LOTS OF STUFF ON SALE AT LAB! SUMMER, SPRING, FALL, WINTER! PRICES AS LOW AS $5!
Stop by!
January
1st – 5th Closed
6th 12 – 6
7th 12 – 6
8th 12 – 5
9 – 11th Closed
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays for January and February
Weds – Sat 12 – 6pm
Sun 12 – 5 pm
LAB will be announcing some big changes in the new year, be sure to keep abreast and sign up for our mailing list.
Click here and sign up for monthly updates on sales, events, changes, and news.
LAB will be doing some very special things in 2012 and doesn’t want to leave anyone out! Sign up today!
LAB Holiday Hours:
Fri Dec 23 12 - 6 Sat Dec 24 CLOSED Sun Dec 25 CLOSED Mon Dec 26 CLOSED Tues - Sat Dec 27 - 31 12 - 6 Sun Jan 1 CLOSED We'll be closed Mondays and Tuesdays during January and February.
LAB will be taking over the space at 1956 Avenue Rd N in Toronto in Feb 2012 and closing it’s Ossington location.
We’re sad to be leaving our beloved Ossington, but look forward to new opportunities elsewhere!
xoLAB
For many ladies, a change in season means a change in wardrobe — and, inevitably, an upward change in your credit card balance. But stacking your drawers with classic, well-made pieces is a great way to save money and look amazing for any occasion. We all have varied budgets, so the following list of fall wardrobe staples includes quality items in different price ranges. However, a word of warning: you will not find cheap deals in this article, as true quality rarely comes cheap (unless you buy on consignment!).
Long or short sleeve white cotton blouse: This works great with jeans, skirts, shorts or dress pants. Invest in a high-quality item (with a bit of stretch in it, if you can find it) from Theory, Club Monaco, Banana Republic or the like and you’ll get some mileage out of your garment. Wash cold and hang to dry and then steam or iron. (Dryer heat is damaging to fibres and can cut the longevity of your piece in half or more.) Avoid bleaching — it also breaks down the fibres.
Black leather pumps: Preferably not overly pointed, round-toed or square-toed — you’ll want something you feel you can wear with many outfits. However, you must take care of them properly. Take the pumps into your shoe-repair person affix a rubber sole to the bottom of the leather sole to ensure they’ll last longer; regular resoling, cleaning and polishing will extend their life further. Quality brands for a basic black pump include Amalfi, Donald J Pliner, Brown’s and Salvatore Ferragamo.
Casual boots: Whether brown or black is your shade of choice, a casual boot in which you can comfortably walk all day, and in any kind of weather, is essential. Blundstone’s are very well built and have soles that seem to last forever. Alternately, Frye boots and shoes come in so many styles now that they suit any wardrobe. (They too will also last forever, literally.)
Denim jacket: a stylish woman of any age should own a denim jacket. It’s a great, casual piece that will last for years, provided you purchase a well-made version. Denim jackets also come in several different silhouettes — blazer, western, bomber, trench — that can work with any wardrobe. Trusted denim brands include Levi’s, Wrangler and Gap.
Black pants: A narrow or straight-legged pant offers a great shape that can carry you for years style-wise. Theory makes a great black pant in various shapes.
V-neck tees: These are great basics to have for layering, wearing as undershirts or as part of a casual outfit. Invest in good quality bamboo, organic cotton or 100 per cent cotton, preferably from brands like Ultra, American Apparel and Alternative Apparel.
Little black dress: Every woman needs one (or five) — it’s as simple as that. They work for any occasion, in any season.
Bonus tip: Highlight your wardrobe with seasonal colors, patterns and on-trend silhouettes.
As published by Lauren Baker on The Huffington Post Canada
For the past six years, I have taken an active interest in the natural-health movement (though, admittedly, I’m not a portrait of perfect health… yet). Through reading magazines such as Alive, Whole Living, and Best Health, and having lengthy discussions with my naturopath, I have become much more conscious of what goes into everyday body-care products, and which ones contain agents that may potentially do more harm than good.
Lately, I’ve noticed a word that pops up in a lot of articles and discussions about body-care products: parabens. Alive Magazine‘s Allison Tannis provides this succinct explanation:
“Used primarily as a preservative, parabens can be found in make-up, moisturizers, hair-care products, deodorants, shaving products, and other cosmetics. Some companies and government organizations, including the US Food and Drug Administration, assure us that exposure to these chemicals is not harmful to our health. However, research continues to cast doubt on this assertion. Parabens are easily absorbed through the skin. They have lipophilic properties, which means they can accumulate in fatty tissue such as that found in the breast. This makes the use of parabens in underarm deodorants, skin creams and sunscreens a concern if they are found to be harmful to our health.”
As Tannis suggests, no direct causal link between parabens and cancer has been established. However, there is speculation around it. Given the history of breast cancer in my family, I recently went through my drawers and cupboards and chucked all my body- and skin-care products that contained parabens. This was very hard, as I do like my products — but I value my health more, obviously.
Fortunately, there are many excellent options — whether store-bought or homemade — available for those seeking paraben-free body-care. I recommend swapping out your paraben-based products for these effective alternatives:
Body Exfoliator:
Body Blitz Eucalyptus Mineral Body Scrub $32
Homemade sugar body-scrub recipe:
Roughly $16 for a large batch
1/2 C turbinado sugar
1/2 cup honey (local if possible)
1 tbsp water
4 drops lavender (or your favourite essential oil)
Body Wash:
Yes To Carrots Hydrating Body Wash, $10.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart
Alba Coconut Cream Body Wash, $8.99
Shampoo and Conditioner:
Kevin Murphy Hydrate-Me Wash and Hydrate-Me Rinse hair products. From $6 at your local salon.
Facial Cleanser:
Formulab soap-free mildly-foaming cleanser, $30.97
Nature’s Gate In the Beginning gentle cleansing lotion, $19.99
Facial Moisturizer:
Burt’s Bees carrot nutritive day crème, $19.99
Elmwood Spa Elm Line Sensitive Day Protection Cream for face (also protects from UVA/UVB damage), $41
Body Lotion:
Yes to Carrots Daily Moisture body lotion, $7.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart
Jason Naturals Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion, $6.49
Pain remedies:
Zax’s original Bruise Cream, $18.99
Weleda Arnica Ointment, $12.99
Deodorant:
Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant, $7.99. I buy mine from well.ca, a Guelph, Ontario-based online drug and health-food store. (They even sell toys!) I can’t say enough great things about this site.
Green Beaver citrus sport deodorant, $6.49
Fragrance
Clean 1fl oz $38 (various scents)
Aura Cacia essential Oils from $4.69 to $59.99
Hair anti frizz
Moroccan Oil $41
LaCoupe orgnx Moringa Oil Complex $12.99 Drugstores
Lip balm
Kiss My Face SPF 15 Vanilla Honey $3.49
C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine $7.50 Bath and Body Works
.
The next time you go to buy your favorite beauty product, read the label as some things label themselves as ‘green’ or ‘natural’ and aren’t. You’d be surprised.
LAB is now accepting Fall items for consignment. Please visit the Consigning page to learn about the details of consigning with LAB.
Please email labconsignment@gmail.com for more questions or to book an appointment.