Canadian Art and Fashion Awards - Cocktail Party in Vancouver

The invitation came in brilliant red, an important missive, for sure! It turned out to be for an exciting event on the evening of September 23; a cocktail party to celebrate the up and coming Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA) coming up, January 31, in Toronto! So pleased to see "outstanding achievement and emerging Canadian talent in Fashion Design "recognized and celebrated". Joe Mimran (Joe Fresh) was awarded, last year, for being an icon of Canadian Style and is also the Chair of CAFA.  Jeanne Beker received the 2014 Vanguard Award, Jeremy Laing was awarded for his Womens Wear Collections and Travis Taddeo for his Mens Wear. There are at least 12 awards in total and honorees will receive theirs at the Fairmont Royal York, Toronto.

This was an evening, then, to learn more about CAFA and to meet members of our own fashion and design community. Held at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, in downtown Vancouver, we had lots of opportunity to meet and greet and to share the wonderful refreshments, catered by the hotel, and to have photos taken at 'the wall' because of course, in the middle of Vancouver Fashion Week, VIFF, Design Week, Open Doors and so much more, we're now in the habit of dressing for the occasion.

So thanks sponsors, and especially to Sephora for the little black gift bags! Thanks to the organizers, and to Vicky Milner, for that stunning invite, welcomers and to the gracious staff of the Fairmont. We will be going from one Fairmont to the next as we watch the January 2015, very well deserved awards, coming right up!

Special thanks to Sonia K., photographer and partner in all things fashion!

Dressed up to celebrate creative

minds and achievements: Sue left and 

Samantha far right (BWSS My Sister's Closet),

Me and Sonia the photographer

Ruiz Y Laza, Donna Kuczynski, Me and Samantha (My Sister's Closet)

At the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel for the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards

Oysters, Sushi and a gorgeous array of delicious catered by the Fairmont Pacific.

Such a lovely welcome to the event!

Sponsors for the CAFA Awards - thanks to Sephora for the little gift bag!

Glimpses of Fabulousness from Eight Shows at Vancouver Fashion Week!

The location, the designs, the audience, the models, the music, the format, what more can I say except extraordinary, world wide, futuristic, wildly creative and that Vancouver eco friendly and health conscious show construction and presentation.  Not much paper, no plastic bags, lots of recyclables, gorgeous plants, (not cut flowers) music, ballet and very friendly, efficient ticketing, leading to a relaxing, yet dynamic experience.

Priscille Cavinet (Paris) The silky, fitted tops and skirts with front details and 

varied hemlines would flatter petites, as would the shorts.  Fabulous hair 

and jewelry and Priscille, herself, modelling her look on the runway.

Shinya Yamaguchi (Japan) showed a men's street and formal men's 

wear collection that had the instant attention of the men 

sitting by me.  We celebrate you!

Thabo Makhetha (South Africa) gorgeous colors in beautifully detailed and 

visual jackets and capes.  Brilliant yellows and blues.  I want them all.

Atiz-the perfect white summer dress, short and very feminine, 

lots of reds and golds and Atiz, herself, on the red carpet.

Akira Kuwabara (Japan) Stunning, futuristic dresses, in 3d, complex 

shading of greys, blacks and reds.  Origami like cutting and styling of 

jackets and coats.  Begone hooded raincoats, Vancouver! Akira, 

you bow to your fans and we stood up and bowed to you.

Daiki Shimizu (Japan) Fantastic layered and ruffled, grey dresses - 

perhaps 50 shades of?  Wonderful design execution.

Blushing Boutique - floral, flirty and fitted designs, great 

for all figures but lovely for petites like me.  Patterned sundress, just one of 

those you'd love to find but easily made to fit and flatter at the boutique.

Kudos designers!  This year's the one!

Vancouver Fashion Week, Spring/Summer 2015

Over 65 collections from all over the world, were shown, this year, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza, a much more central and scenic location than previous sites.  The weather was sunny and warm, showing off a city that is a jewel in summer and fall.  Attendees dressed it up, (as always) and here is Joel's (up and coming designer) eye catching shirt.  Rosemary on violin, (check out those shoes) and Roy on a Steinway from Tom Lee Music, accompanied the Goh Ballet dancers down the runway for the first show of Tuesday evening: Mary Zilba (Real Housewives of Vancouver) and her gorgeous line:Lotusactiva!  There was lots of celebration of Japanese wear for the Japanese designers...O Japan, the beautiful.  Vancouver Fashion Week #VFW, the place to be to see the most fashion forward designs, ever!

Mid Autumn Moon Festival at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vancouver

The Mid Autumn Moon Festival celebrates the harvest moon and families gather to eat mooncakes, light lanterns, listen to music and participate in many other cultural activities, here at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden.  On Sunday, September 7, we toured every space, each lit up with candles and lanterns.  Every view of the garden is different: a pagoda, stone tiles, ponds, courtyards, rooms, and tiled roof against a skyline of new towers.  Everything and everyone is reflected in waters stirred by brilliantly colored Koi fish.  A mighty dragon waits to add a breathy fire to greet the moon.  Ceremonies in the garden surround us with incense and ritual and young children, especially are fascinated and drawn in.  Music by the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble extends the magic of the evening.

Photos by Luke and Colleen

 

Nicky Hilton at Joe Fresh in Toronto!

Our very own Toronto Joe Fresh is hosting Nicky Hilton, style icon, model and designer, this evening! She will be signing her new book 365 STYLE. In 365 STYLE Nicky shows readers how to take an item from ordinary to extraordinary, how to tailor personal style and when to avoid or invest in items.  She will be interviewed by stylist Erica Wark in front of a live audience at Joe Fresh Maple Leaf Gardens, 60 Carlton Street, 6-8pm. Hope you can make it!

Dress for Success Fall Sale, Vancouver

For this fantastic three day event at Harbor Centre, Vancouver, 100% of the monies went directly for a great cause: funding towards providing women in need, entering or re-entering the workforce, with "professional attire, career development tools and a network of success".  A two dollar entry fee got shoppers into a very well organized, attractive space featuring loads of designer clothing and accessories.  Brightly lit dressing rooms, cheerful décor and lots of enthusiastic volunteers to help out, made this an experience well worth repeating.  Shopping for a cause is always the best!

A black and white satchel by Rampage was perfect for packing in my white and black Ribkoff jacket with matching black and white collared and zippered vest.  Bright pink clutch is a standout with any outfit.  Navy blue skinnies from Loft (label and tags attached) and a navy fancy hat by Julie Ng, are going to get a lot of wear, this year.

The shoes, the shoes!  Love the Lola Ramona black and whites with red heels and pink soles.  The Guess peep toed, polka dot bows will look stunning for a 40-50's Dress Exhibit Gala opening, Sept. 17 at the MOV!  The red booties will be coming with me to Toronto and New York.  And the jewels, well, real or not, they do provide glam and glitter.  Pearls, yes not plastic, are for a certain someone with the initial A and the orange earrings, a wow for me.  The hand that writes this blog, now is sporting that magnificent two finger, orange and flash ring.  Priceless!

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes: A Delightful Book of Imaginary Footwear forColoring, Decorating, and Dreaming

This is a shoe design coloring book, a starting point for creative ideas around the fashion and style of shoes, accompanied by a great quote for each. "All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking." Friedrich Nietzche.  "Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world." Marilyn Monroe

"I have enough shoes."  Said no-one ever!  This is a soft cover black and white edition with bright red binding that instantly draws your eye, and invites you to see what's next. The images draw upon history, architecture, sports, space, literature, geography and more.  The shoes can be anything you can imagine on feet and on the ground, and they can take you onto the runway and into everyday. 

This 2014 incentive to dream, draw, create and color, is by Seymour Chwast, notable artist and designer and Carol Chu, graphic designer with a passion for shoes. 

Who doesn't love a good shoe?  Said no-one ever so what's your idea.  Color and show!

This is all about the fun and artistry of fashion. It's about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.  100 pages of what could be and your version of what that looks like.

To explore next...Carol Chu's "The Fashion Coloring Book" and more of Seymour Chwast's work at Push Pin Studios.