Colour Trends: Fall 2017

Photos and writing by Dianna Drahanchuk

“Colour Trends for Fall 2017” was held in the bright Personal Shopping office located in a remote corner of the third floor in the Hudson’s Bay in downtown Vancouver. Gracious hostesses Katherine Lazaruk and Stefania Savluc, both graduates of Langara’s Image Consulting program, warmed up the intimate group with a tasty glass of wine. Stefania office, that comes with 2 fitting rooms and tiny kitchen, is where she provides complimentary private fashion consultations and new brand promotion. Katherine, who transitioned from being an opera diva to an image consultant, heads an enterprise called icu consulting that concentrates on “intensive care for your image”. See her website here. 

Katherine started off by introducing us to the 2017 fall Pantone colour report used by fashion, furniture, paint and textile businesses. She went on describe the kinds of consultations she in normally involved in, for example converting everyday apparel into more businesslike attire, filling holes in a clothing collection, purging wardrobes to have less but smarter clothing, or assessing one’s most flattering hues using colour flow palettes from a selection of 10. When she focuses on corporate wear, she likes her client to look authoritative and approachable but also to reflect the individual’s personality. She says that colour is a leadership tool expressing one’s alignment and intention.

Katherine and Stefania lined up a rack of clothing to demonstrate fall trends in colour, texture, pattern and style. Textures one can expect to see in fall are velvet, corduroy and shine. Pattern can be retro-inspired like a 70’s couch, curvy lines and patterns, or romantic and classic florals drawn from the Victorian age. Expect to see fluff and puff. Pant suits are making a come-back with more extreme shoulders than in recent years.

Thanks Katherine and Stefania for excellent pointers on how to make your wardrobe the best it can be for this upcoming Fall season!

The Vancouver Mural Festival August 2017

Written by Colleen Tsoukalas
Photos by Luke Tsoukalas

The festival actually takes place as a series of events over a couple of weeks and the murals are visible throughout the year. Lucky us! We went on Saturday, the 12th and what a day it was. I always dress colorfully, in keeping with the dynamic paintings on walls, dumpsters, furniture, mannequins, windows, and in company with everyone else who dresses for the murals. My entire outfit: top, skirt, shoes and bag are from our fabulous boutique thrift for a great cause: MySister's Closet, Seymour and Helmcken, Vancouver.

We spent most of the day walking up Main Street and enjoying the music and food trucks along the way. I cannot say enough about how neighborhoods are brightened and creatively defined  by murals. It is such a visual world and every picture leads to conversation. People talk while the murals are in process and this year, especially, families participated in painting, writing, photography, socializing, eating, dancing, singing and more. 78 Artists, but really, everyone was invited to be an artist for a day and to keep on looking every day. The Mural Fest, a street party for the city. Thanks to our spectacular creatives and to the ladders that hold them.

Here's last year's murals. See they keep on growing!

Marvelous Muji Store Opens in Metrotown

Shopping at Muji Japan and New York were both incredible experiences. "Nature, naturally Muji" is a great motto for stores where you can find everything you need for home, family, work and leisure, all in a peaceful oasis of organization and beauty. And did I mention that shoppers are always enthusiastically welcomed and help is readily available. At the store opening, Friday August 25, we were thanked for our patience, since the first Muji store in Canada, came to Toronto. Finally, it is here, the largest store and one that invites you to enjoy a cultural shopping experience. It is all in the details: the exquisite mini catalogue that could grace any coffee table, the visual of how a sock should fit, the gift wrapping station and the stamps for your packages, the artfully arranged table settings, the complete bedroom with shelves, bedding and even a clock, so much to attract and nothing to distract.

The VIP store opening made every guest a VIP. Welcomed with a Muji shopping bag, we had our notebook and famous Muji pen ready to record wish lists and highlights. MC Yurie Hoyoyon  introduced us to our hosts from Muji Japan, Muji Canada, The Japanese Consulate, The Mayor of Burnaby, Manager of Metropolis, Metrotown, to the artists: Sora (Opening Poem), Japanese Calligrapher: Kisyuu, Yasuko Takahashi (Tea Ceremony) and thanked many sponsors, including YK3 Saki Producers Inc., and ICHIYO's Matcha Bar for the Matcha Tea.

A shelf of Muji suitcases, efficient and elegant, reminded me that Muji is everywhere in the world and that a Muji store will always offer product, peace, comfort, art and culture. Naturally, I will return. Muji's brand philosophy is represented here: MU = No/Nothing Zero, SHIRUSHI - Mark/Stamp/Brand, RYO - Good/Right, HIN - Product. So, no brand name or logo stamped on everything, ethical product, and quality products right down the line.

Thanks for a wonderful introduction to Muji, here, so close to home.

Powell Street Festival, August 5/6 2017

Is it the smoky bbq, the food booths, the Kimono and handmade clothing and crafts, the Taiko, the procession, the bonsai and Ikebana, the transformation of a city park and the streets around it? It is all of this, truly a celebration of Japanese Art and Culture. This is the 41st Annual Powell Street Festival and the theme, this year is: Re:Generation; Seeds of the Past, Leaves of the Future.  I am always drawn to this festival because historic Japan is there, as well as new interpretations, extensions, collaborations and creations: families, generations celebrating together. Such friendship and welcome to all, here.

Highlights for me, on the Saturday, were George and Noriko, A Japanese blues cowboy and Tsugaru Shamisen player from Melbourne, Australia. Far from home, rocking the audience with the international language of music, compelling us to sing the chorus and dance along, George and Noriko bring an entirely new dimension to traditional Rock N Roll.

Sansho Daiko presented Taiko, Spoken Word and Story. The Masks and dance into the audience, delighted everyone.

The Omikoshi by Vancouvr Rakuichi, is the presentation of the portable shrine, which can be found in festivals throughout Japan. The shaking of the shrine showers attendees with good luck.

Congratulations and arigatou gozaimasu! Thank you!

Photos by Luke the Photographer

Thanks to Luke Tsoukalas for the fabulous photos.

The Fabulous Seattle Art Museum (SAM)

At the Seattle Art Museum, there are currently many wonderful exhibits but two really stood out for me, this time. The Native Art and Life Along The Northwest Coast, is an outstanding collection of masks, robes and clothing. The button and bead designs are vivid and precise, never anything random or unevenly spaced. The red and black are strong colors, especially on the coat by Dorothy Grant (now in Vancouver) and Robert Davidson, also working close to Vancouver. Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week featured their very statement making, iconic work.

The second exhibit is Infinity Mirrors, featuring the 50 year career by Japanese Artist, Yayoi Kusama. From red and black, from commanding masks, I went into bright pink balloons, multi colored dots, 5 rooms of kaleidoscopic 60's worlds. We entered each room and stayed for only a few seconds, in a small group of 3-4. We were amazed, awed, and a bit disoriented, but everyone took pictures and talked. The range of sculpture, painting and constructed environments, was extraordinary. We left with a small card of colored stickers, some of which were red and black. Connections, all important. ART, where would we be without it.

Wearing Carolyn Bruce Designs necklace, naturally

SEEING RED - The Craft Council of B.C. June 29, 2017

Curated by Barbara Cohen, this show runs from June 29-August 10th and is well worth seeing. I highly recommend these statement hand made, one of a kind pieces, as well as the rest of the gallery/store: The Craft Council of B.C. at 1386 Cartwright, Granville Island.

Each piece featured the powerful colour, red. My favourites were by Barbara Cohen and Pamela Richie but there were 54 pieces, in total. This exhibit, as Barbara points out, goes beyond ornamentation. ...the ever growing field of contemporary art jewelry pushes those limits with unusual ideas, materials, techniques and concepts and moves jewelry toward the realm of Art. So beyond necklaces, earrings and bracelets to sculptured Art forms.

Everyone dressed up for this event. I wore red coral beads and many 

of the Artists wore their spectacular work. John and Judy wore red hats 

that Judy had created. She's from New Orleans and always dresses!

Loved "Two Women" sculpted by Linda Doherty, too. 

So much to see and wear. I want it all! See more at craftcouncilbc.ca. 

VCAD Focus III - Spring Grad Show 2017

VCAD students always present memorable Grad Portfolio Shows. They presented in the afternoon for Industry and at an evening reception for Parents and the public. We had a look at Game Development and Design, 3D Modelling,Animation Art  and Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Fashion Design, of course.

We were welcomed by Natasha Campbell, Head of Community Engagement and Anne Morris, Director of Education. VCAD staff, very enthusiastic, happy to share the best and dressed for a grand occasion.

Awed by Sara Vachon, Fashion Designer, Anna Vardanyan, Environmental Design and Textile Artist and Anna Morton,  Interior Design.

VCAD - always a vision! Continuous intake and graduations. Lots of opportunity to see a wide variety of programs, accomplished students and wonderful staff.

See previous post here!

Thanks to Dianna Drahanchuk, guest blogger, photographer and fellow fashionista.