Lighting Up Monday: Dressing Up For BARD ON THE BEACH - TWELFTH NIGHT!

I have to plan my week by starting off with a brilliant Monday. This time, Monday June 24th, Mel Kobayashi and I met up at David Lam Park, to chat about what she wore to opening night of TWELFTH NIGHT and why dressing up lifts your mood, lights your creative fires, emits positive energy, adds joy, and gets you out into the community and beyond. If life is a circus, might as well actively participate. Ring Master, Trapeze Artist, Musician, Acrobat, Fortune Teller, Magician...camera, lights, action and we're off!

In preparation for our discussion about the play, TWELFTH NIGHT, currently on at Bard on the Beach, I dressed in a vibrant gold jacket by Hot & Delicious and added the lips necklace, the wooden, must-coloured bracelet, the pearl ring (pearls and rings are in the play) and pearl bracelet, and the vintage sunglasses.The Shakespeare/England Starbucks mug, the tiny crown, with its coloured jewels by Carolyn Bruce, the blue mask, the fool's/clown's sceptre/wand, the fancy envelope (isn't there always a letter or note in the plays?) and the mirror necklace (who are we?) and the twins: sparkly, pearl and gold earrings/ornaments Carolyn Bruce and twin, gold faces earrings, again, female/male (who's who?),  all  on a silk, circus coloured fabric, set our stage.

I wore the gold jacket, a pink fedora, striped top and matching striped stockings, (stockings and garters feature prominently in Twelfth Night),  blue pants with side stripes of gold, lots of pearls and a sunglasses patterned bag. Thanks to Mel for taking these photos of my outfit!

But Mel dressed up for the Opening Night of "Twelfth Night" because dressing up is a way to show support and preparation for the event. It is sharing in the creative act and both respects and nods to all of the creatives who stage performances like this one and so many others, here in Vancouver and in your other travels. Mel who went with Twelfth Night Costumer Mara Gottler, says the costumes were magnificent and effectively tied together the fast-moving storyline with many role changes. Mara, not only designed all of the costumes for TWELFTH NIGHT, but has made extraordinary costumes for Bard On The Beach since the first production in 1990. Imagine it is now in its 35th season! An Instructor Studio 58 at Langara, she has also designed for other stages and Opera, too.  I have never believed in simple costumes so as not to overshadow the story. A big story, I think, can be told through costume, especially this one, set in the carnival world of  "ILLYRIA, Land of Misrule". Jerry Wasserman described "fantastic eye- popping costumes",  in his review in The Vancouver Sun and Janet Smith referred to the "over-the-top costumes" in her review in STIR. I am sure there will be many more great reviews to come! 

Mel Kobayashi at opening night of Bard on the Beach. Photo by Mara Gottler

Orange robe by Malcom Paull (Australia), Two necklaces and ring by Jackiebrazil4you (Jackie Brazil Jewelry Australia), Rainbow dress by vintagebysuzanne, Neon yellow robe by Top Shop, Pink Munsters by Fluevog, Vinyl ruff collar by VCC Fashion students, Striped silk blouse with bow, thrifted Scotch and Soda, Paillettes bag, gift, Handcrafted ring by OSK Micro Art

My photos of Mel

Mel's Sketch of Bard on the Beach

The glitter twins

So have fun, dress up, be who you want to be and get ready for Costume, Drama and Stage. Tickets at: bardonthebeach.org. According to Mel, many people do dress up when they hit Vanier Park for Bard on the Beach performances, on now through September. Be prepared for intrigue, music, a fabulous setting, both on and off the stage, and oh, those costumes. Play on!

Retro Riviera A Hot Exhibit of International and Local Outfits (1960-1970's) From the Collections of Ivan Sayers and SMOC (Society for the Museum of Original Costume) on now until July 2 @hudsonbayvancouverdowntown)

 RETRO RIVIERA is a timely, hot (1960-1970's) collection currently on at Hudson Bay Vancouver Downtown, 2nd floor, The Room. The pieces are from the collections of Ivan Sayers and the  Society for the Museum of Original Costume (SMOC). Last Saturday, June 15, Ivan Sayers emceed a Retro Riviera Fashion Show, in a special VIP suite, at The Room, and more than 75 people dressed up and headed into what was a lively summer ticketed event, proceeds to SMOC. We do want a Costume Museum here, as most cities have one to showcase local and international contemporary and  historic clothing and textiles. I have visited  Costume Museums in Toronto, Montreal, Japan and now throughout the UK. The collections are waiting for storage and exhibition and so many more events. Meanwhile, you can visit Hudson Bay Vancouver Downtown to see outfits you might remember, now through July 2.

Claus Jahnke and I recently visited the RETRO RIVIERA  exhibit and he chose some of his favourites. He finds this collection to be quirky and one that broke down barriers, during the 60's and 70's. Imagine women not being able to wear trousers, especially to work. I remember having my skirts measured at school to ensure they were not too short. There was a lot of pressure to dress 'quietly' and modestly. Lots of rules about patterns and colour combinations for women and men, rules, that were discarded, thankfully. And these changes were world wide, not just here or in the USA. 

The Lounging Caftan, was "inspired  by traditional garments worn in North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. Nurmesniemi Vuokko from Helsinki worked for Marimekko and had her own label, Vuokko in 1964." This is one of Claus' first choices and I love how it was designed internationally and came here, to us. The Pucci, (Italy) is a bikini and cover up, that is signed and is an example of a bathing suit that is form fitting and accessorized by a cover up that is sheer. The Pant Suit, is made here by Missy House of Canada. These are Claus's first 3 picks and then there were the orange summer dress, a tie-dye, custom made in Nigeria and the green Two Piece Outfit by Aldare,  Lagos, made in Nigeria. I loved the Summer Overdress & Trousers by Austrian, Rudi Gernreich Designed for Harmon Knitwear. The green and orange colours, the stripes and circle, make this an outfit I would love to wear. My own resort wear for the day, consisted of a pale mauve dress and patterned mauve 'cover-up', always great for the beach. My beach bag is covered in sunglasses. I also wore a Japanese mauve and yellow flower brooch by Dancing Leaf Design. Fashion and Resorts are international! 

Claus and Ivan, founders of SMOC (Society for the Museum of Original Costume) established it in 1992 to "collect historic fashion, traditional costume" and textiles and to "display our collection in a permanent museum of historic fashion and fabric arts". So many exhibits and events in the city, around Metro Vancouver and elsewhere...show the value of collections that reveal our history, culture, politics, trends and fashion stories. Hudson Bay, so historically and architecturally significant is the perfect site for RETRO RIVIERA and more fashion history from Claus and Ivan and SMOC. Please see my reel of Claus's photos of Ivan's Retro Riviera event, June 15th and my photos of our day at the exhibit here:

FASHION SAVES THE DAY!

Recently shackled and confined indoors by a shadowy, sinister spectre named Pneumonia, I battled this macabre monster into a corner, swiftly, by dressing it daily, in shrouds, musty wool blankets, damp robes with pockets filled with inhalers and pill bottles, all weighted down with the heaviest and most haunting metals by Carolyn Bruce. I tired out the beast and sent it skulking and slithering under the door, down the dark stairway and out into the burning hot sun and deeps of False Creek. 

My love of Fashion, here and worldwide, has sustained me and kept the beast in its corner. I have chased Fashion, Design and Architecture in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, now and travel plus Vancouver Fashion Week and Global Fashion Collective shows bring me year round  stories, dramas, and dances, all set in video and stage backdrops, a kind of bringing the classics and castles, here. 

Please have a look at my reel of opening night of Vancouver Fashion Week, this past season, and see some of our local and international Designers, share their visions and how so many community builders dress up and support these weeks of history in the making.  We are always welcomed and hosted by CEO and Founder of VFW, Jamal Abdourahman and Sarah Murray, VCC Fashion. 

The following photos are my way of connecting fashion here with my UK adventures. "The eye must travel", and so must the soul. Confined to a small space, indoors, even for a short time is not for me. Any beast that dares to invade my world, be forewarned that you will have to work, to be dressed and to march that runway. And, since you won't like having to perform and write, you will have to leave the floor. So farewell oh beastly pneumonia and hello to a warm and fashionable summer and fall. Looking forward to the very next best season of Vancouver Fashion Week, coming soon! 

A visit to see the Elgin Marbles at the British National Museum had me captivated with what the Greeks did with marble. You can also see one of my reels here. The pleating and draping and subtle shading, remnants of what was once brilliant colour, fitted to the body and moving with it, never still, reminds me so much of the costume created by Vancouver's Eduardo Ramos for Ballet BC Dancer, Sidney Chuckas. You can see it on one of my reels here, 

London's Fashion and Textile Museum had a fabulous exhibit: THE BIBA STORY 1964-1975 and I was fascinated by Barbara Hulanicki's fashion story and illustrations. Illustration at Vancouver Fashion Week is a constant delight and I was reminded of the wonderful work of local illustrator Forest Tomlin, now relocated in Zurich but still illustrating for Global Fashion Collective. See his Vancouver Fashion Week reel here.

Finally, the bagpipes of Scotland called (The Pipe Band of the Royal Tank Reg. Reel) and all of the castles, grey stone, tartan and rich woollens brought to mind the award winning local VCC Fashion Designer/Instructor, Allison Dunne. Her family heritage is connected to the Shetland Islands and her patterns and textiles remind me of  Scottish cities  and the need for vivid colours and warm forever knits.

Photo of Allison Dunne and Sue Randhawa, courtesy of VCC 

Here's me, looking at you and inviting you to look more at Fashion and find yourself a seat, this Fall at Vancouver Fashion Week.

Orly Toyber Lasalle College Vancouver Fashion Program Student Shows Us Her Process for Illustrating Winnie Tran Graduate of Lasalle at Vancouver Fashion Week April 25, 2024

Orly is finished her Fashion Diploma, in June and will continue on to get her degree. She came to Lasalle because she heard it was a great school and has really enjoyed her courses. She has learned so much from her instructors. She has volunteered for Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week and, in her volunteer work with Vancouver Fashion Week, this time, she was backstage helping Lasalle Grad Designer and Lasalle Consultant, Educardo Ramos, who showed his couture collection April 28. Please see my instagram for reels of his runway show and his iconic costume for a dance by Sidney Chuckas of Ballet BC. Again, Lasalle students, and staff are a strong, connected community.

Orly comes from a creative family who strongly support her dream of a successful Fashion Career. In fact, her dad has helped her make videos of her illustration process and came to VFW to see what she would choose to illustrate. We took these photos: (1) me, Orly and Lisa Sanche, (Fashion Design Faculty Lead, Lasalle College Vancouver) 2)Dad, Orly and her friend.  Orly is interested in Costume and made Dr. Seuss ones for her sister's school. (Photos by Orly) She always liked drawing and her favourite Designer is Versace. She hopes to show her Grad Collection, "Shadow of Elegance", next year and after completing her degree, would like to gain more work experience in a company such as Lulu Lemon, before building her own Design Business.

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Winnie Tran's Collection at F/W 2024 is titled: Testament. See  Winnie’s beautiful designs on her instagram @winn_i9 

Orly loves the fabrics, colours and multilayering in the design she chose to illustrate. She took a runway photo, drew a simple line sketch and then drew another, filling in details and colour. It’s a preliminary set that would be further developed through various poses and back and front views. Illustration is complex and it takes time and a lot of practise to develop individual style for day to day sketching as well as, in Orly's case, illustrating on the runway. 

Thanks for your videos and illustration, Orly! You got your whole family involved with taking photos and dad doing video of you sketching. See more of Orly's work on her Instagram. Excelente! Buen trabajo!

How a sketch progresses 

Costumes Orly designed

Colleen, Orly, Lisa (LaSalle)

Orly's Dad, Orly, and Friend