1. Make a budget. Look at your overall finances and determine what is a reasonable and realistic amount of money that you can afford to spend over the holiday period. More specifically, think about how solid your income earning status is in the New Year. Don’t panic. Just be realistic. Once that’s done, assign amounts to each individual you are buying a gift for. Figure out the total, and if it’s above your budget, knock down the amount for each person by the required percentage, and hopefully, you’re there. Don’t forget to include cards, wrap, tape, postage, charitable donations and any other miscellaneous holiday expenses in your budget. 2. To help you stick to your budget, keep all your receipts and track your spending. 3. To avoid a January credit hangover, only spend money you have, and don’t purchase gifts on your credit cards unless you know you can pay them off within your statement period. 4. When credit cards are the only accepted methods of payment, as in online transactions, save the money you will need before you make the purchase. Then pay off your credit card immediately after charging it. 5. A line of credit typically has a much lower interest rate than credit cards. A line of credit can be a costeffective, convenient way to borrow money for a short period of time. Ask your financial institute about opening a short-term line of credit for the holiday season in lieu of doing your shopping with a credit card. There is generally no annual fee for a line of credit and depending on the terms and conditions of your line of credit agreement, you usually do not have to pay a penalty if you want to pay off the entire balance. 6. Beware of “Don’t Pay Till…” deals. Check the wording of the contract very carefully. It’s only interest free if it actually says “interest free.” If it says you have a grace period that means that if you pay the balance in full by a certain date, you won’t have to pay any interest. However, if you don’t pay it off by the specified date, interest will be applied for the full term, meaning from the time that you made the purchase. If the contract says you have an interest free period, interest does not start accruing until the period has expired. If you don’t have the money
now, and don’t think you’ll be able to save the full amount by the end of the term, it’s a good idea to walk away from this type of deal. A better way to finance your purchase would be through a line of credit. 7. Try setting up a separate savings account and add to it throughout the year in anticipation of the holiday season. Then you’ll have the cash and won’t feel the pressure to scrimp and save all at once. Also, you’ll have an automatic tracker of how much money you’ve spent and how much you have left at all times. 8. Look into various means of saving money: • If you see a great deal, buy five. • Go in on a group gift. • Give homemade gifts. • Talk to your loved ones and establish a gift giving limit that works for everyone. • Try Secret Santa for large groups vs. buying gifts for everyone. • Start early. Avoid buying over-priced gifts because you’re short of time. • Take advantage of post-Christmas sales for next year. • Try to find one destination for all your giftgiving needs so you don’t waste a lot of gas money driving all over town. • Cut back on your discretionary spending for a few months: take a brown bag lunch, reduce entertainment and use public transit. • Send e-cards instead of traditional holiday cards. • Shop online to browse, get gift ideas, compare prices and take advantage of online savings. Expert available for interviews: Alan Kaplan Associate Professor Ted Rogers School of Business Management Office: 416-979-5000 x.2429 akaplan@ryerson.ca
Office parties are opportunities to meet people, mingle and make small talk. Holiday parties can also be an opportunity to advance your career. Handled badly though, they could potentially limit it too. Here are a few tips in making those first steps: Making Conversation 1. Reach out to someone. Smile. Make eye contact. Be approachable. Be open to conversation. 2. Give compliments. Offer someone else a compliment, but make sure you are honest and don’t overdo it. If you receive one in return and feel uncomfortable, just say “Thank you.” Don’t discount the praise by telling the person all the reasons why you don’t deserve it. 3. Join an ongoing conversation. At a party, it is perfectly appropriate to join an ongoing conversation. People often walk about, moving in and out of different conversations. See if you can join in with a group of people who are discussing something that interests you. 4. Have some topics of conversation prepared, but make sure to actually listen to the other person rather than rehearsing what you’ll say next. 5. Ask questions. Be curious and intrigued about other people and their lives and interests. 6. Be positive. People respond better to positive statements than negative. 7. Use active listening skills. Reflect back that you are understanding what the other person is saying. Paraphrase what they say, ask for clarification and provide feedback. 8. Try to talk about things other than work. Take the opportunity to get to know people on a personal level. 9. Include your guest in conversations if s/he is shy or doesn’t know anyone. Try bringing them into the conversation by finding common interests. Stick to neutral topics, and avoid religion and politics.
Limiting Moves 1. Not attending the office party is bad form. You want to look like a team player. Your absence will be noted and could come back to haunt you at review time. Consider it an official work function. 2. Research the dress code before you go. Ask the organizer or someone who went to last year’s party. When in doubt, err on the conservative/formal side. Avoid showing too much skin. 3. When you’re the guest at the office party, remember you are a reflection of your host. Complement them, don’t upstage them and don’t embarrass them. 4. Alcohol and office parties can be a bad mix. Pace yourself. Eat food and alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones in order to maintain control. Advancement Moves 1. Shake hands with your boss and other senior managers and wish them a happy holiday season. Make sure that your boss sees you at the holiday party, and also remembers speaking with you. When it comes time for promotions, your boss is likely to pick a pleasant individual who seems happy to be at the company. 2. Office parties are opportunities to cultivate new relationships, but you need more than one conversation. Use the party as a starting point and follow up with colleagues after the party with additional social events. 3. Remember to say goodnight and thank you to the most senior person in attendance, the party organizer and your boss, before you leave.
Expert available for interviews: Martin M. Antony, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychology Author, Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook and 10 Simple Solutions to Shyness: How to Overcome Shyness, Social Anxiety, and Fear of Public Speaking Office: 416-979-5000 x.2631 mantony@ryerson.ca
This year, instead of wishing for a white Christmas, think green instead. An environmentally friendly holiday can be just as festive. 1. Trade in those incandescent lights for LEDs which use a fraction of the energy. 2. Look for recycled content in wrapping paper. This can be difficult to find and may actually require online ordering, but expressing demand will help drive its availability. 3. Recycle your own wrapping paper, boxes, and plastic packaging. 4. Scale back the elaborate outdoor displays. You can be festive without being Yonge-Dundas Square. 5. If you do use outdoor light displays, use a timer so the lights are on display only at times when there is an audience. 6. Give your cookies away on a real plate or recyclable plate. Likewise, if you’re hosting a party, either bite the bullet and actually do all those dishes, or use recyclable ones. 7. Take the time in your holiday party aftermath to sort through all the cans and bottles that can be recycled. 8. Make good use of your green bin and/or compost bin this holiday season. Uneaten food from holiday dinners and parties can go in here, as can scraps from meal preparation, soiled napkins and paper food packaging, coffee grounds and tea bags, paper plates and your great aunt’s famous fruitcake. 9. Consider asking those you exchange gifts with to make a charitable donation in your name. There is no packaging involved. Consider food banks and shelters, or organizations that purchase animals or supplies for families in developing countries. For a truly green Christmas, your contribution could go toward environmental conservation.
10. When gift giving, try an experience present, like tickets to a show, or a night at a hotel. It’s something personal that isn’t loaded up with all that packaging. 11. Buy sustainable. Many stores offer fair-trade products. 12. Real trees are great, but consider artificial. If buying a real tree, look for trees that are grown locally. Many are shipped from a great distance consuming fuel to bring them to local Christmas tree lots. 13. Take reusable bags with you when you go Christmas shopping. Don’t let all that extra shopping generate extra plastic. 14. Save your money, save the environment and spare yourself from long hours of looking for the proper gift items at the mall. Start a trend: show you care with some thoughtful homemade gifts. Local, organic, nutritious food items freshly out of your kitchen can work very well. 15. When practicing your out with the old, in with the new New Year routine, don’t just throw out old toys, clothes, shoes and household items. All these items can be donated to organizations who support people less fortunate who would be happy to have them. Expert available for interviews: Andrew Laursen Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry & Biology Office: 416-979-5000 x.4059 alaursen@ryerson.ca
The Family Way 1. Especially for first-year students living away from home and returning for the first (or second) time, it’s crucial to remember that as much as you’ve changed or think you’ve changed, most family members will be holding onto their previous schema or image of you. So be prepared for them to say things or to interact with you in ways you might not like. And politely and tactfully correct them of any misperceptions or old impressions they may have of you. 2. For anybody, getting together with family over the holidays can be very stressful because old family dynamics are often triggered, no matter how much everyone has grown. It’s important to recognize and to mentally prepare yourself for this, otherwise old squabbles, hurt feelings, etc., can very easily be re-awakened. This is usually unconscious so people are often not even aware of what’s going on until the feelings have boiled over and unpleasantness ensues. 3. Preparation, patience and honesty can prevent conflict, reduce stress, and improve the holiday season. 4. Take care of yourself first. Try to avoid getting overloaded with obligations so you have more quality time to spend with your family and don’t find yourself taking your stress out on them.
Dealing with Divorce, Conflict and Change Family plans are inevitably complicated by divorce, separation and/or remarriage; and a child may feel sad when people around them are happy. 1. Discuss holiday plans well in advance. Any holiday can be celebrated before, during or after the actual date. Include your children in the planning process. They need some degree of control and predictability. Communicate and coordinate with your child(ren)'s other parent. Work out where your children will be and how exchanges will take place. 2. You can post the same calendar on the refrigerator of both parents’ homes. Children can use different coloured stickers on the calendar to differentiate between the different households. 3. Encourage children to enjoy themselves with their other parent. They may feel guilty to do so, especially if you are left alone. Let children know that you have plans while they are gone, so your child does not have to worry about you. 4. Don’t try to compensate for an absent family member with many extra gifts.
Experts available for interviews: Oren Amitay, Ph.D., C.Psych. Lecturer, Department of Psychology 416-666-7763 oamitay@ryerson.ca Patrizia Albanese Associate Professor, Department of Sociology Office: 416-979-5000 x.6526 palbanes@ryerson.ca
Holidays with Children 1. Give the gift of time. Your time and attention are much more important to your child(ren) than lavish gifts. Give yourself to your child(ren). 2. Don’t promise what you can’t do or produce. 3. Involve your children in the development and planning of new and inclusive traditions. 4. Don’t over-pack your schedule. Arrange for some “down time” so children can rest, play alone, or spend quiet time with you.
1. Do all your shopping at a large mall where lots of walking will be required. Park your car far away from the door to further increase the amount of walking you’ll do. 2. ‘Tis the season for specialty drinks that are loaded with calories. At the coffee shop order a small and enquire about skinny options. For just a taste, skip the syrupy drinks and try a low-fat latte dusted with a little cinnamon and cocoa powder for holiday cheer. At holiday parties don’t max out on the signature fruity or creamy cocktail. Have a taste then move on to liquor mixed with soda or non-alcoholic sugar-free drinks, or try alternating the two. At the grocery store be on the lookout for low-fat alternatives; even egg nog comes in a light variety now! 3. Eat a healthy meal (including soup) before you head out to that holiday party. That way you aren’t starving when you get there and end up making a beeline to the deep-fried hors d’oeuvres and sweets table. 4. Pack healthy snacks to take with you when you go shopping. Malls have too many unhealthy options and chances are a shopping marathon will drain you of your energy and you’ll find yourself at the food court. A healthy snack that includes protein will make it easier to resist junk food cravings. For example: o Part-skim cheese strings o Baked tortilla chips and low-fat bean dip o Dried fruit and nut mix o Single serving of water-packed tuna with crackers 5. You don’t have to miss out on all the holiday goodies, just make better choices. Cider is better than egg nog; gingersnaps and sugar cookies are better than cakes, pies and bars; candy canes are better than chocolates; angel food cake is better than yule log; and fresh fruit is better than fruit cake. 6. Plan ahead. If you know you’re going out for a holiday meal or to a holiday party in the evening, make low-fat, low-calorie food choices all day long and fit in a workout if you can. But, don’t starve yourself. You may be so hungry that you end up overindulging later. 7. Plan quick, easy meals for the week and stock your fridge with the ingredients you’ll need. That way when you’re running around at night you won’t need to resort to last-minute convenience and fast foods.
8. The holiday season is very busy, and it may seem difficult to find time to exercise. Why not dust off your exercise videos so you can fit in fitness on your own schedule, not the gym’s? Also, make sure to hit the dance floor at all those holiday parties to sneak in some cardio. You could even start a new family holiday tradition: an afternoon of skating. 9. Manage your holiday stress to prevent stress eating: o Break down your holiday task list into manageable tasks. o Remember you don’t have to say yes to every invitation. Be realistic about how much time you have. o When you feel stress coming on, take a walk and/or breathe deeply while collecting your thoughts. 10. Volunteer to host the holiday party so you can control the fat and calorie content of the goodies. Search for lower fat recipes for your favourites online and be sure to put out lots of low-cal treats like fresh fruit, airpopped popcorn and pretzels. If you can’t host, suggest a potluck so you know there will be something there you can enjoy guilt-free. 11. During weeks where the parties and meals are numerous, make up for that extra food with more weight or resistance training. When the metabolic rate of your muscle tissue increases, your body will be better prepared to handle the extra calories. 12. All the rich meals you consume during the holidays are packed with sodium. Drink extra water to help flush out all that extra sodium. 13. When you’re at a holiday party, don’t hang out at the food table. Choose a small plate, rather than a large one, put two or three of your favourite selections on the plate and then walk away so you’re not tempted to keep picking at the food.
Expert available for interviews: Rena Mendelson Professor, School of Nutrition Office: 416-979-5000 x.7522 Alt: 416-785-1108 mendelso@ryerson.ca
Tips on Booking Holiday Travel 1. Use websites to comparison shop for vacation deals. 2. Beware that popular travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity promote what is profitable for them, not what is the best value for travellers. Dig deeper than sites you’ve seen advertised on TV. Try: • www.sidestep.com • www.kayak.com • www.travelzoo.com • www.orbitz.com 3. If you know exactly what you want: the dates when you want to depart and return plus you have a destination in mind (e.g. Varadero, Cuba), then your options are limited and it makes sense to book early. The earlier you book, the better the chances of securing availability. 4. Try to be flexible. If your dates are somewhat flexible and you could do any one-week period in let's say January, you may want to hold out till one or two weeks before your preferred period to see what discounts are available. Most resorts, cruise lines and vacation hotels understand the usual booking window for vacation (several weeks or even months ahead) and they may be motivated to offer distressed inventory (unsold capacity) at reduced rates close to the actual dates. 5. The holiday season is peak travel season all around the world. If you can, try to plan your trip for a week or two before or after the holiday season. 6. If you can, book one of your travel dates on Christmas Day or even New Year’s Day. Flights and trains will be less busy and wait times should be shorter. Tips on Packing for Holiday Travel 1. If you’re travelling with gifts leave them unwrapped. Christmas gifts may be opened and checked by security. 2. Try to pack lightly especially when travelling with gifts to avoid excess baggage charges, which could push the envelope on your holiday budget.
3. Consider shipping your gifts ahead of time to make travelling easier and to avoid your loved ones’ gifts ending up in the lost baggage abyss. You might not want to send everything all in one box though, since you’ll also want to avoid the lost mail abyss. 4. If you are travelling with someone, pack some necessities in each other’s bag. This way you’ll be covered in case your luggage gets misplaced during the Christmas rush. Travel with Children Travelling with children is often stressful for parents. Holiday travel is no less so, and may involve long winter drives on busier than normal highways, or long waits in airports for delayed flights. Plan in advance; when driving, drive sober and rested and schedule in stops and breaks. On all trips, pack toys, activities and snacks for the children. When travelling with children during the holidays it’s especially important to be prepared before you leave the house. There is a greater possibility that stores and restaurants en route or at your destination will be closed, so you’ll need to have all the toys and snacks packed and accessible before you leave. Try to Remember the Spirit of the Season Christmas travel can be full of delays and cancellations. Fellow travellers may be impatient and cranky, as will their exhausted children. Take a deep breath and search deeply for your own patience. It will help you make better decisions and will make everyone around you happier and more helpful. Experts available for interviews: Gabor Forgacs Associate Professor Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Office: 416-979-5000 x.6693 gforgacs@ryerson.ca Patrizia Albanese Associate Professor, Department of Sociology Office: 416-979-5000 x.6526 palbanes@ryerson.ca
Academic Hangover The holiday season can be extremely stressful for students. They have just completed several weeks of intense studying and writing assignments, and in some cases they may also have received a few disappointing grades along the way. This is especially stressful for first-year students who were used to getting A's relatively easily in high school. So a part of the holidays often involves recovering from that very stressful experience: recovery is a physically draining process that can leave you vulnerable to things such as colds and other illnesses, as well as emotional fragility. Add to that a) the stress associated with anticipation of the holidays (and yes, even “positive stress” is a kind of stress that takes its toll mentally, physically, psychologically and/or emotionally); and b) the knowledge that in a short time the nightmare will return for another three to four months. It becomes easy to see how some people can become overwhelmed during the holidays. On top of that, if you live away from home, returning to university might also mean a loss of comforts like the home-cooked meals, free laundry service etc., you got to enjoy for a week or two. And you may be leaving friends and other loved ones behind, which can also weigh on you and contribute to negative feelings including depressed mood.
Ghosts of Holidays Past Unfortunately, negative memories filled with a lot of emotion are usually the strongest and hardest to forget. We may not be aware of these memories at the time but we still carry them around, where they are just waiting to have certain feelings associated with them triggered by some cue that reminds us in some way of the original event. The holiday season is typically very stressful for many people for all of the classic reasons, so it’s likely that most everyone harbours several memories of stressful or distressing family interactions from past holidays. Maintaining tradition usually means bringing out many of the same cues each year (e.g., family dinner, seeing the same people from the past, etc.). Keep Yourself Busy Although only a relatively small proportion of people suffer from clinical levels of Seasonal Affective Disorder, the fact is that the reduced sunlight during the winter season really does affect most people’s moods, even if only slightly. Many students who suddenly find they have several weeks of freedom when they don’t have to use their brain as rigorously as before also find that, with their drop in mood, they are more inclined to think about things they didn’t think about (as much) recently. And an abundant amount of research indicates that reflection when one is feeling down or depressed is one of the most powerful predictors of falling into even deeper and longer periods of depression or depressed mood. So it’s important to have some back-up plans that allow you to avoid periods of reflection. But don’t overwhelm yourself with planning many activities or “to do” lists, as that can easily backfire. Instead, just make sure that you have several things you can do— preferably pleasurable, such as renting a favourite movie or seeing a friend or doing something that will get you out of the house and away from your negative thoughts. Expert available for interviews: Oren Amitay, Ph.D., C.Psych. Lecturer, Department of Psychology 416-666-7763 oamitay@ryerson.ca
Winter Weight Blues Your body goes through major physical changes in winter, as does your brain with the sudden change in pace of your mental activities at the conclusion of the term. You are also dealing with many emotional stressors—both positive and negative—that accompany seeing your family or old friends. It is thus important to keep yourself active, even if it means taking walks on cold days. Holidays are often times of lethargy and extra eating. For some people, it’s a purely physical process. For others, it can also affect you emotionally and psychologically. For instance, you might get down on yourself for packing on a few extra pounds during the holidays. That’s actually a natural, biological process during winter, left over from our ancestors who needed the extra fat to help survive the cold, harsh weather and decreased food supplies. But when you add to that the extra food and reduced activity that most people experience during the holiday season, it can cause some people distress and dissatisfaction with themselves: both of which can contribute to feelings of depression. So recognize these things before they happen and take steps to avoid or mitigate them.
Safely Handling and Preparing a Turkey 1. Thaw your frozen turkey two to three days ahead of time in the refrigerator. 2. Clean any surfaces that come in contact with the turkey or its juices with hot, soapy water and sanitize with a chlorine bleach solution (one teaspoon of bleach in four litres of water). 3. Utensils can be cleaned in a dishwasher or with the chlorine solution. 4. Always wash your hands after handling raw turkey. 5. Use a meat thermometer to monitor cooking. Insert it in the centre of the thickest part of the bird. 6. If there is stuffing inside, measure the temperature of the stuffing instead. 7. The temperature should read at least 82°C for 15 seconds before the bird is ready to serve. 8. Stuffing prepared on the stove top is preferable because stuffing inside the bird creates a larger mass to cook. 9. After eating, take the remaining meat off the bird and store in a shallow container in the refrigerator. Don't put an entire carcass into the refrigerator; it won't cool down quickly enough. Protecting Your Card and PIN 1. Before shopping this holiday season, check with your bank about its policies regarding fraud and refunds for purchases made on your credit/debit card. 2. Make sure you are aware of what your bank requires from you to entitle you to reimbursement in the event of fraud. 3. Never keep your PIN written down together with your card. 4. Never lose sight of your card. In shopping centres packed full of holiday shoppers or at gas stations crowded with merrymakers filling up, fraud can occur in an instant. 5. At the cash, ask to swipe your card yourself. Be wary of merchants that demand your card. 6. Always physically cover the keypad when keying in your PIN. 7. Beware of aborted transactions. Demand a slip for every swipe of your card.
Using Gift Cards 1. Gift cards are cash on a card; losing them is like losing money, so protect them as you would cash. 2. Gift cards do not have your personal information - you do not risk identity theft - but you will not get a replacement card. 3. Gift cards should not have an expiry date make sure you check with the retailer/mall before you use one or buy one as a gift for others. Preventing Identity Theft 1. When holiday shopping online, avoid unknown merchants and deals that are too good to be true - they are scams. 2. Never agree to send additional documents (such as a photocopy of your driver's licence) in order to complete a transaction. 3. Never reply to or click on links in unsolicited emails. A simple click may open up your computer to identity theft. 4. Remember that your bank or a company that does business with you will never contact you with requests for personal information 'out of the blue.' 5. When in doubt: don't. If something seems remotely wrong then don't provide your personal information. 6. Verify all requests by calling your bank/retailer at a customer service number you know, and talking with a live agent. Experts available for interviews: Marilyn Lee Professor School of Occupational and Public Health Office: 416-979-5000 x.7048 marilyn.lee@ryerson.ca Avner Levin Professor Ted Rogers School of Business Management Director, Privacy and Cyber-Crime Institute Chair, Law and Business Office: 416-979-5000 x.7690 avner.levin@ryerson.ca
The holiday season is an important time to think of others. It’s also important to recognize and cut down your excesses and start new resolutions as you head into a new year. Establish Inclusive Traditions 1. Have a children’s party, like a traditional birthday party, and be sure to invite your child(ren)’s friends who are from different cultural backgrounds. Have them share with each other parts of their culture as they share in parts of yours. 2. Remind your children that the holidays are about giving, not just receiving. Have your child create a list of people they want to give gifts to. You can restrict the number to whatever seems manageable for you/them. Plan time for baking, crafts, etc. where you and your child(ren) can make gifts, crafts, cookies, etc. for the people on their list. Resist the temptation of going shopping on behalf of your children for people on their list. 3. Consider volunteering at a local charitable organization. Take toys and gifts to children in need or the elderly. Involve your children so they can see the true spirit of the season.
3. Consider herb gardens and other container gardening plants as gifts for friends and loved ones. 4. Join an organization working to bring change to the food system. There are many organizations where you can find goodhearted foodies in the GTA region. For example, FoodShare www.foodshare.net and STOP Community Centre www.thestop.org are amazingly creative organizations and need lots of volunteers for help. If you want to think even bigger, you may consider joining Food Secure Canada www.foodsecurecanada.org, a citizen's coalition working towards eliminating hunger, establishing a sustainable food system and healthy and safe food for all. 5. Add these community-minded initiatives to your New Year’s Resolutions: a. Join a food cooperative. b. Eat more locally grown foods. c. Join a community garden. d. Add space for growing fruit and vegetables in your back yard. e. If you live in a shared space, be it an apartment, condo or co-op, encourage the building and tenants to start a green roof program. f. Shop more at local Farmer’s Markets. g. Buy fair trade products.
Think Food Security Food security means having sufficient food for all people at all times that is accessible, nutritious and safe, and produced in environmentally sustainable ways. It means having access to food that is produced and obtained in ways that do not compromise people's dignity, self-respect or human rights. This holiday season you can help advance food security. 1. Volunteer at a food bank, soup kitchen, or shelter. The holiday season is a very busy time at all of these organizations. 2. As much as possible purchase and consume locally grown and produced Ontario food. For the holidays try Ontario apples in your apple pie; boil, bake or mash Ontario potatoes; and look for local free-range turkeys.
Experts available for interviews: Patrizia Albanese Associate Professor, Department of Sociology Office: 416-979-5000 x.6526 palbanes@ryerson.ca Mustafa Koc Associate Professor, Department of Sociology Founding Coordinator, Centre for Studies in Food Security Office: 416-979-5000 x.6210 Alt: 416-461-7318 mkoc@soc.ryerson.ca
Personal adornment continues to dominate in fashion through big, bold statement jewellery. In a time of holiday parties, benefits and dinners out, make a statement with your accessories by following the season’s hottest trends:
5. Don’t rule out the classic pearl. They have been revived in a myriad of colours – twisted, piled, small or large.
1. There is a renewed awareness of all things that wrap around your neck – interesting collars, scarves and jewellery. The wrist also comes to prominence with big bangles and cuffs being the preferred bauble. Stack them up – the bigger the better. You’ll find them encrusted with gems, detailed with paint or plain.
6. Earrings continue to run the gamut. Chandelier and hoops allow movement and fluidity. Minimalism is nowhere in sight.
7. Raid your grandmother’s jewel box to rediscover vintage rhinestone brooches. The ’80s continue to be a hot trend and brooches then and now are a striking addition to any hat, scarf or lapel.
2. This holiday season look for metallics to add an opulent splash. Gold continues to be strong but with the economic climate, women are just as happy with gold plated or gold filled to give a rich look without the cost. Sliver runs steady with gold but there is also be a return of other elements like copper, pewter, brass and stainless steel. Mix and match.
8. Whether it’s vintage or costume, the look in jewellery and accessories this season is dramatic, bold, fun and confident.
9. For a splash of holiday colour, pair strong jewel tones like ruby and sapphire with gold, silver, copper and brass.
3. Chains are abundant whether it is a single waist length strand or piled up high. Look for a textural element with different metals and different chain types all in the same necklace.
10. Fashion-forward jewellery is an easy way to feel and look rich without a rich pocketbook.
Expert available for interviews: 4. Big oversized beads, in all shapes help drive this strong trend. Geometric or organic shaped natural stones like the silky lustrous Tiger’s eye and iridescent Labradorite have replaced wood. The desired effect is a sophisticated exotic feel. Colleen Schindler-Lynch Associate Professor, School of Fashion Office: 416-979-5000 x.5333 cslynch@ryerson.ca Please note: e-mail is the best way to reach this expert.