We all know that a strapless push up bra can be a real life saver and that stiletto wedges can mean the difference between mile long legs and truncated pins but as far as saving actual lives, well, that killer dress tends to fall a bit short.  However, OmniPeace, the humanitarian fashion label founded by social entrepreneur Mary Fanaro, is successfully bridging the gap. 

25% of all profits go to charities promoting peace, education and human rights and Fanaro hopes to play her part in ending extreme poverty in Africa by 2025.

OmniPeace has found celebrity supporters in a veritable catwalk of the great and the good including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Jessica Alba, Sheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani, Eva Longoria, Lindsay Lohan, Sienna Miller, Naomi Campbell, Alicia Keys and even David Beckham and Zac Efron. 

To date the company has raised over half a million dollars in conjunction with Kitson, built a school in Senegal (the first in the village of Longhor in 40 years), and is currently working with UNICEF & the V-Day Foundation to build the City of Joy, a healing center and safe community for Congolese women and girls.

But it hasn’t all been a walk in the park.  Exactly two weeks before the launch date, Fanaro was diagnosed with ovarian cancer but she postponed her treatment for a few days, flew to New York and then back to Los Angeles and proceeded to launch the brand on both coasts. The very next day she started chemotherapy and for the next six months, whe fought cancer and poverty at the same time.  She is now in full remission and has signed fifteen new licensees that are responsible for bringing OmniPeace, its logo, and its mission to products, retail outlets, and the public consciousness worldwide.

The brand’s latest campaign against the use of ‘conflict minerals our everyday electronics is addressed in a viral video by award winning director, Adam Cunningham.

These so called conflict materials had been responsible for more than 5.2 million deaths over the past decade.  Check out the video at www.dailymotion.com/video/xbgic0_stamp-out-violence-against-women-an_news and visit www.omnipeace.com to see what you can do.  This is one of the few causes that isn’t asking for your money – unless you want to buy one of the extremely cool t-shirts – just a few moments of your time. 

The OmniPeace slogan is “Can Fashion Save Lives?” and Fanaro believes that by helping save the lives of others, she was able to save her own.

Waking up on Christmas morning to discover Father Christmas has delivered a stocking stuffed with fabulous make-up is any girls dream.  All good girls this year have been hoping for the Bare Minerals range from Bare Escentuals, the new additive free make-up to hit the UK from America.  It is innovative in its composition with no irritants or additives, thus this make up allows all women to ‘go bare’ in the words of the CEO Leslie Blodgett.

For those not so good girls, don’t panic!  As not only can you treat yourself to Bare Escentuals in House of Fraser, but this flawless range has recently open its first ever boutique outside of the states on 40 Neal Street, London.  Where you can grab a make under from a professional and view over 100 exclusive products in store.

The award winning Bare Minerals range is a powder foundation that when applied, blends with any skin tone, creating a flawless natural finish – as God intended.  With no chemical nasty’s this make up is so pure you can even sleep in it, without the fear of breaking out the following day.  Try out the range with their Get Started pack, which takes you step by step through the essential ‘Swirl, Tap, Buff’ regime, for only £45.00.

So, look effortlessly stunning this New Years Eve and go bare!

For more information go to www.bareescentuals.co.uk or visit the new boutique.

You might be more accustomed to drinking your body weight in wine at Kate Moss and Mark Ronson’s favourite boozer, however, next month you can work off your Christmas weight gain at the
newly introduced Paradise Boot Camp. Every Saturday morning throughout January, popular west London gastropub Paradise will host a series of personal training sessions with leading experts
in heath and fitness development.

Available to everyone and totally complimentary, patrons will don a sweatband and head to nearby Queens Park for a fun and energetic group workout.

As well as saving your pennies by attending these free sessions, every attendee will be rewarded for their efforts with a £20 voucher to spend in the dining room where you can indulge (though not too
heavily we trust) in Tim Payne’s menu of comfort food classics. 

Meet at 11am at the bandstand in the beautiful surrounds Queens Park any Saturday morning (January, 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) for an energising power detox smoothie provided by the team at
Paradise before getting started.

Classes are graded to suit your ability, whether you are a beginner, experienced or just looking to get back into a regular exercise routine after a gluttonous festive period. The classes are
designed to burn fat and help take your fitness forward.

Til then, you can prepare by throwing some shapes at the venue’s NYE masked ball.

Contact Paradise on 020 8969 0098 or email bookings@thecolumbogroup.com to sign up to Paradise Bootcamp.
Paradise by way of Kensal Green
19 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, London W10 4AE
www.theparadise.co.uk

Google Wave.  Currently in preview.  Which we think, is a slightly less Greek way of saying in beta, yet somehow with more democratic connotations. 

It’s also the self appointed new Facebook.

Now far be it from us to pour cold water on the self appointed new anything so we’re going to delay judgement until we can find enough mates with whom we can attempt the full Mexican. 

However, there’s one new online event going live in the spring that we’ll bet our the entire contents of our Christmas stocking won’t be a disappointment. 

Yes, we’re talking the new Selfridges website.  It’s currently under construction but certain lucky shopaholics are being chosen to test it out and follow its development as more features – not to mention products – are added over the next few weeks before it opens its virtual doors to the world. 

If you want to be in with a chance to bypass the the ravening hoards on Oxford Street, sign up at www.selfridges.com and monitor you inbox for one of the store’s coveted preview invitations. 

But if one is not forthcoming, worry not, some things are indeed worth waiting for.

It’s been a long time coming, but Boxing Day finally sees the release of Sam Taylor Wood’s directional debut, the acclaimed Nowhere Boy biopic about the early Life of John Lennon set in the war torn city of Liverpool, the tussle for his love between  formidable aunt, Mimi, and Julia, the spirited mother who gave him up and the tragedy that was to shape his entire life and career. 

The movie has already won plaudits at The British Independent Film Awards when Anne Marie Duff scooped Best Supporting Actress for her role as Julia and also sparked controversy over the director’s relationship between leading man Aaron Johnson - some 22 years her junior culminating in the announcement of their engagement in October.

It’s certainly been a year to remember for Taylor Wood.   In addition to Duff’s award, she won her own BIFA for Best Short Film for the 15 minute Love You More – written by Oscar Nominee Patrick Marber produced by Oscar winner Anthony Minghella and starring Harry Treadaway. 

The artist turned director celebrated with Johnson and fellow BIFA winners including Sir Michael Caine, An Education’s Carey Mulligan, Looking For Eric’s John Henshaw and Katie Javis who won the title of Most Promising Newcomer for her role in Fish Tank plus James Nesbitt, Eva Green, Rosamund Pike and St Trinian’s hellraiser Gemma Arterton  – earlier this month at a star studded ceremony and after party at The Brewery in The City’s Chiswell Street. 

The fact that it was a very chilly Sunday night (red BIFA blankets were of course provided for the smokers) certainly didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits though the cobbles in the venue’s forecourt did inhibit a few of those wearing high heels.  Hardly surprising – as we hear that revellers knocked back over 2500 cocktails courtesy of event sponsors, Stolichnaya Russian Vodka. 

Drinks were designed by top mixologist Wayne Collins and renamed in homage to the occasion.  There was Best of British – vodka, fresh lime, ginger beer and bitters; Screen elit – on the rocks with wedges of fresh lime; Red Carpet – raspberry vodka, cranberry and fresh lime juice and finally The Short – vanil vodka, fresh mint, lemon and orange. 

And if you want a bit of rock ‘n’ roll action to see you through til the 26th, pick up the movie’s soundtrack packed full of tracks by Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry and, of course, Lennon himself.  And for diehard fans, promotional copies include a limited edition 7 ” vinyl single from The Nowhere Boys themselves!