Fashion Monday with JJ Lee

I know NOTHING about jewelry. The problem is Vancouver is a hotbed of local design. And hitherto, I've been silent on the subject. Until now. Today, On The Coast, I spokewith host Stephen Quinn about what consumers should know about quality before spending money on jewelry this holiday season. To help me along, I visited with designer Justine Brooks . I think her work is fantastic and she really exploits the seaside/boreal rainforest vibe of Vancouver. If you like Justine's work, you can find it at Chachkas on South Granville in Vancouver.

If you need MORE than a quick drop-off and instant, most likely dubious, shoe repairs, you need to know Mr. Ho, my shoe guy for the last ten years. The news: he is still in business. You see, he used to be next to the Vancouver diner, Cafe S'il Vous Plait (remember smoking there and drinking bottomless coffees?), but the rent went up and left Mr. Ho looking for new digs. If you go there now, you'll find an empty shop and no sign as to where he went (shameful landlord). Well, he has found a new cobbling corner - a few blocks east at 292 Robson Street near Hamilton, across the street from the CBC and TV Towers. He played a big part in my shoe education. Church's, John Lobb, Edward Green, Dack's Made in England. He told me, if you find them, buy them. And I did. Amassing quite a fine collection of cap-toes and winged brogues. More importantly, Mr. Ho takes care of my shoes and he does it with a love of what he does. Three decades and still marching on. Congrats on the n...

I think a father should teach his son how to wear a suit. It’s the outfit a man will wear to nearly every major rite of passage in his life, right to the bitter end. What do you think you'll wear when you’re dead? Your preferences won’t matter because there’s a good chance your survivors will put you in a suit. Graduation, marriage, job interview. Got caught embezzling? You were probably wearing a suit when you allegedly committed the crime and you’ll wear one when you stand trial. Okay, let’s say you put in your will you don’t want to wear a matching top and bottom the day you are sent of to the hereafter – what do you think your memorializers will don? Ashes and rags? And let’s say you stipulate you don’t want people to wear a suit at your funeral service, well, what kind of jerk are you, any way? Here’s a rule in life, never deny people the chance to dress up. It shows a meaness of spirit. Besides, if the men dress up, so do the women. Even at a funeral, women look hot in black....

A great little teaser. I can't wait to visit it later this month.

Sometimes, Fashion Monday is just a day or two ahead of even GQ.com 's email newsletter, even if it's recycled from 2002.

Team Canada's Cowichan sweaters WILL be a hit. But as I mentioned in my look at the collection, I cautiously used the term "Cowichan-styled" to describe the garment. I wrote: "However, I couldn't confirm if the suppliers are Cowichan knitters. So, it's more accurate to describe it as a Cowichan-styled sweater." And it's a good thing. Cowichan Knitters are not happy with the cultural appropriation of the form. Read about it in a local Cowichan paper here . Thanks to blog reader, Con, for the link.

The nip is in the air and male readers may be wondering how to keep off the chill (ok, it's not so bad in Vancouver). Easy, right? Not so. There are many styles of overcoats and raincoats. Frequently, retailers (both online and bricks and mortar), journalists and bloggers use the wrong terms. It's a big deal because different style coats suit different body types. If people used the correct nomenclature, it would make life googling and net shopping far better. For those who agree, here is a guide: Mackintosh (left) is a raincoat. It is also a famous English brand . Like John Lennon wrote, "The man in the Mack..." The silhouette is tubular and currently cut tight and short. It is a closed throated coat. The button (except for the top one) are hidden. The lines are simple with minimal detailing. If they have flap or patch pockets, they are an abomination. Slash side pockets, please. It suits most body types. However, short, thick torso men should avoid mid-thigh or hig...

GQ did a very smart thing this week when they featured this season's pea coats modeled by, very clever, Navy personnel. My take on coats to keep you warm is coming up soon!

Natalie Purschwitz 0f makeshiftproject.blogspot.com is making all her own clothes, accessories and shoes for a year. She will wear nothing else. Here is her amazing boot, version 2. Keep at it, Natalie!

He's sharp looking. Got money to burn and knows his bow ties. It's the 8 1/2 year old, mini-dandy Arlo Weiner , courtesy of GQ.

From the UBC Alumi event I hosted with Tetsuro Shigematsu at Banana Republic. Also CBC producer and sometime playwright, filmmaker and character actor Charlie Cho. Very fun. Plus the whole affair inspired the topic of my column for On The Coast - Dressing the Breast: How to deck out a heavy, yet beautiful, topside. I'll be on air on 88.1 FM Vancouver at 5:49 PM -- Fashion Monday.

There was a time, way back in it's history, when the Converse Company (aka Boston Rubber Shoe Company) was all about finding ways of putting rubber underneath men's feet. They weren't just about racquet sport shoes (Jack Purcell) or basketball (Chuck Taylor). Instead, they made hunting boots. And they are again - in a fashion forward kind of way. This season they've release a set of rubber soled, leather upper boots that are right on trend with the back to roots among the masculine. In black or brown, they sell for around $140. Try Gravity Pope in Vancouver to find them.

Yesterday, I was organising the clothes for a UBC Alumni event at Banana Republic on Robson and Thurlow. I believe I was there for five hours. Nevertheless, it was fun. The concept is to speak to young alumni about dressing at the next level (not dressing for a job interview) but how to dress for the workplace and advancement. Actor, writer, trouble-maker and heart-breaker Tetsuro Shigematsu will be my partner on stage and the incomparable social columnist Fred Lee will be there as well. No John Molloy here - "Dress For Success" - that way of thinking kind of makes me gag. More importantly we look at how to dress grown-up with out dressing old. Now, the important stuff...what will I be wearing? So glad you asked. I will be sporting a gray flannel pencil stripe suit with a notch collar. And, because I like taking risks, I'm pairing it with a red (dominant) and blue micro plaid shirt. Both items will be from BR's Heritage Collection . It says Heritage - but the cut is ...

One woman, one year, one promise . To wearing clothing, shoes and accessories made exclusively by her own hand. I mean, shoes!

Yes. MAKESHIFT is a project by designer Natalie Purschwitz. Seven weeks ago, she started a year long project to wear clothes, shoes and accessories made by her exclusively. Natalie has a website documenting the effort at makeshiftproject.blogspot.com And though she is only two months in, it's been quite a journey so far for the Makeshifter. Today, I met Natalie at the Makeshift showroom at 8 East Cordorva in Vancouver. It displays SOME of the clothes she has worn or clothes based on clothes she has worn.... We had a little conversation about the MAKESHIFT journey so far. And my first question to Natalie was, what did she wear today: The project is in part to draw attention to her work - but I wouldn't say it's a publicity stunt. If it is, it's one that has life-changing ideas. People in France and Italy are tracking her work. And now you can too. Plus if you love what you see on MAKESHIFT - she's offering clothes based on her adventures through her Super! Surprise! ...