I must say that Vancouver Fashion Week was a little bit unorganized. It definitely could have been better planned and executed than it was. I didn’t feel like I was at a world class event. The venue was perhaps a good idea on paper but it was a bit ghetto and unfinished, not to mention its slightly rough and inconvenient location. I suppose this could be reflective of where Vancouver sits on the fashion map.

On the plus side, VFW was certainly an interesting and eye opening experience. VFW was attended by sponsors, buyers, retailers, editors, writers, bloggers, stylists, friends and family of the designers, the general public and the various designers themselves, and was generally a full house over the weekend.

We really had no idea that some of these people existed in real life in this city. Take, for example, the Italian Queen. Picture this, if you dare, a long black satin dress, clingy in all the wrong places, talons for toe nails (they were actually an inch longer than her toes) and toes that hung over the front of her towering platform heels. Black liner rimmed her pink lips and eyes, and a natty hair piece, which could have come free with just one light tug, trailed down her back. I hope someone took a picture of this train wreck.

One of the MC’s of the Saturday shows was Mandy Gill of the Beat 94.5. Now, she seems like a sweet girl but someone needs to help her out with her fashion decisions. I’m hoping someone else dressed her and she’s got better sense in normal life. If those over the knee boots she was wearing are actually hers, she should probably throw them in the dumpster or give them to one of the ladies standing on Seymour Street - they would get more use out of them.

And just who was that fabulous black man we saw at all the shows and events? Each day in a more fantastic ensemble than the last. Saturday consisted of a plaid blazer and sunglasses… it was gold. What media outlet was he with?? He reminded me of Andre Leon Talley, in the best possible way.

The models used at VFW were both good and bad. Many were certainly not model material and left me wondering if Vancouver has a small pool to draw talent from. Perhaps a better selection process should be used next time and rather than use models who just got out of “modeling school”, actually commit some of the budget to booking higher profile models who I know are out there in Vancouver. That being said, there were a few models who fit the bill, who didn’t have fake boobs and fake tans or walk like they owned the runway, who actually looked like they could do Paris or Milan. PS. The stunning Alek Wek look-a-like is named Regina.

Names to watch? Our picks are Karen Wu, Papillon, In Harmony and Lav & Kush,

All in all, I hope in the next installment of VFW, organizers step up their game and give Vancouver something to brag about.

Here are some behind the scenes shots courtesy of Yvonne Chew:

The Parasuco show was exactly what I thought it would be…jeans, jeans, and more jeans. It’s what they are known for, but really how many pairs of skinny jeans does one brand need? Besides the jeans, Parasuco featured a lot of large silver belt buckles on the men and tons of plaid shirts. Plus one very out of place pink ensemble - fit for the golf course perhaps? For the ladies, items to note on the shopping list: a casual green leather jacket and the leather leggings paired with a military jacket. I’d be surprised if I didn’t see this look hitting the mainstream very soon.

Parasuco is definitely targeting the younger market and really should branch out. They were a big name for fashion week, and I was hoping they would spread their design wings and show us some new creative pieces. Sadly, I felt that I could rewind time and watch the exact show in the 90’s. Points should be given to the band who kept the energy levels up. I think we paid more attention to them than the clothes… what can I say, I’m a sucker for hot band members…

Here are some pics. Oddly, we only have pictures of the men ;)….

The Christopher Bates show opened up with Justice’s Genesis to set the tone for his S/S 09 Ultra men’s collection. Bates’ line puts to use a mix of fabrics from distressed leather and nubuck to suede, denim and linen. His designs conjure images of casual euro-trash, combined with rock and roll. With fitted jackets and tight trousers, Mr. Bates has mixed and matched the usual white, black, tan, and silver men’s palette with a few pastels and one aqua green leather bomber jacket. Conjuring images of summer’s young jet set, Bates’ collection featured many options of frayed and holey jeans, tight white as well as two-toned pants, combined with wife beaters a la the 90’s. My favorite picks out of the collection where the white linen suits combined with black tie and the light beige suede dress jacket.

Christopher Bates has been receiving a lot of positive attention as an up and coming designer. Although he showcased many pieces and the models were definitely easy on the eyes, I left his show a tad disappointed and thinking that he was capable of more. Maybe next season.

And it is just me or does Christopher Bates remind you of Tom Cruise?

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with Karen Wu’s collection for S/S 2009. She opened the show with a parade of pastel knitwear - flirty skirts and tops. The tops were cute but, to be honest, the skirts left little to the imagination and I would never be caught dead in one. There was one purple top in particular that had gorgeous loose sleeves and a light weight zigzag stitch, which conjured up images of summers in Ibiza in the 70’s.

The evening wear was gorgeous. Silk party dresses and long chiffon Grecian like gowns - a flowing leopard print number had hints of 70’s YSL. But one piece caught our eyes more than the others - a hot two-toned jumpsuit that could have been worn at Studio 54… plunging neckline and wide legs… hot. I’d like to wear that to my office Christmas party and make all the wives hold onto their husbands a little tighter.

The finale dress made the crowd gasp in one collective voice. Worn by the Alek Wek look-a-like (we really must find out her real name…), the dress made references to Japan with it’s kimono style shape, brilliant red sash and high collar up to the ears. Breathtaking.

Karen Wu is definitely one to watch…