Fashion & Retail

The Lav & Kush Fall 2008 Fashion Show at Heritage Hall (3102 Main Street) was a great preview to its autumn collection. As the models paced briskly down the catwalk, with a single peacock feather adorning their hair, the loose-fitting and comfortable pieces from Lav & Kush flowed down the runway. The colors were generally solid, dark blocks but with a hint of subtle playfulness; the occasional ruffle, pleat or pocket makes the look less ordinary.

As the models posed in trios before disappearing backstage at the end of their catwalk strut, the crowd truly had an opportunity to digest the trends of the upcoming season. According to my observations, from trench coats and jackets to winter dresses and dress shirts, solid hues of dark colors dominated the runway – in both men’s and women’s wear. It was the subtle details which set the pieces apart from each other – the speckles on a formal jacket from Aritzia or the thin stripes on a Jacob dress shirt.

With over 20 booths this year at Spend on Trend, the event was more personable than a trade exhibition but much classier than a stereotypical craft fair, it was a diverse yet lovely opportunity to converse with the individual designers. And each artist had so much to say about their creations – from belts to hair accessories, from Chinese silk to leather and from Victoria to Montreal, Spend on Trend captured the essence of Canadian design with a national diversity. Each item had its own story, and each artist told it well; a narrative of their background, their inspiration, their hopes and their dreams.

Update: Wilfred opens its second standalone boutique at Pacific Centre. === I love Wilfred Clothing! – my favorite in-house brand at Aritzia, aimed between women ages 23 to 35, which …

I absolutely adore anything to do with bird silhouettes and I was pleased to discover several items of Blubird branded in-house clothing lines…

Fans of “sophisticated” men’s high-fashion, expensive goods and the obscure in general may take interest in dropping by the Komakino. Currently located in 111 East Pender St. in Chinatown Vancouver, this “Guerrilla Shop” has covered various downtown locations, frequently moving around with little attempt at raising its awareness to the general public.