At Vancouver Fashion Week, this season, Dianna put her name in the Designers' Draw and won a piece from Allison Smith of Allison Wonderland. We decided to find out more about her and the wonderful work she does. A Kwantlen Polytechnic University Grad, (Richmond) Allison has been designing since 1998. Her work space/office is in Gastown and is a very organized riot of color, textiles, thread, and racks of clothing. Instantly, I wanted to touch everything, open every book, look out of the windows and try everything on. Having a two year old daughter and surviving runway show productions, make her used to surprises and chatty people, and she was so gracious during our visit and very passionate about her designs and her clientel. Thanks Allison, for your gift of sunshine on a dreary, rainy day!
Allison gets her inspiration from her friends, women she knows, and her daughter, Violet. She notices many changes at Vancouver Fashion Week: It's much bigger, more designers from so many countries and audiences dressing up and being part of the show. Allison's collections are not only found here, though, she is also selling in Toronto, and when I next visit The Distillery District, there, I will visit the store, Coal Miner's Daughter, to take some snaps and send them back.
When she is creating a piece, she asks, "Would I wear that?" I think she would look fab in anything, but I noticed that she has a great eye for proportion as well as how pieces can be worn in many ways, so petites can find lots of options, too. She is inspired by Rachael Comey, Dries Van Noten and Stella McCartney just to begin with. Around her table for brunch would be Kate Moss, Bianca Jagger, Iris, Tavi Gevinson, Buffy Sainte-Marie and more. On the menu would be: Champagne and lots of ideas and combinations of personality and talent!
Her next collection, Fall 2016 will be out at the end of January. We're really hoping to see Allison at My Sister's Closet (BWSS) at Seymour and Helmcken so that she can try on some of the marvelous donated 'finds' there. By the way, Allison, you will see Dianna and I wearing your gorgeous jacket to some of the fashion events, around town
Thanks again, Allison Smith! For more information: allisonwonderland.ca
Allison gets her inspiration from her friends, women she knows, and her daughter, Violet. She notices many changes at Vancouver Fashion Week: It's much bigger, more designers from so many countries and audiences dressing up and being part of the show. Allison's collections are not only found here, though, she is also selling in Toronto, and when I next visit The Distillery District, there, I will visit the store, Coal Miner's Daughter, to take some snaps and send them back.
When she is creating a piece, she asks, "Would I wear that?" I think she would look fab in anything, but I noticed that she has a great eye for proportion as well as how pieces can be worn in many ways, so petites can find lots of options, too. She is inspired by Rachael Comey, Dries Van Noten and Stella McCartney just to begin with. Around her table for brunch would be Kate Moss, Bianca Jagger, Iris, Tavi Gevinson, Buffy Sainte-Marie and more. On the menu would be: Champagne and lots of ideas and combinations of personality and talent!
Her next collection, Fall 2016 will be out at the end of January. We're really hoping to see Allison at My Sister's Closet (BWSS) at Seymour and Helmcken so that she can try on some of the marvelous donated 'finds' there. By the way, Allison, you will see Dianna and I wearing your gorgeous jacket to some of the fashion events, around town
Thanks again, Allison Smith! For more information: allisonwonderland.ca
Allison Smith in her busy Vancouver work space
Love her, 'Lights of the city' jacket
Image via allisonwonderland.ca
Allison in the mirror - 'lights' jacket back and front
I found orange
Dianna in dramatic black and white
Dianna in the black and white piece: jacket, top, shirt dress, s
he won as a designer prize from Allison at Vancouver Fashion Week
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