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?!

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

A Donut By Another Name...

 

One of the things I love about travelling, is discovering local 'foody' delicacies; the things which once eaten forever anchor you to that particular place.

Case in point.  New York. One of the first things I like to do when in the Big Apple is treat myself to a giant salted pretzel off a corner cart, and eat it while walking down Fifth Ave.  Paris, to me, is all about a glass of 'vin blanc' at a sidewalk cafe or a glass of bubbly at the Champagne Bar at Galleries Lafayette. San Diego is all about authentic beef and bean burritos at a 'hole in the wall' drive in restaurant. Scotland, scarily enough, is all about the quest for a deep-fried Mars Bar. (Yes, there is a reason I am frequently 20lbs above my fighting weight!)

So when I saw the above sign outside Specialty Bakery on Hollywood Road, I knew I had to give one a try. Result? Oh. My. God. 'Kelownuts'. Yum.

A 'Kelownut' is a cross between a croissant and a donut, filled with a yummy Bavarian creme filling and covered in a lovely glazed coating. And... it is every bit as delicious as the description would have you believe. Today I contented myself with one (this donut hybrid is substantially more filling than the regular kind) but next time I'm in the neighbourhood I think I'll be picking up a half- dozen or so... to share, of course.

Specialty Bakery: #16 - 150 Hollywood Road South, Kelowna; 250 762 4437.
(PS: There is also a larger branch with a bistro at #101 - 833 Finn's Road, Kelowna; 250 765 5822.)

Too Busy To Blog...

Sorry all, I have been travelling a lot and haven't had time to blog, but normal service will resume shortly. In the meantime, here's a really cool photo of a dog.

Fashion and Film...

.
Fashion and film are two of my favourite things, and I may well have attended more fashion shows in my life than I have had hot dinners; plus, with a husband who was a professional cameraman for many years, I have also seen an awful lot of films, videos, commercials, etc. So it was great fun to attend an evening filled with both, here in Kelowna.  The event was called 'The Final Cut' and was a joint presentation from the graduating film and fashion departments at CATO - The Centre for Arts and Technology here in town.

Yes.  You heard that right.  You can actually study film and fashion (and interior design, photography, animation, recording arts and a whole lot more) right here in the Okanagan. CATO is an arts college that offers accelerated programmes focused on the training and skills aspects of the creative industries, with the focus on educating individuals about the skills needed to go out and get work in their chosen industry. I think this is a fantastic opportunity for local creative people, of all ages.

Think about it.  What if you really want a creative career, but can't afford (either financially or the time investment) to commit to a three or four year university course? What if you are not sure enough about your interest and ability to move your life to a big city centre like Toronto, New York or LA? What if your grades at high school preclude you from some of the ultra-competitive, oversubscribed university courses on the same subjects? ('Note: Cause let's face it - creative people do not always do particularly well in traditional high school subjects.) These are real problems for a lot of people who still have a lot to offer the creative industries, and could be successful in them if given the opportunity.

Being able to dip your toe into these areas in a local setting is fantastic, and everything I have seen of the college (and in the interest of disclosure, I have been teaching a course or two for them over the last term, which puts me in a good position to observe) evidences hardworking professionals committed to transferring their industry knowledge to a new vanguard of creatives. Bravo, I say.

Centre for Arts and Technology
1632 Dickson Ave #100, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7T2(250) 860-2787http://digitalartschool.com/

Mosaic Books

In my perfect world, actual physical books peacefully co-exist with virtual Kindle versions, and book stores remain viable retail options.  In this world, bookstores are locally owned and operated, and are quirky, peaceful and inspiring places totally tuned into the local community.

Sadly this vision is getting harder and harder to find, but I can report there is still one of these great shopping experiences available here in Kelowna,

Mosaic Books has been Kelowna's largest independent bookstore since 1968, and - I am happy to say - is still going strong.  This is where you go when you are in the mood to browse the stacks, or chat to friendly, knowledgeable booksellers about what's new and great. You can also keep your finger on the pulse of local authors, book launches and readings. 

Since moving to the Oknagan, I have popped into Mosaic to stock up on fashion and interior design magazines, attended books launches of local authors, and chatted to staff about the local poetry scene. I love to spend an hour or so perusing the stacks of books, and seeing what great book launches are coming up. Recently, I also had a quick chat with manager Trevor Neill about all things 'Mosaic', as follows:

~

TG(N)L: What, in your opinion, makes Mosaic special?  What is it's USP? 

TN: There really isn't one particular aspect that makes Mosaic unique, rather, a collection of fine details that set the business apart. For one, Mosaic is a true family owned and operated business. I manage, my sister, Alicia, is the receiver/co-manager, and our parents, Michael and Michele, own the store. A family working so close together allows any aspect of the business to be custom tailored to suit our vision. There's no corporate office or red tape to fiddle with, so Mosaic represents small town ideals and the locavore spirit.

Besides the behind the scenes, Mosaic Books is very unique in it's physical size. We are one of the larger brick and mortar independent booksellers in North America, boosting over eight thousand square feet of books for kids and adults. At this very moment on Mosaic's shelves, there are 14,214 new book titles and 11,341 bargain priced titles. That's 25,555 individual titles. Combine that with our online catalogue of over 5 million titles available fast and with no shipping cost, and you'd be hard pressed to walk out of Mosaic empty handed.

TG(N)L: As an independent bookseller, how do you feel about Amazon.com and it's impact on the locally owned bookstore? 

TN:  Ah yes, the Amazon. It's funny, the once small and book exclusive online shop has now dominated pretty much every retail sector, from books to cars to washing machine replacement parts. You'd be hard pressed to find any independent or physical retail business that has not been effected by Amazon's price slashing enterprise. But here's the thing: people are price conscious, yes, but they're also physical. They like to touch and feel things, they like to converse with fellow humanoids in person, and they like to get out of their homes in that off chance that something unexpected will happen. Whether it be books or shoes or whatever, us physical retailers offer that genuine human connection. We offer one on one expertise and knowledge. We offer smells and sounds and rough edges. We try our best to not make these human details cost an exuberant premium, but let's face it: we will never be able to win the price battle with these online giants, and if you don't understand that, then you don't understand us. 

TG(N)L: Any new author visits, readings, launches, or events in the near future that we should know about?

TN:  No major author events are in the slate until the new year (I will say this: Diana Gabaldon fans, rejoice! She's got a new book in the Outlander series coming out in the new year, and we "may" be hosting her book launch), but we do have our annual sale coming up. It's actually our 45th anniversary coming up this November, so we'll probably be pulling out all the stops for this year's sale. Store-wide discounts and giveaways are in the works, so stay posted as the details roll out.

Mosaic Books:  411 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6N8
Tel: 250 763 4418
http://www.mosaicbooks.ca/

Note: You can also check out Trevor's book reviews of the new Douglas Copeland novel and the Chris Hadfield biography in the Fall 2013 issue of Icon-Okanagan; on stands now, or read online at http://www.icon-okanagan.com/library/