bites become the only thing that is heard.

English language programs for new migrants and refugees are important and necessary to help them lead a productive life in their adopted country. If there are ways to improve delivery of these services, then by all means it should be done. I think most people would agree that knowledge of the local language is a necessity. I have not met any new migrants who were not appreciative of the English language courses available to them.

The majority have benefited immensely from them. Multiculturalism need not be a divisive policy. Many corporations have programs teaching cultural awareness to overseas workers, just as Australian corporations train their workers in local norms when they work overseas.

No Plastic Bag Ban Currently In Canada

Plastic shopping bags are progressively being banned around the world. In Britain, the plastic bag is symbolically viewed as actions of a “throw away society.” Even China, who is consistently fingered as one of the world’s two worst polluters, has placed a ban on them. But there are no such widespread bans in either Canada or the US, although many American cities have taken the step to eliminate their usage.

Seattle had banned plastic bags in December in order to cut down on the detrimental effects they have on the environment due to the use of petroleum as well as to protect the marine life around Puget Sound. Portland had eliminated plastic bag usage earlier in October. Canadians who are traveling south of the border should no longer expect that they will have a plastic bag with their store purchases but instead should keep this in mind when traveling to the US and either bring their own bags – preferably canvas – along with them.

Vancouver City Councilor Tim Stevenson claims that he had pushed hard for bans on plastic bags four years ago when the city and Metro Vancouver Regional District had contemplated getting rid of them. To Stevenson’s disappointment, there wasn’t enough support to do so as Allen Langdon, the vice-president of sustainability for the Retail Council of Canada, stated consumers still demand plastic bags at the counters, even though retailers are taking the steps to educate customers by offering canvas bags as an alternative. There are no definitive planned bans on plastics bags in Canada, although in 2008 there was a pledge made by industry groups of BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, as well as the Retail Council of Canada to reduce the amount of plastic bags distributed by 50% by 2013.

Unlike cities in the US, Canadian cities cannot impose a city-wide ban without the support of the provincial government, and shoppers who are still demanding plastic bags at the grocery checkout counters. Stevenson has stated that about 1.3-1.4 billion plastic bags are annually used in BC. He is counting on a promise that Metro Vancouver will be able to recycle all plastic bags by 2015. Langdon has stated that there are plenty of opportunities to recycle them at numerous outlets which include London Drugs, Safeway, Save On Foods, and Walmart. An upcoming progress report is scheduled to be due out this January.