With 20 finalists representing each Canadian region, the 10 trend watchers with the most votes will be awarded the chance to give their weekly opinions on the hottest spots to shop, flaunt and horde fashion in their area.

I figure Vancouver, who is being represented by Craig David Long and Terri Potratz, has a good chance of winning the contest. With our growing number of independent shops and increasingly more fashion savvy individuals, Vancouver is finally starting to break out of the simplistic trends of yoga gear and plaid.

Keep in mind though, it's worth it to look at all the finalists. Good fashion is by no means restricted to one city or region. There are some talented writers from across Canada that are in the running to win the reporter challenge including a dear childhood friend of mine, Meghan Tooley, from Winnipeg.

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to voice your opinion. Voting ends tomorrow morning. Happy voting! Photo from FashionMagazine.com

Personally, I'm happy to have H&M be so close and accessible. I'm a student with limited funds, so I'm always price-conscious when I shop. The wonderful thing about H&M is that you can buy seasonal pieces to dress up your wardrobe staples, and you can do so without too much guilt. I'm also super-curious to see how they've redone the space formerly occupied by Holt Renfrew, which has now become a behemoth of outrageous prices and luxury on the other side of the mall. H&M is good with keeping a constant buzz around its brand, especially because of its collaborations with international designers and celebrities. Currently, they are featuring a collection with Finnish design house Marimekko, and although it's not my personal favorite, it will definitely be recognizable. For the next collaboration, that they are working with Rei Kawakubo, founder and head designer for Comme des Garçons. Now that is something to be excited for.

Thursday, April 17 (tomorrow) hot, eccentric fashions are being brought to the streets of Vancouver. At 8pm, outside the Riot clothing and accessories store (1395 Commercial Drive) a new style of fashion show is being unveiled. With the promise to showcase this season's brightest, tightest and flashiest collections, Riot hopes to start, well.... a riot on the Drive. Fresh air and neon colors do, after all, mix very well together.

Look for fashions from such brands as Kensie, Hurley, and Level 99 Denim. If you are fun-loving enough to attend the rally and enjoy some trendy fashion, or hate this post enough to want to yell at me personally, then show up at 8pm tomorrow and let it all out.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Stewart PR and Riot clothing and accessories

Mixing textures, highlights of red and large buttons seemed to the the focus of Mellinda Mae's new collection. Although safe, this up and coming designer seems to have a handle of what's to come when dealing with hot vs. not.

Mixing business with pleasure is what the designers of this year's BC Fashion Week are striving to achieve. Unlike many of the unpractical couture fashion shows you see in magazines that have skirts billowing over the runway and shirts that leave nothing to the imagination, the goal of the designers visiting our city next week is to market a product that can be used everyday. For this reason, BCFW will display two levels of fashion: Ready-To-Wear and Diffusion (that is being described as somewhere in between everyday wear and couture).

As the Canadian fashion elites and international media of all kind begin to pour into our city, the BCFW committee is dedicated to proving that Vancouver has what it takes to become a major mecca for trends. In light of this, locations in and around the Vancouver area will begin rolling out their merlot carpets and polishing up their velvet ropes this week. By setting the standards of expectation high, the BCFW organizers hope the trends seen next week will be on the shelves of Vancouver's top shops come Fall.

Art Deco skirts adorn the walls, a wax skull sits solemnly on a black piano, and a beaded necklace is draped over an anonymous frame. Authentic Mexico City folk art, papier mache dolls, and Catholic rosaries add to the ambiance. Downstairs there is a collection of men's clothing as well as lingerie and vintage shoes. Almost all of my clothing allowance has been wisely allocated to oversize Blue Jays paraphernalia, Converse sweatshirts, and hipster approved Wolf-print tees. But more important than the clothes, (yes there is such a thing) is the cultivation of an aura of total hang-outability. In the summer the proprietors lounge on beaten up car seats sipping fine wine from plastic cups. But with the completion of One Kingsway, which will house the Mount Pleasant branch of the VPL, a childcare centre, and community centre, the fate of micro-stores like Love Rosa hangs in the balance.

The forces of gentrification are hard at work; the marketability of Commercial Drive to the east, the branding of Mount Pleasant into SoMa, condo fever snaking its way up from the ashes of Cambie Village as the RAV Line rips through a once prosperous community, and to the north is South-East False Creek with its Olympic aspirations.

Yet for all the doom and gloom, the neighbourhood is hanging onto its character, even building on it. The Foundation still anchors the little mountain, with the most corporate addition being a Waves coffee shop, and a Sport Chek on Broadway. Our Town hums away, Dadabase is still selling their agitprop, Soma has branched out into quite a destination cafe, Happy Bats nest on the middle of the hill, while Red Cat and Eugene Choo crown the hill. The two newest additions to the Kingsway wedge are a jewelery shop named Queen Bee Luxuries, and a treasure trove of vinyl in the basement of Gallery 42 called Dandelion Records. The former is a sort of 'rockabilly lifestyle shop' with burlesque corsets and colorful makeup, a lot of which is vegan. Queen Bee compliments the Kiss Stores, Puncturehaus piercings, and the low brow Jem Gallery. Meanwhile Dandelion Records have original pressings of Can, Nick Drake, and Neu amongst others and a projection screen with vintage videos haunting the corner. Be prepared to lose a pile of cash.

Not sure if hats even look good on you? They do! Some pointers:

- an asymmetric brim looks good on just about anyone
- if you have a round face, go for a tailored, angular hat
- if your face is angular, go for a rounded hat
- the label always indicates the back of a hat
- if your hat has a large brim, wear darker eye makeup to bring out your eyes

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When I inquired about the tone and vibe of the shop, the Hot Box crew answered with gusto: "Sexy!" "Friendly, Uninhabited and all-inclusive for Boys, Girls and In-Betweens", and Brenda chimed in with the ubiquitous sound-bites: "It's Hot Box - It's HOT!" Brenda further explains, "[o]ur concept is 'Everything--BUT Denim." Indeed, Hot Box aspires to be what I would deem to be the 'Little Accessories Mecca on Main' that could. It is festooned with hat fetishes: scaling up the high-ceiling wall is a wide selection of noodle baskets by Goorin Bros. Be it knits, or felt fedoras to beanies and toques the fall colors have finally arrived, and at affordable prices. Click for more...

The challenge is issued to guests attending the Generation Next Fashion Show on Thursday, September 27, at Performance Works on Granville Island, where BC Fashion Week showcases three emerging designers from the province. As guests walk the red carpet The Express' Johanna Ward will be asking the proverbial questions, "Who are you wearing?" But instead of a catalogue of international brand names, it will be roster of Vancouver designers that will be rolling off the tongue.

If pride of place weren't enough reason to strut your stuff in designers such as Elroy, Peel and Bon Bon, Fashion High has put together a fashionable prize pack for the Dress Local Challenge winner who will be chosen by raffle. The prize pack includes a subscription to Fashion Magazine, a Bring Your Own Bag, a $100 gift certificate to JC Studio, jewelry from Sugar Lime, Spa Binge skincare products, and an unforgettable night in the VIP suite at the Century Plaza Hotel. That's a delightful little prize pack if you ask me! Read on for more...

HOTBOX is the hottest place to be on September 21 with male and female models baring it all, wearing only body paint and accessories. Mmmm.

Stop by HOTBOX, located at 2560 Main Street (just across LUGZ COFFEE LOUNGE, to check out the complimentary bar, DJ, and R-rated action. The party starts at 7:00 p.m. - so don't be late!

Most importantly: Media guests who respond will receive a special gift at the door. Now, who wouldn't like to get a "special gift" at the door if we know that these could include... even more goody accessories for the keen dresser.

For more information about the Bare Accessories party or to RSVP...: click BELOW.

I'm reporting on a huge multi-family ALLEY & GARAGE sale this Saturday, TODAY. Reportedly, according to my "sources" on the inside, there are 5 young families involved and they'll have plenty of great items: over 8 Tables, over 3 Garment racks, with shoe racks and floors covered with stuff for everyone!

DETAILS:
AUGUST 25th. 9:00am - 2:00pm, NO EARLY BIRDS PLEASE!, or they'll call the cops

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