ob1 sample sale, click to enlarge for details
I checked this sample sale out today and left with a decent bag of goodies. In prep for my sailing trip to Honduras in just over a week, I settled on a new bikini (Insight, $45), plus a card wallet with neck strap so I can keep that precious plastic close to my body and safe from would-be thieves (WESC, $19). Also threw in a couple shirts for good measure ($20, $30). (Ha, I just added that up – they actually charged me $115 total. I guess I contributed $1 to their coffee fund. Count your change, if you care.)
Bikinis, footwear, both winter/snow gear, summer clothes, bags and accessories – you name it, it’s likely there. This sample sale is just what it advertises to be, though – a sample sale. No duplicates registered on my radar at all. Size Medium/32 for menswear and S/4/27 for womenswear. Watch the bikini sizing, the ’8′ actually translates to a North American ’4′ – and go prepared wearing tights or a complete lack of modesty because there is only one lone bathroom for changing in and the lineup isn’t very swift moving. Hopefully they sort out the one-mirror-only situation by the weekend, but bring a friend to be your full-body mirror instead just in case.
They had a few signs up for “buy two get one free” on some items so they might be open to a haggle if you’re buying in larger quantities, something to keep in mind when you stop at the bank to cash up. Might not be a bad idea to swoop up all the winter wear they had in stock, many nice sweaters to be found. No debit or credit accepted, though they do have an ATM on site.
South side on Railway, just near corner of Dunlevy. Happy shopping!
There are heaps and heaps of these Christmas holiday sales coming up, but for now here is one craft market (above, by space | time zine) at Nouvelle Nouvelle in Gastown this upcoming Sunday December 4th, and a studio sale at fiveleft leather (below) on December 10 to tickle your fancy.
fiveleft studio sale – click flyer to enlarge
Men! Shoes! Sample size 9 only – if that’s not your size, head down to the Alife retail location in Gastown and check out everything else they’ve got in store.
A few months ago my good buddy Kim Cathers of kdon asked a few of her best girls to participate in a fashion/lifestyle installation for Guilt & Co’s weekly ‘Brick and Mortar’ show. There’s something forever memorable that happens when you mix a group of close girlfriends who have way too much fun together with a few glasses of wine and amazing clothes – and Kim decided to try and project this magical scenario on stage rather than go with a boring old fashion show.
kdon’s lifestyle installation pieces – her friends
Terri Potratz and Kim Cathers, stylist extraordinare
We were transformed into mod foxes thanks to Halstyn makeup:
Once on stage, there was no script to guide us. The plot was, we’re at one of our houses, getting ready and goofing off as we usually do. Updating on boys, laughing over text messages, helping one another find that perfect outfit while simultaneously fighting over who gets to borrow what accessories that night.
We each had a few changes throughout the show (many of which took place on stage as we fussed over scarves, accessories, and shoes), which lasted about 1o or so minutes total. It was great fun – with a finale that saw us all come out in the same dress and have a walk-off to see who gets to wear it out that night. I settled my score on stage with RPS. But true to our style, there were no losers in the end.
This was an amazing night that allowed 5 ‘normal’ girls to celebrate friendship and style, friendship in style. Had Kim not come up with this excellent idea, we surely would have embarrassed her with awkward model imitations down a runway, but this new concept of an installation really brings personality and fun into otherwise boring events. Thanks for letting us be a part of it Kimmy.
All of these amazing photographs are credited to Heather McConnell.
Guilt & Co. began hosting a weekly fashion event called Brick + Mortar towards the end of 2010, and this week is one show you will not want to miss. Gene Doe is an amazing little band of folks who produce fashion-related media – including photography, video and whatever creative installations lie between. Have a look at their tumblr blog to get a sense of what inspires them.
gene doe: the new space
This weekly celebration of local designers has proven to be a popular night over the past months. I previously did a larry. show with ION Magazine just before Christmas which benefited the Covenant House in Vancouver; last Sunday was Kim Cathers and her kdon line (coverage of this to follow), and there have been plenty of talented designers in between.
As far as I know this is the first event in which a media collective, rather than a designer or specific label, is staging an event in the space. The invite for the show explains: “We’ve titled this event, “The New Space” in honor of what we see as a new creative development in Vancouver’s fashion community,” and the organizers are hoping this event will both celebrate and propel “Vancouver on the global map.”
No specific words on what exactly Gene Doe will be doing for the event, but I’m certain it will be worth attending so don’t miss out. Starts at 7pm beneath Chill Winston in Gastown.
