Spring Fashion Market - Winnipeg Fashion Incubator

Before coming to Sweden, I attended the Spring Fashion Market put on by the Winnipeg Fashion Incubator at Red River College. It was nice to meet some new peeps, see some awesome designs, and catch up with friends before I left for my summer adventures.

Regalia

Regalia

Vintage Bling

Vintage Bling

CJ Tennant

Alex Espinosa

Ruby Feathers

bi.polar Couture

Voilà by/par Andréanne

platinum by priskazinn

Bryan Johnson Creations

Lennard Taylor

Prairie Ice

This was the second market event put on by Winnipeg Fashion Incubator to help promote, support, and provide an environment for local designers. And to cap it all off, it ended with a fashion show -- my favourite way to end the day.

Also check out my first post on my new blog Stratamode!! Find out the festival styles of Dans Dakar in Stockholm, Sweden. & stay tuned for some videos and pics of the amazing Euro Electro DJ's!!!

Ball Droppin', Model Walkin'

So I think it's safe to say: I Dropped the Ball.

It's been a crazy few weeks since school ended, and as I was just getting into the swing of things -- having no excuse but to relax and spend my time on things other than FinalCut Pro and InDesign -- before I knew it I was saying my goodbye's to my friends and family.

And so here I am now -- on my way to Sweden, for the Euro trip of a lifetime -- sitting in the Toronto Pearson Airport, trying to rehash and remember what I've been up to this past month.

(It's now really a day later that I am actually posting this from Sweden)
***

Just as my school semester was ending, Winnipeg was thrown full blast into our very first Winnipeg Fashion Week. I mean it wasn't New York, but it was an amazing way to showcase all of Winnipeg's undoubtedly talented designers, models, hairstylists, makeup artists, and of course us production folks -- you know the guys who make everything happen behind the scenes.

Only a month ago I assisted my first event with Fashion VonWild, a grassroots Fashion/PR/Lifestyle organization -- as Kyle says it (he's the owner and Creative Director of FVW). The big event we were working on was the Virulent Solstice fashion show. We had walks from Runway Fashions, KLAS Clothing, Lennard Taylor, Adan Ballou, Hattitude, and Paswera Label.

Check out some of the pics here!

I have produced fashion shows before, but nothing like this. There were so many walks, so many models, and hardly any space in the back room where the models had their fittings and where they waited to strut their stuff (the things we do for the love of fashion). It was nice to finally work with Reno and Kyle, and to officially feel part of the FVW team.

***

Mother's Day: the day of the mother's, and I don't mean Mother Nature. And forget about Mother Theresa.

My Mother's Day consisted of energy drinks, cupcakes, champagne and models tumbling down the stairs. It was the One Year Anniversary of Luxe + Charm Boutique, and although the turnout wasn't the best -- being Mother's Day and all -- the show turned out amazing, and the models rocked it outta the park. It almost seemed too good to be true on how smooth everything was going. I had worked with Thai -- owner of Luxe + Charm Boutique -- last year when I pulled clothing from her store for a fashion show, and her amazingly kind and energetic personality was refreshing. I really felt like I could sit back and relax at this one, and finally enjoy it.

My biggest regret of the night was failing to capture a video of Reno strutting his shit down the runway, teaching the models how to rock it out and be fierce. (It really would have came in handy for future FVW model walk training... or at least blackmail)

Stay tuned for posts on the latest Winnipeg Fashion Incubator, my photos from Sweden, and for my new blog Stratamode launching before the end of the month!

The Purse Party @ U.N. Luggage

What's up Winnipeg?

In celebration of Mother's Day, Winnipeg's premiere bag store, U.N. Luggage, will be hosting a night of wine and dainties, Thursday, May 10th, from 6pm - 9 pm.

Located in the Exchange at 175 McDermot Ave., U.N. Luggage offers you 20% off any purse in the store, just by showing this invitation on the night of the event.

They carry brands like aunts&uncles, Lug, and Matt & Nat, so if you're looking for the perfect mothers day gift, or you're looking to treat yourself, then come check it out.

Maybe you're like me, and you'll be looking for something to take travelling this summer!

Hope to see you there! ;)

Stratamode

I'm starting a new blog this month! (Of course this blog will always be)

And it's going to be fun.

I'm traveling through Europe for three months this summer and I wanted to start a Street Style Blog to capture all of the unique and fabulous fashions found overseas. 

My blog is called Stratamode, and it will give people in North America a look into the European fashion scene. Upon returning to Canada I will continue to post street style photos, videos, interviews with trend setters, and polls.

UO SWIM

Urban Outfitters Swim 2012

Fete Noir

An amazing editorial I came across from Cheek Magazine Issue 14.

Cheek Magazine: Fete Noir

Dionysus in Stony Mountain

The first time I ever heard of Friedrich Nietzsche, the 19^th century German philosopher, was last Tuesday. And frankly, I was completely lost.

My journalism class all went to watch the play Dionysus in Stony Mountain, written by Steven Ratzlaff, directed by Bill Kerr, and presented by Theatre Projects Manitoba.

The play was performed at the Rachel Browne Theatre, located in the Crocus Building in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, from March 29 till April 8. It was nice to be back in the Crocus Building, having worked in the same building years ago, I missed the old wooden stairways and the Pita Pit on the first floor.

But back to the play…

Dionysus in Stony Mountain began as a one-person act at the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival in 2009. Now a two-hour long production, with three characters played by a two-person cast, it is Ratzlaff’s first full-length play.

The first half of the play is about the relationship between inmate and patient James (played by Ross McMillan), and prison psychiatrist Heidi (played by Sarah Constible).

James’ parole hearing is coming up shortly and despite recommendations from Heidi, he has gone off his treatments of lithium. In this particular psychiatry session James rambles on about the beliefs of Nietzsche, at some points reciting some of his work. James at one point calls out Heidi, and the two make a pact that Heidi will no longer practice psychiatry if James gets released on parole.

The many rants by James about Nietzche’s work were very confusing to me since I was no familiar with his work. I felt very lost, but mainly bored. I have been to theatre productions in the past (mostly the ballet, or musicals), but this really wasn’t my thing.

I definitely thought the second half of the play was more interesting than the first. Now months later Heidi is renovating her new home in Winnipeg, when she is paid a visit by her Uncle Eric (also played by Ross McMillan).

Heidi appears to be a changed person, and often begins rambling on about Nietzche, and how her life is better-spent helping people live in society, rather than being a psychiatrist at the jail.

The one part of the play that I enjoyed the most was hearing the fate of James as Heidi confesses to her Uncle about his suicide.

Although I didn’t enjoy the play very much, I did appreciate the complex script written by Ratzlaff, and the passionate acting.