Vancouver Fashion Week opening gala

Fashion week in Vancouver started their four daylong showcases of designers from all over the world with an opening gala at the Four Season Hotel in Vancouver. The event was packed with over 700 guests to celebrate and of course to keep their eye out for some of Vancouver’s most fashionable. Dresses were the main theme of the night when it came to garment of choice for women. Don’t count black out as simple and boring. Although may chose darker hues for the occasion, a mixture of textures provided some head turner looks.

Notable fashion spotted at the event included stylist Nicolette Lang-Anderson’s Latex two-piece outfit designed by Laura Jackson and Jennifer Gray’s vintage dress. I love a great vintage and was glad to see a classic within the mix. A trend that is a little tired is the full sequin dress so be mindful about how you wear it. A good way to integrate some of your sequin dresses that may still be hanging in your closet is to layer a jacket over the garment.

Fashion week will begin with up and coming designers and move onto established and international designers later in the week. If Vancouver Fashion week was attempting to create a buzz with the opening gala, they certainly succeeded.

Prints for spring and fall for Xsenia and Olya

One of last year’s favorite designers Xsenia and Olya are back and so are prints for them apparently. The spring season follows the theme of “liquid smoke” and movement. Soft and sheer fabrics flowed down the runway in full-length maxi dresses with the feel of spring inspiring the audience. Soft colors and blended prints in their spring collection would be a great choice for those who are a little unsure about pulling off prints.

For fall, Xsenia and Olya were bolder in their selection tying in the common theme of printed clockwork. Darker colors were a clear transition from spring to fall for their line. Their collection of coats and vests targeted towards a sense of luxury by incorporating fabrics such as suede and leather. We also saw more texture blocking for fall.

The exclusive event took place at the Autoform in Vancouver giving everyone in attendance more to see than luxurious clothing. Favorites of the night were certainly their full-length dresses and their outerwear. Shorter hemlines for certain pieces were great for a younger demographic but probably not for everyone. A great rule of thumb when it comes to pulling off shorter hemlines is to look for balance. Pair with a long jacket or rider boots for a proportional finish.

Amy Yew is a contributing columnist at Vancouver Courier. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to amyvancouvercourier@gmail.com. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.