After | The Checkered Dress

Oh, vintage secretary dresses. How I love finding you buried on a vintage store rack and reworking you into something I’d actually wear!

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Remember what this one looked like before I reworked it? This:

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You guys called it frumpy. And you were bang-on with that observation.

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My fixes were relatively easy. I belted it with a vintage YSL belt (I don’t even remember where I found it, but I am so very glad I did). I pushed up the sleeves to make it look more laid back and I unbuttoned the high neck so it didn’t look so, well… buttoned up. See? These are things a non-seamstress can do.

pink-secretary-dress-after

And I removed the shoulder pads, which is the easiest fix ever, as long as the piece isn’t so structured that it requires them. Oh, and I had it shortened just a bit. But my tailor handled that part because that is something that a non-seamstress cannot do.

[Thakoon shoes.]

October 6, 2011 by

Trippin’ | California

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it twice, I’ve said it 8,000,000,000 times: I love California.

h2-hotel-room

And that’s where I am right now. Working really, really hard,  because, as I’ve also said before, travel writing is a tough gig. (Do you even know how many restaurants I have to eat at, how many wineries I have to stop into and how many boutiques I have to shop at? Thank you, I appreciate your sympathy.)

Stay tuned for my articles, friends.

[Frye Boots. Photo taken at the h2hotel Healdsburg.]

October 4, 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?

vcc-fiate-mode-prototype

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.

orpheum-lights

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

Trippin’ | Buenos Aires

My friend Laura Low Ah Kee travelled to Beunos Aires and fell head over heels in love with that city (take a look at her photos and you’ll understand why). Here, she shares some of her favourite places to see, things to do and boutiques to shop in the Argentinian capital.

Laura - Buenos Aires

Enamorarse de Buenos Aires! It’s Soho, NYC infused with European sophistication. Beautiful people. Amazing shopping. Fantastic art. Delicious wine and Latin energy. What’s not to love?

Beunos Aires Colourful

stay: Palermo Soho Area. Rent an apartment or stay in a hotel.

shop: El Salvador and Palermo Soho Area. Check out local designer Coragroppo, experience Pehache 1418, shop the trendy A.Y. Not Dead and see so much more.

BA

happy hour: My favourite hour. Drink fantastic wine, lounge on couches and people watch at M O T T Cocina de Mercato.

Buenos Aires Building

tango: La Boca. A must-see touristy area with brightly painted buildings and dancers performing on the street.

Buenos Aires Cross

history: Pay your respects at Evita’s grave in a cemetery in Recoleta.

eat: meat at La Cabrera.

La Capital

spot lots of tight, short skirts: Asia de Cuba is the night club to be at.

BA rooftops

Get out of the city: Stay at the Hotel Sainte Jeanne in Mar Del Plata, a beach town. Go to the spa, lounge, smile, eat, make friends, make love. It’s majestic. You may never leave but if you do, shopping is just outside.

Oh man! I’m booking my plane ticket to Buenos Aires right now… in my dreams. Thanks Laura for giving me the travel bug and for sharing all these gorgeous spots. I’m obsessed!

September 22, 2011 by

Style | The Quartz Ring

Bold accessories are the best. Especially those that are an outfit unto themselves.

quartz-ring

Now I don’t mean this ring should be your entire outfit. I’m just saying you could wear any old potato sack and this rainbow quartz number will bedazzle the heck out of it. There you have it folks — fashion advice from The Anthology: wear a potato sack.

[Infinity ring]

P.S. I took over Park Royal. But only temporarily.

P.P.S. A few Visual College of Art and Design students are putting on a stylin’ and winin’ event at Gastown’s new Community Thrift and Vintage on Thursday, September 22nd, 7:00-9:00. See you there?

September 20, 2011 by

Style | Vintage Sequins and JNBY Slacks

These aren’t special effects, my friends.

vintage-sequin-butterfly-shirt

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

kd

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.

jnby-slacks

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.

vintage-sequin-shirt-back

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