Toward the end of July, I had the privilege of attending Niche magazine’s event, Niche Night Out. It was an evening of wine sipping and private shopping, accompanied by delectable hors d’oeuvres, that ended pleasantly with a custom-designed dinner menu.
I decided to break in a couple of new masterpieces for the evening. I donned the black gardenia bodysuit by Lonely under a champagne lace panel mini dress by Shakuhachi, topping it off with a Tiffany & Co. raindrop necklace and a silver shark ring by Thomas Sabo — a gift from my mother. Finally, I finished the look with my black satin spiked Sam Edelman shoes and a dark purple Marc Jacobs clutch. While the dress was mildly revealing, I risked the thin material with the bodysuit and became grateful for its ability to dry swiftly when wine was accidentally spilt on me during the limousine drive.
The evening started at Uptown, in the Personal Shopping Room, where wine glasses flourished amongst the mingling guests. We were then chauffeured in a limousine bus, playing games like handbag bingo (the last one remaining with all the purse-contents from the list wins!) and popping more bottles as the sun set beyond the tinted windows. Our destination, Lark & Sparrow, was waiting with its wintry woodland wonder.
The store itself is a quaint reminder of a snow-riddled forest overlapped with a crystal cave — an enchanting sight. I particularly adored a pair of silk trousers by My Beloved that featured a royal blue panorama with golden carousel horses. The sandals by Toast were also a favourite. I have yet to find sandals that champion the black pair I keep seeing on Alexa Chung. I wish I knew where they were from.
Shining plates of appetizers were served at the store, and I must say I’ve developed a taste for sweet chili jam with cheese. Purchases were rung out by a very chic Lena Dunham lookalike. I loved that she paired the short dress look with high socks (of nylon material, I believe, so they just hugged the contours of her legs).
After the ladies were happy with their buys, we took a group picture before the store’s front and drove off to dinner at Smoken Bones Cookshack. The darkened sky drew the curtain on the limousine’s ceiling show, revealing twinkling laser light stars that probably delighted me a little too much. On entering the restaurant, synesthesia kicked in as the tantalizing aroma overwhelmed my senses. Yes, I was hungry. No, I did not devour meat like a mad Viking. (Though I might’ve if there had been no one else around.) I’ll leave you to visit the restaurant and experiment with your own taste buds.
I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, despite my being a little ill, and I recommend Niche magazine’s future events to anyone who is fast enough to grab a ticket. Stay updated with their website, nichemagazine.ca, or find their Facebook page.
What struck me the most at Lark & Sparrow was the small vintage rack. Drawing from that, I’ve gathered a couple of sites for you to sift through. Strung out on (the personally loved) Shakuhachi, I had to introduce the Australian brand’s vintage page (shakuhachi.net/vintage) which sells items from previous collections. I dream of the day I set foot Down Under and revel in a plethora of fashion genius. People will be watched and accents will be poorly mimicked.
To be frank, I’m turned off by vintage fashion most of the time, because I find it hard to accept its relevance in the modern age. I’m one for moving forward rather than looking back, though I admit I fall harder for the whiff of yellowing pages than paper hot off the press. Wasteland offers a collection of vintage clothes that I’ve grown to love not only because some are affordable on a student budget, but also because the selections seem timeless. The ’80s Formerly Known Maxi would be an a-maze-ing bodysuit overlay, and my fancy for skulls and Misfits (Save me, Barry!) demands that I mention the Charlotte Sparre Misfit Dress ($88 and $105 at shopwasteland.com).
Whatever your take on vintage, stay true to your own style and what works for you. The thing about fashion that both elates and vexes me is that it is in a constant state of flux. It’s almost a sprint when you try to keep up with the trends. I prefer to go at my own pace; what about you?
