Labeled as the GAP Give & Get campaign, every purchase you make at GAP from March 18 – March 21, 5% goes towards GAP’s non-profit partners including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, Canadian AIDS Society, CARE Canada, Humane Society of Canada and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. If you are a SPRIZE member, shop one day earlier starting on March 17th. Print out the below coupon to take advantage of this offer.

When visiting the Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Horby Street), my visit is never complete without a stop at their gift store. From now until March 21st, the Vancouver Art Gallery is offering free admission to their Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit. When you stop by the gift store, look out for local Vancouver designer Wendy Van Riesen of Dahlia Drive and her printed bamboo t-shirts in her newest “Leonardo Tease” collection, featuring anatomical graphics from the artist’s drawings. Also included in the store are her one of a kind dresses and skirts made from recycled slips and similarly printed with Leonardo’s drawings.

…but with St. Patrick’s Day approaching, here are a select variety of “green” necklaces and earrings for your upcoming festivities.

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Probably inspired by my friend Naomi and the ever-changing colors of her nails, I’ve been trying out different nailpolish lines to see what I like best. For example, MMV has previously featured Lippmann Collection and Sula’s Paint and Peel Nailpolish. But for the latest and greatest, Sally Hansen just came out with a “complete salon manicure” nailpolish line which works in five different ways to help improve your home-manicure experience:
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1. As a Base Coat – smoothes out imperfections for a flawless surface.
2. As a Growth Treatment – protects problem nails, allowing them to grow longer and stronger.
3. As a Strengthener – reinforces nails to help resist splits, chips and cracks.
4. As a High-Intensity Colour – glides on concentrated pigments in two coats for a salon-quality manicure.
5. As a Top Coat – provides extra protection and brilliant shine.
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I love the shape of the nailpolish brush – really flat and broad to paint the color on smoothly. I tried the color “Yellow Kitty” (a springy pastel shade of yellow, uncommon in nailpolish colors) and found that I had to apply three coats to get that smooth, lacquered look. Perhaps you will only need two coats for the darker colors. Sally Hansen’s “Complete Salon Manicure” is available in 42 new shades (wow!) and retails for $7.95 at select drugstores and mass retailers across Canada for Spring/Summer 2010.

The Velvet Room Boutique (2248 West 41st Avenue) “Design A Dress” contest is open to aspiring designers who have less than two years trade or professional experience and are 18 years or older.

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Choose one of the below events and submit a design for a dress that fits the criteria described. Participants may include sketches, pictures, flats and fabric selections in their submissions. Participants may submit designs for one or more of the categories for a maximum of three submitted designs.

• Gala: Design a floor length dress for a black tie gala or awards night (size six)
• Wedding: Design a dress that can be worn to a daytime wedding and evening reception (size eight)
• Birthday: Design an age appropriate dress that the Birthday Gal can wear to her 40th or 50th Birthday Bash. (Curvy size eight)

Initial submissions are due at 6pm on Friday March 26, 2010. For more information, click here.

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Looking to turn up the heat this winter? World renowned singer, Beyoncé, has just launched her first fragrance, Heat, which has arrived exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart locations all across Canada. Inspired by the diva’s life as a performer, the fragrance is housed in a beautiful antique detailed glass bottle that resembles embers of a fire rising from fierce red to hints of soft orange at the top. The first notes of Heat are dazzling red vanilla-orchid, magnolia, neroli and peach. Moving into the heart of the fragrance, senses will experience honeysuckle, almond and musky cream. Finally, notes of sequoia wood, Tonka and amber complete this luscious fragrance. Beyoncé Heat retails for $59 for a 50mL and $79 for a 100mL bottle and is now available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Canada.

In the fashion industry, trendsetting can be compared to a pyramid. High fashion and couture, starting at the top, and their runway looks for the upcoming season are way beyond the budgets of the average shopper (and MMV reader). But as time passes, these trends trickle down the pyramid as assessable ready-to-wear fashion available at our favourite clothing chains.

Described somewhat as a “fashion visionary”, being a fashion globe-trotter is part of Barb Atkin’s job description as the Vice President of Fashion Direction for Holt Renfrew (737 Dunsmuir Street). At Holt Renfrew’s Spring 2010 Media Preview, Barb gave a presentation about forecasted fashion trends for Spring/Summer 2010 and brought back to local media, her insights and observations about upcoming trends, neatly packaged into 4 easily-understandable “looks”

The Paralympics are coming to Vancouver and it’s not too late to get stylish Olympic gear at a discounted price. Aritzia, a 2010 Olympics clothing sponsor, is having a fabulous sale (20% to 50% off) on most of their Park Life clothing.
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Billabong is having a one day sample sale on Thursday March 4, 2010 from noon to 6pm. Sale includes clothing and accessories for mens, womens and little girls and will take place at #226 – 1868 Glen Drive (across from Home Depot).
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With names like Bo Peep (baby pink), and Nice Melons (a “papaya pearl”), these soft pastel shades remind me of Easter eggs and baby bunnies – a sign that spring is truly just around the corner.