Hello City!

"Hello City".... a look at fashion from the streets to the stage! The John Casablancas Institute of Applied Arts in Vancouver is producing a Fashion Show this evening at The Cultch Cultural Center in East Vancouver. The show is a tribute to the major fashion capitals of the world and their distinct and identifiable trends, styles, landmarks and city life. Each set has been created and styled but the John Casablancas students (using outfits from local vendors and retailers), who will graduate next week from the Fashion Business and Creative Arts Diploma Program. The show is an amazing example of the diverse and desirable talent that is circulating the Vancouver fashion circuit. All proceeds are to benefit the BCSPCA with more information and ticket prices available at The Cultch website. After a 9 month intensive course, these ladies are prepared and eager to step out into an unpredictable industry with the confidence to know that hard work, determination and unshakable passion will take them as far as their dreams can soar...

The Love of Sport...

Rugby is to Aussies as Hockey is to Canadians and Baseball is to Americans. It is not just a sport, it is a nationally respected organization that builds and displays pride and dedication to its country and culture. Okay so this may sound a little extreme, but when it comes to Soccer and Rugby, the Aussies spare no expense in building some of the most original, modern and advanced sporting centers in the world. Set to open in 2010, the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (as it is temporarily named) is a spectacle all on its own. The $200 million stadium was designed by COX Architects and can comfortable house up to 31,000 screaming fans. The stadium is a "bioframe" design, with a geodesic done roof covering covered in thousands of mini LED lights. Lights that are designed to mimic the energy levels of a crowd during a match. Gone are open fields and cold metal bleachers, welcome to the new luxury and artistic life of sporting!

Loeffler Love...

True to a shoe designers form, Jessie Loeffler's quest to find the "perfect fit" was the starting point that launched her into one of the fastest growing, and most successful, private American companies around. Her desire for "shoes that possessed an understated elegance, were well made, and undeniably feminine", have led her to a CFDA Swarovski Award, as well as over 250 retail stores in over 13 countries world wide. The detail that goes into each design is consistently evident and identifiable. Jessie has perfected the ability to combine animal prints, leathers, wood, lace, metallic and beyond. The brand, Loeffler Randall, has also delved into a Ready-to-Wear collection made up of simple and feminine basics, with a nod to architectural lines, crisp colors, and edgy add-ons. Look up and Walk On!

A British Gem...

Audrey Hepburn, Sofia Coppola, Kate Moss, Amanda Brooks...each their own form of a fashion muse and enviable trendsetter. Add to the list one husky voiced, physically blessed and always charming young Brit and the list becomes a little bit more complete! Alexa Chung, host to the latest MTV daytime talk show "It's On With Alexa Chung", has been a long standing member of the fashion circle. Approached at 16 by the London based Storm Model Management, Alexa initially started out as a model and then migrated into the realm of Fashion Journalism. In June 2009 she was made a contributing editor for British Vogue. Alexa has become known for her unconventional twist on fashion, her restrain from conformity in the modelling world, and her exquisite looks that stem from a Chinese and British heritage. To sum it up, "I like serious fashion for girls who don't take fashion too seriously."

GAGA "GA GA"...

Love her, hate her, loath her...no matter how you allow yourself to perceive the daring, questionable and unpredictable persona that is Lady Gaga, you will have a strong opinion about her latest Editorial shoot. Personally I think it is amazing! Gaga's most recent cover shoot for OUT magazine has an edge that seems to have been shied away from for quite some time. A large majority of Editorial work, as of late, has been restricted to "safe and sweet". This makes sense in a time of uncertainty, magazines need to sell and it isn't profitable to take any risks. But the risk that honored photographer Ellen von Unwerth took has payed off. She has captured the difficult balance of both beautiful yet ugly, feminine yet masculine, life as well as death and it plays out seamlessly...

ESCADA... R.I.P?

In the past year alone, a number of major fashion houses have taken a turn for the worst. It seems that when times get tough, fashion gets tougher. It has become an art form alone to survive amongst the unpredictable changes constantly taking place in our economy. True to form, another leading house filed for Insolvency today. Escada was unable to revive themselves after over 70% of their shares fell in the past 3 days. Though this is not considered complete bankruptcy, the future is not looking bright. In preparation for what may be to come, I found it comforting to take a look back at some of the classic pieces in ESCADA history...

Angels in NYC...

Now it may not air until the end of the year, but anticipation is already building around the coveted Victoria's Secret Fashion Show! For the first time since 2005, the show will return to NYC and be taped in November to air globally in early December. There will undoubtedly be some new angels this year as veterans, Heidi Klum and Adrina Lima are both due to deliver, and models Elita Ebanks and Karolina Kurkova have denied renewal of their contracts. Victoria's Secret has always been known for rejecting the stereotype of waif like models, and instead praising the female body and all its curves and assets. Check out clips of last years show in Miami and keep posted for me details...

Into the Night...

Jenny Packham has been credited with creating some of the most glamorous and desired evening dresses of the most recent red carpet events. A graduate of the acclaimed Central Saint Martins College of Art, her clientele includes the likes of Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, Eva Longoria Parker and Mariah Carey. Her designs are elegant, feminine and transporting. They flow over a women's shape with ease and appear a second skin to the women that wear them. She has been honored with numerous awards, including Hollywood Style Designer of the Year and British Bridal Dress Designer of the Year 2008. Check out a behind the scenes look at the designer at work and some of her recent creations for her Ready to Wear and Bridal 2009/10

Chicisimo...

Check out this site for international and totally diverse street fashion. Real people and real clothes, and they are always interested in new faces! Chicisimo

The LOVE of shopping...

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has added an additional event this year. Through the organization of both American and International Vogue, along with NYC & Company, New York City will be host to one massive shopping party and celebration of retailers, designers, and the city itself! The event has been created to "enliven again the consumer spirit that churns the economy and boosts the local industry of America's fashion capital." FASHION'S NIGHT OUT 2009 will take place on the opening night of fashion week, September 10th. Festivities will include celebrity and model appearances, champagne and nibbles, musical performances and individual retail location incentives. Check out all the info and limited edition T-Shirts at http://www.fashionsnightout.com/

Local Talent...

There is nothing better then local talent, especially when it is talent that is beyond experienced, produces consistently beautiful work and has travelled and worked all around the world. Specific to this category of talent is the fashion, art and beauty photography by artist Trevor Brady. His editorial and commercial clients include Random Magazine, Elle Italy, Glamour Italy, TLC Vancouver, NUVO Magazine and countless other publications. His images pull emotion from all areas and his work has a signature look that always makes one question the inspiration...

Walking Art...

Charlotte Olympia...SHOE GENIUS!!!! Her work has been greatly influenced by classic Hollywood glamour and pays tribute to the style icons of the past. Her first collection was launched in London in 2006 and has been extremely successful ever since. Each shoe is hand crafted in Italy and sold globally at specific and elite locations. For those of us in North America, Net-A-Porter may be our closest option, and absolutely worth every penny!

A.McQueen...

I can't help but to keep looking back at the Alexander McQueen 2010 Resort Collection. With its sculpted silhouettes and intricate, detailed art work embedded into each piece, the collection was a beautiful mix of masculine and feminine. You can't help but be pulled in by the optical prisms and shapes that dance across each garment, stunning!

Fashion...

"Fashion anticipates, and elegance is a state of mind... a mirror of the time in which we live, a translation of the future, and should never be static." Oleg Cassini

Photography: Richard Avedon 1955