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Style | Jeff Garner’s Prophetik

Jeff Garner may look the part of Australian surfer dude (a role he once played in a Barbie commercial, no less), but he is every bit the Southern gentleman — all charm and chattiness, even in the middle of a model fitting. The man behind Prophetik, a sustainable, organic design house, Garner grew up on a horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee; the same farm he now lives on when he’s not dressing celebrities in LA, showing at London Fashion Week or headlining Eco Fashion Week in Vancouver.

Garner has been in the fashion world for nearly a decade, but truly captured the attention of editors and fashion fans this spring when he dressed Esperanza Spalding for the Oscar red carpet. His silver-blue gown earned the singer a spot on Vogue’s Top 10 best dressed list alongside a Tom Ford-clad Gwyneth Paltrow and a Louis Vuitton-wearing Michelle Williams.

“That was an unforeseen blessing – to be an unknown brand on a newly recognized artist,” he said. “We were the underdogs in that running.”

How did the designer go from horseshoes to Hollywood? Instead of following in his family’s military footsteps and accepting a full-ride scholarship to West Point Academy, Garner packed up his Jeep, drove to LA and dove right into all things sartorial, only to discover it wasn’t what he thought it would be.

“I realized very quickly that I myself didn’t even want to go into some of the places in which we were dying and cutting and sewing,” he said. “It was just nasty – the place itself, the working conditions, the way people were treated – and I came out of there with a feeling that I didn’t want to be a part of this.”

“I either had to stop doing what I loved or I had to do it another way.”

He chose the latter.

Treating eco-friendly fabrics like hemp with organic dyes, Garner creates sustainable fashion which he shows in theatrical style on runways the world over. Live music figures prominently in his shows, as it does in his life — he’s dressed the likes of Miley Cyrus, Kings of Leon and Jonas Brothers and grew up surrounded by friends in Nashville’s music industry.

“My buddies and I used to sit around in guitar circles and jam and write songs. When they asked me to be in a band I said No way, but I’ll dress you. And that’s how it all began.”

Jeff Garner’s Prophetik headlines Eco Fashion Week in Vancouver tonight. On Sunday, April 15th, his newest collection will be available on eBay.ca as part of a Green Option. And yes, that includes the dress he created for Esperanza Spalding for the Oscars.

P.S. In case you missed it, you’ll find Eco Fashion Week’s lovely little feature on The Anthology riiiiiiiight here.

April 11, 2012 by

Sound | Countdown to Coachella

We debated many things before we decided which Coachella weekend to attend. Would it be better to experience the shows first since the lineup is the same both weekends? Or would it be smarter to wait, read the reviews and see the all-stars during weekend two? It was a tough call.

The one thing we didn’t take into consideration? The weather. We assumed, what with Coachella taking place in a desert and all, that it would be stunningly beautiful both weekends. Like it was last year. And the year before that. That’s not what the Weather Network is now saying: for the first weekend — the one we opted to attend — they’re calling for cloudy skies, drizzle and a temperature I’d expect from my hometown Vancouver.

But weather report be damned. I’m packing for the sun. Like, scorching hot desert sun. My suitcase will be stuffed with bikinis courtesy of Simons (if you’ve been to Montreal and you’ve fallen in love with the place you’ll be happy to know they’re now on Facebook) and La Vie en Rose.

See, I won’t be camping — I’ll be staying on a golf course in a place with a pool and hot tub. And I’m crossing my fingers for the 40 degree heat I’ve come to expect from the desert.

Hence the SPF 45, the sweat-resistant Revlon Colourstay Eyeliner, and the Simple Eye Make-up Remover to take it off at night. And because I’m hoping it’ll be sandal weather instead of wellie weather I’m bringing pedicure-worthy Trout Pout by Butter London, courtesy of Nailpolish Canada, and Joe Fresh’s Bumbleberry.

Man, I hope I don’t have to bring my raincoat, too.

P.S. If you’re going to Coachella and you’re wondering what to bring, you’ll find a few of my festival packing tips riiiiiiiiiight here.

P.P.S. I’ll be Tweeting while I’m there so follow @TheAnthology on Twitter.

April 10, 2012 by

Art & Design | Angela Grossmann’s The Future is Female

When I reached Angela Grossmann in her studio to interview her for a piece in Vitamin Daily she apologized for putting me on hold while she removed her gloves.

“I’m always working,” she said.

The prolific Vancouver-based painter’s latest show The Future is Female is a study in being studied. It captures – in soft-coloured pieces and more aggressive-looking collages – women in private, sometimes awkward moments.

“We are always being looked at,” she said of the fairer sex. “We can’t see ourselves outside of the influences of being looked at our whole lives, even when we’re alone.”

The Future is Female finds beauty in less-than-glamourous moments like getting dressed. In it, Grossmann uses the female form as subject matter in a way that only a woman could.

“I feel tectonic plates shifting in the art world. Some of the best artists right now are women.” Among them are Marina Abramović and Cindy Sherman, whom Grossmann says “Mark a real movement towards women-centred ideas.” Funny, I’d say the same about her.

The Future is Female is at Vancouver’s Winsor Gallery until May 6, 2012.

[Image: Angela Grossmann’s Cinnabar Twist from Winsor Gallery.]

April 9, 2012 by

Before | The Little House on the Prairie Dress

I know what you’re thinking: Hot damn! She looks good!

I don’t know what to tell you — some of us just have it.

For real, though, this dress is one of my favourite vintage store finds. A few nips and tucks and it’ll turn into a flowy masterpiece. (Just not quite as flowy as it is in these pictures.)

Stay tuned for the “After” shots!

P.S. Go with the flow. Add The Anthology on Facebook.

April 5, 2012 by

Trippin’ | California

I’m not a very patient person. I don’t like to pack until the night before a trip because I can’t handle even thinking about that trip until I’ve safely stowed my luggage in the overhead compartment and secured my tray for takeoff. The anticipation is just too much.

Coachella’s different. I haven’t been thinking about anything else since, oh I don’t know, Coachella 2011. I think it’s the sunshine, the palm trees, the State of California in general. I have a real affinity for that place. I feel at home there — probably because they wouldn’t bat a fake eyelash at my kale, hemp, and flaxseed smoothies.

Last time I was in California I explored the north. Specifically a teeny wine country town called Healdsburg, where I stayed at the stunning H2 Hotel.

It’s decorated in a luxe industrial-meets-eco style: water glasses made from recycled wine bottles, hallway taps that spout sparkling water, that sort of thing.

If you go and it’s sunny, you could spend hours by the pool. If go and it’s not, then grab a bike and a bag of cinnamon almonds from Oakville Grocery (seriously, they’re the best things ever) and explore the surrounding wine country.

My upcoming trip to the Golden State will be far less sophisticated (and far more sweaty) but man, am I excited. And you better believe I’ll be sharing it with you. See you soon, California. See you soon!

P.S. You know what’s headquartered in Cali? Facebook! So like The Anthology!

April 1, 2012 by

Diary | Converse S12

Change may be good, but I like that some things stay the same. Take the Converse All Star, for example. It’s an icon, a rock ‘n roll staple, a shoe I find myself wearing almost every weekend.

The other night, I stopped by the Converse spring preview at the stunningly beautiful Warehouse Studio in Gastown. My favourite of the new looks? As cool as the DC Comic collaborations are (just look at this kids’ shoe!), I’d have to choose the Chuck Taylor Dainty for its slimmed-down take on the classic silhouette. It’s kind of the same, and kind of changed.

P.S. Tweet like an all star. Follow @TheAnthology!

April 1, 2012 by

Style | An “After” Shot by Sherry Lu

Ah…photographers. I LOVE them! I wish I could be of them, but I most definitely am not (I haven’t even taken my new DSLR out of the box because it terrifies me).

Instead, I collaborate with them every chance I get. In this case, with Vancouver-based wedding and portrait photographer — and all-round sweetheart — Sherry Lu. She’s a superstar, no?

We shot a garden party-themed series in Queen Elizabeth Park this past weekend. The sun was out (hence the flare!) and you’d never guess this was taken in the parking lot, would ya? You’d also never guess my vintage blouse used to look like this, would ya?

I’ll share more photos as soon as I get them. Thanks a million, Sherry!

P.S. You know what else I love? Your face on Facebook! So like The Anthology!

March 27, 2012 by

Diary | “My Fat Little Rule Book” Pre-launch Party

It’s been a while since I last attended a reading. In fact, I don’t think I’ve attended one since Roddy Doyle shared a few passages from The Dead Republic, which was so long ago (two years) the book he read from was the old-fashioned kind. You know…made from trees.

But these are different times. Vancouver author Jacquie Somerville (on the right) will soon be releasing My Fat Little Rule Book as an ebook (how techtastic!) and she threw a party in a penthouse suite at the Hotel Georgia to celebrate.

Chic, non? Not unlike her dress, which Roddy Doyle could never pull off.

Clockwise from the top left: my just-back-from-NYC friend Laura, PR pro Lisa Kwong, and fashionistas Alicia Quan, Melissa Knight and Jen Pistor.

[First photo by Rick Chung. (Thanks, Rick!) You’ll find plenty more in his Vancouver Daze column.]

P.S. Join the party — follow @TheAnthology on Twitter!

March 27, 2012 by

Style | Freedman Shoes SS/12

Northill has been quite the adventure (take a peek at this post for more on that). Between the writing and styling and consulting is photo shoot creative direction, which just might be one of my favourite aspects of my biz. You saw the behind-the-scenes peek at the campaign shoot for Sterling Shoes and the gorgeous photos we captured, right?

Well, I didn’t take any behind-the-scenes shots at the Freedman Shoes SS/12 campaign shoot, but I thought I’d share my very favourite photo. Quite possibly of all time.

Shot at Liberty in Vancouver, the dog on the left is made of rolled-up newspaper (such a quirky home accessory!) and the dog on the right belongs to photographer Barry Gnyp. The fact that the two pups looked virtually identical was serendipitous so I thought I’d see what would happen if we posed them both in the shot. Now, it’s worth mentioning that the friendly little yorkshire terrier cross is not talent per se, so getting her to stay still for the photo was a feat and the fact that she looked in that direction for a brief second was…I don’t know — maybe there was food just out of frame.

The result is a shot I adore so much I’d like to hang it on my wall. Instead, it’s hanging on Freedman’s.

[Shoes from Freedman, dress from H&M]

P.S. Speaking of walls, like The Anthology on Facebook!

March 22, 2012 by