Vancouver Fashion

Words and photos by Maria.

Anna is in the kitchen peeking into the oven. It smells like something is baking in there and that something is sweet. “I’m baking pies for everyone!” she exclaims. “Do you want to try some? They’re almost ready.” The smell is enticing, but what I’m more interested in is what’s a-bakin’ in the next two rooms, because it smells even sweeter. Anna’s friend, known as Skinny Pete, has let her and other vintage pickers like herself turn his home into a makeshift boutique, and their pickings look delectable. A table set up in the corner of what might have been the dining room is filled with jewellery and accessories–one powder case still containing the fragile powder like a relic from a time long-forgotten. There are band t-shirts and coats next to the kitchen entrance, shoes on the adjoining wall, and dresses and bins with many, many accessories in the living room.

And Anna, is on a venture. She’s planning to start her own shop, to be named Duchesse, but having sporadic “guerilla” vintage sales is as good as it gets for now. “We’re looking to open something up by the summer” she explains. “Main Street does not need any more vintage stores so we’re looking to be somewhere completely different.” It’s fascinating to see the process of an idea in the making, and the next step is to have the sales be more known about and have them on a regular basis, making them, perhaps, less guerilla-like. But that’s not a bad thing, since the increased word-of-mouth action is likely to result in buzz for her business venture and the sales to come prior to its opening.

In the bins stacked in the living room I find a colourful scarf with an interesting flower motif in a style somewhere between Japonisme and the glory of the ’80s. I snatch it for a toonie and get on my merry way, but not before making sure I am kept up-to-date with the developments of Duchesse–because that’s a pie I will gladly sink my teeth into.

 

Words by Kathy Nguyen.

It has always been a thrill for me to walk into a retail space and admire all the things that are beautifully designed, well crafted, and are beyond the line of exceptional quality. Holt Renfrew is the home to the world’s most famous luxury brands and I was incredibly glad to be there.

If you haven’t had the chance to step into Holt Renfrew recently you should know that there are plenty of stimulating things to look at. I’m talking about brand new limited edition items designed by the likes of Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, and DSquard2. My pick
of an item is Alexander McQueen’s signature skull scarf with a Canadian twist printed with maple leafs. All items fashionable enough that instill Canadian pride are available at just the right time for the Olympics.

Getting the chance to preview Spring 2010’s upcoming must-haves was exciting, but what amped up my experience even more was being able to hear it from Holt Renfrew’s VP of Fashion Direction, Barbara Atkin. She delivered a notable presentation on what we can all look forward to this Spring season in fashion.

Things to Note:

-Be prepared to see looks inspired by exotic world cultures, organic yet slightly rugged urban travelers, corporate suits with a simple elegant feel, and the eclectic prep school chic.

-Women’s wear must-haves include the essential shirt, going shorter on hemlines with shorts and dresses, wearing that perfecto jacket with functionality, feminine dresses with fluid soft silhouettes, and visible lingerie. In the case of visible lingerie, we stay away from wearing it out right as the main focus in public but wear it more as a piece to advance a layered look with different dimensions.

-Women’s accessories include the return of the clog, a peep show in leather goods featuring cut out shapes, feminine jewelry with refined details, and accessories with exotic appeal in patterns and textures.

-Women’s beauty include stand out lips with pinks and coral shades, white eyeliner, the dramatic brow, and a play on eye shadows texturing different colors together (think of the rainbow).

-Men’s wear must-haves include the chino pant with a relaxed or slim look, the novelty print shirt in liberty florals, the classic trench coat with a shorter hemline, a summer suit with a neutral tone (you’ll be definite stand out!), and a blazer worn casually or for those dressy occasions.

-Men’s accessories include a pocket square for that touch of class, the messenger bag, a driver shoe perfect for the weekends (worn without socks!), a luxury watch and the refined lace up shoe for the work days.

Words by Brooke Takhar. Above photo by Andrea Warner.

Last Tuesday night if you happened to hear a girly roar out over the city, it was most likely the pretty partygoers attending the Kitty Card’s Holiday Soiree down in Yaletown. Tucked into one of the chicest high rises, the room we gathered in was gorgeous and oh so glamorous with the décor, party favours and even the edible goodies done up to match the pink and black of the Kitty Card colour scheme.

The Kitty Card, launched in September, is a must-have ladies-only membership that gets you entry (and discounts!) to Vancouver’s most glamorous salons, spas, boutiques and bistros. An offshoot of Glam City Girls, a social group (think Sex in VanCity) and over 500 ladies strong, the Kitty Card wants to help make you, you, and you become the beautiful people. With plans to expand to other North American cities, President Lexie Lamour spoke excitedly of future events she has up her sleeve, “Chocolate parties, girls-only private parties… basically those kind of events where you feel like you’ve stepped into a movie.”

Everywhere you looked Tuesday night was wham bam thank you glam! Express manicures, shoulder and foot massages, MAC makeovers and the most adorable and scrumptious nibbles (candy buffet! Tiny pink cupcakes! Champagne in beautiful decanters!) to munch and sip on in between complimenting every girl on their fabulous dress/shoes/hair etc.

As my best girly friend and I left arm in arm, faces glowing with fresh looks, fingers sticky with sugar and our head full of champagne bubbles, we had an extra kick in our step now that we’re proud owners of the Kitty Card.

To get your Kitty card for only 25$, or to join the long list of Kitty Card sponsors, go to ShowYourKitty.com

 

Trying to figure out what you thought of getting your loved ones for Christmas 6 months ago can be tough. You may have been shopping around one sunny Spring afternoon when you spotted the perfect gift for Sharon and made a mental note to buy her this perfect gift for Christmas. And now you can’t remember what it was… Local craft shows are the best way to jog your memory and if you still can’t remember what it was you wanted to get Sharon, then you’ll surely find her something just as great, if not better!

Luckily for everyone several craft shows are popping up here and there in the next few weeks, so there will be plenty of opportunities for memory jogging and just plain awesome-gift-shopping.

AND… Brought to you by Got Craft?, you could win a $10 gift certificate from The Barefoot Contessa! All you have to do is subscribe to String Magazine. If you’re already subscribed then sit back, relax, and cross those fingers. Contest closes December 3rd. Details of the Got Craft? event are below:

Got Craft?

Portobello West Holiday Market Edition

Baker’s Market

Canmade Market

Shiny Fuzzy Muddy

Woven Studios presents: Jolly Holiday Sale

Words by Shona Wercholuk. Photos by Eugenio Flores.

November 24, 2009 marked the annual Blanche Macdonald fashion show, which showcases the graduating students’ work. There were around 50 students each showing 3 of their best designs, so as you can guess, this was not a typical fashion show. The show was just under two hours and showcased a wide array of pieces; from sportswear to couture to what I can only hope was costume design.

Most students managed to somehow incorporate a current trend into their pieces, which was great to see, as it shows they are not only designing but following fashion. A trend I love right now is the blazer and I was surprisingly refreshed with the ones I saw as they were almost all innovative. One blazer that was particularly memorable was one that created a unique trimming using a 3-tiered pattern. I loved this because it took the usually standard trend and made it into something completely different. I really admire this concept of taking something basic and turning it into something beautiful. Another student managed to do this in an absolutely stunning manner by taking seemingly plain household items and turning them into radiant designs for the runway. In one of her designs she turned a tablecloth into a fascinating couture mini dress (pictured above).

I also really appreciated the fact that students were thinking about whom their target buyers would be: Vancouverites. Many pieces were made of what seemed to be organic materials, which is something that is very important to many local consumers. I also noticed waterproof materials being used, something that is absolutely essential for anyone living in this city.

As much as I found some students to have new and innovative designs, I found more to be too ambitious. Many were attempting to create couture but surpassed this and took their designs to a level of being tacky. One student attempted to create drawbridge pants but rather they seemed to be futuristic clown pants with completely random pieces of fabric. Another student was, what I can only assume, trying to brand her clothing with paw prints. This made her designs, that had potential, come off as gaudy. In both these examples I felt the student was trying to be fashion savvy but the designs just came across as inadequate and in some cases careless.

Overall, this show was able to create a completely new fashion show experience. I found that the wide array of designs was great, whether they were fabulous and fashion conscious or sub par and too ambitious.

 

Report provided by the CNW Group and Cossette West.

Traffic came to a standstill on Thursday as passersby stopped to see Robson Street transformed. There were upside down cars, trees, fire hydrants, bikes and a hot dog cart lining the street leading to the Gap store at 1121 Robson. The store itself had also been transformed–from the upside down Gap logo out front to merchandise and mannequins hanging from the ceilings inside.

The upside-down experience was all part of the launch of a new program being piloted at the ten Gap brand stores in and around Vancouver. The program, called Sprize, offers a very simple, yet radical way to give customers assurance that they will get the best price no matter when they buy and they no longer have to wait for the product to go on sale. It is a complete reversal of how customers shop today and with this pilot, Gap is essentially “turning shopping on its head”.

Customers are invited to sign up for free in the store. Once the customer becomes a member, all of the customer’s program purchases will be tracked. If the price of any purchased items drops within 45 days after the purchase date, the customer automatically get credited the difference to their Sprize card. Customers can use this ‘SprizeMoney’ to purchase merchandise in the pilot stores for up to a year from the date of issuance. Only purchases made in the 10 Vancouver area stores qualify for the program.

Customers can enrol in the program using handheld devices only in the 10 participating Gap brand stores. When they receive a credit, they’ll be notified by email. Customers will also be able to log in to mysprize.com starting in mid-November to monitor their credit balance.

“We are excited to be piloting this program in Vancouver” said Scott Key, Senior Vice President of Customer Relationship Management at Gap Inc., “Vancouver was one of our first retail locations to open outside of the U.S. It’s always been a very successful market for Gap and the performance of the SPRIZE program here will inform how and when we roll out SPRIZE to other stores. We think our Vancouver customers are going to appreciate this exclusive sneak peek at the program, and we hope they enjoy the SPRIZE.”

Words by Scott McKeown.

Global Gallery, Art Institute of Vancouver’s most recent fashion show, spotlighted the work of their newest fashion design program graduates. The night was a fine fusion of great production, theatrics, music, and of course emerging talent’s designs. Design students presented three looks from their portfolio that reflected their work over a two year time period. The direction in design each student took were all uniquely individual and catered towards varying markets. Notable budding design students included Krista Brown and Jana Sophia whose garments were true show stoppers.

Krista Brown (top, left piece) designed a collection that was original, directional, and avant-garde. Her use of non traditional materials like a wig for one of her pieces showed her creative thought and ingenuity. She was able to construct her garments in not only unique ways but also keep them flattering with a modern approach. Slanted towards more classic cuts and old Hollywood glamour were the pieces presented by Jana Sophia (top, right piece). The standout piece from her looks was a dress with soft ruffles that built on one another to create large volume and drama. Her colour palette was muted creating a sense of tranquility and peace.

Under the direction of industry veteran Vladimir Markovich, Global Gallery was the perfect format to help students continue to learn about the fashion industry and commence their career path into it. With a grad glass that not only seemed to have creative flair but also technical skill it is likely it will not be long before they begin their dream jobs in Vancouver’s fashion industry.

New York Fashion Week Ends
Words by Annabell.

There is something about New York and I still don’t know what it is or how to describe it. It’s like there is a place for everyone in New York. The city is not like what people describe, no one is mean and cold, nor does it seem like this giant city where you will get robbed in the old part of town. New York is an old city with so much culture and the people are so welcoming and helpful. (But I do see what they say about the nasty PR girls).

Willow in The Salon was the last show of the week that I attended. I didn’t know anything about this designer and the rows were barely filled. The seats were lined with bright yellow bags and the only thing in them was a bottle of water that was given free to everyone in the tents anytime they needed. I rolled my eyes and thought this was going to be joke of a show. But then, the show started with Karlie Kloss in a faded black and white print day dress followed by an asymmetrical jumper. Every single garment and every single detail was perfect; I was speechless from the first look onward. The models were so in sync with the music, the clothes, and each other. This was by far the best show I have seen all week: the models, the music, the set, everything. Every piece played with a variety of textures that were perfectly draped–I didn’t think it was possible to reach perfection in fashion, but this is the closest I have ever seen. The show ended with Abbey Lee in a structured jacket covered in hundreds of buttons. Unbelievable. This show reminded me of what fashion is really about, living and feeling exactly what the designer had in her mind.

People hype New York up a lot, it’s supposedly the best place on earth and everyone HAS to go; and I admit, it’s a truly amazing place. You never know who you might run into, or who someone is. I have met a lot of people, learned a lot, expected the unexpected, and didn’t want to leave. People say that when you go to New York it’s totally not what you expect, and you will just get it, everything will find its place. Perfect words: once you go, you will just get it, everything makes sense, and it was definitely not what I expected. People In New York are there to work, it is therir job; they are not there to party or pick up women. The city is not glamorous with heeled snobby skinny girls. They do exist but fashion doesn’t make you a God; everyone is human and we are all in this industry because we have something in common and a belief that we all share, and I now understand it. It’s competitive, it’s hard work, but we do it because we love it. And even if we love it others may not, it is a constant circle, constant falls and constant excitement. It is not New York that is hard to handle it is the industry itself. Its something that can’t really be described unless you go. Everyone has their place and let me tell you it is worth every bitchy PR person.

There is something about New York, I still don’t know what it is or how to describe it.

New York Fashion Week Well Underway
Words by Annabell.

Hervé Léger by Max Azria. Promenade. I was so excited–it was gorgeous, sexy, and ultra feminine. But then the show started and finished and I was still wondering when the second look was coming. Others thought it as absolutely beautiful, which it was, but like I said about the BCBG show and the Victoria Beckham mistake: why, Why, WHY!? I don’t understand. There is a very slim number of people who can pull this look off. I didn’t want to bring the recession into this but, were they trying to save money by using the same pattern over and over? I have no idea. One dress is beautiful but when you repeat it so many times, season after season, it becomes boring and unsexy. On the brighter side, the fabrics and textures were great. I always say that you can put multiples of the same colour in one look as long as the textures are different, and that is exactly what the Hervé Léger line did.

Next was Rebecca Taylor in The Salon. Easy, comfortable, true ready-to-wear pieces. Mixed prints and colours, one of those collections that has something for everyone. However, for someone to wear an entire look would mean they’d have to be a true Rebecca Taylor fan–she has a clear vision of her market.

Off-site, a little further downtown to Malene Grotrian. Vancouver designer, originally from Denmark. For those who don’t know, this is her first showing in New York City and I am sure will not be the last. I won’t give away many details because she will be showing again at British Columbia Fashion Week. Her style, to me, is very European with an easy to wear feel. There were a few jaw propping pieces, the ones you want to jump onto the runway, take off the model, and run! But stay tuned, I am sure you will hear much more about this local designer.

A few blocks away, the Gareth Pugh video at the MAC and Milk Studios. They wouldn’t let us into the private viewing, dammit. I guess we will have to wait until he shows in Paris.

Monday the 14th, 6 blisters and I haven’t even pulled out my heels once. Little breather, then back to the tents. TONYCOHEN in The Promenade. Selfishly speaking, this was one of my favorite collections so far. Nearly the entire line was made up of off whites that were loosely draped with soft pleats. The pieces were not tight fitting, yet did not look sloppy in any way. It was absolutely stunning–this is a designer I suggest looking into. Truly amazing work.

Next was Gottex. A true story of luxury swimwear. Each swimsuit was unbelievable. However, if there was a difference between swimwear and beachwear, a majority of the Gottex line would fit into beachwear. I would not dare take a black off-the-shoulder, beaded, jeweled, and ruffled bathing suit into the water, nor would I take a extremely full-draped one-shoulder sleeve number scuba diving. This brought back the feeling of absolute luxury, the more unnecessary, over-the-top and useless the more elite it seems to be. Isn’t that what fashion is after all? Or have we lost that exclusive touch?

New York Fashion Week Continues
Words by Annabell. Photo by Alex Ramon

Next few days, shopping and Venexiana. We got into backstage of The Salon where they were prepping for the show, offered our help, and I felt the rush of production. A lot of front house preparation and only a few minutes to do it. Attendees came into the venue and were seated quickly.

Models came down the runway in black and white sequined evening gowns, then slowly showed some color near the middle of the show. Full of glamour, makeup and hair, white, and a rock soundtrack.

Second last show of the day was Vivienne Tam. It started out with an HP collaboration commercial, then a male and female model walking down. A video of the runway played on the big screen as each model walked. The show was absolutely stunning: light pinks and blues, with contrasting black butterflies on nearly every piece. The music was soft and like a French love story–I couldn’t understand anything, but that’s the beauty of music.

Last show of the night was off-site at The Gallery and I have yet to figure out what the line was called. Free self tanner, and half naked men, you would wonder if there was anymore you could ask for. However, to be honest the show was not good at all. The male swimwear looked like it was from 1992 and the girls had things popping out that shouldn’t have been–and the colors didn’t go together. I think in all there were about 28 looks and the show only lasted about 12 minutes. It was very confusing. So we ended the night at a restaurant in the Village. I love New York.