It’s that glorious time of year when we can drink and dine outside – now for some summer dresses from Vancouver designers to make sure we look and feel good while doing it.
“I love dresses,” eco-conscious designer Nicole Bridger tells the Westender from her Gastown flagship store (she recently moved from Fourth Avenue to downtown). “[Dresses are] a one-piece outfit that is actually really easy, and you always look elegant in a dress, if you wear it well.”
Bridger’s patio-perfect suggestions from her spring/summer line include the Keen dress ($158), a fitted knee-length pencil skirt with a tank-style top with a gold zipper on the back, and the Elate dress ($178), described on the Bridger website as the Keen’s “cheeky cousin.” The Elate has a darling cutout on the lower back that brings a hit of sexy – ideal for a date night.
“I always really believe in dresses that you can wear to the office, depending on your line of work, but then you can put some heels on and a necklace and go for cocktails,” says Bridger, a Vancouver pioneer in the eco-conscious fashion market.
The Nicole Bridger Respect Dress ($128), a wearable jersey piece with a dropped sleeve, low-scooped neckline and a fitted skirt, would look stunning with heeled sandals. Another perfect number for lounging on the patio is the classic Virtue dress ($148), a slim-fitting, knee-grazing, simple summer staple.
“That’s a really nice layering dress – that one with the kimono overtop is killer,” Bridger says, about her elegant silk Kimono ($228).
The Beachy dress ($158), made of organic cotton and hemp, is a playful classic that could easily go from the sand to the pub with a cute flat sandal.
“I love that dress,” Bridger says about the Beachy. “You could wear that to brunch. … Easy, all of the stuff is easy.”
Obakki is another Vancouver line that is making both beautiful clothes and the world a better place.
Owner Treana Peake (husband is Nickelback guitarist Ryan Peake) is a philanthropist who, along with her fashion line, created the Obakki Foundation, a registered charity that focuses on providing clean water and education in Africa.
Obakki also happens to make some of the most beautifully designed and crafted clothes to come out of our city, and this spring’s line-up is no exception.
The online retail store offers a dreamy collection of sophisticated silhouettes with Claire Underwood pitch-perfect tailoring. The colour palette includes a dewy blue that turns up in the engineered mesh knitted skirt ($285) and the slim-fitting Cupro classic tank top ($265).
Another irresistible eye-catcher is the jumpsuit with crossover front detail ($335) in white.
Finally, for a beautiful black staple, check out the sweetheart neckline dress with pockets ($285), a tailored classic that could be dressed up or down and look smoking hot on any patio in town.
