Monday, 5 December 2011

1920s Parisian Girl

1920s Parisian Girl

Vintage style dress
fashion.1stdibs.com

Jigsaw vintage dress
£325 - jigsaw-online.com

Dorothy Perkins black heels
$59 - dorothyperkins.com

Little Flirt Lash
$15 - benefitcosmetics.com

Prada 2.7 Oz Eau De Parfume Deluxe
$115 - lordandtaylor.com

Vintage, vintage, vintage

Yesterday I went to Hycroft Mansion for the Fabulous Collectibles Sale. Ivan Sayers ( amazing historical fashion collector) was there as well. There were incredible items there, one highlight for me was a a little girl's dress from the 1920s being sold for a mere $25.00! If I had a child.... I was tempted to get it despite not having a child! Another interesting item was a velvet, three piece little boy's suit from the 1800's. I bought a cream pearl necklace from the 1960s with a little rhinestone clasp. It looks like a beatle it's adorable.
 I wanted to get a sewing pattern for a dress from the 1940's but it was a few sizes too big for me.. Afterwards my grandma gave  me a few of her vintage things such as the brooches below, and a scarf that belonged to my Nana as well as another scarf that one of my grandma's patients gave her back in the day when she was a nurse and the scarf is a pale green silk with embroidery and is at the very least 80 years old.
These are some crazy brooches! I have an obsession with vintage anything and I think it's great that my grandmother once wore these eccentric pieces (especially the massive pink brooch). P.S I haven't mentioned how fantastic the Ivan Sayers Titanic: A Gala to Remember on October 13th was but it was amazing! The food was delicious. Artichokes, smoked salmon, olives and feta cheese were the appetizers. It was a three course meal with apple fennel salad, and herbed chicken with rice and roast beef with potatoes. Italian pastries were served with coffee for dessert. People were dressed up and wore fantastic vintage clothes. My best friend Marja-Leena came with me and it was a lot of fun! Unfortunately I couldn't take any good pictures because the flash was off on my camera and I was afraid to turn it on while the fashion show was taking place. Here are some pictures from http://gaiapix.smugmug.com/Fashion-by-Ivan-Sayers/Hellenic-Center/Titanic-A-Gala-to-Remember/19590482_n3tJ2h  (None of these photo's are mine).
This is something that a third class woman would have worn on to the Titanic.
Both green dresses, especially the one above, were my favorites. I also loved the lilac evening gown with the brown mink trim.

Friday, 2 December 2011

City Girl

City Girl

Roberto Cavalli embroidered dress
$4,690 - net-a-porter.com

TopShop tall jacket
$130 - topshop.com

Christian louboutin heels
$945 - barneys.com

Chanel bag
$1,103 - fashionphile.com

Dorothy Perkins white pearl ring
$11 - dorothyperkins.com

Vancouver Designers

When one thinks of Vancouver, one doesn't normally think immediately of fashion unless one is thinking of yoga-wear. This is due to change because one thing Vancouver is not lacking is an abundance of gifted designers and artisans.Treana Peake, Dace Moore, Malene Grotrian and Leanne McElroy are just a few examples of Vancouver's local talent.This season in stores such as Eugene Choo, Forsya, Twigg & Hottie, and Dream, there has been a common colour pallete of rich jewel tones and soft neutrals such as camel, chocolate brown and black. Lace fabrics, cozy cashmeres, heavy knits and florals in subdued autumn colours were also prevalent. Below are a few of my personal favorite pieces by some unique Vancouver designers.
Obakki
  • Obakki is a Vancouver-based luxury apparel company founded by Treana Peake in 2005. The company is well recognized internationally as well as in North America with celebrity fans such as Tyra Banks and Kate Hudson. Obakki recently closed their flagship store in Gastown but their clothing is still being sold online as well as at Park Royal and Moule ( West Fourth, Vancouver). What attracts me to Obakki (and Dace) is the quietly luxurious aesthetic of the clothing. The clothing isn't particularly flashy or ornate but the attention to fit and detail and the fabrics chosen (from Italy, France, and Japan) make Obakki unique. Obakki is very much class over flash. This "Sophia" blouse is a cropped, sleeveless button down shirt. The fabric is sheer, 100 % silk. This shirt is sophisticated with a subtle amount of sex appeal. The Sophia blouse also has some Victorian details such as the buttons and the high neckline. This blouse retails for around $175.00 on Obakki's online store.

Malene Grotrian 
Malene Grotrian is a dutch-born Vancouver-based designer who designs women’s clothing, in particular evening wear, with a penchant for glamour and sexiness but a focus on practicality and comfort. Malene is especially known for her bustiers that are sexy and tasteful. Malene designs her bustiers knowing that real women with real bodies are inside of them. Malene Grotrian Designs also strives to create a postive impact on the world, by supporting charities and non-profit organizations, an example being the Children’s Wish Foundation. Malene Grotrian Designs are available at her store, located at 207 W. Hastings St # 910 in Vancouver.
This coat from the Fall/Winter 2011 collection is lovely, and a unique way to cover up during the chilly winter months. I love this coat, it has a kimono-esque sillouhette and I feel like it has a very old Hollywood vibe. It reminds me of something Rosemary Clooney would have worn and looking at it makes me want to watch White Christmas with a cup of hot apple cider.

Elroy Apparel

  • Elroy Apparel is an eco-friendly, Canadian clothing company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company was founded in 2007 by Leanne McElroy. Elroy Apparel’s better priced clothing is designed and manufactured in an ethical and green way. The clothing is made out of fabrics such as organic bamboo, organic cotton, hemp and pineapple silk. The company makes optimum use of social media and communicates with their customers through Twitter, Facebook and a blog http://www.shopelroy.com/blog . Elroy Apparel strives to inspire customers to consider the impact they make on the earth and live their lives in a socially and ecologically responsible way.
 The "Idra" top from Elroy's Apparel comes in two versions. The black, plum and royal (above) version is made with 100 % linen while the sky and white version is 100% cotton. I personally would choose the cotton version because of linen's unfailing tendency to wrinkle but for autumn, this option is a better choice. I like the linen version because it has an artsy quality. The colours reminds me of when I went to France, the paintings in the Louvre or a rainy day in Paris, which sounds totally pretentious but I don't really care because that's what this blouse reminds me of and is why I like it. This blouse is from the Spring/Summer collection but I think it could be worn in the Fall. The Idra top used to retail for $88.00 but is now on sale at $45.00 on Elroy Apparel's online shop.
http://www.shopelroy.com/clothing/Elroy-Apparel/Idra-Top.html

Dace
 Dace is a high-end clothing label created by Vancouver designer Dace Moore. All Dace clothing is designed and manufactured locally in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dace Moore's studio is located at 300-76 West 6th Avenue in Vancouver. Dace Moore wholesales her designs to stores in Canada and the United States but has recently gained international attention for her beautifully tailored blazers and jackets and her stunningly designed, comfortable clothes with superb attention to fit, detail and fabric. From what I have seen of Dace clothing, all fabrics are natural ie. silks, wools, cotton, viscose which I love. The clothes are not overtly sexy or in your face luxury (ie. tacky). They are subtle, wearable and unique. Dace clothing is definitely my personal favorite and when I get my first paycheck ( I just got a job as a Sales Associate at Orb ) I think I might treat myself to a piece by Dace.

 It is a little bit impossible for me to limit myself to choosing just one piece that I love. But Dace clothing is definitely a recurring theme in my thoughts so Dace pieces will be a recurring theme on my blog. This "Mystic" coat is aptly named as it certainly portrays an exotic image of mystery and intrigue. It's made out of 80 % wool and 20 % cashmere and comes in black and olive ( I love the black ). This oversized coat has an oversized hood and it closes with a leather braided loop that's attached to a tassel made out of horse hair. This coat is very practical but has a high fashion edge that is not all that common. This coat by Dace is unique and makes enough of a statement to be a showstopper but is low-key and classic enough that it won't go out of style. At $396.00 the Mystic coat is not cheap but could be considered an investment piece considering it's wool and cashmere and is of impeccable quality.
 Holiday 2011 by Obakki

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Yay! That's how we roll g.

It's been a long time since my last confession.. I mean, since I last posted. It feels like a lifetime ago because my life has been relatively busy and relatively exciting! I am going to post some of my work and sketches when I get home ( I am in the city right now, and am going down to llama land tonight), but for now I just want to tell whoever may be reading this my good news. Yesterday my teacher for my Apparel Market class told me in front of another teacher that I am one of her superstar students and that she can't believe I am so young with so much growth! She then told me about a job opportunity at a local clothing company that she was going to tell the class about but she decided to give me first dibs! So she gave my name to the manager or owner (research, cover letter and resume tonight) and I am going to apply by the end of the week. How excited am I?! I am so happy that things are coming together and going well. It feels like my hard work is paying off and I am so grateful for this opportunity! Wish me luck for today?! I am so excited.