Oakridge Style

Feel good fashion is all the rage at Oakridge. That’s why this week and next (July 20-August 2) we’re holding our big Purse Fundraiser for Dress for Success.

Wanna help? It’s easy: call the ladies and get together for a purse party. Here’s how it works: each attendee brings one purse, and the story behind it. Grandma gave it to you for your 16^th birthday? You bought it for your cousin’s wedding and now they’re divorced? It was the last-minute final addition to the outfit for the staff Christmas party? You, the host, collect the purses and bring them to the Oakridge Concierge, on behalf of all the party attendees. Each purse gets you an entry into the prize draw for a $1000 shopping spree. If you win, you get to split the spree with your girlfriends, and spend the day cruising Oakridge, trying, and buying.  

Top Purse Party Tips
1. Décor The KISS rule applies here. That’s Keep It Simple Sweetie. Pick one colour, and use shades of it for your table accessories: napkins, table runner, and any other additions. Flowers can come in a range of shades, too, but it’s chic to keep the bouquet down to just one type of flower, or one colour. Your tablewear can contrast. For more decorating inspriation, visit Kado & Karch.

2. Food Find recipes for all your favourite appetizers and snacks or full-fledged dinners at these sites.
All Recipes
BBC recipes
Jaime Oliver
Food Network

3. Invites Everyone does e-vites these days. Inspire and honour your guests with a hand-written card delivered to their actual mail box. Find the perfect set to match your theme, or inspire it, at Hallmark Cards.

LET’S HEAR IT
What are your top party tips?

ANDREA LAU

What she’s wearing
Black blazer with silk lining from Aritzia
Long white T-shirt
Rolled jean shorts she cut off herself
Tory Burch flats 

Andrea’s Top 5 Fashion Tips
1. A good blazer is a key wardrobe essential
2. Buy solid colours
3. Dress based on how you feel
4. Magazines are good places to find tips on what to buy
5. Gladiator sandals are a smart buy for summer

LET’S HEAR IT
What works about Andrea’s outfit?

Channel your inner rockstar with some killer duds from PLUSH STYLE LOUNGE at Oakridge Centre.

The summer months tend to bring musical acts from around the globe to the city of Vancouver, so why not get decked out in your best rockstar garb for the show? Whether you are looking to rock out with Coldplay and The Kings of Leon, slip on your dancing shoes with No Doubt, or just lay back at the various music festivals, you can surely find a look to suit your style.

ROCKSTAR

Be rockstar-ready by finding pieces at Oakridge Centre with edgy detailing and mixing textures.

Slashed, studded denim and leather combined with killer footwear and dark shades complete the look. Find it all at Oakridge Centre:

• Find everything from Ed Hardy vintage style rock tees to True Religion denim at PLUSH STYLE LOUNGE.
• Slick, shiny leggings and zippered jackets with patchwork detailing from MARCIANO are oh so rocker-chic.
• Give Jon Bon Jovi a run for his money with a sleek motorcycle jacket by Belstaff and raw denim by Naked and Famous from BOYS’ CO.

STREET STYLE

Kickin’ it at the Rock the Bells Tour with Nas, Common and Damian Marley this summer? Make like Pharrell and Rihanna with a slim silhouette, worn in denim and a pair of comfy sneakers.

NIKE at Oakridge Centre remains to be the classic go to for serious street style.

Check out the diverse selection of kicks at BOYS’ CO at Oakridge Centre.

Hip-hop style for 2009 may be far from the days of baggy jeans and oversized jerseys, but some things will remain the same: pops of colour, loud prints and, of course, bling-bling!

• With labels like Miss Sixty, Fornarina, J.Lindberg and Diesel, J2 (Jessica) and J2 Men have you covered for the latest and hottest in streetwear.
• Don’t miss the limited collection by Jeremy Scott for Adidas line at J2 SNEAKERBOX. Brighten up with some colourful kicks by Keep, Creative Recreation, or Converse.
• Get iced in some bling-bling from BLUE RUBY and TIME BOUTIQUE.

Country girls can find light and airy dresses at ZIONI at Oakridge Centre.

COUNTRY CHIC

If you’re heading up to Mountainfest in July, it’s best to get those cowboy boots on! White and brights in light fabrics are so right for the country look. Plaids, florals and bohemian patterns are fused with supple leather bags and natural accessories. Get the country chic look at Oakridge Centre. 

Complete your look with some dark, oversized shades in true rockstar fashion. Available at PLUSH, SUNGLASS HUT and LUXURY EYEWEAR at Oakridge Centre.

Just be sure to not to take country overboard with the hat and matching boots! Pick one or the other, and leave the “Daisy Dukes” at home.

• Floaty frocks from ISHARA and crisp, light linen pieces from BANANA REPUBLIC will keep you country-cool.
• The “it” shoe continues to be the talk of the latest runway collections. Pick up a unique sandal boot or gladiator from BROWNS in a neutral tone to balance out this look.

Regardless of which shows you will be heading to this summer, remember that no superstar leaves the house without his or her shades. For this season, the bigger, the better! Pick up a pair at Oakridge Centre from SUNGLASS HUT or LUXURY EYEWEAR.

Check out upcoming concerts at www.vancouver.virginradio.ca/events.

How’d you get into the biz?
I’ve always had an interest in fashion and the industry, but my education is actually in business. After I got my degree, I moved to Toronto and pursued a career in graphic design. I always kind of ended up working in the retail or fashion industry. When I moved back to Vancouver I decided to start my own graphic design company. Again, I was always taking on fashion-related projects. Oakridge was always really my first choice as far as a centre went. My idea was to create a boutique concept in a centre—customer service, boutique pieces, less quantity, and more one of each size. It was the only centre I thought something like that could work in. Luckily it worked out, and I dove right into it.

What’s your personal style?
Polished, sophisticated, but still fun. I like a lot of colour and feminine details. I love accessories.

Ishara’s pieces are described as a tightly edited collection. What’s the editing process?
Essentially every piece I pick I want to have that ‘wow’ factor, to be that piece you wear out and everyone asks where you got it. It’s unique and special, but wearable.

What makes it unique and special?
It can be a variety of things: the fabrication, or some little details that make a very basic piece stand out. We have some little well-tailored jackets, with nice pops like more interesting buttons or closures. It’s all in the details: a tie or a bow. We always have a lot of bold colours that suit all different people.

Where do you find your gems?
All over the place. I’ve really tried to make sure that the lines we pick and some of the styles we pick are a little bit more unique than what you’d find in the more generic stores—even if it’s a piece from a line you might find elsewhere. Some of the lines we carry are very difficult to find in Vancouver or exclusive to us.

What are your favourite spring pieces?
The Smythe jackets. All of them are my favourites, but there’s a really cute, double-breasted black jacket, with a very sailor look. We just got in Kasil jeans, and they have a great light-weight trouser. And we just unpacked some beautiful Madison Marcus silk pieces; I love the black embellished tank. Oh, and the jumper by Barila.

Ishara’s having a “Girls’ Night Out Shopping Event” on Friday, June 5, from 5 – 8 pm.
Shoppers will get:
•    20% off regular priced clothing and 10% off denim
•    Sips and sweets
•    A personalized look by Ishara stylists
•    Snapped at the photography wall

RSVP to party@thestylespy.com if you want to hit Girls’ Night Out.

Ishara
604-264-7494
www.shopishara.com