WANDER | Dîner en Blanc Vancouver 2018 x VanDusen Garden

"Part mystery, part magic, part je ne sais quoi."

Shaughnessy—(August 23, 2018) The seventh annual Dîner en Blanc Vancouver outdoor dining event was another crowded, lively, and endlessly pretty affair, with the white festivities taking place at VanDusen Botanical Garden this time around.

REEL | Daniel Day-Lewis Weaves A 'Phantom Thread'

"Maybe you have no taste."

Auteur filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson takes all of his finely-tuned cinematic tools to craft his latest picture into an immersive period romantic drama. Set in glamorous mid-century London in the world of high fashion, the acerbically titled Phantom Thread stars Daniel Day-Lewis—in his reportedly last film role ever—as a revered bachelor couturier, Reynolds Woodcock, who embarks on a troubling obsession of a whirlwind romance.

WANDER | Native Shoes x Store Opening x Gastown

Gastown—Local footwear brand Native Shoes just opened its very first branded retail storefront located right on Water Street near the tail end of last year. The brick-and-mortar shop features its trademark minimalist yet sustainable aesthetic packaged in an interactive and design-driven space.

WANDER | Dîner en Blanc Vancouver 2017 x Coal Harbour

Coal Harbour—(August 24, 2017) Vancouver's most stylish once again gathered en masse and descended down to dual locations this year, Devonian Harbour Park (where media were situated) and Harbour Green Park, both located near the entrance to Stanley Park.

GATHER | Muji Pop-Up x 'Japan Unlayered' x Fairmont Pacific Rim

Coal Harbour—(January 23, 2017) Muji Canada's pop-up store and accompanying Japan Unlayered exhibition at Fairmont Pacific Rim are hotly anticipated attractions opening this weekend. Muji is bringing its popular line of stationery products, aroma diffusers, streamlined storage bins, and stylish notepads to their makeshift storefront.

GATHER | TWG Tea Salon & Boutique x Grand Opening

Financial District—(December 8, 2016) TWG Tea Salon & Boutique opened their first official North American location and celebrated by throwing a massive grand opening party. The Singaporean-based luxury tea brand, established in 2008, takes over the recently closed Urban Tea Merchant space with original proprietors Tom and Karinna James becoming exclusive TWG Canadian franchise partners and distributors under their VanSing Distribution Group.

WANDER | Dîner en Blanc Vancouver 2016 x Concord Pacific

False Creek—(August 18, 2016) Vancouverites once again gathered en masse and descended down to Concord Pacific Place, this year's not-so secret location, dressed head-to-toe in their finest summer whites to celebrate the fifth annual Dîner en Blanc Vancouver outdoor dinner party into night.

WANDER | Pacific Polo Cup x Southlands Riding Club

"It's like ice hockey on horseback."

Kerrisdale—(Augut 6, 2016) The third annual Pacific Polo Cup thrown by the Vancouver Polo Club took place at the Southlands Riding Club (since 1943) over the weekend. As a guest of Veuve Clicquot, we took in the all the horseback festivities. It was a (not too) sunny and hazy afternoon filled with fun, fanciful mingling and people watching—many were dressed to the nines reminiscent of Deighton Cup—amidst witnessing the so-called sport of kings.

WANDER | Kent Street Apparel x 'Merde Il Pleut' Umbrella

"Our purpose is to charm and to inspire."

West End—(March 12, 2015) Merde il pleut (translation: "sh*t, it's raining" en Français) also means stylish for this cheeky Kent Street Apparel umbrella (ella ella) from the independent Mount Pleasant-based gentlemen's retailer.

SPOTLIGHT | Dîner en Blanc Vancouver 2015 x Canada Place

Waterfront—(August 25, 2015) A sea of diners, dressed head-to-toe in their best late summer whites (right before the Labour Day cutoff), celebrated the fourth annual Dîner en Blanc Vancouver dinner party descending upon Canada Place early and staying well into night.

WEEKENDER | Deighton Cup 2015 x Hastings Racecourse

Hastings–Sunrise—(July 25, 2015) The seventh annual Deighton Cup, always anchored by Saturday afternoon's Thoroughbred: A Day at the Races gala event, happened at Hastings Racecourse over the weekend. As the midpoint of summer usually marks a fanciful visit to the racetrack, well-dressed patrons came to watch the ponies in style for a formal day of chic sophistication at the races.

WANDER | The Juice Truck x Native Shoes x Spring Fling

Mount Pleasant—(May 21, 2015) Local brands The Juice Truck and Native Shoes teamed up to celebrate their newly launched, limited edition shoe collaboration.

Native Shoes x The Apollo Has Landed x El Kartel

Native Shoes' Apollo shoe launch party at El Kartel shop in Chinatown on March 5, 2015.



Founded in Vancouver, Native Shoes continues to grow and evolve from its familiar image of comfort, colourfulness, and those little holes. Native recently launched the Apollo line of shoes complete with outer space theme of light on your feet travel and stylish flourishes. Apollo looks to transcend their modern design aesthetic of the past and future meeting in footwear with the design philosophy of "Future Classics".

The Garden Party x VanDusen Garden x Shaughnessy

The Garden Party and croquet classic at VanDusen Botanical Garden in Shaughnessy on August 23, 2014.



It was an afternoon of amusement and dapper style over champagne, cocktails, luxury cars, and even live art with a backdrop of tea and croquet. Designed for some mild yet frivolous fun and frolicking, this Saturday was spent appreciating the garden scenery on a hot, late summer's day relaxing on the shady grass. Croquet, anyone?

Dîner en Blanc Vancouver 2014 x David Lam Park x Yaletown

3rd annual Dîner en Blanc Vancouver secret dinner party at David Lam Park in Yaletown on August 21, 2014.



Vancouver hosted its third annual incarnation of the international communal dining experience, Dîner en Blanc, along with its 3,500 guests (and a wait list 30,000 deep). Inspired by the original Parisian style "white dinner" series, this very European tradition—quickly spreading across Canada thanks to organizers The Social Concierge licensing the brand—happened on this late summer night.

Booooooom! x Herschel Supply Co. x 'Drawing on the Past'

I'm a big fan of the collaborate art blog Booooooom! and founder/Japanese-Canadian artist Jeff Hamada's work. When Hamada announced his "Drawing on the Past" art project and collaboration with Herschel Supply Co. in making a limited edition backpack (only 75 made) based on his childhood sleeping bag with liner artwork by Andrea Wan, I had to snap one up quickly. It's pretty cool.

Cachè Couture Atelier x Soirée x Fashion Show

Cachè Couture Atelier soirée and fashion show on Granville Street on April 30, 2014. As seen in Vancouver Is Awesome.



CountDown Events (organizers of the annual Crème de la Crème wedding showcase) showed off Cachè, Vancouver's new luxe atelier boutique. The design space encourages you to create and design your personal couture piece alongside its shop full of curated designer bridal selections. The open, unique boutique was flowing with stylish decor and inspired pieces.

From Sweden with Love x Fjällräven Store x Mount Pleasant

Fjällräven store grand opening on West Broadway in Mount Pleasant on May 1, 2014.



Sweden's popular outdoor brand of colourful, boxy backpacks, apparel, and outerwear have come to Vancouver just in time for spring. Fjällräven (and sister brands Hanwag, Primus, and Brunton) celebrated their first Canadian store (fifth in North America) with four special guests. Vancouver Canucks players and fellow countrymen Henrik and Daniel Sedin (colleagues of the owners from their hometown of Örnsköldsvik), Eddie Läck, and Alexander Edler all came to support the Swedish export and BC Children's Hospital.

One of a Few x Lifetime Collective x Little Mountain Workshop

One of a Few and Lifetime Collective SS14 fashion show at Little Mountain Workshop on Main Street in Riley Park–Little Mountain on April 8, 2014.



Local design hubs and retailers, One of a Few and Lifetime Collective, collaborated to model off some new styles for the oncoming spring/summer seasons in a carefully curated fashion showcase at the Little Mountain Workshop. See highlights from the catwalk (on the catwalk, yeah) below.

Komono x SS14 Collection x Sunglasses + Watches x Walrus

Komono SS14 collection at Walrus boutique on Cambie Street on February 13, 2014. As seen in Vancouver Is Awesome.



Belgian street fashion brand Komono ("small things" in Japanese) showcased their current line and spring/summer selection of accessories. Known for their unique concept and approach to shapes and patterns, blending fashion and gender, the label has been creating distinct watches and retro-futuristic sunglasses since 2009, specializing in combining classic designs with modern styles. (Posing with Lisa Wong, above.)