The Style Addict

Green chairs

2011-08-08T22:54:00.000-07:00

Blame it on the final arrival of the sun. I'm all about happy colours and upbeat design right now. Naturally these cheery chairs caught my eyes immediately upon entering this furniture store on Pender St.

"Astrid" dining table and chairs at Bravura.

Happy dress, happy thoughts

2011-08-05T23:54:00.000-07:00

This dress by Charlie Jade cheers me up to no end.

Too early for fall!

2011-07-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

It's devastating to see the fall themed window displays at Holt Renfrew, when the summer has barely just begun in Vancouver. The coats are fabulous though...

Fashion and style

2011-06-22T23:06:00.000-07:00

I nod in agreement.

My obsession in white

2011-06-20T23:36:00.000-07:00

Blame it on the absence of summer we've had in Vancouver so far. I can't seem to shake off my obsession with white gossamer - the ultimate carefree summer look. Every time I see something filmy and lacy in a shade of white, I must run my fingers through it. The summer solstice coming tomorrow, I am yearning for the days when I can romp around in these.

All from Club Monaco.

White summer

2011-06-12T23:42:00.000-07:00

No matter how well your relationship is going, meeting your boy/girlfriend's parents for the first time is pretty much like going to a job interview. For my first meeting with my husband's parents, I pondered over my wardrobe definitely the same way I do when picking an interview outfit. At the end, I decided to go for a look of sweet innocence - pristine, chaste and extremely unoffending. What better way to achieve this than through a white dress? In fact, it seems that a perfectly angelic white dress is one item I look for every summer. This season, stores are brimming with options.

(From left to right: Aritzia, Milly, Milly, Alexander Wang, Aritzia, H&M, Oscar de la Renta, Nanette Lepore)

Cupcake toes

2011-05-31T00:02:00.000-07:00

See the adorable cupcake design and polkadots on my friend's toenails? She may be going through the aftermath of a breakup but you couldn't tell by looking at her feet. You go, girl!

Betsey does skulls

2011-05-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

Alexander McQueen's skulls turned out to have quite the legs. I already did a posting on his covetable scarves. Then I saw this pink one at Betsey Johnson. Would this be a tribute or a trend copy? She somehow made the skulls look happy.

Sheer pleasure

2011-05-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

If this blouse were any sheerer, you might as well be the empress with new clothes!

The Dress and fine art

2011-05-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

This isn't the first time I assert that fashion is not only a form of art but also a major form of art. Not that I want to echo what's already been repeated a billion times around the world, but seeing Kate Middleton's wedding gown further confirmed this belief. Only hours before the wedding day, I saw an ad that read "get a knock-off Kate Middleton dress for $695 at Nordstrom." Don't bother, folks. The art of this dress is such that it defies the purpose of wearing a knockoff. Without the incredible craftsmanship of the lace bodice, the intricacy of the pleats, and the perfection of the proportions, the dress would look common at best and even tacky if made poorly.

The dress and its very apparent fine art status was very much on my mind all day on Friday. So it was only appropriate to end the day with an art show. My friend Jeff had an opening at Kafka's on Main St. with another artist/artistic director of Aritzia, Ben Skinner. It was a typographic exhibit called "Overheard over There". This wasn't surprising because Jeff is all about combining words with visuals. His work was steeped in sarcasm, revealing a dark undercurrent, though compared to his death-themed last show, this was more like a comic relief.

by Jeff Mair

by Ben Skinner

Happy Easter!

2011-04-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

Wishing you all some pretty eggs to brighten up your day...

Got Craft? Spring edition

2011-04-19T17:52:00.000-07:00

Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair is coming back this spring. With over 55 handmade vendors, come find unique, indie-made handbags, ceramics, stationery, jewelry, clothing, kid stuff, and body products among other treasure. When:Sunday, May 8th, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where:Royal Canadian Legion 2205 Commercial Drive (@ E.6th Ave), Vancouver
Admission:$3.00 (kids under 10 are free)

Colourful spring

2011-04-08T23:56:00.000-07:00

Despite my adoration for fashion, my interest in the subject matter lies more with the art form and much less with trend spotting. In fact, once a style is identified as being trendy, I find myself even less inclined to adorn myself with the object of desire so as not to look like everyone else. Regardless of my natural tendencies, there is one spring trend that I do love and have always loved, and that is colour. Vibrant violets, radiant reds, peppy pinks, optimistic oranges - shop windows are simply bursting with colours this season. But if I had to only one designer to brighten up my wardrobe, however, it would be Marc Jacobs and his rainbow of bright coloured dresses.

Dress for success?

2011-04-01T01:42:00.000-07:00

My first year university in Psychology 101, Dr. Stanley Coren showed a black and white photo of British school boys from bygone years looking starched in their uniform. He asked the class: "how many of you feel glad that you are living in an age in which you are no longer bound by dress codes?" A majority of the lecture hall put up their hands. "Oh, but you are wrong," said he, looking amused. "Even this room is very much bound by it. If one of you showed up to class in a tuxedo everyday, do you think you'd still remain socially acceptable?"

That was a long time ago. Things didn't change all that much since then, however. Dress code, written or unwritten, still very much has a firm grip on the so-called social norms. Fashion magazines may praise the way Kate Moss shows up to red carpets in black leather pants amongst a sea of ball gowns, it isn't always acceptable to freely express one's sartorial individualism anytime, anywhere. I would personally love to banish all dress codes at workplace except for the ones pertaining to the amount of exposed skin. Even with my industry's (high tech) apparent lack of dress code, many conform to the standard blue jeans and t-shirt uniform without much variation. So you can imagine, how it brightened up my day when a colleague came into the office in this delightful concoction:

The Case of the Disappearing Cheap Nickel-free Earrings

2011-03-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

Dear H&M,

I am disheartened and baffled by the recent changes you've made with your jewelry department. I know I've already complained about the sad state of affairs for fashionistas with nickel allergy but since it is not apparent that you are aware of our predicament, I ask you to revisit your decision to drop nickel-free earrings from your inventory.

There was a time when we could walk into any one of your numerous locations and purchase all the shiny, dangly baubles to our hearts' content. But I see that those happy days for our sensitive ears are over. Quantities of cheerfully cheap, trendy earrings on which we depended heavily to complete our outfits are still available but they no longer read "nickel-tested" on the label.

I am not ignorant of the rising metal prices, nor am I unsympathetic to your profit-driven goals. However, I question your decision to suffer the quality of your goods instead of making price adjustments, and therefore, cold-shouldering the welfare of those in need of nickel-free adornments. Please kindly reconsider.

Sincerely,

Bare earlobes

Nickel-free earrings have become a rarity at H&M.

Elizabeth Taylor: glamour of strength

2011-03-23T23:14:00.000-07:00

It really is the end of an era with the passing of Elizabeth Taylor. I love so many movies that Elizabeth Taylor starred in, it's impossible to pick a favourite. As an exquisite bride in Father of the Bride, the alluring socialite in A place in the sun, the elegant chatelaine of a Texan household in Giant, the irresistible Cleopatra - the list of her memorable roles goes on. What all of these films share in common is that her screen presence simply domineers in every scene. Unlike other sex symbols of her era such as Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot, her glamour had a certain kind of power and authority.
As for her iconic style, of all the diamond encrusted plunging necklines that she wore in countless films and photos, one image triumphs them all: her satin white slip in A cat on a hot tin roof. A fearless Maggie the cat oozing strength and sex, she'll always be in our collective memory.

Minuet in D (for dresses!)

2011-03-17T20:15:00.000-07:00

It really was an invasion of sorts at Barefoot Contessa. A UK label, Minuet, has filled the whole store to the brim with legions of dresses. With the less than cheery weather of the past few days, I've been craving pretty cheery things to look at. These dresses were just what the doctor ordered.

From Finland, with chain love

2011-03-09T21:39:00.000-08:00

Ivana Helsinki, the first Finnish company ever to participate in Paris fashion week, has brought a dose of its practical chic to Eugene Choo, a Vancouver hipster institution. Known for high quality materials and interesting prints, chain links were the main attraction at the racks of Eugene Choo.

A cork-y question

2011-03-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Made entirely of cork from Portugal, here's a bag that Stella McCartney would approve of. The tag calls itself "durable as leather yet environmentally sustainable." I am curious though, is cork really a great green fashion option? Isn't there some concern regarding the limited supply of cork, with all these wine bottles starting to sport plastic caps instead? Is or isn't cork truly eco-friendly? I clearly need to do more research on this subject.

Eco-Fashion Week: Nicole Bridger

2011-02-25T00:16:00.000-08:00

Nicole Bridger, known for her socially conscious contemporary women's wear, showed off her collection at the Vancouver Eco-fashion show this evening. She filled the runway with a generous amount of fluidity, volume and colour.

A DYI Jewellery Closet

2011-02-21T19:12:00.000-08:00

Here's something I'm going to shamelessly copy. My friend's mom made this inspiring jewellery closet for her with an old IKEA cabinet, wallpaper ends, cardboard pieces, and some black velvet fabric.

Death becomes his art

2011-02-12T23:28:00.000-08:00

My friend Jeff Mair opened his first solo exhibit at Gallery FUKAI (formally Gallery ATSUI) last weekend. Entitled "RELEASE/AFTERSHOCK", at first I was surprised to find the new series very different from his previous work stylistically. But then I could see that his obsession with words and ever-sarcastic tone were still in tact. Death is the subject explored in this series.

Written entirely with bullet holes, the size of this piece matches that of a coffin.

"The Death of Machismo" and its close-up: hundreds of handmade roses have names of real life machismos silk printed on them.

Come and see the rest of the series at 602 East Hastings Street, Vancouver. The exhibit will run until February 26.

Spring speaks softly... so far

2011-02-06T22:25:00.000-08:00

Spring 2011 runways were filled with acid-neons and jewel colours in a vivid palette of matte brights. Racks of magazines are heralding the return of colour as the major spring trend. Hmmm. Did the shoe department get the memo? From Aldo to Fendi, right now I'm only seeing safe neutrals and nude colours on all the retail shelves.

Local jeweler at the Oscars

2011-01-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

Montrealers did quite well at the Oscar nominations this year with a heavyweight like Incendies and Adrien Morot as the only nominee for Barney's Version (what in the world...?).

Dakota will be included in the gift bag

But Montreal isn't the only Canadian city set to have fun at the Oscars. Off the stage at the Red Carpet Style Lounge, a local Vancouver jeweler, sugarlime, will also be showing off Canadian fashion in Hollywood by providing 100 gift bags to celebrities, VIPs, and media. Not that this is their first celebrity encounter - their jewelery have been worn by the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Feist, Rachel McAdams, Rebecca Romijn, and Kim Cattrall. I also fell for their beautiful necklaces last year after seeing them at a holiday sale event.

Congratulations to Karen, the founder/designer of sugarlime!

Animal prints

2011-01-25T21:32:00.000-08:00

Leopard prints show no sign of retiring.

A cardigan by Diane von Furstenberg

Luxe window display

2011-01-20T23:49:00.000-08:00

Love the window display at Lulu Luxe on West Broadway with a haphazardly thrown pile of beautiful and shiny objects. The sort of messy pile the Mad Hatter's wife would have in her boudoir.

Think Pink!

2011-01-12T23:40:00.000-08:00

Honeysuckle is the colour of 2011, Pantone Color Institute announced today.
At first I was confused. I thought honeysuckle was yellow...? But more importantly, I love this reddish pink for being so vibrant and unapologetically feminine. I would paint at least one of my bedroom walls this colour but my hubby wasn't overly thrilled at the idea. His utterly cliché reaction reminded me of this male colleague I once had. Shortly after announcing he and his wife were expecting, he declared "even if it's a girl, no child of mine shall wear pink". I secretly hoped that it wasn't a girl and lucky for all parties involved, the fetus turned out to be a boy. Phew.

Rachel getting prego

2011-01-11T22:11:00.000-08:00

An article on Women's Wear Daily today showed some photos of Rachel Zoe sporting her 7 month-big pregnant belly and working hard at getting her new collection out.

I revisited a photo of myself in an older post when I was 6 months pregnant. Compare the size of my belly to Rachel Zoe's barely-there bump at 7 months (photo courtesy of the WWD article). How do these women stay so small even when nature throws a sack of potatoes at you to lug around?

I took a sneak peak at her collection on FabSugar. The clothes look more classic than I expected. Then again, you never know what kind of clothes these stylists will actually create. Way back when Patricia Field came up with her own collection, everyone expected to be wowed by a series of Carrie Bradshaw eccentricity on the runway but it ended up being neither here nor there.

Pradaesque

2011-01-10T22:55:00.001-08:00

Back in February last year, when the fall/winter 2010 clothes walked down the Milan runway, Style.com said the following of Prada's collection of tweedy fiftieth/sixtieth skirts and dresses:

It was nice to see that Prada envisages this being worn by women other than the zombie army of teen models that has roamed her runway recently—and that has influenced others to mimic that uniform aesthetic. Customers, she can be assured, will like that shift—but will it have a bigger ripple effect than that? Miuccia Prada is a fashion-industry influencer. Let's see who scrambles to follow the leader.

Well, when you spot a skirt from American Apparel that looks like this, you can say that the said ripple effect was had - don't you agree?

Prada, Fall/Winter 2010, Style.com

Tweed skirt from American Apparel

Retail therapy?

2011-01-07T00:23:00.000-08:00

Today RIM released more details on their tablet, Blackberry PlayBook, which is to be available in the market in March. So far the reviews sound favourable, calling it a 'genuine contender' in its market. This is a fiercely competitive market though. On my recent trip to Orlando, I was bombarded by Samsung Galaxy tablet ads on the walls of every airport terminal, lounge, shuttle train I was in. Even though I am not really in the market for a tablet, I found myself seriously weighing the benefits of Galaxy versus PlayBook and so on.

Then again, this is a perilous season. It seems so easy to make the post-holiday blues go away with a little dose of retail therapy. After all, stores are offering massive sales with big banners to advertise them. It takes more than a bit of self control to not give into treating yourself to pretty things. My latest temptation came from Miss Sixty: a dress with a patterned skirt and a sparkly pink top/dress. I tried them on, liked them, took photos to remember them by, and walked away. Delayed gratification will come in the form of a manageable credit card bill at the end of the month. Argh, it's no fun being responsible!

Comfort clothes

2010-12-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

I've been sick in the past couple of days during which I practically lived under my wool blanket. No matter how many layers I put on, I just couldn't get warm enough. I'm ever so much better now but I braved the last minute frantic shopping scene for the biggest, warmest, coziest sweater I could find. I saw this one by Line at Plenty on Robson St. and became instantly attached to it. It's like wearing a blanket, only infinitely more stylish.

The umbrellas of Vancouver

2010-12-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

I had to get a new umbrella to replace my broken one. So I walked into The Umbrella Shop on Pender Street, partly because I was in downtown but mostly because this store always reminds me of the 1964 French musical film, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) in which the main character played by Catherine Deneuve sells umbrellas in her mother's little shop in the coastal town of Cherbourg in Normandy, France.

Then 21-year-old Catherine Deneuve is heart-achingly pretty. The set is equally attractive with the vibrant colours of the umbrellas and wallpapers but the clothes she wears absolutely stand out as the prettiest of them all. You would still look lovely in them now, forty-six years later. I particularly adored the white princess coat and the light beige trench coat. As for the film, although every scene is practically dripping with soft-tinted, melancholic romance, there's nothing cheesy about it. Anyway, I'll stop talking about it here because I want you to watch the film.

Catherine Deneuve from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Back to year 2010, Vancouver. Nostalgia hit me like rain drops on the pavements of Cherbourg upon entering The Umbrella Shop. What’s wonderful about this shop is that they will fix your umbrella for free of charge forever, if you buy their merchandise. In a rainy city like Vancouver, broken umbrellas are a daily occurrence and one would most certainly take advantage of their service in the near future.

Holiday sparkles from Alice + Olivia

2010-12-12T00:40:00.000-08:00

One ironic thing about the dressing for the Christmas holidays is that the protagonist was born in a manger, and probably was wrapped in some type of coarse fabric. But hey, inconsequential details.
Embracing of the glitter seems to be Alice + Olivia's motto this season. Practically every single item by them at Holt Renfrew had sparkles - in abundance too. If Mary had pretty shiny materials, she probably would have clothed baby Jesus in them too.

A different kind of hair styling

2010-12-04T23:04:00.000-08:00

He said it took 2 years to grow his beard to this length.

Fashion graduates of Blanche Macdonald

2010-12-01T01:16:00.000-08:00

I once considered in a career in fashion design. I gave up the thought after taking a long hard look at myself and coming into terms with the fact that I am not a creator of new things. Instead, I became an appreciator of fashion design, part of the fashion chattering classes, if you will. That may or may not put me in a position to give unsolicited advice to fashion students but here it is: Push the envelope more. You have nothing to lose. At least that's what I wanted to say to the graduates of Blanche Macdonald students watching their creations on the runway.

Not to say that it was a dull show - there were some imaginative and experimental looks that I enjoyed very much. My favourites are Sabrina Tang's grey oversized belted jacket, Erin Johanson's modern day Marie Antoinette-esque ostrich feather dress, Angela Lin's off-white cage dress, and Krystal Frizzell's dramatic pin-striped tailcoat and corset dress.

Observation 1: Many chose to make jumpsuits.
Observation 2: Duppioni was the most popular fabric.
Observation 3: Red was used liberally (though not included in my photos below).
Observation 4: The runway was longer than the VCC's and Vancouver Fashion Week's combined.

Question 1: how in the world did Blanche Macdonald get Yves Saint Laurent to sponsor their fashion show?

Quality over trend at M0851

2010-11-29T19:36:00.000-08:00

Sales at U.S. retailers posted their strongest gain in seven months during October, showing signs of the economy improving after the slow summer. Here in BC, Vancouver Sun reported that September had the highest retail spending since May. Many also predict today to be a very busy Cyber Monday.
But before we get too giddy about our economic prospects, the same paper today also had an article about how work places are forgoing their annual Christmas party as hard times take hold.

Last season, it took me exactly 0.5 second to decide against buying a pair of Prada-inspired thigh high boots, deeming the price tag too high for quenching my fashion thirst for one season. Longevity is very much on my mind since I started Christmas shopping this season and virtually everyone I talk to says quality trumps trend when going on a retail therapy.

Quality over trend is exactly what the Montreal-based M0851 is all about – a store I stumbled upon walking by Alberni Street the other day. Used to be called Rugby, the name M0851 contains the owner’s first initial and birth date (August 1951). Their selection of bags is quite satisfying. They are made of soft Italian calfskin in modern lines that are both simple enough for casual outings and elegant enough for dressier affairs. Their collection of jackets also rates quite high on the ROI scale, each one boasting flattering fit and fine material. Raymond at M0851 insisted that I try on a jacket in a shade of red, which, incidentally, matched my skirt fabulously. He took a picture with his mobile and sent it to me. Thanks, Raymond!

One-of-a-kind by Sugarlime

2010-11-25T23:13:00.000-08:00

I‘ve been organizing my photos in the past few days. Now that I rarely print my photos, I often forget what treasures are hidden under some meaninglessly numbered file names. Just last night I went through a pile of photos taken from a trip to Belgium a few years ago. Particularly stood out among the pile were the ones taken in Bruges, unique for its medieval authenticity lined with pointy tops of beautiful stone buildings. Time really did seem to have stalled in the old town of Bruges. Though I only spent half a day there, I wish I had stayed longer to take the time to drink in the fairy dust in the air. Bruges is truly a magical place, despite what the Colin Farrell character says in the film, “In Bruges”.

However – there’s always a catch – despite feeling like Rapunzel, one thing that struck me walking along one of the streets on the outer edge of the old town was just how small the world has become. Corporate giants like Zara, H&M, and Bodyshop were firmly stationed shoulder-to-shoulder on the stoned street. In this era of mass market dominance, one could really dress and smell exactly the same as someone from thousands of miles away.

It’s no wonder then people continue to seek unique or one of a kind ways of expressing themselves. Last Friday, I went to a jewelry show by Sugarlime Jewelry at Delta Suites Hotel and enjoyed looking at pretty things of sterling silver, 14 kt. gold fill, sterling and gold plating. Delicate but not fussy, modern but timeless, Sugarlime Jewelry managed to strike a nice balance between everyday and special occasion wears. Unique and locally-made designs with attractive price tags certainly well position them for the holiday gift season. I couldn't resist them myself.

No Lanvin for me

2010-11-22T23:25:00.000-08:00

"A cake in the picture" is a Korean expression that is used to describe a situation in which one longs for something, but is unable to have it. And that was exactly what it was like for me waiting in line futilely to get into H&M on Saturday and watching the beautiful and affordable clothes being sold out before my eyes.
There may be many more collaborations between H&M and great designers in the future but Lanvin still remains a dress in the picture.

Royal stage

2010-11-19T00:47:00.000-08:00

Although no one was surprised by Prince William's engagement to Kate Middleton, the news seemed to be welcome by everyone and his dog. Granted, a royal wedding is always a headliner. But would the story have churned out not one but eleven related articles on the Globe and Mail if Kate weren't a "commoner", awakening that saved-by-a-prince thing that women supposedly have managed to overcome? That, by no means, was a sneer at Kate's background, as some British media have been doing in the past. I think for someone so young, she has been handling the media scrutiny brilliantly.

Now for the most important question, who would be making her dress?

She'll probably stick with a British designer. I'm thinking Matthew Williams is a likely candidate. He makes such pretty dresses. But wouldn't it be just phenomenal if she chose a completely unpredictable and edgy designer, like, Vivienne Westwood, or Gareth Pugh? I practically worship the former but seriously - is there a designer who captures the spirit of performance art in fashion better than Gareth Pugh these days? I saw his creations at Holt Renfrew the other day, which is a rare occasion in this part of the world. The Vancouver location is the only Holt Renfrew in Canada to carry his clothes.

Hello Doii!

2010-11-10T00:25:00.000-08:00

Although there are some variations in the opinion, west coast style is more often than not seen as being low-maintenance and casual. When I picture a well-dressed west coast woman, I think of soft lines and raw-edged sophistication - a bit undone and effortlessly elegant. Glamorous and pretty are not usually the type of look that that often gets mentioned in this exercise. Perhaps this is why Doii Lee's fanciful princess show at Vancouver Fashion Week was extra memorable. One doesn't often get to see it in this part of the world. First, the clothes were impeccably constructed. But more than that, all that glitter, and floaty and ultra feminine fabrics were so pretty to look at that I wanted just about every piece of clothing and every pair of sparkly shoes that came down the runway. Stuff fantasies are made of, indeed.

Ha Sang Beg's street couture

2010-11-08T23:03:00.000-08:00

Watching Ha Sang Beg's energy-filled show at Vancouver Fashion Week gave me such a fashion high that it lasted through the entire evening and the remainder of the weekend. I always thought that the kind of fashion show that I would see in Paris, Milan or New York would be nothing less than imaginative, irreverent, innovative, and inspiring, and Ha brought all of those qualities to Vancouver Fashion Week this weekend. The fact that the designer is incredibly charming and unaffected in person only adds to the package allure. After all, he's also a TV personality in Korea, where he has a show on Mnet, an equivalent to MTV in North America.

Jamal, Producer of VFW, poses with the designer and his models after the show

Runway

Ropes of knit coiled around the models' bodies like Rapunzel's thick braids (his inspiration).

I borrowed Ha's studded biker jacket for the picture (the jacket weighed a ton!)

Model poses after the show

Laura Siegel at Vancouver Fashion Week

2010-11-07T01:53:00.000-07:00

I met Laura Siegel, a designer from New York, at the Vancouver Fashion Week opening gala where the designers were showing off one teaser look from their collection to public. I found her to be an intelligent and pleasant young woman and liked what I saw on her model. And after I saw the whole show, I knew that she would definitely be on my list of top 5 favourite designers this week, even though it was only the second day of VFW. All the clothes were made out of natural materials, each piece beautiful in its tactile and raw glory. The whole collection seems to possess a combination of steely strength and fragile vulnerability, a sense of peaceful determination, rather like the designer herself.

Vancouver Fashion Week presents...

2010-11-05T01:37:00.000-07:00

It has been a hectic few days in the world of Canadian politics and Vancouver fashion equally. In the midst of Obama's landslide losses on Tuesday, the 2011 Spring/Summer Vancouver Fashion Week kicked off with a successful gala. The next evening, only a few hours after Gordon Campbell announced his resignation as premier of BC, Jacqueline Conoir officially opened the runway with a show focused on wearable elegance, the house's signature style. It was followed by Valerio Moda's classic and just as wearable collection of menswear, Michel Tudour's line of very Miami-esque partywear, and Patricia Fieldwalker's exquisite set of lingeries. Then today, Jim Prentice announces his resignation from cabinet (and move to a senior executive position at CIBC). Meanwhile on the runway, no less than 15 New Generation designers showcased their collections. That it's been eventful is an understatement.

So far, I have not been able to take as many pictures during the shows as I normally do, as I am working as an ambassador for Vancouver Fashion Week this year, supporting the designers, media and buyers. But here are some shots that I managed to catch:

Valerio Moda - leathery masculinity

Ho-Chi Huang Kay - I saw her work at the VCC graduates show and liked her clean but very feminine lines.

Blake Hyland - another VCC graduate and definitely the one to watch out for. Loved the energy.

Sid Neigum's modern warrior/career woman.

Andrea hilbrecht's experiment with shapes and texture.

Kam & Lee's balloon ensemble.

Sermin Sesoren's romantic floral dress.

Meeting Jeanne

2010-11-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm seeing Jeanne Beker everywhere these days. She was being interviewed to comment on the fall/Canadian fashion on CBC this afternoon. I saw her on a rerun of Rick Mercer last week on TV helping Rick manoeuvre the runway at LG Fashion Week. Of course, Fashion Television is on TV several times a week. And I got to meet her last Tuesday at the Bay promoting her new line, Edit.

I was of course looking forward to meeting Canada's first lady of fashion. But she exceeded my expectations for the evening by being such a friendly and passionate champion of fashion. She was talkative - full of interesting tales of her experience in fashion and eagerly sharing knowledge and lessons she learned. I asked her which famous designer she finds most delightful to interview and she named Karl Lagerfeld (he once talked to journalists for 3 whole hours after his show) for his cheerful and warm unpredictability. Then she added the late Alexander McQueen and Yves Saint Laurent to the list. Ah, to be able to sit down with Karl Lagerfeld and pick his brain... I don't think of myself to be the type to get star struck easily. Meeting Ben Affleck or Orlando Bloom at a coffee shop would merely be a fodder for a conversation starter. But a Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs... I can picture myself bumbling like an idiot in front of these epic tastemakers. Mere mortals, they surely are not. Jeanne is one lucky gal.

Not all animal prints are created equal

2010-10-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

On my recent trip to LA, I saw a large glassy room filled with nothing but leopard prints in every imaginable colour at Dolce & Gabbana. It reminded me of a particularly gluttonous time I had at a buffet restaurant when I was a poor student, and I just couldn't handle another morsel of animal print after that. But when I saw this Balenciaga shoe, I felt like I had a little spoonful of ice sorbet to cleanse the palette after a heavy meal.

Jeanne Beker edits

2010-10-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

Jeanne Beker is presenting her new collection, Edit, next Tuesday at the Bay downtown Vancouver.
Long time ago, I wrote to Jeanne Beker asking her to hire me as her assistant. She didn't write back. No grudges.

Mackage

2010-10-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

Call me a sore loser but I am extremely disappointed at Canada's failure to win a seat at the United Nations Security Council this week. The loss came despite written promises of support from 135 countries. How is it fair to have four European countries out of ten in the Council? Didn't Canada's role in humanitarian crises in the past get taken into consideration? My disillusionment seems to be echoed by many. An Ottawa Citizen editorial entitled "Not worth the price" even declared,"The tyrants, thugs and revolutionaries who wield power at the UN might not like Canada much these days because Canada has become one of the strongest voices against extremism, terrorism and illiberalism." Kind of harsh, but wholly agreed.

We may have lost the popularity contest on the global security alliance front, but all is not lost in the fashion trenches of Canada. I drooled over a fabulous leather jacket at Holt Renfrew yesterday and saw that it was by Mackage, a Montreal-based outerwear design house, and was duly impressed.

Mackage, in fact, debuted its first ever spring and summer collection recently to crowds at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. It showed a very chic collection, full of sophisticated and edgy lines. After 11 years of dressing stylish Canadians, Mackage recently became available in the online section of Saks Fifth Avenue in the U.S. too. I don't think it will be long until we'll begin to spot them in the windows of many exclusive retailers around the world. Whether it's peacekeeping or outerwear, doing one thing really well steadily and continuously may just pay off in the future. Hopefully.

Fiat Mode talents

2010-10-01T22:15:00.000-07:00

I felt a sense of parental pride watching the twenty-one Vancouver Community College students who showcased their graduating collections at Fiat Mode 2010. It was an inspirational show and I had a number of immediate favourites: Robynne Redgrave McPherson's raw edges, Nicole Obidowski's fluidity, and Blake Hyland's rock star glamour to name a few.

Blake Hyland and his model, both wearing his design

Nicole Mergaert

Robynne Redgrave McPherson

Minnie Tsz-Ying Chau's wedding dress

Ave Maria MacIntyre

Quito Quinn

Karen Niven wearing her own design

Nicole Obidowski wearing her design

Nicole Obidowski

Ho-Chi Huang

Fiat Mode XXIII Fashion Show

2010-09-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

Don't miss this year's Fiat Mode XXIII Fashion Show by the grads of Vancouver Community College this evening:

Location: Rocky Mountaineer Station, 1755 Cottrell Street, Vancouver
Admission: $35.00 general; $25.00 students (with ID), general seating.
Tickets: purchase online at www.vcc.ca/fashionshow
Evening gala 8:00 pm; doors open 7:00 pm. Fiat Mode XXIII 'Let There Be Fashion'. Vancouver Community College 2010 annual graduate fashion show.

See you all there!

Plaid for less

2010-09-28T15:54:00.000-07:00

Imitation is the best form of flattery after all... Guess by Marciano offers a way to create Stella McCartney's plaid cape look for way less than $2275:

Pining for a red dress and black tar

2010-09-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

"Dan has nice shoulders to cry on and Nate has nice shoulders."

I admit, Gossip Girl is my guilty pleasure. Sure, Ed Westwick is perpetually over-acting but is there a more stylish male character than Chuck Bass on TV right now? And did you see that dazzling red evening gown Blair was wearing tonight? I believe it's Oscar de la Renta. How about Chuck's chocolate brown pinstripe suit? It's a Phineas Cole suit from Paul Stuart. Brown pinstripes seem to be enjoying a fashion moment. I drooled over a couple of fabulous versions strolling on Rodeo Drive just a few days ago in LA.

Speaking of LA, I came across an invigoratingly cool artist, Mattia Biagi on my trip. Passing by a furniture store called Twentieth, I saw his work with black tar called "koo koo clocks" in the window. This isn't the best picture but the only one I have.

I love the super textural nature and gothic feel of this work.

I also saw a fabulous chandelier (not by Biagi) on the window. I'd love to have it in my dining room but my current one is too small for it.

Back to School Plaid deux

2010-09-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

To me, this plaid knit poncho represents a very typical Stella McCartney look: breezy chic, slightly irreverent but always feminine.

Back-to-School Plaid

2010-08-31T15:09:00.000-07:00

Though it's nice to be a jack of all trades, given choice, I think I'd rather be an expert at something than pretty good at everything. I'm not sure yet what that would be for me, but I look at Smythe and their covetable jackets for an inspiration. Their boyfriend blazers from spring 2008 are still fresh-looking. And their plaid jackets would instantly upgrade any old wardrobe this fall. Gossip Girls at Constance would agree.

A side note: this is how small the design community in Canada is. One of the Smythe designers, Christie Smythe's brother, Tommy is the interior designer best known for being Sarah Richardson's sidekick in her many TV shows such as Sarah's House, Sarah's Cottage, and Design Inc.

Antiquing at DoDa

2010-08-26T22:52:00.000-07:00

DoDa Antiques on Richards Street in downtown Vancouver is a bit like a museum. This isn't a common characteristic of all antique shops. After all, many antique shops resemble my dad's garage — all the pieces look like they ended up there by accident and they don't look like they are worth anything.
At DoDa, everything seems like it has been carefully picked out by the owner, John. The relatively small space is filled to the brim with paintings, prints, jewellery, pottery, glass and ceramics, and despite being a jaded antiquer, I was pleasantly surprised to find everything quite interesting and/or attractive. For a vintage store, though, most of the pieces go only as far back as the mid 20th century but this is very typical of antique shops in Vancouver. The city is so young, even 30 years ago seems like an insanely distant memory. But this is only a small shortcoming — DoDa is a delightful treasure trove.

Deco Glam

2010-08-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

Of all the elements that dictate one's clothing style, body type would top anyone's list. My own body type breeds a more youthful — and less glamazonian — style. I'm no Ava Gardner, put it that way. But one can always inject a little Hollywood glamour into her wardrobe, no matter what her style is. Like this black Roberto Cavalli number, for instance. I think I can carry this one off even without the Gardner curves. Can't you just imagine Ginger Rogers gliding across the dance floor into Fred Astaire's arms in this very 1930s shoulder details?

Speaking of old Hollywood, I had a chance to visit the Loden hotel in downtown Vancouver on Friday. My duck confit was fabulous and the suites, especially the penthouse, were drool inducing gorgeous. But the biggest takeaway was a whole new appreciation I developed for brown marble. Brown marble! It never even entered my design radar before. The understated sophistication of the lobby captured old Hollywood glamour without being "old". Greta Garbo would surely approve.

Bolso caliente!

2010-08-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

The heat in Vancouver is madness. We are just not used to the 30°C weather here. I went for a walk at the Central Park with my baby with a group of other moms and their babies this afternoon, hoping to take refuge from the heat under the thick trees. The outcome was only marginally successful, though the company was pleasant.

There is an old practice in Korea to beat the heat with heat. The saying is “iyeolchiyeol”, loosely meaning “overcome heat by eating food that is even hotter.” While I'm too much of a wimp to put this concept to test, I'm all for dressing the part. Would't these super hot Valentino bags be perfect for beating the heat?

Legend of the McQueen skulls

2010-08-12T23:15:00.000-07:00

Halloween is still weeks away but it felt all morbid walking into a row of Alexander McQueen's skull scarves at Holt Renfrew. How can one not link the designer's iconic death symbol with his own tragic end? Nevertheless, the popularity of his skulls, especially of these scarves (probably because they are still the most affordable way to own McQueen at somewhere near $300), doesn't seem to show signs of decline. There is even an eBay page on how to spot a fake McQueen skull scarves. Alas, all the adoration in the world couldn't save his life. Life may be fleeting but great design lasts — well, at least a little longer.

Vanessa Bruno does cool

2010-08-04T22:48:00.000-07:00

I'm getting a little worried. The forecast is calling for heavy rain this Saturday — my friend's wedding day.

But of course, it's all sunshine without even a spot of cloud right now. In fact, it's almost too hot in my apartment. This being Vancouver, I don't have air conditioning either. The ol' faithful summer dresses are the way to go in heat. I know florals are in and yadi yadi yada but my preferred style is less Laura Ashley and more French chic. I recently saw a summer dress by a designer who knows a thing or two about French chic — Vanessa Bruno, who got fashion in her DNA with a father who was founder of the French fashion house Emmanuelle Khan and a Danish supermodel as a mother. She did a collection for Aritzia and that's where I saw this dress. Net-a-porter.com gushes on about not being able to get enough of her draped dresses that "fall from the body perfectly." I nod in agreement.

My favourite dining table

2010-07-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

I love the contrast between the roughness of the natural wood and the smoothness of the metal legs. If I were in the market for a new dining table, this would be it. Found it at Country Furniture on Granville St, Vancouver.

Message on a bottle

2010-07-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

My family and I just got back from a trip to the beautiful Okanagan Valley - the land of the "purple stained mouth" à la Keats' Ode to Nightingale. Time froze while watching the spectacular scenery from the Burrowing Owl winery, having a delightful picnic at the Tinhorn Creek winery, and indulging in heaps of sun-ripened cherries and peaches.

And of course, we revelled in wine. There were some particularly good pinot gris from Dirty Laundry, delicious tawny from La Frenz, addictive pinot blanc from Lake Breeze, and lots more. We brought back a good selection home and I lined up the bottles from different wineries in my kitchen and started rating the attractiveness of the label design. Not to judge the book by its cover, but I've been working with graphic designers since 2002 and I can't not look at graphics and assess. In the end, my favourite label is the quirky drawings from Blasted Church. Their wine also happens to be one of my favourite.

Glitter on the beach

2010-07-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

I must be hanging out with the wrong crowd. I don't know where I can wear these to and have no one bat an eye.

Bazaar fashion

2010-07-08T23:24:00.000-07:00

I love when an interior space looks like it could come out of a chic closet. It shows that everyone in the design world is somehow inspired by the same stories, ideas and events. These lovely cushions and wall decor are from Homewerx on Davie Street in Vancouver.

But you simply have to keep it modern with this stuff, which really means you can't do this from head to toe. Mix tribal prints with blinding neons, simple, sporty shapes or anything that doesn't seem to have come from somewhere you had to bargain hard.

Red, White and Nautical Blue

2010-07-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

It's a given that having a baby brings a lot of changes to the parent's life. But one change that never even entered my sphere of awareness before I had a baby is the luggage size when travelling. Just how much extra luggage this tiny person requires boggles my mind. On our trip to Ontario last week, we had to pack a stroller, car seat, diapers, and toys, in addition to the usual clothes and other baby necessities. Talk about high maintenance!

I spent most of the Fourth of July travelling back to Vancouver from Ontario. What a shame, as it was a perfect day to lounge around on the beach, decked out in these carefree gear. I found all of them from American Eagle Outfitters - not usually my cup of tea but I am definitely in the mood for these pretty nautical necklace and bracelet.

"Vest"-ly ethereal

2010-07-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

If anyone ever doubts fashion's legitimacy as a form of art, let this gossamer vest by Port 1961 speak for itself.

White pants for all seasons

2010-06-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

Having relaxed rules about wearing white all year around is only half the battle. Finding the right shade of white is no easy task — brides know all about that. And try finding the right white pants: the cut that doesn't evoke the ghost of Elvis, the right fabric (why are they all so see-through?), and the right colour (again, Elvis haunts).

Then again, it's no surprise that I was able to find the right white pants at Teenflo. Pants are their specialty, the founding block of their brand after all. I fell for these impeccable pair and the most becoming little gold belt. White pants and gold belt — though sounding perilously like Elvis, they couldn't possibly be further away from that image.

Drooling over a Marni bag...

2010-06-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Talk about a bag that goes with everything:

The Style Addict does Ottawa: Schad

2010-06-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

On my last day in Ottawa, I had barely 5 minutes to spare but still couldn't resist checking out one of my old favourite stores. In honour of the massive road work on Sussex St., Schad was having a storewide "construction sale". Too bad I couldn't actually stay long enough to try on anything. Nonetheless, I was glad that I dropped by, otherwise I wouldn't have discovered two new and exciting Danish labels. I loved the crinkly metallic dress by S'NOB, and the paper thin, grey jumpsuit and sack dress by Designer for Remix Collection by Charlotte Eskildsen. Nothing makes you feel more contemporary than those edgy, young European designer clothes. Especially those Danish and Belgian ones really know their cool.

The Style Addict does Ottawa: Wall Space

2010-06-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

A dear friend's wedding this weekend brought me back to Ottawa, my second hometown. A few years have passed since my last visit, so I walked around with my camera like a tourist feeling nostalgic. Just my luck though, the city has become a giant construction zone this summer. The Sussex Street was completely torn apart, and several buildings were going up in the downtown core (what will become of the one going up right next to the Arc Hotel?). Even a large part of the parliament building was draped in scaffolding, which was unfortunately the view from my room at Chateau Laurier.

The weekend went by fast and furious. My friend's wedding couldn't have been more beautiful, and she made an absolutely stunning bride. On Sunday, another friend whose wedding is in three weeks beamed with that certain bridal glow at her shower. It was a lovely afternoon with a group of jolly girls, and I had a wonderful time.

Despite the packed schedule, I did manage to discover a lovely gallery walking along the Richmond Road in Westboro. Though the raison d'être of Wall Space is custom framing, the space is filled with art works and jewellery by local artists. The current exhibit is called All Things POP! in honour of Westfest’s pop fest.

Not exactly pop art but my favourites were two paintings by Lori Richards, titled Yellow Clouds and Autumn Duet. They exuded a kind of fluidity and harmony, and immediately reminded me of the feeling I get listening to Tchaikovsky's andante cantabile. Incidentally, the literal translation of andante cantabile is flowing and songlike, which is how I'd describe the paintings to someone else. It makes me exceedingly happy when two distant thoughts just meet together serendipitously.

Oliver and Lilly's

2010-06-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

I've been reading The Sartorialist for, I don't know... ever since I've become aware of the existence of blogs. And I've always hoped that Scott Schuman would someday visit this side of paradise. In the event of his visit, I know exactly where I'd get my effortlessly chic, poetically urbane dress from in order to get photographed by one of the most prominent fashion influencers in the world: Oliver and Lilly's. This delightful little boutique is packed with charming frocks and accessories by LA and New York designers, as well as locally designed jewellery.

I adore the cheerful summer dresses by Ali Ro, stylish basics by Demy Lee, and ultra hip pieces by Heidi Merrick. Paired with the girlish innocence of the Nicole Ginsberg jewellery, your summer wardrobe is ready for a close-up. Now, just be seen on a European style bicycle.

Oliver and Lilly's

1520 West 13th Ave

Vancouver, BC Canada

The unsinkable Patricia Field

2010-06-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

Judging by the first movie, the storyline probably stinks. But frankly I don't give a damn. I'm watching Sex and the City 2 for fashion, the 5th character and the most reliably enjoyable one at that.

The day the film opened, Cosmo TV did a truly abominable get-this-look-for-less tribute episode in which it picked out 4 outfits that are suppose to be the cheaper equivalents of the 4 outfits that the characters wore in the movie. These so-called cheaper equivalents looked like they were right off the discount racks of a suburban mall, absolutely drab and lifeless, thereby completely missing the point - i.e. Patricia Field's exhilarating and often provocative approach to fashion. What made SATC the most talked about fashion icon on TV was not about that pretty dress a character is wearing and wait, you can get that from Holt Renfrew, and so on. It's about styling. Patricia Field always manages to put together a complete look that is a combination of interesting or contrasting colours, patterns, textures, and makes your eyes scan from the head to toe. When it gets really fun is when seemingly impossible items are assembled together, like the necklace worn on Carrie's head as a tiara, a belted midriff, and a pink cropped XOXO top with a fern-patterned full skirt. And this outfit that Carrie is wearing from the publicity image released by Warner Bros.:

I can't say I have much faith in Michael Patrick King's scriptwriting skills or artistic vision. But Patricia Field has yet to disappoint. Anyway, that's my excuse for seeing this otherwise lousy movie and I'm sticking to it.

Surfacing with concrete

2010-05-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

In 2001 I spent my Christmas holiday week visiting Costa Rica and stayed at a cute little apartment in downtown San José for a couple of days. I admired the look of the pink stone building with the intricate wrought iron details on the gate, a curious little patio in the middle of the apartment with 4 tall walls and an open ceiling, and a view of the deep, rich greenery from my room. But most of all, I adored the concrete floor painted in a vibrant steel blue. I hadn't seen concrete being used for flooring in a home until then.

Well, concrete is now big in this side of the hemisphere too, and in my opinion, here to stay. Even Vancouver Sun had a piece on the topic on yesterday's At Home section. It certainly is a low-maintenance choice for flooring, and the sky is the limit for the colours and finishes you can get now.

I can't renovate the place I'm in right now but when I am able to, I'm already envisioning a silvery white concrete floor and glossy black walls for my powder room. No more pigeon-holed as the lowly garage or office hallway flooring, let your dramatic side surface with concrete.

A very "wedding-y" necklace

2010-05-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

This week I still had wedding on my mind and did a bunch of activities for my friends' weddings, like booking a hotel room for an out-of-town wedding, thinking of activities for a bridal shower, picking shoes to wear with my bridesmaid dress, etc, etc. Being out on the streets and window-shopping, naturally, my eyes were noticing satin, pearls, tulle, lace, and all kinds of blissful bridal ingredients. Then I found this very bridal necklace for under $20 at Forever 21 - perfect for a frugal bride who wants the full vision in glorious white luminescence. Seriously, why is Forever 21 even carrying this necklace?

Something blue, something vintage... and with a little help from local businesses

2010-05-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

My wedding season is about to begin. I have a number of very good friends who will be walking down the aisle this year. So when I strolled into a vintage shop on Granville St. the other day, my eyes naturally wandered toward the rack of wedding dresses in the corner. Looking at these wedding gowns, I realized that the definition of beauty really doesn't change much with time. Hemlines and necklines may fall or rise, but silk and satin still inspire a sensual glamour, and the delicacy of lace still suggests an innocent elegance.

Last weekend was my friend Chenoa's stagette. To enhance her stagette experience, we solicited help from several local businesses and found that fairy godmothers do exist after all. Need to look your fabulous best for an extra special event or night out? Get your eyelashes extended at Wink Beauty Lounge, eyebrows threaded at Bombay Brow Bar, hair styled at Blo | Blow Dry Bar, and enjoy a romantic dinner and music at Capones Restaurant and Jazz Club. And if you happen to be the one hosting the event, Nicole Marie Events' signature candy buffet may just be the icing on the cake you're looking for.

Longing for the Cottage Season to begin

2010-05-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

The Victoria Day long weekend is coming up. Having lived in Toronto for a number of years, I immediately associate this long weekend with the official beginning of the cottage season. While I don't miss the miles of cars idling on Highway 401 with their engines on for hours at a time, I can't wait to idle around in my shorts, kick off my sandals and sit by the water with a good book. And I saw just the right Muskoka chairs to idle around in at Country Furniture the other day. Just need a pitcher of sangria and I'm set!

Blazer and shorts

2010-05-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Gwyneth Paltrow is experiencing a come back of sorts with the new Iron Man film. She's been on every showbiz news/talk show and fashion magazine recently in various outfits deemed mostly "winning" by people who talk about these things for a living. Among them, her low cut white blazer and shorts combo worn at the L.A. premier is one of the more memorable ensembles. She looked like the definition of effortless, streamlined glamour for which she's been known. If you have the legs to flaunt, this look is easy to put together, with a pair of slightly aggressive heels and simple hair. Though not in white, I found some flattering shorts from Teenflo and easy summer blazer from Banana Republic to create another version of this look.

Wanna go shopping in New York?

2010-05-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

An Emilio Pucci mini dress for $5? If you are in New York this weekend, get me one of those. I almost burned my esophagus inadvertently swallowing a huge gulp of hot coffee reading the article on the wealth of vintage finds in New York.
In the words of Tina Fey in 30 Rock, I want to go to there.

Mixed chain necklaces

2010-05-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

These two necklaces are interchangeable in design, as far as I can tell, except one is about half the price of the other. Can you guess which one?

Okay, the left one's photo quality is inferior. But they do look quite similar in real life. The left one is from Banana Republic and it's somewhere in the $80 range while its cousin over at J.Crew is $195. Price aside, both of these necklaces add a dash of effortless sophistication to even the simplest outfits. Love the tarnished brass tone that goes with both the cool and warm colours.

Dare to dream

2010-05-03T23:22:00.000-07:00

Is the world actually becoming a better place? Today the U.S. disclosed the number of the nuclear weapons in its possession (5,113). Secretary Hilary Clinton explained that the move is to promote transparency in the nuclear disarmament regime and to encourage other nations to comply with it.

A baby step, one might argue. But this has been top classified information for so long and the disclosure comes less than a month after Obama unveiled a new policy restricting the U.S. use of nuclear weapons and signed a landmark arms reduction accord with Russia. In my book, this occasion calls for a toast.

Do we dare to dream — a nuclear-free world? Perhaps not in our lifetime. Still, hope and optimism isn't a bad way to start a spring season. If fashion is an outward expression of emotions and moods, how would one capture these elusive qualities such as hope and optimism in your wardrobe? A collection by Alexander Wang might be a good starting point. This young designer from San Francisco dared to dream big, and is reaping the reward — heaps of it. He won the CDFA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2008, the CFDA Swarovski Womenswear Award in 2009, and Swiss Textile Awards this year. He just seems to know instinctively what young women want to wear each season and this spring is no exception. The vibe is strong and minimalist downtown cool that isn't particularly dark or rebellious but rather upbeat, fresh and idealistic. I love the unexpected details like the zippered sleeves (jacket) and layered and open back (cardigan).

Two cars on the street

2010-04-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

I wonder if the door switch was done on purpose. Reminds me of that one season in 1989 when some fashion-forward girls in my class would swap one Converse with one another so that they could wear a different coloured/patterned Converse shoe for each foot.

Looking for shoe recycling

2010-04-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Earth Day came and went, but shamefully, I didn't participate in eco-friendly activities to salute this important day. It was worse than non-action, in fact — I went shopping at the annual Army & Navy shoe sale the night before.

By the time, my shopping companion and I arrived, we had missed the usual line up outside the store that began before the crack of dawn. That didn't mean that the chaos had subsided by then. When you have a sea of determined, barefooted women trying on mounds of shoes sharing the same space, you get a glimpse of how the last day of Pompeii must have unfolded. I wasn't immune to the lure of rock-bottom prices myself. I parked my stroller in the corner and filled up my basket alongside everyone, as my baby slept (some of the time) and looked around with interest (most of the time). Thankfully, his diaper didn't need to be changed.

When we finished shopping, my friend and I came back to my place and we re-organized my shoe closet together. A few pairs of shoes that I no longer wear and my hubby's old runners that he doesn't want anymore were set aside. Some of these were becoming aesthetically questionable that I didn't think even the Salvation Army would be able to re-sell. But then, tossing out shoes in good condition didn't seem like an option, especially on the eve of the Earth Day. How does one recycle shoes that are still wearable?

When we lived in Ottawa, my hubby used to donate his old runners to an organization called Sole Responsibility where they collect gently used footwear and send it to those in need, often refugees and displaced people. I haven't been able to find a similar program in Vancouver. Please contact me if you know of any. Thanks!

Spring cleaning and spring shopping

2010-04-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

The past weekend would have been perfect for spring cleaning. I should have just gotten it over and done with. But alas, I procrastinated instead. Postponing it only seems to grow my to-do list. At the very least, I need to clean my balcony to get rid of spilled soil and fallen leaves, wipe the inside of my refrigerator and the stove backsplash, and dry-clean the winter coats before putting them away.

Incidentally, I just picked up a very useful cleaning tip that I'll be employing when I finally get around to doing some spring cleaning. This simple homespun cleaning solution works beautifully when cleaning a greasy surface such as range hoods and stove backsplashes. It consists of 1) water you used to cook spinach, and 2) about a tablespoon of white vinegar. Add together, put the solution in a spray bottle and spray onto a greasy area, wait about 15 min and wipe! Above all, it's a green (literally) way to clean.

Speaking of a green spring, Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair is back with 50 of its local and handmade vendors. There is even going to be a DIY table hosted by Spool of Thread to make your own crafts. The first 30 people through the door will receive a handmade tote bag filled with goodies from all of the vendors.

When: Sunday, May 2nd, 2010, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Where: Royal Canadian Legion – 2205 Commercial Drive (at E. 6th Ave)
Admission: $2.00 (kids 10 and under are free)

Neutral vs. Bright

2010-04-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

Many have criticized the director Alfred Hitchcock's portrayal of women as being negative and misogynistic. Some, on the other hand, called it progressive and sympathetic. Opinions may be divided on this matter but all agree that these leading ladies have been an object of fascination for many decades. Whether it's Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Tippi Hedren, or Eva Marie Saint, she is impeccably beautiful, vulnerable, possesses a demure, proper and classic —not trendy— appearance. Yet she is promiscuous, and willingly and readily uses sexuality as her weapon— concealed, smoldering sexuality.

Looking at these women, I have a feeling Hitchcock would approve the Spring 2010 fashion. In the sea of beiges, muted pinks, faded florals, and light-washed denims as our outerwear this season, our underwear selection seems to have become loud and flamboyant. Beneath the demure facade, you can let your unmentionables do the screaming a la Hitchcock's cool blonds.

Onesies for grownups

2010-04-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

My baby boy is going through a very drooly phase right now and consequently requires several wardrobe changes a day. I've learned to appreciate well-designed — i.e. easy to put on and take off — baby clothes very quickly. The best design is the footed onesies with a row of snaps running down both legs so that the entire piece can open up like a butterfly. Some footed onesies have snaps run down to the crotch then curve slightly to one leg only. Squeezing in one unwilling leg into the other side can be a little laborious.

It seems that my baby and I can both dress alike this spring. Jumpers are everywhere this season and available in many different styles that you can easily achieve a look that is elegant, sexy or playful. Lucky for adults, we don't need those pesky snaps/buttons along the legs. I found these at Forever 21, Bebe, and BCBG.

Nanette Lepore's denim

2010-03-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

Doesn't matter how nonchalant and effortless it looked on the Chloé runway. I predict the denim-on-denim look won't be seen beyond the summer of 2010. There is such thing as looking too effortless, stepping over the sloppy zone.

If Old MacDonald is not your style icon, you can still ditto the double denim look in something more put together: like this Nanette Lepore's petal jacket. This slightly sheer denim linen jacket is framed with a layered collar and fastened with an oversized hammered-metal button. Very pretty and classic.

Skinny scarves

2010-03-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

A ’60s icon and the mother of all waifs, Twiggy, has launched her own fashion line. Her line will include — not kidding — skinny jeans. There are also blouses, gypsy skirts, jackets and accessories all under $100. Twiggy certainly had her significant moment in the fashion history, but can she really capitalize on her waif look in the current scene that is already overcrowded with so-called celebrity designers? Who does the cocaine chic anymore anyway? Isn't even Kate Moss a bit passé now?

Skinny-skinny should be limited to accessories, in my opinion: belts, scarves, headbands, etc. These Chan Luu's silk long skinny scarves at Holt Renfrew are decidedly spring-pretty. Who wouldn't want to coil some beaded, bejeweled, colourful silk chiffon bits around one's neck?

Mr. Halston goes to the Bay

2010-03-22T22:59:00.000-07:00

Watching a tired looking President Obama make his speech from the East Room of the White House after winning the epic Health care battle with the Congress was definitely the highlight of my weekend. Even without discussing the historical significance of this momentous day, one could sense the zeal and conviction from his campaign days emanating back — the kind of energy that often had him compared to his predecessor, JFK. Except Obama's legacy now surpasses Kennedy's by bringing on the most progressive U.S. social legislation in more than four decades.

Speaking of Kennedy, a contemporary of his era made history of sorts at the Bay a couple of days ago. Halston, immortalized for Jacqueline Kennedy's pillbox hat, made its debut at the Hudson's Bay Company (his clothes, not the ghost of the designer) along with lines from a handful of other exciting designers such as Rachel Roy and Sonia Rykiel to name a few. The arrival of the Halston Heritage line is no small matter and signals the Bay's foray into the luxury market.

To celebrate this launch, there was a party at the Bay on Thursday night which presented two fashion shows: one with Kim Cathers, a former contestant on Project Runway, and another with Crystal Carson of Vancouver View Magazine. There were also personal styling services offered by a celebrity stylist Catherine Dunwoody and a lesson on how to wear the spring trends by designer Emily Miller.

Interestingly, Halston was the first designer who utilized the power of licensing — an idea so common now but virtually unheard of at the time. He made his designs accessible to women at various income levels through a licensing agreement with JC Penney. This spirit is still embraced by the Halston house today. The Halston Heritage line that the Bay carries, for instance, is a lower-priced collection that just got launched this spring to increase accessibility. Now, there is a concept the Republicans just don't seem to be able to grasp. Accessible health care — really, what is so wrong with that??

Spring. Flowers. Pretty

2010-03-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

In the film version of Devil wears Prada, one of the Runway editors suggests the floral theme to Miranda for the spring issue of the magazine. Miranda responds in her most sarcastic tone: "Spring. Flowers. Groundbreaking." At the risk of brushing off originality, one can still admire the bouquets of flowers in the spring display windows now.

A chronicle of denim

2010-03-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

The boyfriend jeans are now ubiquitous in the display windows. Katie Holmes was seen in them in the summer of 2008 but they weren't easy to find in retailers until late 2009, at least in Canada.They won't be replacing the skinny jeans yet but I suspect it's only a matter of time. They are nothing new of course — they just weren't called "boyfriend" jeans back then but a derivative of what we used to simply call "baggy" jeans. They were worn low on the hips and therefore flattened your bottom. How shamelessly fashion recycles.

Here is a chronology of the jeans that occupied my closet space starting when I began to wear jeans. I was likely behind a season or two when I was growing up in Castlegar but you get the general flow. Also based on this experience, I predict the jeans will get more voluminous in the coming seasons. Everything old will become new again. Just a matter of time.

1988-1989: "tapered" (skinny) jeans (lots of Jordache)
1989-1991: "ripped" jeans and cut-off shorts; sometimes ripped cut-offs shorts with lace tight shorts worn underneath them
1992-1994: baggy jeans; coloured jeans also in fashion around 1993.
1995-1997: hiphuggers, often flared
1998-2000: hiphuggers, often bootcuts; classic, worn with everything as jeans become acceptable everywhere; embellishment on jeans
2000-2002: low-rise — top of the thongs shown; classic jeans still worn everywhere
2003-2005: low-rise mostly, but not as extreme as the previous years as butt cleavage is much despised; jeans also get super expensive, as everybody who is anybody makes "designer" jeans
2005-present: skinny jeans regains its street cred.

Oscar-worthy gowns

2010-03-08T17:37:00.000-08:00

Prints can be tricky on the red carpet. The size, clarity of the patterns, or subtlety of the colour blends don't translate very well on TV screens or magazine photos, and may accentuate the wrong areas. On this year's Oscars red carpet, however, there were some stellar examples on how to do them right.

My two favourite gowns of the night also embraced prints. First there was Rachel McAdams in a romantic blue/green/pink Elie Saab. She kept it all youthful with minimal jewelry and a simple hairdo. Then Maggie Gyllenhaal showed up ultra modern in her blue/orange Dries Van Noten. Both dresses oozed fresh sophistication that made all the pastel coloured meringues look musty with age.

Spring blossoms

2010-03-04T12:22:00.000-08:00

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

Robert Frost

El Nino's current adverse affect on the North Pacific Ocean ecosystems is truly disconcerting. But every dark cloud has a silver lining. Spring came early in Vancouver this year and brought us such beautiful cherry blossoms.

Closing in style

2010-03-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

The last day of the 2010 Olympics started with lineups. Every single bar/restaurant with a TV in and outside the city had lineups starting at 8am on a Sunday morning — all to watch the Canada-US Gold medal hockey game.

As you can imagine, the red-and-white crowd on the street celebrated with reckless abandon.

Congratulations, Canada!

Over-sized rings

2010-02-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

The ring Rhett brought back from England was large indeed, so large it embarrassed Scarlett to wear it... It reached to the knuckle of her finger and gave her hand the appearance of being weighted down. Scarlett had a suspicion that Rhett had gone to great pains to have the ring made up and, for pure meanness, had ordered it made as ostentatious as possible.

excerpt from Gone with the Wind

I do understand the appeal of the over-sized cocktail rings that are being adored currently. Who wouldn't love a bit of pick-me-up bling during recession? But some of them seem borderline obnoxious — being large for the sake of being large, and not adding any aesthetic value to one's hand. Perhaps a slight Rhett-ish meanness on the part of their designers?

Olympic fashion

2010-02-24T22:16:00.000-08:00

A subtly patriotic nod on the display window of Teenflo:

Sonia Rykiel pour H&M

2010-02-23T12:02:00.000-08:00

Naturally I was excited about Sonia Rykiel's latest collaboration with H&M. Her last work with H&M was all about lingerie and I couldn't fit into any of them as I was only a couple of weeks away from giving birth. So I eagerly awaited her knitwear collection launch on February 20th. I was telling my hubby all about Sonia Rykiel and how she is "like, the only major Parisian designer who shows at the Paris Fashion Week" Then he replied, "isn't Jean Paul Gaultier also Parisian?" I was shocked. You see, he is about as intimate with the fashion world as I am with the world of darts. Or so I thought. Never underestimate the power of eavesdropping.

As for the clothes, the Queen of Knitwear didn't disappoint. I loved her signature stripes, bows and rhinestone details. There were leggings with rhinestones and bows too.

My favourite look, however, is the jumpsuit. How Sonia Rykiel...and how Parisienne!

Dressing up Dutch

2010-02-16T00:47:00.000-08:00

Women's Long Track Speed Skating race at the Richmond Oval was filled with an incredibly energetic crowd and no wonder, Canada had three star skaters competing. The Canadian fans' enthusiasm even brought tears to Cindy Klassen's eyes. However, it was the Dutch fans who wore their patriotism louder than any other nationalities at the event.

Congratulations to Kristina Groves for winning the bronze medal!

Passing of a fashion icon

2010-02-11T22:04:00.000-08:00

The world will miss his brilliant imagination... RIP.

Manolo knockoffs — 7 years later

2010-02-08T17:15:00.000-08:00

An old colleague of mine once declared that the North American culture is nothing but just our collective memory of TV shows that we grew up watching. Sure, he grew up in Sudbury, Ontario. But then, there may be a grain of truth to his cynicism. If you were to talk about our shared memories of the 90s for instance, which is more iconic — "No blood for oil" signs at the Gulf war peace rallies, or Rachel's hair from Friends? I have a sneaking suspicion that the latter would bring on more heated debates at a dinner table.

On the same note, remember the silver Manolo Blahniks that were featured in the Sex and the City episode, A Woman's Right to Shoes? Carrie gets "shoe-shamed" by her friend after being forced to take them off at a party then getting them stolen. This episode aired back in 2003.

Then I saw these lookalikes displayed at Aldo just the other day:

Talk about staying power. Are these going to be embedded into our collective memory of the naughties? As long as Rachel's hair, I bet.

Design Stockholm House

2010-02-01T21:34:00.000-08:00

Aren't these just about the sexiest tableware and chairs you've seen in a long time? They are by Design Stockholm House, a publishing house for contemporary Scandinavian design.

Their motto is: Don't make something unless it's both necessary and useful. But if it's both necessary and useful, don't hesitate to make it beautiful.
How right they are!

Bows but no arrows

2010-01-28T21:05:00.000-08:00

Just a few years ago, at the height of Britney Spears's popularity both on MTV and young girls' fashion, and with Carmen Electra declaring women's "right to pole dance" in her workout video, it seemed that feminism was a notion as relevant as petticoats in the 21st century. Pundits kept asking "is feminism dead?" I remember an article in the New York Times Style section about how a great number of today's well-educated women are planning on ditching their high-paying jobs to be stay-at-home moms once children come along. In fact, the whole feminism discussion seems so "two years ago". But if feminism were to have a comeback, I suspect it would no longer include anger or acrimony of yesteryears - particularly if you look at all the ultra girly details on women's clothing these days. Can you imagine Germaine Greer approving all these bows?

Toe socks on men: cool or silly?

2010-01-25T19:41:00.000-08:00

Would be the latter if they were multi-coloured toes...