ScarletBlackFashion Blog

Christmas With the Queens

scarletblackfashion — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:17:39 +0000

For many, the Christmas Season is not complete without the addition of a Christmas themed concert, pageant or performance. For those in need of their Christmas performance fix, Christmas With the Queens may be just the event to round out the season. The gala performance will be held on December 23 at the River Rock Show Theatre. The Queens’ performance is in the style of a Las Vegas musical review with a Christmas theme.

Tickets to the December 23rd performance can be purchased at the River Rock Show Theatre Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at 604-280-4444 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca

Tickets: $35 | plus service charges

SHOW STARTS at 8 pm
THURSDAY DECEMBER 23rd 2010
at the RIVER ROCK SHOW THEATRE

Christmas with the Queens Poster, Photo by Darryk Dyck

All are welcome and all proceeds go to the DMS charities such as www.outinschools.com and www.checkhimout.ca

Christmas with the Queens Stars:

Kiki Lawhore
Conni Smudge
Jaylene Tyme
Tatiana
Mandy Kamp
Iona Whipp
Robyn Graves
Raye Sunshine

I interviewed several of the Christmas with the Queens cast members and will be posting two more articles on this event.

Link to Christmas with the Queens on Facebook

Patricia Fieldwalker’s Holiday Sample Sale

scarletblackfashion — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 01:54:45 +0000

Fieldwalker Sample Sale December 17th

Link to YouTube and the Radiohead’s version of “Nobody Does It Better” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3ReIcst45o

Link to Patricia Fieldwalker’s Website – http://www.pfieldwalker.com/

Christmas Windows on Robson Street

scarletblackfashion — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 05:09:03 +0000

BCBG

Click to view slideshow.

Lincoln Heller and fiveleft leather

scarletblackfashion — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 06:04:14 +0000

Craft, the environment, art and design all come together at fiveleft bags. What sets designer Lincoln Heller apart and distinguishes his product from a sea of leather bags is the seamless joining of craftsmanship and environmental responsibility with art. It is Heller’s affinity to art and design that adds a dimension to his work that sets him apart. The distinctive visual look or “style” of his bags, their proportion and unique construction appeal as much as his environmental accountability.

Lincoln Heller at his Parker Street Studio, Photo ScarletBlack

Heller’s design philosophy seems similar to the way in which a traditional Kimono is cut from fabric to fit the body with minimum amounts of waste. The size of the leather skins used affects bag design as do body dimensions and purpose. Construction of the leather goods follows a minimalist approach. The leather itself with its’ distinctive custom vegetable tanned finish is one of the most important elements of the finished product. Heller’s leather “canvas” is rigid. The thick leather is very strong and no linings or glue are necessary in construction. The rigid qualities of the leather are highlighted and used to shape the designs. The stiff leather is transformed into body friendly shapes and a growing series of classic designs.

fiveleft Bags in Production

fiveleft "Mini Tote"

Old World Production Techniques at fiveleft Leather

Heller has always been able to span the gap between art and craft. He attended art school but is equally experienced with tools and a chainsaw. Mechanically savvy, his artistic tastes lean toward abstract expressionism and experimental sound music. This art and craft combination allows Heller to produce great designs where form, function and art combine beautifully.

The "redcoal" finish already has a rich patina that will develops further with age. Photo Tony Mah

Heller’s first leather creation was a tool pouch made from leather recycled from work boots. The pouch is still in use to this day. This long lasting leather tool pouch was the catalyst for the many styles of leather goods that followed.

Heller's first leather tool pouch still in use.

Leather finishes at fiveleft. Photo Tony Mah

"newgirl" style bag at fiveleft leather

Lincoln Heller’s fiveleft bags can be purchased at Circle Craft, various local boutiques, his web site and by appointment at the Parker Street studio.

Link to fiveleft website: leather@fiveleft.ca

Link to Circle Craft: http://www.circlecraft.net/

Stores that carry fiveleft leather:

forsya boutique, 2206 main st
604.568.8667
www.forsyaboutique.com

lloyd’s of gastown, 157 water st
604.629.0191
www.lloydsofgastown.com

the velvet room boutique, 2248 west 41st ave
604.264.8664
www.thevelvetroomboutique.com

Tony Mah is a valued contributor to this article.

Blanche Macdonald Graduate Show 2010

scarletblackfashion — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:59:03 +0000

The 2010 Blanche Macdonald Graduate Fashion Design Show was held in the classy Westin Bayshore on November 30th. The show featured the collections from 44 designers, each presenting two designs. Strong thematic unity was the order of the day and every detail seemed linked to the designers’ concept. Clean or embellished, the designers stayed true to their fashion vision. Several trends stood out as they were interpreted by more than one designer.

a black and red theme
tailcoats
capelets
full mid-thigh length skirts
built-up shoulders
lingerie
historic costume influences

An elegant and dramatic black and red color theme was shown by multiple designers at the Blanche MacDonald graduate show. Oriental and Spanish influences as well as more abstract sculptural shapes were rendered in black and red.

Tailcoats and cutaway jacket details made a strong presence at the 2010 Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Graduate show. Strong tailoring skills and well-designed garments were combined with imagination and historic references to produce many varieties of the tailcoat styled jacket.

Fuller skirts made a pleasant dramatic appearance at Blanche Macdonald’s 2010 Fashion Design Graduate Show. The bell shaped skirt was one of the newest and most innovative reinventions of the fuller skirt designs. This new bell shape skirt was showcased by designers Angela Lin and Thia Nguyen. This skirt shape curves out in a rounded bell shape from a fitted waist.

A built-up shoulder line was seen in several powerful variations at the Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design show.

Lingerie looks were popular at the 2010 Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Graduate show. Emphasis is frequently placed on the thigh with thigh-high stockings, garters and thigh-wrapped styles interpreted in various ways by several designers.

Historic costume and fantasy inspired many designers to create stand-out gowns. Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Graduates combined strong technical sewing skills with unified design concepts and uninhibited imagination, to create a great mix of both special occasion gowns and gowns purely for fashion art purposes. These flights of fancy dresses are infused with possibility.

Black and Red Gallery:

Designer Links:

Maggie Liu – maggie_liu@live.ca
Jennifer Lia0 – ljen1989@hotmail.com
Yolande Eastwood – y.o.eastwood@hotmail.com
Ria Goenaga – scintilles@hotmail.com
Kate Ilee MacDonald – katemacdonald@live.ca

Tailcoats at Blanche Macdonald

scarletblackfashion — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:57:33 +0000

Tailcoats and cutaway jacket details made a strong showing at Blanche Macdonald fashion show. Strong tailoring skills were combined with imagination and historic references to produce many varieties of the tailcoat styled jacket.

Tailcoat Gallery:

Designer Links:

Pamela Ordonez – pamelaordonez1@hotmail.com
Whitney Phuong – whitney.phuong@gmail.com
Krystal Frizzell- contact@sick-baby.com

Capelet Trend at Blanche Macdonald

scarletblackfashion — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:56:56 +0000

Capelets were shown by several designers at the Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Graduate show. This black and red version by Maggie Liu doubles as an overskirt.

Capelet Gallery:

Designer Links:

Jillian Zdunich – jill-zdunich@hotmail.com
Katsuki Shimizu – katsukisstyle@gmail.com
Maggie Liu – maggie_liu@live.ca

Full Mid-thigh Length Skirts at Blanche Macdonald

scarletblackfashion — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:55:50 +0000

Fuller skirts made a strong appearance at Blanche Macdonald. The bell shaped skirt was one of the newest and most innovative of the fuller skirt designs. The new bell shape skirt was shown by designers Angela Lin and Thia Nguyen. This skirt shape curves out in a rounded bell shape from a fitted waist.

Full Mid-Thigh Length Skirt Gallery:

Designer Links:

Angela Lin – angl1121@googlemail.com
Hana Chiang- hanachiang@gmail.com
Hilary MacMillan – hilaryannemacmillan@gmail.com
Claudia Mijares – claudebomb@gmail.com
Isabel Alcuaz – isabelalcuaz@hotmail.com
Sharon Sung-Eun Kook – sharonkook@hotmail.com
Thia Nguyen – thainguyen@live.com
Andrea Osorio – annie.osorio@hotmail.com

The Built-Up Shoulder at Blanche Macdonald

scarletblackfashion — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:54:51 +0000

A built-up shoulder line was seen in several variations at the Blanche Macdonald fashion design show.

Built-Up Shoulder Gallery:

Designer Links:

Shaila Pineda Falcon – shailapineda@hotmail.com
Richard John Talay – richardjohntalay@gmail.com

Lingerie Looks at Blanche Macdonald

scarletblackfashion — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:51:03 +0000

Lingerie looks were popular at Blanche Macdonald. Emphasis is frequently placed on the thigh with stockings, garters and thigh wrapped styles interpreted in various ways by several designers.

Lingerie Looks Gallery:

Designer Links:

Maranda Johnson – marandajohnson777@hotmail.com
Claudia Mijares – claudebomb@gmail.com
Amy Heggs – amy.heggs@gmail.com
Amanda Shore – ashore0202@hotmail.com
Laura Creagh- creagh_l@hotmail.com
Catherine Murray – moley.murray@gmail.com