FASHION Magazine

Two weeks ago, I left you in Richmond, amongst its best-kept secret, the Golden Village shopping district. If you ventured down to explore Yaohan and Aberdeen Centres yourself, then I am sure you’ve found in them enough shopping to fill your day. But you had better book yet another trip, because Parker Place mall (4380 No.3 Road, Richmond, 604-273-0276, parkerplace.com) certainly warrants a visit.

Guelph greenies have come a long way—and not just politically. A few years ago, it was surprisingly difficult to find clothing that was both environmentally conscious and, well, fashionable. But thankfully, that was no longer the case when Steve Johnson and Sara Chadsey opened the doors of Sole Earth Apparel (42 Wyndham St., North, 519-515-0194, soleearthapparel.com) this past April 2008. The two stock their shelves with pieces from over 30 different Canadian and American designers. The only imports in the store are pieces of fair trade jewellery or items found by Johnson and Chadsey while travelling.

I heart bikes. There is nothing cuter than a skinny boy on a brightly-coloured vintage framed bike with a basket. Lucky for me I live in flat, beautiful Prince Edward Island where hipsters in Ray-Bans practically live on their arty two wheelers year-round.

My love of accessories is so fierce I am willing to hold out on laser eye surgery in order to continue wearing gorgeous designer eyewear. Trust me when I say my collection surpasses even that of Sir Elton John. I especially adore my sunglasses, which have saved my life when I have either run out of or misplaced my YSL Touche Éclat.

If there is as much to be learned as is said from cultural diversity, then Vancouver is certainly the place to be. You’ll often find in Vancouver that when you approach people to ask where they have acquired their outfit, the response is almost always Hong Kong, Korea or Japan. And having been fortunate enough to shop parts of Asia myself (in a quest to bring back its riches), I must attest that our neighbours to the east have a much better understanding of the ancient proverb “shop ’til you drop.”

Forget the “it” bag and the “it” shoe, fall’s hottest accessory is a bun in the oven.  Not to be outdone by Angelina or Gwen, Edmonton’s fashion cognoscenti have Sweet Momma, a full service spa and boutique, (#109, 10903-23 rd Ave, (780) 432-2265, sweetmomma.com) to satisfy their stylish cravings.

It’s no coincidence that Broadway is lined with independently owned boutiques, cafes and specialty stores. Broadway was Saskatoon’s first commercial area and included such landmarks as the general store, dairy, post office, theatre and bank. It is an area rich in history and a sense of community, while promoting local businesses and a spirit of individuality.

The thrill of hunting for one-of-a-kind gems is only part of the allure of vintage shopping. When we source style inspiration in reclaimed garments, our ecological footprint is reduced and as an eco-conscious country, many Canadians wear vintage pieces as if they were badges of honor. Stop any Toronto trendster on the street and ask what they are wearing, chances are they will snobbishly respond, “It’s vintage.” It’s most adorable!

By Natalia Ksiazek

On my way to work this morning, I finally felt a bit of fall in the air. It may have just been my anticipation to wear autumn’s chunky cropped-sleeved knits and peep-toe booties getting the best of me, but in any case, summer is definitely over and it got me thinking about my favourite fall piece: the coat. With so many styles to choose from this season, one doesn’t have to commit. Good thing too, because up-and-coming Canadian designer Mellinda-Mae Harlingten’s (mellinda-mae.com) latest coat collection makes it hard to pick just one.

One of my favorite areas of the city is the Exchange District. Cobblestone streets wrap around its old historic buildings and a park sits quietly in the middle of its busy intersections. And when the sun is setting, it paints everything a dusty pink. While the area isn’t known for its wild nightlife there is one night of the year when nothing closes, the streets fill with people and music and everything comes alive.

Named after the ancestors of King George the IV, the city of Guelph possesses a certain old-world flair, not just in its nomenclature, but in the posture of the downtown as well. Distinctly European street design—quaint or chaotic, depending on whom you are asking—necessitates a slower pace than the shopping malls of the suburbs. In the city’s core, the independent boutiques reign supreme, and the big-box stores have been held at bay for years. The sentence that typically follows “I like your outfit!” is “Where did you get that?” rather than “I have the same one in blue!” or “Isn’t Gap the best?”

The inane rhetoric of Vancouver being a style straggler seems especially false in light of all the new shops popping up around town, notably along Vancouver’s new high street, Alberni. Home to Betsey Johnson (1033 Alberni St., 604-488-0314), Agent Provocateur (1020 Alberni St., 604-258-7943) and, my personal favourite, M0851 (1035 Alberni St., 604-688-9575), Alberni now offers us Blubird (1055 Alberni St., 604-257-0700, blubird.ca), a fresh new lifestyle boutique whose general manager, Sophia Koumbis, was part of the Boboli team for 15 years.