Peter T. Hoang

As the breathtaking fashions and amazing styles of 2009 fade into memory, we welcome 2010 by embracing trends that are certainly going to be sticking around, making them all unquestionably practical additions to your closet.

Key Trends for 2010
The Amazonian Warrior
The military fashion trend has come and gone but it has evolved into a reliance on the more savage, tribal influences this season. Metal and wood-beaded detailing on tunic dresses and tribal motifs, with drapes of fabric, are all the rage this spring. Of course, let’s not forget gladiator sandals, studded belts and metal accessories, which are great details to add on for any urban warrior in the city.  

Just Like One of the Boys
From the classic Le Smoking of Yves Saint Laurent to the modern day Sartorialist look, menswear has a strong influence in the world of women’s wear and will continue to make an impact. The boyfriend jeans with blazer is the perfect current casual look, but a woman’s tailored suit is a chic look that is sure to have passers by taking notice. Teenflo at Oakridge Centre has a beautiful collection of well-structured blazers and lightweight trousers (pictured) to flatter any body type without looking too drab. Also, Teenflo’s modern day women’s suits are intricately tailored and, with the store’s wide selection of handbags and accessories, it’s a perfect one-stop outfit shop.

Splashes of Shine and Shade
If prints and patterns aren’t your thing, hopefully splashes of bold block colours are. Bold colours along with sequins are great statement trends for the upcoming season. It screams confidence but can also be demure, especially when worn with black to help neutralize the colours and shine. DKNY at Oakridge Centre has a fabulous new collection (pictured) that perfectly demonstrates the boldness of the colours and sequins but remains very modest. Besides that, DKNY has an assortment of fun dresses and tops in brilliant block colours with sequin detailing. Definitely worth checking out.

Peter T. Hoang

With just a few more weeks ’til Christmas, it’s no surprise that everyone is hastily trying to finish their holiday shopping. Don’t wait until this precious time is up or you’ll be rushing around aimlessly on Christmas Eve still shopping for last-minute gifts. Instead, spend more time with loved ones by finding everything you need under one roof.

With a great selection of spacious, new stores such as Teenflo, DKNY, Fossil, Apple and the beauty haven, Murale, there is just no reason you can’t check off every single name on your list at Oakridge Centre. Also, getting to the Centre has never been easier, with the brand new Canada Line station now open right in front at 41^st and Cambie. It only takes 8 minutes from the Yaletown/Roundhouse Station to reach the Centre and, if public transit is not an option, driving to Oakridge is a breeze too. Since Cambie Street is finally finished with construction and complimentary four-hour parking awaits you at the Centre’s spacious lot, I don’t see how this would discourage anyone from making a much-needed holiday shopping trip.

With all of the stunning Christmas decorations beautifully displayed up at Oakridge Centre, it’s a great occasion to come in to enjoy the holiday cheer with the family. Take a photo with Santa and hang out with his elves and toy soldiers in the West Galleria. And when you’re finally finished with your holiday shopping, why not let the Centre take care of all that festive presentation at the gift-wrapping station in the mall, where your gifts can be festively adorned. All of that convenience will simply save time, so you can relax and enjoy more quality moments with your friends and family.

Peter T. Hoang

With Christmas just around the corner and the continuous frustration of still figuring out what to get your boyfriend, father or just a really good male companion as a gift, here’s a quick gift-giving guide–that should be combined with a prompt trip to Oakridge Centre–to solve your holiday shopping woes.

1) For the guy who loves his electronics and gadgets
Why not pop into the brand new Apple store at Oakridge and check out the neat new gear that iPods have to offer like new earphones, a sleek carrying case or maybe a new music/video player altogether. Electronics Boutique is also a great place for the gamer in your life, where you can pick up the latest video game or even a game console. 

2) For the organized guy
Help insure that the guy in your life is always organized and on time by giving him a watch from Fossil. The store is a new edition to Oakridge Centre and has plenty of different styles of watches and other great gift-giving ideas like notebook planners or wallets that are perfectly affordable but still luxurious. 

3) For the fashion conscious guy
I generally would steer clear of buying jeans as a gift because, now-a-days, there are just so many cuts of denim. It is extremely difficult to pin-point the right fit of jeans without the guy trying it on first. So, with that being said, stick to classic and easily-worn pieces like maybe a luxe cashmere sweater at Mount Cashmere or an always stylish, Lacoste polo shirt from the boutique at Oakridge Centre. They are both such great gifts that the only real decision when buying these items is figuring out what colour to choose from.

Overall, if these ideas don’t appeal, why not just give him a gift card to Oakridge Centre, where there are thousands of choices to choose from in the mall? It’s not easy, but it’s a fun holiday challenge. After all, guys can be very picky too!

Peter T. Hoang

On behalf of Oakridge Centre’s Style Agents, I reported from the frontlines of BC Fashion Week last month. An entirely separate celebration of style, Vancouver Fashion Week, filled its runways last week, showcasing the work of both established and upcoming designers from the local and global fashion scenes. Held at the magnificently grand Colin Campbell Showroom in Vancouver’s historic Gastown, the event was packed with magazine editors, designers, successful entrepreneurs, celebrities and local fashionistas–and fashionistos, just like myself.

Vancouver Fashion Week was quite the superb event. At the onset, I had difficulties contacting event coordinators about general inquiries, which left me frustrated and unimpressed. Luckily, I was not phased and refused to allow this to stand in the way of enjoying the excellent runway shows at the event. From elaborately detailed dresses to eco-friendly fashions to swimsuits and beach wear perfect for a summer day in Miami, the many featured collections were packed with fun, playful colours and comfortable looking designs.

Top Runway-Inspired Finds at Oakridge
1.  Zioni, Crisca and Guess by Marciano have pieces year round that are delightful and flirty.
2. If you are escaping to a beach to tan for the holidays, Swimco couldn’t possibly let you down in the search to find something perfect for the sand and surf.

As another season of fashion week comes to an end, it’s inspiring to see that the Vancouver industry is surely making its mark as the fashion capital of Canada’s west coast.

Peter T. Hoang

Recently opened in Oakridge Centre, Murale is a beautiful, spacious boutique showcasing products that cater to (well) beyond your basic beauty needs. Murale belongs to trusted Canadian retailer Shoppers Drug Mart and prides itself on a unique combination of international leading beauty products and professional expert consultation. Customers will be delighted with the assortment of luxurious and prestigious cosmetic, dermatological, fragrance and even health products the retailer carries.

I was fortunate enough to drop by the opening of the exceptionally contemporary and elegant store and I was extremely impressed by both the inviting look of the boutique and the services provided: a sophisticated dermatological area to match the right products to your skin type alongside a “Benefit Brow Bar” and expert make-up application stations.

I was also very impressed with the non-biased beauty advice of the knowledgeable in-store beauty consultants. The service they provided me was very personalized and they were truly dedicated to finding products that best suited my needs, instead of just those influenced by current trends. I felt tremendously comfortable with the staff, who treated me like a normal person and not like a sales transaction just waiting to happen. Products are well-displayed without a pretentious air and clients are invited to touch, feel and discover the unprecedented assortment.

My shopping experience at Murale was pretty incredible, especially given the fact that my point of view is that of a man (one that doesn’t know too much about beauty products but, admittedly, just enough to be confident about them). So whatever your beauty, skin or health need, Murale at Oakridge Centre is definitely a destination at which to make a stop.

Peter T. Hoang

After recently opening their immaculate doors at Oakridge Centre, Teenflo celebrated in true sophisticated glamour with a launch party that surely impressed even the most fashion-conscious socialite.

Guests were warmly greeted at the door and promptly served champagne or sparkling Voss water upon entry. The store was very well lit, which helped accent the label’s chic merchandise. Attendees mingled through the sleek, elegant store, surrounded by fresh cut flowers and trays of delectable treats from my favourite catering group at C Restaurant. Sophisticated music was spun by a talented DJ, helping to create an ambience that was both stylish and smooth.

Teenflo, a Parisian brand licensed in North America, showcased an incredible classic-with-a-modern-flair women’s wear collection. I was very impressed with many of the beautifully-structured coats, lavish silk tops and lovely cocktail dresses that were proudly produced in Canada. I also became obsessed with the store’s amazingly detailed accessories: leather studded belts and intricately designed jewellery.  In addition, being the big eavesdropper that I am, I overheard that Teenflo’s holiday collection–which will soon arrive at the Oakridge location–will be even more glamorous and stunning, perfect for all those festive gatherings.

Already thoroughly impressed with the store’s excellent collection of women’s wear and superb coordination of the party, I had my night perfected when I was handed a generous parting-gift. So, with my attention completely captured, I am pleased and absolutely delighted to welcome Teenflo to Oakridge Centre.

Peter T. Hoang

The crowd was a vast mixture of loyal Boys’ Co clients, local fashionistas, savvy local business owners, the hungry media and the generally fashion-conscious. Everyone was here for one reason, which was to support the company’s twenty-fifth birthday and its charitable silent auction, with proceeds going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The fashion show was amazing and extremely well-produced and executed. Godly male models graced the runways, though a few appeared more in-tune with the screaming audience than with staying focused and keeping a straight face. The clothing, obviously provided by Boys’ Co, was trendy and perfect for fall and winter weather. Bomber jackets, long tailored wool coats, soft knits and fitted denim were a definite crowd pleaser. I’m currently crossing my fingers to get my hands on a couple items that caught my eye at the show that evening from its great location at Oakridge Centre.

Overall, the party is a huge milestone for Boys’ Co and I am honoured to watch a new chapter begin for the company. Happy silver anniversary, Boys’ Co–and congratulations!

Peter T. Hoang

Fall is finally upon us in Vancouver but on the runways of New York, Paris, Milan and London, it’s all about Spring and Summer. The newest designer collections are being showcased for upcoming seasons. Vancouver developed its own much less lavish version, recently showcasing local and even some international designers during BC Fashion Week.

I attended more than a handful of shows during the past week, sitting front row with my legs crossed and posture perfect. I was often peeved that none of the shows started on time. Honestly, unless your name is Marc or Karl and you’re undertaking a multi-million dollar runway show in Paris, it is not respectful to have your eager audience waiting too long. Once the events did get underway, attendees were witness to a handful of blossoming talented designers, watching as passionate dreams came alive. Timing issues aside, in the end, it’s all about the love of fashion.

The majority of the collections I watched during the week shared one common theme: classic wardrobe pieces and traditional tailoring with a modern twist. Teenflo, Olsen Europe and Hugo Boss, all located at Oakridge Centre, carry prime examples of beautiful, tailored fashion with a timeless look, which reminds me a lot of what was being shown at Fashion Week. Whether it was a coat with darted detailing or a silk white blouse, the clothes being shown draped beautifully on the strutting models.

Attending BC Fashion Week was definitely an eye-opening experience for me. With the experience gained from this season, I can only hope for the best, wishing for strong progress in the upcoming seasons from the fashion community in Vancouver.