Vancouver Fashion Week 2015

My apologies for my absence this week, especially since I had promised to write a new goal and challenge every Monday, and it didn't even make it past the first week. I was visiting Vancouver and Vancouver Fashion Week (where my sister was showing her line). It was all great fun and excitement, but it was also much more busy and hectic than I had anticipated. I had brought books and magazines with me, and never even got through one! I also had planned to write, but didn't even get a chance to check e-mails by the second day. Next time I go there, or anywhere, hopefully there will be some more down time.

Since I actually did something interesting this week, I thought I'd share some of it with you. Please note that these are my personal opinions and should not be taken as the thoughts of an expert. I mean no offense.
My sister, Connally, is a fashion designer, and with that comes fashion shows, interviews, rushing around places, and being very busy for several weeks at a time. She handles it pretty well, considering she also moved twice already this year! She has done a few fashion shows now, but this was the first one I attended. It was different than I expected, in some ways, and just how I imagined in others. Most of the time, I only get to see behind the scenes of the fashion industry, so it was incredible to witness the outcome and glamour and facade of all her hard work, compressed into about an eight-minute stretch, applause, and cameras flashing. My own camera was hard at work trying capture it all.

Not only did I see her show, but the few right before her as well. They all had a theme, which would make sense, since it is, after all, the designer's fall/winter line. It would only natural that they would flow together nicely. But it wasn't merely the articles of clothing that were similar. How the models wore their hair, the makeup used, and the shoes worn were also coherent to one another. For instance, the show right before Connally's had the models all wearing bold red lips, with hair that hung down their backs.

Designer unknown

 In my personal opinion, the hair looked somewhat greasy, with a slight texture of wave to it. I also noticed that most were blonde. Most of them also looked like walking was a very difficult thing to do (probably due to the heels). One of them looked like she might collapse, and I felt for her. They didn't smile. They had sultry, angry faces that almost seemed to be saying to the cameras "I dare you to argue with me".

The designer before my sister has models with fierce faces

 I don't know how these people do it! Hearing from some of my sister's models, I've gotten to know some of the stuff she deals with, regarding how rigid the rules are for how she must look, like not being allowed to cut or colour hair without approval. However, she, and other models I've met, seem pretty happy, and are some of the sweetest men and women I've met. 

My sister's show was different. She had both female and male models, showcasing her new line for men as well as women. From what I could tell, the models mostly wore their hair in braids, pulled up in a low side bun. Their lips were darker, and some of the models had sort of an impish look behind the solemn, serious faces they wore. 

Connally McDougall Design

Connally McDougall Design

Connally McDougall Design

As the show drew to a close, my sister came out and joined all her models in a group as the audience cheered, and the music slowly faded away.

After the show, my mother and I, as well as her roommate's (also one of her models) sister waited for them. There will still pictures being taken, mostly between the models, Connally, and friends. They all seemed overjoyed at how it all turned out.

Connally McDougall with Models and Friends

The Jovial group behind Connally McDougall Design

It was a lot of fun; way more fun than I imagined. The music, the lights, the energy is enough to make a person feel wide awake (and later, due to such a late night, fall asleep sitting up, and jerk their head up several times, causing their mother to have to hold the back of their head, just case....okay, maybe it was just me.) 

I did do a few other things while I was in Vancouver (three words: Seven Story Library... at one point I realized I wasn't breathing and had to remind myself to close my open mouth.)  

Vancouver is a beautiful city and a wonderful place to stay. I just love how easy the public transit is, as well as the lovely foliage and interesting architecture. I was impressed at how well and quickly I adapted to it all. I'll dig deeper into the topic of being adaptable at a later date. For now, I want to thank you for putting up with my tardiness and hope you enjoyed.

Have a fabulous weekend, loves.

XOXO,

P.S. For information on Connally and her designs:
www.connallymcdougall.com
connallymcdougalldesign@gmail.com


And be sure to follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook:
@connallymcd