How I (Sometimes) Spend my Saturday Afternoons…

If there one thing I have learned in my professional life, it's that photo shoots never quite follow the nine-to-five routine.  Try as you might to steer them in a particular direction, they seem to have a mind of their own, and that mind frequently runs to having themselves happening on weekends, or running to 3:00 am. (Which is OK, because the creative mind doesn’t really work its best 9 to 5 anyway.)

That’s how, one lovely sunny Saturday afternoon last month, I found myself at Downtown Marina with a crew (no pun intended) of fabulous fashion professionals (including photographer Caitlyn Chapman, above) shooting swimwear for the summer edition of ICON Okanagan, using quite possibly the most beautiful boat I have ever seen – a 1939 vintage teak Chris Craft. (Thanks Peter Middleton and Absolute Classics Marine!)

We had the loveliest selection of clothes and accessories too: swimwear from Celladora and Esteem Lingerie, sunglasses from Wink i Wear and vintage hats and bags from Georgie Girl. I seriously covet the Rash guard top and retro short bottoms we shot from Vitamin A, although I think I will have to hit the gym with a vengeance if they are ever to look a fraction as good on me as they did on our lovely DEJAVU model Holly.

 

Of course, in typical shoot fashion, the minute we were ready to go the wind whipped up to semi-hurricane proportions, making our makeshift changing tent of two beach towels and a sheet a little bit tricky for the model, and those who were holding it.  But we persevered and the results are really quite lovely, as you can see for yourself in the new edition of ICON – out now.

Get Your 'House of Harlow' Here...

 

Question: What do you, me and other Kelowna-based fashionistas have in common with celebs like Rachel Bilson, Miley Cyrus, and Kim Kardashian (although I may be using the term celebrity rather loosely here) have in common? 
Answer: We all have access to the uber-fashiony line House of Harlow 1960.

Designed by Nicole Ritchie (yes, the daughter of Mr. Easy-Like-Sunday-Morning), House of Harlow 1960 is an accessories line available at big city fashion meccas like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Selfridges. However, I'm happy to say that House of Harlow has also touched down in the Okanagan at La Bonne Vie, who are stocking some of her fabulous sunburst rings and necklaces. From $69, it a much cheaper way of staying on trend than having to fly to New York.

Love em.

   

La Bonne Vie: 2942 Pandosy St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1W1; (250) 762-8325; www.labonneviedecor.com

koLu-licious...

I LOVE a good boutique, me.  

At different points in my life Melrose Ave, King's Road and Spring Street (to name a few) have all held a magnetic attraction for me, for this very reason, and I have spend many delicious hours (not to mention significant chunks of my paycheck) indulging in my passion. Luckily, Kelowna is no slouch in this department. There are loads of great shopping experiences to be had, and my only (small) complaint is that I can't believe I have somehow managed to live here for a whole year without koLu popping up on my radar.  Luckily, this was recently rectified while doing research for the spring issue of ICON's fashion pages.

The boutique is a bit tucked away in Spall Plaza (perhaps why it escaped my attention for so long), but if you look for London Drugs and then jog to the left, you will find a truly big city shopping experience, with good reason; Kolu also has a location in Venice Beach, LA and is soon to open a new store in Calgary. 

KoLu is filled to the brim with great labels, and offers both more casual as well as full on fashion looks, and also has some of the best shoes in Kelowna. The boutique brings in hand picked footwear, clothing and accessories from labels around the globe, with merchandise arriving weekly from NY, Paris, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Toronto, Germany, France, Belgium, LA, Australia, and Korea. Sarah Pacini is one of my new favs, and I am super-stoked that Sigerson Morrison shoes are to be had.

One of the other great things about koLu is that it is manned by great 'stylists' who are totally a) knowledgeable and b) helpful, while being very pleasant indeed. And let's face it, we pretty much always need an educated second opinion when buying clothes, no?

koLu: 118-1950 Harvey Ave; Kelowna, BC; V1Y 8J8
Phone: 250 861 5658
Hours: Mon - Wed10:00 am - 6:00 pm; Thu - Fri10:00 am - 7:00 pm; Sat10:00 am - 6:00 pm; Sun12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Website: http://www.kolu.ca/shop

European Style in the Okanagan Valley...

Nussbag. You saw it here first.

Okay, well, second... as I have just featured gorgeous Austrian accessories company Nussbag in a fashion shoot for the Spring Issue of Icon Okanagan.

Nussbags are the creation of Austrian designer Florian Nussbaumer, who imagines, designs and creates these one of a kind designer bags, belts and cell phone accessories by hand. Each piece is handcrafted using only natural wood and veneer products from the sustainable timber industry and a high quality leather lining.

To quote the website:-  "European craftsmanship and lots of creativity turn these high quality materials into beautiful designer pieces. The goal of each piece produced is to achieve maximum style with maximum quality". The result is practical objects d'art which would look as good hanging on your wall as they do hauling all your bits and pieces around town.

The company is new to the Okanagan and has been brought in by Vernon entrepreneur Simone Kashuba - thank you Simone! Handbags range in price from $175 to $475 (for a large briefcase). 

I, personally, am now the proud owner of the 'Classic Light Macassar' (pictured above). I wore it out to a private view earlier this week, and it looked as lovely on my arm as the art on the wall.  The result was a flurry of compliments and questions about where it was from - fashion result!

You can find out where to get a Nussbag at www.nussbag.ca.

~

PS the gorgeous fashion shot above is by Kelowna photographer Caitlyn Chapman - but that is a whole other blog entry! (See Spring Forward, April 10, 2014).

Spring Forward...

With spring comes sunshine, daffodils and a whole new fashion season. What better way to celebrate the latter than by shooting some of the best that Kelowna has to offer, with some of the best that Kelowna has to offer, for some of the best Kelowna has to offer.

I love a good fashion shoot, and when it is promoting local talent and products, even better. The clothes came from local boutiques koLu, La Bonne Vie, Justin Paul Fashions, Jigsaw, and MacDermott's Men's Wear, topped off with some great eyewear from Wink i Wear; we also sourced a great new wooden handbag line being distributed locally called Nussbags.

Then we got together local talent like photographer Caitlyn Chapman, make up artist Sheleah Jay Bradley from SJB Make-up, hair stylist Alyssa from AMP Hairstyling, and models Emilee and Dayton from local agency Deja Vu Model Management. And all of this in aid of creating the spring fashion pages for the next issue of Kelowna-based lifestyle magazine 'Icon Okanagan'.

How great is it that the Okanagan has this kind of talent pool, and these kind of resources to pull from. The results were fabulous and the photos will be featured in the next issue of Icon, which will be out around town (and towns up and down the Okanagan) in mid-August.

Really... What better way to spend a Friday night?!

Style(ish) Matters....

Jutta Anderson could quite possibly be the most stylish woman in Kelowna.  If you have ever ventured into Justin Paul Fashions on Ellis Street, you will know what I mean.  As manager of this lovely women's wear store, Jutta is the perfect  advertisement for the product.  She consistently looks like she has just stepped out of the offices of French Vogue, where she would no doubt be a senior fashion editor or some such, chic to within an inch of her life.

Originally from Jamsa, a small town in Central Finland, Jutta arrived in Kelowna a year ago, having spent the previous 15 years in Vancouver, which she still loves. She was kind enough to answer some questions for us on all things stylish - and Okanagan...

TGNL: What initially attracted you to the Kelowna area?
JA: The same old story...a man! Also I love the lake and the mountains, Finland is a lake country so it feels like home. And, of course, the amazing local summers can't be dismissed.

TGNL: How would you define your own sense of style?
JA: Definitely classic, but occasionally the inner 'rocker chick" wants to come out and play.

TGNL: How did you become so stylish?
JA: As a young girl I remember watching this black and white French movie and I saw this very elegant lady applying red ( I assume it was red...) lipstick. That moment I knew, that I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. It was like an epiphany.

TGNL: Who are your style icons?
JA: To name one, I would have to go with the creator of the LBD, Coco Chanel. She totally took ladies fashion to a new direction, not the easiest task at the time, but she stayed true to her vision.

TGNL: What do you think makes a woman stylish?
JA:  Confidence!

TGNL: What would be your biggest style tip/tips?
JA: Always dress for your own body type and personality. Don't follow the trends too literally, pick pieces that suit you and your lifestyle the best, if unsure ask for advice. Create your own style and have fun with it. 
"Fashion changes, style endures" - Coco Chanel

TGNL: What is the one fashion faux pas that you really can't stand?
JA: Ladies, yoga pants are only for exercising!!!

TGNL: What are some of the big looks coming in to Justin Paul for Spring?
JA: A printed baseball jacket is definitely one of the novelties this season, combining two different trends (print and the sporty look), a pop-art t-shirt is an other great way to update your look this spring and for the minimalists there is the classic black and white look.

TGNL: What is the one thing that every woman should invest in for the coming season to update her wardrobe for SS14.
JA: So hard to pick just one...but my personal choice would be a structured top handle bag in a bright color (red, yellow or kelly green)

TGNL: What is your favourite thing to do in the Okanagan?
JA: My dermatologist wouldn't like my answer...sunbathing! All those rainy years in Vancouver...

Justin Paul Fashions: 1296 Ellis Street, Kelowna. 250 860 3666. www.justinpaulfashions.com

The Good (New) Life Meets La Bonne Vie...

Doesn't everyone absolutely love it when you discover a new place to shop that utterly tickles your aesthetic fancy? LBV Designs (LBV stands for 'La Bonne Vie' - or 'the good life') on Pandosy is such a place for me. This little 'house-like' boutique is packed full of treasure for both the home and your wardrobe, and is an Aladdin's cave of style.

Owner Tracey Wickenheiser embraces design from a global perspective, then distills it into her own world view - and her shop would not be out of place on Melrose Avenue in LA or in New York's SoHo, London's Hoxton or Paris's Le Marais.  The fact that it is here is Kelowna is so cool, and makes me so happy, that I am actually dribbling.

La Bonne Vie's fashion department contains great labels like 7 for All Mankind, Current/Elliot (from whom I-want-I-want-I-want a pair of 'Boyfriend' jeans), 213 Industry, oneteaspoon (from whom I-want-I-want-I-want a pair of chambray 'Bobby Pants' or 'Surrender Super Baggies') and Rebecca Taylor (from whom I-want-I-want-I-want a 'Starflower Shift Dress'), Daisy Knight watches (which I will be doing a whole blog posting about, so stay tuned)... It's like LBV is Holt Renfrew packed into a 'Mini-Me' version.

Then there are the interiors.  Great coffee table books on fashion and design, felted cushions with a beautifully crafted skull motif, a slender fourposter bed with elegantly hooved feet, a 70's-spikey 'Orion' Mirror, and gorgeous wall coverings in deco'esque geometric patterns in sumptuous colours like plum, jade, blush pink and powder blue, mixed with metallic silvers and golds ... LBV's aesthetic for the season is all about modern maximalism, and what a tonic it is.

And... what's in the shop is only the tip of the iceberg, at least as far as interiors are concerned.  Tracey can work with you, bringing in a wide variety of things from her carefully chosen suppliers, to create the kind of home of which you dream.  Whether you want to go whole hog, which could get you featured in magazines like 'Style at Home', or simply pick a few perfect pieces to add oomph to your current decor, your home can't help but be better off.

If I sound like I'm gushing, well... I am. The Good (New) Life [La Bonne (Nouvelle) Vie] has meet La Bonne Vie [The Good Life] and thinks we may well become BFF's.

~
Images sourced from La Bonne Vie