By CHLOË LAI
Mar. 2020
New season, new outfit, new you.
1 See the world through rose-coloured Harlow sunglasses from Bailey Nelson.
Shopping Vancouver
Sweet Treats at Temper Chocolate & Pastry
By SHERI RADFORD
Mar. 2020
In the spring, a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of…chocolate. That’s the case in West Vancouver, anyway, where Temper Chocolate & Pastry tempts with dark chocolate bars, milk chocolate and salted caramel cake, and chocolate-covered lemon peels. Not a chocoholic? Try the lemon tarts, candied ginger, or hazelnut toffee. And give the Easter Bunny a hand by picking up some sweet seasonal creations. No one will judge you if you buy an extra one (or several) for yourself.
Retail Therapy
Treat yourself to a purchase that will make you feel good, too.
By SHERI RADFORD
Jan. 2019
The beauty of imperfection is celebrated in Pyrrha’s She Wore Her Scars Like Wings talisman. For each one sold, the Vancouver company gives $50 to a charity that combats bullying and the harmful aspects of social media. Available at www.pyrrha.com.
Charity Pot is a deeply hydrating body lotion, and for each one sold, Lush donates the entire purchase price to small grassroots charities.
Local company Smell This! Aromatherapy partnered with Beauty Night Society to create Dignity, a plant-based “purefume” with tropical top notes, woody undertones and a heart-warming purpose: for each one sold, $10 goes to help at-risk, low-income women. At www.smellthis.ca.
This gorgeous indigo scarf—and every purchase from Obakki—helps women in Africa to improve their lives. At www.obakkifoundation.org.
Eco-friendly soy candles from Mala the Brand smell amazing, and for each one sold, the Vancouver company plants a tree in North America. Available at West Wood Organics (page 58).
Call It Spring recently launched its first sustainable vegan shoe collection, which includes these cute Daleena high heels made from recycled plastic bottles, renewable algae foam and water-based glue. Available at www.callitspring.com.
The Shimmer Eyeshadow Stick Trio from Evalina Beauty is paraben-free and cruelty-free, just like everything the indie brand makes. For each product sold, the local company donates to a charity that supports women and children in need. Available at www.evalinabeauty.com.
All-In-One: Columbia’s Carson Pass Interchange Jacket
By CHLOË LAI
Jan. 2019
Travelling light is especially challenging in winter. Fortunately, Columbia’s versatile Carson Pass Interchange Jacket fits a lot of function into one sleek package. This clever design pairs a waterproof-breathable shell with an Omni-Heat thermal-reflective insulating layer. Both pieces can be worn individually, or zipped together for maximum protection from whatever the wild West Coast throws at you. Plus, the cozy sherpa-fleece-lined hood is trimmed with faux fur. It’s the perfect way to stay warm, dry and stylish—with plenty of suitcase space to spare.
Creative Collaborations at Chloë Angus Design
Indigenous art meets innovative fashion at Chloë Angus Design
By HANNAH POAROS-MCDERMOTT + Photos by KK LAW
Angus’s popular Spirit Collection features apparel and home decor adorned with stylized flora and fauna.
Chloë Angus grew up in a rural, primarily Indigenous, fishing village on BC’s Sunshine Coast—as far away from the fashion industry as you can get. But living completely off the grid was a blessing. At the age of six, Angus’s hobbies included flipping through Vogue magazines found at her local thrift store, and learning to sew on a hand-crank Singer sewing machine. Now, 15 years after the launch of her label, Angus’s signature designs have been worn by everyone from Wonder Woman actor Eugene Brave Rock to royal couple Will and Kate.
Holiday Gift Guide: Presents for the Pint-Sized
By CHLOË LAI
Nov. 2019
What’s more fun than a toque with a pompom? A toque with two pompoms, like this Double Pom Hat by Canada Goose.
Holiday Gift Guide: Festive Finds for Foodies
By CHLOË LAI
Nov. 2019
Tsimshian artist Morgan Asoyuf created the Running Raven design for these jacquard cloth napkins, the perfect gift for discerning diners and messy eaters alike. At Bill Reid Gallery.
Holiday Gift Guide: Goodies from the Great White North
By CHLOË LAI
Nov. 2019
This red silk tie beckons to the suave suit-wearing set with its stunning eagle imagery—symbolizing power, courage and prestige—created by Haida artist Dorothy Grant. At Bill Reid Gallery. (more…)
Top Titles for Travellers
Before boarding your next plane, train or automobile, stop by a local bookstore to pick up these entertaining reads.
By SHERI RADFORD
Nov. 2019
British Columbia: A New Historical Atlas by Derek Hayes (Douglas & McIntyre): Hayes is an award-winning historian who uses more than 900 maps and 300 photos and documents to tell the story of Canada’s western frontier, including the gold rush of 1858 and the building of the transcontinental railway. Discover maps by both the early Indigenous inhabitants and the Europeans who arrived much later.
Shopping Season
By SHERI RADFORD
Nov. 2019
Vancouver Christmas Market (Photo by Lindsay Elliott)
’Tis the time of year for buying thoughtful presents. Where better to look than the plethora of local markets? The Vancouver Christmas Market brings a Christkindlmarkt to downtown each year. Peruse the nutcrackers, candles, mulling spices, ugly Christmas sweaters, German steins, and ornaments by Käthe Wohlfahrt while nibbling on pretzels and sipping glühwein (mulled wine). At the Circle Craft Christmas Market, you can stock up on treasures by local artists and artisans, including Honey Canada’s adorable ornaments made from wool, seasonal decorations by ArtPen Studio, and prints and holiday cards by Beaver Pond Creative. Other must-visit markets include Shiny Fuzzy Muddy, Vancouver Etsy Collective Holiday Pop Up and Christmas at Hycroft. But be warned: you just might find a treasure (or several) for yourself, too.