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

Designer Digs: Another Fashion Friday...

If my previous Friday was all about photographing fashion, this past Friday was all about looking at fashion. Well... make that Fashion and Interior Design. April 4th saw the event 'Designer Digs' giving people a chance to get a sneaky peek at three of Kelowna's most beautifully designed homes followed by a fashion show and after party, all in the name of charity.

The houses ranged from modern and minimal, to 1200 square feet of cozy white bliss, to utter decadence and luxury, in tones of black purple and metallics - and all were to die for. I came away with so many great interiors ideas, my poor husband may well be doing DIY every weekend for the next ten years. And, as if the home tours weren't enough, it was followed by a fabulous fashion show featuring clothes from locally raised/Vancouver based designer Jason Matlo and local boutique La Bonne Vie.

The event was conceived and organised by La Bonne Vie's owner Tracey Wikenheiser to raise money for the 'Wish Come True Society', which is raising money to open a Respite/Hospice House for children here in the Okanagan.

So... great interior design, fabulous fashion, yummy wine from Ex Nihilo and canapes from Cabana, a silent auction of lovely luxury items, tons of beautifully dressed people having a wonderful time... all for a good cause. At the risk of repeating myself, really, what better way to spend a Friday night?!

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?!

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