The Spring 2016 fashion weeks in Paris, New York, London and Milan — as well as closer to home in Toronto and here in Edmonton — were anything but basic.

Trends were romantic, maximalist and often kooky; they were colourful, sexy and sometimes see-through.

They took inspiration from decades past, especially the ’70s, with prairie florals, voluminous sleeves, tie-dye and denim. They leaned toward futuristic with sequins and sparkles galore and spacesuit silver that showed up in several collections.

Romantic ruffles, Spanish elegance, eye-catching cut-outs and even lacy boudoir looks also trotted down the runways.

But how much of that will trickle down to this city? Which trends will reinvent themselves for everyday work and play? We asked Janis Galloway, Chelaine Kerr and Stacey Boruk, three of Edmonton’s fashion flock, to tell us what to expect on the racks and in the streets in 2016. Galloway is a fashion publicist for the Publicity Room and blogs at Dress Me Dearly; Kerr is manager at Floc Boutique; and Boruk is the co-owner of Bamboo Ballroom.

Q: What new fashion trends are you expecting to hit Edmonton next year?

Galloway: Spring 2016 is all about the ’70s. We’re seeing the transition already in winter fashion this year. Expect to see lots of fringe, suede, orange, light denim, print-mixing and wide-leg pants. Think Almost Famous.

Kerr: The ’70s are alive and strong and still going into 2016 — a lot of suede/faux suede and bohemian styles. But what’s really exciting for us is the shift in denim. We saw a lot of wide legs, flares and straights coming back in a really strong way. There is a lot more choice in terms of bottoms — don’t get us wrong, skinnies still have a place. But pairing a pretty blouse with a flare jean is such an effortless, fabulous look for so many women.

Boruk: We are inspired by high-fashion ’80s bold pieces. Think sequins, bold colours and prints, geometric shapes, fun fabrics and textures. Denim skirts and dresses, psychedelic prints and Spanish flair are also a few trends we’ll be seeing in store.

Q: What new colours will we be incorporating into our wardrobes? 

Galloway: Expect the spring classics — pastels galore as well as bright pops of cobalt blue and orange.

Boruk: Bright colours of all kinds will be big for spring 2016, and the Pantone colours of Rose Quartz and Serenity (light blue) will also be popular.

Kerr: We have been seeing a lot of shades of yellows and golds, beautiful cobalts, sky blues and pops of corals. Springtime is always exciting for the explosion of colour, especially after a dull winter.

Q: How will the runway looks of New York and Paris trickle down to YEG?

Galloway: We’re lucky to live in Edmonton where we have access to everything from high-end labels to fast fashion and local designers. Mesh and lightweight denim can already be found in Edmonton designer Alisha Schick’s collections under the Suka Clothing label (available online and at Bamboo Ballroom) and designer Malorie Urbanovitch has a retro vibe to all her collections (available at Simons). Workhall is already playing with peek-a-boo cut-outs in its garments, and I bet we can expect a bare-shoulder selection come spring.

Boruk: I think layering fun, eclectic, fitted pieces mixed with statement accessories will appeal to the girl who knows how to mix and match her clothing shapes and prints. Lace and florals will be big for spring, and the ’70s vibe of bohemian and off-the-shoulder is sticking around as well.

Kerr: Bare shoulders and florals have coincided with the ’70s free-spirit trend, and with Edmonton’s huge art scene, there will definitely be a lot of “folk” looks out on the streets. In denim, the flares with a bit of distressing were huge and totally easy to incorporate into a spring wardrobe. But we couldn’t be happier to see the return of the boyfriend jean again. Who doesn’t want a slouchy pair of jeans for a Sunday?

Q: How can you wear 2016 looks right now? 

Galloway: Fringe is an easy one and can be added through accessories — add a fringe bag or suede fringe ankle booties to your wardrobe. Instead of wearing the same old black parka everyone else has, opt for a fun ’70s-inspired faux-fur coat. But in all honesty, don’t obsess over trends. Wear what feels good and flatters you individually. Be unique. That’s the best advice I can give to be “on trend.”

Boruk: Sparkles and metallics are going forward into spring; don’t be so quick to hide them away come Jan. 2.

Kerr: Sweater weather is perfect … to go with the Boho looks. Throw on your favourite comfy cardi over a paisley blouse for a transitional winter-to-spring look, or even better, pair them with a boyfriend jean and booties — you’re ready to rock the weekend.

jlipscombe@edmontonjournal.com

It’s a year I’m glad is over.

It’s a year I’ll never forget.

It’s a year where everything changed. Everything except what I was wearing.

Just over a year ago, I decided to simplify one aspect of my life by wearing the same black dress for all of 2015. I wrote about it on a blog called Frock Around the Clock (which you can find at frockaroundtheclock.tumblr.com).

Would the frock last, I wondered. Would I?

A T-shirt-style jersey cotton number from Edmonton boutique Workhall (workhallstudio.com), the dress became my uniform for 365 days. I began calling the dress by her style name, Laverne. I treated it as an experiment. A chance to eliminate one daily stress: deciding what to wear in the mornings. So I could devote that thinking time, that energy, to things that matter more: family, health, and creativity.

Simultaneously, I became the Edmonton Public Library’s writer-in-residence.

But a new job was only part of what went down in 2015. My marriage ended. We sold the house. I moved from the north side to the south side, bid my whippet farewell and acquired a blue fish.

At times, I felt like a joke: that woman who tried to simplify her life, only to have said life blow up in her face. Ha. Ha. Ha!

Through it all, Laverne was the constant. A given in a period of no givens, no certainty, and many, many question marks.

Together, Laverne and I did our best to carry on. We napped and wrote and cried and stress-ate. We travelled to Maui and Iceland, Winnipeg and Las Vegas. We got a tattoo, and then another one. We bought a car, and then another one when the first car died. We received a postcard from David Sedaris. We learned to surf. We had our first chainsaw lesson (no digits were lost). We camped and skied and painted and sewed, received a beautiful pair of handmade silver rings from a complete stranger in Ottawa, took down one Christmas tree and put up another. We sent my son off to his first day of kindergarten. We wanted to bungee jump but chickened out (Laverne is a bit of a sissy).

There were a few minor mishaps. Last June, I spilled clear nailpolish in my lap, resulting in a crusty, off-white stain in Laverne’s crotch. Horrors! With luck, a black Sharpie fixed the problem. Later in the summer, I noticed significant fading on the back of the dress, near the collar. Why, I wondered, how? Workhall offered to re-dye the dress. We discovered that my hair bleach was the source of the problem.

I’m a faux redhead now.

On New Year’s Eve I took Laverne out for a celebratory five-course dinner at Rge Rd. I’ve always liked going to movies by myself, but eating out alone at a fancy restaurant was new to me. And, as with Laverne, here’s what I discovered: most people DO NOT CARE. About what you’re wearing, or who you are (or aren’t) sharing a table with.

Sure, I got the odd furtive glance. I was the only person eating alone among more than a dozen couples. But really, they were all absorbed with their tablemates and the deliciousness on their plates: lobster thermidor; beet, goose, and goat cheese salad; clam tart; fried pickles; apple galette and chocolate-dipped marshmallows.

Wardrobe anxiety seized me Jan. 1 as I stared into the closet, newly re-crammed with all my old stuff. “New year, old problems,” I thought as I rifled through the hangers: vibrant winter dresses, blouses, slacks. “Pick me, pick me,” they seemed to shout. I sighed, feeling weighed down once again by choice, by the daily pressure to look attractive, and stylish, and original. I was tempted to put Laverne back on, but eventually chose another black dress patterned with brightly coloured flowers.

Elizabeth Withey on Jan. 1 in a dress other than Laverne.

Laverne is now on sabbatical in the closet, nestled among the other wintry frocks.

I hope 2015 wasn’t in vain. I hope I won’t shop as much. I hope I won’t forget that I have enough, that my outfit does not define me, that it’s OK to wear the same thing over and over again (assuming it’s clean!) because most people aren’t looking. We all complain about not having enough time. So why waste time staring into the closet every morning? I’m determined not to let trends, and choice, and consumerism, enslave me as much as it once did.

People ask if I’m glad I did it. Absolutely.

People ask if I’d do it again. It’s difficult to say.

If you mean go back in time, knowing what I know now, then yes, of course I would. I’ve loved my adventures with Laverne.

If you mean would I wear another dress for another whole year, then no. I’d rather take on some other significant challenge: learn Icelandic, become a surrogate, or a raw vegan, or maybe all those things at once. Bring on 2016. 

Shawna Lemay had grown sick of rejection. She shoved her novel into a drawer, ready to forget fiction.

Months passed before a friend convinced Lemay to shop it again. It was eventually snapped up by a small Ontario publisher.

What came next was a shock. Prior to its October release, Rumi and the Red Handbag garnered flattering mentions by Harper’s Bazaar, 49th Shelf, and of all things, Maria Shriver’s website. A second printing was on order even before the first books were out.

“It should be invisible, this book. Nobody should be seeing it or looking at it,” says Lemay, grateful for Internet voodoo and handbag lovers. “It just hit someone the right way. They talk it up, then it’s word of mouth.”

The Edmonton writer also worried fashionistas would ditch the book after realizing Birkin bags aren’t a major plot point. They haven’t.  

Rumi isn’t ultimately about accessories, but a naïve but brilliant store clerk at a second-hand clothing store. Twenty-something Ingrid-Simone relishes romance novels, polishes costume jewelry and dreams of visiting the Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam. She meets Shaya, 15 years her senior, a woman hiding from a doctoral dissertation on literary secrets.

The co-workers hit it off, bonding over a long winter, shop business and their love of books. Their deepening connection inspires Shaya to embrace life, to take Jacques Derrida off the shelf, to overcome trepidations about her research and personal limitations. She soon surmises that the brilliant Ingrid-Simone has a dark secret of her own.

“What are you going through? That, to me, is the whole crux of the book,” she says. “Sometimes you can’t ask that question. There’s a lot of reasons why we don’t ask that.”

Writing is an obsession that cannibalizes other obsessions. One of Lemay’s is handbags, the capacious carryalls that women hold, cradle and fling over their shoulders. They’re in Instagram unveilings and the climactic moment of Anna Karenina, a whole history revealed in the Amsterdam museum Lemay visited while writing the book. Purses contain secrets, clues to personality and habit. Why, Lemay wonders aloud, is Kate Middleton so often photographed holding her clutch defensively at her waist?   

Like the character Shaya, she also treasures hardscrabble wisdom. She has worked menial jobs and taught at university, knowing full well that nobody has cornered the market on insight. At the Woodcroft public library, Lemay collects fines and shelves books. But she also meets ordinary, “insanely brilliant people.”

That leads to another obsession explored in the book, a question posed by the Sufi mystic Rumi: “What is the soul? I cannot stop asking.” It’s squishy terrain that can quickly turn flaky or cornball. But Lemay is neither. She has combed philosophical monographs and wrestled with Buddhist koans. She hesitates to offer answers to life’s biggest questions, though like most of us, she wishes she had them.  

“It’s sort of like a taboo topic, even just the word. It always attracts me to talk about something we’re not supposed to.”

Rumi might be Lemay’s first novel, but it’s her ninth book. She’s written seven books of poetry, a collection of essays and an experimental mash-up she self-published (too weird, she explains). Words are her greatest obsession, a source of inspiration in for her weekly blog, Calm Things, which delves into whatever poem, photo or thought she finds herself contemplating.

A lot of reviewers dismiss poetically inclined novelists, Lemay notes, but it doesn’t hurt to remember Canada’s literary history: Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje and Anne Michaels all began as poets. Attentiveness to images, scenes and sentences is a storyteller’s asset.

“It’s a tradition in Canada, I think we’re supposed to grow up and become novelists as poets,” she says. “Maybe.”  

Lemay wields a small, sturdy black Ralph Lauren purse, which she found on clearance at Winners. She travels light and doesn’t care a mote for labels. She carries just three things, she says, but doesn’t divulge what those three things are.

She will soon open up a file for her a second novel. It will revolve around photography, another one of Lemay’s personal obsessions. Most days, she walks her black Labrador along a stretch of the Anthony Henday transportation utility corridor. It’s an admittedly ugly stretch of west Edmonton, but with persistence, with patience, it occasionally yields true beauty.

Just like writing. Just like life.

bwittmeier@postmedia.com

twitter.com/wittmeier

Max Hurd hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. He is an Edmonton photographer and designer. When he’s not shooting photos, he’s probably playing hockey, going to concerts, or building furniture. 

Email Max your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet him at @maxwellbrandon.

On the Town

Event: Edmonton première of Dirty Dancing, Broadway Across Canada

When: Jan. 5 (continues through Jan. 10)

Where: Jubilee Auditorium

Featuring: A night of exciting dancing and big voices, starring Christopher Tierney and Albertan Gillian Abbott.

—

Event: Dirt Buffet Cabaret #9

When: Jan. 7

Where: Mile Zero Dance (10816 95th St.)

What: A monthly performance lab and experimental variety show

Featuring: The cabaret was comprised of six very different 10-minute multidisciplinary performances by local artists, including comedy, poetry, music, and dance. The performances are selected month-to-month on a submission basis

Julia Scheffelmaier and Matt McKellar both grew up on farms — she, near Leduc; he, outside London, Ont. They met in a western bar in Edmonton.

And when they married in October on the bride’s parents’ farm outside Leduc, their country roots were showing.

Bride and groom wore cowboy boots. Guests sat on straw bales for the outside ceremony by a creek. Horses were part of the background for some of their wedding photos. And a round hay bale was part of their ‘First Look’ ceremony.

A long-held wedding superstition says it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her gown before the wedding. It also builds up the anticipation of seeing the bride for the first time as she walks up the aisle.

But like many modern couples, Julia and Matt had some of their wedding pictures snapped earlier in the day before the big event. They simply included a ‘First Look’ ceremony as part of the photo shoot. The couple stood hidden from each other beside a hay bale in a field, before stepping out to see each other for the first time.

“We both stepped out at the same time,” Julia remembers.  “Matt gasped and covered his mouth in astonishment, which is probably the best reaction a bride could want. He also shed a few tears when I came down the aisle.” 

The couple met in July 2012 at the Ranch Roadhouse where Julia, a 22-year-old HR/office administrator, was hosting a bachelorette party for a friend. Matt, a 28-year-old commercial diver/Leduc firefighter, was out with some friends.

He asked her to dance, and as she was leaving he asked for her number. Her sisters advised against giving her number to a guy in a bar, but Julia snuck back and gave it to him anyway. 

Matt, who Julia describes as “every girl’s dream for being a hopeless romantic,” proposed to her on Dec. 24, 2014 as part of a Country Christmas Amazing Race he set up. It had Julia following notes with clues and taking part in such challenges as shooting a bow and shotgun, riding her horse, and tractor-driving skills.

“It all ended with us skating on the frozen creek (at my parents’ farm) under a bullet-ornament decorated archway, where Matt knelt down and asked the question,”  she says.

Julia was married in an ivory-coloured tulle, strapless, A-line Theia bridal gown with a sweetheart neckline. She had tried it on in a wedding store but wound up buying a new one like it online from a woman in British Columbia who couldn’t fit into it. A crown of roses circled her head and gold flats covered her feet until the shoes became so muddy and her feet so cold that she switched to fancy cowboy boots.

Her bouquet, which she wanted to look “wild and loose,” was put together by Calyx Floral Design in Red Deer, and included a spray of roses, succulents, white poppies, hanging amaranthus, and some twine from Matt’s parents’ farm in Ontario.

The five bridesmaids wore multi-coloured, floor-length dresses from Cabin 108, a women’s clothing store in Banff. Matt’s niece, 12-year-old Haley McKellar,  a junior bridesmaid, wore a full-length white dress from H&M. 

Matt chose an ivory shirt and tie, tan vest, and suit jacket from Derks Menswear, which he paired with a pair of western jeans and cowboy boots from Lammle’s Western Wear & Tack.

The groomsmen dressed the same as Matt, but with no suit coats, bullet cuff links made by the bridal couple, and McKellar family tartan ties. 

The reception was held in a rented tent and an adjacent farm shop, where a friend laid down a wood floor for dancing.

Julia’s friend from Today’s Sweet Weddings made a three-tiered lemon poppyseed cake decorated with roses, as well as 10 smaller cakes in various flavours, which were displayed on antique keg barrels. 

Later in the evening, Julia played mandolin and Matt played guitar as they sang a comical song thanking all their guests.

The day ended with fireworks because “special occasions should have fireworks,” Matt says.

“I couldn’t believe how perfect it all turned out,” Julia says. “It was a cold, cold day (3C) but we had a great time.

“I loved having people from all areas of my life in one room. 

“Matt and I looked at each other at the end of the night, almost sad, because it was over and it would be hard to beat such a perfect day.”

czdeb@edmontonjournal.com 

MAKING CHOICES

Wedding date: Oct. 3, 2015

Wedding and reception venue: The bride’s parents’ farm outside of Leduc

Guests: 400

Colours: Whites, golds, browns and lots of greenery

First dance: City And Colour’s We Found Each Other in the Dark

Budget: $40,000

Honeymoon: 10 days at Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa in the Dominican Republic

Love is, they say, forever. But puffy sleeves, mermaid skirts and giant veils? Thankfully, not so much.

A search online of bridal trends for the year will bring up a dizzying array of options, from cream satin pantsuits to ethereal, floaty short frocks covered in feathers. Many of the more couture looks have yet to make their way to Alberta, stresses the Bridal and Tuxedo House’s Natalie Duhaime-Bartlett.

But a few welcome shifts were on display for the 1,000-plus attendees at Sunday’s Edmonton Bridal Expo, held at the Shaw Conference Centre. The expo, now in its 14th year, has expanded to two shows per year, now with one in winter and another to come in the fall.

“The bridal suit is really hit and miss,” says Duhaime-Bartlett. “It’s never really taken off in this market.” Her shop carries more than 400 choices for the bride-to-be; only one of them is a pantsuit. As for feathers? They’ve been in and out for the last three or four years, she says, but have yet to really take off in Edmonton.

What is happening locally, though, is more choice for necklines. Strapless is still popular, says Duhaime-Bartlett, but V-necks are gaining momentum (sometimes in combination with a faux high neck of exquisite lace), while the bateau neckline — think timeless, classic Audrey Hepburn — is big this year. 

With necklines becoming simpler, backs are where it’s at. Today’s gown backs can plunge all the way to the tailbone. But if you want the drama without showing the skin, opt for the “illusion back,” in which sheer fabric or fine lace reveals without baring all, says Duhaime-Bartlett. 

Skirts are generally less stiff and formal, flowing with soft layers of tulle or lace. With destination weddings growing in popularity, “girls are looking for a little more movement,” and a gently draped skirt is perfect for dancing in the sand on a tropical beach. Also made for the hot sun are crop-top two-piece ensembles. “They’re still elegant, but you see a little hint of skin,” says Duhaime-Bartlett.

Giving white a run for its money this year are blush, champagne and light gold, while more adventurous brides might opt for variations on Pantone’s colours of the year — a soft blue and rose quartz. And more brides are choosing to use the same colour scheme for their attendants’ gowns, with bridal parties tending toward the monochromatic look. 

“Look for more embellishment, beaded lace and sequins” for the bridesmaids, she adds. Those Pantone colours are big, but hottest of all is black, says Duhaime-Bartlett. “It’s easy to wear and super forgiving,” not to mention more versatile. Many bridesmaids will be grateful for a simple yet elegant black dress that can be worn again.

For the men

As for the groom, in 2016 he’ll most likely be decked out in grey, a trend that has been big for the past few years and shows no sign of fading. Looking to set yourself apart from the crowd? Duhaime-Bartlett is excited about the burgundy tuxedo she’s bringing in.

Of course, a tux won’t work on the beach. If the big day is in Mexico or Hawaii, Duhaime-Bartlett suggests a classic pant in black, navy or grey with crisp, white shirt and vest.

When the party gets going, he can roll up his sleeves just as she’s kicking off her sandals. 

“Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.”—Anne Frank

In the deep chill of January, nothing drives away mid-winter gloom like the gentle glow of candlelight. Imagine little pools of radiance cast onto your table from wine glasses transformed into lamps with tea lights and these delicate lampshades. How better to lift the spirit and set the mood for enchanting possibilities on a winter’s eve? 

Create these chic and cheerful lamps with fancy paper, a stemmed wine glass, a tea light and an easy-to-follow lampshade template (see below for the link to the template). The only tools you will need are scissors and glue tape or glue dots. Cut out the pattern, glue the straight ends together, set the finished shade on a wine glass, drop in a tea light and there you have it — charm that glows in the dark.

Great for weddings or special occasions, these luminous little lamps create drama when placed individually at each guest’s plate. Or arrange them in a small grouping on a mirror tile in the centre of your table. Your guests will be mesmerized.

Here are some tips for success:

Colour

White, cream or pastel colours are the most luminous (i.e. will allow the most light to shine through the shades) for the warmest look. Or be mysterious by using heavier, darker paper. It won’t radiate light, but you can make holes in it, using a hole punch, exposing the light in an artful pattern.

The Paper

An 8-inch by 11-inch (20 by 28 cm) sheet will yield one lampshade. A 12-inch by 12-inch (30 by 30 cm) sheet will yield two small shades (made with the shorter setting on the template). Experiment first with plain white paper to see what size best fits your wine glass.

Vellum — Originally made with the skins of animals, today’s vellum comes from plasticized cotton and is used mostly for tracing in architectural drawings because of its translucence. It is this feature that makes it so effective with the little lampshades, diffusing the light, softening it and making it more inviting. Michaels carries a few varieties of plain and printed vellum for under $2 per sheet. The Paper Tree, 10020 Jasper Ave., carries a variety of plain and iridescent vellum at 90 cents to $1.40 per sheet.

Printed craft paper — Here’s where things can get really interesting, as you vary the pattern from wild jungle prints to delicate lace or modern geometrics. You’ll find a variety of printed stock at craft stores, paper specialists or scrapbooking suppliers. Prices range from as little as 50 cents a sheet to $2 per sheet. You could even use a stamp and block print your own original pattern on plain paper or vellum. The lighter and more airy the pattern, the more luminous the lampshade.

Handmade paper — The fibres, seeds or dried petals in handmade paper will give your shade a unique look. The weight of the paper can range from delicate and tissue-like (radiates the most light) to sturdy and thick.

The Glass

A sturdy, 6- to 8-oz. tulip-shaped wine glass works best. For glasses with a deeper or rounder bowl, you may have to extend the length of the shade.

The Glue

The lampshades on this page were made with Elmer’s glue tape applied to both overlapping edges. When thicker liquid glue was tried, it weighted down the shade on one side and distorted its shape.

The Light

For safety’s sake we recommend using an LED tea light in the wine glass.

Added touches

Create a fanciful finish to your shade by trimming the curved edge with craft scissors (similar to pinking shears) or leave the edges smooth for a clean and simple look. You’ll find the scissors at craft or scrapbooking stores for as little as $10 per pair.

Add glittery trim to the shade, by applying self-adhesive pearls, rhinestones or metallic studs that you will find at craft stores or even some dollar stores.

The Template 

Photo of a template for paper lampshades meant to sit on wine glasses. For a longer shade extend the bottom of the template by three-quarters of an inch or two cm.

There are lots of templates for these on the Internet. Here is where to find the one I used, which I extended by about three-quarters of an inch (2 cm): http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/bevfabriccrafts/pattern.pdf

Max Hurd hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. He is an Edmonton photographer and designer. 

Email Max your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet him at @maxwellbrandon.

Event: Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen

When: Thursday, Jan. 14

Where: Citadel Theatre (9828 101A Ave.)

What: A tribute to Leonard Cohen’s most transcendent songs

Directed by: Tracey Power with musical arrangements by Steve Charles

Starring: Jonathan Gould, Rachel Aberle, Sean Cronin, Christine Cuglietta, Benjamin Elliott, Tracey Power

Featuring: Six performers play 17 instruments in this impressive theatrical tribute to the musical great. 

Event: Edmonton Bridal Expo

When: Sunday, Jan. 10

Where: Shaw Conference Centre (9797 Jasper Ave.)

What: Popular wedding vendors in Edmonton and surrounding areas

Featuring: Two dramatic fashion shows showcasing this year’s trends in weddings 

“We had a panicky feeling Wednesday afternoon when we heard from fairly reliable (?) sources that the supply of silk stockings would be depleted by the end of the month,” began a Journal story on the women’s pages on this day 75 years ago.

“And then, on top of that, a girlfriend told us that she had bought 50 pairs just in case.”

It was during the Second World War and all nylon and silk was being redirected to the production of such war materials as parachutes. 

“In our mind’s eye, we saw those horrid woolly stockings that mother has a habit of bringing out at the first sign of winter … you know the kind … that we hide under the mattress hoping she won’t notice,” the Journal reporter wrote.

Armed with the city directory and a telephone book, the reporter spent an hour on the phone getting the scoop on silk stockings from all the dry goods wholesalers in the city. 

“We won’t dress you up in five-pound wool stockings,” one manager told her. “Why I’ve seen some of the substitutes for silk hose and, though made from rayon or lisle (fine, smooth cotton thread), they are as sheer as anything in pure silk. We have enough of the silk to go on for another six months — so why worry now?”

“We were feeling some better at this juncture, but then the city editor, with the city editor’s traditional habit of deflating reporters’ egos, suggested that we paint our legs to resemble stockings — as has been suggested in Calgary.

“In this kind of weather!” we cried. “But we should have known better, for there was more than a tinge of sarcasm in his answer: ‘Don’t tell me those ridiculously thin things are warm?’ ”

A woman who managed a wholesale house said there would be a definite curtailment of silk stockings because of the embargo on raw silk. “A change in fashion will come with the substitution of synthetic materials, so that anyone who tries to buy up or hoard the stockings available now will be definitely out of style in a few months time,” she said. 

One company planned to buy stockings of a new synthetic material which would retail at $1.65 to $1.95 a pair. 

“A friend of ours had four pairs given her last summer — and she is still wearing them — so they seem to come up to all advance notices for durability,” the reporter wrote.

Stockings did become a scarce commodity and often sold on the black market for as much as $20 a pair. 

czdeb@postmedia.com

To read more stories from the series This Day in Journal History, go to edmontonjournal.com/history

Fashion or function? How about both? This month, veteran Edmonton designer Kathleen Todoruk is releasing her newest collection, 5CutCore, comprised of five staple pieces in a range of fabrics and colours, that can be tailored to fit any woman.

“The idea is for women to have the five basics to go to that they can build upon,” says Tororuk. “They’re really great-quality essentials that are custom fit to them.” The five pieces include a pencil skirt, a basic blouse, a sleeveless dress (available with sleeves for the fall), a trouser and a topcoat-style jacket that can be worn both indoors and out.

Todoruk has been a clothing designer in Edmonton for more than 20 years. She graduated in 1992 from the University of Alberta’s faculty of home economics (now human ecology) and launched her first collection that year. Her studio, located in the Mercer Warehouse (#201 10359 104th St.), has serviced clients from Juno nominee Chloe Albert to television executives, as well as everyday moms and business women.

She still does couture, but Todoruk has departed from it with this collection because “people freak out that it’s going to be extremely expensive.”

5CutCore takes an off-the-rack approach and blends it with bespoke fashion. All of the pieces are already drafted. Once a customer chooses a piece, Todoruk and her team chalk out the custom lines right on the textile and customize it to the client’s measurements and fabric preference. In contrast, couture clothing is designed from ground zero and takes much longer to make. You can see her work at todoruk.com.

New fashion line from Kathleen Todoruk.

Q: Why did you create 5CutCore?

A: Women are always looking for a great trouser, a nice pencil skirt, things I’ve been hearing from clients over the years, and it’s never quite right. It’s the reason why maybe a piece gets bypassed in their closet, or else it’s donated or never worn and that’s not really sustainable. So, why not invest a little bit more than you normally would when it’s going to last you a heck of a lot longer and you’re going to love that piece, and you’re going to pair it with whatever is fun or trendy or cheap. It’s meant to be a very versatile collection and you can buy whatever parts of the collection you need the most.

New fashion line from Kathleen Todoruk of Edmonton.

Q: Have you done anything like this before?

A: No, I haven’t actually. I feel kind of silly that it’s taken me this long to figure out that’s what’s missing. Maybe there’s somebody out there who’s done it, but not that I know of in this city.

Q: How does pricing work?

A: The freedom in it is that you can have the design made out of whatever you want. We’ll offer fabrics within a specific price point and then if you want something that’s even more beautiful, if you want a cotton that is completely crease-free and all those wonderful things, there are cottons that we can offer you, but the price point will be a little bit more. Trousers, we’re probably looking at sitting around $320. So, that’s a partially lined wool trouser, custom cut. $210 for a wool skirt.

Q: What is the timeline for a piece?

A: Typically, I’d like the wait time for a client to be probably no longer than up to two weeks, preferably a week and a half. It depends on their schedule too, but I like the turnaround to be fairly quick, because we’ve already got the patterns drafted and graded.

Q: How can someone try on the collection?

A: It’ll be on display here in the studio. Just drop an email (todorukdesigns@shaw.ca) or call 587-521-2691. As long as people give about a 15-minute heads up, it’s 99-per-cent totally fine.

Q: What have you noticed about how people dress in the city?

A: I’m downtown the other day at the bank and I’m just looking around, and it’s a sea of black and grey and people who are just down and hiding in their clothes. And it’s like, what does it take to inject more into it? I figured OK, if I start off with strong pieces and encourage people and draw them into the world with really safe pieces, they won’t feel as terrified.

The 5CutCore photo shoot

Photographer: Heiko Ryll

Hair: Renato Candia

Makeup: Tao Ping

Model: Natalia Servetnyk

Clothing: Todoruk Designs

Leather handbag by: Clo’s General Leather Co.

Max Hurd hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. He is an Edmonton photographer and designer. Email your event suggestions to Max at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet Max at @maxwellbrandon. 

Event: Bridging Encounters

When: Jan. 15

Where: Latitude 53 (10242 106th St.)

What: Work by current students at the University of Alberta

Curated by: Mitchell Chalifoux with support from Caitlin Wells, Sean Caulfield, the University of Alberta Art and Design Department, and Latitude 53.

Featuring work by: Ryan Andrade, Melissa Cayford, Jacob Dutton, Jessa Gillespie, Ashna Jacob, Lindsay Kirker, Alex Linfield, Michael McInnis, and Michelle Paterok.

About the show: Continues in the Community Gallery until Jan. 30.

Event: Blue Rodeo

When: Jan. 20

Where: Jubilee Auditorium 

What: First of two shows at the Jubilee

Featuring: A two-hour set by Blue Rodeo consisting of classic tracks and new songs. 

Tanner Nault likes dressing to the nines. He just doesn’t want to spend to the nines.  

So when Nault decided to splurge on a new tie clip and set of cuff links this summer at a high-end Edmonton haberdashery, the nearly $300 sticker shock was enough to stop him dead in his tracks. 

“I’ve always been an accessories guy,” says Nault, who’d wanted new baubles for a friend’s wedding. “I was saying, ‘there’s got to be a better way to do this, because I know they’re marking this up like crazy’.”

All the way to the ceremony, Nault groused to Spencer Leiske, his best friend and business partner. In the weeks that followed, they kept talking. They’d seen the success of Indiegogo darlings like San Diego-based MVMT Watches, which boasted quality parts and minimalist design for $59 US. Could they replicate it for men’s suit accessories? 

Fresh Set men’s accessories.

Four months after that wedding, they’re about to find out. They’ve got snazzy new prototype kits — matching cuff links, tie clip and leather belt — for an Indiegogo campaign of their own launching on Feb. 1. To raise their $20,000 target, they need to sell more than 200 units at $99.99 a pop. Anything less and the money gets refunded.  

Nault and Leiske know a little bit about competition, marketing and dressing up. The 27-year-olds were teammates on the Canadian national volleyball team and at the University of Alberta, where they forged their bond. A little less than two years ago, they launched 24th Street, a party entertainment company that supplies DJs, photographers and bartenders.

For Nault, the high-stakes crowdfunding competition is just part of a plan to go from stylish startup to indie smash. If accessories are designed to stand out — but not too much — they can’t just beat out high-end names and discount vendors. There’s also a myriad of artisan options on Etsy, a website where you can buy cuff links that are personalized, monogrammed or made of bullets or Scrabble board game pieces. 

They hope their own brand, Fresh Set, cuts through the clutter. They’ve settled on a minimalist design, a sturdier heft than most competitors and a simple logo on stainless steel parts. There are four colour options, including gold, silver, black and gun metal. All pieces will be available on their website www.freshset.ca (and eventually Etsy) but the crowdfunding deal shaves $50 off a la carte prices.  

“We just think it’s a really cool brand, it’s a cool name,” Nault says. “The idea of looking fresh is something that’s important.”

Nault says the box set concept — complete with a brass belt buckle that makes it easy to cut to fit — is particularly attractive, an ideal gift for groomsmen. When they displayed their Fresh Set prototypes at their entertainment business booth at Edmonton’s recent bridal expo, they sold 15 kits in their first two hours. 

If their campaign proves similarly successful, they have dreams of building the business, possibly partnering with retailers to get their design into stores. They’re also intrigued by online marketing possibilities. Who knows? You could soon sign up for a fresh set subscription, a new set of cuff links for every season of the year.

Dressing to the nines isn’t about spending a fortune, Nault says. It’s a way of accentuating what’s already there, a way of showing off a little of your innate worth.  

“I like the way you feel when you put on dress clothes,” Nault says. “You put a suit on, all of a sudden, you’re a little more confident.” 

bwittmeier@postmedia.com

twitter.com/wittmeier

Max Hurd hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. He is an Edmonton photographer and designer. Email your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet Max at @maxwellbrandon

Event: Clan MacNaughton Pipes and Drums event

When: Jan. 23

Where:  Edmonton Scottish Society (3105 101st St.)

What:  A celebration of the life and poetry of the Scottish poet Robert Burns.

Featuring: An evening of Highland dancers, singing, a traditional band, and haggis, of course. 

Event: YEG Parity Launch Party

When: Jan. 27

Where: Mercer Tavern (10363 104th St.)

Who: Hosted by the Equal Voice Alberta North Chapter

What: Launch of their campaign

Why: Working to support and encourage women in the community to run for office in the next municipal election. 

Spotted: a green-eyed, red-haired woman in a leopard jumpsuit and heels — at the grocery store.

This is just a regular day running errands for local theatre designer Stephanie Bahniuk. Never one to shy away from bold looks, Bahniuk loved fashion from an early age, a passion she later translated into her work as a theatre designer.

“I was always in art classes and I grew up dancing since I was three,” says Bahniuk, now 23. During her years at Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School, she was introduced to costume design in the school’s theatre arts program. Bahniuk quickly fell in love, designing three school plays and winning a Cappies award with the costume design team for Hansel and Gretel.

Bahniuk completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre design at the University of Alberta last spring. Her work has been displayed at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space exhibition and she spent the last three summers in Massachusetts designing at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Bahniuk’s growing list of local credits includes working with Alberta Opera and NextFest.

Up next? Bahniuk is working on the set design for the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers’ spring show Kobzar. A former Shumka dancer herself, Bahniuk says, “It’s very different from being a dancer, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do while I was a dancer, to experience both sides.”

Bahniuk spends long hours in her studio and in theatres, but she won’t be found in sweatpants. “I always try to be dressed up and presentable, because as a designer, if I can’t dress myself, I don’t know how people are going to trust me to dress anyone else.”

Q: You do lighting, set and costume design. Why do you like costume design?

A: I like dressing people and designing on the human body. I think it’s really interesting to analyze a character and then think about what motivates that character and what motivates them to choose what they’re wearing.

Q: What is your favourite part of the design process?

A: I really like costume fittings. I really like getting feedback from the actor and having a conversation with the actor. Usually when fittings happen, it’s fairly far into the rehearsal process. So, we’ve been separately thinking about these characters and it’s kind of fun when we finally bring my ideas and the actor’s ideas together.

Stephanie Bahniuk, a local theatre designer.

Q: Can you describe your personal style? 

A: I definitely like a mix between current trends and a little bit of vintage. I like mixing textures and bold colours as well. And I always like statement jewelry. Always adding that statement piece to any outfit I wear. I really like jumpsuits. I have a lot of jumpsuits in my wardrobe that I like to pair with a blazer, or bold colour outerwear and jewelry.

Q: What is your day-to-day style like?

A: I usually wear heels, even when I’m running around, because I’m short. I feel more confident when I wear heels. I like to wear skirts and cute dresses that are easy to move in, easy to sit in tech for long hours. I like to layer, so a sweater or a vest. Usually theatres are pretty cold.

Q: Where are some of your favourite places to shop in Edmonton?

A: I’m obsessed with Zara (an international department store in West Edmonton Mall and Southgate Centre). I go there way too much. I’m really interested in the local fashion brands right now. Workhall is a very interesting and exciting brand to me.

Stephanie Bahniuk, a local theatre designer.

Q: Do you have any fashion advice? 

A: It’s important to express your personal style and I don’t think what’s on trend right now exactly works for everyone. I think it’s about finding a piece that you really love and pairing it with things that will make different outfits out of it.

Q: When did you decide to dye your hair red?

A: I’ve been red since Grade 9, I think. The first time I dyed my hair was red and I’ve never looked back.

Q: Does your red hair match your personality at all?

A: I think it definitely does. (laughs) It’s sassy and I think I’m a little bit sassy and confident, so I think it works for me.

Max Hurd hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. He is an Edmonton photographer and designer. Email your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet Max at @maxwellbrandon

Event: 2016 Chamber Ball

When: Jan. 29

Where:  Shaw Conference Centre (9797 Jasper Ave.)

Who: Hosted by the Edmonton Chamber Of Commerce

What:  A black tie and ballgown gala where the city’s business leaders celebrate the new business year.

Featuring: A ritzy evening featuring special guests Joey Moss and Tanya Ponich. Performances by Colin James in collaboration with Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Event: Friend Raiser Gala

When: Jan. 30

Where: Enjoy Centre (101 Riel Dr., St. Albert)

What: An annual event hosted by the Sturgeon Hospital Foundation.

Featuring: A cocktail reception, decadent three-course meal, live and super silent auctions, and live entertainment from The Ivory Club Dueling Pianos Show.

Fun Fact: Funds raised this year will support the expansion of the Medicine Program and the Level II Neonatal Intensive Care program.

It’s called the gender tax, an irksome insult that sees women pay more for short haircuts than do men, and additional fees for services such as pedicures and dry cleaning.

Now, a local salon is setting a new standard by pricing hair cuts according to the length of the hair, and the time required to execute the look, not the gender of the client.

“Every hairstylist at some point in their career has had a woman with short hair say ‘why is my hair cut so much more expensive than my husband’s?’ We’ve all run into that inequality,” says Jen Storey, co-owner with Rebecca Wollenberg of Adara Hair on Whyte Ave.

Storey’s clientele also includes transgender individuals and those who identify as neither female nor male (known as non-binary).

“We’ve gotten to know them really well, and understand the issues they face,” says Storey, 29, who has owned the salon for eight years. She notes it’s unfair for a man transitioning to a woman to have to pay more for the same short haircut enjoyed in the past.

Starting March 1, prices at Adara will depend on the length of hair, and the complexity of the cut. For instance, the most inexpensive hair cut is $20 for a buzz cut, with long-haired clients paying up to $67 for a cut. 

“Just by asking a few questions on the phone, we can let them know what their pricing will be,” says Storey.

Storey describes her salon as “progressive,” with a number of environmental and community-minded features. Adara is a Green Circle Salon, which means they recycle foil used for highlights, separate toxic chemicals for safe disposal and send hair clippings to an organization that turns the material into products that absorb oil spills. The business regularly raises money for YESS, Youth Empowerment and Support Services, and takes part in the Pride parade yearly.

With 10 stylists, Adara also offers esthetic services, reiki and reflexology. It’s at 9601 82nd Ave. (780-437-9191)

lfaulder@postmedia.com

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Brianne Helfrich is about to realize the biggest dream of her life. The Sherwood Park teen leaves Tuesday for the Big Apple, to strut the catwalks of one of the world’s biggest fashion events, New York Fashion Week.

The 18-year-old model will help showcase the fall line of international fashion designer and artist Olga Papkovitch.

“It’s every model’s dream to one day walk the runways of New York Fashion Week,” says Helfrich. “To be asked to both open and close the show is beyond anything I could ever have hoped for.”

The couture dresses and wraps that Helfrich will model display copyright images of the designer’s paintings, printed on quilted canvases of charmeuse silk. Helfrch describes the look as “vibrant, modern and fun — so different from what’s out there.”

It’s also pricey. “For Christmas we bought a scarf for my Nana. It was one of Olga’s smaller ones and it was $500.”

We caught up with Helfrich between her first-year classes at the University of Alberta. She hopes to someday go to medical school. 

Brianne Helfrich, Sherwood Park model going to New York Fashion Week.

Q: How did you first get into modelling?

A: My parents put me into it for self-confidence, because I’m so tall. Then I was discovered by Olga at a fashion show in Medicine Hat.

Q: What took you from there to New York?

A: Olga invited me to be on the cover of her magazine and that led to promotions on top of New York taxicabs. So I didn’t exactly get eased into the business. Big things just kept coming my way.

Q: How did you learn the staccato fashion walk that’s iconic in New York?

A: I learned it by watching videos of fashion models, in my room. I just copied what they were doing and then Olga would help me refine it for her shows. It’s quick-paced and fun, but you have to take it seriously. It’s not nearly as stressful as in the Paris shows, where the slower, more fluid walk makes you think about it too much.

Q: What makes a model a model?

A: It’s confidence, embracing who you are, taking your insecurity and making it into something positive.

Q: What was it like being six feet tall in high school?

A: It was difficult to cope with. I was constantly slouching. Modelling was the one place where I felt it worked for me.

Q: How does modelling mesh with full-time studies at U of A?

A: It’s difficult to juggle two different things, both with such heavy loads. I’m lucky (New York Fashion Week) falls within Reading Week. If modelling gets more intense, I may have to take time off school. But I will go back. I’ve always wanted to be a doctor

Q: Where would you like your modelling career to go?

A: In my dreams, I want to go far with it. I know I will have made it when I am in an issue of Vogue as well as New York Fashion Week. But if it ends here (with NYFW), I’ll be OK with it. I’ll be happy regardless.

Q: All the fashion magazines are focusing on the new inclusivity of the fashion industry, with a mix of race, body type and age. Is that here to stay?

A: I hope so. Everyone has so much to offer. It helps the fashion industry to grow to have different faces and perspectives. By bringing it all in, we can all grow together.

Q: What beauty techniques and products will you be sure to take with you?

A: I always wash my face thoroughly before bed and use a toner and moisturizer. The product I’ll take is translucent powder. I have oily skin and it helps to freshen up my face.

Q: What are you looking forward to most about New York?

A: Olga gets tickets to some of the other shows and she may bring me along. I really want to experience that. My family is going, too, and they’ll get to watch me for the first time. It’s exciting for me to have them there. Also, I hope to make some friends. So far the New York experience has been just me on my own. Hopefully Fashion Week is where that all starts.

Q: What advice would you offer young hopefuls?

A: Just believe in yourself. The industry is hard and rejection is a part of it. You have to have tough skin. Just because what you have isn’t what they are looking for at the time, it doesn’t mean you aren’t good. I struggled with that when I started. It took me awhile to realize one person’s opinion is just one person’s opinion.

To see the fashion line of Olga Papkovitch, go to www.popimpresska.com

Max Hurd hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. He is an Edmonton photographer and designer. Email your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet Max at Twitter.com/maxwellbrandon

Event: We Believe: A Benefit for SACE

When: Feb. 10

Where: Chateau Lacombe Hotel (10111 Bellamy Hill Rd.)

Who: Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton

What:  Third annual Valentine’s themed gala in support of sexual-assault awareness education and support services for survivors

Featuring: A cocktail reception with live music, live and silent auctions, and keynote speaker Sheldon Kennedy

Event: Edmonton Opera Valentine’s Gala

When: Feb. 11

Where: Shaw Conference Centre (9797 Jasper Ave.)

Who: Edmonton Opera

What:  Annual black tie Valentine’s-themed gala 

Featuring: Performances by the Edmonton Opera chorus, Citie Ballet and the Royal Canadian Artillery Band

It’s easy to spot the seasoned traveller in an airport. She’s the one breezing by, a single carry-on bag gliding at her side. Chic but comfortably dressed, she strides purposefully to her destination.

While many travellers have converted to carry-on, since airlines began charging for checked luggage, there are many advantages besides cost-saving, including reduced luggage loss and damage.

“It’s all about speed, getting in and out of airports quickly,” says Nicola Berube, director of sales for AMA Travel. “Using only carry-on means not having to wait for checked luggage to arrive or be verified by customs when you’re changing planes across borders. It allows you to make tighter connections, and if you run into weather delays, you’ll have access to your things.”

Finally, too much baggage marks you as an inexperienced traveller and an easy target for con artists. With carry-on, you’re mobile, safe and in control.

It’s one thing to use carry-on for a weekend getaway, but how can you make it work for longer trips without sacrificing style? Make a plan.

First, check the weather reports and then start with footwear, says Joyce Thiessen, owner of Pear Tree boutique in High Street. Her store has a wide selection of travel-friendly fashion.

“Shoes drive the suitcase,” she explains. “Your feet need to be happy when you’re on the move,” so start your packing plan with those, and leave the stilettos at home.

Take no more than three pairs of shoes, says Thiessen: a beach shoe, sneaker or sturdy walking shoe and something in between. “Wear the bulkiest and pack the other two.” Metallics make a good colour choice. “I like bronze, which goes with everything.”

For garments, Thiessen recommends choosing a “colour story” — black and white, navy and teal or tan and cream. She adds vibrant colour with tops and scarves. “Every piece should go with every other and do double-duty, like a beach cover-up that also works as a dress or tunic top.”

For warmer destinations, Thiessen prefers dresses. “Pants are just pants but a dress is also a tunic top, beach cover-up or an extra layer.” Dresses are also cooler and more comfortable, she says, “because there’s no waistband to make you sweat.”

Here are inside tips and secrets shared by flight attendants and travel veterans:

ALWAYS TAKE …

A scarf and sunglasses. A scarf adds colour, style and varies your wardrobe, but rolled up it’s a pillow; stuffed behind your back it’s lumbar support; or spread out, it’s a cosy blanket.

Sunglasses not only shield harsh UV rays and hide travel-weary eyes, but they send a strong message to chatty travel neighbours to back off.

NEVER TAKE …

Shampoo, towels, lotion or hair dryer. These are supplied by most hotels. A toiletry kit bag wastes space. Even workout wear can be unnecessary as some hotel chains, such as the Westin, have it for lending.

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES

Choose lightweight fabrics that resist creasing, like synthetic knits and light cottons.

Deal with temperature drops by layering, instead of adding heavy clothes. Pack lightweight, silk, thermal underwear for warmth without adding bulk and it doubles as sleepwear.

If going somewhere really hot, choose loose-fitting, breathable clothing in light colours.

Steam out wrinkles by hanging items in the bathroom when you shower.

Wear, don’t pack, heavy, bulky items, like outerwear or boots.

A classic shirt can be worn open like a jacket with a tank or T-shirt. Buttoned up and paired with a scarf, it’s dressy enough for dinner.

Simplify jewelry with one versatile colour or finish (i.e. silver) that goes with everything.

Purses with cross-body straps are hands-free and discourage theft.

PACKING TIPS

Lay dress pants along the bottom of the suitcase, with the ends hanging out on either side. Roll and layer in wrinkle-resistant items, followed by toiletries. Finally, wrap the ends of the pants smoothly over the top.

Use plastic grocery bags to store laundry, pack shoes and keep your things organized. Packing cubes do the same, but they cost more.

Pack shoes with the heels at suitcase corners and fill shoes with socks or underwear.

Take only the beauty products you absolutely need and transfer these into small flight-friendly containers, under 100 mL. A contact lens case is great for liquid makeup and eye cream.

Grab a spare liquids-and-gels bag from the airport to have on hand for your next trip.

Place a rolled up T-shirt along the inside fold of skirts to prevent creasing.

Stow your purse in a tote bag (your one personal item), along with your book, healthy snacks and empty water bottle. 

Always save room for that fabulous find from your trip.

BAG SIZE

The size of carry-ons varies by airlines.

Westjet’s carry-on maximum is 53 cm x 23 cm x 38 cm including handle and wheels. The weight must be under 10 kg. (22 lbs.) They also allow a personal item of 41 cm x 15 cm x 33 cm. Air Canada’s limits are slightly more generous, while European airlines are more restrictive.

Max Hurd hits some of our city’s best bashes to snap photos for our weekly Social Seen column. He is an Edmonton photographer and designer. Email your event suggestions at arts&life@edmontonjournal.com or tweet Max at Twitter.com/maxwellbrandon

Event: Violette Underground Numéro Deux

When: Feb. 13

Where: CKUA Building (9804 Jasper Ave.)

Who: Hosted by Violette Coquette

What: A unique cross between a secret speakeasy club and a philosophical salon

Featuring: An evening of cocktails, spoken word, jazz singing, fortune telling, dancing, games of chance, and burlesque

Event: The Nina’s 13th Anniversary Celebration

When: Feb. 18

Where: The Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts (9225 118 Ave.)

What: Celebrating 13 years at the Nina and the 2016 Stantec Artist of the Year, Leona Clawson

Featuring: The incredible sculptural installation “Wooooodland,” as well as live musical performances, food, wine and of course birthday cake