,Vancouver Fashion Week F/W 2023 runs from April 12th-16th at David Lam Hall, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver. Tickets to the event are available at MyZone Tickets.

Since its conception in 2001, Vancouver Fashion Week has been dedicated to cultivating the success of both established designers and award-winning emerging designers with its global perspective and highly multicultural approach.  excerpt from VFW website

VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK F/W 2023

 "WHAT TO WEAR TO FASHION WEEK"

Fashion weeks around the world are events to attend runway shows and see the latest designs from the presenting designers. These events are attended by fashion insiders, fashion buyers, fashion media, and fashionistas, who are all there to experience fashion. All these attendees are participants in these fashion week extravaganzas and "Dress the Part".

I love fashion week, and a big part of that love is experiencing the creative style of the attendees. The street style of the fashionistas is a vital part of fashion shows and after-parties. While we all look at the runway for the latest looks, we are also looking at the style of the crowd. With your ass firmly planted in the front row and your eyes intently fixed on the catwalk, the best look of the night may be sitting right beside you. Street style rules in Paris, New York, Milan, London, and Vancouver. Yes darlings, the attendees at a fashion show who are often the most inspiring.

Whether you have attended VFW in the past or are a newbie, dressing for the shows is half the fun. Dressing for fashion week should be fun. Some styles I recommend include layers, prints, bold colors, and statement pieces, including statement accessories. All of these can help you stand out in the crowd. If you're trying to get snapped by street-style photographers ( and honestly, who isn't), up your style game and be creative. Following are some of my favorite street-style looks and why, from past VFWs.

photo by Jordan Shum

  1 POPS of COLOUR

Bright, bold pops of color are the perfect way to stand out and seize the spotlight. Pictured Aleem Kassam, interior designer and Vancouver fashion icon (pictured with his partner Victor Kazakov), shows exactly how to do it. I love this hot pink blazer; it just sings. Colors can be on trend every season. Color specialists like Pantone predict what colors will be on trend in fashion, home decor, and all design. However, you can choose whatever color statement you want to make. Most of all, have fun and play with color. You may be surprised by what works for your style.

photo by Jordan Shum

2 Monochrome

What looks chicer than a monochromatic outfit? This all-beige knitwear set works because it also has texture. The number one thing to remember when putting together a monochromatic outfit is to play with materials, textures, and proportions to add visual interest. The best part is it can also help you look taller and slimmer because the similar colors help create one seamless line from head to toe.

photo by Jordan Shum

3 All Black

While some may find it a cliché, all black makes a strong fashion statement. Pictured above this all-black outfit with a unique sleeve and red bag is a classic way to pull off an all-black outfit. Adding details gives the look visual interest. When wearing all-black, use different textures and sheen to add contrast and break up the look visually.

photo by Jordan Shum

4 Bold Print and multi prints

Fashion week is the perfect time to express yourself with print. In this shot, Colleen Tsoukalas of the blog Clothes Line Finds pairs a bold print jacket with a striped sweater. Mixing prints is fun and attention-grabbing. A tip that Colleen used is choosing prints in a similar color palette. The horizontal strip and the floral create unity because of the color similarities. The outfit also works well with the bright primary yellow skirt and shoes; tying everything together.

photo by Jordan Shum

5 Statement Accessories

A statement handbag is perfect to add a splash to your look. Above, my dear friend Mary Dora Winden wears a blinged-out hard-sided rectangular box purse that catches the lights and the eye. A statement piece doesn’t have to be all about the bling. Choose a statement piece with striking detail, it will make an outfit stand out. This applies to sunglasses, jewelry, shoes, and even a scarf which can add an eye-catching element to your ensemble and make it pop.

photo by Frankie Shiu

6 Match your friends

A great way to stand out and guarantee a photo op is to match with your friends. Here this hot pink ties this group together and garners attention in a chic way.

photo by Jordan Shum

7 Relax it's easy

Sometimes the ease of a relaxed look can serve you well. These two matching pants and top looks have the style needed to lay back and also stand out. Try a jumpsuit or overall with an easy fit for an effectively relaxed vibe. I love how the two looks complement each other with a similar fit and overall style.

photo by Jordan Shum

8 Statement Pieces- showing personal style

This hot faux fur jacket is one of those statement pieces perfect for fashion week. I encourage you to dig through the back of the closet and pull out those statement pieces that make your personal style. I always love unique pieces that proclaim someone's style. Personal style is about playing with fashion to discover which clothes make you feel and look your best. Often, it's that one special piece of clothing that grabs attention and opens conversations at fashion week.

9 Don't Forget the Power Suit

When considering what to wear to fashion week, don't forget about the power suit. Possibly no other outfit commands like a fiercely cut power suit. Style your power suit up or down with the highest heels or the latest sneakers. Equally effective, like the one shown, is a suit in a nontraditional color. Hot colors this season include vivid magenta or Kermit green.

 10 Signature style

Fashion week is partially about trends and the latest styles. While chasing the latest trends is something I try to avoid, incorporating them into a signature style is what style is all about. My signature style is built around my love of blazers and suit jackets and my signature sunglasses. The sunglasses came to be because I have suffered from light sensitivity most of my life. Now the sunglasses are part of my uniform or brand. I almost always wear the same pair of glasses, thus making them my signature. Many fashion insiders have a signature style ( think: Anna Wintour’s printed dresses and statement necklaces), and it is a great strategy. A signature style is about presenting your best self every time. Knowing what you love to wear and the aesthetic and look you want to project. Fashion week is a perfect time to experiment with developing your signature style. Look to the fashion icons you admire and let them inspire you. And then have fun!

See you at Fashion Week.

Ciao for now J. Andrew