Vancouver Magazine
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Our first annual Best Dressed List shines the spotlight on five of the city's most stylish people—here's a look at what they're wearing and what inspires good style.
Style Notes. Satin bomber: Comme des Garçons spring ’84 team jacket; shirt: Akris Punto; pants: Akris Punto; shoes: Prada; jewellery: “Mine.”
There’s hardly enough room on Diane Gagne’s business card for the litany of fashion titles to her name: model, photographic stylist, fashion-show producer and runway coach, among others. As well, this Montreal-born longtime Vancouverite has honed her local chops with designers like Ron Leal and Zonda Nellis (in roles from fitting model to merchandiser), created a mentorship workshop for models and now also works as a stylist at Holt Renfrew. “I really love fashion’s transformative power—when someone tries on a dress and their face just lights up and their energy changes, that’s the power to empower!”
Style Notes. Earrings: DIY; blazer: Topshop; blouse: Zara; leather trousers: vintage Prada; shoes: No. 21 by Alessandro Dell’Acqua.
“I love that clothes can transform you and give you a sense of confidence that few other things can,” says Liis Kearney. Kearney’s in the business of providing confidence. By day, the 30-year-old works with Topshop/Topman at Hudson’s Bay as national product merchandiser; by night, she parlays her style acumen into consulting: wardrobe overhauls, personal shopping and event styling. Clothes are always the common thread: “They allow you to express yourself without ever having to say a word.”
Style Notes. Purple suit and pocket square: Indochino; shirt: Uniqlo; tie: Club Monaco; shoes: Christian Louboutin.
Indonesian-born Viranlly Liemena calls himself a “menswear enthusiast,” which is really just an understated way of saying he lives and breathes clothes. He works at Vancouver’s own Indochino, handling the upstart brand’s social media, and then can often be found moonlighting as a fashion authority (like judging this year’s Deighton Cup Style Stakes). “I’m that guy you see running around in a suit, making my way from the coffee shop to the office to happy hour and occasionally a spin studio”—all in effortlessly sharp garb.
Style Notes. Blue herringbone suit: Indochino; watch: vintage Omega; leather and crocodile shoes: Magnanni.
“Appreciation for sartorial quality and craftsmanship (along with food, wine, art and music) is what got us out of living in caves,” says Tim Ellison. “Looking good elevates everything.” Ellison should know a thing or two about elevating tastes—or taste buds, that is: he’s spent almost five decades honing his skills as a chef de cuisine and certified sommelier, and now dovetails those roles as director of food and beverage service at the Vancouver Club. One of his greatest passions? Travelling to the world’s best wine regions—provided there’s also a fashion centre nearby.
Style Notes. Jacket: Marc Jacobs leather moto; top: Phillip Lim tank; skirt: Mary Katrantzou; heels: Miu Miu.
“Your clothes can tell people so much about you in a split second,” says Shannon Heth. “I like to make every second count.” One of Vancouver’s most notable PR mavens, Heth definitely has her own signature style that turns heads every time she walks in a room. But it wasn’t always this way: before starting Heth PR in 2008 (recently rebranded to Milk Creative Communications), she was unsure of which career path to follow after finishing an undergrad in history. Turns out, sartorial savvy would be the key: she soon learned that “in good clothes, the shy me became a sociable storyteller.”