From Rags to Radical by Evan Biddell in Vancouver

Photos and writing by Dianna Drahanchuk

Evan Biddell Designs Unique Looks from clothes destined for the landfill. His collection created for Eco Fashion Week 2017 in Toronto, also came to EFW Vancouver and is at The Museum of Vancouver until April 17th. Here is my perspective, Colleen's to follow.

Evan Biddell's self-taught talent is especially remarkable in the 81 pound challenge collection he designed for Toronto’s first ever Eco Fashion Week held in March 2017. The collection later traveled to the Museum of Vancouver where Colleen and I got to see about 20 mannequins dressed in 81 pounds of Value Village castoffs up close. Many coats were refashioned into colorful pants and tops. Evan cuts the ruffled and leather strip details adorning many of the pieces freehand, without a guide or template! The pieces were accessorized with hand painted boots, melted plastic jewelry disc earrings, necklaces, and bolo ties.

Evan has a great idea for creating original one-of-a-kind pieces using products from Value Village stores and selling these in-store. The aim is to entice people who normally would not visit a Value Village, encourage them to purchase recycled goods and to their recycle clothing and textiles rather than tossing these items into the landfill. We wish him luck because we would definitely go out of our way to see that!

Colleen Tsoukalas

Vancouver Mural Fest - Colouring Our World - August 20, 2016

The giant murals have been in progress for some time, now and Sunday was a beautiful sunny day to spot them as we walked up Main from Terminal to 12th. Some of them can also be seen from the sky train. We began with a look at the decorated silos at Red Truck Brewery. Always a great way to celebrate with a wide selection of craft beers, delicious food and music of all kinds. The faces on the silos depict people enjoying the setting and their comments: Natural, Amazing, Trucked....
There were street markets, food trucks, and store sales - 150 local businesses were a busy, vibrant part of every block. 20 bands played their hearts out and people were dancing in the streets, for sure. But the main attraction was the 35 new, permanent murals bringing huge blank spaces to life, portraying everything: technology, cultures, sci-fi, a perpetual, vivid reminder of the richness of world on Main Street, every day. 40 Artists painted, sprayed, worked from great heights, on platforms and ladders and, as far as I know, all the paint went right onto the walls and none on those of us looking up. Lucky us, lucky Main Street. We need more of this, here. Lives enriched - our Art World.

PS I dressed in my own mural of fabrics and patterns, all from My Sister's Closet. The skirt is beaded and appliqued and is from India. The bag of contrasting patterns, is Japanese in origin. Cotton, black and white huaraches by ARTISANAT, handmade necklace. JORD watch. All black and white lets the murals be front and center.

PPS Much more at www.vancouvermuralfestival.com

My Sister's Closet (BWSS) Swap and Shop - October 16. 2014

This jewel of a store at Seymour and Helmcken, Vancouver, is not only a great treasure hunting experience, but profits support programs for battered women and their families.  Customers were invited to donate old favs and shop for new and 'new to you' items.  Lovely refreshments courtesy of Nestors, funky music, photos, and lots of modelling, October 16th, for sure.  Gorgeous shoes, shiny shorts, wedding dresses, jewellery (donated and handmade by local artists) plus designer dresses and much more, is always available, and there is a $5 dollar rack outside the store, which is a source of lively conversation and great bargains.  The photo of 4 shows from left to right: Farah, Angela, Karen and Samantha (Sore Manager).  So many smiles and always warm welcomes.  Such a huge pile of donations and lots of digging to find that perfect silk dress, that soft leather jacket, that bag you coveted but could never afford, those boots, just in time for winter.  Lots of fun and fashion and the stories - how about a book - Yes, we are all fabulous and fashionable!

Thrifting in Midland - The Salvation Army

No matter where we travel, we always seem to be able to find a thrift store! This time, we found a Salvation Army in Midland, Ontario! Alas, I didn't leave with anything; but lovely Colleen found a cute pair of tennis shoes, perfect for gardening and dock walking for just $4 and practically brand new. This little Midland thrift store had quite a few treasures and of course it's always great to support a good cause at the same time. I took a few photos of the treasures someone will find a home for eventually. Happy thrifting!

Lots of furniture, great for furnishing a cottage on a budget!

Treasure Seeker Colleen might have found something here!

Shoes, shoes, shoes!

50% Off At Value Village Today!

We all love a great bargain, especially when we're getting ready for fall. I know - we're in denial that fall is coming, but we can at least shop in the meantime! Value Village is having a 50% off sale today! The sale includes clothing, shoes, accessories and bed & bath items. I won't have a chance to make it for the sale as I'll be sailing the evening away, but Treasure Seeker Colleen might just make a trip to see what's in store for fall.

Will you be attending the big sale? What fall items are you looking for? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Lady Gaga Visits I Miss You Vintage in Toronto

Lady Gaga recently visited one of my favorite vintage stores in Toronto. I've purchased many a piece from this beautifully curated boutique of vintage treasures.

Some of the pieces that Gaga left with included: trays of vintage designer and estate jewelry, haute couture custom luxury garments and items by Hermes, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Prada, Dior, Balmain, Balenciaga, Manolo Blahnik etc.

See more of Gaga's I Miss You Vintage outfits via I Miss You Vintage and follow I Miss you on Facebook.

Gaga in a 1930's plum beaded opera coat. She loved it so much

that she wore it out of the store!

In a French 1980's designer silk coat 

On The Runway: Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design and Merchandising Program Students at My Sister's Closet

Written by Colleen Tsoukalas (Treasure Seeker Colleen)

Recently, the centre aisle of My Sister's Closet became the runway, minus the red carpet but plus the confident clicking of 'new to you' highest of heels and fashion forward, camera ready modelling.  Students have a limited time to choose two outfits and accessories, show us the looks, talk about their vision and invite feedback from their instructor, fellow classmates and even staff and customers.  We applaud you all!

Students observe intently and seem inspired by what they see

Program Director and teacher, Tyler Uddal gets things started.

Samantha Kearney (Manager, My Sister's Closet) (right) and 

Dianna D., Researcher and Volunteer, (left) watching the transformation 

and taking notes and photos.

Prints and smiles - great fashion statements

Victoria's Secret Kimono, nightwear does daywear 

Beautiful purple, leather jacket goes well with sunny yellow dress

Scandinavian silk scarf over silky party dress and fedora to mix it up

Ending with a pow of red shoes

Made our day colorful, eventful and full of possibilities about how we, too, could be on the red carpet, even if just for an hour.  Thanks all!

Do I Need New for Summer? Mixing Up What I Already Have

Written by Colleen Tsoukalas (Treasure Seeker Colleen)

Leaving the dark grey of winter and coming into a late, but warm spring, my first impulse was to buy something new, bright or pastels, something fresh.  But, we're on a three month challenge not to buy anything new, so I looked at an old favorite, an Indian shirt in turquoise, greens and white (3-4 years old from Value Village) and then matched it up with a set of green glass beads (garage sale) a pair of  green and blue clip on earrings and a turquoise cotton, V-neck T (made in USA) also from Value Village.  Black ballerina flats from Value Village, (one of the items on my VV shopping list) complete the ensemble, further accessorized by a pop of orange shoulder bag and hat with beads that match all of the colors. Green/blue owl ring is from My Sister's Closet, Yaletown.

A couple of notes about our challenge...  Making a list before you go thrifting, will help you focus and not overbuy.  While it is sometimes difficult to find exactly what you need, you can cross off what you do find and keep the list going for the next time.  I shop on VV sale days and have a Savers Card so that I get sale alerts.  Recently, I donated and got a 30% off coupon, too. If you're going to buy something, give something away.  It pays to plan.

Value Village Finds - Second Hand Treasures

Happy Tuesday all! I love sharing Value Village adventures on Clothes Line Finds! Today's tale is one of two Antheas adventuring out on a cold Saturday morning in Toronto. After a few hours of digging, searching and trying on numerous outfits, both of us left the store with a new bag of treasures to take home. All in all, I left with 5 blouses, 1 beautiful pair of black patent loafers and an amazing pair of dark blue skinny jeans. I purchased all of these items for about $75. This may seem expensive, but think about the last time you went shopping? Even a shirt at H and M or Forever 21 is usually at least $35 (before tax in Canada!), and I wouldn't even dream of being able to find a pair of brand new loafers for under $75 brand new. 

If you're patient and willing to put in some time and muscle searching through aisles of second hand clothing, you can save a lot and look fabulous too! You're even doing your part to save the environment! One of the great things about second hand shopping is that you are less likely to find yourself wearing the same dress as someone at an event and more likely to find a piece with a unique little story/twist that will usually stay in your closet a lot longer too!

If you haven't shopped second hand very much, be sure to check out my Top Thrifting Tips here.

Life is full of thrifted treasures. Enjoy! 

I didn't end up buying this amazing number as it was just too big.

It was $15 and to get it altered would be at least $15 and to me

it just wasn't worth it.

Didn't end up buying the shoes either as I found they weren't in

the best shape. Aren't they fun though?!

Anthea left with this amazing cape - love the color on her!

Exhausted, but thrilled with my new finds!

Anthea is excited too!

MY SISTER'S CLOSET AT ECO FASHION WEEK, VANCOUVER

Written by Colleen Tsoukalas (Treasure Seeker Colleen)

This is the second ECO Fashion Week runway show for My Sister's Closet's fearlessly, statement making staff, volunteers, family and friends.  This is a special community of those dedicated to stopping violence against women, providing resources and support and empowering them.  The store is, in my opinion, one of the most beautifully decorated, inviting and treasure-filled, cozy ' new to you' stores downtown.  Located at 1092 Seymour Street, you can't miss it for its open doors and bargain priced clothes racks outside.  You will never leave without a cheerful conversation and a celebration (everyone there loves fashion) of your finds.

At My Sister's Closet, on the rack and ready to roll to 

ECO Fashion Week at Robson Square, Vancouver

Love how this store not only provides funds to support programs for battered women and their families but also how it keeps the message foremost in many other ways, including a superb runway show that reaches so many people in the greater community.  Their messages are strongly and widely reflected in their social media, on their t-shirts, with their colored ribbons, and especially on their Women's Resource Card, placed on the seats at the show and always available in the store.

The runway extravaganza is always a great tribute to staff and volunteers, at My Sister's Closet!  They work for weeks, (all year round, in fact) not only running programs and the store, but in planning every detail to make the show a true highlight of ECO Fashion Week.  When I see it, I always wonder why I didn't spot and find these terrific outfits.  Of course, the 'new to you' clothes are exquisitely enhanced by My Sister's Closet's expert designers and artisans and eagle eyed fashionistas.  Everyone is invited to share expertise and ideas.  If you don't think you have any, you'll soon be convinced or trained otherwise.  Confidence, skills, empowerment, community.  That's what it's all about.

Thanks for the invite and the endless opportunities.  Kudos, My Sister's Closet!

Fabulous sistas packed and marching the couture collection to its
'fearless' and dramatic showcase

A hint of what's to come

Cameras and runway await

Model, Kristina G. (Charles Stewart Agency) Poised, at the Hair
and Make-up Tent

Hat and Heels

Reds!

Stepping into Fall

Earrings and Heels

Cool and Comfortable

Lady in White

Bodice and Buckles

Elegant Bride, expertly restyled dress and stunning silver
jewelry by Melanie Cookson