Folio.YVR ☆ Issue 11 ☆ 2020 ☆ Luxury Lifestyle Magazine ☆ Vancouver, BC

folio.yvr
ISSUE #11
FEB 2020

001

005 lyle x ox : head of design
013 laurence & chico
021 paolo fazioli
031 bloodless bullfight
041 j ennifer zhang: chanel
051 beverly w ilshire
059 beverly hills
065 ladurée
067 cameron silver: decades
083 for children w e care gala
089 reveal: gala
093 publishers message

personalities
003

inform interiors, 50 w ater street
005

LYLE XOX: HEAD OF DESI GN
RI ZZOLI USA BOOK LAUNCH

007

T
he world is entranced with Vancouver-based Lyle Reimer
and his alternate personality @LyleXOX. The internationally
acclaimed multimedia self-portrait artist?with 150K+ Instagram
followers?is fresh off collaborations with iconic brands
Moschino, Gucci, and Victor and Rolf, when we found him
holding court at Gastown?s Inform Interiors.
The room is full as the much-anticipated launch of Lyle XOX: Head of
Design, published by Rizzoli International, gets underway. Impeccably
dressed, in what could be best described as ?Playful Pilgrim,?Reimer is
discussing his beginnings with the city?s finest creatives. His first mirror
selfie photo was taken in 2013 and scrolling through his IG grid, since
then, shows his creative genius is not waning.
The hardcover book is a one-of-a-kind tome that captures Reimer?s work
as he breaks the boundaries of beauty and embraces self-expression
while celebrating individual style. The contrast between @LyleXOX and
IRL Reimer is that the latter is slightly self-conscious but handles himself
well?with aplomb and wonderful wit.
The question of inspiration inevitably is asked to which Reimer replies
that he believes that inspiration is best found 'serendipitously' in the
world as it passes by.

He shares with the audience how he was
recently flummoxed by a discussion with an
art teacher?who was allowing students to
use their phones?to find inspiration while
working in art class. For Lyle, creativity
comes from everywhere you most expect it
not to be, and this is something that the
upcoming generation of creators, artists, and
changemakers should consider.
?If you are looking for your inspiration, put
your phone down. Get out into the world,?
Reimer shared. ?I appreciate makeup artists,
but I?m not inspired by makeup artists.?
Once, on a walk across the historic Burrard
Street bridge, he noticed a wheel had fallen
off a passerby?s suitcase. ?That?s a cool
shape,? he thought, ?that?s coming to the
studio with me.?
Lyle?s form of art is twofold. He posts
self-portraits of elaborate, jarring and
seemingly gravity-defying makeup designs
featuring upcycled and found objects. These
photos are paired with the eclectic stories of
the personality he has created with the
objects. Each character and story is unique
and unexpected, and they are primed to leave
the reader in awe of the artist?s duality of
talent.
His creative inclinations were first realized
when growing up in Wymark, SK, a place
small enough to be designated as a hamlet
instead of a town. The casual observer might
assume that his work is a reaction to a
conservative prairie upbringing, but this
couldn?t be further from the truth. He has
stated in past interviews that he was always
able to find support at home, especially from
artists in his family. His mother had an
affinity for used recyclables and his aunt was
trained in make-up.
EDUCATION IN THE CITY
After moving to Vancouver, Reimer pursued a
makeup program at the Blanche Macdonald
Centre and found work for MAC Cosmetics,
where he worked as a trainer for their
coveted Artistry and Development team
before leaving to pursue his interests full
time.
His online fandom (which includes luxury
fashion houses), has become so devoted that
they now serve the purpose of creative
curation, sending him bits of inspiration in the
form of garbage (Jeremy Scott sent 45 lbs
of studio refuse), handbags (Gucci,
Balenciaga), metal hearts from Mexico City,
and a used retainer from a childhood friend?s
daughter. Nothing is too opulent, sacred,
unconventional or unusable for Reimer.
09

011

The past year has been full of firsts for
Reimer. Lyle XOX: Head of Design was
designed as a collaboration with renowned art
director Fabien Baron. His works were
featured in such international publications as
the New York Times, Vogue Italia, British
Vogue, and GQ China. Last March, he fulfilled
a lifelong dream when famed luxury New York
City retailer Bergdorf Goodman featured
storefront windows dedicated to his work.
AN INVITATION TO COLLABORATE
Invited to collaborate with Victor and Rolf at
their Amsterdam atelier, Reimer remembers
being astonished when they asked him what
to wear for their shoot. ?I remember them
coming to the studio space in their jeans and
t-shirts and saying, ?Well, Lyle, what would
you like us to wear??And I just said, ?I?m going
to tell you what to wear?? This shoot was a
personal favourite of his, and a particularly
treasured photograph is the first image page
of his first?but not last?book.
As a tastemaker for fashion?s most influential,
it seems that the sky is the limit for Reimer,
who remains on the west coast in his cozy
studio in trendy Kitsilano and is intent on
finding new opportunities for collaborations.
However, he is still driven by the same
principles.
Inspiration will always come in unexpected
places, and as much as the world?s most
acclaimed designers knock on his door, we are
sure to find him where he truly feels at home:
in front of the camera, adorned with the
objects that others have left behind?there to
tell a story that is seeking exposure.
Visit Rizzoli USA to Order
Lyle XOX: Head of Design

vancouver, new york , shenzen
013

LAURENCE & CHI CO
LOVE & A LEGACY OF LARGESSE

To many, the Laurence & Chico Café
off Robson Street was their first
invitation into the insane world that
Laurence Li and Chico Wang created
for themselves. Rubber ducks proliferate and
oogly octopus tentacles abound, mop-top
stools beckon, grotesque eyeballs roll, and
exaggerated mannequins with giant wigs
oversee all. The space is so fantastic that the
simple act of opening of this tea and dessert
shop was covered in Vogue Italia!
To celebrities like Cardi B, Bjork, the
Clermont Twins, Lady Gaga, and the Man
Repeller herself, Leandra Medine, the
married couple behind the label are all about
fashion. Outrageous, over-the-top, grandiose,
and yet beautifully elegant and sophisticated
when styled with deft restraint.
MODERN TWIST ON TRADITIONAL LOVE
The spark that created the Laurence & Chico
brand began in New York City at a market
stall in artsy Soho. Two young Vancouverites
were studying at the Parsons School of
Design; Laurence skilled in illustration and
Chico drawn to fashion. While a dating app
may have pulled them together, it was a
confluence of talents that tied them together.
Collaboration on illustrative postcards turned
into a run of branded t-shirts, and soon the
two students had a desire to create, not only a
life but a design business together. The latter
proving to be a visual wonderland?an exciting
mélange of textures and patterns?that is
other-worldly and wow-inspiring in an industry
set on recycling and deft appropriation.
Along the journey, their studies fell by the
wayside. Although Chico was a Fashion
Design major and had enviably worked at
Givenchy, Miu Miu, and McQueen, and
Laurence majored in Fashion Marketing and
worked in Barney?s Buying Department, the
world was beckoning, and the two veered off
onto a creative tangent. This proved a detour
that jump-started the Laurence & Chico label
and has allowed them to pull ahead of their
peers.
Laurence and Chico?s creative process is
unique in that illustrator Laurence begins by
drawing surreal kaleidoscopic images that
reflect the world around him. Each of these
drawings contributes a first step to a visual
journey filled with playful symbolism. Chico
then takes the reins and brings the sketches
and palettes to life as garments buoyed by
cartoonish enthusiasm.
HOMETOWN DEBUT
Yaletown?s Leisure Center and Kokko in
Richmond were the first to showcase and sell
Laurence & Chico. The owners of both, Mason
Wu and MuYun Li, were early patrons of the
designers and agreed to stock their first pieces
before the duo had even formally registered
their brand and presenting the trunk show was
a natural extension of the relationship.
Leisure Center began with a trunk show of
150 mind-blowing ready-to-wear pieces, 20
pieces of insane accessories, as well as
various pieces of furniture in a 3-day
hometown début. The collection presented was
a robust and vivid evolution from Laurence &
Chico?s early designs
015

017

The evening attendees were agog as the minimalist
space turned into a maximalist fantasy featuring
looks with layers upon layers of flamboyant ruffles,
bulging quilted checks, shredded tweed, oversized
droopy velvet bows, plush faux-fur, all corralled with
rope after rope of pearls. While the styling would
have been considered heavy-handed on any other
collection?tiny hats perched upon reach-the-sky
wigs which enveloped faces painted with vibrant
animalian eye make-up and pasted-on
pearls?seemed oddly balanced and completely
natural.
Laurence and Chico are visionaries who see their
designs extending far beyond apparel. In 2015, they
had a vision of morphing into a ?lifestyle brand,?
which included opening a series of cafés where
those who admire and covet their couture have the
opportunity to buy a t-shirt, a coffee, and other
knick-knacks with signature eye-catching
packaging. This vision was realized in 2018 and the
following year; the café was nominated in the Best
Restroom in Canada contest sponsored by Cintas.
THE COLLECTIONS
Their first show was in New York in 2015, and it
explored themes of flight, make-up, sea creatures,
and pets. Each brought to life with bold, vibrant
accoutrements such as gigantic coloured wigs,
exaggerated make-up, super-sized silhouettes, rows
of ruffles, reams of pearls, glitter, and big bows.
Laurence & Chico?s 2018 collection explores the
relationship between people and their pets,
addressing that oft-blurred line that exists within
the ?companion animal?dynamic.
No doubt inspired by their two French Bulldogs,
Pearl and Button, the dresses and headpieces were
adorned with their signature over-abundance of
pearls and ruffles, faux fur, as well as embellished
with statements of ?GROOM ME,? ?WALK ME,? and
?PET ME.? With painstaking attention to detail, each
completed look is layered into a silhouette that
portrays a fantastical impression of the most
over-indulged and pampered pooch.
Fast forward to the 2019 and 2020 collections, and
the Laurence & Chico runway shows at Paris and
New York Fashion Weeks are well-attended and
excitedly received. The looks are more approachable
than the earlier collections, with their ruffled denim,
pearls, and tweed fabrics aligned with style and
textures of the historic luxury houses of Chanel
and Balenciaga. WWD stated ?Backstage before
the show, Li attributed the season?s thread of
heightened wearability to a desire to open a
brick-and-mortar store in the future.? In a recent
conversation with us, Laurence shared that the
brand has indeed expanded to wholesale
distribution in China and will be adding online retail
in both China and North America.
NESTING WORLDWIDE
The couple live and travel between Vancouver,
Shenzhen, and New York and with the expansion
of their brand into China, they can forget about
vacations, and, likely, Vancouverites will not see
them dining at their favourite restaurant - Elisa in
Yaletown.

019

One thing that is unique about the duo
(like they need to be MORE unique!) is that
they do not wear their designs exclusively,
as many designers do, when asked where
they shop, Laurence excitedly says,
?Everywhere! Online, offline, specialty
boutiques, consignment stores, department
stores. In Paris ? Le Bon Marche, New
York ? Opening Ceremony, Bergdorf?s.?
Meanwhile, devotees can purchase online
at Moda Operandi and Luisa Via Roma,
and shop in person at 3NY in New York,
14 locations in Asia, the Middle East, and
Europe.

fairmont pacific rim, 1038 canada place
021

PAOLO FAZI OLI
RECONSTRUCTI ON LAUNCH

In the din of the Fairmont Pacific Rim?s bustling
Lobby Lounge, Paolo Fazioli weaves through a
crowd of excited onlookers, accepting words of
excitement and congratulations for his latest masterpiece.
He is bespectacled, smartly dressed and gives off an air of
excitement that overshadows the jet lag he must be feeling,
having arrived from Italy only a couple of hours before, to
present the 2020 version of the Fairmont?s Fazioli piano.
As the founder and namesake of Fazioli Pianoforti, his
work not only includes designing what is well known to be
the world?s finest concert pianos but testing each one before
it is permitted to leave the factory. A trip to Vancouver for
this occasion is a special treat, a chance to showcase his
collaboration with local master origami artist Joseph Wu. It
is also a chance to see an old friend.
Manuel Bernaschek was the first to bring Fazioli pianos to
Vancouver thirteen years ago. After a visit to the Fazioli
factory in Italy, and a promise that he would make the name
known on the west coast, Bernaschek was granted
permission to carry the brand. Today, Showcase Pianos?
two locations are recognized as being the highest-selling
Fazioli dealer worldwide and have been instrumental in
building a partnership with the Westbank Corporation.
As the piano is unveiled, onlookers gaze upon a beautifully
crafted work of brilliant white with delicately placed
pentagons that appear to float across its body. Underneath
the exposed top, a three-dimensional walnut inlay adds even
more depth.
023

The piano was designed to echo Wu?s
spectacular Origami Light Sculpture,
which is suspended over the hotel?s new
TASCHEN library. It has been there since
the hotel opened in 2010. The entire
design process was completed without
meeting in person. However, this was not
an issue for Wu. ?Having seen examples of
their work in the past, I didn?t have any
doubts that they would be able to do it,?
he said of the Fazioli team.
Wu cites Malcolm Gladwell?s book Blink
for giving him clarity into how his process
of learning how to fold a bold new origami
design, works. Thanks to his countless
hours of practice, his intuition guided him
to execute it without overthinking. ?If I
have an idea of what I want to do, the
design just sort of materializes,? he says. ?I
know how to start, and I know I can finish,
but I have no idea consciously how to
process will exist.? This concept holds
whether designing a piano case, a
180-foot installation like the Fairmont?s, or
a playful mouse to usher in the Lunar New
Year for his dedicated Instagram fan base.
After the unveiling, acclaimed virtuoso
Carl Petersson steps to the piano and
launches into a passionate number that
exhibits the Fazioli?s famously wide range
of colour and tone.The Swedish-born
pianist balances a role as Showcase
Piano?s Artistic Director with a busy
schedule of touring and recording, which is
done exclusively on Fazioli.
Petersson mentions this is the first
opportunity he has had to meet Paolo
Fazioli?never mind play for him. When
asked why he prefers to play these iconic
pianos, it is clear that it is an issue of no
contest.
025

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best, well-crafted
world,? he shares
performance. ?For
perform on it.?
Fazioli?s eponymo
from a desire to b
world-class. In mo
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pianos where exis
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As a young man in
studied engineerin
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designing piano pr
founding Fazioli P
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factory space in S
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approximately 140
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desire to expand p
this number.
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must maintain limi
must have control
are producing.?
027

azioli pianos to be the
instruments in the
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me, it is a joy to
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e greater than
st industries, this is a
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ting piano makers had
ad start, it must have
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er?s degree in piano
, using the skills
mily?s experience in
n, he began
ototypes before
ianoforti in 1981
derused family
acile, a town
thwest of Venice in
a Giulia region.
ployee factory (which
rt hall for testing
nits) produces
pianos a year.
li, there is little
roduction beyond
t better,? he explains.
intain quality, you
ited production. You
over every piece you
Fazioli?s key differentiation is his
anti-industrialist view of piano
production. Each piano is treated as an
individual, not part of a line, and is
subject to continuous experimentation
and research by experts in the fields of
wood material science, engineering,
and design. The average timeline for a
piano to be completed is about two
years.
The most lavish of his creations call
Vancouver home, with more in
development thanks to Fazioli?s strong
relationship with Manuel Bernaschek
(Showcase Pianos) and Ian Gillespie
(Westbank Corp).
With ambitious projects on the horizon,
Fazioli tempers his excitement with
thoughts of where he is meant to be, at
his factory in Sacile. ?In the future, my
plan is to spend more time at home,? he
says. He cites a new collaboration with
a university in Milan as a source of
excitement and growth for the
company. ?We are always improving the
sound of our piano and the quality of
the instrument.?
It seems that as much as it is adored
worldwide and played by legends like
Herbie Hancock and Angela Hewitt,
there will never really be the perfect
Fazioli piano. But this notion of
?perfection?is one that Fazioli himself
does not care for, or believe, as every
piano comes off the line more
magnificent than the last.

photo editorial: bloodless bullfight
29

031

033

035

Concept / Direct or: Maria Avila
Phot ography: Audrey Bow
Make-Up: Gw en Perkins St ylist s: Mr. Tony, Maria Avila
037
Model/ Dancers: Magnus Fut rell-Fruhling, Maria Avila

lux ury fashion
039

distillerie clacquesin, malak off, paris
041

TWEED DE CHANEL HI GH JEWELRY
x JENNI FER ZHANG

Twice a year in Paris, fashion takes a
moment to celebrate the most exclusive,
expensive and extraordinary works created by
the houses of haute couture. Fashionista from
around the globe heed the Siren's call and jet in with
empty monogrammed trunks, prepared for the hunt.
Haute couture is French and translates into high
dressmaking. Although you will see designers using
this term, it is in error, as haute couture is a legally
protected term and only usable by brands approved
by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.
Those that are part of this elite group must adhere
to strict rules which govern the amount of fulltime
staff, number of fittings per garment, and, most
importantly, present a collection of no less than 50
original designs of both day and evening garments,
every January and July.
Vancouver?s Jennifer Zhang, the owner of
Concrete Cashmere Design, is a woman who has
exquisite taste and a love of Chanel. Upon her
return from Paris Haute Couture SS20, she shared
with us her experience at the Tweed de Chanel
High Jewelry Gala Evening, which was held at the
Distillerie Clacquesin, with 200 other VIPs.
She accessorized her crystal-embellished
Alexandre Vauthier dress, with a vintage Chanel
bag, and a piece from the evenings launch collection
valued at $600K, which was presented to her upon
entering.
Enjoy this foray into this Scottish themed evening!
043

045

047

a w eek -end aw ay...beverly hills
049

beverly w ilshire: 4500 w ilshire blvd
051

Featured in movies such as much-loved
Pretty Woman, classic buddy film
Beverly Hills Cop, the enduring Clueless, the
Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills turned 92 this
year. Now owned by the Four Seasons Hotel chain,
this 395-room hotel was built in 1928 when Beverly
Hills had less than 1,000 residents.
This iconic landmark was designed by Los Angeles
Architects Albert Walker and Percy Eisen. The duo
also created the El Cortez in San Diego and the Fine
Arts Building in downtown Los Angeles. The grand
design is reflective of an era when sculptural
components were integrated into the architecture,
creating a design that conveyed purpose and
meaning.
The Beverly Wilshire was built on site of the Beverly
Auto Speedway, and at the time, residents of
Beverly Hills would gather on the greens of the
property and picnic while enjoying Model T Ford
races on Sunday afternoons.
053

055
A STORIED HISTORY
This grand hotel has stood through numerous moments in
history and was even designated an air raid shelter during
World War II, and withstood major earthquakes in 1933,
1971, and 1994.
Always known as a location for luxury and high-profile
clientele, The Beverly Wilshire has been home to many
renowned celebrities over the decades. Elvis Presley, Warren
Beatty, and Steve McQueen all enjoyed extended stays and
have become part of the history of the hotel. The private pool
was modelled after legendary Italian superstar Sophia Loren?s
private villa.
Known for having the largest sui
5,000-square-feet, the property
expensive suite in the city, start
night! And for guests who wish
tour of Beverly Hills, the hotel of
a Rolls Royce house car.
TO SUP AND DINE
Some of Los Angele's most soug
right inside the hotel. CUT by W
for plantbased dining but there a
combined to create a stunning p
steakhouse aroma.

te in Los Angeles at
also holds the most
ing at a mere $25,000 per
to round out their stay with a
fers complimentary access to
ht-after fine dining is located
olfgang Puck is not known
re delicious sides that can be
late, if you do not mind the
Our choice was THE Blvd Cafe and Lounge for fresh, local
California cuisine enjoyed on the patio overlooking Rodeo
Drive. The carrot cake was vegan and cocktails vibrant. Some
named after movies and actors who have stayed there. The
Pretty Woman was particularly gorgeous with rose petal
garnish. In the evening we retired to the indoor lounge and
indulged friends with fine wines, aged whiskey, around the
18-foot onyx bar.
It is no wonder the hotel has been awarded the prestigious
Forbes Travel Guide Five- Star Award. The service was
impeccable, in-room dining was prompt, and the heated pool,
were what a rain-weary couple from Vancouver needed!

057

n rodeo drive x via rodeo
059

FROM MOROCCO TO MODERN DAY
To learn about the Beverly Hills, we must go back
140-years to the story of two land developers named
Henry Hammel and Charles Denker. In the early 1880s,
this duo acquired the land with the intent to create a
sub-division which would be named Morocco and themed
after North Africa. The endeavour failed because of the US
economic collapse of 1888. In the 1900s, fortunes turned,
and a group of oil-speculators, led by Burton E. Green,
bought the land, which was being used for bean farming, and
began drilling for oil. He found no oil but copious amounts of
water. In 1906, Green and his partners rebranded as the
Rodeo Land and Water Company and inspired by Beverly
Farms, in Massachusetts, Green and his wife renamed the
bean field Beverly Hills.
By 1914, the local population grew to a point where Beverly
Hills was incorporated as a city. However, it was not until
Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks acquired Pickfair
Mansion that film industry stars, directors and producers,
began moving in which resulted in the area having the
notoriety of being a celebrity haven which has endured to
today.
HISTORICAL REPURPOSING
Beverly Hills has more to offer visitors than a neighbourhood
of luxury shopping and dining experiences! At street level, a
striking 9/ 11 Memorial, containing an actual steel beam
recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center, was
added, and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the
Performing Arts was created by repurposing a classic
decommissioned US Post Office building. With its enduring
ceiling murals produced during the Great Depression by
artist Charles Kassler, a multi-use 150-seat theatre with
theatre school, a café, and gift shop. The project was
completed with a modern addition of the 500-seat
Goldsmith Theatre, a state-of-the-art-facility where a
multitude of world-class performers has entertained.

061
This year Beverly Hills celebrated its 106th anniversary and
continues to be the place to be seen. World-renowned for its
exclusive high-end stores, visitors find the latest runway
releases, fresh drops, and bespoke design services. The famous
Rodeo Drive is where you will find legendary department
stores Neiman- Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, experience
European ultra-luxury at Stefano Ricci, and discover glamour
at Cartier, Prada, Gucci, Valentino, Armani, Dior, and more.
Adjacent is the cobblestoned Two Rodeo Drive where
Versace, Lanvin, Jimmy Choo, and Tiffany reside.

063
For those seeking to step away from
the eye-candy experiences that
originate on the Rodeo Drives, should
shift over a few blocks to the charming
and vibrant South Beverly Drive. This
accessible enclave is an eclectic
collection of fine dining and cozy
eateries, high-end local designer
boutiques, art galleries, pastry shops,
and divine spas where even the
most-hardy shopper can find peaceful
relaxation.

ladurée: 311 n beverly drive
Having been tempted by Ladurée on Robson
Street too many times to count, and having to
endure meetings where my companions gorged
on their famous French Toast, it was with
exquisite delight that we discovered the Beverly
Hills franchise was vegan. Finally, a Ladurée,
where one would not have to cobble together a
brunch meal with a bar of chocolate, fresh-cut
ripe fruits, and tea. (Not that it was not delicious,
but the French Toast appears otherworldly!)
The Versailles-inspired aesthetic was given a
modern and chic California twist by designer
India Mahdavi.
The famous tea room?s decision to turn their
Beverly Hills flagship into a vegan venue came
with much research and development, and by
ultimately engaging renowned plantbased
American chef Matthew Kenney, who was found
on Instagram! In fact, the location is named
Ladurée by Matthew Kenney to acknowledge
this relationship formally.
Kenney created new recipes that modernized the
famed pastries by replacing all the dairy-based
products with almond buttermilk, aqua fava, and
coconut oil.
The resulting macarons come in a variety of
delicious flavours, including rose, raspberry,
salted caramel, hemp, along with
meringue-topped tarts, croissants, and other
French pastry classics. Savoury dishes include
Croque Monsieur, onion soup, and omelettes.
While their other tea rooms around the world
remain unchanged, Paris and New York
locations have added a selection of plantbased
dishes to their offerings.
Ladurée feels that the opening of the Beverly
Hills store in 2017 was a natural progression as
the brand continues to grow and expand
internationally.
We find it glorious and very brave for a brand
born in 1892 to acknowledge this and applaud
Ladurée for its vision. Now we wait patiently for
the Vancouver franchise and cute macaron
carts to take up the mantle, especially in a city
with the highest percent of plantbased eaters in
the country!
065

decades: 8214 melrose avenue
CAMERON SI LVER
LEGENDARY VI NTAGE CURATOR
067

It was 2012, and a Schiaparelli blowfish
walking stick made the Met Gala arrivals
come standstill. Wearing a Nicole Miller
?Ticket Print?suit, vintage fashion purveyor
Cameron Silver broke the red carpet. From
Perez Hilton to the Hollywood Reporter,
everyone was talking about Nicole Miller?s
escort and his eccentric outfit.
Founder of Decades Inc. and doyen of vintage
attire, Silver was no stranger to dressing for
impress. As a precocious 7-year old he was
partial to wearing a fedora, vest, white shirt, tie,
and khakis, and at 13-years, he planned an
entertaining bar mitzvah complete cabaret act
and ?The Cameron Awards,?in a tuxedo, top
hat, and white gloves. Five years of dressing up
and mischievous shenanigans followed,
including a year where he went from being a
doted-on and indulged child to being one of
seven when his parents hosted a Laotian boat
family.
069

Graduated and living in his parent?s guesthouse,
Silver studied Theatre Arts at UCLA and
began a career as an actor and travelling
cabaret singer, even releasing an ill-fated album
in 1996.
A pit-stop during a two-week tour in Seattle
proved to be a turning point in the young
Silver?s life. A thrift store called Atomic Bomb
beckoned, and soon Silver was the proud owner
of three Rudi Gernreich dresses and a Dior
couture ball gown, which were promptly sent
home for safekeeping.
Decades Inc. was born in 1997 in an
under-appreciated section of West Hollywood
on Melrose Avenue, and the store has been
patronized by celebrities ever since. Who can
resist the lure of the elegance and uniqueness
that vintage offers? The construction, hand
detailing, and provenance that comes with a
gorgeous gown by Dior, Balenciaga, Valentino
or Chanel?
071

073

2001 was a watershed year for vintage as both
Renee Zellweger, and Julia Roberts dressed
in it for the Oscars. The wearing of vintage
was thrust into the spotlight and celebrities
embraced this new avenue of individuality. The
following spring, a clingy white vintage Azzaro
from Decades clung to the slim frame of Nicole
Kidman as she attended the New York
premiere of Moulin Rouge, followed by it
gracing the cover of Women?s Wear Daily the
next morning.
Silver?s notoriety has only built year after year.
Having been named one of Time Magazine?s
?25 Most Influential Names and Faces in
Fashion? in 2002, he went on to star in one of
the first reality series Dukes of Melrose, in
2012 he won the Visionary Award from The
Art of Elysium, and published a coffee table
book aptly entitled Decades: A Century of
Fashion (published by Bloomsbury) that
sold-out within 48 hours.
In 2013, as part of a worldwide book tour,
which began in Paris with chic soiree with
guests burlesque artist Dita von Teese, haute
couturier Andrew Gn, Silver held a
book-signing in Vancouver at Blubird boutique
on Alberni Street, where he shared with a
delighted crowd that he had indeed thrifted in
the city during his cabaret touring days.

Silver?s passion for design has extended past
retail to acting as a creative consultant and
ambassador to brands like Pringle,
Boucheron, and Azzaro, collaborating with
jewelry maven Miriam Haskell, partnering
with footwear brand Modern Vintage, and
narrated the Versailles 1973 documentary
about the restoration event of the famed
French palace. He is heavily involved with
The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art and served as the Honorary
Chair of the Contemporary Art Museum
St. Louis?legendary Dada Ball.
In 2020, Silver is observing the resurgence
of secondhand and vintage shopping with
the satisfaction in knowing that he played a
part in this movement - one that is
gathering momentum as the world realizes
that we all need to act to slow down the
destruction of our environment.
Amid all the media noise, Silver hasn't
changed his message to the masses; the
difference is now, people of all generations
are listening.
075

?As we enter the second decade of the 21st
century, distinctive style is through a medley of
vintage and modern, high-end and accessible
brands, tailored and sports styles, and an
embracing of repeating and repurposing what
already exists in your closet.
"The icons of the past always repeated looks,
and one can?t fight for a ban on plastic straws
if one thinks showing up in the same top twice
in their IG feed is a fashion violation. It is both
?chic to repeat? and ?the best new clothes
are old clothes,? but I am also encouraged by
new designs and an embracing of
sustainability.?
YVR WELCOMES CAMERON SILVER
The recent Special Pop- up with Decades in
The Apartment at Holt Renfrew is evidence
that our collective mentality is changing. There
was a time, even five years ago, when the
notion of a luxury department store even
entertaining the idea of having a non-designer
bring vintage items to sell to their VIP clientele
would have been scoffed at.
As Champagne and canapes circulated, Silver
shared his curated pieces with the well-heeled
and impeccably dressed of the west coast's
fashionista.
077

079

Even before the doors opened, an embroidered
Hermès Trocadero top was scooped up by an
old friend who had been invited for a preview.
Soon the change rooms were full and secondary
rooms were being sought out by attentive staff.
Silver?s comfortable demeanour and smile
radiated sincerity as he recommended pieces and
shared details about each, which ranged from
Chanel to Miyake to Moschino Cheap & Chic,
and included an array of chunky accessories in
black onyx, and gold.
?Right now, Decades has incredible momentum,
and there are so many new business
opportunities that our trajectory is for intelligent
growth and sensitive expansion. I never thought I
would have this business for nearly a quarter of a
century, but I feel like I?ve only just begun!"
When asked if there is a ?holy grail?garment that
he is still seeking, he replies, ?A true ?holy grail?
garment will be discovering something I didn?t
know existed. I?ve been so lucky to see some of
the most important pieces of the 20th century
come through Decades ranging from a
YSL for Dior alligator motorcycle jacket to a
Rudi Gernreich topless swimsuit.?
When in Los Angeles, do not even think of leaving
without a visit to Decades on Melrose Avenue!
Explore the world of vintage curated by the
incredible Cameron Silver and sought out by
celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Madonna,
Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, and Nicole
Ritchie.

events...it's gala season again!
081

for children w e care gala, fairmont hotel vancouver
083

085
On the east wall of the Rosewood Hotel
Georgia lobby is an intriguing piece of art.
Created by UK artist Patrick Hughes, the
work with protrusions appears to recede, and the
receding parts appear to protrude, an optical illusion
on a 3-dimensional surface where parts of the picture
which seem farthest away are physically the nearest,
and as the guests walk by the work, the composition
appears to be continually moving.
Next month, the 25th BC Children?s Hospital
For Children We Care Gala will effervesce w
sequined gowns, sharp tuxedos, bubbly flutes
Champagne, and bidding paddles. This year?s g
expected to draw more than 800 philanthrop
business leaders and aims to raise $5 million
night for critical funds for BC Children?s Hospi
world-class orthopedic team.

annual
ith
of
ala is
ic and
in one
tal?s
At the centre of the evening?s fundraising strategy is
the auctioning of another confounding Hughes piece
entitled Andy, Jeff, Damien. The piece, donated by
Christian Chia, CEO of the OpenRoad Auto Group
and his wife Carole Chia, is valued at $217,500.
With Andy, Jeff, Damien, Hughes playfully presents
the interior of a museum, showcasing the works of
iconic yet controversial pop artists Andy Warhol,
Jeff Koons, and Damien Hirst.
This is an important, large-scale piece representing
Hughes?vision at its best. With its intricate
hand-painted details, impeccable construction, and
desirable subject matter, this highly collectible work
will decidedly appeal to the gala attendees.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
25th Annual For Children We Care Gala

087

REVEA L - the greatest show on earth, rogers arena
089

091

Vancouver is in the midst
of the glamorous gala season,
and the hottest ticket so far has
been for REVEAL - the Greatest
Show on Earth. Presented by BMO
Bank of Montreal and co-chaired by
Clara Aquilini and Jill Killeen, the
4th Reveal Gala raised an astonishing
$1,0222,000 for Canucks Autism
Network.
With a ?Big Top?theme,
Grammy-winning NYC chanteuse and
provocateur, Rizo, commanded centre
ring as Reveal?s Ringmaster and
dazzled the 500+ guests with a
comedic performance complete with
three show-stopping musical numbers.
Vancouver?s own Underground Circus
presented an awe-inspiring spectacle
made up of contortionists, aerial acts,
contact jugglers, and stilt marionettes.
Canucks Autism Network music
students left a lasting imprint on the
hearts of attendees with their touching
rendition of This is Me from
The Greatest Showman.
The star of The Good Doctor,
Freddie Highmore, was among VIPs,
alongside Paolo and Clara Aquilini,
the founders of the Canucks Autism
Network, Showcase Piano?s Manuel
Bernaschek, Patrizia and Sean
Mitchell, Jill and Mike Killeen and
Vancouver Canucks legends, Kirk
McLean, Cliff Ronning, Jyrki Lumme,
and Dave Babych.
Carnival games, DJ beats, dancing,
mini doughnuts and candy floss kept
guests partying under the big top long
after the curtains closed.

publisher's message
In the early 80s, while flipping through
dogeared Vogue magazines, little did I
realize the imprint that Grace
Coddington's fashion editorials would
have on an adult me and what would
resonate in my mind as defining
elegance and luxury.
The Vogue editorials which drew me in
were dark and mysterious. Grandiose
gowns on thin frames flowed over the
pages, exaggerated hair and makeup,
with dramatic staging and lighting.
By the late 80s, George Michael had
all of us hooked on supermodels via
music videos and the vision of designer
Thierry Mugler. It was through this
period; I discovered Peter Lindbergh
and his black and white photography of
supermodels at their best but also their
most raw and powerful.
It is through this lens that we
(photographer Sonya Reznitsky, MUA
Gwen Perkins, and I) created an
homage to the late master Lindbergh,
who passed in 2019.
With this issue, I launch the 2020 look
and feel of Folio.YVR. Sleek and
streamlined with more personalities,
experiences, and less ostentatious
objects of desire.
Ecoluxury is a way of thinking and
living that guides us through our days,
weeks, and beyond. Being kind to the
planet, making changes to benefit the
environment, showing compassion to
all living things?not just the ones who
share our lives?and being the voice for
the voiceless.
I know that some think 'ecoluxury' is an
oxymoron but I believe that it means a
return to buying items of value and
quality, which, undoubtedly, will cost
more. Living an ecoluxury lifestyle
means reducing, reusing when possible,
and celebrating hand-made over
machine-made. Buying less and
rewarding companies that are changing,
and, most importantly, being less
impulsive and selfish. Recognizing
that everything we do, however
minute, impacts the life of someone
or something. Think with your heart.
Going into 2020, Folio.YVR will continue
to share only plantbased dining, fashion
editorials without furs and exotic skins,
cruelty-free beauty products/services,
and will be continue to be a strong
voice of advocacy for inclusion and
diversity.
Folio.YVR will also continue to a
sponsored content publication, as my
opinion of stand-alone advertising has
not changed nor has the belief that
creatives should be compensated for
their work, as defined by the parties
involved.
Here's to a new year, a new look, and to
making change where we can.
Best wishes to all,
093

Publisher/ Editor- in- Chief
Helen Siwak, EcoLuxLuv Comms
Assistant Editor
Coleman Pete
Photography Credits
Cover: Lyle Reimer via Rizzoli USA
Page 1: Daily Palette
Page 3: Helen Siwak
Pages 5- 11: Rizzoli USA
Pages 13- 16: Laurence & Chico
Page 17: Leila Kwok
Pages 18- 19: Laurence & Chico
Pages 21- 22: Fazioli Official
Page 24: Manuel Bernaschek
Pages 25- 28: Fazioli Official
Pages 29- 30: Kat Willson Photography
Pages 31- 38: As Credited on Page
Page 39- 40: Dinner with a View
Page 41- 48: Chanel Official
Pages 49- 52: Helen Siwak
Pages 54- 58: Beverly Wilshire
Page 57: (LL) Helen Siwak
Pages 59- 64: Helen Siwak
Pages 65- 66: Ladurée
Pages 67- 68: Decades Inc.
Pages 69- 74: Helen Siwak
Pages 75- 76: Decades Inc.
Pages 77- 78: Helen Siwak
Pages 79- 80: Holt Renfrew
Pages 81- 82: Dinner with a View
Pages 83- 88: SOMA PR
Pages 89- 92: Canucks Autism Network
Page 94: Sonya Reznitsky
Page 94: MUA: Gwen Perkins /
Belle and Rebel Beauty
Pages 95- 96: Helen Siwak
All rights reserved. No part of the material
protected by this copyright notice may be
reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, without written permission
from EcoLuxLuv Communications.
FOLIO.YVR does not accept any
responsibilities for incorrect information
as all information is deemed to be
accurate as of date of publishing.
FOLIO.YVR does not accept unsolicited
materials.
FOLIO.YVR is published monthly by
EcoLuxLuv Communications and is a
sponsored supplement and marketing tool
designed to augment services provided by
EcoLuxLuv Communications. Queries
regarding collaboration, sponsorship,
marketing, consulting, and/ or inclusion in
FOLIO.YVR, and other ELL Comms titles
should be directed to the publisher via
email: helen@ecoluxluv.com or text to
778.847.3011.
Mailing/ Delivery address:
Helen Siwak, Suite A,
489 West 6th Avenue,
Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1L3
095 100