Oakridge Style

Valerie Tiu

Black is back. If you were at this year’s Oakridge Fall Fashion Affair, you may have noticed an absence of colour, but make no mistake: a little hint never hurt anyone. Colour is not just a way to liven up an ensemble. It can also enhance your features, express your personality, and create a style statement. 

Fall 2009 runways–from Dolce and Gabbana to Jean Paul Gaultier, Dior to Versace–all featured pops of colour. The hot trend for fall is colour blocking, a la Marc Jacobs, and mixing brights to contrast with stark shades (think Gucci and Louis Vuitton). This trend is great for those that may typically shy away from colour or, if you’re like me, have a wardrobe full of black.

Check out Crisca, Femme De Carriere, Jacob and Teenflo (pictured) for some stylish separates that can be easily mixed with basic dark pieces. All of these retailers are also great for classics like pencil skirts and trousers.

The key colour of the catwalk was most certainly red, in any shade: cherry, burgundy, scarlet and crimson. This classic hue was showcased with head-to-toe ensembles, simple pops of colour on accent pieces, and beautifully-mixed textures. My dream look for fall consists of a cherry red knee-length sheath dress, scarlet double-breasted funnel neck coat, and dark shades from DKNY–along with black thigh-high boots from Browns–very classic, sleek and mysterious.

Cool shades of purple, blue and emerald, and warm tones like orange, yellow and pink, were all seen as perfect accents on avant garde accessories, unique headpieces and fierce footwear. Just remember to choose colours that work well with your skin tone and flatter your figure. Aldo, Coach and Blue Ruby are sure to satisfy your colour craving with their charming bangles. Nine West, Ingledew’s and Jwalk also have fabulous footwear in a wide-range of palettes.

We’re continually amazed by couture. It seems the one place where fashion stays fashion–pure and untinged by mass marketing. Who wants wearable when you can have a true impact? And it’s at the couture shows where hairstylists and make-up artists truly get to shine. We scoured them all to come up with our fave looks from the runways. 

1. Jean Paul Gaultier
   Tall updos and Hollywood glamour.
2. Chanel
   Bows and flowers made out of loose hair strands.
3. Givenchy
   Rhinestones and sequins on faces.
4. Christian Lacroix
   Shimmer eyes and peachy cheeks.
5. Christian Dior
   Different lip and eye shadow combos.

Too much for Vancouver nightlife? We disagree. Let’s inspire.

Get the Look
For right-on-trend, or just-right-for-you hair and make-up tips visit M.A.C., Shifeon, The Bay, Botticelli for Hair, or Hennessey Salon + Spa.

LET’S HEAR IT
Where and when can we get away with truly inspired hair and make-up?

We’ve perused, we’ve panned, we’ve praised. And now, we’re sharing five of our faves from Menswear Spring 2010 in Paris.

Two themes stood out: Explorer, and Easy.
EASY
1. Dior
Kris Van Assche showed a looser look, using fluid trousers, layered tanks and vests, and sleeveless in mostly blacks and whites, but also browns and beiges.

2. Lanvin
Lucas Ossendrijver’s collection was modern, wearable, more dramatic and edgy, but, he says, straight from the street. Intended to give men plenty of “no uniform” options, the collection also included fluid pieces: silk shorts, tartan pants, and sleeveless jackets, in dark colours.

3. Rick Owens
Owens even injected ease into zippers–keeping them curved–and boots, leaving them loose at the ankle and undone. His collection was black, gauzy, flowy, and filled with taffeta.

EXPLORER
1. Kenzo
Antonio Marras was inspired by Africa, more specifically the 19^th-century Italian explorer Pierre de Brazza’s experiences there. Models marched single file down a runway lined with giant bottles tipping sand at their feet; they wore hats and shorts in dusty hues and subtle floral prints.

2. John Galliano
Napolean Bonaparte’s journeys through southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East inspired Galliano to turn out flowing shirts, cargo shorts, tanks, and waistcoats embellished with military-style embroidery, and often in dusty suede.

Get The Look
Find your Explorer digs at Banana Republic.

LET’S HEAR IT
What’s your fave: easy or explorer?

Remember that nightmare you used to have in high school? The one where you showed up in class with no pants? Apparently, designers had it, too–but they’ve turned the teenaged horror into high fashion. No, we’re not kidding. The pantsless look is in. 

Everyone from fashionistas Karolina Kurkova and Lady Gaga, to models at Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, is baring their bottom half. Kurkova sported the sparse digs at the Country Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, pairing bare legs with an oversize double-breasted blazer and ankle boots. Lady Gaga is pulling the look off every chance she gets-often in long-sleeved body suits. Gaultier included plenty of leg in his Fall 2009 show, Yves Saint Laurent’s Stefano Pilati highlighted a strapless leather bodysuit the same season, and Marc Jacobs showed model Daisy Lowe in leopard-print unitard. Topping it off (pun intended) is Christian Dior’s couture 2010 show. John Galliano perfected the look with pretty nude pantyhose below a purple sequined-sleeve jacket, a zebra-print jacket, and underneath a sheer white crinoline.

Get the Look
Find the perfect pantsless topper, a blazer a la Karolina, at Ishara or Aritzia, to wear with tights-the imitation no-pants look-or simply moisturized legs (pick your lotion to love from Aveda) for those who dare to bare.

LET’S HEAR IT
Would you dare?

Rumour has it that Christian Lacroix may not do a couture show this season (gasp!). Apparently, the fantastical designer has been working for free, his label has gone into bankruptcy, and he’s owed something like 1.2 million Euros. But then again, Lacroix recently spoke to media to say he’s putting on a couture show, no matter what. Did he take the check rumoured to have been proffered by a couture client? 

Q. How are other fashion houses handling the economic slow-down?

A. Christian Dior denied that finances made them change to a more modest venue for their couture show. It won’t be held in the Rodin Museum in Paris this year. Instead, it will take place this July in Christian Dior headquarters at 30 Avenue Montaigne for the first time in ten years. 

A. Burberry isn’t cutting back on anything, even though company profits were apparently down. They’ve hired Harry Potter star and fashion’s new darling Emma Watson as the face of Fall 2009. And erected a huge new sign at new U.S. headquarters at 444 Madison Avenue. 

A. Hermes can’t keep up with the demand for their crocodile handbags, despite the lofty price tag. The company is now breeding them in Australia. 

A. On the other hand, we hear that $3,000 all-out fabulous handbag designer Carlos Falchi is creating a faux snakeskin line for Target. 

A. Versace launched Versus, a lower-priced accessory line designed by Christopher Kane, hired a consulting firm to help them get through tough times, and ditched its CEO. 

p.s. Gisele, yes, she of the super bod and new quarterback hubby, has apparently taken a $10,000 hit to her salary this year. But don’t worry, she’s still making about $25 million.

LET’S HEAR IT
What fashion house has what it takes to make it through? Do you think Lacroix will manage a couture show?