BC Fashion Week
Words by justalilhype! Crew
Photography by justalilhype! Crew
Sunday “The Opening Gala”
Words by Hasan Hamze
BC Fashion Week kicked off in style with an opening gala held at John Fluevog store in Gastown, marking the start of the Spring 2010 fashion season. The Gala began with a Capoeira performance that grabbed everyone’s attention with its exciting combination of martial arts and music. After that was done, it was time for smiles, poses, and drinks as models, designers and press got to chat it up. A couple of key figures also showed up at the gala, including Canadian model Stacey McKenzie and singer Elise Estrada. Stacey Mackenzie, also a runway coach and a “Canada’s Next Top Model” judge, was invited to the BC Fashion Week to help train amateur models. The party wrapped up early, signalling the start of a very busy week ahead.
Monday “A Fortunate Grand Opening”
Words by Alan Ng
The venue for the first fashion show changed last minute but fortunately the time didn’t. The Jacqueline Conoir show was held at the new Fortune Sound Club at Chinatown. The entire show contained various styles of dresses which were all very well portrayed. From colourful office lady suites, a full purple suite really stood out and replaced the traditional black and white theme. This year, they also included the after office hour type dresses, for office ladies to look relax and show off their glamorous side with multi coloured designs. Lastly, there were also designs of pure creamy white dresses which made the girls on stage look like angels. Even though the club was a bit tight, the show was a big bang and it allowed people to enjoy after party which was held at the same location for a night of nice music and drinks.
Wednesday “The Generation Next”
Words by Jenkin Au
The show started late. Originally meaning to start at 11, the show at Circa was delayed for a little while, but listening to the chatter in the line up, this was apparently acceptable. Nonetheless, the show went on. The justalilhype! Crew was split up into the photographers section and to the press section. Soon the models came out suddenly with no announcement. The rest of that fashion show was smooth, with the exception of a few, “Model, go” and nothing happening. As the show ended, the justalilhype! Crew was stranded at Circa. With nothing to do, and a whole day’s event to go through, the Crew started to feel anxious. The first fashion show lasted for roughly 20 minutes and the next was scheduled at 2PM. We occupied ourselves with food from a nearby eatery. As the show continued at 2PM, the show was once again delayed, but this time, not as long as the last. This show was longer and consisted of three junior fashion lines, with the competition known as Generation Next. The three lines present were Flora and Fauna, Ella Peru and Pure Magnolia. This year the theme of Generation Next was about being eco-friendly. Pauline Siu of flora & fauna included sporty atires and casual dresses. All of her designs were made in Vancouver and are locally, ethically, and sustainably made. Su-Hui of Ella Peru Clothing included many colorful fabrics meshed together. The designs were very simple but they were put together smartly for women from all ages to wear. Patty Nayel of Pure Magnolia used natural materials to create bribe dresses which look glamarous. Patty’s models also wore sophiscated headgears which give the eco-friendly bribes an mystical look. Ella Peru went on to win the competition, and as a result, designer Su-Hui Chu will have her line featured fully in BC Fashion Week 2010. After this event, the justalilhype! Crew called it a day and packed it in.
Thursday “Crossover Delayed”
Words by Hasan Hamze
BC Fashion Week Day 3 took place at the Chinese Cultural Centre, where the Crossover show encountered a 2 hour delay behind its 2pm scheduled start. The show featured a mixture of styles on clothing that included sari’s, dresses, frocks, and even men’s jackets. The next show for that day, Collective Stone, which actually started on time, featured a collection of kerchief dresses, screen-printed tees and bikinis. Collective Stone collections’ sweet summer colors put you in beach mode and made you wish you were in Hawaii!
Friday “NYC in Vancity”
Words by Ryan Mitchell
NYC’s Francis Hendy took a brave and blind step to show off his spring and summer collection. Psychedelic shirts and straight lined pants mowed the runway with that slight distraction of uncomfortable models walking the wrong direction offstage. The brave men showed off thin layered white pants with decorated polos. Short sleeved light coloured blazers for men, and vibrant fitted but playful flower stained dress took majority of the impressing. Eye pleasing sky blue is what comes to mind describing the men’s blazers. No critique can emphasize the beauty and confidence of the model in the flower stained dress, with a perfect image and emotion for spring fun. It is a disappointment Hendy had safety and 3M innovation in mind when designing, with a long black jacket for females that appeared to look like a cool cut out of a future fireman’s suit. The long black disaster had reflective pieces of green tape around the cuffs and on the side of the stomach area. With a bit of intrigue, beauty, confusion, plus the convenience of sleeves optional, Francis Hendy teased the audience of the fun anticipated for spring and summer in the outdoors, but Hendy, please don’t worry as much about the hazards of walking at night.