Cool Thing We Want #302: Bodega Ridge Weekend Via Obakki’s “Rainmaker Auction”

Jesse Keefer of Galiano Island’s Bodega Ridge has donated 2 nights stay (their cottages sleeps up to 3 couples) as an auction item in the upcoming Obakki Foundation Rainmaker Auction. Obakki hopes to raise $200,000 to help fund the drilling of 200 water wells in South Sudan this December (not next year or eventually, but next month). The auction will feature one-of-a-kind experiences as well as hundreds of signed auction items from well known musicians, athletes, celebrities and artists. Sure, you could bid on any one of the signed celebrity items (there are goodies signed by Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Beyonce, Katy Perry and more), but the item that really caught our eye was this weekend away. We’ve done it before, and it’s pretty darn cozy.

EVERY COOL THING WE WANT

LOOKCITY: On Retiring The Bikini For Autumn Fashions & Faces Full Of Good Skin

by Ashley Gesner | Retire the denim cut off shorts, TOMS and striped bikinis. The best time for fashion – Fall – is upon us!

I’m loving the Octoberish duds from Portland based Bridge and Burn. First spotted at Eugene Choo on Main Street and then again at The Block in Gastown. Classic preppy appeal.

Vancouver designer Dace has some beautiful pieces on the go.

Hometown kingpin Obakki throws down with their Holiday 2011 Collection (see image at top). Is it too soon to think about holiday parties? Nope.

Have you seen Strawfoot Handmade Bags (see)? Perfect for autumnal day trips! “Strawfoot is a small operation from Northern California that crafts durable bags from American made waxed cotton canvas with hand tools and a vintage single-needle sewing machine.” Must. Have.

The Sartoralist gives us a taste of  what was seen on the streets during Milan Fashion Week. Man Repeller gives the not-so-subtle version (and throws in a video chronicling the process of how to become a man repeller, check it) and Poppytalk just focuses on NYFW hairstyles.

Back in Vancouver, we prepare for Eco Fashion Week (just around the corner from October 5-7).

Oh, and seeing as it won’t be long before leggings are a requirement, so check out One of a Few for the best in town. On to the face after the jump… Read more

Indie Profile: Five Minutes With MGB Principal Michelle Biggar

Michelle Biggar is an Australian interior designer who has made her home in Vancouver. She is a principal at mcfarlane | green | biggar  ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN INC, better known as MGB. Gathering 11 years of international experience, Michelle has worked professionally in Australia, the UK and in Canada on a vast range of projects from multi-residential interiors to fashion retail, offices, and restaurants. Some of her recently completed Vancouver projects include Giovane café, bakery + deli and Oru restaurant (both in Vancouver’s new Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel), Obakki’s flagship store in Gastown and an office and gallery for Bob Rennie in Chinatown.  She believes in beautiful, timeless solutions born of intelligent design. Her aesthetic is clean, modern, and contemplative. Her calm and clement manner, while indispensable on multi-million dollar projects, comes in handy at home, where she is the proud mother of Max Lucy Biggar, born February 6th, 2009. Read more