Oakridge Style

Jessie Carlson

Time to get your dress-up on! New Year’s Eve is the one night of the year during which it is perfectly acceptable–even expected– to be as glamorous as possible.

This week, I went to Oakridge Centre to see what I could find for New Year’s and I thought I would dedicate this blog to finding the perfect New Year’s outfit.

After Five was a perfect place to start. There are literally hundreds of dresses to choose from. Like this BCBG number – very Hervé Leger.

The best way to accessorize a body con bandage dress? Earrings…big ones. Thankfully, Blue Ruby just opened their newly-remodeled store. It is the perfect place for accessories. Look at all the earrings to choose from.

 And that’s just a small sampling. I also found a fabulous cuff, or two…

Now the only question left unanswered is do I get my make-up done at M.A.C. or at Murale? Maybe both?

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Valerie Tiu

Doesn’t it feel like it ought to still be mid-November? If you’re like me, it feels like the holidays have quickly arrived and the whirlwind of the seasonal events has left you with some serious last-minute shopping to do. Christmas may be a few short days away, but don’t sweat it. Whether you are shopping for your best friend or the big boss, the shops at Oakridge Centre have you covered.

KADO + KARCH carries classic handmade glass sculptures, imported stone fixtures and luxe printed pillows for the friends on your list with a passion for artistic home decor. Personally, I recommend their collection of Tea Fortè silk teas, chocolate-covered sunflower seeds by The Cocoa Room, and tiny trinkets for some unique stocking stuffers.

CRABTREE AND EVELYN and THE BODY SHOP have beautiful, holiday-ready gift sets that are pre-made or customizable – and, no, these are not just for the ladies anymore! Both retailers have skincare and toiletries for the men in your life. Crabtree and Evelyn’s soft terry bathrobes also make the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing spa day at home.

Who doesn’t love a little luxury? PERFECT MATCH, MOUNT CASHMERE, HARRY ROSEN and MICHAEL KORS all have investment-worthy pieces that will have your friends jumping for joy – that’s if you have the will power not to keep something for yourself! Try a cashmere scarf or warm, fur-lined leather gloves.

If bling your thing, try a classic piece from MONTECRISTO, FOSSIL, or RODEO JEWELLERS. The trend of the season is a sleek, elegant oversized watch for both men and women.

For the gadget lover on your list, head over to APPLE for the latest crop of stylish accessories to go with an iPhone or Mac. If you’re a true music lover like me, you can never have too many iPods; one for every genre and in every colour, please.

HMV and ELECTRONICS BOUTIQUE have great gifts for gamers and movie buffs. For Hollywood fanatics, I recommend HMV’S movie gift sets, or a coffee table biography on a favourite celeb.

Visit GODIVA CHOCOLATIER, PURDY’S or the HICKORY FARMS kiosk for some decadent stocking stuffers. Gifts are always better with a little something sweet, no?

If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with an Oakridge Centre Gift Card! And don’t forget to get your gift-wrapping done in the West Galleria to save some precious time.

Happy Holidays!

Ana Serrano

Christmas is the best time of the year to share wonderful memories with the people you love, but it can often be busy. I admire Oakridge Centre for offering events that invite families to create a defining moment at Christmas amid the hectic schedule. On Sunday, December 13^th, Oakridge Centre presented the acclaimed film The Polar Express during its “Festive Family Film” event.

To ensure participants were helping to do some good during this season of joy, all of the donations collected at the event by Oakridge Centre were given to Dress for Success Vancouver. That wasn’t all there was to talk about!

It was a fun experience, seeing many families gathered at the Empire Oakridge Cinemas, and enjoying a delightful holiday movie. Christmas spirits were inspired by a visit from Santa and participants could warm up with hot cocoa and cookies, provided by Starbucks. That wasn’t the end of the sweet treats either. Everyone in attendance enjoyed free popcorn and pop, as well as the chance to win an Oakridge Centre Gift Card and a commemorative Polar Express holiday bell.

The screening finished early enough to allow us avid shoppers to hit the mall and I couldn’t avoid noticing the great sales Oakridge Centre is offering this month. So, even if you missed the Christmas fun at the film screening, you don’t have to miss out on the joy of smart shopping. Make sure you visit Oakridge for great last-minute finds–and don’t miss your chance to take a picture with Saint Nick himself.

‘Tis the season for travel. As we prepare for the holidays, many of us are also preparing for packing our bags and heading out of town, or the country, for that matter. Planning on spending time on a plane, or in an airport this season? We’ve scoped out the best picks to help you have a serene trip.

Top 5 Picks for Travelling in Style this Season
Buy yourself a pair of oversized, uber stylish sunglasses at Sunglass Hut. They can be worn as sunshades, or to block out the reading light shining down from the next seat while you’re trying to sleep.

Visit Perfect Match to find the scarf-also oversized-that doubles as a blanket-wrap.

Find an easy-to-wear travel suit at Edward Chapman or The Bay.

Coach will have the just-right carry-on bag-that can be later used for overnight weekend stays.

Don’t be late for your boarding time. Stay on top of time with a stylish watch from Fossil.

Entertainment never stops, and neither does staying connected with loved ones, with an iPhone from Apple.

Given the number of holiday season bashes we have logged into our iPhone, we’re on the lookout for tips and tools to help us get prepped lickety split–without looking like we’ve only spent 20 minutes in front of the mirror. We want a look that says Done Perfectly while still being slightly undone.

We scrolled through our fave shots from the Fall 2009 runways for inspiration. The Goth look was definitely out. The classic beauty, though oh-so-darling with upswept coiffeand red lips, was a little too-too for our taste this season. And then it struck us: Vera Wang’s gold-accented eyes and natural hair. She paired the look with a collection that was slightly more austere than we usually expect from one of NY’s most romantic designers. We noticed that–sans the usual embellishments Wang usually adorns her pieces with, but filled with intriguing fabrics like rippling organza, techno stretch and scuba–the collection showed just the sort of understated celebratory wear we had planned to don.

It’s a look that we’re recommending for all seasonal celebrations this year: use a texturizing product on hair, then sweep it up and keep it in place with elastics and bobby pins; keep your face fair and fresh with rosy cheeks, and elegant with gold lids.

Get the Look
Ask the experts at MAC or Murale (pictured) for tips on how to pull this look off with panache.