Fashion

Is there a new Nygard?

Categories: Fashion

Bianca Nygard Top 500When I think of Nygard, I used to think of pastel suits in a corner of a Sears store somewhere. But thankfully, things have changed. Nygard has updated their look, specifically with the Bianca Nygard division, which is aimed at a younger demographic. It’s more akin to Smart Set, a place to get your basics and stock up on those “smart, casual” basics. Yes, I just used smart casual. But, you know the clothes you can wear to the office and also blend into your weekend wardrobe with ease. I selected this Bianca Nygard from their collection. Of course I … Continued

Salsa for Spring

Categories: Fashion

Salsa Jeans 500When Salsa approached me to try on one of their Spring/Summer ’13 collection jeans for size I was a little reticent. I am one of the most picky people when it comes to my denim. I think it’s the cowgirl in me (I am Tsilhqot’in from the Interior of BC after all). Anyhow, I have had a jean fetish since Guess Jeans had all of those amazing ads out when I was a kid. I would only wear Guess Jeans, it drove my mother crazy. My tastes evolved as I got older and it at one time got to the … Continued

Killigrew Fashion: Tee-shirt Contest

Categories: Contests, Fashion

Trio-of-Tees1Whenever I hear of a new tee-shirt design that has a decidedly Indigenous or Native flavour, I’m always skeptical at first to see if it’s some sort of Jeremy Scott (Adidas) vision, or an authentic spin. I was totally excited about the new Killigrew Fashion collection of Aboriginal art inspired tees once I heard that they collaborated with Native artists to create their collection. Killigrew is a Canadian line that grew from a mother and son partnership and vision (seriously how cute are they?). Cleo and Mitch Darragh desired to create garments “with a feel good factor – comfort meets luxury … Continued

Native Reappropriation

Categories: Fashion

Page-1-600Natives are so hot right now. Recently I was interviewed for a documentary and asked the question “If you were to wear a piece of your cultural heritage in an obvious manner out on the street, how would you be treated?” I answered that the Native trend is so huge right now that I’m sure I’d be given looks of approval, and coveted stares if I wore my Nathalie Waldman leather fringed bag or my Manitobah Mukluks out walking down Queen Street in Toronto. The picture is not always so bright. Controversy over cultural appropriation is ripe in the current … Continued

Consumerism Crash

Categories: Fashion

Free_Vector_Girl_Illustration_with_Shopping_Bags1When it comes to holiday time I always get to thinking about this consumerist society that we live in. In the past two years I have gone from being a brand-obsessed buyer to a minimalist (with the exception of my boot collection). A year and a half ago I found myself wondering around a designer outlet mall near Florence Italy. This was not the kind of “designer outlet mall” that you would find, say in Buffalo NY- this one had Prada, Burberry, Fendi, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent. The outdoor mall was beautiful and it held the kind of stores that … Continued

Rock some moccs’

Categories: Fashion

assorted-moosehide-beaded-moccasinsBaby it’s cold outside. Okay, well maybe not everywhere but it certainly is in Toronto, and in a majority of this country we call Canada. When it’s freezing out I like to spend my days inside reading, writing, reflecting, and sipping tea. Oh you like to go out and play in the snow? That’s really great, you should enjoy that. I’ll just be here until I either fly south, it thaws outside, or I make an uber dash from destination door-to-door. Yes I’m a suck and I hate the cold, but I do like some of the fine fashion indulgences … Continued

Project Runway goes Native

Categories: Fashion, Film + TV

Patricia Michaels IIPatricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo), fashion designer, will be competing in Season 11 of the Project Runway (PR) and will be the first Native American contestant in the history of the show. She was, according to her interview on the PR site, scouted from Model Mayhem and invited to audition for the show. Kudos to PR for finding and featuring a Native American designer! The season kicks off on January 24, 2013 on Lifetime channel. Michaels has studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts and at the Art Institute of Chicago and is best known for her textile designa and … Continued

Wahine: Warrior Princess Editorial

Categories: Fashion

Warrior1The fashion industry’s affinity for “tribal” things is insatiable. This editorial spread found in The Ones To Watch Magazine is entitled Wahine: Warrior Princess. In the intro to the issue, they state the following on their website: From the Far East to the Andes, our lives are so similiar and yet so different. In Issue #23, we wanted to bring a touch of other cultures to our editorials – from the iconic throwaway fashion of Taiwan [Made in Taiwan], the quintessentially British rock’n’roll subculture [New Boots], and the Peruvian Christmas tradition ofTakanakuy, to a little all-around exotica [Wahine / The Little Ethnic … Continued

Manitobah Mukluks on eTalk

Categories: Fashion

ManitobahMukluks_TallClassicMuklukRecently Waneek Horn-Miller, an ambassador for Manitobah Mukluks, was featured on eTalk daily talking to fashion veteran, Jeanne Beker. The piece was recorded in Kahnawake Territory and features the mukluks, and also their importance to Aboriginal heritage and culture.  Mohawk fashion designer Tammy Beauvais is also featured talking about how “Beadwork is a labour of love” to Jeanne Beker. Now I haven’t had the chance to learn beadwork yet, but from all I have seen it surely requires a lot of patience and dedication. Now if you haven’t seen this giveaway I am hosting, be sure to check it out … Continued

War Paint, Really?

Categories: Fashion

War Paint SkirtI just got a PR email from Unique Vintage showcasing their latest “Splurge versus Steal” – “Get The Look for Less” – etc. etc. All par for the fashion fodder course, but then I saw a cute skirt … look up at the title and see WAR PAINT Sequin Skirt as the descriptor. So after I swallowed hard and clicked the link I found this: Yes you read that right. “Grab a spear and get to it. A fully sequined skirt …” Really? Perhaps they thought they were being clever getting away from using the word ‘Navajo’ in their title but … Continued

Native Secrets Editorial

Categories: Fashion

Cover Shot 600Photos from Brink Magazine – October/November 2012 issue This past Wednesday I shared a photo of Jade Willoughby for my ‘Urban Native Girl Wednesdays’ post on the Manitobah Mukluks Facebook Page. It was my most popular post, garnering almost 50 shares. I have written about Ojibway/Jamaican model Jade Willoughby back in September and she has stayed on my radar ever since. Here she is in this spread from BRINK Magazine‘s October/November 2012 issue that I thought I should share. I love that they styled her with a nod to her Native heritage, without making it cheesy, stereotypical, or disrespectful. Kudos … Continued

Danny Kass + Oakley = Totem Terror

Categories: Fashion

oakley-danny-kass-collection-1Photo from The Combined. Pro Snowboarder Danny Kass has released a new line of sunglasses and goggles with Oakley entitled ‘Totem’ Frogskins. Both of the designs clearly have a northwest coast style vibe. According to the site “It’s rich with Native American art that inspired the two-time Olympic silver medalist when he visited the Blackfeet reservation in Montana.” In Montana?  It’s a very confusing inspiration source indeed, when geographically it doesn’t make any sense. Thankfully the color is called “Peace Pipe” just in case we weren’t sure whether it was a blanket Pan-Indian design approach to the line.  Image from Vertical … Continued

Blanket Boots

Categories: Fashion

Blanket BootsSo of course I clicked the link on the Tweet because I was curious as to what these “Navajo-inspired” boots would actually look like. Thankfully I really like them! These Sorel Chipahko Boots boots are stylish, water and stain resistant, and have a cute little snowflake pattern on the sole that will look adorable tracking behind you as you trench through the snow. I also love how in the video the stylist, Kemal, states how it can be worn with a caramel brown leather (or wool) jacket, or it can be paired with a heavier dark grey flannel type jacket. It gives … Continued

Native Model Making her Mark

Categories: Fashion

229293_10150161390687443_82275_nBack when I lived in Vancouver, I took a film and wardrobe styling course. I wanted to be a part of the fashion industry, and while in Vancouver, that is a small arena, so I thought film wardrobe was my way to go. I ended up starting fashion styling instead. I really enjoyed it and desired to become a fashion stylist like those I read about and followed in magazines. A lot of the time I was working with young models as they built their book and needed to gain some experience. I remember one distinct day where I was … Continued

Gill is a Goddess

Categories: Fashion

Tara-Gill-207x3001It’s the 25th anniversary of Fashion Cares, the annual event that builds awareness of HIV/AIDS while raising funds for the Aids Committee of Toronto (ACT), and the campaign is steamy. Tara Gill (Algonquin) was shot by Toronto photog Chris Nicholls in sequined outfits and  body art created by makeup artist Melissa Gibson. She looks simply sparkly. Fashion Cares takes place on September 9, 2012 and it will be hosted by the Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista and design duo Dean & Dan Caten of DSQUARED2. Performing will be none other than Sir Elton John, the Scissor Sisters,  Janelle Monáe and Sky Ferreira. … Continued