Eat your heart out, Anna Wintour. You’re not the only one to rock oversized sunglasses in the front row. I unleashed my inner critic this weekend and sat on the judging panel at the Art Institute of Vancouver’s Walt Street. ‘Twas a fun show. Like, really fun. Each design was inspired by a Disney character and a pop culture personality. Which is why my sunglasses were a bit goofy. Or should I say…Goofy? (Ha!)
Above, Snow White meets Nicki Minaj (designed by Yan Yan), the Little Mermaid meets Katy Perry (by Lisa Truong and Aaron Li) and Wall-E meets Lady Gaga (by Tina Forouzandeh and Cynthia Poulin). My fellow judges Angela Huang of Vancouver Fashion Showcase (pictured with a friend), Georgia Heraty of Social Experiment, yours truly, my girlfriend Laura (just back from New York) and organizer Erika Renfrew (who you might recognize).
It wasn’t easy to judge and I it certainly wasn’t easy to design — the looks were outrageous.
Which is even more impressive when you consider the fact that Walt Street was a no-sew competition. Designers like Christel Hayne had to be pretty darned resourceful to create detailing like this on her Belle-meets-J-Lo look.
I can’t even imagine how Amy Schilbe and Elizabeth Eburne pulled off (or pulled on, for that matter) hot pants like this on their look inspired by Minnie Mouse and Ke$ha.
In the end, they all lived happily ever after. Yan Yan’s Snow White won for best construction (it was made of paper), Diane Dizon, Beril Kaleli and Mandy Dhillon’s Aladdin-meets-Michael-Jackson design was deemed most outrageous, and Christel Hayne’s Belle earned best use of materials (Duct tape, I believe).
Congratulations all! Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go watch Cinderella for the umpteenth time.
[I’m wearing a vintage top and J.Crew denim]
P.S. In case you missed it, catch my view from the Brooklyn Bridge in the Vancouver Sun.
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