Reilley Bell of Seattle and Kelley McKinlay of Edmonton met in Calgary in 2008 when she joined the Alberta Ballet.

“He was the hottie in the company … and I was the newbie who didn’t even notice him on the first day,” Reilley remembers.

They were partnered for The Nutcracker’s Waltz of the Flowers and became friends.  Their love of music and sharing of favourite songs led to their first date and becoming more than friends.

On July 25, the onstage dance partners married and became partners in life.

Their wedding had “everything that we like,” says Reilley, 28. Or, as her brother put it,  it was so the two of them — “it was elegant, yet there was a food truck,” says Kelley, 32.

The couple booked fashion designer Paul Hardy’s Design Studio in Calgary for the wedding ceremony and reception. They met and became friends with the designer while he was creating the costumes for Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, a ballet set to the music of Sarah McLachlan. Photos were taken by Paul McGrath of PMG Image in Calgary.

Guests included fellow dancers and former members of Alberta Ballet, who flew in from Australia, Norway, all over the United States, England and Japan. Kelley’s family all live in and around Edmonton except one brother, who flew in from Las Vegas.

Reilley’s strapless ivory wedding dress, designed by Watters, was purchased at S2 in Calgary. It was designed in two pieces with a corset top and full tulle skirt. “My headpiece was an old white feathered hat that was my great grandmother’s from the 1930s.”

Her stunning nude-coloured Valentino Couture bow platform pumps were a surprise gift from her bridesmaids. “I like high heels and those were some that I always dreamed of having but never wanted to spend the money on.”

Reilley’s bridal bouquet, and those carried by her bridesmaids, featured white roses, white garden roses, Queen Ann’s lace and stock, which her mother and bridesmaids created.

Her bridesmaids were fellow Alberta Ballet dancers and twin sisters Alexandra Gibson and Jennifer Gibson, and maid of honour was Mel Boniface, who now dances in Australia. They wore individually styled, blush-coloured dresses from BHLDN Wedding Dresses. The fourth female bridal attendant was the couple’s fox terrier, Mildred, who was the ringbrearer.

Kelley chose a classic black Paul Smith tuxedo with black bow tie, and Thomas Pink shirt and socks. His four groomsmen, including former Alberta Ballet dancer Michael James, wore their own black suits, white shirts and black skinny ties, with hot pink socks from Thomas Pink.

Four musicians with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra played during the ceremony. Their selections were favourites of the bride and groom — Bon Iver, Keane — arranged for a string quartet.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Kristine Eidsvik officiated at the ceremony. The bridal couple became friends with her when she was chair of the Alberta Ballet board of directors. “It was amazing to have somebody who actually knows us personally to do the ceremony,” Reilley says.

The reception featured three kinds of pizza from the Without Papers Pizza food truck. “We went to a few tastings with some caterers and, to be honest, it reminded us of reception food from ballet so we didn’t want that,” Kelley explained, laughing.

Their three-tiered traditional white wedding cake with simple white buttercream icing and white pearl detailing was made by Crave Cookies and Cupcakes. It was topped with pink sugar flowers made by the couple’s friend, Galien Johnston Hattori, wife of Alberta Ballet principal dancer Yukichi Hattori.

Reilley and Kelley chose Ingrid Michaelson’s You and I for their first dance. As for the actual dancing, Reilley jokes that she asked Kelley several times beforehand if he wanted a choreographer. But when people tell you how to dance for a living, the last thing you want is someone telling you how to dance offstage, he says.

What Reilley remembers about the day is being able to enjoy every part of what they had planned. “It was us through and through, from having family-style pizza for dinner, to just being able to chat, dance and laugh with all of our closest family and friends.”

Some people have told them they think dancing together and being a couple is too much togetherness, but Kelley and Reilley love it. “There’s a sense of trust that’s there always and it makes things so much easier,” said Reilley. “Just the communication is easier because we’re not afraid to talk to each other about anything.”

The couple can be seen dancing in Edmonton in The Nutcracker, Dec. 12-14 at the Jubilee Auditorium. They appear in several numbers but are partnered together for the Arabian Dance.

czdeb@edmontonjournal.com

MAKING CHOICES

Wedding date: July 25, 2015

Wedding and reception venue: Paul Hardy Design Studio, Calgary

Guests: 80

Colours: Blush

First dance: Ingrid Michaelson’s You and I

Budget: $20,000

Honeymoon: They’ve just bought a new house so honeymoon is on hold for the moment

Vickie Laliotis hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. She is an Edmonton fashion writer and the founder of popular style blog adventuresinfashion.ca.

Email Vickie your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet her at @advinfashion.

On the Town

Event: Lumen

When: Nov. 4

Where: Shaw Conference Centre

What: An annual fundraiser benefitting the Telus World of Science Edmonton.

Featuring: Amazing nibblies and drinks, live entertainment and science experiments, fabulous auction items, and Canadian comedian and actor Brent Butt as this year’s hilarious host.

Event: Kit and Ace launch party

When: Nov. 5

Where: West Edmonton Mall 

What: A celebration of the retailer’s new Edmonton location.

Featuring: Charcuterie and artisanal cocktails, great music, a first look at the brand’s newest storefront, and amazing people-watching.

TORONTO — The New Year will usher in a new look on Canadian newsstands as the venerable fashion magazine Flare disappears from the racks and turns its focus toward targeting a younger demographic both online and off-line.

Sales of single copies of printed magazines have fallen dramatically, forcing the industry to re-evaluate distribution and adapt, says Bo Sacks, president of the U.S.-based consulting firm Precision Media Group.

“In the last five years, we have lost 50 per cent of the newsstand sale. And that is a trend that’s not going away,” says Sacks.

“Every year, we seem to lose nine to 11 per cent of the sales we used to have before. This is a trend that seems inescapable. At what point does it plateau? I have no idea. But it doesn’t look like any time soon.”

Flare is currently averaging 1,800 copies sold on newsstands, which is less than 2.5 per cent of its total circulation, says Melissa Ahlstrand, group publisher for fashion and beauty at Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B).

“Essentially with those kinds of numbers on newsstands, we really had to take a good look at how we distribute our print copies. It’s a very small quantity,” Ahlstrand says, adding that Flare will still publish 10 print editions in 2016 for subscribers.

Data provided from the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) revealed that Flare had average monthly newsstand sales of 2,658 copies in the first half of the year, while 27,825 monthly digital sales represented 28.9 per cent of Flare’s total paid circulation.

Ahlstrand says millennial readers aren’t regular newsstand buyers, and in an effort to connect with “young, cool, smart women” they’ve decided to invest in another form of print distribution to reach that demographic: distributing overrun copies in urban centres.

“Where we may lose the visibility in newsstands — albeit small — we’re actually gaining a lot more visibility through this alternative distribution.”

Across the industry, a comparative analysis of 56 Canadian titles found overall paid and verified circulation was down 4.8 per cent for the first half of 2014 compared to the first half of 2013, according to AAM. Verified circulation includes subscription copies designed for readership in public places, like those in waiting rooms, hotel rooms or by airlines.

While single-copy sales saw a three per cent increase, paid subscriptions were down 10.1 per cent.

D. B. Scott, who blogs at Canadian Magazines, says that while the absence of newsstand copies may be an inconvenience for some, they represent a small subset of readers.

“When your single copy sales shrink from 8,000 or 10,000 to a couple of thousand that’s a much less effective means of marketing than it had traditionally been,” says Scott, president of Impresa Communications, which specializes in consulting for the magazine and newspaper industry.

“There probably is a line that a magazine crosses where it is no longer effective, and it is a very expensive thing to maintain a single-copy strategy if it’s not achieving its principle goal — which is to get you new subscribers.”

But Sacks argues the newsstand is still “critical to the long-term survival of magazines,” despite the drop in sales.

“This is where people discover magazines,” says Sacks. “Sure, you can save a lot of money by eliminating your print title. But long-term, discoverability becomes a much bigger problem.”

At the recent FIPP World Congress for magazine media in Toronto, there was considerable discussion about the change in industry culture, says Rowland Lorimer, founder of the Canadian Institute for Studies in Publishing at Simon Fraser University.

“Throughout the large magazine sector, they’re all talking about changing their understanding of the new model from a periodical publishing to more or less continuous publishing in all kinds of ways. Not just a snippet on Twitter or a very short article, but actually making articles available, enhancing them with video and so on. It’s a major change.”

David Shepherd doesn’t let a three-piece suit keep him from cycling wherever he needs to go in his busy new job as MLA for Edmonton Centre. In fact, the 42-year-old politician makes a point of dressing well whether he’s cycling to the legislature or meeting constituents at a community centre.

We asked him about his reputation as one of the more fashionable guys in the Alberta legislature.

Q: In your pre-MLA days, was fashion a big deal?

A: For about a dozen years I did work in and around the music scene in Edmonton. Musicians can be known for being flashy dressers, but I never was. I had the carefully calculated gig outfits, but when I went back to school and was working on my communications degree, I didn’t have much money. I was used to living quite frugally and on a tight budget, so Winners was kind of my cornerstone of fashion.

Q: What influence did campaigning have on your wardrobe?

A: Once I started to get into campaigning, then I started to expand my wardrobe a little more, and I had to find a requisite orange shirt. I began to realize I was becoming a more visible figure … (and) I realized that clothing choice was going to be part of that.

David Shepherd, Alberta MLA for Edmonton-Centre, in one of his new suits and a snappy bow tie

Q: How did being elected change your look?

A: One of the first things I did in the couple of weeks after I was elected … I started clothes shopping. I had one suit at the time that had been given to me by a friend. It was a little oversized and boxy, so I went suit shopping first — went over to Eddie’s Men’s Wear, over to Harry Rosen, and found out I’m a pretty difficult guy to fit. It’s a bit challenging for me, a lot of these modern trends. I’m a cyclist, I ride a lot, I’ve got thick legs, so you know the slim fits don’t do well for me. Harry Rosen was able to find me a good navy suit that we were able to tailor to fit. I found another local place, Suits by Curtis Elliott. They did a nice three-piece suit for me in basic charcoal and that turned out beautifully. It’s probably one of the best-fitting pieces of clothing that I have at the moment.

Q: What’s your motivation for dressing well?

A: Coming in to Edmonton Centre, of course, I had to compete with Scott McKeen, who is a pretty sharp and snappy dresser. Just with him alone, I felt I needed to up my game.

Q: Are bow-ties part of that drive to meet the sartorial standards of Edmonton Centre?

A: I was at Winners one day and happened to find a nice plaid bow tie and pocket square with a nice orange hue. So I started wearing those during the campaign. I got an incredibly good response and it seemed to strike a chord. So I picked up another. I realized as a politician, or anyone in the public eye, it’s helpful to develop a bit of a visual brand. McKeen has his moustache and that worked very well for him in his campaign, so bow ties seem to be working well for me. They’re a lot of fun, actually; there’s a lot of variety.

Q: With all the public events you have to attend, how do you choose your outfits?

A: I find most days, depending on the events I have, I can get away with a single outfit if I plan it well. A lot of days are more casual, if we’re not actually sitting in the House. If we’re sitting in the House, it’s definitely a suit-and-tie day. Then if I go from the House to a more casual event, I can just take off the tie, add or remove a vest. If I’m running around the constituency, going to business meetings or events, I’ll go with casual coloured pants, a sport coat or a blazer, and then I can mix it up with the shirts and accessories a little bit.

Q: So dressing for the occasion has just become part of your job?

A: Yes, having been a musician, it’s similar. You know in music, you learn the basic structures and then, based on that, you learn to improvise, you put your own stamp on what you play. I’ve had a lot of fun now with the opportunity to explore fashion.

Q: Do you get fashion advice or feedback from anyone?

A: Occasionally, I might ask a friend. But as silly as it may sound, Google is your friend. So you can just ask: Does this colour tie go with this colour shirt? And just seeing other images of outfits people have put together gives me an idea of what I might be able to pull off. I do have some caucus colleagues who are pretty snappy dressers themselves, say Thomas Dang, for instance.

Q: Do MLAs have a clothing allowance?

A: No, we don’t, and I think taxpayers agree that’s as it should be. We are paid a reasonable salary and certainly I’ve taken that as an opportunity to spend a bit more and to direct that specifically to local businesses, like Eddie’s Men’s Wear. I look for more fair trade, more Canadian-sourced clothing. I bought a pair of new shoes from Poppy Barley that I’m very happy with. I try make purchases within Edmonton-Centre, such as Dress to Suit, where I’ve bought a few things. I’ve gone to The Helm.

jvlieg@edmontonjournal.com

Email your suggestions of stylish Edmontonians for our On Trend series to arts& life@edmontonjournal.com. 

Vickie Laliotis hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. She is an Edmonton-based fashion writer and the founder of popular style blog adventuresinfashion.ca.

Email your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet her at twitter.com/advinfashion.

On the Town

Event: A Night of Fashion & Fun

When: Nov. 9

Where: Art Gallery of Alberta (2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq.)

What: A fundraising event hosted by Sarah Chan and DKNY Edmonton, held in support of United Way

Featuring: A fabulous four-course meal, silent auction, runway showcase from DKNY, and performances from the Alberta Ballet and Edmonton’s fifth poet laureate, Mary Pinkoski

Fun fact: United Way allocates funds to non-profit organizations across Alberta in order of need, and focuses on education, income and wellness to create pathways out of poverty.

On the Town

Event: Christmas in November

When: Nov. 6-15

Where: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

What: A special Christmas-themed event with celebrity chefs, decadent meals, festive drinks, crafts, holiday decorating, and 27 years of fun and friendships.  

Featuring: TV celebrity chefs such as Christine Cushing, Massimo Capra and Anna and Michael Olson, as well as local foodie favourites Giselle Courteau of Duchess Bakeshop and Dani, Chris and Edgar from Tres Carnales.

See for yourself: Photos, videos and recipes at cin.canada.com

About a year ago, a group of fashion designers sat around a table in the Netherlands talking about a dream project.

Wouldn’t it be fun, they thought, to do something that was all about creating clothes, with no confines other than the “What the hell — why not?” mentality? Wouldn’t it be great to approach the work with no-holds-barred creative flair?

That was the beginning of their new line, Van Mil. And this Saturday, Nov. 21, sartorially inspired Edmontonians will get to see it at a pop-up concept store called Church (in a building that used to house Strathcona Presbyterian Church) at 8116 105th St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What they won’t find out, however, is who the creative minds behind the clothing are.

A look from the new Van Mil collection.

That’s because those designers — two are Canadian and three are headquartered in Europe — prefer to remain anonymous. As a sort of protest to the current climate of designer superstars and ubiquitous labels screaming at us from billboards, magazines and social media feeds, the team behind Van Mil wanted to embrace an anti-marketing, anti-celebrity and anti-label spirit, and keep the focus solely on the fashion, rather than the faces behind it.

Not having their names attached also provided the creators with the sense of freedom that came from detaching from their usual work.

Though the collection is eclectic, there are some common themes. Sustainability was top of mind, for example, and the clothing was locally produced. In addition, much of it was made from reclaimed materials or existing clothing. Most of the pieces were fairly labour-intensive to put together, and are one-of-a-kind, or at the very least, limited edition.

The line harkens back to the ’70s, with vintage denim, hand-knits, wide-legged pants and plaids.

There’s even a collage dress made with old tourist T-shirts from destinations such as the Grand Canyon and Oregon — which, like the vacation spots they originally came from, you really need to see for yourself.

jleconte@edmontonjournal.com

Vickie Laliotis hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. She is an Edmonton fashion writer and the founder of popular style blog adventuresinfashion.ca. 

Email Vickie your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet her at @advinfashion.

On the Town

Event: YEG People launch party

When: Nov. 13

Where: Edmonton City Centre Parkade (10025 102A Ave.)

What: A celebration of the new website, which showcases influencers, entrepreneurs and community leaders throughout the city.

Featuring: Tasty nibblies from Century Hospitality Group and Jacek Chocolate Couture, live performances from Izzy Bergquist, Erin L’Heureux and NXG Dance Company, a pop-up nail bar by The Nailkeeper and Nailcart, and a showcase of various local photographers.

Event: Ornament book launch

When: Nov. 19

Where: Jubilee Auditorium, Kaasa Gallery

What: A celebration of Robert Jones’s new book, which honours the life of Kristen Fersovitch, a talented young singer and member of the Singing Christmas Tree company. She died from cancer at the age of 30 in 2013.

Featuring: Hosted by Carrie Doll, the event included delicious food and drinks, speeches, and a touching performance of It is Well with my Soul by Fersovitch’s family, with proceeds from the event going to a trust for her three young boys.

It’s not winter that’s hard to dress for. Bundle up sufficiently — sweaters (plural), oversized parka, hat, thick scarf, mitts, Sorels — and, even for the most heinous Edmonton day, you’re set. You’re an awkward, bulky marshmallow, but you’re set.

The hard part is dressing for arctic temperatures that can dip below -30 C, then transitioning to crowded spaces and jacked-up furnaces in too many places. And the hardest part, of course, is looking good and/or professional while doing it.

We spoke to local outfitting experts about how to master “transition dressing” in a chilly clime.

Layer, layer, layer

Winter Dressing 101’s rule of thumb is layering. But to look good and feel comfy, there’s an art to it.

“As much as you love your big, thick, cashmere wool sweater, you have to think about what’s underneath too,” says Marina Shih, owner of women’s clothing boutique, Shades of Grey (10116 124th street). “When I know I’m going to be in a cold environment, I’ll wear a cami underneath, but when I know I’ll have to take it off, I layer it with a cute shirt.”

Shih’s store carries a line called LnA which, she says, makes it particularly easy. “The bottoms of their T-shirts are always curved or have slits up the side and they’re really, really easy to layer. I’m wearing a faux cropped sweater and I just threw a T-shirt underneath — it transitions and looks like it’s part of the shirt.”

Get creative with your suit

When it comes to layering a suit, it’s no longer just about shirts, jackets and ties — a trend that’s perfect for colder climes.

“Merino knitwear has become a big thing in dressing for men,” says Chad Helm, co-founder and owner of The Helm clothing store (10125 104th street). “They’ll throw a cardigan or V-neck over top a shirt and then throw a jacket on to go into work.”

An extra layer of warmth suits the commute to work, and a jacket is easy to remove once you get there. Want to be really bold? “The turtleneck is starting to make a bit of a push again,” says Helm. “Sleek jackets and a nice clean turtleneck underneath.”

In general, Helm recommends natural fibres like layered wool for warmth and breathability, but there are exceptions. “Nylon down-fill coats are a great option for people who spend extended periods of time outdoors over the winter.”

And Helm recommends an Italian brand, Loro Piana, for their patented Storm System fabric (waterproof, wind-resistant, breathable).

Don’t underestimate overshoes

We might think of them as a relic from a bygone time, or associate them with men of a different generation. But Helm says men’s overshoes are making a splash in men’s stores near you — great news for anyone who doesn’t have the luxury of going from indoor garage to underground parkade on their daily commute.

“Those galoshes have made a good comeback in the last three years. A company out of Sweden called Swims are producing a relatively high-end toe-rubber galosh, and they’ve started to make them in different colours and patterns.” The’ve got a rainbow of colours on their website, says Helm, including classic black and navy. “Every season we sell out of them. The second the snow starts coming they’re gone.”

If simplicity’s what you’re after, you’ve got options. “It’s a challenge for every shoemaker,” says Helm of finding the perfect shoe to wear both outdoors and in. He recommends a pair from a Spanish brand, Magnanni. “They’re a lightweight, durable boot that, worn with a dress pant and a sport jacket, would be totally work appropriate.”

Hide under a cocoon

For women, the past few winter seasons have seen the ultra-fitted overcoat give way to a newer, more fashion-forward, more boyish style — a.k.a. the “cocoon coat.”

“I would totally run with that style, because it’s so much easier to layer,” says Shih. “Sometimes, even a Canada Goose parka — you can’t get your shirts into it. (Cocoon shapes) are way more comfy than trying to shovel your scarf or sweater into fitted jackets.”

Be wise: accessorize

Scarves are a necessity while you’re outside, and can stay on — acting like a sweater — when you come in. “A good patterned or plaid scarf is cute for this season,” says Shih, adding that the store has been selling out of their plaid styles.

Bonus: they go as well with your winter jacket as they do with your jeans.

Vickie Laliotis hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. She is an Edmonton-based fashion writer and the founder of popular style blog adventuresinfashion.ca. 

Email Vickie your event suggestions to arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet her at twitter.com/advinfashion. 

On the Town

Winter Benefit Gala

When: Nov. 26

Where: Matrix Hotel (10640 100th Ave.)

What: A fundraising event for the Canadian Red Cross, hosted by Elegant Earth Details and Décor and Ellerslie Roofing.

Featuring: Cocktails and a delicious meal, fabulous silent auction and live dessert auction via Cake Affair, a dance performance by the Vohon Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, and a talk from journalist Graham Thomson about his time in Syrian refugee camps.

Benefiting: All proceeds from the event will aid Syrian refugees in crisis overseas.

Festival of Trees Ladies Luncheon

When: Nov. 27

Where: Shaw Conference Centre (9797 Jasper Ave.)

What: An annual event raising funds for the Trauma and Complex Surgery Unit at the University of Alberta Hospital.

Featuring: A fabulous brunch, musical performances from the Terrell Edwards Band, a live painting for auction by artist Giselle Denis, and a lively fashion show.

Purpose: The goal of the event is to raise enough money for the unit to upgrade its equipment and purchase new cutting-edge machines, as it’s the only Level One trauma centre in northern Alberta.

Andrew Gonzalez got into the clothing biz because he wanted to offer an ethical fashion alternative to Edmontonians.

In 2008, the business school grad opened Lucid Lifestyle (10406 82nd Ave.), a womenswear shop that sells sustainable and Canadian- and North American-made clothing in cosy, natural materials such as organic cotton and bamboo.

Seven years later, much is changing at his Whyte Avenue store. For instance, Gonzalez wants to bring in men’s clothing, and hopes that by February the store will be divided equally for the sexes. He’d also like to replace some of his more casual looks with “good-for-work, clean-cut, contemporary,” clothing that caters to “the gentleman and the lady who have their professional careers but also go out at night.”

Gonzalez also recently began reaching out to a new audience, collaborating with local fashion bloggers and social media stars such as Diana Bistran (@dianabstyle) and the Bawan sisters (@bawansisters) on photo shoots that showcase his wares.

One thing that hasn’t changed? The 31-year-old – whether fedora-, tailored jacket- or denim-clad – is one of the city’s best dressed. We talked to Gonzalez about his favourite places to shop, the importance of merino wool socks, and what it means to be “an urban gentleman.”

Q: How would you describe your personal style?

A: My personal style comes directly from my lifestyle … the fact that I do a lot of travelling, and when you’re travelling, you go to these nice big cities and you have to be on your A game. You need to wear something that’s appropriate for being a professional, for doing business, but also something you can wear out to evening events, whether that’s an art show or a party. It’s still a professional look, but more like an urban gentleman.

Some people like underground music, you have to dig for that. For fashion, it’s the same thing. If you want the good stuff, you’re going to have to dig for it and put in a little effort.

Q: What are your favourite places to shop in Edmonton?

A: Rucallen Shoe Repair in West Edmonton Mall, and I get my sunglasses at Jaisel on Whyte Avenue (8133 104th St.). 

Q: What are your favourite cities to shop in?

A: I’ve been doing a lot more shopping in L.A. lately. … L.A. has tons of arts and culture and tons of artists. Vancouver is surprising me as well lately. A lot of the entrepreneurs in Vancouver do a lot of travelling and they come back and bring that energy into their boutiques. Vancouver is a pleasant surprise because it’s so close but it feels so international. It’s still in Canada – and the Canadian dollar helps.

Q: What’s the winter wardrobe piece you can’t live without?

A: It has to be merino wool socks. I love my feet being happy. If your feet aren’t happy, you’re not happy.

Q: What’s your go-to accessory?

A: My hat, which I’ve been wearing a lot lately. I’ve been really digging the hat. It’s a nice fabric fedora, made out of recycled polyester and hemp. It’s from a brand called Livity based in California.

Q: Are there any trends that you hate?

A: I hate the lost opportunity of people being able to find unique pieces… .

I always think about the fact that there are a million people in Edmonton and most of them are shopping in a couple of places that you can only find in a mall. Imagine if all those people didn’t shop in the mall, how much more boutiques there would be, how much more creative style there would be. There’s this void of people expressing themselves through clothing. There’s a lost opportunity.

Q: Anything else?

A: I love my stretch denim. Most of my clothing has a stretch. The button-up dress shirts, cardigans, jeans, almost everything has stretch. I’m a mass believer in functional comfort but still looking really good and tailored.

ON TREND: The Journal’s occasional series introduces some of Edmonton’s most fashion-forward people. Email your suggestions of stylish Edmontonians for our On Trend series to artslife@edmontonjournal.com.

In the midst of the most expensive season of the year, a new store in Old Strathcona is providing an opportunity for current, stylish clothing at a fraction of what it would usually cost.

Oh, and more good timing: it’s also a way for anyone who’s got extra clothes in their closets to earn a few bucks — fast.

Western Canada’s second Plato’s Closet, a resale chain store catering mostly to young women and teenagers, opened on Tuesday at 10339 80th Ave. and shoppers were lined up before doors opened at 10 a.m.

In fact, owner Laura Thompson, who went into business with her mother, Elizabeth Penttinen, had to move up the grand opening, due to an overwhelming amount of stock. Tuesday was the first day customers could purchase. But over the past several weeks, the shop has been open to locals who have been dropping off their gently used clothing, high and low-end, with brand names like True Religion, Lululemon and Coach — especially popular with the younger demographic — in the mix.

“It has been amazing, and very surprising because it’s a new concept in Edmonton. We’re the only store like it,” said Thompson on Monday.

“They have come by the loads. We reached the amount of inventory we needed a couple of weeks ago.”

Thompson, who has two young children, had originally been interested in opening her own Once Upon A Child franchise, but was told by the owning company Winmark Corporation that the Edmonton market was already saturated with three locations for its children’s resale brand.

Instead, they suggested Plato’s Closet, which has several locations in Ontario, but only a handful on the prairies. The only other Alberta location is in Red Deer. At the time, her parents were moving back after living in Madagascar for five years, and her mother was interested in being a part of the business.

Plato’s Closet differs from regular consignment shops. Sellers can come in without an appointment, for example. And instead of waiting for months for an item to sell before getting paid, they get cash in hand the day they drop off their items.

That business model means the store takes all the risk, says Thompson, but it’s worth it.

“We find it brings more people in … and our goal is fast turnover.”

A computer program decides how much each item of clothing will sell for, based on the quality, the brand, how much it’s been used and how old it is. After that price is determined, the store gets 60 per cent and the seller gets 40. Plato’s Closet aims to keep their prices low, and you won’t find much in the store for over $50.

Thompson is upfront with customers who have extremely valuable pieces, telling them they can probably get more selling online or at a regular consignment shop.

Another differentiation point: Plato’s Closet also sells men’s clothing, albeit, says Thompson, in much smaller quantity.

For Thompson, this year has been especially busy. She and her husband just adopted a daughter from South Africa, something they thought wouldn’t happen until the new year, but it ended up coinciding with opening the store.

She spends the mornings in the shop with her mom, something regular sellers have come to expect and time their visits for. That neighbourhood vibe is exactly what Thompson had been going for.

“We’re a community company. And we like to think we’re supporting the community as a whole.”

How do you top a romantic engagement inside a castle at Disneyland Paris? For two lovers of the amusement park and animation giant, there’s only one way: Get married at the biggest and best Disney resort, natch.

Disney had become a sweet and meaningful part of Michelle Annett and Fraser Anderson’s relationship in the eight years before they tied the knot. In fact, it was the first trip they took together back in 2007, and Fraser’s first time ever at the theme park.

“I really liked it from the first time I went because of how interesting it was from an engineering standpoint, and how goofy and fun it was, and how you can forget about regular life stuff,” says Fraser.

Michelle, on the other hand, had been a fan much longer. A road trip from Edmonton to Anaheim Disneyland with her family stands out. “My sisters and I were 10, 8, and 6 — those are some of the most vivid memories I have of us.”

Michelle and Fraser, who both work at Toronto’s Autodesk Research and live northeast of the city, met when they were computer science students at MacEwan University (then Grant MacEwan Community College). After a four-year friendship, they finally went on their first date during their last week of classes. Their relationship took them through their masters and PhDs at the University of Alberta, to different cities including Toronto and Seattle (either separately or together) and, eventually, to an academic conference/vacation in France, where Fraser proposed.

And even though Michelle was the lifelong Disney lover, it was the groom who floated the wedding idea first.

“We knew we wanted something small, but we also knew that a large part of our history has been about travelling to different places and living in different places,” says Michelle. “So we were deciding between two places in the UK and Fraser said, ‘Oh, we can get married at Disneyland,’ and I thought he was joking.”

He wasn’t. Michelle recalls sitting in an old-fashioned soda shop in Disney World two years later for wedding day photos. “I looked at Fraser and I was thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, we’re getting married, this is actually happening’ and I was so happy and overjoyed. I knew this is 100 per cent the guy I should be with because nobody else would have ever dreamed up this kind of wedding.”

The bride and groom were committed to the theme, and their wedding popped with carefully thought-out details. Lego-lovers, they’d sent out customized Lego brides and grooms designed to look like them as save-the-dates.

For the wedding itself, they requested that each of their guests receive a Mickey Mouse hat with his or her name on it, and guests had to blow up colourful balloons to see their program.

Their family, too, worked hard to surprise the couple with thoughtful details. “Michelle’s mom and sister arranged a bunch of stuff with the wedding planner,” says Fraser. “There was a surprise photo where everyone was given props so they could dress like Carl from the movie Up — little things like that that caught us off-guard.”

And the Disney World wedding team, as it turned out, was just as magical as the park itself. Maybe more.

For example, Michelle had wanted a live centrepiece for their reception. “Initially they thought I was crazy,” she says. “But when we saw what they had actually made? It was a huge bed of grass that covered 75 per cent of the table and they had giant toys in the grass.”

With guidance from Michelle’s sister Janice, who’d previously worked at Disney, the design and display team built a custom altar piece made of three building blocks. Janice also made sure to inform them of some of the couple’s favourite characters, such as the Finding Nemo seagulls that were perched on the giant custom sandcastle sundae bar they’d wanted.

“Disney was incredibly accommodating in helping us see our vision through, given that we wanted something that was very whimsical and vibrant and playful and fun,” says Michelle.

Disney also allowed them to have their reception in the prop shop, which wasn’t customary, and their chefs incorporated Canadian classics including perogies and poutine into their menu. The desserts were displayed on a custom-built six-foot-tall wooden wedding cake.

But the couple were equally pleased by the small, personal moments. Michelle was touched by her dad’s contribution to making the acrylic ribbon wands that the guests held up for the couple to walk through; and it meant a lot to Fraser that his parents — who hadn’t flown in decades — made the trip.

His biggest moment, however, was between just Michelle and him.

“It was toward the end at the dessert party when we were watching the fireworks and it was just the two of us after the whole exhausting and fun day,” he says. “People were still there but Michelle and I were just off to the side by ourselves and everybody was watching the fireworks separately and it was just us two.”

Michelle and Fraser didn’t go on a honeymoon at the time, but they do have something in mind.

“There’s a work conference next year in Tokyo,” says Michelle. “So I believe we’ll go and maybe honeymoon at Tokyo Disney, which completes everything full circle.”

How’s that for a fairy tale ending?

Making Choices

Wedding date: April 22, 2015

Wedding and reception venues: Walt Disney World Resort: Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort Gazebo (ceremony); Backstage Prop Shop, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (reception); UK Lochside, Epcot (dessert party and fireworks).

Guests: 18

(Unofficial) colours: Bright and colourful

Dress: Hayley Paige from Delica Bridal (2951 Ellwood Drive)

First song: Fishin’ In The Dark, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Ring bearer: Wall-E

Emcee: Sarge (from Toy Story)

jleconte@edmontonjournal.com

Vickie Laliotis hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. She is an Edmonton-based fashion writer and the founder of popular style blog adventuresinfashion.ca.

Email Vickie your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet her at twitter.com/advinfashion.

On the Town

Event: Ribbon Rouge

When: Saturday, Nov. 28

Where: ATB Arts Barns (10330 84th Ave.)

What: An eighth annual fundraising event, this year benefiting HIV Edmonton

Featuring: A champagne reception, fine-art exhibition, three-course Nigerian-inspired meal, live entertainment and a fabulous fashion show presented by Mode Models

Event: Simons Holiday Fete

When: Sunday, Nov. 29

Where: La Maison Simons (8882 170th St.)

What: An evening of shopping, mingling and entertainment

Featuring: Delicious nibbles from Ampersand 27, champagne from Montaudon, and a lively fashion show and dance performance from Toy Guns Dance Theatre

You’ve got better things to do with your time than aimlessly circling a crowded shopping mall, looking for the same-old, same-old gifts for your family and friends. The holidays are a perfect time to give back to your community, and buy products that were imagined and produced right here in YEG.

Here, 10 gifts that are unique, environmentally friendly, and best of all, support local entrepreneurs, artists and designers.

Red Balloon Pie Company’s caramels.

For the gourmand

Everybody loves a consumable at Christmastime, but why not up your edibles game a few notches? Chef Erica Vliegenthart, head baker at District Coffee Co., offers an exquisite alternative to your regular box of chocolates or fruit cake with her scrumptious caramels. They’re available for $10 a bag in a variety of flavours, including apple pie and salted caramel, and seasonally inspired ones like orange & clove, eggnog and gingerbread. Available at Elm Café (10140 117th St), District Coffee Co. (10011 109th St), the Burrow (Central LRT Station) and Little Brick Café and General Store (10004 90th St), as well as the French Quarter’s farmers market (Cité Francophone, 8627 Marie-Anne Gaboury) every Sunday until Christmas.

Plum Home + Design’s Mama ornament,

For the new mama

There are baby’s-first-Christmas ornaments galore, but what about mom? The 124th Street home decor hotspot Plum Home + Design (12407 108th Ave, plumhomeanddesign.com) has created a custom ornament for mamas this year ($24.95), in addition to one for babies born in 2015. The best part? Purchasing the former means that a portion of proceeds goes to support WIN House, a shelter for women fleeing domestic violence.

Bro Brick makes vegan soaps in macho flavours.

For the hard-to-buy-for guy

Men are notoriously hard to shop for. But everybody needs to bathe, right? Bro Brick “man soap” implores you to “smack the filth off” with their stylish and scented soaps. The handmade vegan bars come in macho smells like Whiskey & Chocolate, Rum & Coke, Beer, Barbershop and Leather Scrub, and are available for $10.50 at several local outposts including Habitat Etc (10187 104th St), Fort Edmonton Park, Jacek Chocolate Couture (10140 104th St), Bamboo Ballroom (8206 104th St) and Little Brick Café and General Store (10004 90th St). Visit their website (thebrobrick.com) for a full list of retailers or to shop online. Oh, and the soap works on female skin, too.

Edmonton-proud tote bags.

For the city-proud localist

Plastic bags are so pre-millennium. Reusable sacks amass in your cupboards and, frankly, don’t look so good. Give your environmentally minded, stylish and proudly Edmontonian friend something cool to carry their stuff in with the Edmonton tote, designed by Plum Home + Design in collaboration with Canadian company Sea & Lake Paper Co. $25.50, available online (plumhomeanddesign.com) or in-store at 12407 108th Ave.

Kristine MacDonald’s copper jewelry.

For the hippest friend in your circle

Kristine MacDonald’s Smithstine copper jewelry is unique, versatile and perfect for displaying one’s civic or provincial pride. Necklaces come in Alberta, Edmonton, North Saskatchewan River and Rocky Mountain shapes, as well as locally inspired motifs like bears or lumberjack tools. MacDonald hand-saws, sands, polishes and assembles the jewelry at her Edmonton studio, and pieces range from around $30-$70. MacDonald will also custom make jewelry for a minimum charge of $55. Available online (kristinemacdonalddesign.com) or at Tix on the Square (9930 102nd Ave) and Bamboo Ballroom (8206 104th St).

Jason Carter’s children’s book series, Who Is Boo?

For the discerning art lover

Jason Carter‘s paintings are colourful, powerful depictions of Canadian wildlife on canvass, currently on display at Bearclaw Gallery (10403 124th St). Canoes, grizzlies, lakes and mountains feel uniquely Albertan but are universally breathtaking. Paintings start at around $400. On a tighter budget? Pick up Carter’s Who Is Boo? children’s book series (there are now three titles in the collection), for $19.95 each (on sale at Bearclaw).

Hunt Amor brass Hex cuff, $70.

For the fierce fashion buff

Hunt Amor jewelry is anything but dainty. The Edmonton-based design studio produces bold, fashion-forward rings, bracelets, earrings and cuffs in geometric shapes, and materials like gold, brass and steel. The industrial look is perfect for the edgy, anti-pretty fashionista in your flock. Elegant, versatile and ranging in price from quartz necklaces at $48 to gold rings at over $3,000. The studio also does custom work. Shop online (huntamor.com) or at retailers such as Bamboo Ballroom (8206 104th St) and Plum Home + Design (12407 108th Ave).

Sweet Jane Studio’s baby and kids’ clothing.

For the kid who gets into everything

Sweet Jane Studio’s Crystal Tracy makes kids’ clothing that’s cute and comfortable, and, most importantly, can take them through the sandbox, a birthday party or a day in the park. Durable dresses, T-shirts and baby onesies ($35-$79) are sweet, sleek and buttonless, and feature adorable animals or nature patterns. Shop online (sweetjanestudio.com) and use the code YEGSHIP for free local shipping.

Creation Crate sends tech projects to subscribers on a monthly basis.

For the tech enthusiast

Creation Crate founder Chris Gatbonton is delivering tech education in a box, monthly, to enthusiasts of all experience levels who want to build games, instruments and sensors out of LEDs, jumper wires and breadboards. Each month the subscriber receives a box of electronic parts and instructions, and the idea is that the projects increase in difficulty each time. Gatbonton launches in January, or, when he reaches 50 pre-orders (whichever comes first). Sign up online (mycreationcrate.com) for $29.99 for one month, $26.99/month for three months, $25.49/month for six months or $22.49/month for a whole year. Free shipping in Canada.

Chad Baba’s The Exchange Lamp made from reclaimed materials.

For the antique/salvage lover

Chad Baba scours his environment and places like landfills for old treasures to reinvent in useful, artful ways. His MK Baba wares, which you can find in Bay 8 of Vacancy Hall in the Mercer Warehouse building (10359 104th St), are mostly functional (lamps, furniture), but some are sculpture and art pieces. His beautiful brown and amber The Exchange lamp ($1,200) was made from materials such as an industrial heat exchange, a hand-crank telephone and salvaged copper from a landfill, plus walnut hardwood flooring cut-offs from Summit Custom Hardwood for the frame, and an old electric motor.

Vickie Laliotis hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. She is an Edmonton-based fashion writer and the founder of popular style blog adventuresinfashion.ca.

Email Vickie your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet her at twitter.com/advinfashion.

On the Town

Event: PARKSHOW YEG 2015

When: Dec. 5

Where: West Edmonton Mall (8882 170th St.)

What: A showcase of Western Canada’s up-and-coming designers, presented by Simons

Featuring: Workhall, KAZZ Clothing, S.P Badu, Suka Clothing, Anneke Forbes, LUXX Ready to Wear and many other labels hit the runway in a remarkably transformed old Target location.

About PARK: The Calgary-based organization promotes and celebrates artists and fashion designers with an aim of keeping local talent at home.

Event: RAM: A Moving Tribute

When: Dec. 7

Where: Royal Alberta Museum (12845 102nd Ave.)

What: A farewell party celebrating the museum’s iconic building one last time

Featuring: Nibbles and drinks, touching speeches, live entertainment and interactive displays throughout the museum

Presented by: Friends of Royal Alberta Museum Society

Christmas is Ariana Whitlow’s season, not just for the many days she can wear sequins. The 31-year-old singer is a soloist in the Singing Christmas Tree, Dec. 17-20 at the Jubilee Auditorium, and loves wearing the evening gowns required for the show.

From her short, silvery curls to her sparkle-stud earrings and down to her sequined leggings, Whitlow reflects the season of lights. “I’m just my own bright, shining light,” she jokes, as her toddler son Josh plays nearby in the music studio where she works. Her smile is especially bright these days as she and husband Joseph Whitlow expect a new baby in May.

Whitlow calls herself “a stay-at-home mom” but Singing Christmas Tree rehearsals and her work with the production team have lately required full-time hours at the John Cameron Entertainment studio. She is also one of two female singers in the cover band Uptown, playing at corporate parties and weddings.

Performance has always been part of her life, starting as a youngster onstage with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers of Edmonton. Dance and music came naturally to the daughter of Gene Zwozdesky, better known as the former Progressive Conservative Speaker of the legislature, who was a Shumka dancer for six years and its musical director for 25 years. 

Graduating from MacEwan University’s jazz and vocal performance program, Whitlow won a scholarship to Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Moving away from home and experiencing life in the U.K. and Europe clarified her goals in life, and her sense of style.

“I sort of fell into their comfortable sort of fashion, and into a new thing, where I discovered who I was over there. I stopped trying to dress for other people and started to dress for myself,” Whitlow recalls.

“You move away from home and people don’t know who you are so you have a chance to reinvent yourself.”

She also met her husband, now an Edmonton firefighter, at the Liverpool Institute. After graduation in 2007, the young couple spent five years working in entertainment for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

At her wedding in 2010, Whitlow’s hair was still dark and long, but back at work on the cruise ship, her hairstylist persuaded her to make a radical change to the look she has today. “So I did, and I felt like this is who I was supposed to be all along. Took me almost 30 years to find it!”

Q: What’s your signature look?

A: I like really classic pieces with a slightly unique little twist. I discovered as I started performing more and more that I will squeeze myself into anything that sparkles. Anything that looks good under lights, I like that a lot.

Q: How do you choose what to wear for work at the studio?

A: I worked for a lot of years in retail and in an office and I always felt I couldn’t look the way I wanted. Now that I work in an entertainment office, you can sort of be the professional rock star.

Q: With the different venues that you visit in any given week, how do you pull together a wardrobe? 

A: As a performer you have the benefit of being three different people all in one little package. I’m the mom that chooses a lot of child-friendly colours, a lot of grey, that you can’t see handprints on, more comfortable styles. Here at work, it’s casual, but always put together. Onstage, it’s all about flash and performance.

Q: What do you wear onstage with Uptown?

A: We (singer Erica Noot and I) wear a lot of flashy, sequined dresses. We’re in short skirts, things that people associate with bands.

Ariana Whitlow’s favourite fashion items are an eclectic mix of leggings, tunic sweaters and gowns like this one.

Q: What are your favourite fashion items?

A: I love my sequined leggings, I love my gowns and I love my baggy sweaters.

Q: What’s the secret to looking fabulous in black, sequined leggings?  

A: I don’t like to pair the leggings with something sparkly on top. That’s where a loose sweater is perfect, in plain white or grey, for instance. I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, but I do love my sparkle studs.

Q: How do you stay on trend within your clothes budget?

A: I look for pieces I can swap out for other things. Versatility is important. I do dress mostly in neutrals and then buy pops of colour. But I do tend to a monochromatic wardrobe. For me it’s grey, not the black usually associated with artists.

Q: What’s your thinking about fashion trends?

A: If you’re comfortable in your own skin and what you’re wearing, then that’s the fashion trend for you. If a trend comes out and it doesn’t work for you, then don’t try to make it happen. Try to find something that makes you feel comfortable about who you are. That’s the most important thing. So for me, I know I can do skinny pants, and I like baggy shirts. I don’t like to feel constricted, and we’ve got another baby on the way so that’s important.

On Trend: The Journal’s occasional series introduces some of Edmonton’s most fashion-forward people. Email your suggestions of stylish Edmontonians for our On Trend series to arts& life@edmontonjournal.com.

After two years of mingling, snapping photos and getting to know some of Edmonton’s most social, it’s with a heavy heart that I hang up my party shoes once and for all. Thank you to everyone who’s ever invited me to an event, let me snap their photo, and of course, read the column — you’ve made my time with Social Seen something that I won’t soon forget. Happy holidays!

— Vickie Laliotis

On the Town

Event: Cocktails for Camp

When: Dec. 15

Where: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald (10065 100th St.)

What: A first-annual event hosted by Camp Quality Alberta (CQAB)

Featuring: Holiday cocktails, amazing hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auctions, music and presentations, interactive camp-themed stations, and the opportunity to meet some of the organization’s campers and their families.

About CQAB: The organization supports the families of children with cancer by offering weeklong summer camps, year-round activities, and programming for the bereaved. Learn more at campquality.org/camps/alberta.

Event: Singing Christmas Tree

When: Dec. 17

Where: Jubilee Auditorium (11455 87th Ave.)

What: An annual holiday spectacular, now in its 46th year.

Featuring: Over 100 choir members positioned in a 35-foot Christmas tree, amazing soloists including Annais Castellanos, Ariana Whitlow, Asim Chin and Bernard Quilala, mesmerizing dance performances and acrobatics, and impressive costume and set designs.

Benefiting: All proceeds from the show go to local charities, organizations and children in need.

Social Seen will return in January.

Fashion is fleeting, so they say, but some style trends disappear only to return, their appeal surviving the march of time. And we’re not talking Canada Goose parkas and Sorel boots.

Take the ’70s look, a huge influence in the past year. Gals who weren’t alive for the decade’s first go-round wore fringe mini-skirts or flared jeans with their yellow platforms this summer. Suede-fringed vests, maxi dresses, two-tone shoulder bags, palazzo pants — all were prominent this year, and experts expect they will continue to be part of retail inventory for 2016.

Janis Galloway writes the fashion blog Dress Me Dearly and is Publicity Room’s agency director

But what of the ’90s look, all the rage in 2015? “I think we’ll all be over that by the new year,” predicts fashion blogger Janis Galloway, agency director of Publicity Room. “Overalls, choker necklaces, velvet — these trends will be sent back where they came from.”

Not so fast, says Caroline Gault, Alberta editor of Fashion magazine. The infatuation with the ’90s may well persist and move into a revival of trends from the early 2000s. “We’re already seeing it with the return of flared jeans and looser-fitting pants. I know some say they will never leave their skinny jeans behind, but it might be time.”

The most dominant feature of 2015 fashion for Gault was a new take on ’90s grunge street style. She points to “Clueless-esque flared skirts and knee-high socks” and “tons of plaid, denim-on-denim and cool runner-style kicks.”

The return of the turtleneck surprised fashion watchers, but the high collar worked well with another strong trend, layering. “Whether it was a jacket draped over the shoulders, cardigans tied around waists, or turtlenecks layered under dresses, creative layering was one of the biggest trends this year,” Galloway says.

Skirt hems appeared to be dropping in 2015, while a trend to cropped pants saw trouser lengths moving up. To make the shorter pants look flattering, experts advised paying attention to details in pulling together an ensemble. With pants just above the ankle, footwear choices became an important element.

Slim-fitting crops paired with a chunky ankle boot, for instance, passed the on-trend test with a long, loose sweater or a blazer. A more fitted top could be balanced out with a wider-cut pant, sometimes in a floral print. Rolled-up jeans and cropped pants with sandals were a big hit for women and men during an unusually warm summer.

Shoe-lovers embraced another vintage-style trend with the return of the women’s loafer. “This was the biggest shoe trend in 2015, from shiny gold loafers with fringe to raised platform styles in black and white,” says Galloway. “It was everywhere and certainly found its way into my closet.”

Longer hemlines were on the runways at Western Canada Fashion Week shows in March and September. In local retail outlets this year, shoppers enjoyed a full range of options in skirt lengths. The midi-length in either a narrow, pencil skirt or a ’50s-style dress was popular all year, while loose, flowing maxi dresses were seen more frequently this summer, paired with strappy shoes.

Despite the continuing emphasis on adding pops of jewel-tone colour, neutrals in a monochromatic look were dominant. Nude tans and beiges led the way early in the year, while the fall was all about grey — maybe not in 50 shades, but all variations, especially heathered grey. Walk through any fashion boutique or clothing department and you’ll be awash in grey. Expect that trend to hold into 2016.

Leggings can hardly be called trendy anymore, having been a comfortable and stylish wardrobe staple for more than five years. But 2015 saw leggings move away from mostly low-profile, solid colours to an abundance of crazy patterns, colours and textures, paired with tunic tops and oversized sweaters.

Galloway sees the year’s biggest influence as a change in attitude by consumers, something she calls “a revolt against fast fashion and cheap garments that are itchy, lack structure and fall apart after one wear.

“I think women, and for the first time even younger women, are putting emphasis on wearing clothing that feels good on their skin and feels good on their conscience.”

Tanja Crnogorac left a desk job in Edmonton for a life in advertising and high fashion in one of the world’s most exciting cities, Shanghai.

Crnogorac, 27, has worked with Chinese fashion house Decoster and in advertising with Hugo Boss, Alexander Wang and Balenciaga, to name a few. It’s a fashion connoisseur’s dream come true, but is filled with the challenges of navigating new social media platforms and satisfying an exploding consumer population.

Crnogorac now works for Serviceplan, a German-based advertising firm with offices in Europe and Asia. It is her job to help localize western brands in a rapidly evolving Chinese landscape. In North America, “we are already a bit advanced, so we’re not in a rush to change,” she says. “Here? Changes happen overnight.” She has worked with a variety of clients in areas such as premium luxury kitchenware, but fashion is definitely her favourite.

Journey to the fashion industry

Born in Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia, Crnogorac moved to Edmonton with her family as a youngster. After graduating from the University of Alberta with a degree in political science, she took a job working for the legislative assembly. In 2013, an opportunity arose for anyone who had graduated within the past two years to apply to work abroad. Crnogorac made the cut by less than a month and started a year-long posting in Shanghai. At the end of her contract, she got a job with Chinese fashion house Decoster in Shanghai, and later made the move to Serviceplan.

Crnogorac’s passion for photography, architecture and fashion has helped her accumulate nearly 2,000 Instagram followers (@tttanja) and an active following on tumblr (tcrnogorac.tumblr.com).

She still has family and friends in Edmonton and returned regularly to see them. She wasn’t able to come home for Christmas, however. Many of her friends in Shanghai are Canadians, including a close pal from Edmonton.

New social media tools

“The whole idea of localizing doesn’t mean you change the brand, and it doesn’t mean that the brand changes what they’re doing. It means they have to interact with a new consumer in a different way,” says Crnogorac. Part of this interaction is understanding how to use social media in a country where major western platforms Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are banned.

Instead, they use Weibo (Chinese Twitter) and WeChat, a social media app that has features similar to Instagram and Facebook combined, along with private messaging. WeChat sends out notifications to followers whenever an account they subscribe to posts something. “Part of it is teaching these luxury companies that they have to be on these platforms.”

Last spring Tencent (the company that owns WeChat) reported having more than 549 million users. “It will soon be one of those things that we all utilize,” predicts Crnogorac. 

Experiences in the Chinese fashion industry 

The month before a fashion show “is just nuts,” says Crnogorac. “Twelve-hour days minimum, model castings — you see the really difficult side of fashion.” Crnogorac worked on two shows with Decoster, the spring/summer 2015 and the autumn/winter 2016 collections.

After the show is presented, it is straight into trade shows and marketing for the new collection. “You can’t help but be extremely emotional when a show ends and you’re standing backstage and realize that 10 minutes is what you’ve been working for, for five months.”

Models at a fitting/rehearsal for the Spring/Summer 2015 Decoster runway show.

Crnogorac worked closely with Decoster designers curating music for shows and preparing models for the runway. She describes how the industry can be unpredictable, with models sometimes fired on a whim. “There’s me and my assistant, last minute looking for a new model, the day of the show, because they just changed their mind.”

“I think there’s this idea that fashion is a very superficial thing. But when someone is willing to make design their life, they must be very passionate about it.” 

Shanghai versus Edmonton

“Fashion is a self-expression. I think that more so in China, fashion is important because expression in some ways has been limited.”

Crnogorac says consumers in China are often drawn to a similar esthetic as Edmontonians, shopping in department stores such as Zara and H&M. But there are also groups who dress very differently. “There are segments of populations in China that are very into K-Pop and Japanese culture, which is more out there. There’s also a lot of comical stuff worn. That being said, there are trends that are consistent across cultures. Sneaker culture, for example.”

Crnogorac thinks upcoming development in downtown Edmonton will allow the fashion industry to grow. “Calgary downtown is developed, so is Vancouver, so is Toronto, but we’re not. We’re the city in Canada that has the most potential to change.”