Meet Kim: Vancouver clothing designer for kdon by Kim Cathers, and stylist.
Where are you from: Sherwood Park, Alberta, just outside Edmonton.
Where do you get your style inspiration: Old things like rusty keys, broken clocks, dinged up wood furniture, patina, weathered leather, and the fluidity of fabric when draped on a body. I am inspired by proportion and enjoy breaking the rules to see what happens.
Your style: 1940s Bohemian ninja.
Proudest accomplishments:
Working for Micheal Bublé as his personal stylist for his European promo tour
Starting and running my own clothing business
Being selected as one of Canadas top designers and to participate on Project Runway Canada
Creating Haiku Studios, a community-based, designer-run pop up shop
Whats in your purse at this very moment: Day planner, iPhone, iPod, wallet, eyelash curler, keys, mechanical pencils, charger, Benson and Hedges cigarettes (gross, smoking is bad), old bus transfers, a wad of poo bags for my dog, $1.35 in loose change, mini lOccitane body lotion, two kinds of lip gloss, two lighters, two OB tampons, two Sharpies, a ball point pen and Terris keys.
Describe your personal power outfit from head to toe: Vintage Frye boots flat style, leggings or tight pants with a mens oversized shirt, tailored vest, thin cardigan and a fitted blazer with elbow patches. A paper boy hat and scarf might accompany, weather permitting. Lots of black, grey and cream. Neatly groomed bowl bangs and a bed head back mullet.
What is your most sentimental wardrobe item: My dads leather moccasin slippers. He passed in 2006.
Where do you look for that after hours wow outfit: My tickle trunk. Did I mention I have a thing for tutus and crinolines?
What local fashion event do you look forward to the most: Eco Fashion Week
Fashion pet peeve: Where do I begin? But if I had to say, bad shoes with a great outfit.
Favourite:
Drink: Prosecco with a splash of Jameson
Food: Lolitas
Store/designer: Ann Demeulemeester
Blog/magazine: Scout Mag, and a shout out to W as well
Vancouver street: Haro, because if you walk down all the way you pass a secret restaurant. And when you get to the end of the street and look back, it seems you are no longer in Vancouver but the Palm Desert in the early 1950s
Local charity: Our Social Fabric
Spot to people watch: The Score patio at Jervis and Davie, also the best breakfast in the West
End
Best international style city: The best way to judge a city for style is to look at the men. Hands down: Rome, Italy.
What was your first trophy as a kid: A T-ball award for playing first base, or a hunter jumper ribbon.
Something that surprises people about you: I used to teach people how to barrel race.
Whats your style/beauty life saver: A hat, and feather earrings by Natalie Laroche.
People tell you you look like: Uma Thurman or Scarlett Johansson.
If you could have coffee with a fashion icon, past or present: Coco Chanel because she was a woman who persevered in a time of oppression. Id love to hear her story in her own words.
Whats in the works for Fall:
I am launching my exclusive Fall/Winter 2012 collection at Fraiche Restaurant in West Van on Sept. 26. Limited seating, call Fraiche for details (604-925-7595).
