Diary | Cocktails with the Ladies of Vancouver Fashion Showcase

“I’m entrepreneurial in nature,” says Vancouver Fashion Showcase founder Florence Leung when I met up with her at the Diamond a few weeks ago. She said she’d been working since 7:00 am that morning, wasn’t going to stop until well after we finished our chat, and yet she was as chipper as ever. That’s got to be because she has a team of eight dedicated volunteers, like Rita Fung (far right), who have been pounding the pavement — and the keyboard — to pull together this weekend’s four-day celebration of Vancouver retailers.

“I find the local retailers are the ones that are most unique. I love when people ask Where’d you get that?” says Leung.

“If you’re just focusing on the designers, you’re not necessarily helping the retailers that sell them so we were looking to partner with retailers that are uniquely Vancouver. We went in and were like ‘We appreciate what you do.’ I don’t think they’d ever heard of someone focusing on local in that way.”

Vancouver Fashion Showcase brings together 30 retailers (including those featured in The Anthology’s wish list) for four days of parties, contests and shopping from December 1-4. If it sounds a little like Fashion’s Night Out, that’s intentional; Leung is toying with the idea of bringing FNO to Vancouver in the fall of 2012.

“Because I’m more business oriented, if I pushed more sales this weekend I’d consider that a success.” It doesn’t hurt that she’s aiming to raise between $5,000 and $10,000 for Dress for Success Vancouver while she does so.

November 29, 2011 by

Diary | Joe Fresh and PC Home

This is a big year for me.

Why? Because I’m finally going to ditch the over-the-top cheesy, tinsel-y, multi-coloured decorations that have been the hallmark of my holiday decor in years past (party tip: bring your tacky inflatable lawn ornaments indoors if you want to kick your house party up a notch. Take my word for it — they’re a sure-fire hit). Instead, I’m going to opt for a look that’s a little more sophisticated. Think cool white and icy metallics instead of blinking reds and flashing greens and twinkling purples and flickering blues and sparkling oranges and glimmering yellows.

And though I might live in Vancouver, a city with very few snow days, I’m dressing in winter wonderland chic. Add a faux-fur trapper hat that I borrowed from that mannequin (what? she didn’t mind) to my oversized hand-knit wool sweater and I’ll be ready for a ride in a one horse open sleigh.

Funny what one little afternoon can do. Had I not stopped by the Joe Fresh and PC Home holiday showcase, I might be inflating my Snoopy Claus lawn ornament instead of setting my table with silver bon-bons. Actually, forget everything I just told you. I’m going to do both.

[Joe Fresh hat, Ralph Lauren sweater, Rock & Republic jeans, Matisse boots]

P.S. Add The Anthology to your circles on Google+

P.P.S. Joe Fresh just opened a store in NYC (thank you, Tolek, for pointing that out!). The Canadian invasion is going according to plan…

November 28, 2011 by

Style | Jacqueline Conoir and Anne Carson

By Erika Renfrew

There is something about a rainy Vancouver day that makes me crave an afternoon looking at beautiful things.  Lucky me, this weekend I got to do just that.

Jacqueline Conoir boutique hosted a Style Scene shopping event complete with sneak-peek fashion show for F/W, trend details and lots of lovely to look at.

This locally produced label brings together Parisian training with a modern “I don’t have time to change after work” twist.  Designer Rozemerie Cuevas livens up a sophisticated style and makes tailoring downright sexy.

My eyes lingered even longer on JAC; an edgier line with shorter hemlines, plunging necklines and that ooh la la factor.  Being a shopper that has to touch everything, the studio merits a visit for the fabrics alone.

Partnering with Jacqueline Conoir is jewellery designer extraordinaire Anne Carson.  Using semi-precious stones, fresh water pearls and sterling silver (doesn’t that just sound sumptuous?) she creates true showstoppers.

It pained me to leave without a amazing black velvet smoking jacket; I mean it practically had my name on it.

November 28, 2011 by

Diary | Banana Republic’s Holiday Style in the City

Holiday parties, people! I can’t get enough of them. This week, the team from Vitamin Daily, Anya from I’m the It Girl and my very blue self hosted a party at Banana Republic on Robson.

And I just have to tell you how much I love these things. Not only because I get to talk leopard print and sequins (see above left) but because I get to see so many of your bright, shiny faces IRL (that’s “in real life,” mom). And I get to play dress-up in a gorgeous cobalt number. Can you guess where my dress is from?*

Plus, there are cupcakes, lots of sparkly holiday goodness and makeovers by the lovely BeautyMark makeup artists. (I left with Essie’s Bobbing for Baubles nail colour, a dark blue-y grey that’s the same colour as Vancouver’s night sky.)

‘Twas quite the night!

*If you guessed Banana Republic, you guessed right! And if you guessed Banana Republic’s Monogram Collection, you guessed extra right! Man, you guys are good at this game.

[Thanks to Leila Pejman for that incredi-blur Instagram shot.]

P.S. There are more photos on The Anthology’s Facebook page so hop to it and tag your face!

November 25, 2011 by

Linked | ALIFE’s Coats & Cans Drive, Braden Paul’s NME Triumph, K-Os and More…

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

1. Coats and cans. Until December 23rd, the Vancouver chapter of New York’s ALIFE will be collecting coats for the Salvation Army and cans for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. Donate one coat or two cans and you’ll get 30% off your purchase.

2. How this didn’t win, I don’t know. But Braden Paul’s shot of Sleigh Bells (which he took when he covered Sasquatch for The Anthology last summer) is the runner-up in NME’s music photography awards.

3. Getting k-otic. Two of Canada’s favourite hip-hop artists K-Os and Shad play the Commodore on Friday, Nov. 25th.

4. Electrifying. This week, Vancouver DJ Pat Lok released his first EP No Shame and he’ll be celebrating at his EP release party Thursday, Nov. 24th at the Electric Owl.

It’s clutch. Vancouver-based handbag designers Davie & Chiyo will be hosting a Winter Trunk Show on Thursday, Nov. 24th in their Gastown studio. Complimentary cocktails and canapes, plus their clutches will be 25% off.

Forget Oprah. You’ve been wondering about my favourite things, haven’t you? Well, you’ll find them right here.

Opening Pandora. Coquitlam Centre’s fashion hub, the Pandora Style Lounge (in the northeast entrance by H&M), will be offering holiday fashion, makeup and décor seminars this Saturday, Nov. 26 at 2:00 pm .

November 24, 2011 by

Sound | Death From Above 1979 at Commodore

Death From Above 1979 fans are…well, die hard. And Braden Paul is one of them.

With beer on his camera lens and rock ‘n roll in his soul, he captured these shots during one of two sold-out shows the Toronto-based duo played at the Commodore Ballroom this week.

DFA1979 shows are legendarily raucous (ask anyone who’s been). Though they disbanded in 2006, they reunited at Coachella this year amidst whirling rumours and rabid fans. Clearly they do not disappoint.

Insert joke about rising from the dead here.

[Photos by Braden Paul.]

P.S. Check out Braden’s photos of !!! (Chk Chk Chk),  Yukon Blonde, Deer Tick, and Sasquatch!

November 23, 2011 by

Style | John Casablanca’s Obsidian

By Erika Renfrew

Ever been coal mining?  Didn’t think so. Ever smeared dirt on your face and strutted around in fabulous clothing while holding a mining pick? I can tell you who has.

I had the pleasure of attending John Casablancas Institute’s Obsidian fashion show.  Celebrating the graduating class of Fashion Business and Creative Arts, students put an ooh la la twist on the otherwise eerie underground.

With clothing and accessories from local boutiques and emerging designers, students styled chic and funky looks for guys and gals.  The theme came together with asymmetrical hems, teensy velvet dresses, ultra sheer tops and plenty of metallic.

With John Fluevog on their feet, chunky sky-high boots were left unbuckled for a little bit of high-fashion grunge. While the male models were left to brush that dirt off their shoulders, the ladies sparkled with gold flakes painted on their skin.

The Obsidian fashion show was a fundraiser for the Looking Glass Foundation, an organization working to open Canada’s first treatment facility for eating disorders.

Congratulations to all the graduates!

PS. If you are reading this and have been coal mining, I think that’s pretty darn cool!

November 23, 2011 by

Style | Tiffany Leather

What would Audrey carry?

You know, if she were around today…and having breakfast at Tiffany’s with Tiffany leather design directors John Truex and Richard Lambertson, I’m the It Girl’s Anya Georgijevic, Demi Couture’s Victoria Potter, West Coast Style’s Mana Mansour et al.

Would it be this Tiffany blue leather handbag? Perhaps. “We wanted it to complement Tiffany jewelry with the spherical shapes and silver beads, but have each piece stand on its own next to Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes,” says Truex.

“We’re not borrowing from the jewelry, but being inspired by it. That’s why we’ve got the Tiffany blue accents. The more closely you look at each piece, the more you discover.”

You know what I discovered? I love this bag. It’s fit for a modern day Holly Golightly. Or at least someone who’s had breakfast at Tiffany’s.

P.S. Holly Golightly would totally follow The Anthology on Twitter.

November 22, 2011 by

Playlist | Bassnectar and Bonobo at PNE Forum

You know it’s a good show when photographer Braden Paul throws his neck out from dancing so hard.

And yet somehow manages to capture these photos too.

Genre-bending California-based DJ Bassnectar rocked the PNE Forum with his deep, dupstep-style beats this weekend. It was, to use Braden’s words, a “sweaty gongshow.”

One that was opened by British DJ/producer Bonobo, whose ambient tunes could easily be the soundtrack to your next dinner party or the soundtrack to your workday (I’m playing the album Black Sands as I type).

Just watch your neck.

[Photos by Braden Paul.]

P.S. Check out Braden’s photos of Yukon Blonde at the Biltmore,  Deer Tick at Rickshaw, and last summer’s Sasquatch Festival.

November 21, 2011 by

Style | Forme Fashion

By Erika Renfrew

Just because the days are turning dreary, doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to scream winter blues. FORME Fashion’s evening of music, art and fashion was full of life, colour and a whole lot of sparkle.

Every corner of Vancouver’s Ayden Gallery celebrated design. In a gathering of Indian culture, we were welcomed by live tunes and called to loiter around the treats table for cake pops and spicy brownies.

The main event, you ask? A runway show by a new-to-Vancouver fashion house Lotus Eye. Creative Director Paromita Naidu fuses South Asian flair with a contemporary west coast twist.

Draped around the (almost unfairly) gorgeous models were jewel tones, ornate patterns and embroidered fabrics. While supporting tradition, Lotus Eye created easy-breezy maxis, fitted tunics and classic blouses, all topped off with some shimmery accessories.

Judging by the audible oohs and aahs, I’d say I wasn’t the only one who thought Lotus Eye designs to be stunning.

November 21, 2011 by