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Style | Nicole Bridger

By Erika Renfrew

It was pure poetry, the mixture of fashion and dance in Nicole Bridger’s S/S 2012 performance at Eco Fashion Week. Now, I use the word performance because the show stretched far beyond the traditional runway strut. Bridger called this season Allowing Grace, reflective of her inspiration and a reminder to us all to have faith and be exactly as we are.

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I got chills through my camera lens. Models and dancers shared the runway, and Bridger’s effortless designs shined next to powerful contemporary movement. With bare feet and long, loose hair, a story of freedom and optimism was told.

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Muted pastels, organic fabrics and Bridger’s signature draping allowed room for intense choreography (and also work fabulously in everyday life). This emotional portrayal was topped off with the delicate sounds of Bon Iver.

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It just makes sense; fashion is expression, dance is expression and Nicole Bridger united both for one truly chilling performance.

A little too awestruck, I just about forgot to applaud.

October 11, 2011 by

Style | VCC Fiat Mode 2011

Grad fashion is fun.

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Case in point: I loved the VCC grad show Fiat Mode last year. (Dress by Agnes Kim.)

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And I loved it just as much this year. Probably because the designers are so fearless. To wit: Aleksander Mitrovic’s colourful, bulky ensembles.

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They’re not all wild, though. Some, like Camila Charry’s dresses, were very wearable. This dove-grey maxi dress would be pretty at a wedding, non?

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And while seeing the finished pieces is always fun, I love, love, love getting a peek into their design process. Student portfolios are on display during the show and, in the case of Franz Albana, so are the prototypes. Betcha didn’t expect to see that kind of model at a fashion show, huh?

P.S. Like The Anthology on Facebook and you’ll get a peek into the blogging process.

October 3, 2011 by

Playlist | Bon Iver and Other Lives

You already know and love Bon Iver, right? (If you don’t, take a moment to have a listen and then answer that question.)

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But do you already know and love Other Lives?

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I didn’t. But seeing them open for Bon Iver made me fall head over heels. I’m not usually one for sit-down concerts either, but the Orpheum is such a beautiful space (and I sat in the very front row because I’m a spoiled rotten brat) so it was one heckuva show.

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As you’d expect, Bon Iver was especially, well… bon. (What. You expected me to resist that pun? Not a chance!)

P.S. I’m bon voyaging to the Bay Area so keep your eye on my tweet machine.

September 29, 2011 by

Style | Attitude Jay Manuel

Top Model’s Jay Manuel is every bit as charming as you think he’d be.

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I’m going to go out on a limb and say that’s because he’s Canadian.

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After interviewing him (or making like a keener student and writing down every word he says) he says to me me “By the way, I like your mis-matched prints.” Why thank you, sir. They’re both vintage.

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The man knows a thing or two about timelessness (just look at his ankle-length camel-coloured coat). The line he creative directs, Attitude Jay Manuel, is now at Sears Canada. That’s right: Sears Canada. “I was important to me to come home,” he says.

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You know where I feel at home? Amongst models. (That’s not true at all. Look at how tiny I look! And I was even wearing heels.)

You’ll find my full interview with Jay Manuel on Vitamin Daily’s Editors’ Diary.

[Second photo by Alicia Quan.]

P.S. You’ll also find even more pics on The Anthology’s Facebook page. So like it already.

September 27, 2011 by

Say hello to…

Northill Creative logo

It’s been many long days and late nights but I am thrilled to formally introduce you to my brand spankin’ new company NORTHILL.

Northill specializes in writing, editing and consulting for retail, lifestyle and fashion brands. And since its launch earlier this summer, we’ve been working with some of the most incredible clients across this continent (hi guys!). These are companies that fuel our footwear obsession, companies that make Vancouver summers the best, companies that are going to revolutionize the way America shops (and hopefully one day Canada, too!), companies that care deeply for their communities, companies that will change the Vancouver social scene and then some.

I feel so gosh-darn lucky to be working with these clients alongside some very talented people (hi team!).

Eek! As exhausting as it is, it’s a blast!

September 25, 2011 by

Style | Vintage Sequins and JNBY Slacks

These aren’t special effects, my friends.

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This shirt is just that sparkly. It’s vintage, in case you couldn’t tell from the outrageous sequins and bold batwing cut.

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Don’t you think instead of using those fancy special effects in Katy Perry’s Firework video, they should have just borrowed this shirt? Silly question — of course you do.

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I’ve been wearing these slacks (by JNBY) pretty much every day since I got them. They’re half trouser, half sweatpant, and all amazing. I’ve dressed them up, I’ve dressed them down, I’ve dressed them all around.

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They make my heart soar as high as a (sequin) butterfly.

[Vintage shirt, JNBY slacks, Thakoon shoes, Joe Fresh nail colour]

P.S. Add The Anthology on Facebook and your heart will soar too.

September 16, 2011 by

Diary | Contemporary Art Gallery’s 40th Anniversary

If you asked me how old Vancouver’s Contemporary Art Gallery was, I would have guessed… oh, about seven.

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And I would have been very, very wrong. Because it just turned 40.

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I stopped in for (I hate to admit) the very first time yesterday to join them for the anniversary festivities.

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And I fell head over heels — not just for the gallery, but for one of its current exhibitions by Corita Kent. I would love to see her bold bright pieces on my walls.

P.S. I would like to see you on The Anthology’s Facebook wall.

September 9, 2011 by

Interview | Back to School Style on Global TV

So I hosted a segment for Global Television and since the clip is not yet available online I thought I’d give you a little freeze-frame recap.

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First, I went shopping at Metropolis at Metrotown with two high school students where they picked out back-to-school outfits and I discovered that I would be far from cool in grade 11. (Long skirts in homeroom? Am I insane?)

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Then we appeared live in studio where we went through some of fall’s biggest trends — colour blocking (see Sierra’s pants), warm, fiery colours (check out her scarf) and desert boots for men (Mark’s rocking them).

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And then I made a face like a little chipmunk. Because animal-inspired things are big right now too.

Thank you Global BC! Thank you Mark and Sierra! Thank you Olivia and Steve! Thank you Metropolis at Metrotown, Banana Republic, Forever 21 and Town Shoes! Let’s do this again sometime, mmkay?

[Green dress by Anthropologie.]

P.S. I tweet from backstage so follow @TheAnthology.

August 30, 2011 by