This weekend is insane for a planner like I am. I love a packed weekend, but this one in particular feels out of control. Ottawa Fashion Week, plus Halloween festivities and then several random other events that are “non-negotiables”. Oh, and I made the ill-advised decision to also make costumes for myself and my bf. Of course. The thing is, I am not really complaining…I am actually one of those people who are borderline obsessed with feeling busy and therefore “with purpose”.
So, today is Day 1 of Ottawa Fashion Week and I'm attending alongside some of my fashion-loving female friends. Some of the designers I am looking forward to viewing are Nixxi, a Vancouver-based label, and GoldenFish Swimwear, based in Gatineau. Several jewellery designers will also be showcasing their work, which I think is a great opportunity not often given to those artists, who deserve equal spotlight on the runway. At this point I know many of the models with Angie’s Models and Talent agency, and I am really excited to see some familiar faces on the catwalk!
I did, in case you are wondering, look into being involved as a designer in this season’s OFW. I was able to have a very helpful conversation with Hussein Rashid, Creative Director of Ottawa Fashion Week and he gave me great feedback and explained I would want a minimum of 20 pieces. Timing-wise I didn’t think I could pull it off. I was exhausted from working on the Art of Fashion-La Belle Époque contest and I didn’t think I had it in me to go right back to sewing every night, no social life and minimal sleep. I also want to have the best possible platform for my line. I appreciated Hussein and OFW’s dedication to helping local designers and have the utmost respect for their mandate. I intend on showcasing my best line yet in the next Ottawa Fashion Week! And now it's in writing so I have to.
Go to http://www.ottawafashionweek.ca/ and check out the lineup. All headliners are Ottawa/Gatineau-based designers. Can't wait!
xo Amber
Friday, October 29, 2010
Casual Friday
Today my boss is not in town and I am therefore not required to dress in business attire. I'm not someone who doesn't like to get dressed up, however. I actually really like it and before I started my job on Parliament Hill I dreamt of the day I would have a job that facilitated my love for pencil skirts, blazers and heels. Today I took full advantage of a dress down day, however. I have plans for after work to check out Ottawa Fashion Week shows. Because the shows start at 6pm and because my work is so close to the venue, I am not going home in between. This meant when I stumbled out of bed this morning, already SUPER late, I had to make an executive decision about what I was wearing later on. Fast forward to me now EXTREMELY late, I literally threw on jeans and a sweater, and with no makeup and my hair in a wild bun, I sprinted to work holding two massive bags of everything I need to get ready later. There’s something about not wearing ANY makeup that makes me feel so vulnerable. I hate to say it, because I’m not really dependant on any substance to be happy and have even recently cut out coffee (I miss the taste but it was wreaking havoc on my skin), but I would have to say that makeup is probably the one thing that when I don’t have it on, I am not myself. This might come as a surprise to some of my friends because I don’t exactly go heavy on the eye makeup or anything, but I absolutely cannot deal with not having at the very least a good coat of foundation and eyebrow pencil. I don’t even need the mascara…honestly. My general rule is everyone should be allowed 2 vices. Mine are vodka and occasionally tanning ( I KNOW, don't hassle me, I'm not even close to an orange-like shade). I realise now I might have broken my own rule...and I'm not giving up martinis.
xo Amber
xo Amber
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Like a virgin HEE!
I have been talking about starting a blog for almost 6 months now. I blame it on my inability to find an appropriate title that I still like after 2 hours. It's also ass-backwards from anything else I've written for school. I always wrote the paper first and then came up with a creative title after that reflected the essay's content. I used to LOVE coming up with those essay titles and would make them as dramatic and/or witty as possible and I'm 100% sure I received extra marks for them. I wish I had some examples to give you but it's been years since I wrote those and my memory is not what it used to be (and even worse for the wear after the fun I had last night). I am immensely thankful to my friend Jenn for helping me with the title "The Bias Cut".
SO, what is the purpose of this blog? Because if it's one thing my English teachers engrained in my brain, you must have a thesis, so here's my best shot: This blog will show, through carefully-worded entries, my thoughts and views on the exceptionally diverse and subjective topic of Fashion. It will carry a mix of rants, raves, photos and commentary and hopefully show some of my personality in the process. I know it will be a bit shakey at first and that's OK. I don't do much creative writing anymore, and my boss quite frankly despises the way I write, tending to scribble all over my drafts adding in his "legalese". Unfortunately for him I cannot change the way I write. It's the way I think and I am absolutely certain that's not something I can change, despite many books that might say I can. My English teachers always loved my writing style anyway, and they can't ALL be wrong. Coincidentally, a large number of those teachers were all resentful, over-the-hill divorcees with drinking problems. Go figure they had a flair for the dramatic. So, I hope those who follow this blog will enjoy it. I also hope that I will learn some things about fashion and, more importantly, myself. "The Bias Cut" is aptly named for two reasons. The first, because I am aware that I am coming at this from a slanted viewpoint. It is quite literally impossible to not have a biased take on a topic that is so completely personal. One's fashion sense can be on the daily a new point of view based on mood, self-identity or associations. I am declaring now that I do not view myself as some sort of fashion guru or that I am always put together according to a rule book that I will be sharing with you. I don't, actually, want everyone to wear what I wear...how boring. This blog is just my point of view, take it or leave it. The second reason the title is perfect is because I am myself a budding fashion designer, and the bias-cut is a sewing term outlined in the description above. I have never met a double entendre I didn't love. And it's been 4 hours.
xo Amber
SO, what is the purpose of this blog? Because if it's one thing my English teachers engrained in my brain, you must have a thesis, so here's my best shot: This blog will show, through carefully-worded entries, my thoughts and views on the exceptionally diverse and subjective topic of Fashion. It will carry a mix of rants, raves, photos and commentary and hopefully show some of my personality in the process. I know it will be a bit shakey at first and that's OK. I don't do much creative writing anymore, and my boss quite frankly despises the way I write, tending to scribble all over my drafts adding in his "legalese". Unfortunately for him I cannot change the way I write. It's the way I think and I am absolutely certain that's not something I can change, despite many books that might say I can. My English teachers always loved my writing style anyway, and they can't ALL be wrong. Coincidentally, a large number of those teachers were all resentful, over-the-hill divorcees with drinking problems. Go figure they had a flair for the dramatic. So, I hope those who follow this blog will enjoy it. I also hope that I will learn some things about fashion and, more importantly, myself. "The Bias Cut" is aptly named for two reasons. The first, because I am aware that I am coming at this from a slanted viewpoint. It is quite literally impossible to not have a biased take on a topic that is so completely personal. One's fashion sense can be on the daily a new point of view based on mood, self-identity or associations. I am declaring now that I do not view myself as some sort of fashion guru or that I am always put together according to a rule book that I will be sharing with you. I don't, actually, want everyone to wear what I wear...how boring. This blog is just my point of view, take it or leave it. The second reason the title is perfect is because I am myself a budding fashion designer, and the bias-cut is a sewing term outlined in the description above. I have never met a double entendre I didn't love. And it's been 4 hours.
xo Amber
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