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

Bookmark | Emma’s Design Blogg

In The Anthology’s Bookmark column we explore some of the most inspiring places on the wild, wild web. 

If you’re into interior design you’re already well aware of Emma’s Design Blogg. Curated by stylist and writer Emma Fexeus, it’s a collection of exquisite homes decorated in Scandinavian style.

You’ll love it if you like any of the following: white walls, black floors, white walls, tiles, white walls, Herman Miller chairs or white walls.

And I like all of those things. Except for white walls in real life. You need high ceilings and gigantic windows if they’re going to look b-b-b-bad to the bone and I have neither of those things. Still, I find them endlessly inspiring on Emma’s Design Blogg and I think you might too.

So bookmark Emma’s Design Blogg already. And bookmark The Anthology while you’re at it.

Thanks, Mom!

[All images from Emma’s Design Blogg, obviously.]

 

March 25, 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

Trippin’ | Spring Break in Whistler

Technically, I don’t get spring break any more. But spending the weekend in Whistler with my ladyfriends is a very spring break thing to do. The highlight? Snowshoeing along the trails that weave around Lost Lake to Scandinave Spa.

Nestled in the forest (though still reachable by car), it’s a series of hot and cold (like, really, really cold) pools that you jump in and out of like you’re a native Finlander.

Sounds delightful, right? And we sound pretty hardcore for trekking there on snowshoes, don’t we?

Well, we’re not. I was on the trails for all of four minutes before I fell in a tree well. And this is hardly a vigorous sport. I mean, really.

That’s why I wore my Nibz bandana — so I at least looked like I know what I’m doing. Made in Vancouver, these triple-layered bandanas were designed by snowboard cross athlete/Whistler local Sara Niblock. They gave me one to test out (love it! Thank you!) and now that they’ve seen how hardcore I really am, they’ll probably take it right back.

[Second photo found here.]

P.S. Tweet like you mean it. Follow @TheAnthology.

March 21, 2012 by

Before | The floral blouse

Wowee! This is one hot little number. Then again, “Before” shots in The Anthology’s Before and After column always are.

This bright, colourful blouse has big, bold shoulder pads, leading me to believe it’s from the ’80s. But the shoulder pads really aren’t what’s making this blouse so ridiculous. It’s the shapelessness. It’s meant to fit a size small and yet there’s so much extra fabric I could fit another person in there.

It might even be worse from the back — a giant square so big it looks like an oversized jacket.

I’m making some tweaks to this piece so it will be wearable, perhaps even stylish. Stay tuned for the “After” shot! (Imagine if I presented these as “After” photos. Would you guys be polite and say you liked it? Or would you tell me how you really feel?)

P.S. Add The Anthology on Facebook and you’ll be the first to see the transformation!

March 19, 2012 by

Linked | It’s a Bonspiel, Snap Your Style, Refashion and more…

The Anthology’s list of what’s new, what’s now and what’s next…

Speak easy. Panelists for the North Shore Writers Festival were just announced. I’m one of them (but you already knew that). See you there on April 21st!

Start sucking up. Sunny Shum of Partly Sunny and I are judging Sterling Shoe’s Snap Your Style Contest where you could win shoes for a year.

A whale of a tale. I talk orcas, pleats and a few of my favourite things with the lovely ladies of Shoppalu.

Put on your curling pants. It’s a Bonspiel supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and takes place in Vancouver Saturday, March 24th.

Reduce, reuse, Refashion. The April 21st event features barely worn clothes from some of Vancouver’s most stylish.

Bigfoot sightings. Sasquatch Festival keeps adding new artists to their lineup which features Feist (pictured above), Bon Iver, Jack White and a ton more. Are you going to the (gorgeous) Gorge?

Feeling lucky? We’ve got big giveaways coming up on The Anthology so keep your eyes peeled!

[Image found here.]

March 16, 2012 by

Inspiration | The Pastel Palette

I don’t normally gravitate toward pastels — I’m more of a jewel tone kind of gal. Maybe it’s because soft pinks and baby blues turn my complexion the colour of the walking dead, but I tend to avoid them.

I can’t this spring, though. They’re e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e (pastels, not zombies).

So I might as well embrace them. These images are so gorgeous, so unique, so warm and soft, they remind me how much I love pastels in design and art work. A little girly girl, maybe. But a lot ’50s, too.

And I love the thought of wearing pastels on my nails. If I had a six-year-old niece she’d totally give me a manicure like this.

Have you been watching Garance Dore’s Pardon My French series? It makes me fall even harder for the blogette. She’s such a fun-loving talent who seems full of energy, it’s equally exhausting and inspiring to follow her adventures.

Three out of four of these pastel-y images are from French blogs, by the way. And I didn’t even do that on purpose — it was my Francophillic subconscious. Le sigh.

[Images from Pandora, Ensuite, Tales of Endearment, and Garance Dore.]

March 14, 2012 by

Thank you | WE Vancouver

Thank you, WE Vancouver, for featuring my tangerine-wearing face in your Out After Dark column (holler, May Globus!) with Sam Shamash, head of marketing for AG Hair (they’re from Vancouver, did y’all know that?).

This pic was taken at the Social Feed x The Anthology event and there’re plenty more riiiiiiiiiiight here.

March 14, 2012 by

Style | The Art Institute’s Walt Street Fashion Show and Competition

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.

March 13, 2012 by

Drink it in | The wake-me-up smoothie

Ugh. Daylight savings. I’m not a morning person at the best of times and I’m definitely not a morning person after we’ve lost an hour. To make matters even sleepier, I’m such a caffeine addict that an extra latte won’t do much to revive me.

In the same slow-moving boat? This power-packed smoothie will give you a little perk-me-up. It’s my own variation on the recipes created by vegan Ironman athlete Brandon Brazier. I down one almost every morning and now that we’re springing ahead, I think I’ll down two.

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March 10, 2012 by