FASHION Magazine

THE ADDRESS: FRESH COLLECTIVE
401 Roncesvalles Ave., freshcollective.com

Vancouver’s accessory fiends are flocking  to the city’s first Stuart Weitzman store (Pacific Centre, 609 Granville St., stuartweitzman.com). The 1,300-square-foot store, which features the designer’s signature grey-and-vanilla-toned interior design concept, houses handbags and more than 200 styles of footwear.

Ditch the biker look without sacrificing your street-smart edge by switching your hardcore moto jacket with one that has a softer texture and a skin-baring neckline, in a lighter tone.

If you could walk a mile in my shoes (and I’m talking four-inch heels here), your feet would jump for joy.

A visit to a designer showroom is often missing one significant presence: the designer. Some dash out of town soon after their show for a much-needed rest. Others just prefer to leave dealing with buyers and media to the sales and press teams. But when Theory launched its collaboration with Olivier Theyskens in Paris during the spring ready-to-wear shows, the designer was right there, taking visitors through the collection and happily sitting down to chat about his designs for Theyskens’ Theory. The cool jackets, easy tops and fluid trousers were so well received that Theory offered the Belgian-born designer a permanent gig as artistic director.  That must have come as a welcome relief after rocky stints at Nina Ricci and Rochas, where the calibre of his work was never in doubt. Theyskens’ Theory can be found at select Holt Renfrew stores across Canada, TNT in Toronto and online at ssense.com.

Read our interview with Olivier Thyskens here. »

WHAT: Vivienne Westwood’s diffusion line, Anglomania, is now available exclusively in the city at Rac Boutique (124 Cumberland St., 647-352-4433, racboutique.com).

I didn’t think Gastown could house any more cool stores, but, lo and behold, Oak + Fort (32 Water St., 604-566-9199, oakandfort.com) has opened up.

In the April issue of FASHION Magazine, Irina Lazareanu plays a fabulous fashion ed., but the real-life model/musician has a quirky, cool style that’s all her own.

Check out Irina’s shopping list here ».