I just sat on the bus on the gorgeous fall evening, looking out the window, to see where in Paris it would take me. I soon noticed that the inside of the bus was just as interesting as the outside… in a good way. Here is my jotted-down list of the things I saw:

1. Resto: Pharaon (a really cool-looking French diner)
2. Musée: Fragonard (a perfume museum – my mother would get a headache)
3. Resto: Café de la Paix (swanky)
4. A monument
5. Winding streets
6. Librairie: de la Mode (ooh)
7. Magasin: Y’s (really cool coats)
8. Dépot Ceramique
9. The staple fashionista stores: Cop-copine, Naf Naf, some Shoebizz store… all that jazz
10. Magasin: Kabuko (very cool-looking coats)
11. L’ethnospecialiste (huh?)
12. Resto: Madame Tomate (nice couches)
13. A random office that looked like it was from the future. I think there was an architect working on a blueprint inside. It looked like the guy’s desk was on a second floor with the glass showing both the first and second floor, but it was the size of a room with the bottom floor completely empty.
14. Behind me: ”Il bosse. Il bosse pas énorme, mais il bosse.” ”Hmm.”
15. A young woman sitting beside us: Short brown shiny bob with bangs. Big black scarf wrapped around forever, until just below her lips. Dark eyeshadow, shiny levres. Leather jacket, of course.
16. A tiny girl schoolgirl with an amelie haircut, cute black-red plaid jacket, black boots tied up, and little black socks. Adorbz. I think she was playing musical chairs
17. Magasin: Antoine et Lili. I’d seen it before. LOVE. so bright, so colorful!
18. Magasin: Tepetto? Repetto? Lepetto? I don’t know, but a cool-looking store. The first letter of its name was a little too cool-looking, though
19. Sandro. Nice stuff. Maaaaan.
20. Musée Picasso. (ooh)
21. Another monument. Oh, at the Bastille!
22. A philosopher’s bookstore (I stopped by after getting off. So cute.)

23. No inhibitions, naked curiosity, a beautiful city.

Raha loves being the only tourist on free bus tours.

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Raha Francis is a an economics and philosophy undergraduate at the University of Toronto. She is spending her third year abroad, studying in Paris. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact her at raha.francis@utoronto.ca.

It is getting cold. It is cold. Yet strangely the levels of GLHP have (as it seems to me) increased over the last month. So I feel the need to state my opinion that:

• Leggings ≠ pants
• Tights ≠ pants
• Pantyhose ≠ pants

But seriously, I’m not about to write a post detailing what clothing choices are appropriate.  If you feel like leggings are more comfy than jeans, well, it’s your life. But I would strongly encourage you to watch out for just how revealing these non-pant things are.

Ever seen those guys who wear extremely loose pants? Good for them, they have their own fashion. But if you’re wandering around a respectable university campus like that… well… I think it just seems a bit inappropriate.

Also: IT’S WINTER (or will soon be winter)! Time to grab scarves and mittens and hats and coats and earmuffs and down-filled jackets and snow pants and self-heating gloves! IT’S A CANADIAN WINTER PEOPLE!

But I exaggerate, according to the weather network’s 14 day trend for Toronto (as of Nov. 5), in the next 2 weeks the lowest temperature will not go below zero… yet. According to experts we are also predicted to have a generally mild winter, similar to the one last year… Global warming?

And with that cheery note I’ll leave you with a wonderfully helpful diagram on how to avoid GLHP syndrome!

Photo copyright of gawker.com

This week on the web: The Twittersphere is buzzing about Hart House’s Craft Beer Festival, students take time to cherish the beauty of U of T, and Rob Ford gets a taste of U of T  at the Toronto Council Meeting.

Hart House’s Craft Beer Festival: The annual Hart House Craft Beer Festival brings Toronto ‘a diverse selection of beers, food by Hart House Executive Chef Marco Tucci, and DJs spinning summery beats’.

The Craft Beer Festival in 140 Characters or less.

Pictures from Hart House Craft Beer Fest

Rob Ford vs U of T: U of T students voice their concerns at Toronto’s City Council Meeting.

TO Council Meeting: Rob Ford vs UofT

Local Tourism: Sometimes a little pleasant scenery is all we need to get out of our student/zombie mode and enjoy the moment.

University of Toronto. Second best university in Canada. One of the top twenty in the world. My home for the next four years. Course selection starts Monday (ROSI anyone), and I feel more excited than a teenaged boy at his first strip show.

I apologize for being so MIA for the past few days but, to cut a long story short, this city’s kept me very busy. View from Robarts - Toronto

The first time I saw this place I thought, “Omg, I’m going to Hogwarts

Sunset from campus. I apologize for the quality, this is from my phone - something’s wrong with the camera. Sydney Smith - University of Toronto

#UofT #Toronto #bikes (Taken with Instagram at UofT - St. George campus)

My college residence. So pretty in the summer. Picture by Andrew Song

University College (by thebuildup) quad <3

On the Streets: Meet U of T student and fashionista Ellen Yeung, lover of faux fur. Plus, style advice of the week from CollegeFashionista’s Style Guru/U of T student Xinuo Gao.

CollegeFashionista: Fashionista Spotlight--Ellen Yeung

CollegeFashionista: Style Advice of the Week: Long, Longer Longest-Xinuo Gao

What’s on your mind, U of T? Check out On the Radar’s next post on Friday, August 5.

On February 17, join fellow U of T students in participating in the new World Wildlife Fund Canada initiative, National Sweater Day. Similar to WWF’s Earth Hour campaign, National Sweater Day is a Canadian initiative which hopes to bring all our nation’s citizens together for one day of unified action, promoting the universal goal of year-round energy-conservation. The project asks participants to turn down their thermostats by 3 degrees and wear a sweater. This simple task, when performed collectively, allows for a significant reduction in energy usage.

If you wish to go above and beyond wearing a sweater and turning down your thermostat for this initiative, get others involved by organizing your own ugly sweater party on National Sweater Day. You may also speak to your professor, department head, or residence don about programming opportunities surrounding the day.

National Sweater Day is a chance for you to make a meaningful difference for the environment on an individual scale, and to contribute to the success of the initiative on a society-wide scale. Participate on February 17, 2011 and practice energy conservation with all of Canada.

For more information or to “sweater” your profile picture, check out facebook.com/wwfcanada

Additional information is also available at http://wwf.ca/takeaction/sweater_day/

Before coming to this school I was like “OMG I so need to buy adult clothes” … so I went to H&M and bought anything that screamed “I listen to obscure bands and don’t eat meat.” That was my first impression of U of T students (I’m from New College, which is at the heart of hipster central). However, after the first semester, I realized that there were SO many different environments here and there is still room for my own style. So I thought it would be fun to put to test the critical reasoning skills I gained in my first year and use them to map out 5 fashion hot-spots on campus.

Methodology: I don’t intend to stereotype by localizing the styles. Rather I created outfits based on observation, empiricism. I have established the following dichotomies according to my observations:

Victoria College (plaid skirt on map) : Rugby-inspired looks. Oxford meets Robert Pattinson. Hey, I ain’t complain’. The highlight of my day is bumping into a Vic boy with Raybans and a classic blazer. It gives me hope that one day I will find my very own Nick Jonas. Vic looks often include Keds, Boyfriend Blazers, Raybans, crests, Rugby stripes and a coffee mug, of course.

Bloor Street West (pencil grid on map): Lady Gaga meets everyday. Where every latest fashion trend can be spotted. I love window shopping on Bloor during classes. Well actually I don’t really go into the high-end stores…I just like to people watch. Bloor West outfits give me couture-in-the-city fits. You know that feeling when you see a classic Chanel bag paired with breathtaking Yves Saint Laurent heels? A rare sight in suburbia.

Hipster Central (pink zone on map): U of T hipsters are not negative soul drainers like average Toronto hipsters past the age of 25. U of T is home to intellectual hipsters: a new cross-breed which has an amazing taste in music and tells the most interesting tales.

Drama Club (theatre masks on map): This area has many refined badasses and caged explorers — you know, those who have dreams to TRAVEL the world, learn to ride a motorcycle or learn the secrets of a language for fun WITHOUT being tied down by school commitments. Their style is so eclectic that it makes you wonder what they are doing in school.

St. Mikes at Night (disco ball on map): St.Mikes is known for many things, especially their parties. But not many people realize that St. Mikes consists of many fierce nocturnal fashionistas. They only come out at nighttime after studying. Decked in sequins, colour and dramatic angles, these ladies are the queens of the club!

Now that I’ve completed my first year I have learned to appreciate the diversity of styles rather than try to assimilate. The key to fitting in at U of T (fashion-wise) is ironically not blending in. Theres nothing wrong with buying carbon copies from H&M and Forever 21 as long as you add your own spin to your outfit. Don’t feel shy to wear a crazy headpiece or hat! If it catches attention, chances are that it’s FIERCE. Fashion is subjective. An objective fashion code does not exist. So make it your own and have fun with it! Feel free to play around with the famous U of T looks above to create a very own “adult” look of your own, future first years!

For all the current U of T students, try out these summer outfits! They totally complement the greenery on campus:

When I woke up on the first day of March, the sun was aggravatingly bright and then it hit me: the Olympics were over. I recalled hazily the train wreck of giant beavers and mounties with Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan singing songs I liked when I was an angsty pre-teen and shuddered as I tried to bury that image in the graveyard of forgetfulness. True, the Olympics and the figure skating that I so eagerly awaited was gone, but I could still enjoy my pretty red Vancouver 2010 mittens as I rolled snow into a ball and threw it at my darling friend and fellow blogUT writer, Julia. Speaking of Olympic attire, here are a few fashion highlights and splats of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

Mixed Feelings – Team Canada Sweaters

On one hand, these sweaters are rather endearing with its maple leaf and moose but on the other hand, its grey-ish colour scheme and volume makes me feel like someone who will wake up, put on a lumberjack shirt (under this sweater), take out my trusty snowshoes and trek five miles uphill both ways so I could go… I dunno, check my rabbit traps. The rest of the team Canada gear was simple and sporty (I do hate the checked sewing on the black coats though) but this piece, though unique, might be a bit out of place in a world where wearing giant wool sweaters in public is synonymous with crazy cat person.

Thumbs Up – Team Russia Jackets

Platinum medals and quads aside, the Russians sported these really lovely jackets with these wing-like patterns on the shoulders. I prefer the red-on-white version of the jacket than the white-on-red just because it’s more simplistic and I would totally buy one (even if I’m not really cheering for any Russian athlete) – if the thing didn’t cost $1199 and no, that’s not in rubles but Canadian dollars. Still, I’ve got to mention that my favourite piece of Russian wear are these scarves from 2006 Olympics in Torino.

Thumbs Down – Wearing Dark Underwear in a Transparent-ish Suit

Dear Miho Takagi,

We don’t want to see your g-string while you race or practice. It isn’t going to make your time any faster. Or at least it shouldn’t. Not to mention you’re just 15.

Award – Best Figure Skating Costume

This couple won the best dressed award in Ailsa’s article on figure skating outfits and a gold medal and I will give them another award for best dressed again for Tessa’s new dress, which is GORGEOUS. Tessa has gone through at least 3 or 4 dresses for their free dance this season but this one is the best. Simple, elegant and very complimentary to their program. I hope she wears it to the World Championships in 2 weeks in Torino.

Award – Worst Figure Skating Costume

And… it’s a tie! The Worst Figure Skating Costume Award goes to Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin for their culturally insensitive costumes (and program) which stereotype aboriginal people and Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov with these really disturbing blue, shiny, spandex costumes… designed by Olympic pairs bronze medallist Aliona Savchenko. I’m not sure whether I should make an acerbic comment on Aliona’s taste or Volosozhar/Morozov’s decision to even put these monstrosities on. Then again, if you think I complain too much, just wait until the Olympic coverage starts leaking on youtube – David Pelletier would not shut up about the hideousness of those blue… things despite their lovely lifts, and really high twists and throw jumps.

Love – Just Pure Love

I think at the beginning, there was some sort of issue about the Norwegian curling team’s pants but I’ve loved them since the first time I laid eyes on them. Awesome pattern, simple colours and paired with a not so distracting top – I approve. The fact that some of these guys are cute is also a total bonus.

Special Mention – A Crown of Roses

I am rather cross at the moment with Canada’s little figure skating golden boy, Patrick Chan, for calling Johnny Weir out for being improper for wearing a crown of roses from a fan. Chan, you’re just jealous that Johnny can pull the roses off and you can’t. Not to mention he seriously should’ve been ranked higher than you.

To end this article, I will say that rather than taking my fashion policing too seriously, just remember Johnny’s favourite quote: “To thy own self be true.”

Pictures from the Daylife Photo bank, here, here, here, here and here.