Fashion Monday with JJ Lee

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! ...

I just bought a tailor's form. It's a padded male torso and neck that sits on a chrome stand. The jacket is now draped over it. The dummy will allow me to pin and baste stitch possible alterations. Think of it as sketch drawing on the suit with needle and thread. The rig is very light and I find I move it around from the centre of the living room to near the bookcase to a corner in the bedroom depending on my need for light or to be closer to the clock radio or to protect it from kitchen smells while I'm cooking. Sometimes in the middle of a chore or writing, I'll forget I have "him" or where I've put "him" and out of the corner of my eye I'll see my father for just a blink.

Please go here .

Call it, "hoser chic." It came with a big a splash. The Hudson's Bay Company revealed its Team Canada clothes. Canada's Olympians will be wearning retro black, grey, red and white gear at next year's Winter games. And with some caveats, I have to say this is a pretty fine collection. I love it because of what it does for an iconic retailer. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Hudson's Bay Company has the best brand in Canada when it comes to evoking Canadiana. It has the history and heritage. Or, rather, it should. Yes, over the years, HBC has forgotten this. Adopting the generic (non-Canadian specific) abbreviation was symptomatic of the tendency to leave the past behind. It was deplorable. But with their recent Olympic campaign, on TV and through their Olympic apparel, they are putting the Hudson's and the Canada back in The Bay. So, this is a major move on the part of the retailer to get its identity back. For the longest time, Roots ...

Today, I hope to look at Canada's Winter 2010 look. But while you're waiting, check out my Vancouver by Design (my old blog) story from the last Olympics . Or simply read below: Fashion Olympics - forget medal counts, who are the best dressed? Canada goes for red, gold and white chinoiserie - go to cbc.ca for more pics. Gold, silver and bronze are the only colours that matter in the Olympics unless you're me. Today, I joined On The Coast's host, Stephen Quinn, in studio to talk about Olympic fashion and about which country gets the high score when it comes to high style. Listen . If you want a fuller analysis, read on. Canada has yet to win a medal in Beijing but who cares? A opening ceremony fashion Q & A with JJ Lee... Q. You've decided to focus on the Opening Ceremonies. What are you looking for when it comes to judging a county's fashion acumen during the parade of nations? It's not easy to compare what the countries are wearing -- though I think it...

For a decent answer, check out Victoria Potter's post about BCFW at demi COUTURE . In this matter, VP captures some of what has gone out recently. Addressing The Continuing Failure Of Vancouver’s Fashion Weeks Sunday October 04th 2009, 8:45 pm Filed under: 2009 , BC Fashion Week There are three massive issues occurring with BC and Vancouver Fashion weeks; the model talent is sub par, clothing design is poor and there is a division between the organizational committees that put forth both productions. The basics are simple; designers should be paying qualified and talented individuals to model their final vision and if they cannot afford to pay the models then they shouldn’t be paying the registration fees to reserve runway time. It’s as the old saying goes - you get what you pay for, and clearly the free ‘talent’ isn’t working. There are legitimate reasons why Vancouver and BC Fashion Weeks aren’t taken seriously. The team running the show didn’t even instill enough confidence in ...