Kate MacLennan zeroes in on the latest from local labels.
Sole Rebel
John Fluevog, who opened his very first store in Gastown, in 1970, has returned to the ’hood and taken up residence in the palatial former Richard Kidd space (65 Water St., 604-688-6228, fluevog.com). Cruising about the open-concept design studio on the mezzanine (not open to the public) and the new flagship store below it (shop here till your heart’s content), I spotted adorable peep-toed, lace-up booties and discovered these aptly named Summer Time platform sandals ($300).
New Store Alert
Montreal’s M0851 has opened its doors in Vancouver’s most affluent alley (1035 Alberni St., 604-688-9575, m0851.com). Named after its owner’s last initial (or Montreal, your pick) and birthday, this is the only place west of Toronto to find the unapologetically urban handbags made of buttery Italian calfskin (from $200), which have earned this label its killer reputation.
Editor’s Pick: New Best Friend
Zooey Deschanel (how funny was she in Weeds?) wore local label Imaginary Friend (ifapparel.com) to Vancouver’s Holt Renfrew opening gala last summer, but it wasn’t until this season that the line really caught my eye. Its third collection, which includes tailored dresses, tops and shorts marked by punches of bright blue, red and disco-licious gilded linen (shown, $200), translates easily for daywear but styles beautifully for a night out, with an ounce of imagination. At Eugene Choo (3683 Main St., 604-873-8874, eugenechoo.com) and One of a Few (354 Water St., 604-605-0685, oneofafew.com).
Hard Candy
When Leanne Dunic closed Miss Coquette, she upped the ante at its sister boutique, Tenth & Proper (4483 W. 10th Ave., 604-222-1115, tenthandproper.com). Besides giving the store a facelift, she’s added more flirty dresses and expanded the two house labels, Miss Coquette and Property, as well as her collection of Jalda, an L.A.-based line of clutches that come in everything from rose croc print to metallics to basic black pony (not real pony, relax) fur.
Photography by Johann Wall
Parka Lot
Known for being both practical and sporty (read: the antithesis of stylish), anoraks are back, but this time they’re chic. On the runways, they were belted, cinched, oversized, fitted, long, short, silk and taffeta—definitely not aimed at tourists and fishermen. This summer, pair local label Dace’s Nekana version ($240, shopdace.com) with a maxi dress to stylish, contrarian effect.