WHO'S ON THE V LIST? - Virani Real Estate Advisors

PERSONAL SHOPPER
PERSONAL SHOPPER
Each season Holt Renfrew’s Fashion Director Barbara
Atkin comprises a list of must haves based on the top trends
from the catwalks of fashion capitals. Amid myriad looks
and trends she invariably nails down each season with her
cutting-edge predictions. This information is passed on to the
sales staff and the store’s Personal Shoppers. In Vancouver
Personal Shoppers are ready to assist customers with their
seasonal purchases to interpret the new fashion directions.
36 | THE V LIST | FALL 06 | www.thevlist.com
Focus on Holt Renfrew | Story by Virginia Leeming | Photos by Magnus Reed.
The new looks for fall fashion 2006 are as diverse as they
are delightful. Sensuous, romantic, rustic or retro, from
country-inspired chunky knits to lacy Edwardian outfi ts,
from menswear-inspired suits to super-feminine dresses,
fashion’s route to elegance takes many different paths.
Some designers have wandered down a bucolic country road for
their tweeds, tartans and Aran knits. But today’s look has a modern
twist. Asymmetrical hemline, pleat here or there, and paired with
a new shaped skirt and the whole look becomes casual but funky.
One of the hottest trends is the equestrian hat. And while we
probably won’t see traditional Wellies striding down Vancouver
streets, a touch of equestrian takes your image to absolutely now.
Military infl uences make a perennial appearance in fashion
circles because fashion designers can’t resist plundering
the trappings of uniform. Chanel did with her French sailor
sweaters, and Karl Lagerfeld borrows now and then from
the military look. Think piping, epaulettes, brass buttons and
tabs. The military cape coat gets designer salutes this season.
If you are going to make fashion statements this fall why not
embrace a new approach to shape. Actually it is an old shape, one
that Balenciaga or Cardin proposed in the ‘50s – cocoon. Jackets
and tunics drop from rounded shoulders and balloon out ever so
slightly. While the voluminous top above the waist is important,
below the waist is skinny. If skinny just isn’t you, opt for the wideleg
trouser. Another fresh shape is the bell skirt, very modern when
paired with a body-hugging top. The three-quarter sleeve has made
its entrance on fashion’s fall stage especially on coats and toppers.
So naturally the long glove pairs with this look for a stylish fi nish.
Watch for the dolman sleeve and inverted triangular-shaped tops.
The mini is back with a vengeance if you have the legs
for this look. A gentle alternative is a long hemline.
Couture has permeated the catwalk, and here shape is the
key. Pagoda shoulders that YSL would have called his own