Rated F for Fabulous

Design Crush - Mark Fast

2010-09-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

Mark Fast - Winnepeg Born, London Based Knitwear Designer. Using models of all sizes.! Yay Mark!

Check out his new web page and tune in to his runway show live.

Model - Hayley Morley Photographer - FionaGarden

Schaart Clothing Studio Sale

2010-09-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

Drop by the Studio on Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd and 3rd, 11-5 both days, and grab a deal!

EVERYTHING will be on sale, including Fall items.

Many other studios in the building will also be open for "The Drift", happening along Main Street from Terminal to 33rd Avenue, including Rebecca Chaperon. Rebecca's works of art can also be viewed currently at Forsya Boutique, Main & 6th.

I look forward to seeing you during the sale!

Cheryl Densky

Studio address: 2414 Main Street (1/2 block north of Broadway), Unit #11 Upstairs

Visa, Mastercard and Cash accepted

PS: Watch for the new updated website due to be launched sometime next week! In the meantime check out some of the photos from the model shoot on my facebook page (search Schaart Clothing). Please give us a "like" to stay in the loop.

PPS: AND!!! Watch the new lifestyle show "North of 49" airing Friday nights at 7:30pm on CHEK TV, starting next week, September 24th. The host, Michelle Gibson, will be wearing Schaart Clothing designs exclusively for ALL the episodes. YAY!!!!

Diane Kennedy Sale!

2010-09-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite plus size designers is having a great sale at one of my favorite stores. See below

Diane Kennedy

is synonymous with sustainable, ecofriendly and organic clothing. Designed especially to enhance the curvy figure and available in Regular sizes S-XL and Plus sizes 0X-3X. Fashion, quality and fit are never compromised.

Our best-selling signature weight of seasonless bamboo knit skims over your body. Comments are made constantly in regards to how beautiful it feels against skin. So soft and luxurious... you will want to wear it everyday! Excellent for travel... just shake it and hang it up... little or no ironing required!

All of our premium quality garments are consciously created and ethically produced in Canada, in beautiful Vancouver, BC.

Our fabulous Spring 2010 Collection is available in specialty retailers across Canada and the US. Immediates are always available!

Believe that curves are beautiful!

Greetings Ladies,

Diane Kennedy and Babs Studio Boutique are excited to bring you our…

$$$ MASSIVE DESIGNER BLOW OUT SALE $$$

At Babs Studio Boutique (2410 Granville Street, Vancouver)

Store hours 11-6 Mon-Sat Sun 12-5

To add a little more fun to the event, you can roll the dice and win even further discounts on all items in the store.

This is how it works…

Everyone gets to roll the dice. When you roll, this is what your number equates too, see below…

1 item=$99.00

2 items= 2 for $150.00 (75.00ch)

3 items =3 for $180.00 (60.00ch)

4 items =4 for $220.00 (55.00ch)

5 items =5 for $250.00 (50.00ch)

6 items =6 for 2$70.00 (45.00ch)

If you want more than one item, you can roll again to see what you can get. If you want more than 2 items, you can roll again, and so on and so on.

Can we say F-U-N?

What an incredible way to get designer clothing at outlet store prices!

This is not just summer duds but all season too, so don’t miss this sale and be sure to tell all your girlfriends too!

Sale runs for one week only and starts Tuesday Sept 14-21, so get your cute buns in for fantastic savings!

P.S. And for those of you that just can’t wait to see the new fall fashions, both Diane Kennedy and I will be previewing our fall designs as well. This is your chance to pre-order exactly what you want.

See you in the store!

Diane and Babs

Lulu Lemon Hates Me

2010-09-10T23:11:00.001-07:00

Laura Gavini Murphy lululemon hates me

July 8 at 4:07pm · Comment ·

- Lisa Robichaud Well I hate lululemon! Over priced and not even made in Canada...and sooo not unique! Boring, that's how I describe lululemon! I hope that makes you feel better!
  July 8 at 4:29pm · · 1 person ·
- Kaare Long Hates all moms with bellies and boobies - lulusourlemon :)
  July 8 at 5:15pm · · 1 person ·
- Grace Bauer their tata tamers don't come in my size - or my co-worker's. We went on a noon-hour "field trip" and were both disappointed. We decided our tatas can't be tamed. Guess everyone ought to get out there and do yoga or "one thing that scares you" or whatever - EXCEPT the gals whose bodies don't fit the corporate image.
  July 8 at 6:51pm · · 1 person ·
- Laura Gavini Murphy nothing goes above a 12. It's made for stick bodies. tried some stuff it all looks hideous and the emaciated sales girls are trying to suggest things like I am desperate to wear ANYTHING lululemon. Like they could understand me at all as a customer!!!! But why would I pay 45 bucks to get a loose tank that I can get at JOE FRESH for a quarter of the price???
  July 8 at 10:45pm · ·
- Lisa Robichaud Well I was in leChateau today trying to find feetless tights and I found them and the 12 yr old stick figure girl said I have an XL and L and I said the L will be fine and get this...she said...well they do stretch!!!!! What a stupid little troll!
  July 8 at 11:01pm · ·
- Laura Gavini Murphy Le Crapeau
  July 8 at 11:20pm · ·
- Patti Henker I just miss the days when my wardrobe actually was full of Le Chatueau and it all fit with room to spare :(
  July 9 at 9:48pm · ·
- Kaare Long Yaa - I have to admit I do to. I love my kiddies :-) and I know loving my mom body is a good thing to do, but I also know denying those feelings of missing the 'little me' body of past years is not healthy either..lol
  July 9 at 9:54pm · ·

http://www.lucielu.com/ - Check her out!

2010-08-18T22:04:00.000-07:00

This site Lucie Lu looks really promising! Stylish, affordable and up to 5x! As seen in September's issue of Lucky Mag

About her

Meet LucieLu!

My name is Lucie & from this day forward, I am going to do my very best to bring a fresh point of view to plus clothing.

"The day is here. Fashion knows no size & cool is determined by individual style & confidence." --LL 

It is my goal to drive my brand with style, rather than size. To make as many original pieces as i can, all the while striving for great fits, wearable looks, not too young, not too old, gotta have them in my closet CLOTHES! The LucieLu line will always be part timeless classics & part trend. A mix & match collection that will easily lend itself to cultivating your individual style. Play it safe or take a risk. Borrow from others or invent it yourself. Go neutral or pop a color. Be conservative or be bold. Keep comfortable or put yourself out there. And in the end, your style is born. I've been working in the plus fashion industry for over 10 years & am excited to offer up LucieLu, trust my instincts & immerse myself in everything fashion.

Cheers!

Sounds Good to me! I want to order the Ruffle Cardigan in Heather

This weeks picks

2010-08-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

I have been a single parent this week and finally tonight I have some hands free time. Going for retail walks with the baby kills some time but then she starts to melt down and I have to leave the store.

I tried on some stuff at Club Monaco and the Gap, Babs. Urbanoutfitters.

Club Monaco had one of the best overall Spring and Summer Collections I saw in the stores.

I had a baby four and a half months ago and am still working to lose the jelly belly, although I am back into my skinny size 14 pre pregnancy jeans, I still have a huge belly/muffin top spilling over.

I signed up for the healthy heart program at the hospital and and going to get my 40 inch waist down as much as possible before Sept.

Today I went to Net-a-porter.com and did a search by size. XL (12) yielded quite a bit , XXL (14) yielded one page, XXL (16) ONE Item.

Anthropologie

2010-08-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

I looove them. Always have. Finally they are in Canada but only in Toronto and Edmonton. Why would they would get a store before Vancouver I wonder.

Wish I could live in their world. Anyway, to live in this beautifully dressed, furnished and accessorized world I would have to be a size 12 or smaller. Late one night in a fit of passion I wrote them a letter. ( See Below ) They answered me!

Also I decided to try and find something on line and it was great they actually do have a few pieces that are XL and I found them by shopping by size. I also love that they post reviews of each item which helped me decide wether to splurge or not. It was almost as good as being there, with the exception of having to pay duty it was a great experience. We'll see if they fit. I'll post photos.
Here are some pieces I tried on on my last visit. They were all just a wee bit too small except for the black and white shirt which reminded me of a Poirot design.

By Common Threads. I so wish this would of fit!

From: girlfabulous@telus.net

Date: August 10, 2010 8:38:08 PM PDT

To: girlfabulous@telus.net

Subject: Fwd: fb bigger sizes

Aug 4, 2010 07:12:46 AM, worldservice@anthropologie.com wrote:

===========================================

Hello Laura, I am sorry that we do not carry the size that you are looking for at this time. Our buying and design departments are constantly looking to improve our range of sizes so that we can accommodate the needs of every one of our customers. Please keep checking our website for updates. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us atworldservice@anthropologie.com. Please include this email in your reply. Sincerely,Ian HustonAnthropologie International

Customer ServiceFrom: Laura Murphy [girlfabulous@telus.net]

Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 2:42 AM

To: World Service @ Anthropologie

Subject: bigger sizes

I love your store for 10 years now, I love the clothes you have but have never been able to buy anything to wear other than accessories because your sizes are so small. I wear a 14/16 depending on the cut of the clothes. Women my size have money to spend and would gladly spend it on the beautiful designs you feature IF they covered the forgotten size range of us ladies who are not quite plus size but not a 12.

Please Please Please, some of the pieces would translate.

Just lookin - the old Homewerx

2010-08-09T20:44:00.000-07:00

Shopping with my
"Furst" born "Pepper"

Urban Outfitters - Outa ma Range

2010-08-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

Zara oh Zara I wish I could fit you!

2010-08-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

Dress at Gap - Park Royal looong time ago 2007?

2010-08-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

Jane Bon Bon @ Babs - South Granville

2010-08-09T20:32:00.000-07:00

Cute dress but the color was bad on me.

I ended up getting a red one with a full skirt.

Let me introduce you to Jane Bon Bon one of my favourite local designers in Vancouver. I hope she is still in production. I will find out by the time I finish this. Babs on South Granville is another store you should know about if you are looking for clothes for real women.

GF and bestie Nancy out at the Jazz Fest!

2010-08-09T16:26:00.000-07:00

Turquoise &
Jade Flower

Red Jade on Green
Jadeite strand

Sue and Bella

2010-08-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Media coverage Sue became one of my best and Favourite Customers

Cool Customer from NYC

2010-08-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

Cool Customer from Nyc

Retail Therapy at Girl Fabulous!

2010-08-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

Come and see me at Etsy!

Girlfabulous Etsy Shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/girlfabulous

Rated F for Fabulous!
by Girlfabulous, Vancouver BC Canada
Stay Tuned! For more clothes, bags and jewelry. For tall big boned gals with an opinion! Sizing is generous from 14-18.

If you have any questions regarding measurements or would like to see more photos please send me an email.

Items will be shipped in a bubble wrap envelope via canada post which will take anywhere from 7-10 business days.

When you pay by Paypal be sure to enter as the account.

Handle your necklace with care. Stones will break if dropped.

Thanks for looking! to find out more about my Girlfabulous adventures check out my web page and blog

http://thegirlfabulous.blogspot.com

Good Reviews for Girl Fabulous

~All your jewelry is so beautiful, it was difficult to make a decision, all of them are striking in their own way. I met my girlfriend for lunch on Commercial, I was wearing the orange moonstone pendant. I received so many compliments, everybody had a big smile on their faces when they looked at it. It also made me smile too, it really has good energy. - Katie S.

~ I love the necklace!! It's perfect. I'm recommending you to all my jewellery loving friends. - Justine C.

Here's a happy review from a member of the E List.
~ Thank you for introducing me to these amazing local designers. (Lustre Accessories and Narcissist ... two of Girl Fabulous' favorite local designers) I also wanted you to know that I've had tons of compliments on the pieces I bought from you when you were showing at Boditree Pilates. I wear them often!! Thanks again, - Jacqueline V.

~ I wore my new earrings today. I feel like I need to swing my head to make my earrings sway with the motion. I love them. Thanks. - Rosanne M.

~Thank you for placing me on your mailing list. I bought the red coral necklace at the Karma Gallery show a couple of weeks ago. I thought you should know I have worn it a couple of times since that evening and everyone raves about it! Just a fabulous piece!
Carol F.

~I can't tell you how many compliments I've had on your butterfly necklace. I wore it to the opening of Lend Me a Tenor and people raved about it. I've even had people stop me on the street to tell me how beautiful it is. I should get some of your girl fabulous cards to hand out. I love it! Thank you so much!
Annabelle K.

Pho - Bic no More

2009-05-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

1118 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC V6E

Pho Central

Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: West End

5/27/2009

I use to be Pho -Bic about Pho places. As an ex vegetarian I still have a lot of meat phobias. Vietnamese food is fresh and simple and they use all parts of the animal that I find scary.
Pho Central is has friendly attentive service. I think they are family run and this is good honest family recipes. The broth they use for their PHO SOUP is delicious you can taste the star anise and cinnamon. Beef and pork dishes outstanding, lots of lemongrass. Everything comes with a side of sprouts and fresh Thai Basil and wedges of lime. You will get a cup of green tea to wash it down. You can also do the Pho "dry style" with the broth on the side. Highlights for me were the Thai Basil, Green Tea, Vermecelli Noodles, spring rolls with the dark sweet soy, hot sauces at the table, fresh jalepenos and lime with your dish, beef thinly sliced. Everything tasted clean and fresh. I want to eat like this all the time. I went two days in a row and they recognized me. Comments I overheard from other patrons were positive. I hope Pho Central remains a neighbourhood staple for a long time.

Provide

2009-02-07T11:03:00.000-08:00

The open casual atmosphere and the warm, generous welcome from owners Robert Quinnell and David Keeler have inspired a loyal following in the short year the store has been open. Try a Nespresso while you peruse and enjoy the exquisite home and giftware they have collected for you. David has merchandised the store so beautifully that you wish you could just move in. New stock is introduced weekly as They have searched the globe and beyond to offer everything new and different, as well as the best of Canadian and local Designers. Price points range from $2.75 for a card from Pink Door Paper Company (Award winning local Designers) to $8,400 for a Martha Sturdy, acid etched on steel painting. What lies in between are pillows by Bandit Decor , blankets by Stansborough, Rina Menardi ceramics and other exclusives for your dream house built by Battersby - Howat.

Or you'll just want to go home, purge everything and start over at Provide.

FarFalla Tea Boutique

2009-02-07T01:09:00.000-08:00

Whenever possible I make a detour to Farfalla located at 57 e Cordova st. Vancouver. On my way to my sewing studio to conquer the Knitting Machine that my friend Claude lent me. I was just simply gawsping for a cuppa. Also my friend Lily hadn't been there and I knew she would love it.

Just one block east of the most desolate part of Cordova is Farfalla Tea Boutique in the Koret Lofts. The interior is a lovely mix of Paris. Notice the Red Hediard Tea Tins on the back wall the Kuzmi Teas, baguettes and croissants and other patisseries flown in from France. It's Paris in Vancouver a la the Rose Cafe.

I hate getting things to go because I just want to cozy up there and stay the day to sip my way through the tea menu. Today I bought a small tin of the spicy chocolate tea by Kuzmi and also had a St Petersburg Fog, a Tea Latte using their St Petersburg Tea which is a beautiful mix of black tea, citrus, caramel.

The are beautiful linens, bath care products, tea pots and tea accessories for tea lovers and you could put together the most succulent gift basket for someone.

Love the Chinos furniture, marble tables, paired with clear modern acrylic chairs.

There's more to enjoy on the rest of the block, Wink Beauty Lounge keep going. Tell Everyone! We don't want to lose these visionary entrepreneurs who are recreating this part of town.

My Favorite Irish Person

2007-12-30T03:49:00.000-08:00

Andrew Ward is an old friend who is one of the most talented charming people I know. He is now married to the equally fabulous Alexandra and they are recently blessed with a new baby girl whom I can't wait to meet. I stumbled on this piece of writing that I gave him for his bio on his website. Totally inappropriate so of course he never used it. But it did inspire him to get a proper one done by his brother. When you see his photos at Andrew Ward Photography, you will see what I mean. He has worked as an AD on some big blockbuster movies with some of the best cinematographers in the business. Sometimes it's nice to have an Academy Award winner do your lighting for you! But you will see most of the photos taken in Haiti, Cuba , India and other places you can see he is just brilliant. Enjoy!

August 6th, 2004 – Van Nuys, California

ANDREW M Ward - Dublin Ireland – August 11th – Photographer, Artist, Bon Vivant, Bon Mot, Raconteur, Le Chef, Dude, The Man, Dubliner, Paddy, Husband to the beautiful Alexandra, My Favorite Irish Person in the WORLD. (He’s also met a lot of the most talented Irish people in the world and either drank with them or worked with them or been friends with them and tells great stories about them but he still remains … my favorite).
His Dad sold real estate to the guys in U2. His Uncle Ray MacAnally was one of the best Actors in Ireland in his day, best known as Daniel Day’s Father in “My Left Foot”. He has two roguish-ly handsome brothers and his mother is a beautiful classy blond woman who I’ve seen pictures of on his fridge.

I met Andrew ten or so years ago at a party in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was in a ground floor suite apartment in Kitsilano. He was hanging out with his friend (Another Irishman) and was about to leave the city of Vangroovy to embark on an adventurous career in LA LA land. He was leaving in four days time. That night we spent the night trading stories about our lives and experiences in Vancouver and about the movie industry and what he was going to do when he got to Los Angeles. I tried to talk him into staying cause I didn’t want this man to make the wrong decision. So off he went to the City of Angels, Devils and, Demons, the Vietnam of Humanity to find his fortune. The land of Dirty brown skies, and psychadelic purple sunsets.
He still wont admit to it that he is any good. I figured it out right away when he showed a book of snapshots he took of a trip to Prague. “Prague is filled with some of the most beautiful architecture and the most beautiful women”. (OK … like, this was waaaay before Hollywood figured out the city was a cheap movie set) Sometimes on my visits we would just drive around and he would say “ Hey look at that, they way that building kinda …” Then he would get quiet. (I think he was wishing he had his camera)

While in LA I always wanted him to take me shopping but somehow we would end up having a 10 dollar martini in a place that had million dollar ambience. Just one … And then on to the next place. When people go to LA they can change, sometimes for the worse, I am so glad he didn’t end up with a beautiful blond package with psychological scars, fake tan and dirty underpants. He didn’t become a gigolo, a hustler or direct or appear in any porn movies. (Andrew says to me, “ How do you know that?”) I just know he didn't and that this crazy Irish dude made a beautiful life and does that wherever he goes.

(I introduced him to my mother once and she said “He’s very charming, but he seems a bit restless”) Photos would come in the mail of Andrew in Las Vegas, with Tom Jones, on set in France drinking Guiness at the end of the day with one of the Handsome Actor Schmactors. (And since he is the purveyor of all good things and people that are Irish they usually were … Irish or had a tenth of it twice removed)

The photos became more exotic and from far distant places. India, Nepal, Cambodia, Cuba, Central America. It didn’t matter that there we no calls or emails for years just as long as I could see the PHOTOS.

In his house you see his pictures on the wall hanging next to the work of Salgado, Bravo, Avedon, Minehan. Who? You might ask? Doesn’t matter. See for yourself. He is just as good. Hopefully someday he will finally realize that he is and always was … an Artiste. I told him as I finished writing this Bio. “Dude … you are a coffee table book waiting to happen”.

LA LA LAND - August 2004

2007-12-28T03:50:00.000-08:00

This is an old post from my website.

"Did you know if you go to an Apple Store you can try out all the new macs and ipods ? It was really handy to go in and check email or get directions on google maps to wherever we were going next. They also have a "genius bar" wher you can sign up and get some one on one time with one of their Mac "Geniuses". That's what I was doing when I posted this originally. Oliver Platt was in the store at the time as well. Boy! is he a tall big boned guy!

Girl Fabulous is currently in LA shopping around having a holiday and getting accounts for Government Clothing Company. She hopes to sell as many Bush and the Gang T Shirts as possible before November. (*With the upcoming 2008 US Elections I am reminded of trying to sell some of these shirts while I was visiting. When I wore the "Bush and the Gang" T in the US, people LOVED it, they stopped me on the street to ask where I got it. Even Colin Farrell hiding behind sunglasses at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf asked me for a card. I think it's a good time right now to revive the shirt).

She is also hanging with Neil Phelps ( AkA - Ty Phillips of Pixarola) dear friend and unofficial tour guide who is doing some fantastic photography while he was in LA. (*He has a show hanging right now at the Agro Cafe on Granville Island. "Hollywood by Light" is a beautiful neon retrospective of some of the best neon in the city. I would love to buy a few of the prints. They are gorgeous! If you are a cinephile or an Angeleno or wanna be Angeleno. These are for you)."

Fabulous outside the folk fest gates

2007-12-28T03:35:00.000-08:00

July 2005

Claude and I set up at the Vancouver Folk Fest this year and had a great time selling and shopping at the "Black Market" outside the gates. I discovered some new importers with cool designs. SASS Felt - made in India. I bought the cutest felt briefcase. They also had these felt jester booties for kids and felt mary janes. The cool thing was the importer was working with the Association of Craft Producers - ACP. They provide design, technical services, management, marketing, skills training, source of income, benefits programs, education and supportive work enviroments conducive for self-esteem for disadvantaged craft producers, especially women. Love it! Call Jem Pullin from Calgary 403.609.2365 to find out more.

Sara Patterson from LOTUS had the really cutting edge designs made in Thailand. A little small for a size 16 like me ... she has sample sales, email her to get on her list for her next sale: lotusdesigns@ekit.com.

I kept seeing these A-MA-zing tattoo designs printed on sheer stretch fabric going by. WILD ROSE TATTO BODY WEAR gives you Tattoos with out the committment or the pain or $$$$! People were wearing them with a tank top. See www.wildrosetattooshirts.com to see what I mean. There was such a huge crowd at their booth that I could only get a card for next time.

There were lots of imported goods, some cheap and plastic stuff and some people were even having garage sales (Yuk!) Another highlight was UNITY GLOBAL CONCEPTS. Someone with a good eye and aims to bring back fair trade goods. I got a ring carved out of bone that I will wear forever! See www.unityglobalconcepts.com They now have a cute store on Yew and 4th. Check it out!