Blushing Boutique - Fashion and Art Event

Written by Treasure Seeker Colleen

Blushing Boutique 579 Richards, Vancouver welcomed us to a great display of fashion and art, last Thursday, August 25th. Shelley Klassen, the owner, designs "Feminine clothing for the woman who never needs an excuse to look FABULOUS!" Beautifully decorated, outside and in, the store is filled with stylish and unique clothing, accessories and art. You can find out more at blushingdesigns.com and blushingboutique.com. The event attracted many clients and new customers. (all fashionably dressed) A relaxed atmosphere, flattering lighting, wonderful clothes to try on and lots of glitter and glam made the evening truly a sparkling one.

 Outside the Boutique

Always attracted to jewelry, I was introduced to a collection of gems and pearls, modern and vintage, by Rachel Robinson of Rachel Robinson Designs vicerachel@gmail.com, who has been designing for twenty years. I loved the miniature Faberge 'egg' necklaces and bracelets. She uses quality stones and her work is brilliant yet subtle and delicate. Rachel recently designed for Vancouver Fashion Week and is also available to do private showings. Another artist, Jennifer Vespaziani (jennyVdesigns.com) uses mixed media, found objects, and a huge variety of materials from water colour to chalk to create her portraits. She sold 44 paintings at her first show, last year and is planning to illustrate children's books as well. She received the People's Choic Award at her exhibition at White Rocks's Spring Flowers show, in 2010. Her business cards feature her art and I want her to design my cards, too. Sarah is a young designer who has been in Vancouver for a year and hails from Saskatchewan. After graduating from Blanche Macdonald, she interned at Blushing Boutique and has launched Motel June, with a friend. This line features Ecco Fashion and will be displayed at a Fall show at SFU. Her silk screened T-shirts can be found at Portobello market. She also makes earrings and is featured here with her own black and white feather pair. An exquisitely dressed Sophie, is another intern from Yokohama, Japan. She is a design school graduate and well knows the fabulous fashion museums and high fashion in every city and small corner, there. On September 21, Blushing Boutique will host another exciting Fashion Show to support women in the Downtown East Side. Thanks for a terrific evening; I look forward to more shopping and more events!

A portrait of style 

 Shelley Klassen's designs

  Jennifer Vespaziani's Art

 Rachel Robinson's Designs

 Rachel, herself

 Jennifer, herself

 Sophie Store Intern from Japan

  Designer, Sarah

  Liss Sober, Retail Operations Manager and Shelley Klassen, Owner and Designer

Lanvin Fall Campaign 2011

I'm just not sure I get this...thoughts?

Happy Birthday Tom Ford!

Happy Birthday Tom Ford! One of the downsides of being a celebrity/designer...

everyone knows your age! Congrats on the big 5 0 Tom!

(Thanks LondonFashion.net) 

Street Style Saturday-Brooklyn

Saw this look this morning on New York Mag's The Cut and thought I would love an outfit like this!  I am on a Value Village hunt this morning to find some much needed clothes for my wardrobe! Here's hoping I can find something fabulous like this!  Image is from http://oalfaiatelisboeta.blogspot.com/.  

Erin Wasson and Zadig and Voltaire Sneak Peak Collection Fall 2011

Love the latest collection by Erin Wasson in collaboration with Zadig and Voltaire.  The collection with be available on Net-A-Porter and 80 Zadig and Voltaire stores worldwide in September! Thanks Who What Wear for the sneak peak!

(Images via Who What Wear)

CONTEST!! Glorious One Pot Meals by Elizabeth Yarnell

Ladies and gentlemen the Glorious One Pot Meals Contest is on!  As some of you have seen on my Clothes Line Finds facebook page, I have made some fantastic meals with this book.  It's easy and fun to make gourmet meals.  Just find the ingredients, throw them into the pot and voila! forty-five minutes later you have a delicious meal.  Many of these meals are great for cold winter days and will warm you up in no time.  Here's how to enter to win her cookbook:

1) Like my Clothes Line Finds Facebook page 

2) Like Elizabeth Yarnel's Glorious One Pot Meals Facebook page

3) Leave a comment on the blog with the meal I have made that most appeals to you! (See images below)  I will choose a winner from those who comment on the blog! Let's get the comments rolling!

Contest will be open for one week until August 31st.  Good LUCK!

Farmhouse Pasta

Feta, Shrimp and Roasted Tomatoes

Pronzo Italiano

Lemon Lamb-Yes there is delicious lamb under there!

Moon Launches Menswear at TIFF Bell Lightbox

Check out the latest menswear collection of Moon by Jordin and Saul Mimran presented at TIFF Bell Lightbox last Thursday.  Love that gold dress!  The label has been in existence for a year and this is the first menswear collection.  

(Thanks to Toronto Life for the images)

Topshop at The Bay (Women's and Men's)

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the Topshop Women's opening night, but I am determined to make it to the men's presentation this week!  I visited The Bay this weekend to have a look at the new Topshop collection and saw some fantastic displays and yes, some of the pieces are already discounted.  What do you think of the displays?

The Curve of Forgotten Things by Rodarte Featuring Elle Fanning

Found this fantastic video called "The Curve of Forgotten Things" just released on Rodarte's Facebook page.  Elle Fanning has been busy this year!  Not a huge fan of the clothes in the video, but it is absolutely fantastic to watch.

Saturday Afternoon with StyleSister's Janice and Rac Boutique!

What a fantastic Saturday! I spent the afternoon attending a beautiful wedding at Regis College with Janice of stylesisteronline.com and then we attended the fantastic Rac Boutique in Yorkville!  We saw some fantastic saris at the wedding and some GREAT deals at Rac.  There are a lot of discounts on right now and they are also having a pop up shop on 198 Walnut Street just off of Queen.  Owners Glenda and Faith say that there will be a cool lemonade stand and tons of fantastic sales! Can't wait :)

Duchess Kate Wears Military Chic (Alexander McQueen) In London

Duchess Kate wears Alexander McQueen military chic look while visiting Birmingham after the recent riots. Princess Diana wore a similar look in Sandhurst that was named "little drummer" boy by the press. Kate has some very big shoes to fill!

Thanks Coco Perez and Fashion Mommy

A Design Delight-Mercedes-Benz -IMG Start Up Event

Written by Treasure Seeker Colleen on location in Vancouver!

On August 16th at Mercedes-Benz in North Vancouver, we were welcomed into a light filled space perfect for displaying beautifully designed cars as well as the exciting work of five new local fashion designers. Titled "Start Up", this event showcased the work of five new (less than five years) local designers, two of whom will go on with two Montreal designers to Toronto Fashion Week and will have many mentors from experienced industry professionals to further advertise and develop their brand and business. This program, which is focused on discovering and promoting Canadian talent, combines the creative business forces: Mercedez-Benz and LG Fashion Week Beauty by L'Oreal, Paris. Every year, the program will be offered in two different Canadian cities.

We were welcomed with valet parking (staff attired in black and white) and checked in along a brief runway and then into a tastefully decorated showroom where we had the pleasure of drinking signature cocktails (and a huge variety of refreshments) as well as sampling the delicious appetizers prepared by Major the Gourmet. The huge space was so well organized that we could sample and circulate easily as well as have pictures taken with friends and, of course, the luxury cars. Audience viewing was easy thanks to the careful work of set-up staff (also in black) and we received copies of Fashion and Mercedes-Benz magazines to keep the idea of fine design at the fore front.

Introductions were by Project Runway Australia Judge and Global Production Director, IMGFashion, Jarrad Clark, and Michael Minielly, Supervisor, Public Relations, Mercedes-Benz Canada and Robin Kay, President, Fashion Design Council of Canada. All spoke about the importance of acknowledging Canadian design accomplishments and ensuring its continuous development. I have attended and blogged Toronto Fashion week and it was great to see Robin Kay at this Vancouver event, as she is an example of someone who began her career as a young Canadian designer and continues to promote Canadian Fashion locally and around the world.

Aritz1a Director, Yumi Eto and Fashion magazine staff member and journalist, Catherine Dunwoody were also in attendance, again, examples of the many business partnerships it takes to make designers successful.

The runway collections were: Shelley Ediger, SWIM, Lindsay Walsh, STANDING ARMED, Adam Taubenfligel, TRIARCHY, Cassie Dee, CASSIE DEE and Lexi Soukoreff, DAUB + DESIGN. Of these 5 finalists, the winning two designers, who will go on to Toronto Fashion Week (and much more) are: Adam Taubenfligel and Cassie Dee, both working in Vancouver. Congratulations to all of the designers for their inspirational fashions! Kudos to Start Up, a fabulous initiative that will benefit all of us. Thanks to all!

Finalists Adam Taubenfligel and Cassie Dee

Photographer Roxanne Lowit

Another Magazine always features such unique designers and photographic features. This week photographer Roxanne Lowit, one of the pioneers of backstage fashion photographers, is featured. To see more of her photographs you can find her books: Moments (1990), People (2001) and Backstage Dior (2009. Her work is also currently on display at the Kaune, Sudendorf Gallery is exhibiting her work, "Roxanne Lowit: Legendary Privacy, New York 1979-1999".

Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington

Kate Moss and John Galliano 1993

Salvador Dali and Janet Daly 1979

YSL 1993