Designer Spotlight: Vancouver's Hetki Designs

This post isn't the usual street style or event post you're used to seeing here on Vancouver Vogue, but it really does fall under the mantra of VV when it comes to eco-friendly, sustainable fashion. I thought it was important to share with you this amazing local brand: Hetki Designs. Plus, what makes this even more exciting, is that the designer of Hetki Designs, Kate Schreiner has been a follower of Vancouver Vogue since its early days! Turns out, we actually went to the same high school as well - Kate in Grade 8, and I in my graduating year. Many of you have heard my stories of my locker being stuffed full of high heels - Kate saw it first hand!

Now a graduate of Kwantlen's fashion design and technology program, Kate has launched her very own clothing line, and it's all about slow fashion. Rather than feeding the fast fashion trend frenzy, Hetki Designs aims to provide classic, timeless styles with a taste of trendiness that are meant to last years rather than months. They're investment pieces.

As a reader of VV, you all know that thrift shopping is my way of easing my demand for fast fashion and supporting more sustainable shopping measures. Now that I get older though, I've also started to look to brands like Hetki Designs for curated staple pieces I can add to my wardrobe for the long haul. I had a chance to see some of Kate's designs in person at a fashion preview event in Vancouver - see below for a closer look!

Photography - Linus Wong

Hair & Makeup - Maliha Artistry

Styling - Jessica Chauhan & Kate Schreiner

With Kate at her design preview at Portside Pub in Gastown, Vancouver

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

The Best Rain Boots for Raincouver

Ok so not all of you live in Vancouver (aka Raincouver), but if you live somewhere as equally rainy as our wonderful city, then you'll know how important it is to have a good pair of rain boots and umbrella on hand. The irony is, I've actually gone without having a proper pair of rain boots for far too long.

I've always put off buying rain boots because always wanted them to look good and not just be about function. Hunters are cute too with their loads of colours, but the price tag is just a bit to much for me. These Bearpaw Constance rain boots are super cute! They not only fit like a glove (nicely shaped to my calves, rather than gaping around them), but they also have a trendy snakeskin texture. Plus, unlike all the zippered boots I've been wearing in place of rain boots, these will actually keep my feet 100% dry. Oh PS they have a tin fleece lining, making them a lot comfier than most rain boots. Of course, when I decided to shoot these photos, the weather was miraculously wonderful here in Vancouver (shocker!), so I'll have to wait to do puddle jumping in these boots another day!

And if you tend to forget your umbrella everywhere you go (like I used to), it might be time to invest in a nice one. I've found that ever since my friends got me this gorgeous umbrella from the Little White House Co., I've made a concerted effort not to leave it behind anywhere...I love it far too much to lose it!

Dress - Urban Behaviour | Necklace - Stella & Dot | Umbrella - Little White House & Co. | Rain Boots - c/o Bearpaw

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Now Trending: The Cold Shoulder Top

The off-the-shoulder top has been dubbed the "cold shoulder trend" by every magazine and fashion publication as of late, and it's the perfect flirty way to show of some skin this summer! I partnered up with online shopping site Romwe, and since I haven't worn off-shoulder tops in years, I wanted to give one a try again! I found this really cute one in blue and white that made me think of lounging on the cliffs of Santorini, Greece. Have I ever been before? No, I wish, but I created an outfit of what I imagine I would wear there, if ever given the opportunity! One can only dream...

Linen is one of my favourite summer fabrics - it has a very luxurious yet laidback quality to it (although the wrinkling is always a bit annoying). PS. You don't need to spend a ton to get linen, either. I got these for dirt cheap (like $10) at Ross Dress for Less a couple of years ago. The Romwe off-the-shoulder top works really well with the laidback style too! And the best part? If you don't usually like off-the-shoulder tops because they keep sliding down, this one is a great option: the elastic is just tight enough to keep everything in place, and if you need a bit of extra assurance, it actually has shoulder straps too! I actually found the top stayed up so well on it's own, I may just cut off the shoulder straps so that the shoulders are completely bare.

Have you given this trend a try yet?

Shirt - Romwe | Sunglasses - Target | Pants - (via Ross Dress for Less) | Sandals - Just Fab

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Graphic Print Blouses are the new Statement Piece

Graphic print blouses are kind of my jam right now. Did you see the insanely adorable macaron blouse I snatched here? And now there's this super cute lipstick blouse I picked up from SheIn! I'm not much a fan of button-up blouses; they're usually too stiff, bland and ill-fitting, so a fun graphic print like this, is a nice alternative. And no pulling around the buttons?? Yes, please! That's thanks to the boyfriend fit. Plus, I love half-tucking it in for a laid back look. Especially when the shirt has a nice silky texture to it like this one, it just drapes so perfectly!

Boyfriend jeans will always be a staple in my wardrobe - their versatility is just so great. You could easily wear this blouse with a nice skirt or dress pants, but I think it also works to pair it with ripped boyfriend jeans and some stilettos. Mix the casual and the dressy together for something a bit more interesting.

Blouse - c/o SheIn | Sunglasses - Simons | Jeans - American Eagle (thrifted via Salvation Army) | Heels - Aldo (thrifted via Salvation Army)

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

How to Wear Sequins in Summer

Well we had another blast of summer heat this past weekend in Vancouver, and man was that every great to have after the showers and thunderstorms the week previous. Time to hit the beach! Even for this pale, pale gal (don't worry, sunscreen is always in my bag!).

I've been dying to wear this maxi sequin skirt that I bought on sale at Maccs a while back. I actually was lusting after it when it was originally selling for $119, and clamoured to get my hands on it when it finally went on sale for a staggering $19!! (PS. it's still on sale right now if you want this gorgeous skirt too).

I wanted to challenge myself to style it in a casual way though, contrary to what you would usually think of when styling a full length sequin skirt. So lo and behold, my sequin "mermaid" outfit! By wearing sandals rather than heels, and half-tucking a slouched casual shirt, this skirt went from night-out-only attire, to a glam yet casual day ensemble. The key thing too, is not caring what anyone else thinks. There are no real rules and barriers in fashion: only the ones we create in our heads. Sequins at the beach?? Why not!

Shirt -  Vero Moda (thrifted via Salvation Army) | Bracelet - c/o Nobis & Grey | Skirt - Maccs (on sale!!) | Sandals - thrifted via Value Village

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta