faint over fashion

I had planned to go solo to the Jacqueline Conoir Fashion Show last night, but after a sudden change of plans and a last-minute text, my friend joined me for a night of free champagne and fashion. The Jacqueline Conoir show is the first show of BC Fashion Week, so the fashionistas in the city were out in full force tonight.

There was a sudden change in venue (good thing I checked my email before I left work!), so we ended up at the Fortune Sound Club where the fashion show and after party were being held. We arrived at the club, checked in and walked into a wall of people. Literally. The club was jam-packed with fashionistas and fashion misters jostling for prime viewing territory with the photogs since the club space was clearly not meant for a fashion show of this size, or for any fashion show for that matter. It was also getting really hot with all the warm bodies packing into the club.

After a quick detour to the bar to grab our free champagne, we managed to grab some seats in the back for a quick catch-up before the show started. Once the lights started to dim, we squeezed our way through the crowd and I maneuvered into a prime spot at the end of the runway. With camera in hand, I managed to snap pictures of all the models strutting their stuff, giving good face and posing on the runaway.

Some of them were clearly amateurs, looking like a dead fish out of water (in Tyra's words: they weren't smiling in the eyes). While black and sequins were popular with the viewing crowd last night, it was all about funky work wear to take you from day to night, psychedelic colours and elegant bridal gowns that walked down the runway for the spring/summer 2010 collection. During the fashion show, there was some activity to my left but I really didn't pay attention to it, since I was focused on taking pictures. My friend filled me in later and told me that one of the VIP attendees fainted from the heat and dehydration, but was all right in the end. Just a light dizzy spell from drinking too much champagne.

Sitting in the back of the club, enjoying the view.

I'm not keen with the idea of wearing a person's face on your chest, whether it's somebody famous, or your own (if your a self-centered narcissist with a massive ego aka Paris Hilton), but I really liked the peep-toe ankle boots.

This bitch gave good face.

I like the loose draping and tie-dye effect. There were several dresses made from this material, but I like this style the best.

Cute outfit that caused a lot of tittering amongst the audience as it became quite clear she wasn't wearing a bra underneath. Tee hee.

The multi-coloured psychedelic dresses that floated down the runway.

For the brides out there, planning a 2010 spring/summer wedding, some goddess-worthy gowns for your big day.


And the finale:


RoseMerie Cuevasthe, creator of the signature label Jacqueline Conoir Collection which she named as a tribute to her mother, taking a bow at the end of her show.

Celebrity sighting of the night: Stacey McKenzie, model and judge on Canada's Next Top Model, season one. She was very fashionably late, but looked super glamourous in her mini dress and funky headband. 
Also saw Jason Malto, the Vancouver fashion designer, although it was impossible not to spot him, dressed in his black sequined shirt and studded fingerless leather gloves. Dude looks awesome.

Inside Fortune Sound Club. Love the interior.

freakshows found in random spots

A creepy old guy on the bus, completely drunk off his rocker, proceeded to chat me up. In what was possibly the longest 10-minute bus ride ever, he told me that he worked as a secret agent in Nicaragua, where his job was to "knock people around." Riiiight. Every time the bus made a stop and a young girl came on, he would stare as she walked by and break into song, "I'm loving this spot, where the sun is shining and the girls are hot." Great. I could not get off that bus any faster, even if I had superhuman speed or mini jet rockets strapped onto my feet. Ugh.

if money grew on trees

I would buy every single item featured in this video:



Despite the fact that the choppy editing made me feel a little ADD after watching it numerous times, I heart everything in this video. Everything. Also, best friends and supermodels, Coco Rocha and Behati Prinsloo looked like they were having massive amounts of fun dressing up, which made everything that much more covetable.

who's ready for fall?

I might not be ready to give up the sunshine and blue skies just yet (I am going to Greece next month to get more sunshine!), but I'm so ready for some fall fashion! There's only so much you can wear during the summer, besides the daily uniform of t-shirts, tanks and shorts. But when the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, there's so much more you can do when it comes to dressing up. Layers of cardigans, blazers, sweaters, hoodies, pullovers, vests, scarves and the list goes on and on. It also doesn't help that every where I go, fall is in the store windows, on display, worn by the mannequins or on sale. Is it so wrong to have my cake, eat it and ask for seconds. too?

this little piggy...

... went out on Saturday night to celebrate the big 3-0 of a friend (happy birthday Sheila!) at The Greedy Pig, a small hole in the wall that you wouldn't notice as you walk on by. But, inside the jazz band was playing, the mood was festive, the birthday girl was in high spirits (and hammered) and the food was mouth-watering good.

This was more of an appy/tapas kind of party: meat and cheese platters up front at the bar, plates of tomato and boccacini salad skewers and servers coming around, offering guests mini pulled pork sandwiches and spicy peanut satay chicken skewers. Delish. Of course, this being the birthday girl's big 3-0, we had make a few toasts and drink to her good health: I ordered the Ward Eight (Kentucky Bourbon shaken with fresh lemon and orange juices with pomegranate grenadine. a classic from New York City) and had a sip of my friend's Roughrider cocktail (Canadian Rye Whiskey shaken with pureed raspberries, black raspberry liqueur & fresh lime juice juice topped with ginger beer, served tall).

Midway into the party, there was a bit of a medical emergency (no ambulance required), but someone did have to leave early for the night, so a glass of white wine (dr. loosen reisling. 2006, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany) was bestowed on me as a parting gift. I'm no wino, but this was exceptionally good white wine: light, fruity and sweet but not too sweet that it didn't make me sick after a while (I've had some very unfortunate encounters with some unfriendly red wines in the past). I would definitely order it again if I saw it on the menu. And I do plan on coming back and tasting the other menu items that the Pig has to offer.

The place was packed when we arrived, which was great but the downside: no air conditioning. So it did get a wee bit hot in the back, where we were sitting. I'm so glad I wore shorts, even though the back of my thighs were glued to the leather seats. I had to peel myself off the seat every time I got up to order a drink or use the bathroom.

A very blurry picture of the pulled pork sandwiches with BBQ sauce. So moist and delicious. This is one of the reasons why I don't think I'll become a vegetarian. At least, not full-time.

My Ward Eight cocktail.

For the rest of the night, I was sipping on this lovely reisling.

The eyes... it just won't stop staring at me...

Crowded bar... those were some good cocktails...

This little piggy also took in the scene at the Livestock Block Party held in Gastown on Sunday. It's suppose to be the last one eva (isn't that what they said last year?), so I came down with my little sis in tow and we checked out the skateboarding, the dogs, the DJ and the peeps rocking their cool kicks. Everyone and their dog was wearing Ray-bans, it was ridiculous.

fashion's night out

While New York City was having their huge bash today (gawd, I wish I was in NYC today), the Bay had their own little Fashion's Night Out shindig. After a short class today (I can't believe I'm back in school), we meandered through the mall, making strategic stops along the way (Holts, anyone?) before arriving at the Bay. We bought our gala tickets ($10 with $8 going towards whatever purchase you make that night, and $2 donated to Canadian Breast Cancer Society), and went in search for appys and drinks. Spinach filo patries, spring rolls, cheese, fruits and sweet pastries were washed down with a cup (or two) of surprisingly strong Cosmopolitan martini. After satisfying our hunger, we made our way to the MAC makeup counter to use our $8 coupon. I was able to convince my friend to get out of her eyeshadow rut and try other colours beside pink and bronze and I got Woodwinked and Typography to add to my collection.

There were other events being held at the same time, but today being such a long day, I just wanted to go home and snuggle under the covers.

A model getting her makeup on... I like how she's got "DKNYC" spray-painted on her left cheek. Now, that's classy.

New makeup line was being debuted. It's called Mica Bella Cosmetics and it's sparkley mineral makeup. A little too sparkley for me.

DJ, keep playing my song!

My purchases of the night: Woodwinked (above) and Typography (below). It looks like I'll be depotting this weekend.

guess what i'm doing tonight

With a glass of raspberry spritzer and vodka in one hand and a crepe chicken dumpling in the other (appies by Culinary Capers), I was happily snacking and sipping my way around the Guess by Marciano store at a cocktail reception hosted by the Style Spy to showcase the latest fall trends. A portion of the proceeds from tonight's sale will go towards Dress for Success, an organization that provides disadvantage women with access to career resources and professional attire. I love the idea of shopping for a good cause, but unfortunately I really couldn't find anything that I would want to try on or purchase. I think I was a bit distracted by all the people-watching; me and my partner-in-crime were giggling at the hot tranny messes teetering on 6-inch heels, having arrived at the event after raiding the nearest makeup counter and leaving behind bits of broken eyeliner pencils and empty tubes of lipgloss and mascara all over the place. Fun times.

crackberries for realz

In the span of one week, I have seen two girls texting madly away on the Blackberries with cracked screens (one on the bus, and the other at a bus stop). Um, shouldn't you get a new Blackberry? What happens if it gets wet (and if you can crack the screen, I'm pretty sure you can also get it wet), water seeps inside and your Blackberry goes kaput? The result: one hysterical girl, crying that she can't get her messages, therefore her social life has gone down the crapper. Boo hoo.

On a side note: Two people were kind enough to open the door for me as my hands were full carrying a hot cup of jasmine tea of the Dragon Ball variety (bought at David's Tea and yes, I picked it because of the name), and bags. Who says people don't have manners anymore?

you scream for ice-cream?

It's interesting to note how many people look at you as you're walking down the street licking an espresso flake ice-cream cone.

what sale?

I woke up early this morning to head over to the organic market to stock up on juice and then me and my cousin headed over to the Aritzia warehouse sale located at their head office.

It wasn't much of a sale. I was expecting steeper discounts, since these items were supposedly on clearance. I bought a pair of navy high-waisted shorts at the Aritizia Oakridge location, about two weeks ago and they were on sale for $24.99. And I found the same pair of shorts at the warehouse sale for the same price.

One thing did catch my eye: a grey wool Community winter coat, that was very warm but was missing all of its buttons. It was hanging on the $59.99 sale rack and had no tags on it. I asked a sales associate to confirm the price and she said it would be around $49.99 to $59.99. A pretty damn good deal for a winter coat. But when I went to the cashier to confirm the price, they said it was $149.99 and she would give me $10 for the missing buttons. Not worth it. For that price, I could buy myself a decent winter coat that still had ALL its buttons sewn on.

My verdict: If you had already gone to the stores to check out their summer sale a couple of weeks ago, you do NOT need to come down to the warehouse sale. It's the same thing, for the same price, just all their summer stock is centralized in one location. However, if you missed out on the summer sales, then it might be worth it for you to check it out.

city trek

I haven't really explored Granville Island for years now. I usually just stick to a few shops and walk around the public market and that's about it. But yesterday, I thought I'd get out of my comfort zone and look around a bit more before I took the boat ferry to Yaletown.

Ten Thousand Villages was my first stop, since I like to poke around and look at all the unique stuff they have in there. Next, I wandered over to a little marketplace and found an awesome bead shop that had a wall of pearls, all in different colours. It was so tempting, but since I already bought a pearl necklace, I decided against buying anymore (although, a blue strand of pearls would look awesome!). From there, went to the public market, checked out the bakery, juice stand, flowers and finally made it over to Oyama where they had delicious cheeses (local and international), sausages, huge chunks of hams and slabs of pate. Afterwards, headed over to the dock and clambered aboard a rather small little tugboat of a ferry and sailed across the marina to the other side.

These orchids were huge! They about as big as my hand!

Sailing under the bridge.

Houses along the marina! So cute! I especially like the blue one.

The view from the other side.

In Yaletown, wandered in and out of stores before I made my way over to the mall and of course, ended up at Sephora. That place is deadly. I walked away with minimal damage (just a lipgloss and rollerball perfume). Finally, I took my weary feet home and promised myself that I would wear more appropriate footwear next time I decided to trek all over the city.

The Marc Jacobs perfume roller-ball and Clinique Superbalm Moisterizing Gloss in Black Honey are always sold out. Every time I have visited Sephora, they were completely out of stock of both products. So, when I saw the perfume, I immediately grabbed one before they disappeared right before my eyes. When I passed by the Clinique shelf, I saw one lipgloss left. I didn't think it was the ever-so-rare, impossible-to-find, urban myth of all lipglosses, the popular Black Honey, but it was! And it was the last one! And it's mine now! HA!

models for hire

After work, I headed to the GAP and I just happened to stumble upon a photo-shoot that was being shot right on the streets of downtown, with the traffic and pedestrians walking by (and doing double takes). I ended up walking behind the three models, two brunettes and one blonde, and noticed that one of them was holding a sign that read, "Will work for prada." And me without my camera. Damn.