The Velvet Room Boutique (2248 West 41st Avenue) “Design A Dress” contest is open to aspiring designers who have less than two years trade or professional experience and are 18 years or older.

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Choose one of the below events and submit a design for a dress that fits the criteria described. Participants may include sketches, pictures, flats and fabric selections in their submissions. Participants may submit designs for one or more of the categories for a maximum of three submitted designs.

• Gala: Design a floor length dress for a black tie gala or awards night (size six)
• Wedding: Design a dress that can be worn to a daytime wedding and evening reception (size eight)
• Birthday: Design an age appropriate dress that the Birthday Gal can wear to her 40th or 50th Birthday Bash. (Curvy size eight)

Initial submissions are due at 6pm on Friday March 26, 2010. For more information, click here.

In the fashion industry, trendsetting can be compared to a pyramid. High fashion and couture, starting at the top, and their runway looks for the upcoming season are way beyond the budgets of the average shopper (and MMV reader). But as time passes, these trends trickle down the pyramid as assessable ready-to-wear fashion available at our favourite clothing chains.

Described somewhat as a “fashion visionary”, being a fashion globe-trotter is part of Barb Atkin’s job description as the Vice President of Fashion Direction for Holt Renfrew (737 Dunsmuir Street). At Holt Renfrew’s Spring 2010 Media Preview, Barb gave a presentation about forecasted fashion trends for Spring/Summer 2010 and brought back to local media, her insights and observations about upcoming trends, neatly packaged into 4 easily-understandable “looks”

Wear this as an oversized cocktail ring, or keep it in your purse in the cute violet pouch….this product is for a woman on the go!

Can’t believe it! It seems just like yesterday when Two of Hearts (3728 Main Street) opened in the Main Street shopping district. This Valentine’s Day will be their one-year anniversary and they are throwing a party! On Saturday February 13th, starting at 6pm, visit Two of Hearts for door prizes, champagne, cake and modelling competition. See below for more details.

The “Snooze You Lose” sale at Aritzia officially starts today, February 4, 2009. I checked out the downtown locations this morning, and saw silk skirts for $50, ribbed beaters for $10, slight discounts on the TNA hoodies, reductions on winter coats, but not much of a price reduction in terms of new stock. In fact, if you’ve been to Aritzia in the past week or so, items have already been put on sale and even though the official start (according to posters around downtown) is today, prices haven’t been noticeably cheaper than what they were in the past week.

The winners of FASHION Magazine’s 8th Annual Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards have been unveiled! Divided into categories including Hair & Nails, Makeup, Face, Body and Fragrance, click here to see what products FASHION Magazine readers have voted in as their favourites. Or, if you would prefer to flip through a print copy of FASHION Magazine, their February issue has a 9 page spread on the Beauty Awards and is available on newsstands now!

J+O Boutique (2570 Main Street) is closing its Vancouver location on Saturday January 30th. In the meantime, take advantage of their “Thank You Vancouver” sale, with clothing at 50% to 90% off!

Visit the Tension Clothing Sale (112 East 3rd Avenue) between January 14th to 16th and save up to 80% on clothing. Some highlights at this sale include TENSION suits for $100-something and T by Tension sample workout tops for $25. All of the clothing by Tension is designed and made in Vancouver!

For Dorinha Jeans up to 70% off, check out the Dorinha Jeans Warehouse (#2014 – 1396 Richard Street) in Yaletown between December 10 and 13th. Sale hours: 9am to 7pm.