I have never really understood why some things are considered fashionable and stylish and others are passe and in poor taste. I am reliably three years behind any fashion curve, so that by the time I adopt a certain style of dress it is inevitably already relegated to the clearance bin. I suppose my fashion motto can be borrowed from Oscar Wilde, who wrote that "fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months". In light of this, I try to steer clear of it altogether; I make sure I'm not naked when I leave the house, and that's pretty much it.

However, I realize that to others fashion is not a form of intolerable ugliness, but an exciting, innovative and dynamic art form. These are people who I see on the street and respect because they've taken the time I couldn't care to give to making themselves look -- if I may borrow the wise words of Zoolander -- really really good-looking.

One local blog, Granpaparazzi, has been fearlessly documenting the ones that started it all, the debonair, the dapper, the elegant -- the elderly -- in all their fashionably glory for well over a year. Granpaparazzi stems from Vancouver-based magazine Lester's Army, which bills itself as "a young magazine on growing old". Lester's Army is "a magazine dedicated to bringing youth and seniors together and connecting all generations through story telling, photography and art" as Leni Goggins from the magazine informed me.

I've been meaning to learn more about Vancouver's fashion scene, and so attending an exclusive, behind-the-scenes shoot for Nicole Bridger's Fall/Winter 2010 lookbook was my in.

Nicole Bridger's line is typically labeled as 'socially conscious contemporary women's wear,' but on an aesthetic label, I'd describe it as deliciously draped classics with a modern twist. The 'socially conscious' bit comes from Bridger's use of fabrics that are made of natural and renewable resources, such as bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton and wools. Even the buttons are made of Tagua nut, similar to a coconut; and the labels of cotton, compared to the more common polyester.

Have you got a prom to go in the forest? A tea party with a fairy, perhaps? Then Gabbeh has the dress for you. Lambskin leather and suede cave-woman wear, neon taffeta dresses, and deconstructed dresses in earth tones rocked the runway this past Saturday at BC Fashion Week. The fabrics were so diverse- crinkled paper-mache textures, threads running all over the dresses, lattice-work, collages, and tree branch prints. Simple hair in low chignons toned down the powerful frocks. Designer Fariba Mirzaie is clearly in love with nature, and her designs reflect her harmony with the universe. Ohmmm.

Click below to see a slideshow of the looks...

Collective Stone showed in the 5pm slot last Thursday evening due to more cancellations of designers during BC Fashion week. Uneven particle board painted white held together with duct tape served as the runway at the Chinese Cultural Centre. Tanks with sparkly embroidered backs were successful, as well as the collection's line of bikinis. A white dress with a turquoise palm leaf print is on my to-buy list. Other than those items, there is not much extraordinary to report. If you're looking for club-wear, check out Collective Stone. Pretty sad that the rumours flying about the poor organization and canceled shows of this year's BC Fashion week were more intriguing than this show.

Click below to see a slideshow of the looks...

Last year's Next Generation winners, Red Jade, carried on its legacy of environmentally responsible fashions at last week's BC Fashion Week's show at Circa Lounge on Granville. Models emerged from behind a collection of tree stumps and did a walk through of the lounge in precariously high heels from Bebe while model coach Stacey McKenzie and other fashion aficionados watched on. Chignon faux hawks and Cleopatra eyes complimented the casual and sophisticated looks of the evening, including sheer ruffled blouses, cotton wrap skirts and shirts, lounge pants, and mod dresses, all in solids of grey, yellow, black and white. The only deviation was a swirl patterned black, gold and silver dress, which was most successful on fashion designer Margarita Angelato's young daugther.

Click below to see a slideshow of the looks...

Guest written by Angela Uncles.

The Spring/Summer 2010 Jaqueline Conoir collection, brought to fruition by designer Rozemerie Cuevas, kicked off BC Fashion week at the Fortune Sound Club in Chinatown. The show featured what has become the standard of the JC Collection; wearable, feminine, and well-tailored garments. The extensive collection covered pretty well any aspect of a woman's life: business meeting, brunch with the girls, hawt dates, even her own wedding! Graphic tees and prints, stripes, solids, tie-dye, --- JC appears to have an answer for everyone.

So let's get down to it: the good, the pedestrian, and the questionable.