A Study in Scarlett: A Vintage Fashion Show and Interview With Ivan Sayers, Vancouver Fashion Historian and Collector of Women's Fashion 1750-2000

I interviewed Ivan Sayers because I wanted to know more about his next event "A Study In Scarlett", a sold out event with Coquitlam Heritage,  before I went to Place Des Arts to cover it. Why Scarlett? She plays first in the game, Clue Master Detective. She is truly a scarlett woman and is all about murder and blood. Very dramatic. Here are a few dresses from the Vintage Fashion Show, that might fit the bill. Most of the models wore red lipstick and there were touches of red in their accessories throughout the collection. I wore red Kate (not Sam) Spade shoes and jewellery by Carolyn Bruce Designs, a typewriter key necklace, spelling Librarian, with attached book charms and a special red book in the locket. Should have been a little black book, perhaps? Think: "killer Librarian" series by Mary Lou Kirwin. Reel of the show on my Instagram (look for the red shoes)

An Interview with Ivan Sayers

Q: Who is your favourite Mystery Writer/Character? 

A: Agatha Christie is my favourite read, going back as far as high school. I like BBC's of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. The writers and the characters must be academic, clever, believable, professional but real. The satisfying thing about these mysteries is that the murderer is always discovered and justice is done. 

Q: How does clothing set the scene or make the character? 

A: Clothing reflects the character of the individual...so not just superficial. Clothing has to be real, not all costume. Colour is key. ( In his show, Ivan focused on black, for death/mourning, red, for blood, heart, passion, green, for the exotic, immortality, travel: King Tut's tomb and white, for purity, bridal, peace, maybe.) Colour can indicate personality:  Extroverted, Introverted, Dynamic, Daring, Quiet, Reflective, but going deeper, there is choice of fabric, style (classic or trendy) and then accessories: brass or plastic, diamond or paste, designer or copy, beret or fedora, cap or cloche. There is dressing for work, for the theatre, or for travel. There is dressing to be seen or to blend in with the furniture.It depends on whether you want to be seen or watch what others might be up to. So clothing does reflect who we are, who we want to be and where we want to go. 

Q: Do you have a special find specific to this collection? Is there anything you would 'kill' to addto it? 

A: All dresses are equal before God! But I have the humble and the magnificent and am always on the prowl. Am looking for a 'wide-awake' hat from the 1860's ...a goal but not a deadly one. 

Q: Will you be wearing anything theme related for the Scarlett Fashion Show? 

A: I will wear something neutral as I am the commentator. Clothing is costume of a kind, but also something you are or want to be seen as. Clothing is character and history. A museum of costume, here in Vancouver would preserve and reflect that. The past is inspiration for both the present and the future. I have shown just a few of the outfits, completely accessorized and referencing many, many Mystery Writers, Detectives, Characters we know well, from my collection from 1750-2000. Today we went from Edwardian to Twiggy. Want more details? Visit here and here for more information. (Here he is in deepest black at a graveyard. A funeral? No, just another spectacular event.) 

Many thanks to Ivan, for this interview! Thanks also to Markus Fahrner, Heritage Manager Exhibits, and Malika Arora, Communications and Community Outreach Manager @coquitlamheritage, for my Media Pass to the Scarlett Fashion Show. 

Kate Spade Red Slings and a Librarian, Book Themed Necklace by @carolynbrucedesigns

Red Dress, and red gloves, white fur stole, made in Canada. One shoulder, 

Neo Classical Greek, Platform Shoes, 'femme fatale'?

Red silk lined cloak with gold, wealth, royal, silk dress, neither touch the ground, 

neckline but modest, travel, exotic, murder happens often to the wealthy

Nile green, "Death on the Nile", exotic, immortality, travel, Egypt

All business and what does that bag conceal. Pearls and white against deepest black

Long sleeves for a dinner and dance event. Pearls, a simple classic, form fitting but enhanced by bell sleeves and tulle. Revealing but covered. Depth and detail, just like the great mysteries.

Slightly faded movie star? Slouch hat. "Murder on the Orient Express", modest neckline but furs and white, wealth to travel and to afford furs, esp. white. A servant would carry her bags. 

Maid's outfit, pocket for secrets and vial of poison, did the maid do it? "The Case of the Perfect Maid", Miss Marple Series, Agatha Christie

Ivan Sayers and Parker McIntosh (Tailor of Historical Costume)

Vancouver Fashion Week Oct 15-19, 2025

Black and white, gold, silver and red were trending colours in the collections, the attendees' clothing and accessories. I seldom wear black and white, but when I do, I add red accessories and a bit of sparkle. My jacket is by Joseph Ribkoff, the dress is Ralph Lauren and shoes are by Kate Spade. Sparkle here is by Carolyn Bruce Designs. Long time staples are a mix of new, thrifted and gifted. It is really important to get to the photo wall and to the red carpet to set the stage for your time at Vancouver Fashion Week and to tag local and international Designers, especially if you are wearing one of their creations. Please see Vancouver Fashion Week Designers for a complete list of all who showed marvelous runway shows. The Media team did a great job of giving background, media tags and photos for each one. See photos and designer captions below! 

The world...our Vancouver Fashion Community. Thanks to this big creative community. Please see my reels of the week on my instagram here! All photos are mine except where noted.

In keeping with the black, white, gold, silver and red theme, here are photos that not only illustrate colour but also reflect cultural background and design philosophy. I find that fashion shows, these days, are accompanied by dynamic videos that show how and where clothing is made and truly provide a launch for the collection and its theme. 

Andrew Jackson of J Andrew Speaks and me. Photo by @miss_rainne_mua

Marilyn Wilson of Olio by Marilyn

Gurl 23 is Anishinabe and Cree, two-spirited Designer Larissa Healey. Larissa opened the first evening, Oct 15, wearing red, black and white regalia and dancing the Sundance, with a drum circle, both as a welcome and as an introduction to her survival of the 60's scoop and her prolific 35 year multi-media art and performance career. Her collection, BROKN AROW, told through music and performance, is also the story of upcycled regalia, refashioning it to new forms while retaining some original materials and sewing and patterning techniques. 

Ambus Accessories by Arlette Ngung, incorporating a background in textiles and design from Eastern and Central Africa and training in Paris, NY and Toronto, all gold! Luxury, sustainability and shine in this collection. 

Nitenmon Kimono Clothing Tokyo by Sonoka Takeda, all the way from Tokyo. Although this is more of an orange colour, there is red in the pants and also gold. Sonoka dyes and weaves textiles, in addition to upcycling kimono fabric. With lots of experience designing for Theatre, Opera and Dance, Sonoka designs clothing that moves and takes the eye on a colourful visual journey.

Ayelelum by Aunalee and Sophia Good of the Good House of Design, a multi-generational Coast Salish Family from Nanaimo and showing all over the world. So much colour, design and generations walking the collection down the runway. They design, sew, write music and do their own media production. Love this cape with all of the colours. 

Viuog by Mina Alln from Iran, a local Designer. This dress is gold, black, white and has architectural designs. It is elegant and cultural, in keeping with the title of the collection:" Memories of my City". Now that I know she is a local Designer, I will know where to find formal and elegant dresses. 

Bahar Kianpour

#9 BAHAR KIANPOUR @baharkianpour A local Vancouver Designer, she is an award winning Blanche Macdonald Grad, who followed her Fashion Dreams. Her collection shows story, imagination and fantasy and is very wearable art. I loved this outfit, for its layers and textures and dark black colour with silver chain. The red roses are a dramatic, romantic finish! 

Vancouver Fashion Week red photo op wall at David Lam Hall Courtyard, a place to get a memory full of a week of Designs from the heart and all colours of the rainbow. 

REVIVAL Presents: Hundred Lives of Levi's by Deanna Flinn

Sustainability, recycling, upcyling, repurposing, thrifting, reading labels, slow fashion, all lessons well learned through many seasons of ECO Fashion Weeks, in Vancouver and a continuous practise I see in the collections of local and international Designers. I registered for Deanna Flinn's HUNDRED LIVES OF LEVIS Fashion Show, and found out more about her here. Revival, at 2408 Main is a beautifully decorated vintage and home goods store that also does fundraising and fashion events, supporting great causes like Dress for Success and promoting local Artists and Makers. Christina Florencio, owner of Revival, and Deanna, met with Marilyn Wilson and me, before the event, for a tour and a quick look at the collection and well organized show prep and preshow fashion photography. Please look at both websites for for information and the best photography and stories, ever. Deanna's collection is in the store now, and as each piece is one of a kind and handmade, so it will sell out quickly. Revival is a wonderful resource for your closet as well as ongoing Fashion events. There is a second store at the Bentall Centre, downtown. Deanna Flinn wore a classic leather jacket, with her line drawings as patches on the pockets.The leather was in good shape except for some damage, so she used denim from one of the 100 pairs of jeans, she found on Marketplace for $1 a pair, to add art and individuality and to extend the life of a perfectly wearable piece. She repaired some of the jeans, by adding denim from the $1 levis; she made hoodies, sweaters, jackets, coats, dresses and more. The photos show the details. This collection was created over a 3 year period, with sustainability and functionality in mind. Oh, but there is comfort and Art and story, too! These clothes are about statement, strength, easy movement, and care by the maker for the wearer and for the environment and zero waste. Deannna's teaser reel shows the designs close up! Attendees dressed for HUNDRED LIVES OF LEVIS! I wore a silk, botannical print by Melissa at Adhesif Clothing, a long time, Eco Designer, in the Main Street area, and now in Germany. I also bought a green bag, at REVIVAL, to go with all the green I wear. Loved that Deanna and Christina wore denim from the collection. Keeping our focus on slow fashion, saving textiles from the landfill, creating wearable art, making it new again, vintage and denim forever! And, in this old Mount Pleasant neighborhood, on Main, there was a vintage car, a Pontiac Bonneville, glorious gold, blast of the past and here today for the best photo opps! Please see my reels of the store and the show here and here.

First Time at the Toronto International Film Fest (@tiff.net) and the movie: "Good News" by South Korean Director/Writer Byun Sung-gu

The Toronto International Film Festival has long been on my bucket list, but this was the first time I was in Toronto at the right time, Sept 4-14th. There is great advertising in papers, businesses, theatres, galleries, libraries and on social media. It's big! There are 5 film venues, a Festival Street (for Star viewing) hundreds of helpful, friendly volunteers, lots of promotions and photo opps, special menus, special events, and a lively buzz throughout the city. At this time, I felt like I was in New York, where anything might happen. You know...see a star, be a star...even for one night. We started at the Shangri-La Hotel, for photo opps and a celebratory drink. Beautiful setting and always terrific service. I had planned to wear black shoes, but my stylist, Anthea, insisted on red, a bit of rebellion against the tradition of the classic black dress look. She tells me I can wear black as long as there is an added element, a fancy brooch, colourful scarf, or in this case, gold embellishments and the red shoes. I loved the chance to sit in the Director's chairs! I also liked that the gold photo wall, matched my gold purse and her Michael Kors boots with gold stars! Photos are by Shangri-La Staff. Now that is service! We had tickets to see GOOD NEWS, by South Korean Writer/Director Byun Sung-hyun, screenplay by Byun Sung-hyun and Lee Jin-seong. Cast includes: Sul Kyung-gu, Hong Kyung, Ryu Seung-beom, Yamada Takayuki, Shiina Kippei and Kim Seung-O. This was based on a true story about a plane hijacking that took place during the 70's that became an international event involving South Korea, Japan and the USA, all using desperate and sometimes madcap strategies to prevent tragedy. Surprise, Suspense and Humor kept us hoping for a happy ending in this one. You can see a clip of it on the Toronto International Film Festival website or watch it on Netflix, Oct 17, 2025. I have a far away photo of the Q&A at the Princess of Whales Theatre. Hats off to the Interviewer and Translators and to the Director and Actors! Would have loved to see a live screen translation, though, because it was a full house and we were not in the front row. Next time, I will attend the Press and Industry prescreening interview for a closer look and listen. Anthea took a quick video of me on Festival Street, on King, where I was on the Star walk, accidentally and briefly. You walk along, with the crowd and then, the gate closes and the limo drives along slowly and then, the Stars step out for photos and chats. Imagine. So much to learn for TIFF26. We finished up at the Ritz Carleton Toronto for a farewell drink and pizza and snacks. Hospitality, music and lots of bubbles. Magic!