DISCOVER THE PLACE WHERE
WISHES COME TRUE This holiday season, dream bigger than ever before — and we’ll help bring the magic to you
COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS Join in on our weekly in-store celebrations, including sELFie Photo Booths, DIY Cracker Stations, inspired and beautiful gift ideas and much more!
#ChristmasImaginedByHolts HOLTRENFREW.COM/CHRISTMASIMAGINED 737 DUNSMUIR STREET VANCOUVER
16-022-VitaAd.indd 1
2015-10-30 12:56 PM
THE SARAH FILE EDITOR’S LETTER
THE EX-BOYFRIEND JEAN No surprise, I like to edit my closet every season and add a few pieces that are very “right now” to mix with my classics. I’m really digging the monochrome look and Bohemian wraps for winter and hope that you, too, will find some closet inspiration in our page 4 trends guide. Also in this issue, you’ll see where we’ve been travelling, dining and shopping so you can get the most out of this city, too. After all, there’s never been more local buzz about fashion and beauty, with a constant stream of megastars gracing our town. Our managing editor, Noa Nichol, met two of them, including Ivanka Trump (page 6)—a mom and working girl I greatly admire. I’m eagerly awaiting the completion of the Trump International Hotel & Tower, if only to enjoy Ivanka’s own Mar-a-Lago Spa (the first in Canada, no less). Please enjoy the issue.
What would you like to see featured in VITA? Contact me: info@vitamindaily.com Twitter @thesarahfile Instagram @thesarahfile
I remember AG Denim from the early ’90s, when I was a fashion buyer at Artizia. Well, the brand is now back, with a perfectly slouchy and distressed Ex-Boyfriend Jean that I’ll be sporting on weekends. Can’t say I’ll look like Daria in them, but it’s worth a try. Agjeans.com
THIS SPUD’S FOR YOU
If clean living is a priority but time is at a premium, you’ll love the new Be Fresh Local Market from Spud. With our office within the 2-km freebike-delivery radius, I stocked up for the weekend. For $72, my 100 per cent local order included: a fresh-cut bouquet for the table from Full Bloom Flowers; organic Avalon milk for the kids’ cereal; grapefruit and bergamot dish soap and rosemary peppermint counter cleaner from Sapadilla; a juicing greens bouquet and bunch of chard for my morning smoothie; organic Brew Dr. kombucha to sip with the Sunday New York Times; Go Go reusable snack bags for kids on the go; and a thick pack of Gelderman Farms double-smoked bacon—because everything goes with bacon. 1900 W First Ave., 604-568-7783. Spud.ca
BUY THE DOZEN
Century-spanning artist jewelry line Fabergé has landed in Vancouver, finding its perfect (and perfectly exclusive) home with Brinkhaus, downtown. Launched in 1842, with links to the lives and loves of Russian royalty, the St. Petersburg-based biz was nationalised by the Bolsheviks in 1918 and went on to gain worldwide renown, particularly for its elaborate, jewel-encrusted eggs. Its wearable designs, too, are jaw-dropping; we’re lusting after these Palais Tsarskoye Selo Turquoise earrings, which perfectly reflect some of the things we love best about the brand. 1018 W Georgia St., 604-689-7055. Brinkhaus.com NOA NICHOL
PUBLISHER DEE DHALIWAL ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER JULIE HAMILTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SARAH BANCROFT CREATIVE DIRECTOR ADRIAN CUNNINGHAM MANAGING EDITOR NOA NICHOL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR LISE BOULLARD PROMOTIONS MANAGER KRYSTIN TYSIRE EDITORIAL INTERN MEGAN BOURASSA CONTRIBUTORS MIRANDA SAM COVER IVANKA TRUMP (PHOTO BY ABBEY DRUCKER) IN HEAD-TO-TOE IVANKA TRUMP, AVAILABLE AT NORDSTROM/NORDSTROM.COM TO ADVERTISE IN VITA EMAIL VITASALES@GLACIERMEDIA.CA CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #42849020
THE ART OF COLOUR
FASHION & SHOPPING
Winter Wonders SKATING
ON
ROBSON, WEEKENDS
HERE WE
COME! THIS
IN WHISTLER AND
SEASON, WE’RE
KEEPING THESE TOP RUNWAY TRENDS
FIGHTING THE IN
MIND.
HOLIDAY PARTIES, CHILL IN
MEGAN
STYLE,
BOURASSA
STRUCTURE YOURSELF Whether it’s a perfectly pleated dress or a bubble skirt, architectural styles in substantial fabrics like leather are super flattering (not to mention warm). Get on trend and try a structured shoe for a holiday party conversation starter. Christian Louboutin Shoe, Holt Renfrew. $1,165. Holtrenfrew.com
GO MONOCHROME From graphic eye makeup to athletic stripes to playful geometric patterns, designers are seeing things in black and white this season. Cosy up in a chunky patterned knit or go for a geometric shift for a mod look that’s both edgy and polished. Diane von Furstenberg Mercer Textured Sweater, Nordstrom. $950. Shop.Nordstrom.com
TOUCH OF FAUX FUR Not only is it the perfect way to stay warm and stylish this winter, the abundance of faux coats, stoles and even shoes hitting fall/winter runways this year makes it clear that fur (fake, of course) is definitely in. Plush Fleece Teddy Jacket, J.Crew. $299. Jcrew.com
IT’S A WRAP The poncho has officially achieved “cool girl” status. Layering a cape or blanket scarf over skinny jeans with a pair of ankle boots and tousled tresses says, “I woke up like this” (in a good way). BP Plaid Poncho, Nordstrom. $53. Shop.Nordstrom.com
PLAY WITH PLAID When the Scots invented this iconic pattern, who would’ve guessed it’d go on to become a schoolgirl, hipster and, now, runway staple? Season after season, this classic continues to look fresh. Pair it with dark denim and booties for effortless, Insta-worthy style. Cameron Street Mega Maise Satchel, Kate Spade. $502. Katespade.com
4
FASHION & SHOPPING GET ROMANTIC The era of opulence is back in a big way with a flurry of pieces featuring fairytale-inspired lace and high collars. Pair a lacy top with a structured blazer for a modern take on this classic look. Ted Baker London Ameera Scallop Hem Lace Dress, Nordstrom. $484. Shop.Nordstrom.com
DEEP END Rich tones dominated designers’ palettes this season, with merlot, emerald and ink hues saturating bags, coats and accessories. For an even more-stunning look, try them on a textured canvas of satin, fleece or calf hair. Clara Dress in Sill Chiffon, J.Crew. $305. Jcrew.com
LOVE YOUR LOBES From shoulder dusters to jumbo coloured jewels, the earlobes took centre stage at Gucci and Dior. Wear hair away from the face (and behind the ears) to keep the focus on your sparklers. Lulu Frost Drop Earrings, Holt Renfrew. $275. Holtrenfrew.com
GOOD POINT At once playful and chic, sharp collars were everywhere at Chanel, Dior and Miu Miu. A sprinkle of sequins and this decisive detail et voila, you’re ready for cocktails. Page Blouse, Kit and Ace. $178. Kitandace.com
®, and The Diamond. The Promise.™ are Trade Marks used under license from The De Beers Group of Companies.
HIGH ROLLER Designers are hijacking Wes Craven’s tickle trunk this season, and turtlenecks (you read that right) are having a moment. Channel Margot Tenenbaum and keep warm while you’re at it with a knit turtleneck or sweater dress. Collection Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater, J.Crew. $289. J.Crew.com
© Forevermark 2014. Forevermark®,
A TRUE PROMISE WILL NEVER BE BROKEN
PARK ROYAL METROPOLIS AT METROTOWN MAYFAIR CENTRE WWW.LUGARO.COM
FASHION & SHOPPING
In Her Shoes T H E D O N A L D ’ S E Q U A L LY FAMOUS DAUGHTER IS TOUTING A GORGEOUS NEW SHOE LINE (AND A B A R E LY T H E R E B A BY BUMP, TO BOOT). NOA NICHOL
ABBEY DRUCKER
IVANKA TRUMP is five months pregnant with her third child, and positively glowing. Maternity clothes, however, are not presently top of mind. In Vancouver last month to promote her latest footwear collection, available at Nordstrom, Trump told us that she was inspired by seasonal esthetics (think lace, plaids and jewel tones) and the fashion-versus-function issue that so many working women struggle to reconcile (she is, after all, at the helm of her own #WomenWhoWork campaign). The result: sleek and feminine tall dress boots, dressy and elegant block-heel booties and a plethora of pumps in every hue, height, fabric and finish imaginable. Trump’s personal can’t-live-without is her signature Carra shoe ($185)—she revealed that she owns one in every colour. As for motherhood changing her fashion perspective, it seems that, even for the daughter of a real estate mogulturned-presidential candidate—not to mention, a business whiz in her own right—the strains, and joys, of being a parent simply cannot be avoided. “Some things definitely fall by the wayside,” she said with a smile. “I can’t remember the last time I had a manicure!” The Ivanka Trump Fall 2015 Footwear Collection is available at: Nordstrom Pacific Centre, 799 Robson St., 604-699-2100. Shop.nordstrom.com EDAY BOOT
CARRA PUMP
TENICE PUMP
DAZA HEEL
Hot Shops MEET VANCOUVER’S NEWEST RETAILERS.
FRENCH SOLE After many an afternoon spent browsing the super-chic and oh-socomfortable ballet flats on French Sole’s website, we’re happy to report that we (and you, too!) can now access the European brand’s flagship Canadian store at Park Royal. Think shelves packed with sparkly, leopard and leather-in-every-colour-of-the-rainbow shoes— we’re so excited we’re practically doing pirouettes. Unit 1052, 2002 Park Royal S, 604-913-0312. Frenchsole.com LISE BOULLARD
CICINO BOUTIQUE Open this month, luxury fashion house and self-proclaimed “lifestyle club” Cicino is basically a one-stop shop for all things designer, including an exclusive assortment of duds for women and men, fine jewelry and made-to-order Italian furnishing. Among the name brands dropped at this boutique: Versace, John Lobb, Oscar De La Renta, Kenzo, Sonia Rykiel, Andrew Gn, Pascal Millet, Ermanno Scervino, Sergio Rossi and Thierry Lasry. In the words of the store’s general manager and creative director Donna Yasmeen, “Cicino is a chic ... shopping experience that puts you in a class like no other.” 848 W Hastings St. Cicino.com NOA NICHOL
THE NEW HARRY ROSEN In 1954 a young tailor with a knack for male shopping habits opened his first 500-square-foot store in Toronto. Six decades and 16 boutiques later, highend retailer Harry Rosen is a leader when it comes to suiting the tastes of its discerning clientele. Just walk through the revamped Vancouver flagship in Pacific Centre and you’ll see—the sprawling, 27,000-square-foot space boasts Bond-worthy Burberry London, Giorgio Armani and John Varvatos, among other luxury brands, plus a cologne bar and newly added Tom Ford, Kiton and Brunello Cucinelli shops. But the pièce de résistance? A massive shoe store with its own entrance. 700 W Georgia St., 604-683-6861. Harryrosen.com L.B.
6
LIVIFY Forget squats—Italian import Freddy does more for our rear ends than the hardest set of lunges our trainer can throw at us. Just thank the patented technology in these pants (finally available locally via the brand’s new standalone South Granville shop, Livify), which works much like that contained by your favourite push-up bra, with curved seams that cup your asset like supportive underwire and strategically placed silicone membranes that give your bum a miracle lift. Major bonus points: the full silicone waistband means you can bid adieu to plumber’s crack once and for all. 3030 South Granville St., 604-559-9787. Livify.ca MIRANDA SAM
H E A LT H & B E A U T Y T H E R E ’ S A N E W P E R F U M E I N TO W N , A N D A D E C I D E D LY LO C A L VO I C E TO G O A LO N G W I T H I T. BY N OA N I C H O L
Speaking of Scent
I’m in a dry climate for too long. I find the grey days calming and, on a sunny day, the beauty of this city is tough to beat! What’s your favourite local dining spot? Carderos, because it’s on the water (and just around the corner from my place). On rainy, November days, I love to lounge on the couches by the fireplace and eat the mussels, which are amazing. The beer isn’t bad, either. Favourite rainy day activity? I love to go and hike in Deep Cove when it’s drizzling, but not when it’s pouring. Being in the mountains when it’s so fresh out is amazing—talk about a smell you wish you could bottle!
WHEN MARC JACOBS UNVEILED ITS NEW DECADENCE OFFERING LAST MONTH, it uncapped a sexy, sophisticated and mature fragrance (thank notes of Italian plum, saffron and iris, a heart of Bulgarian rose, Sambac jasmine and orris root, plus a base of vetiver and papyrus wood) that, natch, needed a similarly sultry, sexy and sophisticated set of chords (the vocal variety) to go along with it. Enter Vancouver TV host, actress and writer/director AUBREY ARNASON, who, it turns out, possesses the perfect pair of pipes to rep the perfume. We sat down with the star of Shaw’s Wedding Belles and The Proposal to ask about her latest—and certainly most odoriferous—role to date. Who is Aubrey Arnason? I work in the TV and film industry in both the lifestyle and scripted worlds as a host, actress, writer and director. This summer I acted in the Hallmark film Just in Time For Christmas and Debbie Macomber’s Dashing Through The Snow. Behind the camera, I am currently directing/producing a kids’ show at Shaw called Hip Hop With Travis Lim. I also recently wrote and directed two short films, Kindergarten Da Bin Ich Wieder and Payment, that are currently being shown at festivals. Of course, once a Wedding Belle always a Wedding Belle—I host events in the wedding industry and really love being a part of it.
How did you get to be the voice of Decadence? I auditioned with many other fabulous ladies here in Vancouver. We read for the commercial at Sound Kitchen on Seventh Avenue— it’s a great recording studio with 1950sdiner décor. Very cool! What do you think about the new scent? Would you wear it? I love it, and I’m not a big perfume person, normally. It’s truly a fragrance you can wear every day, for all occasions. My boyfriend says he likes it, too, so that’s good!
How does your voice best represent the fragrance? My voice has always been raspy, with texture to it. People comment on it all the time. It has this sexy “bedroom” sound to it, but with a happy undertone. So it’s not just raspy—there’s also something playful about it. Those qualities, I think, match this perfume perfectly. Ooh la la! What makes you a true Vancouver girl? I love the ocean and, believe it or not, actually like the rain. I love when there’s moisture in the air, and miss this misty West Coast weather when
WINNERS OF THE CANADIAN EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN COMPETITION
1457 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver • 604.925.8333 Tuesday to Saturday 10-5 or by appointment stittgen.com
Best retail therapy in the city? My new love is Wardrobe Apparel, which has been kind enough to lend me amazing looks for events like the Emmy Awards, and carries numerous Canadian designers to boot. And, sorry to sound totally West Coast, but there’s nothing like a new pair of Lululemon pants. What’s a locally made product or service you just can’t live without? I am a new-but-totally-diehard fan of Spud, the local organic grocery delivery service. It’s food so, naturally, I can’t live without it, and having my groceries delivered right to my door is a convenience I don’t know how I ever lived without.
TRAVEL & LEISURE
Bal Harbour Heaven MIAMI’S LITTLE SISTER BOASTS PRISTINE BEACHES, WORLD-CLASS SHOPPING AND LUXURY RESORTS — ALL WITHIN TWO WALKABLE KILOMETRES. SARAH BANCROFT
STAY Swipe your room key in the mirrored lobby of the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort and the elevators whisk you to your floor—no buttons to press. This elegance and efficiency imbues the hotel, where everything is, quite literally, elevated. The landscaped grounds and pools are immaculate, and service is perfection. The famous bar has a Bloody Mary menu (the New York St. Regis is said to have invented the drink) and there is a nightly Champagne-sabering ritual. You’ll understand why families travel from Russia and Eastern Europe and check in for a month. 9703 Collins Ave., 305-9933300. Stregisbalharbour.com
ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR RESORT
SHOP Right across from the St. Regis, the famous Bal Harbour Shops has everything a fashion maven could want, from Balenciaga to Bonpoint. Start at The Webster—the outpost of the famous Miami store where the best items from all the collections are curated together like at a fashion shoot (a Chloé sheepskin jacket hangs next to a Stella McCartney jumpsuit and Chanel cardigan). 9700 Collins Ave., 305-8660311. Balharbourshops.com BAL HARBOUR SHOPS
RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL
DO Be a movie star for a day and book one of the Oceanfront Day Villas at the St. Regis. You’ll have a butler who arrives at the push of a button, private loungers at the beach and pool, an indoor daybed, minibar, flat-screen, a full bathroom, dining area for four and a bottle of Dom. You’ll wonder what the other 99 per cent are doing. Insider tip: book the cabana custom decorated by the stylish folks from The Webster (see Shop). PRIMP The Bal Harbour Shops outpost of Toronto’s Gee Beauty does a great 30-minute Oxygen Facial. Do pre-book a make-up session afterward for your evening out. 9700 Collins Ave., 305868-3533. Geebeauty.com
REMÈDE SPA AT THE ST. REGIS
MR. LYONS
MAKOTO
WORK OUT Once the season is in full swing in November, Exhale Spa at the newly refurbished Ritz-Carlton Hotel offers yoga, Barre and Pilates classes you can book online. Stop by the pool bar after for delicious marinated shrimp lettuce wraps. 10295 Collins Ave., 305-4555411. Exhalespa.com SPA The Remède Spa at the St. Regis is about as luxurious as it gets, with every last detail attended to (they even had complimentary contact lens cases). The Customized Massage includes a foot paraffin treatment and aromatherapy scalp massage. Stregisbalharbour.com/remede-spa
BAL HARBOUR BEACH
BAL HARBOUR SHOPS
8
EAT Do like the locals do and dine long and late at the Japanese Makoto, where families in their Miami-style finery sip Champagne and dine on sashimi and charcoal-grilled beef. Do make a reservation—even in the off-season it’s fully packed. 9700 Collins Ave., 305-8648600. Makoto-restaurant.com
A R T S & C U LT U R E WARM UP TO THE COLDER MONTHS WITH A STEAMING CUPPA—AND THESE FIVE TITILLATING TITLES, CHOSEN BY OUR EDITORS.
Cosy Canadian Reads A BETTER MAN
ALL INCLUSIVE
FARZANA DOCTOR Set in a lavish Mexican resort, this mysterious and sexy page-turner seamlessly intertwines the living world with the afterlife. The story centres on Ameera, who spends her days dealing with fussy visitors and anonymous customer complaints and her nights dabbling in the swingers’ scene. She’s also working to uncover the truth about why her late father abandoned her. Told in alternating narratives from the perspectives of Ameera and her dad, this dark-but-moving novel is sure to be a nightstand fixture this fall. $20 at Amazon.ca
LEAH MCLAREN New parents will get the laughs in this book (sign up the twin toddlers for Hindi lessons so they can compete in the global economy! Encourage “the family bed!”). Unexpected are the many plot twists as Maya, a divorce lawyer-turned-stay at home mom, and Nick, an ad exec, navigate the murky waters of a failing marriage, competitive parenting and the expense of a possible divorce. In true McLaren style, this one’s written with a surprise ending that makes the rapid-fire page-turning even more delicious. $16 at Amazon.ca SARAH BANCROFT
SHELL
MICHELLE STEWART The premise—one woman’s final year after a lifelong struggle with anorexia and bulimia— may make you think, “Whoa, heavy.” But Victoria-based Stewart, former BC Ministry of Health director of communications, blogs the last year of her life with grace and even some levity. Also touching: a foreword by Dr. D. Blake Woodside and the final chapter, written by Stewart’s sister after the author’s death. $18 at Amazon.ca S.B.
MEGAN BOURASSA
THE HEART GOES LAST
MARGARET ATWOOD Layoffs, foreclosures, frozen credit cards ... Positron’s economic collapse sees Stan and Charmaine living in their car. At first they’re glad to have each other but, when they take a deal that partially imprisons them in exchange for housing (and she falls for the man residing in their home), things get weird. Atwood’s fourth instalment in her serial about life in a Big Brother universe weaves infidelity, murder and sex-bot replicas (you’ll see) into the mix, leaving us wondering, “Would we do the same in their shoes?” $26 at Amazon.ca
POLES APART
TERRY FALLIS We’re into feminism, and we’re into blogging— it’s likely clear why we loved two-time Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour winner Terry Fallis’ brand-new novel. This clever, funny read, which follows the rise of a feminist blogging sensation (whom the world is shocked to learn is actually a man) is perfect for brightening up winter’s darkest days. $17 at Amazon.ca NOA NICHOL
LISE BOULLARD
Black Rock - VITA Vancouver Ad Jan 2015 • Size: 10.0” (w) x 9.75” (h) • Rev 1 • Jan 29/15
naturally inspiring
hotel | restaurant | spa Escape to Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, a magical location on British Columbia’s wild west coast Ucluelet, British Columbia • 1-877-762-5011 • www.blackrockresort.com
DINING & NIGHTLIFE
Food for Thought WE SAMPLE SOME OF THE CITY’S BEST NEW EATS.
WOO LOUNGE
We’ve been wooed (and wowed) by Chinatown’s latest chic lounge space. Nestled below Asian-fusion resto Sai Woo, Woo Lounge recreates the seductive mystery of opium dens with Chinese screens, red lanterns, embroidered pillows and flickering candlelight. On Friday and Saturday nights DJs spin dope beats while patrons down a specially curated mix of four cocktails (though we hear a menu extension is in the works). Among them: the spicy Shanghai Alley (gin, local ginger beer, lime juice and bitters) and luscious Kitty Pong (with a foamy egg-white cap so thick, our trio of latte artstyle hearts remained intact till the very last sip). Ask nice (real nice) and the barkeep might just sneak you one of the infamous tea smoke-infused Smoking Guns from the eatery upstairs. 158 E Pender St., 604-568-1117. Saiwoo.ca MIRANDA SAM
BODEGA ON MAIN Vancouver’s beloved Spanish resto, La Bodega, is back, reincarnated as Bodega on Main—and we were among the first to try it. Situated in trendy Chinatown, we were immediately struck by the warm atmosphere in this family-run restaurant, whose décor includes an eclectic mix of playful artwork and photos from the former establishment. Must-trys from the menu: Spain’s national dish, paella, and the oh-so-addictive patatas bravas, a.k.a., twice-fried potatoes tossed with a spicy tomato sauce that’s worth trying on its own (ask GM Hector Medina for a side to experience it raw—it’s like a lighter version of gazpacho). For dessert, sink your teeth into some sweet new offerings, such as bombon de higos—in fact, Bodega on Main is the only place in town to get these chocolate-covered figs that taste like brandy beans combined with Ferrero Rocher. Happy hour and a lounge are soon to come. 1014 Main St., 604-565-8815. Bodegaonmain.ca
MEGAN BOURASSA
10
KUNA PHOTOGRAPHY
PERCH Situated atop the student union building at the University of British Columbia, Perch offers scholars and visitors alike a more-affordable option when it comes to high-end, sustainable dining. Not only do a majority of this eco-conscious eatery’s offerings contain ingredients grown in its own studentrun rooftop garden or UBC’s famed working farm, the most expensive item on the menu (delicious nonetheless) is a Grilled Flank Steak for just $24. The next time you find yourself on campus, snag a balcony seat and enjoy the Pan Roasted Trout and Wild Rice Rösti Fries—both food and scene earn an A+ from us. 6133 University Blvd., 604827-3564. Perchrestaurant.com
JOHN SHERLOCK
M.S.
Paris match: The Kooples arrives in Vancouver