Last night, Chanel hosted a cocktail, (or champagne), party at their new beauty and fragrance bar in Holt Renfrew. The space is GORGEOUS! It is truly a Chanel wonderland of sparkly lip gloss, perfume galore and the latest Shanghai collection of nail polish. I’ll have to be careful about going near it, as I know I’ll be bound to find a few, or a lot, of things I just have to have! The party-goers last night were an eclectic mix of local celebrities, (Erin Ireland, Elisa Estrada), Chanel clients, beauty gurus, PR pros, bloggers and people from the office of Chanel. 

Niki Blasina, of A Haute Mess, and me at the event! Love this girl’s style, and fierce boots! 

With Ryan Bazely, of PINQ.

DJ Blondtron, a.k.a. Samantha Mathews spinning for Chanel. 

Maria Jose Hernandez Cos and Nadia Chu of String Magazine with Marilyn Wilson of Vancouver Fashion Ezine.

The fabulous Niki and I went for a little Granville stroll after the party.

Wearing: BCBG Max Azria silk top, B.B. Dakota skirt, Chanel sandals, Marc by Marc Jacobs clutch, Fossil watch.

Thank you to the PR & Event team at Holts and at Chanel for putting on such a wonderful party, and for inviting me! And THANK YOU for the swag bags!! Eeee CHANEL USB STICK! Best thing ever!

Now off to play in the sun! 

Xo StyleStruck

Sitting on a Yaletown patio, (Starbucks), thinking about biz. Notice, I’m wearing a collared shirt, which is obviously very professional and pretty much makes me a bonafide business woman, (insert touch of sarcasm). (A Tommy Hilfiger collared shirt. From Winners. Love Winners.)

Today I’m thinking about perceived value, and how you can create that in the way you establish your own personal brand. Recently BC Business published a blog post on their site about perceived value, from blogger Tommy Humphreys, author of The Shift Key, and it made me re-think my strategy in terms of how I position myself as I build my career. Being a blogger, or a “fashion blogger,” as I’m often introduced as, (I prefer: “fashion, lifestyle and PR blogger,” but no biggie ; )), it can be tricky deciding who and what I should and should not align myself with. This is true with every single brand, and I think every organization really has to think and do their homework to make sure that when they do choose to partner with another brand, that their ideals, goals and values line up. If they don’t, the brand value can be damaged. What I’m aiming for, in terms of brand perception, and this is a lofty goal here, so get ready, is to be perceived as a luxury brand, like a Chanel, or YSL blogger. I don’t say this because I literally have hopes to work with such luxury brands, (though, wouldn’t that be a fierce job!), but I mean it in the sense that I hope for my brand to hold serious cred in the minds of those in my industry. Take Chanel for instance, we all want a piece of it. We love Chanel for the craftsmanship, the quality, the sense that it is special and limited in quantity and of course the fact that it is indeed, very top shelf. (I’ve got Chanel on the brain as I am currently wearing the CC sandals.) The ideal situation for a blogger is to be taken seriously, to be understood and of course, to be wanted. What I’m trying to get at, is when you are building a brand, and trying to create a strong, positive perception around that brand, how do you know when an opportunity to work with a company is a good or bad choice for you? I’ve asked around and put together a short list of check points that should align when such a relationship is considered: 

1. Values: Is there a shared set of values? Think community involvement, philanthropy, treatment of employees, quality of life and quality of work.

2. Goals: Are you working towards common goals? When thinking about a brand partnership, consider what kind of relationship you’d like to create with the potential partner, is it short-term or long-term? And does the potential partner want to create short or long-term relationships with their clients? (The obvious answer is of course long-term, but many companies do not operate this way. As I’m sure you’ve noticed when you didn’t receive good customer service at that restaurant you visited recently when they forgot your food and then it was cold. Just an example.) Do their financial goals match with yours in terms of budgets and what kind of money each part of the budget is worth. Example: Is having an influential host at your event worth paying for? (Answer: Probably. It pays, literally, to have a job well done.)

3. Mission: What are you working towards? Does this potential partnership aid in growing your biz/brand? Do both brands hope to make a difference in society through their work?

4. Target Market: So important! Are you and your potential partner selling to the same market? This is an easy one to figure out, and it’s a deal breaker. If your markets align, then fabulous, if not, what is the point of such a relationship? If you want to be the Chanel of your industry, align with companies who also strive to be at the very top of their game, with brands of value. 

I shall now take my own advice and (try to) apply it to my own decisions. Tell me what you think.

- SS

And what I wore while I wrote this business-themed post: Tommy Hilfiger striped collared short, white denim Trina Turk shorts, Chanel platform sandals, rose gold fossil watch, vintage bling, H&M sunnies and a tan leather Makowsky bag. Laptop by Apple. Just another day at the office!

Tuesday afternoon, and thank goodness, we are seeing sun!! This morning I put together a little photo shoot wearing a DIY project I did a few weeks ago. I had a leather jacket from Zara from years ago that needed a little love, and a fur caplet I purchased at a vintage store some time ago with plans to turn it into a muff (obviously that never panned out). Then recently I thought, maybe this leather jacket could use a little fur trim, and sewed the caplet right onto the shoulders of the jacket and PRESTO! Insta-Fendi! Or something vaguely resembling a Fendi style jacket. I think Karl would approve, despite his very odd penchant for faux fur these days. (Worst collection, ever. Dear Karl, what was he thinking).

And here is an outfit to go with my fabulous new jacket, I felt a bit Amelia Earhart, probably because my pants could be from the 40s, and the leather jacket felt like a pilot’s coat from the 40s. Now I just need a leather cap and some goggle-tastic flying glasses. 

Any squintyness can be blamed on how bright my living room was this morning, despite the clouds. No I was not trying to do a “sexy eye.” Ha. 

Wearing: DIY Zara bomber w/ vintage fur, white Sirens T, DIY navy wool trousers, (these were made at fashion school years back) and white leather Zara flats. And of course my rose-gold Fossil watch. 

Ta Ta for now readers, thanks for visiting me!!

Xo StyleStruck

VancouverisAwesome.com and Shine Nightclub present “An Awesome Showcase” of local Vancouver talent. A little excerpt from the organizers:

The three part visual arts show will feature Vancouver’s top established and up-and-coming artists, photographers and designers throughout the entire two weeks of the winter games.

Running from February 12 – 28, the show will be viewable to the public throughout the daytime and will offer visual displays for the night scene as well. When taking in the art works, daytime guests are also invited to slip into Shine’s cocktail lounge to relax and sip on tasty libations.

Each day for the duration of the showcase, Vancouver Is Awesome will be blogging live from the venue, giving the public up-to-date information on the event’s happenings and  sharing favourite Vancouver stories from the people who visit the exhibit.

Tuesday evening was the launch party of this fabulous event, which was put together in part by DelaCruz PR firm. The launch party was a gathering of Vancouver’s most artsy, from photographers, graphic designers and artists to bloggers, public relations people and various other reporters. 

The curator of An Awesome Showcase, Randy Laybourne and I. (I’m wearing: Bebe mesh and sequin top, Zara leather jacket, black ripped Sirens jeans and rose-gold Fossil watch).

I can’t think of a better venue for an exhibition like this, the art was displayed so effectively against the lit-up walls.

Four of the featured artists.

Kelly Litzenberger, photographer and Editor/Art Director at Concrete Skateboarding Magazine with one of his pieces. 

When I asked Kelly what his reasoning was for placing two panoramic images together, Kelly replied simply, “I don’t have a deep reason for doing this, I just thought they looked good together.” To me, this is art at its best. I’m not one for drawn out lengthy and philosophical meanings behind art. It’s either aesthetically pleasing to you, or it isn’t. And Kelly’s piece is! (Two panoramic images of the pond and path near it at Granville Island, taken from above on the Burrard St. Bridge).

Left: Another piece of panoramic photography by Kelly Litzenberger

The vibe in Shine was amazing, low lighting and lots of great people to meet, not to mention very visually stimulating, (I’m talking about the art. Although, for all the single ladies out there, this type of event was a prime spot for mingling).

STYLE at An Awesome Showcase:

Vancouver entreprenuer and Lily & Jae designer Jude Feller. It was a pleasure to meet this woman. Jude, Niki, (Blasina, of A Haute Mess) and I engaged in a very interesting discussion about Vancouver’s fashion industry, not only are these events fun, but also insightful. 

I have one word to describe photographer Christine McAvoy: adorable. And sweet, so maybe two words. Here Christine stands with one of her photographs. Christine will be blogging daily from the exhibit at Shine for the duration of the show, Feb.12-28. Check out here work here!

Fabulous PR woman, Melania Dela Cruz of Dela Cruz PR. 

Stylish Bloggerina, Niki Blasina of A Haute Mess. I had the pleasure of spending a good part of my evening viewing the exhibit with Niki, the girl is smart and will definitely go far in her chosen career of PR. 

And just a little reminder, this exhibit is running from February 12-28 at Shine Nightclub! Enjoy!

XO StyleStruck

Well, that day of all things mushy, red and lacy is almost upon us. Have you made your Valentines plans yet?? If not, I have some Valentines Day suggestions!

Because February 14th is one of those days on which most people strive to impress, here is a list of 5 of my top romantic spots that will be worth the $$$ spent: 

1. Cioppino’s in Yaletown – 1133 Hamilton St. 604 688 7466   $$$

Cioppino’s is a classic Italian and Mediterranean restaurant situated along the cobble-stone like brick sidewalk, (girls in stilettos beware!!) of Yaletown. If you plan to eat here, I recommend requesting a table in the Enoteca room. The main room of the restaurant is lovely, but this back room is beautifully lit with candles at night and is very romantic. Lining the walls of the room are the restaurant’s supply of wine which adds to the Italian charm of Cioppino’s. Highly recommended. 

2. Bacchus at the Wedgewood Hotel – 845 Hornby St. 604 689 7777   $$$

I have never seen as decadent an interior as the one in Bacchus. Many of the seats are done in plush velvet and there are huge flower arrangements surrounding the tables. The environment is decidedly luxurious, with a bit of an old world feeling. I have only been to Bacchus for brunch and for drinks so I’m not able to comment on the food, but I have only heard great things! Note to guys: this place will most definitely impress any lady!

3. Yew at The Four Seasons – 791 W. Georgia 604 689 9333   $$$

If you’re looking for a restaurant that is contemporary yet warm, Yew is the right place for you. The interior is gorgeous with a lofty 12 ft ceiling, rich wood panelling and a floor-to-ceiling sandstone fireplace. The menu features items from “the Pacific region,” as they say on their website. I have never had a bad dining experience at Yew. Sometime last year I enjoyed a dessert for two that was something like a sundae in a huge martini glass, now I’m not sure if they still serve this, but if they do, indulge and let me know so I can say “I told you so!” Note to girls: On Fridays Yew hosts “Dive Fridays” from 2:30-10:00pm when ladies wearing pink are entitled to a free appy!

4. Bridges on Granville Island – 604 687 4400   $$$

I’ve never seen a view like I have from the upstairs patio at Bridges. It was a warm summer evening when I was there, but even in the winter with the sun setting the Burrard Inlet is nothing short of gorgeous. Bridges is the House of Switzerland during the Olympic games and so for the two weeks there is a separate Swiss menu to choose from for both day and night. One item in particular from the day menu caught my eye; Macaroni with ham, potatoes, onions and cream with a side of apple sauce, ($17). Talk about comfort food! And for dessert, Swiss carrot cake! Why not make this a destination dinner with a walk along English Bay’s seawall and then a boat ride over to Granville Island? (Boarding is just under the Aquatic Centre at the end of the sea wall when walking east). Two can ride the cute little boats for $5. Adorable. 

5. Sandbar on Granville Island – 1535 Johnston St. 604 669 9030   $$

Another fabulous date spot! Sandbar has a very cozy atmosphere with excellent staff who are ready to recommend a brilliant wine to pair with your fish, steak or pasta. The year-round patio is heated and has a lovely view of the water, very romantic! Sandbar is an excellent choice if you are looking for seafood. Ask the server what their feature dish is, each night the restaurant will prepare a list of meals only available for the evening prepared fresh that day!

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO TIP YOUR SERVER. No one likes a stingy date. It’s just as bad, or worse than a date with bad breath. On that note, carry extra mints. Here to help. ; )

Also, obvious, but worth mentioning, CALL AHEAD FOR RESERVATIONS! 

And now for some pictures:

This is me in all my casual-Valentines-Day-inspired-outfit-glory. 2nd pic from bottom: Trying to get the shot, I fell -whoosh!- backwards. I try so hard for you readers. Wearing: Lips printed top from the Patricia Field shop in NYC, Zara jeans and Miu Miu pumps with rose-gold rolex, just kidding! Rose gold Fossil watch.

HAVE A LOVELY VALENTINES DAY!! 

XO StyleStruck