I need some Spring in my step

Slippery slush. Wind that bites. Skin that never shines. Dark mornings. Darker evenings. Hot beverages. Burnt tongue. Resolutions hanging frozen on a clothes-line. HEY sun, where you at?

Around this time of year, like clockwork I prematurely yearn for Springtime.

The good news is that the groundhog came up last week, which means we are that much closer to trench coats and silk blouses. I'm ready to retire my puffy outerwear for something a little more breezy.

Isn't that what we all need right now, just a little bit of air?

If the above ads don't have you daydreaming of lighter layers yet, check out the latest video for the fantastic Spring 2011 collection by Canadian designer Marika Brose. It's been getting quite the recognition across the web, so I thought I'd share it.

The video was created by Cory (as you may remember him from my cafe review adventures). I always like to draw attention to the creative people behind the camera. It's easy to get entranced and remember a beautiful subject or beautiful clothes but rarely do people stop to ask who created the vision.

Cory and I will soon be working on a video for Not A Model, so stay tuned!!! I may be apprehensive about the whole thing, but I know I'm in good hands. As for the video below, I suddenly have the urge to throw on a white feather dress and walk down the Champs-Elysées. Oui?

If you liked that, check out Cory's other motion films here. So non-models, I ask what are you most excited about for Spring?

The Shades In-Between

Grey. The colour ground beef turns after being fried, the colour hair turns when the pigment dies, a soft to the touch bruise, the sky before the world washes clean, the wrinkled trunk of an elephant. It is a colour that has many variants and degrees and can be figuratively applied to a way of viewing the world.

It's a simple saying, "Not everything is black and white, there are always shades of grey."

Some people need to see the world in two colours. Some people must find a right or wrong or yes and no, while others always find the loopholes or elaborate answers beyond the hard and fast.

One of my best friends recently told me that I was being too rigid when it came to certain situations in my life. What? Me? I never thought of myself in that way. I pride myself on being the type of person who can see all sides to a situation, and yet in my own life I was trying to put everything into strict categories. 

Every choice you make coincides with what you've known before, or what others have told you is right or wrong. Maybe it's what your friends or parents have lived by, or what a book or a movie has said. It is hard to tell where the reasoning comes from sometimes.

Everyone writes their own imaginary rule book, perhaps without even knowing it. Have you revamped your rule book or analyzed what you will or won't do? Does it need an update or a software refresh?

No person, experience, relationship or friendship is the same so why apply the same rules to them?

You have to make up your own set. This doesn't mean I condone lighting cars on fire or pantless Wednesdays because it is now "your rule" but I do think it is important to ask yourself WHY. Why am I following this way of thinking? Why am I listening to this logic? Why won't I bend? Are there shades of grey in this situation? It is about making sure you understand the reasoning behind your decisions.

So what better way to embrace living in the "grey shades" then by literally painting my nails. I know it's still summer and my nail polish collection currently ranges from coral to aquamarine, but there is something understated and alluring about grey polish. It's a prelude to fall, but it's light enough to go with my bright summer outfits, and transitions nicely into the workplace.

[Sally Hansen complete salon manicure in "Commander in Chic"]

Before I go, I want to share with my readers this video editorial. It was directed by talented Toronto photographer Steve Carty. I love the music (Chin Injeti featuring the New Royales) the fashion, and the overall moodiness of the video. If the leopard fingerless gloves and the model's perfect, seriously perfect hair doesn't get you, the relationship drama will. This video definitely shows that nothing is black and white.

So how do you see beyond what's in front of you? I love hearing from you! Talk to me here or send me an e-mail (write.notamodel@gmailcom) tweet me at (@notamodelblog) or fan me on facebook: LIKE! xo

Sixteen & Definitely Sweet

What happened when I sat down with five high school girls and talked beauty, body image and style?

Alas, I'm getting ahead of myself. Last week, I was interviewed by 16 year-old Bronte Martin for the fall issue of Off the Map (OTM) zine. I couldn't believe this confident, long legged girl wasn't even out of high school. After the interview I thought it would be a good idea to ask Bronte if she and a few friends would want to be featured on Not A Model.

I met with Nicolette, Cassie, Sophie, Stephanie and Bronte at a cafe in the Toronto Beaches to start the interview. I was impressed with how relaxed, confident and happy-in-their-own-skin they all were. I don't remember looking that stylish or put together at 16.

When I asked the girls about the pressures they feel to look a certain way, they all had different but similar answers. Most of them agreed that while there is pressure, it is mostly external and comes from friends, boys or other people's commentary. Nicolette said her two biggest pressures are the media and school. Stephanie said that she finds she can put pressure on herself. They all agreed that while they have flaws, they try to focus on the positive, and as they get older they gain more confidence. (It's only going to get better, I told them).

One of the best things I noticed was that they seem to feed off each other to build confidence and stay grounded. They all cited their friendship as the reason why they don't spend too much time worrying about their looks. I asked them to write down one thing about themselves physically that they liked, and one thing about their personality that they liked. They were stunned, nervous and no one wanted to play this game. I then asked them to say the exact same thing about the person sitting beside them. They found that super easy. I took out large sheets of paper (like in Kindergarten) and coerced them to write.

I told them that the same nice things they could say about their friends were probably true about themselves. No one was going to think they were conceited. Everyone should be able to point out things about themselves that make them special, because (as cheesy as it sounds) everyone has something that makes them great. 

So I ask you to find the words they chose in *drumroll* Not A Model's first video blog!! Shooting videos and short films could be something that I start doing in the future. Although this video is a little shaky and forgive my cliche "rough around the edges," I had a great time filming it. I promised the girls that I would try to make something of the footage... so enjoy! 

Not A Model- Sixteen Video from Amanda DiPaq on Vimeo.

I want to thank all the girls for a fantastic day. I am passionate about mentoring and talking to young girls. Eventually, I want to start my own Not A Model program and be able to travel to elementary or high schools and speak to large groups of girls. I would love to write a book and have an army of non-models who want to express how they feel about beauty, life and self-esteem. Until then..

'Not A Model' is a state of mind. Live it. Embrace it. Be yourself.