IRIS - Seeing Style And Supporting Women - Fashion and Collaboration

Friday, May 29th saw a fantastic collaboration between Vancity Theater's Meagan Lum, Membership Coordinator, and My Sister's Closet's Store Manager, Samantha K., to bring the community together in support of services for Battered Women and their families and to see yet another strong woman of vision and style, IRIS!..

Dressed for IRIS: Mari, Lynn, Colleen, Denise (Left to right) 

Colorfully supporting collaboration for a cause: Vancity Theatre and 

My Sister's Closet (Battered Women's Support Services)

Image above via Vancity Theater 

Image above via My Sister's Closet

I am a volunteer at My Sister's Closet and have experienced, first hand, the huge amount of team work from all of the committed, talented volunteers.  It has taken a lot of thinking and planning time to style the mannequins, the racks and the setting for the event: Dianna, Sue, Fran, Samantha, (Samantha's mom) were the all day drive behind the featured ones lighting up Vancity Theatre, on the day!  Everyone dressed up and added to their outfits from the clothing and jewelry for sale, too.  The mannequins were befriended and mightily photographed; it was truly a red carpet evening.  Artisans, Farah, with her round the world jewels, gems and coins and Melanie Cookson's unique quill work, highlighted two more examples of artists providing high style.

Colleen and Connie 

(Photographers, sporting jade, turquoise and Pallazos.

In the great room, Meagan had organized an array of fabulous food and I especially loved the IRIS black and white cookies by SUGAR BAKERS.  On the film wall, keeping us company while we enjoyed and socialized, were videos of My Sister's Closet's Fashion Show  Vancouver ECO Fashion Week. 

Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director of BWSS, gave an inspiring welcome and spoke so powerfully about the continued need for the community to rally around support for programs and services for battered women.  She never fails to mention her great appreciation for those women she already knows and the new ones she met tonight.

I think Iris would find lots of treasures Vancity Theater and My Sister's Closet (BWSS) and in all of who shone at this event.  Big thanks to everyone who put minds, hearts and hands together in fashion for an excellent cause.

Farah Larki - Jewelry Artist and lovely mannequin 

styled by Dianna, Sue, Fran, Samantha (MSC)

Farah's gems, coins, artifacts from around 

the world, Melanie Cookson's unique Quill Work

Denise and Carolyn Bruce, Steampunk 

jewelry designer (IRIS should meet her)

Sue Randhawa - Always Stylin'

The work of My Sister's Closet - New to you thrift fashion 

funding programs and services for Battered Women

 Treasures for you at My Sister's 

Closet at Seymour and Helmcken

Jewels on pink dress

Fur jacket, satin top, print skirt, beaded 

evening bag, silver clasp (Casablanca maybe?)

More baubles for IRIS

Colour, texture and print, always to be found at My Sister's Closet

 Silver, pears, gold and yellow, the color of the season

Mannequin in gold and yellow "it colors"

Refreshments and hosting by the wizard organizer, Meagan Lum!! 

IRIS Sugar Cookies by SUGAR BAKERS

Another Fabulous Creative Cafe Day at My Sister's Closet, Seymour and Helmcken in Vancouver

Creative Café Days from noon on, are always a treat for customers and the neighborhood.  This is an ongoing invitation to visit My Sister's Closet for clothing and accessories, (new to you) in great condition and in lots of sizes.  There is always treasure to be found, especially on the $5 rack!  You can enjoy the fashionable windows, spacious change rooms (2) and colorful displays in the store, visit and chat with artisans, listen to music and enjoy coffee and more at the Spirit Bear Coffee Wagon.
First jewelry to catch my eye is by Farah Larki, who travels extensively for her beads and has lots of turquoise and unique creations already made up or by your design if you ask.  Great big voice by Amanda Dean, accompanied by John Pippus, attracted many who enjoyed music instead of sirens.  T-shirts and jewelry by Angelina's Closet, are dramatic and colorful.  Excitement, creativity, fashion and fun - all part of every Creative Café Day!  This lovely event was on Wed. May 20th so put Wed. June 17th on your calendar for the next one.  See you there!

Image above via My Sister's Closet

Rotary Club of Vancouver Yaletown and Shelley Klassen of Blushing Boutique Fashion Show

After a friendly welcome to the Rosedale on Robson Hotel, we were shown into a brightly lit suite, all set up for an evening of Spring and Summer fashion, mingling, photos, delicious food, hats, jewelry and accessories, a wonderful silent auction and door prizes.  This was not only a treat but also a fund raiser to support the very worthwhile community projects undertaken by the Yaletown Rotary Club.  One project, especially near to me is the funds raised for the Reading Program at Admiral Seymour Elementary, an inner city school with a big heart and even bigger goals. Rotarian spirit was so evident: several modelled dresses designed by Shelley Klassen of Blushing Boutique (579 Richards) and I saw others, in the audience, wearing these beautifully made creations.  Shelley organizes many fashion events at her boutique, throughout the year, and it is always a special place to be.  Styles for all of us, there, for sure!  You can also see her light up the runway at Vancouver Fashion Week!
Loved the hats that accessorized each look. Goorin Brothers, established in 1895 is a family business, still going strong and no wonder why.  Huge variety of styles, colors and superb hat bands and feathers.  Note that the store has an evening of music and refreshments, one night a week and any time you drop in, you're very welcome to try on the fedora of your dreams, snap a selfie and get expert consultation on the look for you.
A very attractive array of Silent Auction items, made this an effective fund raiser.  I made successful bids on B.C. Lions tickets and a special dinner at the new Anatoli Greek Restaurant, on Mainland. But wait, there was more, much more.  Door prizes, too!  Many creative minds and helping hands went into a very successful and enjoyable evening.  Note that Blanche Macdonald Grads shared their time and expertise, too!  Kudos all!

 Fabulous collaboration

Photos by Dianna and Colleen

Shelley Klassen (designer/owner of Blushing Boutique) 
organizing the soundtrack

Hats that make the eye travel, Bold Hats by Goorin Bros.

Rotarian walking the walk!

Rockin' that dress

"Oh, I want that one!"

Photographer Dianna sets the tone, wearing statement Goorin

Attitude

#FAJOsocial 2015: The Spring Soirée

On Tuesday, May 12, fashionable Torontonians alike gathered for Fajo Magazine's Spring Social at 2n Floor Events on King. As usual, the event featured top talent designers, treats by Sonia's Kitchen Catering, cocktails by Smash Juice Bar, hor d'oeuvres from Nuit Social, organic cotton candy by Lolac's Cloud, make-up by Inglot, entertainment by Elena Musician , a photo booth and props by PhotoboothTO and mix and mingle. 

This year also featured a Silent Auction with 100% of the proceeds going to United Way, five best dressed prizes, a Door Raffle Prize and fantastic summer themed swag bags!

Below are photos of the top talent designers and their products.

The fabulous Uppdoo duo!

Loved their original leather hand bags

Chibi Seimei Inc. 

Always a pleasure to see her beautiful designs

 Liv Simple Farms

Goat's Milk Soap by Liv Simpson

Great display!

Tanushree Pande of Poplyn

Loved her floor length tulle skirts with pockets!

Wearing a beautiful Hatitude head piece

With the lovely Amparo Findlay of Hatitude

Minling Pan of Min Designs

Loved the box bag!

Amplify Apparel head piece worn by Tessa

 Designer of Amplify Apparel and model

ART WORLD EXPO 2015 - Original Art, Body Painting, Dance - Gallery of Delights.

A Fairyland Fantasy theme for Art World Expo 2015 prompted us to dress accordingly so I went as a Mad Hatter and Dianna was costumed in an emerald green ball gown, with intricate black jewellery and a clutch (for camera and keys) from Vegas.  And there was certainly a Vegas vibe, especially with the largest Body Painting Competition in North America, (https://www.facebook.com/paintedcookie?fref=ts) and lots of music courtesy of DJ Dustin Sparks.  Early in the evening, OMNIKA IN MOTION, got us moving towards the dance floor.

A huge auction included original paintings, gift baskets, Aboriginal Masks, jewelry, crafts and much more, was open all night, with proceeds going to Make &Break Foundation, for kids' summer camps and Art Education and Art Programs.  More at: MAB Ventures Inc. and MAB ART STUDIO AND BOUTIQUE GALLERY, Spring and Summer 2015

We were invited into this, the 5th Anniversary of ART WORLD EXPO, down a flower strewn path, towards a wall of fame and professional photographs.  The first booth, I saw, grabbed my attention for its wonderful display of fascinators and hats from OVER THE TOP Creations by Ilona, ilona.marshall@yahoo.ca and further along, I met Enterprising Women Making Art(EWMA), a program of Atira Women's Resource Society. More EWMA store and ww.facebook.com/EWMA802

I really wanted to toss the jewellery I was wearing, in favor of anything designed by Carolyn Bruce. It is described as "Steampunk wearable art jewellery and as you can see in the photos, it is all," one of a kind pieces, made of antique silver and bronze, with lead free base metals and found objects."  Find her at www.facebook.com/paintedcookie or paintedcookie@gmail.com  Have a look into jewellery that will definitely make your eye travel.  Her jewellery will be featured at the arts centre, port moody, in a show: A Space in Tme - June 25-July 16, 2015.

Stopped at the marvelous displays of clothing (FESVEDY) and paintings.  Marita Mamuchashvili and Kakha Beri's artistry was featured on our blog (reference) as I interviewed them at Vancouver Eco Fashion Week, just last week.  They are everywhere.

ART WORLD EXPO is a moving Art Gallery, an opportunity to wear your own 'wearable art' and see what local artists create by doing so greatly enhance  our community.  Although this is a grand showcase, their studios do this work, year round.  Congratulations all, and thank you!  And Monika Blichar, it wouldn't be, without you!

Colleen and Photographer Dianna

 I love the real world but Fairy Tale Worlds appeal, too!

Carolyn Bruce's Designs go dancing!

The jewellery of Carolyn Bruce Designs, up close

Carolyn Bruce models her fabulous earrings 

and necklace (Carolyn Bruce Designs)

The staircase is graced!

Art World comes to Science World, Vancouver

Below photos by Dianna Drahanchuk

Jewellery by Carolyn Bruce Designs

Colleen and Dianna