Oakridge Style

They’ve done it again. Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, and their darling, meticulous line of romantic dresses, continue to prove their fashion foresight. 2008 saw the team scoring a CFDA Swarovski Emerging Womenswear Designer award. At this year’s CFDA Fashion Awards, the tenacious twosome took home the biggie: Womenswear Designer of the Year, presented by Diane Kruger. We’ve got a roundup of the rest of the lucky winners. 

Menswear Designer of the Year
A tie between:
Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders
Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein Collection
Presented by Jimmy Fallon

Accessory Designer of the Year
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler
Presented by Kerry Washington

Board of Directors’ Special Tribute Award
Michelle Obama
Presented by CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg

Inside scoop: The First Lady accepted via pre-taped video, and expressed her honour at being chosen: “To both legends and the future legends, I am honored to celebrate your craft with you tonight. And on behalf of men and women everywhere, I want to thank you all for making fashion liberating, inspiring, but most of all, fun.”

Gossip Girl and fashion darling Blake Lively presented all three Swarovski awards to the lucky recipients of future financial support from the cutting-edge crystal company. 

Swarovski Award for Womenswear
Alexander Wang

Swarovski Award for Menswear
Tim Hamilton

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design
Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry

LET’S HEAR IT!
Do you think Rodarte deserved the Womenswear Designer of the Year award?

Ana Serrano

Culturally, Vancouver is one of the most diverse cities in the world. I mean, have you seen how many different people you see everyday? Chinese, Indian, Iranian, Italian… It seems to me that Vancouver takes a little bit of everyone’s culture and is influenced in many positive ways.  Fashion is not an exception. You can get an idea of Vancouver’s style just by sitting, having a cup of coffee and observing people walking by. Maybe you will see an Indian woman with her beautiful long colorful dress, a Japanese woman always up-to-date wearing fashionable clothing or an Italian guy, wearing the most awesome and crazy runners you have ever seen.

Another way we can clearly see international influence on fashion in Vancouver is during the city’s annual Fashion Week.  Since it started in 2000, Vancouver Fashion Week has become an event that showcases Canadian designers as well as international designers very successfully. It is a great event that gives Vancouver an opportunity to celebrate its multicultural fashion flavor! Every year we can see how the Vancouver fashion scene is evolving and how many new, inspiring local designers are getting noticed.  

Another major influence on Vancouver’s fashion style is the new international designer stores opening in the city each year. And, of course, I have to mention one of my favorite New York designers: Michael Kors. I couldn’t be more excited when I saw “Michael Kors” opening at Oakridge Centre. But there are so many other fabulous international designers that bring variety and a touch of their own culture to Vancouver’s style and fashion…

• Gladiator sandals
  Traditionally from the Romans, this is one of the most outrageous shoe designs of the season. They look so great and stylish. They come in different lengths, heights and styles. It is definitely a “must have” for the summer. I searched for my gladiator sandals and the best place to shop for them was in Oakridge Centre at Nine West.
• Indian dresses
  India is well known for its classic fashion styles all around the world. Indian women wear traditional Indian dresses. Men in India can be found in more conservative western clothing like shirts and trousers. Today, some of the most elegant and glamorous dresses come from Indian inspired styles, indeed many celebrities love to wear the typical Indian dresses. Best place to shop for a dress with some Indian style is BCBG.
• Japanese dresses
  I think some of the most elegant and stylish dresses come from Japanese culture. Kimonos are a perfect example. They can be worn to an elegant event or just simply for a very casual day. Today, you can find many different styles of kimonos in the most luxurious designer stores. Go to Oakridge Centre and there you have a variety of stores that carry the best kimonos in town; Max Mara, Michael Kors, and Banana Republic are great places to find a kimono to complete your closet.

I am the first to admit that I have been somewhat judgmental about Vancouver’s fashion scene. As a younger 20-something, I traveled a lot – often to glamorous European cities in which professional dog walkers and newspaper delivery-people were better dressed than those in my fair city. In fact, it was the despondency that I felt – when analyzing Vancouver fashion – that inspired me to start a business as a stylist. I thought I might be able to single-handedly change the way women in our city dress. A lofty goal, but why not aim high? Since then (I am now in my 30s…and oh so much more mature), I have to say that Vancouver has done me proud. As much as I would like to take the credit – or at least a little credit, I attribute Vancouver’s style to the following:

• Local designers and fashion junkies: It feels like each year Vancouver is producing more and more fabulous designers like Dace Moore and Nicole Bridger, the women behind Wilfred and Tallulah Babaton, Fidelity, Simply Sublime and Red Jade to name just a few. (Note that Wilfred and TB as well as Fidelity can be found at Aritzia in Oakridge)
• Bigger city = more people = greater style influencers: Vancouver street style just keeps getting better. Does anyone else notice this? I saw a girl walking down the street yesterday wearing the cutest Rachel Comey skirt, Wilfred t-shirt and wedge sandals. I had to stop her and compliment her on her outfit. Coincidentally, she bought the sandals and t-shirt at Oakridge. (She didn’t buy the skirt at Oakridge, but I have seen one similar at Ishara.) To be clear, it’s not labels and brands that define style, it’s how it’s all put together, and I think most Vancouverites nail it.
• Music scenesters and risk takers: Vancouver’s underground music scene kills it. Every rock show that I have been to in the past few years has been packed with such fantastic style that I spend more time people watching than I do watching the band. I think that people are more open to taking risks in their personal style, less conservative, less safe, and more “out there” – pushing the boundaries. Jackie O’Brien, owner of one of my favorite boutiques, has confirmed my thoughts on the matter. With locations in both Vancouver and Toronto, she notes that the buying trends of women in Vancouver show a little more fashion focus and risk taking, while women in Toronto tend to play it safer.

I have to say that, as this city continues to grow, it is only going to get better. I think with my help and the help of our three other Oakridge Style Agents we are going to take Vancouver fashion to the next level.

As a stylist, I get asked how much I shop for myself all the time. Ironically, even though I shop for a living, I rarely take the time to shop for myself. I spend most of my days shopping for other women, thinking about their outfits and what looks good on them. The result? When I’m busy with my clients, I don’t get a chance to shop for myself – and Spring is one of those times. I am busy. However, as newly minted Oakridge Style Agent, I was tasked with spending a $500 Gift Card in Oakridge Centre so that I could share my experience with all of you. I took my task very seriously, I spent a number of hours looking through all that Oakridge Centre has to offer. It was a tough decision, but here is what I came up with:

• Sunglasses: It was between Tom Ford Lilliana from Luxury Eyewear, and these Prada ones from Sunglass Hut. Luxury Eyewear was having a 30% off sale, which made it a tough decision, but I decided to go for the Pradas.
• Jeans: Really a no-brainer. Can you ever have too many pairs of jeans? I have been wearing J Brand for a few years, and I took the opportunity to pick up another pair from Aritzia.
• Silk tank: I love what Aritzia is doing with Wilfred, and I couldn’t help but pick up a little camel silk tank that looks darling with the jeans.

OK – so I may have gone over $500 a little bit, but not near as much as I would have if I had bought the Hugo Boss suit that I had on. If only I needed another black suit! Because I refrained from going way over budget, I thought it perfectly reasonable that I reward myself by going over just a bit. And, all told, I am thrilled.