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In partnership with Burt’s Bees, FASHION is celebrating natural beauty and the women who define it.

For Jenn Agnew, natural beauty “is about embracing what you’re already blessed with and being comfortable in your own skin. But also being comfortable enough to branch out and be fearless and do something different, whether it’s to your body, your hair, your makeup, your career, anything.” Jenn joined us on the set of our shoot with Burt’s Bees and while she was getting her nails done, we stole a few minutes to find out more about her path to self-love.

“It’s been a journey,” she shares. “I tend to be very hard on myself, whether it’s how I look, how I’m feeling, how much I’m working out, whether I’m doing things right in my career but I feel like I’m at a place right now where I have accepted how I look and how I feel. And I feel like that has helped me personally and professionally to feel happier and allow those around me to see that beauty and that happiness come out.”

Mindfulness has also played a role in her journey. “When I was younger, I wasn’t in tune with my body, my thoughts and my own mental health so [now it is about] being aware and mindful of how I treat myself internally and externally: how I talk about myself to myself when I look in the mirror, and how I present myself to others,” she explains. To help get herself in a good mood, Jenn says she’ll do “something that gets my body moving” like going for a run or a walk as “it puts some colour on my face.” Or it could be buying  “a new lipstick, or a mascara, something that’s a treat for me that I wouldn’t normally do” as it’s “something that I’ve done for myself that I can then put on the outside as well.”

As for her daily routine, Jenn says she likes to keep it simple when it comes to her hair and makeup. “It’s usually minimal skin coverage, mascara and lip gloss.” In fact, if she could only put on one product in a day it would be lip gloss. “I just can’t handle dry, chapped lips,” she tells us. For this shoot, we followed Jenn’s natural beauty by using the Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Tinted Moisturizer, Defining Eyeliner in “Hammered Bronze,” Eye Shadow Trio in “Dusky Woods” and Lip Gloss in “Flushed Blush.” Each product is consciously crafted with nourishing ingredients from nature (think green tea, avocado oil and shea butter), meaning Jenn could feel good about what we were putting on her skin. Plus, all Burt’s Bees products are formulated without parabens, phtalates or petrolatum and are not tested on animals. The product packaging is also crafted using post-consumer recycled content to make it as recyclable as possible.

Keen to lead a more natural life but not sure where to start? Jenn offers this advice: “I think what is important is making an effort to learn and [have] awareness. That’s the first step. It’s not an overnight change.”

Get Jenn’s natural beauty look below:

Main photograph by CARLYLE ROUTH. Product photography by SANDRO ALTAMIRANO. Creative direction by GEORGE ANTONOPOULOS. Styling by ELIZA GROSSMAN. Hair by JUSTIN GERMAN FOR P1M.CA/BANG SALON. Makeup by SUSANA HONG FOR P1M.CA. Manicure by ANA MAE VILLAGRACIA FOR P1M.CA/TIPS NAIL BAR. Photography Assistant: ASHLEY VAN DER LAAN. 

I met Susanna Merrick-Klinkbeil while waiting for the phone booths at The Wing in New York’s SoHo. I asked her what kind of work she did, but she demurred, implying that she didn’t have time to explain just then, but I could come find her later if I was still curious. This reticence piqued my curiosity; some of the girl bosses I’ve met there barely say hi before cheerfully downloading their entire CV into your brain. The possibilities set my imagination whirling. Was Susanna a spy? A therapist? A Republican political strategist? When I saw her the next morning, I rushed over to get answers.

Susanna, it turns out, is an intuitive energy reader, meaning that she perceives visible auras and their colors. She believes these halos of energy reflect our innate way of being in the world and whatever we’re currently going through, whether it’s the “green” of a
breakup or the “orange” of dealing with a high-energy toddler. She’s also a stylist who pairs clothes with vibes, helping people match their wardrobes to their energy and “call in” whatever they’re craving.

Whether or not I believed that Susanna could see colors emanating from my heart center, getting style advice based on something vaguely therapeutic, rather than boring concerns like “a realistic budget” or “maybe a 38-year-old shouldn’t wear a Bart Simpson sweatshirt so often,” greatly appealed to me. I booked a session.

It felt like a good time to admit that I needed help. I have a four-year-old and a 19-month-old and a job that rarely requires formality. Getting dressed, once a fun and interesting form of self-expression, had become another in a litany of required chores. Without quite knowing how, I had acquired a lot of smocky tops, baggy leggings, and cardigans with pockets large enough to smuggle a ham. Oatmeal, gray, and black dominated my closet, if not my aura.

getty images

On the day of the reading, I spotted Susanna across the room, radiant in a pink belted jumpsuit and vertiginous clogs the color of matcha, topped with a taupe linen work coat. I was wearing a plaid button-down, jeans, and brown desert boots, which was as close as I could get to making an effort on a drab winter day. Susanna dimmed the lights and led me through a guided meditation, tracing the movement of an imaginary ball of light from head to toe. Then she told me what she had intuited about my color energy, including the pain she sensed I held.

Her questions required genuine soul-searching. How did I dress when I was first starting out as an adult, and when did that change? I flashed on a memory I hadn’t thought about for years: my 25-year-old self, in a pleated skirt and knee-high Frye riding boots, clomping down the hallway of my first publishing job. Where were those boots now? I’d left them behind many apartments and several lifetimes ago. In my early twenties, I sometimes changed outfits several times a day just for fun, imitating whatever celebrity, classmate, or magazine image I thought was cool at the moment. Susanna diagnosed me with a disorder she calls “hot girl hangover”: At 25, I was cute enough to make whatever outfit I threw together seem passable; at 38, I was going to have to put in effort, even though I felt like doing so less than ever.

But Susanna claimed that there was a way to recapture the enthusiasm I’d once brought to my wardrobe. And now that I actually knew who I was, I wouldn’t feel like I was putting on a costume when I got dressed—I’d just feel even more like myself. This all sounded wonderful, albeit potentially expensive.

My innate energy, Susanna told me, is a mix of red and magenta. Magenta is a rebellious, wild-card energy, and red is intense—magnetic and repulsive—and impossible not to notice, like a stop sign. But I’m not projecting magenta, she said; instead, I’m putting out blue—caretaking energy that depletes and depresses me. What wearing new, brighter colors can do, she said, is temper the negative aspect of these tendencies. I needed to think about what kind of image I wanted to project, and what would make me feel comfortable and happy. “Something in you needs to be honored—a creative energy,” she told me. “Pieces that have a story are so important for you.” I needed to be more playful, to show on the outside how creative I am on the inside.

Even leaving colors and their associated vibratory qualities aside, those ideas resonated with me. Susanna also said several variations of “You are seen and you are experienced in this moment,” and honestly, I’d happily pay $225 just to hear someone say that and mean it.

She did a brief oracle card reading that focused on the fear and uncertainty holding me back. At the end, she asked: “What do you want? Don’t get analytical; just start pulling the feelings.” I told her that I wanted to feel inspired, as if I had new realms to explore. She took out a note card and a box of watercolors and began to scribble with a paintbrush; soon, a thick smudge of violet emerged. Next, I told her that I wanted money. (Who doesn’t, I know!) I explained that for a long time, I’ve felt that I haven’t been paid what I’m worth. She told me that by being truer to my essential nature and being grateful for what I have, I would call in abundance—yeah, yeah—but then she painted a smudge of army green on the card. “Green is growth, abundance, expansion,” she said, explaining that this particular shade is particularly grounding and earthy. Then I told her that I wanted to feel overwhelming love, the way I felt when I met my husband or gave birth to my children. Squiggles of vibrant pink appeared on the card. “Masculine energy is where you find strength sometimes,” she said, appraising my unisex outfit. “But I think there may be more strength in feminine energy for you. Pink is compassion, love, sensitivity. But it’s also a superpower for women.”

When I got home, I looked at my closet and saw all the black—a void into which I’d been retreating. But there were a few brighter spots: a pink striped shirt I hadn’t reached for in a while, for instance. I wore it the next day, feeling pleasantly like I’d done my homework. I pulled the trigger on a legitimately insane puffy coat with a toucan pattern that I’d been eyeing; it had just gone on sale. Susanna also sent me shoppable moodboards in the shades we discussed, and I had fun clicking through them, fantasizing about standing behind a podium at a bookstore wearing a $600 pink dress with gold thread running through it. It’s still a fantasy for now, but if I can tap into my innate magenta energy, I might be able to manifest it into reality.

This article originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of ELLE.

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“I highly recommend recreating any delicious treat you used to indulge in on the outside. It immediately makes you feel powerful and savvy.”

As people around the country enter their fifth week of self-isolation, FASHION is reaching out to some of our favourite Canadians to get a peek into how they’re living their lives in lockdown (remember: #StayHomeSaveLives). Each week, keep an eye out for new self-isolation diaries from actors, designers, athletes and artists who are riding this uncertain time out with us.

Sarah Gadon, actor

I wrote a very dismal version of this diary on Wednesday. Then the weekend started to roll around and I thought, I can’t drown myself in a journal of self-pity, well, certainly not publicly anyways. Yes, I’m burnt out from the news, the isolation and the uncertainty, but we are all in the same boat. You don’t need me to state the obvious, so I tasked myself to rewrite this entry with one question in mind: What is making me feel good (or better) during this time? With this new directive I thought, maybe I could provide you with an idea or two, perhaps even a little laugh.

Let’s start with the morning and the souped-up espresso machine my fiancé (now working from home) bought two weeks ago. It’s a Breville something or other and I may not drink coffee like him but the machine does froth milk. When I make my morning matcha and I’m frothing up a sweet pillowy cloud of oat milk, I feel particularly skillful and important. I also decided to recreate Impact Kitchen’s Protein Force Bars, which I use to buy around the corner from my house. I highly recommend recreating any delicious treat you used to indulge in on the outside. It immediately makes you feel powerful and savvy. I’m getting close in both texture and taste to their version. I devour these silly damp little bars with the same satisfaction as I do a crossword puzzle. I’ve really fallen into a crossword vortex. The New York Times crossword app whispers to me throughout my day: “Sarah, come play me… 5 letter word…” It’s crack.

Nothing squashes my anxiety like a good workout. While some days are easier to get motivated than others, what always gives me a swift kick in the pants is scheduling them on Zoom or streaming a class with a friend (even ones in different cities or on different time zones). Afterwards, my workout buddy and I will FaceTime, have a tea and catch up. Here’s what I’ve been rotating between: I’ve been a die hard Essentrics fan for years because you don’t need any equipment for the program and it makes your body feel like heaven. Lekfit, because bouncing on a trampoline is a guaranteed endorphin rush. MisfitStudiothe, because their teachers have soul and their workouts are hard. Finally, Alex Dawson Yoga, especially her Sunday class which is an amazing way to reset your mind and body for the upcoming week. I also just learned about the Instagram account @thesweatseries. They round up all the free IG live classes in a day and post a schedule so you don’t have to check 15 different accounts. Taking class isn’t just about making yourself feel good, it’s also a way to support incredible female entrepreneurs and artists who own their own studios and businesses. When I take a class I feel connected to a community of people trying to get through this time by sweating it out. It also makes me feel less alone.

Speaking of being less alone, have you been to a Zoom party yet? It’s bad, right?! Especially when there are too many people and all you end up doing is changing your background 10 times. Instead of inducing social anxiety during a time of isolation (who knew that was even possible?), I recommend getting 5-10 people on Zoom and playing a game together. I’ve been playing Mafia and it’s so much fun. Most games have a virtual iteration you can find on their website—Catan, Scatagories, Tabletop, to name a few. Seriously, open a bag of chips, get yourself a drink and get your game face on. I had such a blast last weekend, it even felt like I went out! It’s also a good way to visit your friends or meet new ones and not just talk about everything that’s falling apart. Anticipate spending the first 20 minutes explaining rules, working through tech issues and sending out all the right links, but the wait is worth the 3-4 hours you will spend howling with laughter.

This time will pass and we will get through this. I hope you all take care of yourselves (even in just simple ways) so that when we come back, we come back strong. Until then, have some caffeine, dance around your house and play some good old-fashioned board games.

The initiative is a great way to meet local Canadian designers during this time.

With the current global health crisis altering life’s normal routines, all facets of our world are shifting, and concern for how independent businesses are faring is at an all-time high. Starting today, Inland—Canada’s leading pop-up contemporary fashion market—is opening up a lens into the lives of these business owners. Inland will hand the camera over to different Canadian fashion designers every day, with each to take over Inland’s Instagram Stories and share what they’re up to in these unprecedented times.

“Connecting with each other is in our DNA. From the front lines to the quiet corners of our home offices, we are discovering new ways to relate and come together,” the brand said in a release. “Most importantly we are tuning in, for real, to our communities and focusing on what matters — each other.”

Today’s takeover will be by Iran-born and Vancouver-based designer Rojan Hooshyar from contemporary brand La Femme Roje. La Femme Roje specializes in handcrafting vegan accessories, bags and shoes. Hooshyar will take you on a day’s journey with stories of her life and how she is operating her business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The daily takeovers will continue this week with Toronto’s Kate Austin and her colourful, sustainable and organic casualwear; Hamilton’s Mettamade, which makes size-inclusive bamboo essentials; Toronto-based Okayok with fashion-forward loungewear; and Montreal’s bold and beloved Eliza Faulkner,  known for her ethical and feminine clothing. On the weekend, Partoem from Montreal, who makes origami-inspired leather goods, and Toronto-based genderless clothing brand In Objects We Trust will take over. More designers will be announced each week, too.

Since its inception in 2014, Inland has brought upward of 450 Canadian labels to the stage: the collections showcased by Inland are either ethically made or Canadian-made, or both. Its ethos to connect shoppers and retail buyers with independent Canadian businesses, designers and makers is an almost obsolete practice in today’s world of fast-fashion.

Inland routinely runs an event in both the spring and fall. Given the social and business restrictions (rightfully) implemented due to COVID-19, events around the globe have either been rescheduled to later dates or have faced cancellation altogether. The latter is the route taken by Inland, much like One Of A Kind.

But after announcing the spring show’s cancellation last month, Inland immediately took to exploring the ways in which it can connect Canadians to local and independent designers. Their initial Instagram Stories takeover route, dating back to three weeks ago, featured designers who were originally preparing to showcase their collections at this spring’s show. Now with this new series of takeovers kicking off, the talent living across the nation will continue to be showcased.

Dressing up is a 24/7 pursuit for this rebellious nightlife maven.

It might be hard to find a single place in the world where Ladyfag dresses down. Not when she’s alone at home, lounging in a bias-cut 1930s slip. Not when she pops out to the deli near her New York City apartment. And not even when she’s dashing from our FASHION cover shoot to catch a red-eye to London. Leaving the sweats to others (they’re the one trend she says she won’t wear), she prefers to sweep on board in a Burberry coat and sky-high heels. 

“Airports are glamorous,” says the nightlife icon as she picks at a fruit danish post-shoot. “Everyone is going places and doing things. So why not? You’re going to take off your shoes anyway, when you get on the plane, so you might as well kick off heels instead of sneakers.”

For someone who grew up as Rayne Baron in Thornhill, an affluent but conservative suburb of Toronto, Ladyfag’s penchant for theatrics comes as a bit of a surprise—even to her. “It’s funny because when I was younger, I was definitely shyer than I am now,” she says. “I was observing rather than doing, and I don’t know fully when that changed.”

It could have been when she moved to Toronto’s eclectic Kensington Market at 18 that she began coming into her own. She started selling vintage clothes, which ignited her love for fashion, and eventually discovered nightclubs and performance art. It was for a performance piece at a Toronto art gallery that she adopted the name “Ladyfag,” a campy reference to being a flamboyant woman in a world of gay men.  

A spontaneous visit to New York 15 years ago opened the doors to a career she’d never anticipated. “I didn’t go there with any agenda,” she says. But she began attending parties in the city’s nightclubs, where she caught the eye of legendary promoter Kenny Kenny. From there, “it snowballed,” and soon she was throwing outrageous parties of her own. Her events earned her the title of “nightlife sorceress” from The New York Times and have been attended by the likes of Riccardo Tisci, Alexander Wang, Padma Lakshmi and former Club Kid Amanda Lepore. Long before it became the buzzword of the moment, the term “inclusive” would come up, time and again, in the media coverage of her parties. 

“When you’ve grown up in that world of nightlife and queer culture…we’ve always been the underdogs and the freaks and the crazies, but now we’re suddenly becoming a trend. It’s kind of funny, but it’s positive, really, because inclusivity is good. People are changing their ideas of what is beautiful; they’re finally catching up.”

“When you’ve grown up in that world of nightlife and queer culture…we’ve always been the underdogs and the freaks and the crazies, but now we’re suddenly becoming a trend,” she says. “It’s kind of funny, but it’s positive, really, because inclusivity is good. People are changing their ideas of what is beautiful; they’re finally catching up.”

With her extravagant makeup and double take-worthy outfits—a mix of vintage and designers like Tisci, Marc Jacobs, Junya Watanabe and John Galliano—it might be easy to look at Ladyfag’s larger-than-life brand and wonder about the line between the person and the persona: How much is her, and how much is an act? 

“There’s me as a person, but then there’s Ladyfag, who’s a brand, a personality,” she says. “Nightlife is a fantasy, and that’s part of what I’m selling. So I have to always be on—I have to have my game face on. As a friend of mine who’s a drag queen used to say, ‘A lady always wears her lips.’” 

See the rest of this issue’s cover profiles here.

Nike + Run Coach Britt Moran gives us the lowdown.

With stay at home recommendations in place across Canada right now as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the streets are (thankfully) pretty sparse. Though you may have noticed more runners than usual as people are lacing up their shoes to pound the pavement for a little fresh air and exercise. If you’re keen to join the club, but aren’t quite sure where to start, don’t worry – we spoke with Nike+ Run Coach Britt Moran to get the lowdown on everything you need to know on how to start running.

What’s your advice for someone who wants to start running but hasn’t previously?

You can do this! The hardest step is the first one out of the door. So be brave and take that step. Next take it slow, running is all about pacing yourself. Lastly, give yourself a break – you are just starting after all so for the first few runs make it a run-walk.

What are the key considerations to keep in mind for first-time runners?

Key considerations for a first time runner is to not do too much too soon. Running is amazing and can become somewhat addictive. The biggest mistake a new runner can make is overloading their system and ending up injured. So take it slow and ease into it. Running is humbling and no matter if you are a veteran just coming back from a break or a brand new runner, those first few runs are always going to feel tough so be kind to yourself and stick with it. I promise you will not regret it. Everyone’s starting point in running will be a little different so do not compare yourself to others. This is your journey.

What are some of the benefits of running?

There are so many amazing benefits to running. In the current global situation it is a huge benefit because it is something you can do by yourself outside. It is amazing to get out and get some fresh air. Not to mention the health benefits of consistent exercise. Running is a great form of aerobic exercise that gets the whole body moving. It can also help to lower your stress levels. I especially find it nice because it is something I can schedule and control every day, and with all the uncertainty in the world it is nice to have something you can count on. And if you still need convincing, it is a great calorie burner.

Could you provide a basic running plan for someone who is starting out?

As I mentioned above the key is to take it slow.  I would suggest running no more than every other day, coupling it with strength and mobility work on the opposite days. My favourite resource for this is the Nike Training Club app. There are tons of at-home friendly workouts to help you stay active on the days you are not running. And the bonus is you will get stronger which will help your running.

Below is an example run plan:

Run 1: 5 mins walking 10x (1 min run + 1 min walk) + 5 mins walking = 30mins (10 mins running)

Run 2: 5 mins walking 8x (2 mins run + 1 min walk) + 5 mins walking = 34 mins (16 mins running)

Run 3: 5 mins walking 4x (5 mins run + 1 min walk) + 5 mins walking = 34 mins (20 mins running)

Run 4: 5 mins walking 2 x (10 mins run + 1 min walk) + 5 mins walking = 32 mins (20 mins running)

There is nothing wrong with keeping the run a run-walk. Do each run until you feel comfortable to move to the next one. If you get to the 10mins straight and are feeling confident give a straight 20-minute run a try. You can always take a walk break if you need to.

The Nike Run Club app can also be super helpful. It is a great way to record your running journey. The NRC app also has audio guided runs specific for beginners so you can literally have a coach in your ear guiding you on your run.

What equipment do you need to run?

The nice thing about running is that it does not require much equipment. However, a good pair of running shoes is key. My go-to running shoe is the Nike Zoom Pegasus or the Nike React Infinity. These would both be great options for a beginner runner as well. But the key is that the shoe is comfortable on your foot, because you are the one that has to run in them.

Do you need to stretch before/after you run? What are some stretches you would recommend?

I would suggest doing a dynamic warm up which basically means getting the body moving in the way you are going to move during the activity. No static stretching before running. Here is a resource of some run drills:

Post-run, I like active isolated stretching, I find it really helps with decreasing muscle soreness. Check out this video:

Lastly, I want to emphasize that running is a skill. It is something that needs to be learned and deliberately practiced. Think of running as a progression of marching and not walking. And have fun!

Remember that social distancing protocols are in place across Canada, so if you do head out for a run, be sure to keep your distance from others.