Every woman dreads bathing suit shopping. No matter how prepared you are, a combination of bad lighting and ill-fitting cuts can lead to painful results. While I can't do anything about the fluorescent bulbs, I can at least give some fit tips that will serve as a shortcut to the best suit for your shape.

BODY TYPE: Full waist
LOOK FOR: Cut-outs and colour blocks can be helpful in creating definition. Dark side panels and curvy cut-outs in the side seams will create the illusion of a drawn-in waist.

Jennifer Lawrence at The Great Gatsby Premiere

Last week, Jennifer Lawrence made a bold move and showed that less is really more by going bare-faced to the premiere of The Great Gatsby in New York. 

The minimal to no-makeup look is a change for Lawrence, who usually opts for smokey eyes and pink lips when hitting the red carpet. But at only 22 years old, why shouldn't Lawrence show off her youthful and flawless complexion? 

I spoke to makeup artist Allana Mizra on how to get the look and let your natural beauty shine:

Model Alessandra Ambrosio in the perfect transitional outfit with a light jacket, scarf, and ankle skimmers.

The sun has finally come out to play and we're all just so excited that we forgot to put our clothes on! That's right - I see you out there in your short shorts and muscle tanks acting like it's mid-July. Listen, I'm just as excited as anyone to peel off the winter coat, but there are a few ground rules for transitional dressing; the main one being that it's a transition.

Here are a few of my favourite ways to ease into the warmth:

Even though Earth Week is over, it's important to keep your green behaviour in check. Many fashion and beauty factors play into environmental awareness, so here is a gentle reminder of some of the easy eco-friendly behaviours you can incorporate into your every day:

#1 WASH CLOTHES IN COLD WATER
It is estimated that up to 80% of the energy used by washing machines is consumed in heating up the water, so to cut back on electricity - as well as cost - turn that dial to cold. There are also many detergents specially formulated for cold water cleaning, and as a bonus the chilly temps will help your brights keep their colour for longer.

Rowenta Beauty Versa Style

We women tend to always want what we don't have -- especially when it comes to hair. While I long for big, voluminous curls, my curly-haired friends envy my pin-straight locks. 

And though we can't exactly change our hair permanently, we can manipulate it with styling tools. The only problem? It can get costly to invest in, especially when we require different tools for different hairstyles. 

That's where Rowenta Beauty's Versa Style comes in handy. This all-in-one styling tool allows you to create several different hair looks; from sleek and straight, to big bouncy curls and everything in between. 

  
Late for backstage. Early for the show. A girl can't win.

Fashion week kicks off in Toronto today and while it sounds glamourous and all, much of the excitement is simply smoke and mirrors. Not be sound negative, it's just that the shows - the lining up, pushing, shoving, overheating, and starving - often leave much to be desired. Here's a little taste of what I mean and a few survival tips in case you're heading into the trenches this week:

Timing is everything.
With a back-to-back line-up of shows, it's just as easy to be horribly late as it is to be embarrassingly early. And the thing about a fashion show is that once the music starts, it's not stopping. Time management is key, so plan out your day and budget for traffic and pee breaks.

Last Thursday, we headed backstage at Andrew Richard Designs to check out Comrags' Fall 2013 collection at The shOws. 

Though beauty on the runway can often be a little bit too crazy for everday, we were pleasantly surprised to see that the Comrags beauty look was something that could be worn in real-life and easily recreated at home. 

"At a lot of shows, the makeup doesn't look too wearable," said Greg Wencel, celebrity makeup artist and CoverGirl makeup pro who created the look. "When we met with [Comrags designers] Judish Corish and Joyce Gunhouse, they wanted to make sure that it was something that made a statement, but something that someone wouldn't be afraid to actually try."

Wencel's inspiration? A youthful, look reminiscent of a Parisian girl or models backstage sipping wine.  

"The Comrags girl has something healthy and organic about her. It's a polished look, that's super pretty and very wearable," he explained.

Wencel gave us a rundown on how to recreate the look at home, using CoverGirl cosmetics: 

I love trying out new beauty products and brands, so when I heard that BECCA Cosmetics (a line loved by Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce and Kate Moss, to name a few) was launching in Canada exclusively at Sephora, I was super excited to check it out.

By now, you must have seen the viral video of 13-year-old Tori Locklear’s hair tutorial gone wrong. 

Not going to lie, I burst out laughing the first time I saw it  - her face is priceless! But then I thought about what I would have done if my hair burnt off while using a curling wand - screamed, cried, thrown the ultimate hissy fit.

The offending pair of shoes from my uni days.

Back in my university days, I thought the sidewalk was my own personal runway. I'll never forget the day I wore a giant faux fur coat and a pair of stiletto booties to class. Unfortunately for me, this was on a day where we got roughly 15 cm of snow. Needless to say, I had to buy a pair of Sorels in between classes, and my outfit was ruined in the name of safety. 

The fashion world on the other hand, chose style over practicality during New York Fashion Week. Though the shows were right in the midst of Nemo, the fashion elite still trekked through the blizzard in heels -- stilettos, wedges, and some even open-toed.