Shopping

fashionwest Archives

Canadian Baby Fashion

Recently I was faced with the near impossible task of finding an exclusively Canadian baby shower gift for relatives living abroad. This proved to be no easy feat as many of the toys and clothes in retail stores are made in China, India, or Pakistan.

I was saved upon arriving at Bo Bébé where I found Canadian designers showcased at the front of the store! Beba Bean Clothing, based out of Port Coquitlam B.C. not only sells kaftans and kimonos made of sustainable bamboo, they also have incredibly cute knitwear (yes…I’m a bit of knitwear-phile, but don’t judge me before you check out that knit poncho!). Parade Organics from Vancouver B.C. is another favorite, you can’t help but smile at those adorable signature prints like ‘bean’ and ‘peanut’ on 100% organic cotton lounge sets, hats, and kimono style onesies.

Although both brands are designed in Canada, manufacturing (although fair trade) is outsourced to China and India respectively. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for fair trade and environmentally responsible fashion, it just really gets me thinking about the size of our carbon footprints. Sweet Kyla is the only company I have found so far that designs and manufactures baby bedding, receiving blankets, and nursery decor in Canada.

Now I’m going to need your help as more baby showers come up in the next few months, where can I find exclusively Canadian baby fashion?

Confessions of a (possible) Shopaholic

By chelsea

Shopaholic.

Lately, I’ve been a little worried that I’ve become one. I just spent another lunch hour shopping (it’s Bay Days, come on!). I don’t really need new clothes: I’m certain that I have enough outfits to last me an entire month without ever wearing the same outfit twice. Maybe two months. Probably three.

As many women (and some men) know, shopping just FEELS good. When I’m down (as I have been lately, with probably-not-big-deal worries like money, dental pain, friends, my messed up foot, work, etc. the usual), the top five things that make always make me feel better are:

1. Working out
2. Spending time and talking with friends/people I’m close with
3. Eating, drinking and cooking
4. Doing creative stuff
5. Shopping

#1 is out of the question right now, since I wrecked the tendons in my foot last week. This is a huge bummer for me, since I usually spend 3-4 of my lunch hours running or at the gym, and I don’t know how to fill the time otherwise (okay, I do: shopping). #2 is also kind of out, because most of the people I’m close with are either absorbed in their own drama, shutting me out, or out of town right now. I don’t think it’s a good idea to stuff my face when I’m not working out, and I’m too busy to do any more creative side projects. So that just leaves shopping.

Lots of shopping.

I don’t think it’s a huge mystery why shopping makes us feel better. When we can’t feel good, we want to LOOK good, and fashion shopping is the answer. Having new clothes, makeup, jewelry gives us a temporary boost in self-image… even if nobody around us can tell the difference.

Just about everyone has some sort of material addiction. Tech-nerds break the bank on every latest gadget, millionaire, collect vintage cars, and 9-year-old girls harass their parents until they have every single My Little Pony. There are movie stars who have entire rooms filled with shoes (not to mention @that_angela), and the suburbs are filled with 3-storey homes filled with… stuff. So I shouldn’t be too hard on myself for a little shopping addiction.

But, still, it would be nice to know that I could make myself feel better without shopping. Or any of my other usual “fixes” for that matter (I tell myself that going for a run to feel better is a good thing, but what happens if I find myself permanently disabled and unable to do that?). I guess until I find divine internal happiness (maybe I need to re-read Eat, Pray, Love or something), the best I can do is balance out my vices… a little shoe sale here, a little chocolate there, and a few Caesars after a hard day.

To give myself some assurance, I did a little bit of research on whether or not I’m truly addicted. I took this questionnaire on alcoholism, and just replaced “drinking” with “shopping”, Take the test and see how you check out.

Do you lose time from work due to your shopping?
Is shopping making your home life unhappy?
Do you shop because you are shy with other people?
Is shopping affecting your reputation?
Have you ever felt remorse after shopping?
Have you gotten into financial dificulties as a result of your shopping?
Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when shopping?
Does your shopping make you careless of your family’s welfare?
Has your ambition decreased since shopping?
Do you crave shopping at a definite time daily?
Do you want to shop the next morning?
Does shopping cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
Has your efficiency decreased since shopping?
Is shopping jeopardizing your job or business?
Do you shop to escape from worries or troubles?
Do you shop alone?
Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of your shopping?
Has your physician ever treated you for shopping?
Do you shop to build up your self-confidence?
Have you ever been in a hospital or institution on account of shopping?

Autumn Air

By amy

Autumn may be in fact my favorite season, and not only because of the fabulous fall trends. From crunching ruby red and golden leaves underneath my flats, to the sweet fall air beckoning the last lazy days of summer, who can deny such beauty? I tend not to take the more macabre approach to the season, where Jack Frost has nipped each branch bare and the thought of winter chills me to the bone. I like to think of autumn as a transition from the the sizzling summer solstice into a well deserved winter’s sleep.

Now, what are these fabulous fall trends you may ask? Layers, layers, layers! From delicate, ostentatiously colored tights and leggings layered beneath denim skirts and shorts, to rich plum sweaters and over-sized mustard cardigans. Fall style is haven’t-done-laundry-in-awhile-effortless mixed with ready-to-strip-these-layers-off-sexy! A definite autumn staple has to be KNIT.

Whether it be a knit scarf or a crochet beret, knitwear evokes comfort, familiarity, and love. These trends are embodied on the catwalk in LINE Knitwear by Toronto-based designers John Muscat and Jennifer Wells. Their Fall 2010 line admits very organic elements, with pieces such as chunky knit dresses, heavy pullovers, and robe-like cardigans all in a variety of mixed yarn blends.

Calgarians can enjoy knitwear on a even more local level thanks to Sikknits. I recently found their table at Park Sale 2010, where a cream colored knit shawl,speckled like a robin’s egg, caught my eye. After returning to the table three times trying to rationalize the fact that I could knit this myself (but really who has the time? let alone the patience), I dug into my pockets and went for it! Sikknits boasts custom winter accessories like colorful toques(new design for breast cancer month!), scarves, and hikkie hiders….I mean, so what if it was a slow day at the slopes, who doesn’t need a hikkie hider?

Well, after a long day of frolicking in the fallen leaves and stocking up on my Sikk apparel, it’s time to put my feet up. The only thing left to do is to curl up in my cozy shawl with Paul Verlaine’s Chanson d’Automne in hand, and wait for winter’s welcome.

You’re never too old to get FANCY

By farhana

I work at Costa Blanca and recently a woman came in and asked me to put together a party outfit for her. Being the psychotic outfit-creator that I am, I beastly ran around the store and grabbed every attractive piece of clothing that my scrawny little arms could carry. With an ear-to-ear smile I brought the clothes to her and quickly described all the outfits I had in mind. She hummed and hawed and said “These are too fancy, I’m kind of old.” As soon as she said that I automatically went into shock! If my manager wasn’t in the store I would’ve let out a big old “GIRL, PLEASE!” I have an eye for tasteful outfits, so the clothes I brought her were definitely suitable for her age, she just didn’t have the confidence to be stylish at the “old age” she was at (cough, cough THIRTY-NINE cough, cough). Not for a second should any woman or man consider downgrading their outfit because of age. Just because you want to dress your age does not mean you can’t be stylish! Style is more then what is currently trendy; style is the way your clothes are tailored to your body, the freshness of your outfit, and most importantly the way you carry yourself. Don’t be afraid to shine! Get fancy!

The Value of Vintage

By farhana

It seems that for young Vancouverites, rummaging through racks of used or should I say ‘vintage’ clothing is what helps us remain individuals, and be unique and cool. Vintage clothing is a term for new or second hand garments from a previous era between 1920 and 1980. Most vintage clothes have been previously worn but there’s a small percentage that have not and these pieces are street-named “dead stock”. There is extra value added to a garment that has its original price tag. Vintage Clothing became popular back in the 90’s when it was introduced by celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Kate Moss, and Dita von Teese. The environmental craze for sustainability is another interest in shopping vintage; in terms of reusing, recycling and repairing instead of throwing away. Our trendy city is home to a forest full of well-known (to the fashionista at least!) vintage stores. Woo Vintage Clothing, on Main Street in Vancouver carries fashions for all different styles, from classic to funky. They also specialize in Western, Hawaiian, Asian, swing, mod, hippie, and last but certainly not least rockabilly apparel. Tiger Tiger, located in East Hastings offers “pre-loved and dead-stock vintage” clothing at reasonable prices. And my personal favourite Used House of Vintage, on Granville Street, has something for all different styles at prices that make the wallet very happy! Finding reasonable prices at a vintage store is hard to come across and Used definitely takes the lead among vintage stores because of this quality. We’re lucky that Vancouver is a hot spot for vintage apparel; so take advantage of it!

Just bootin’ around

By Angela

My name is Angela and I have a problem.

I am addicted to shoes.

And boots.

Matter of fact, my mother used to call me ‘Boots’ when I was a kid.

Early on, she called me that because I would ‘boot’ around the woods with her, picking berries.

In my teens, it was because I began to obsessed with boots.

There’s just something about boots.

They lend an air of edginess. Sometimes sophistication.

Sometimes edgy sophistication.

I remember saving and saving and saving for two months – yes, I actually saved at one point in my life – for a pair of boots I had spied in the Truro mall one day after getting my braces tightened.

I was terrified for those boots, because:

A. I had no idea if they would still be in stock by the time I had to make my next trip to the orthodontist

B. My father decided to drive me from Antigonish instead of letting me take the bus and travel on my own.

Dad didn’t like stopping anywhere, least of all for shopping.

There was no way those boots were ever going to be available in prissy little Antigonish, a.k.a. The Little Vatican.

These were magical boots.

They were black suede, just-above-ankle high and they had this marvelous fringe along the cuff.

They looked just like boots that Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, Robbin Crosby of RATT or Lita Ford might wear.

Come on, folks. This was 1986.

I wore them the next day to school, paired them with black leggings, a long yellow striped shirt and a big black belt. My hair was teased and I had my studded band wrapped around my wrist.

I heard the whispers and the snickers mocking me but I didn’t care. Everyone else was dressed in their Levis and Polo shirts and I looked like I just stepped out of the pages of Hit Parader or Circus, two heavy-metal magazines I bought every month back then.

I rocked those boots.

And maybe that’s where the magic lies … we slip on our boots and take our personalities to a whole new level, daring to become ever so briefly who we may be in our dreams.

I’ll never forget that first pair of boots. They were replaced a couple of years later with a pretty classy pair of knee-high riders, a Christmas present, along with a matching jacket, from ‘Santa.’

And then cowboy boots. In Newfoundland. Don’t ask.

And others along the way.

I’m back to my boot obsession and I don’t really need to save the same way I did in 1986 … unless, of course, I want to buy the big-name designers.

I don’t think we need to, especially if we’re kicking them around the office, the pub, the mall or what-not.

Let’s not kid ourselves. I’d love to have a pair of Christian Louboutins in my closet, a marquee piece that I would pull out for guests. We would place them in the middle of the floor, a soft backlight would cast a halo around their edges and we would all ooh and aah.

But I’d be terrified to wear them anywhere. Hell, last month at Melrose, some buffoon spilled his Coke and whatever on my Naughty Monkey Moroccan Struts.

Yes, one look was all it took … and he was gone.

In any case, I’m happy to stick to the mid-level designers. My boots are Naughty Monkey (two pairs), Aldo, Fergie Footwear, Chinese Laundry and Blowfish.

The two most recent additions are the Chinese Laundry Parks and Blowfish Jaspers, both motorcycle-style boots.

And fabulous.

And not expensive.

Both pairs were less than $100.

The Chinese Laundry boots I got off Zappos, one of my favourite online shoe stores, and the Blowfish boots were at The Shoe Company in Sunridge.

That’s what we all want, right? To be in style and yet still be able to put food on the table.

This is one of my goals for this space … to let you know where the bargains are, all while keeping you look fantastic.

And if you find any, for heaven’s sake, pass on the tips.

Feed my addiction, won’t you?

American Apparel End of Summer Sale

By chelsea

American Apparel has a sale, and they’ve marked down prices from 30%-50% off.

Given the recent news about American Apparel possibly going under, I’m really hoping this isn’t a “we’re-screwed-and-going-out-of-business” sale, but the optimist in me is hoping that this is just a routine sale to clean out old stock.

I am in love with the summer dress, and since I’ve already purchased two of them at full price this summer, this is the perfect excuse to stock up on one in every colour.

Bond No. 9

By chelsea

While I was at Holt Renfrew picking up my Lancome gift, I also discovered Bond No. 9 New York, a perfume line out of New York that is new to Holt Renfrew. The bottles are beautifully designed, and the Andy Warhol designs really caught my eye (I totally love the dollar sign bottles).

I can’t justify buying another perfume for myself, but I’ve definitely made a mental note to keep these in mind for gifts. The scents come in candle form too, if you’re craving the smell of burning money.

Shopping

Canadian Baby Fashion

Confessions of a (possible) Shopaholic

Autumn Air

You’re never too old to get FANCY

The Value of Vintage

Just bootin’ around

American Apparel End of Summer Sale

Bond No. 9

Recent News

Hot Topics

Our Team

Our Sponsors

Archives

Topics

About Fashionwest