Pink Shirt Day 2016: Kindness is One Size Fits All!

Pink Shirt Day is Wednesday February 24th this year - will you stand up to bullying in style with us?

Pink Shirt Day was started by 2 teenage boys in Nova Scotia, who decided to wear pink to support a fellow student who was bullied for wearing pink. They rallied their high school to wear pink as well, in support of the student, and soon the message spread right across the country, with Canadians all standing up to bullying by wearing pink.

What has now become an annual event, Pink Shirt Day raises awareness against bullying, and this year, is spreading the message of Kindness is One Size Fits All! The Pink Shirt Day t-shirt I'm wearing below can be purchased exclusively at London Drugs stores, and the net proceeds go to the CKNW Orphans Fund in support of Boys and Girls Clubs anti-bullying programs.

This is the second year I've participated in  Pink Shirt Day; I had a blast last year styling this look, and was joined by a host of other fabulous ladies who also styled their own Pink Shirt Day t-shirts. This year, I was joined by the fashionable bloggers Leeanne of Legallee Blonde, Bree of The Urban Umbrella, and Elizabeth of The Style Saver - make sure to check to check out their blog as well to see them rocking their Pink Shirt Day t-shirts! 

So I invite you all to style your own Pink Shirt Day t-shirts in support of anti-bullying, and show that kindness truly is one size fits all!

Wear your Pink Shirt Day t-shirt on February 24th and stop bullying in style. Tweet and Instagram your photos using the hashtag #pinkshirtday and don't forget to let your followers know they can get their own official PSD t-shirt exclusively @londondrugs!

Blazer - H&M (thrifted via Value Village) | Necklace - Nobis & Grey | Shirt - London Drugs | Jeans - Simons | Shoes - Sole Society

See (left to right) Legallee Blonde, The Urban Umbrella, and The Style Saver for their PSD outfit details!

[ Photography by Christian Nambayan ]

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Vancouver Fashion Week SS2016: Day 2

My second day at Vancouver Fashion Week's Spring/Summer 2016 shows made for an exciting evening of diverse designs, and new and old favourites. Atelier Grandi, Canella Hostal Couture, Vivano Sue, TKC Designs, and Maaji Swimwear all shined on the runway- keep reading below to see the best of each collection and a quick recap!

On the runway with the wonderful Tina of Sidebuy in between shows!

Atelier Grandi:

It's been such a please to watch Atelier Grandi over many seasons at Vancouver Fashion Week; each collection has Grandy's signature polished, refined, classy and elegant, and yet there is always a fabulous new theme to each collection that makes it so unique. This season's collection, Serpentine, featured snake and metallic detailing- a flashy departure from her usual style, but the style of the dresses is what gave the designs their signature polish. Every single dress was stunning in its own right!

Viviano Sue:

This is a designer I had not had the chance to see before, and felt incredibly satisfied after seeing the runway show. There were so many examples of perfectly executed layers and draping- and what I thought looked like inkblot-inspired prints were incredibly eye-catching! The collection paints the life-story of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, and the focus on white was meant to convey and symbolize a clean slate from which to build up the collection.

Canella Hostal Couture:

This was one of my surprise favourites of the day! The burst of orange was so refreshing, and I absolutely loved all the fun prints. The skirt on the right was particularly unique. The small folded pieces of fabric all moved individually as the skirt swayed, giving an interesting range of motion as the model walked the runway. Between that skirt and the flowing robe on the left, it was a bright and fun collection that really embodies what spring and summer should be all about!

TKC Designs:

This collection aims to do more than just look pretty. TKC Designs is all about using the collection to empower women. Designer Taranjit K. Cheema wants to shed light on the unreported rape cases in India, where victims feel ashamed and remain silent out of fear of being shunned by their community.

Maaji Swimwear:

Firstly, I have to say, the styling of this runway show was fantastic! The vintage suitcases, comfy blankets, tourist camera and headbands added perfectly to the overall theme of the designs. The 'Rhapsody Road' collection brought us along for their road trip with their youthful fun and flirty designs. Lots of mix and matching prints- and my personal favourite- plenty of the bralette style tops (such a great retro style!). Now if only I could get one of those adorable blanket and holder straps to go with the bikini...road trip, anyone?

Thanks to Ed Ng Photography for the runway photos!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Eco-Luxury Boutique The Closet YVR Launches in Vancouver

I first met Helen Siwak of The Closet YVR when she kindly helped me style the cast of Hamlet last year. It's truly amazing to see her incredible collection of thrifted luxury goods finally find a much-deserved home in Gastown: a big step from what used to be an all-online shop!

The Closet YVR is an eco-luxury boutique that carries not only designer fashion resale, but also local eco-friendly products and fashions. Mixed among the shoes, scarves and beautiful dresses are all-natural soaps and straight-from-the-runway designs from local fashion talents. Her pre-loved designer items are definitely worth perusing; you'll find everything from Dior to Gucci and more. The shop will even offer personal eco-styling services and wardrobe consultations from Lead In-House Stylist Dominique Hanke.

And it doesn't stop there, every month, The Closet YVR will host pop-up shops in the boutique, giving more local designers and artisans a chance to have their products available for you to shop!

The most adorable Valentino blazer in plaid (of course, it's an obsession) caught my eye while I took a look through the racks of luxury clothes; check it out below, I feel like it's the perfect transitional piece for fall, no? 

If you're in the Gastown area in Vancouver, pop by the boutique at 360 Carrall St, say hello to Helen and check out the beautifully curated collection of eco luxury fashion! The Closet YVR is open from Monday to Saturday, 11am-6pm, or by appointment on Sundays.

With founder of The Closet YVR, Helen Siwak, in an Armani dress & Bulgari pendant from Modaselle

Me & You Body vegan soap & La Cigale personal grooming products 

Vegan treats for the VIP guests & handmade Eco Monsters by Bracken Hanke

Handmade pendants by Tracey Tomtene in silver, pewter & copper: who needs the 'Do Epic Shit' one??

Armani hat, Ted Lapidus scarf, Missoni maxi dress, JC de Castelbajac Pluie tote

'Gassy Jack' made a pit stop by the store too, although he chilled on the floor more than he shopped...

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

#STBC: Shop The Blogger Closet Sale

On March 29th, we set up shop at Frontier Luxury Flooring in Vancouver for the first-ever Shop the Blogger Closet Sale! We have over 300 shoppers pass through the pop-up shop, even with the torrential downpour that was happening that weekend. Wow! And it was pretty exciting to see our pre-loved items being sold to wonderful new owners.

 Stephanie Trembath, blogger of Minimalist-St.Me and founder of the STBC sale collaborated with UBC's Social Work Program to raise money for a small community in Arviat, Nunavut, and together we raised over $500 for the Young Hunters Program! The proceeds will go towards funding staff and materials to educate the Arviat community on environmental health and economic vitality.

The whole event smelled totally amazing thanks to Vancouver Candle Co., who set up shop at the event as well. I went over and of course had to sniff every single candle (you can never have enough candles), and must say my favourite was definitely the Fairview, a sharp citrus scent with a hint of sweetness.

Even if you weren't able to come check it out and shop our closets, you can still always get inspired and see where you can shop our outfits via our blogs:

To Vogue or Bust, The Un-Precedented, The August Diaries, Her Waise Choice, Jessica Luxe Blog, The Style Saver, Living Boldly, The Urban Umbrella, Shardette Blog, Legallee Blonde, In My Dreams

Big thanks to sponsors Frontier Luxury Flooring, Daily Secret, Verlico and Happy Water for helping make the event such a success!

Blondie bloggers stick together! Leeanne of Legallee Blonde and Bree of The Urban Umbrella

Sold all of my beautiful vintage scarves!

It's a blogger party! Founder of #STBC Stephanie Trembath is on the left! And my other blogger buddies Elizabeth of The Style Saver & Samantha of Obsessive Trend Invitation on the right

With the Rosalia of Style-Love, Leeanne of Legallee Blonde, and Bree of  Urban Umbrella

Thanks to Thomas Bullock for the photos!

Outfit: Sweater - Charter Club (via Macy's) | Necklace - Nobis & Grey | Pants - Zara (thrifted via Salvation Army) | Flats - Mei Xi (thrifted via Value Village)

Happy Styling! xo

~Britta