Learning that Anderson shared her techniques with the world via home video I decided to give it a try. After all, Gwyn’s gams put even the ‘we wear short shorts’ gals to shame.  First up was the one-hour Mat regime involving many toning exercises. You simply require a chair and use it to perform several Pliés in an array of stances. Ok, not too bad. Then, arm movements that have you flipping and flapping back and forth with so many repetitions that I surely hovered off the floor for a nanosecond.  Finishing with a few stretches, I felt fresh and lean and oh so ballerina-like. I was ready for the cardio portion and started the dance video.

Ok ladies, this is not for the easily distracted. You have to watch Anderson perform the routine and then mimic her steps to the best of your ability, all the while you’re told to perform the moves as if you were Madonna herself.

The difficulty occurs if you haven’t much space (my condo was not exactly conducive to the steps) so most likely you will have difficulty performing the moves. There are a number of routines. You receive the walk through, where Anderson recites the moves as she performs them. Following the instruction, she then dances you through the routines like a pro as you try to keep up – “step, step, hop hop, turn twice, 2 jumping jacks, skip, hop and again from the right.” I turned it off after the first routine. I simply could not keep up and was worried I’d break a lamp or stub my toe on the couch.

I do recommend the toning video, however.  If you happen to have a larger area to perform the workouts then by all means include Anderson’s dance to your regime. Yet, in truth, it is not made for the city-living gal. In other words, unless I move into a penthouse or find a dance hall dedicated to The Method, my Gwyn gams are still a few hops, steps and sachets away.

Check out a piece of her video.

Marc Jacobs, Jason Wu, Thakoon and Rodarte

There are many books detailing her style and now there is even a blog dedicated to Michelle’s wardrobe. It’s called Mrs. O .  She is truly a modern millennium First Lady. She even held her own against the stunning Carla Bruni during the state visit to France.  For that alone we must applaud.  Michelle has also graced the covers of countless magazines, but most impressively the covers of Glamour and Vogue.  I cannot imagine Hillary Clinton’s grimace or Laura Bush’s stunned-gunned mug ever gracing the cover of Vogue!  For a closer look at Michelle Obama’s style check out her look book here.

Unless you’ve been cloistered away on an intergalactic space shuttle, you’ve probably noticed that since the series began in 2007, Mad Men has successfully reintroduced the grace and glamour of the early 1960s style. We see the show’s influence almost everywhere: in beauty (boujour rouge!), fashion and even furniture.  The full skirt is more at home on a push-pin settee anyway.  Yet, what intrigues me most about the Mad Men phenomenon is that it has successfully transformed both men and women’s fashion. Not surprisingly, since every Betty needs her Don.  I can’t help but admire how stylish men’s clothing can be, and I welcome back the attention to detail, from the tailored lapels to the French cuff.

There is no sign of the Mad Men craze slowing down either. Case in point, the many Fall 2010 collections from fashion’s top designers. The runways welcomed the female silhouette for a change, where the typical boyish figure has been replaced with the contoured Maidenform frame, replete with bounding cleavage and va-va-voom hips.  Take a look at the recent Vogue photo shoot with Ewen McGregor and model Natalia Vododianova playing the typical married suburban couple.  The elegance of the era and restrained passion are both superbly captured in this layout.  Ultimately, the modern interpretation of the mid twentieth-century clothing proves that class is indeed timeless.

Entrepreneur, Gita Kowsari, owes the success of her five stores to the dedicated detail she pays to upcoming fashion trends, as well as the styles of her customers.
She embarks on buying trips to Paris and Milan several times a year and handpicks items for her boutiques that parallel her own personal flair. She beautifully links the chic looks of the European runways with the sophisticated styles of the North American boardrooms. This has since been a recipe for great success and has allowed Kowsari to expand in the GTA and for her talented daughter, ?,  to learn the market through the burgeoning family business.

Her philosophy is to carry “contemporary designs that you can coordinate with ease”; whether it be career attire, casual wear or outer wear, all items are meant to harmonize with a woman’s existing wardrobe.

While bringing items back to Toronto from abroad, Kowsari also keenly promotes Canadian labels such as Loubin, Mackage, and Emmanuel. Her focus is to supply the latest looks but at reasonable prices. This is particularly true of their extensive accessory collection, where you can purchase a quality three-strand necklace for only $30.

The new location was retrofitted in white and platinum tones to complement the selections, which were modeled by sleek mannequins throughout the space.
The flagship manager, Judy Belair, who has worked with other retail heavy hitters such as Aldo, Nine West and Rudsak reiterates Kowsari’s philosophy: “ Miori offers a unique customer experience that sets us apart from other boutiques. We try to make it a personal experience. Our clients recognize our unique approach and we attend to their purchases and consultations as dedicated as a personal shopper.”

Ms. Belair believes this is why Miori has loyal such customers and why the store continues to draw new shoppers daily.

She adds, “Customers are truly embracing our new location.  The feedback has been phenomenal! We offer a redefined look for the working woman. Instead of the boxy figure made by traditional ladies’ suits, our clothes focus on maintaining a feminine silhouette while keeping the professional esthetic for the office. Whether it is a detailed shirt collar, a ruffled blouse or a fabric-on-fabric sweater set,  Miori promises to add those finishing touches every modern woman is looking for.”

Miori, as I’m told, means ‘new beginnings’, but clearly this is ‘just the beginning’ for the  hometown fashion retailer!

Miori Boutique
Exchange Tower
130 King Street West
Tel.416.645.1417