Dincwear Women's Muscle Back Sweat Top

RRP: £37
sizes available: S, M, L

--What does the promo say?--
"Muscle back sweat top featuring a contrast drawstring hood, marl finish, front kangaroo pocket and fitted hem line with embroidered logo detail. 79% Viscose 10% Poly 7% Angora 4% Elastane."

--Appearance--
Dincwear's promise to combine dance, fitness and fashion seems to have been achieved in this high-quality item. The hood is great for warmth (or just shutting out the world) and the front pocket is both cosy and practical. As you can choose grey or black, the top's neutral colour goes with any bottoms that you care to wear. However, as the arm holes are rather large (which is not visible in the Dincwear website pictures) you WILL need a basic tank top or similar to wear underneath it. Again, as the top's colours are neutral, you can wear any colour. Dincwear would therefore do well to expand their range of crop tops and such in order to capitalise on this.

--Texture and comfort--
Again, this top seems to combine luxury and practicality. The inclusion of angora in the top's composition means it is supremely comfortable, which is helped by the 4% elastane (which adds stretch). Equally, the viscose and polyester are practical fabrics: viscose is structurally similar to cotton, and so allows breathability, while polyester is durable and provides insulation. As polyester does not absorb water (read: sweat), but viscose does, your clothing also doesn't get too soaked while you exercise!

--Practicality--
Washes well, and doesn't wrinkle easily when it's just been shoved in your wardrobe after a gym session.

--Value for money--
At £37, this is not a cheap exercise top, but is comparable in both price and style to tops sold by direct competitors, such as Pineapple Studios. However, its fashionable appearance and practicality mean it will be desirable for many. Having only had mine a month or so (thanks, Dincwear PR!) I can't yet comment on its longevity, but definitely will keep wearing it to the gym to find out.

perfect partners
Paneled Mesh Crop Top, £26
Paneled Mesh Body Suit, £37
2-in-1 Harem Jumpsuit, £43

Celebrity 'steppers' go crazy during Fairtrade Fortnight

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Viral video by ebuzzing

It can be hard at times to truly stick to the Fairtrade philosophy all the time; no matter how smug you feel when you buy something off People Tree, there's always going to be that time when you can't resist that bargain lipstick from Maybelline. Celebrities are going to even greater lengths this Fairtrade Fortnight (27 February to 11 March 2012) to raise awareness, with luminaries including Louisa Lytton, Alistair McGowan and Simon Webb all starring in Youtube videos to encourage others to take steps to go Fairtrade.

Through the ‘Take A Step for Fairtrade’ campaign, the Fairtrade Foundation wants to see more individuals and businesses buying and selling Fairtrade products in the UK, The public are being asked to think about what they can do every day, every week or every month throughout 2012 and take a step to make a difference to the lives of farmers in the developing world who produce the products they buy.

With Fairtrade every step counts. In celebration of International Women's Day (March 8th), for example, L'Occitane have released a fund-raising, Fairtrade soap as part of a development partnership with a factory in Burkina Faso. The factory has been run entirely by women since 2010 and supports their emancipation - and for just $8 (or £5, or €4.50, depending on where you live!) the shea butter soap can help you feel good, smell good, and help others at the same time.

The more people that support Fairtrade, the more farmers and workers will be able to improve their lives through the better terms of trade it offers. And there's really no excuse on the beauty front: you can buy Fairtrade makeup from sites such as Big Green Smile, Fairtrade clothes from high street retailers such as Oxfam, and Fairtrade jewellery and accessories from sites such as Traidcraft. We all talk the talk, but how many of us actually walk the walk? I know I don't always.

The Fairtrade Foundation encourages everyone to start their journey at www.fairtrade.org.uk/step, and to check out the rest of the mini-series on the Fairtrade YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/Fairtradefoundation. You won't regret it!