Five years ago, when Dragonette released their first album in the UK, some of their songs barely made it on the charts, while others missed the mark altogether. In their home country of Canada, their album achieved much greater popularity, peaking at #57 on the Canadian Hot 100, while the band even received a Juno nomination for Best New group.

The electro pop sound was subtly making its mark on popular music, and Dragonette was a group quite ahead of the curve, exploring synth sounds in a way that marked the first decade after the millennium  as one progressively focused on “electronic “, club like sounds.

When asked if she believes Dragonette contributed to the genre’s growth in popularity, Dragonette lead singer Martina Sorbara laughs, humbly stating, “If someone told me that we were the pioneers of electro-pop in the UK it would make me feel really good. But I know that if we started from scratch now, it would be a different climate.”

Following the release of their initial album Galore, groups like MGMT, La Roux and Little Boots experienced astounding success, showing that it was simply a matter of timing, and groups like Dragonette would become world -wide hits.

The differences between the first and second album mark a change in directions in both life and music. Sporting a new boyish cropped cut, the sound and lead singer has taken on a notable edge. The recent music video for the title track, Fixin’ To Thrill is a departure from the tongue in cheek glamour of the bands original album, employing grittier themes and sounds.

“The second album is a more direct reflection of my life,” says Martina “I needed to get closer to my life for therapy.” Fixin’ to Thrill is a 12 track release combining heavier production and lyrics inspired by the events of Martina’s life since the advent of the band. The combination has resulted in a more masculine energy.

“I’m considered one of the guys. It’s a bit like a frat house” Sorbara relates. As the only female member of a five person band, it comes as no surprise to see the group, take on a more masculine vibe.

Collaborating with long time friend and director Wendy Morgan,  Sorbara was able to take her innermost thoughts and translate them to the screen for the Fixin’ To Thrill video. “I had this vision of waking up and pulling my clothes off and not being a person underneath, but more like a doll.” She states.

The video shows the progression of this party doll, from its awakening by neighbourhood children to a torch lit chase led by a mob of parents.

On the subject of what makes her nervous, Sorbara repeats the question to Dan Kurtz, her husband and Dragonette producer and bassist. “I guess giving a speech, which is a bit weird because I don’t mind getting up on stage.” Whatever her quirks off stage, Sorbara lays her fears aside and puts on a show that gets the crowd going.

A vixen on the stage with a purring voice, she commands a presence with femme fatale lyrics relating confidence. Having a good time and seeking a thrill become the primary focus, and Sorbara wants fans of the band to catch the fever. “Do what I want you to do, have a good time and dance.”

Adriana Sveen

Catch Dragonette at The Republik, March 19, 2010.

For more on Dragonette please visit http://www.dragonette.com/

Edited by Jennine Jacob

To heck with chunky sweaters! This week we have a load of great spring style posts, Holier Than Now checks out cape coats, if you’re strapped for cash Out of Order gives the perfect 45min spring skirt tutorial, so cute! And girly clothes not your thing? The Demoiselles has a great homage to genderbending unisex looks. I’ve been thinking of doing a couple of days in menswear myself. Well, as soon as I learn how to tie the half Windsor knot.

• 39th and Broadway – Death By Over-Scheduling
• Agent Lover – Mad Crushin’ on Pebelle
• Bobbins and Bombshells – Shop News…Hand Recovery Sale AND Give-Away!!
• Denim Debutante – Denim Advice: Why Should I Buy Premium Denim?
• Diary Of A Girl Left Behind – Sorry We Don’t Have Your (Shoe) Size
• Fashion Pulse Daily – London Fashion Week: Vivienne Westwood, Mark Fast & Burberry Prorsum
• Fete a Fete – The Frye Company SS 2010
• Glossary – Sipping tea with Sandra Beijer
• Grechen Blogs – Isabel Marant, the Internet & Social Media
• grit and glamour – Return to pretty, please!
• Hello Beauty! – Shu Uemura Spring 2010 Égérie Collection: Sparkling, rock star chic (with makeup lesson video)
• Holier Than Now – Spring (Transition) Shopping : Caped Crusaders
• Independent Fashion Bloggers – What does your ideal workspace look like?
• M.I.S.S. – Women Making History: Elisa Palomino
• Oranges and Apples – Sustainable fashion part 1: conceptualising the issues
• Out Of Order – DIY Tutorial – Spring Skirt
• Previously Owned – a PREVIEW of Private ARTS la shooting for MINT mag!
• Retro Chick – Vintage Hair Video Tutorial
• SF Indie Fashion – Good Looks: Moody Winter-Almost-Spring
• Shrimp Salad Circus – how to rock orange lips
• Smiles Go With Everything – How to Search Effectively on Etsy
• The Demoiselles – Gender-Bending: Menswear

In February, we had the pleasure of visiting Market Collective. The Market Collective is a local market that facilitates different collaborative events around the city. They show a variety of local talent, photographers, musicians, and several designers who specialize in clothing as well as jewelry.

This past Market Collective, labeled the Love Show, a pleasant weekend affair unfolded filled with bargain finds, as well as live music enjoyed from the central seating area. The market even featured  a love room dedicated to exploring the subject matter of the month.

While exploring the vast selection of locally made crafts, jewelry and various organic food products, we came across The Tall Tree shop. Lee Bedford runs the eco friendly jewelry and accessory company and is inspired by nature, textures and the shapes of all things around.

The Tall Tree shop offers pieces made from yarn and recycled fabrics, to semi precious stones and wire. Naturally inspired by the earth, Bedford’s creations are elements of the earth and carry her special touch through the hand made process. The Tall Tree Shop gloves were the first item to catch my eyes and while doing more research came across this wonderful video that captures not only what Market Collective is all about, but captures the  essence of Tall Tree Shop!

For more on Tall Tree Shop, please visit: http://www.talltreeshop.com

For more on Market Collective, please visit: http://www.marketcollective.com

]]> http://calgaryfashion.ca/2010/03/11/march-music-madness/feed/ 0 http://calgaryfashion.ca/2010/03/10/love-the-environment-love-hm/ http://calgaryfashion.ca/2010/03/10/love-the-environment-love-hm/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:50:35 +0000 Kimberley http://calgaryfashion.ca/?p=3316

H&M means a lot of things, style, modern and most importantly affordable. Now we can add Enviro- friendly to the list! Early Spring, the popular chain brings you “The Garden Collection”. This particular collection is made entirely of “environmentally adapted” materials such as organic cotton and linen, recycled polyester and tencel among others.

What does this mean one may ask? It means material for this collection is from renewable material produced with minimal environmental impact!

Price wise the collection is everything you would expect from H&M ranging from $2.95 for a pair of hair scrunchies to $59.99 for a beautiful rose recycled polyester jacket, the preview pieces are already in stores and you can find the full collection on March 18 at your friendly neighborhood H&M.

Mario Pinto

Images courtesy of H+M

Event: PARK 2010

Photographer: Faby Martin

Makeup & Hair: Olga Onulov, Lisa Dawson, Sandra Cross-Bussoli, Theresa Jalojot, Brae-Lea Hickey, Kimberley Seibel

Clothing: Clothing: Brook Fung – Peeko Apparel

Models: (1) Megan Archibald, Brianna Laplante, (2) Katherine Bell, (3) Sarah Tadjdeh

Location: Chinese Cultural Center

As fashion weeks start winding down, some are looking forward to the next trend in fashion. This week, I was thrilled to see so many bloggers focusing on the past -the history of fashion. An obvious passion of mine, vintage fashion has never been so influential. fête à fête reviews a gorgeous collection of vintage inspired jewelry.Fabulous Finds narrates a 1950s styled romp through Palm Springs. Oranges and Apples shares inspiring vintage Life magazine images. In politics, if you don’t learn from history, you’re destined to repeat it. In fashion, if you don’t learn from history, you won’t know you are repeating it!

Links à la Mode

• Bobbins and Bombshells – Fashionable History: Mary Quant
• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Couture Cakes
• Dedicated Follower of Fashion – Spring/Summer Trends 2010 – The Tourist
• Dozen Dresses – DIY Skirt – The tutorial!
• dramatis personae – B&Lu 0 Gift Certificate Giveaway!
• Fabulous Finds Gal – Come With Me On A Sunny And Dreamy Retro Holiday In Palm Springs With The Photographer Bersa
• Fashion Pulse Daily – Marchesa Fall/Winter 2010
• Fasshonaburu – Who’s Who of Fashion Week
• fête à fête – Larkspur & Hawk’s vintage inspired jewelry
• Glossary – Please meet Paula and her pretty Pink Bow!
• hello beauty! – Bobbi Brown Spring 2010: Cabana Corals and Makeup Face Lift Collections (with video)
• JewelryWhore – Interview With Corvus Noir!
• Oranges and Apples – : Vintage fashion photo inspiration from the Life magazine archives
• Out Of Order – Bonnie & Clyde
• Prom Mafia – Betsey Johnson does DC
• Retro Chick – Estethica – Ethical Design Spotlight – Tara Starlet
• Stop Getting Low-balled As A Blogger | Independent Fashion Bloggers
• Superstylin – Total Fashion Dork Status
• The Fashion Planner – YouTube Beauty Gurus
• True Queen – One Dress That Will Take You From Work To Play in 3 Different Ways
• Tweed & tea – My name is Jacqui, and I am a perfume addict..
• ventures of jenn. – ode to the maxi
• White Rabbit – The Man Behind the Lens

Women’s jewellery  is often quite unnecessarily thought of as having to be dainty and refined. The more lustrous and miniature they are, the better. Fine jewellers offer a wide array of the finest silver and gold, knowing classic styles are a safe bet.

Then there’s that glittering staple, encapsulated so perfectly in our memories by the old adage, “diamonds are a girls best friend.”  Many jewellery designers seem content to rely on these wearied and exorbitant customs, churning out indistinguishable accessories, suspended in industry stasis. This view of jewellery is far too narrow and at least one designer, Erin Ignacio creator of the jewellery line John James, is not content to rely on such typical, bland styles.

Ignacio unleashed her new collection at 100 Wines by David Walker on Feb. 27, filling the room with her new line and some accompanying art work to highlight the theme.  People milled in awe at the nature inspired pieces, and enjoyed the work of, not one, but two burgeoning designers.

Accompanying Erin with a few pieces, was her sister Christina. Unleashing her own line of hand crafted jewellery, Integral, on the buzzing crowd. The growing presence of a free, and wild spirit could not be missed as Erin herself, was kind enough to give Calgary Fashion a few words.

“Prior to creating this collection I was in a really unstable place and when speaking about the women where I live, their energy empowered me,” says Ignacio, “It felt almost as though…I felt like a warrior.” Warrior, the new line launched by John James, explores a whole new dimension of jewellery. Trying her best to capture the wild, and raw energy that originally set off a spark within her.

Ignacio moves past the so called ‘classics’, utilizing various types of earthen materials in the design of each of the collection’s hand crafted pieces. The line boasts a number of bold chains and earrings in metallic and natural tones, accented with wood, suede, jade, brass and pearlized acrylic. Ignacio takes her cues from the empowered women around her. Making the pieces brazen, beautiful and strong; accentuating armor, designed to adorn the female warriors around us in everyday life.

“My pieces are for a bold strong woman…like the women in the buildings I’ve lived in.” states Ignacio “There is a sense in this group of women, that is so strong and outspoken and unafraid. They are confident to be themselves.”

Each of the pieces is named for an empowered heroine, goddess or queen. The collections bold architectural necklaces, and dazzling drop earrings relate a collaboration of avante garde design and creatively selected raw materials.   Names like Nefertiti, Hippolyta, and Lakshmi project the nature of the collection, alluding to the concept of female empowerment through name and the use of boldly textured materials, and shapes.

With eye catching statement pieces from the Warrior collection accenting your spring and summer wardrobe, you will have every reason to feel like a strong, confident woman.

One cannot help but be inspired by this line and its intent to empower. Simultaneously, John James can inspire the daring in us, as it allows us to  step outside the boundaries of traditionally ‘feminine’ jewellery, and brings the past to life.

Daniela Codreanu

Illustration courtesy of John James

Photography by Izzy Jackson

]]> http://calgaryfashion.ca/2010/03/08/the-powerful-woman/feed/ 1 http://calgaryfashion.ca/2010/03/04/leap-into-spring/ http://calgaryfashion.ca/2010/03/04/leap-into-spring/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:00:40 +0000 Kimberley http://calgaryfashion.ca/?p=3180

From L- R Paul Smith London Blazer, Cole Haan Shoe, Chie Mihara Shoe, Marc Jacobs Bag, Duchamp Silk Pocket-square, Joie Shoe, Gryphon Shorts, NARS Lip Pencil, Burberry Bag.

Stepping into Calgary’s new Holt Renfrew flagship store is like entering a world of its own. Post renovations, the space now inhabits the former downtown location of Sears and is conveniently neighbouring its previous home. Clean lines and open space allows for a more casual atmosphere for Calgary’s growing, style oriented, clientele.

Calgary Fashion was welcomed with a warm reception, along with some of Calgary’s other media relations,  to view the products going onto the floor for Spring/Summer 2010. The preview brings us a good mixture of styles and brands that are sure to liven up anyone’s wardrobe, with many key pieces the savvy shopper should have in their closet.

The preview also showcased some of the more trendy buys for the season, as well as highlighted some of the new brands available for shoppers. Noted labels were accessories provided by Celine and House of Harlow 1960 which is designed by Nicole Richie. The outfits were showcased on store employees, making for a more casual event, and involved specially placed members in the audience.

The spring pallet, consists of neutrals, pastels, and bold prints. Print dresses for everyday wear can be changed from day to night with a different shoe. Casual and urban weekend wear included many comfortable pieces, such as, loafers and beige trench coats, easy to mix and match.Work wear was polished and incorporated rich neutrals, and leathers.

Menswear featured made-to-measure pieces such as perfectly tailored suits, fitting for any office. Later outfits catered to the younger crowd, with a casual preppy style,  that included fresh doses of color and texture, available in the stores youth focused Contemporary Department.

A key addition for anyone looking to add some fun to their Spring/Summer ‘10 wardrobe, should seek the embellished shoes or sandals on display. Maybe couple that with one of the bold patterned dresses and skirts, and some neutral accessories that the show offered up.

Menswear found itself livening up as well this year. With investment worthy pieces such as the classic trench, a versatile messenger bag or, for something more exciting, a printed canvas bag.

Other accessories such as hats, scarves, and boat shoes, found importance in anchoring outfits this year. But, if loafers are your choice, just remember the cardinal rule: “Never wear with socks.”

With all these items and more available this season, Holt Renfrew’s offering up all the ingredients for anyone to become a more dapper dresser.

For more from Holt Renfrew please visit: http:/www.holtrenfrew.com

Linda Sui Lem

Photos courtesy of Linda Sui Lem