UFV Absolute Style 2013 Fashion Show

Yes it's true, I've come out of my post-VFW hibernation! With my final exams of undergrad right after, and moving after that, I needed some serious downtime (well, if you can call full-time work downtime!). Seeing the University of the Fraser Valley put on their annual grad fashion show got me right back into the blogging zone, though, and I'm excited to share with you the talent I witnessed on the runway. Our very own Vancouver Vogue dress designer, Rebecca of Rebecca Elizabeth designs was even showing her collection! I had goosebumps seeing her collection on the runway; her portion of the show was set to Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Ray (from the Great Gatsby soundtrack), which was fitting, since her bridal collection featured vintage glamour of the 20's. You'll hear more about her collection in my interview with her in the coming weeks! Another one to watch is Kassandra of Kassinka Designs, whose collection featured stunning designs with a nod to her Russian heritage. I'm so glad she is bringing muffs back! What a perfect addition to a stunning and feminine collection of bright, primary colours and lace. You can expect an interview with her as well coming soon!

The show itself had many different featured program elements, including shows dedicated to bustiers, swimsuits, surface design, weaving, as well as the individual grad collections. I wish I could share them all with you, but I've narrowed it down to my favourites (and those without people's heads in the way!).

Myself, I opted for a very bright combination of colours for the event, because it's officially nice enough out to to wear them and not feel the least bit out of place! I am loving adding my yellow neon accessories to my outfits right now, and as you can see here, this look was no exception. Don't be afraid to add a strong dose of colour to your look!

Kassinka Designs

Ninghao Designs

Rebecca Elizabeth Designs

Bits Designs

MRaines Fashions

Kassinka Designs

Low Lai Designs

Happy Styling! xo

~Britta

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Charity Fashion Show

As soon as the whirlwind that was Vancouver Fashion Week was over, it was on to the next event! Myself and my Marketing Strategy classmates organized and hosted a charity fundraiser for BC Children's Hospital foundation the week after VFW. We held it at Stefano's Mediterranean restaurant in New West, and it featured a pop-up fashion show, photobooth, raffle, food and drinks! The highlight of the evening was the fashion show, featuring the designs of Guylaine Designs and Rebecca Elizabeth Designs: both local talent with truly unique and stunning collections.

One of Rebecca Elizabeth's designs you have already seen here on my blog last year, and she designed another dress especially just for this show! When I first interviewed Rebecca, she described her love of detailed and dramatic backs, and you can see from the sexy super low back on the sequin and velvet dress below that this is still the case. I'm very excited to her her bridal collection, which she will be featuring at UFV's Absolute Style 2013 fashion show on April 25th! You can still buy tickets for that event.

I was so excited to finally have a chance to view Guylaine's couture collection, after meeting her at Vancouver Fashion Week one year ago. I've never seen anything like her designs, and they definitely have the quality of high fashion about them, but the beautiful thing is, I feel as though I can actually wear them (which is rare for couture)! My favourite design, hands down, is the black and turquoise dress. It's design is made up of many unique elements brought together, and the whole look exudes a seductiveness, thanks to it's peek-a-boo top and high cut hemline. All the models, and Guylaine were decked out in the glamorous accessories of Shine Jewels, a local brand with some seriously covetable statement pieces. The girls all looked fabulous, as did Guylaine herself (in one of her own designs, of course!); I positively loved her her feather-lined top!

It was great to expose a whole new audience to these designers' talent, and raise money for a great cause at the same time. We ended up raising over $1300 for the children of BC Children's Hospital!






The lovely Laura Baird in one of Rebecca Elizabeth's designs.







Guylaine's couture collection: a peacock-inspired dress with removable skirt!















Happy Styling! xo

~Britta

Dress Design Collab: Styling the Vancouver Vogue Dress

I've been waiting to share this post with all of you for some time now: I've had this gorgeous dress hanging on my dressform at home, patiently turning out post after post, getting all the more anxious about the final styling of the Vancouver Vogue Dress. It's an amazing feeling to see the dress go from a sketch to a beautiful piece I can wear in such a short time. It's even more amazing to think not a single other person in the world has this dress!

To keep in line with the classic yet trendy style here at Vancouver Vogue, I styled the dress with modern and vintage accessories- all in classic black to counter the trendy tangerine hue. The bun gives the look an Audrey Hepburn feel (as you've seen here) while the dramatic volume keeps it current. I couldn't decide on celeb-inspired oversized shades or my vintage Ray Ban look-a-likes, so I used them both! Keep your eyes peeled for the video I'll be posting soon and you'll see another way to style the dress!

I am so thrilled with what Rebecca Elizabeth did with our ideas and how she put it all together: this is one talented girl we have here! If you love this dress as much as I do, I'm sure you're going to be asking how you can get your own made. Well fashionistas, you're going to have to wait a little while! This budding designer has a lot on her plate this coming school year, finishing her design program at the University of the Fraser Valley. If you want to keep in touch though, and see what she's up to, follow her on twitter. This is definitely one talent to watch!

Thanks again to Rebecca Elizabeth for making what will be now known as the official dress of Vancouver Vogue! Stay tuned later this week for a designer exclusive of Rebecca Elizabeth during our styling sesh!

Happy Styling! xo

~Britta

Dress Design Collab: The Final Cut!

At last it's here! The moment you've all been waiting for: the unveiling of my first designer collaboration with Rebecca Elizabeth Designs! I've decided to bump the unveiling of the dress up a bit because of a certain video which will be airing this week (more on that later!).

Over the past month, you've seen the inspiration, the process, the time and effort that goes into making such a piece and now it's finally time to see what the final result is. The classic boatneck, the tea length skirt, the deep V back with cut-out bow...it's finally here, side-by-side with the lovely designer Rebecca Elizabeth!

As you saw in the sketching phase, we wanted to create a piece that would embody the style of Vancouver Vogue. I consider that style to be fresh and trendy, with a vintage flair. Next week, you'll see how I chose to style the dress so that it fits with this classic feel. Think Audrey Hepburn 2012!

What do you think?? Would you rock this look?

Happy Styling! xo

~Britta