Project Runway Canada, my guilty pleasure

Everyone knows I have a reality TV addiciton. It should come as no surprise that my current favorite show is Project Runway Canada. I got addicted after seeing that first episode. In the next 4 days I went on to watch both season 2 and 3 of the Heidi Klum - Tim Gunn US version. Bravo has this amazing ability to produce smart compelling reality TV, I'm also a big fan of Top Chef. The Canadian version doesn't seem to have the same frenetic pace as the US version but it'll more than satisfy me until November 14th when Tim Gunn can grace my TV set again.

I love Next Top Model but it's really a show about catty girls giving (hahaha) "fierce" looks. Whereas Project Runway is really about the Fashion industry while ANTM is just set in the fashion industry. The fashions on the show doesn't bear much to reality of most peoples lives and the Tru Drama store certainly doesn't sell that category of fashion. However, if you're into fashion you'll appreciate your wardrobe a lot more after watching the show.

British Columbia seems very under represented in the show. While there seemed to be like 5 from Toronto we've only got 1 from BC. What's wrong? We on the left coast have more to offer than sweatpants! I'm all about the home town, so I hope Carlie Wong from Vancouver does well. She's really young but she seems to have it together. I didn't know until episode 3, but she is or was an assistant designer at Mac&Jac/Kensie. At one time we had some Kensie stuff but found it a bit on the plain side and of course when Jones NY bought them out, it really didn't make sense to continue with the line. Besides Carly I'm hoping to see much much more from likes of Stephen, Biddell, Shernett and Marie Genevieve. Stephen in particular cracks me up. I would love to see him try to beat up on Biddel!

One thing I thought was weird was that the main retail sponsor is Winners. Yes, Winners sells fashions, just not the current seasons fashions. So a chain that sells irregulars, overstocks and seasons past products seems odd as the accessories sponsor.

Getting a new line. It's Akademik!

I've been looking to replace one of the Tru Drama's existing lines. The line is maturing and flirting with the mass market. Since we're all about the hot and new, that won't do.

The process of choosing and obtaining a new line can sometimes be a tough one. However, it can fall into one's lap as easily as watching TV. I was watching America's Next Top Model (yes I have an addiction). The mid episode prize was a photoshoot for 3 girls for a line called Akademiks. It's an urban line with an emphasis on innovation and graphical prints. It seems like a good fit but my partner feels it's too young. We won't know until it gets into the store.

Getting a line isn't always easy. Sometimes it hard to even find out who the agent representing the brand is. Many times the agent won't sell to an area where the brand already exists, the store and brand have different concepts and/or simply the agent and buyer don't get along. It's especially hard for new stores to get respect from agents.

In this situation the line was almost as easy as finding it. The agent is a guy I've known for ages. We've done business in the past and it was easy as picking up the phone. He noted that like me, he's been flooded by inquiries after the airing of the America's Next Top model episode. I ordered up a few test pieces and they will be arriving for Holiday, so around December.

Vancouver Weather. Figure it out, it's fall!

This is crazy. Forecast for the week was all about rain in Vancouver. Instead we probably had some of the nicest weather this fall. Which illustrates an old belief of mine that the fashion retail business is always first and foremost affected by weather.

Whenever business is slower than normal, I always think about what may be the cause.

1. Competition? Nope, everyone seems slow whether you're in a mall or on the street.
2. US dollar? If I was in the business of Plasma Screen TVs I'd be worried.
   
3. Merchandise Mix? Last week when it rained we had a record week.
   
4. Staff? My team is the best!
   

Nope it's all about whether it's raining or shining. It's not that people are all out enjoying the sun. Rather it's people not being in the right frame of mine to be getting the season's fashions. It's hard when people are still walking around in flip flops on tuesday!

Christian Audigier and Ed Hardy reorders

I've been feverishly trying to get some reorders done for the store lately. We've pretty much run dry of both Christian Audigier and Ed Hardy (both sweaters and hoodies). Even without featuring them in the blog, they've pretty much sold out by themselves.

The Canadian distributor told me that Christian Audigier Fall styles are all but sold out. So unless it's in a store now, there's no more left. The good news is that I did get my hands on some more t-shirts and this incredibly beautiful Chistian Audigier Velour Tunic Hoodie. It's super detailed with shiny stones front and back.

I have one size small and one in medium arriving mid next week. We're currently taking names for a waiting list. Remember like all of our previous lists. If you're first on the list, you've only got the day of delivery to take possession, otherwise person number 2 gets that lucky call to come in.

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Ed Hardy sweaters reorder next week. I envy each and every one of you that have these sweaters. My size is in such demand, that even as the buyer of the store I don't even have one (and I oh so desperately want one).

This stuff is great, the simple fact that it's a sweater makes it ideal for us in Vancouver. It's slightly dressier due to the material and you'll be warmer by far!

Baby Phat looks better on the body

I was reading a magazine in the office this afternoon when I hear this giant "ewwww" coming out of my partner. He was downloading some pictures for me and had just hit this picture of this black and gold Baby Phat hoodie dress. He thought the hoodie looked bad... "like a bag bad" I believe he said. He's pretty narrowed minded about what looks good.

To him all he saw was material hanging limply on a the wall while to me I saw the cut, trim, print... possibilities! I set off to the store to prove him wrong. Enlisting my super staff Jen (she's awesome), I got her to show the hoodie dress to best effect. The moment my partner saw the new pics his opinion immediately did a 180.

Fresh Crop of Juicy Couture bags

We've just a got a new shipment of Juicy Couture bags. I just think the blue Juicy bag is super cute!

Lindsay likes her leggings too

Here are few pics of Lindsay Lohan showing off that long top/legging look. In the first pic she's pairing the tights with ballerinas. For this season, tights matched with pumps are a strong look too.

In the second pic she's got her leggings tucked into her boots. Not everyone can do leggings without a long top like Lindsay does here. However, if you've got back, then flaunt it! A pair of hot pants or mini skirt would look killer for the rest of us.

Pictures from Tru Drama

Just some pictures from the store.

Powered by GoodWidgets.com

Uggs, I've given up fighting it

Yup, you heard me. There's no point fighting it. What was a horrendous fad in 2003 has now become essentially a basic fashion item. When I first heard about it, I think I saw it on Oprah of all places. Then a slew of young starlets were everywhere proclaiming their love of the sheepskin boots. Well wasn't this ugly thing supposed to go away? 4 years have gone by and UGGs are still here.

I think in Vancouver UGGs have transcended into basic wear for most women. The way the wool lining keeps feet nice and toasty and the roominess of the boot is super attractive.

I've avoided buying them personally and for the store for ages (Yes they were banned at the Kris + Cris Shoes too). Mind you, I believed I was taking a stand against this clunky fashion deviation. I did until this season. Last year, Tru Drama was one of the few stores in Vancouver to carry Livs Boots. A super hot boot that was being worn by starlets (sounds familiar). They were essentially a wool crochet Ugg Boot. The profile was a bit slimmer but it was unmistakable where they got their inspiration from. They flew out the door quicker than we could get them in. All the girls and myself had gotten a pair. I immediately understood why everyone had a pair of UGGs and why they continue to wear them.

So I started warming to this thing that was my enemy. I booked an appointment to see the UGGs representative. Guess what new hot style they had coming out? A crochet wool boot. It still retained the distinctive shape, bottom and wool lining. The difference between the UGGs and Livs Boots is quality. UGGs with their experience and manufacturing expertise clearly makes a better boot and evident in the beautiful stitching and detail work. It was a no brainer to place an order and since they've come in they're going out even faster than the Livs from last year.

So I've come to love the enemy. You should too.

(Picture Note. Yes those are the dark blue denim leggings I was talking about in the previous post, they were sure easy to tuck in!)

Leggings for the right silhouette

One of the more dominant looks of the fall season is the long top look. The top can be a sweater or tunic and should be about mid thigh level. To compliment the top you can't really do a flare leg jean or any other wide style bottom. You'll likely end up looking shorter than you are.

To get the right silhouette, a tapered or tight fit pant is the way to go. So slim fit jeans or tights are ideal. You may love tucking in your jeans into boots but depending on the boot, the process can be a difficult one. So what's the alternative? Let me introduce you to our tights.

Two of the more popular styles are these denim coloured ones.
We've got them in dark blue and black denim styles. These cotton leggings have the texture of denim and most importantly have that distinctive jean stitching detail. I think the pictures speak for themselves!

Ed Hardy Spring 08 Fashion Show

I found this little clip while I was posting an image for the last post. It shows in way better detail the fashion show we attended in August. I think I made the clip mistakingly when I thought I was taking a picture but I was actually shotting a video.

As you may expect from an Ed Hardy fashion show, lots of skin and super hyper models. The show was great!

Trends and Colours for Spring 08

Due to the nature of Vancouver's Spring weather it's always a challenge to determine what to buy and when to have it arrive. Like many other buyers it's always such a gamble for their spring buy. It's probably why I'm finding myself only now finalizing my orders.

Colour wise it seems like the season is heading toward a bright cherry red. Mind you I saw a lot of purples for fall in the current windows of the stores in Milan. It doesn't always happen but we do tend to be behind the European trends and colours by a season. So we may see a purple crop up somewhere.

Of course at Tru Drama the current fashion trends/colours aren't always in play since we've built up a loyal following for our brands. Often they veer wildly from what conventional trends are going. For you Ed Hardy fans, we're gonna see the tattoo styles morph into more like punk graffiti type looks. It's a strong look but we'll see how much the look sticks with customers.

(above picture) The Ed Hardy Spring 08 fashion show.
Yes it was in a cage!

I'll work you hard but you'll look good doing it

Want to get a job at Tru Drama? Most applicants fail to get very far because of problems with their resumé or on their interview. So here's a quick guide to help you get further.

On your resumé:

• When emailing your resumé, please send it in a text or Microsoft Word format (please not the Vista version). Why send a file that isn't in a format everyone can read or is in the world's most common word processor format?
  
• State the hours and days you're available to work in a week.
  
• Take the extra step to find out who you need to address your resumé to, that's a positive!

At the interview:

• Be pleasant and have a professional manner when you hand in your resumé or when you show up for the interview. All the girls write down notes for me or my assistant. Because they may be your coworkers, consider them to be your first part of the interview process. The notes help me decide who we get to interview. Some of the more interesting notes on resumés from staff have been: sloppily dressed, smells weird, was sleepwalking and the always popular rude.
• Be punctual. If you're late, I can pretty much guarantee you're not getting the job. Someone who can't come to an interview on time is unlikely to show up to work on time. So show up 10 minutes early.
• Understand what company you're trying to work for. You're at this website, use it to understand our clothing brands and what we're trying to achieve for the customer.

This above information applies to us but really applies to any situation where you want a job.

Our annual Christmas dinner is always a blast.
Last year it was at Watermark at Kits beach.

Most of the girls have been with us for a while so job spots are always hard to come by. However, we're always open to exceptional individuals joining us. So besides great coworkers there are some fringe benefits that not many other stores can offer:

• Snacks galore! We all love to eat, so don't get it in your mind that we starve ourselves, far from it! Snack wise, I have my favourites, but my girls have introduced me to a world class spread of snacks and candies. Some really weird yet delicious stuff. Want some menthol preserved plum? Come on over!
  
• You'll never be the last one to get your hands on that Dereon hoodie! Unlike other places we have an extremely generous employee discount program.
  
• Be a buyer! Over time if you show some ability and scheduling issues aside, I often go with one of the girls from the store to markets or trade shows. So cramped economy flights, long hours, (if we can't avoid it) mediocre food and insincere clothing reps... yup it's glamorous!

Although experience is important, I value enthusiasm, hard work and a bit of brains even more. If I haven't scared you off, apply at the store or e-mail your resumé to us.

Random bits from Hong Kong and Seoul

Just some bits to post about the recent trip.

The following 2 pictures are the before and after of my Myongdong meal in Seoul. For a couple of girls we sure made short work of what looked like a lot of food.



I dropped by the APLF. It's a shoes and accessories show at the Hong Kong Convention Centre. I've never been but decided to give it a try. There was lots of bags but hardly and shoes. Overall it was a pretty disappointing collection of suppliers. Despite the claimed 600 suppliers from 25 different countries, I finished the show in an hour.

On the way to getting dessert in Causeway Bay one night I came across this Mercedes with an insanely vain vanity plate. We had a window seat inside the Moon House Dessert cafe (the orange place) so we inadvertently staked out the car. Too bad the driver never showed up before we left.

Seoul, I hear you calling

What a rush of a day, I'm in Seoul! Arriving in the afternoon yesterday, I head right to the Dongdaemun Market. It's origins dates from the original market of the city. It houses huge malls, wholesale markets, manufacturers and street level wholesale vendors. The place is supposed to be the world's largest wholesale/retail market. It very well could be, friends tell me there are tens of thousands of vendors and shops in the area. Tourists, locals and buyers all converge to this massive zone of commerce.

Prepare to wear out some shoes and spend a few days if it's your first visit. The wholesale market operates from noon onwards to late at night. I've got a few favourite suppliers that I like to hit but even today I got lost finding them again. At that time, If I was in the retail parts of the market it'd be a mad crush of people.

Afterwards I head over to Myongdong to meet up with a friend. The area is Seoul's Ginza district. It's not quite that but it has that vital vibrancy and energy of it's Tokyo counterpart. There's nothing to describe what a main Asian street shopping district is like. It's so far from what Robson is, it'd be insulting to really name it in the same breadth. The density sets it apart from streets in Europe and the neon signs really give it an outworldly appearance. I love it here.

Hong Kong Shopping

It's fitting that I find myself in one the worlds best shopping cities, Hong Kong. I think in order for any city to be a great shopping destination you need lots of people. Check out the throngs of locals and visitors on a Monday afternoon in Causeway Bay! A couple of days more of this and I'm off to Korea!