There’s something dream-like about a picnic where everyone is dressed in white, sitting under a summer sun. And it’s precisely this appeal that drew the organizers of Picnic En Blanc to bring this worldwide phenomenon to Ottawa – the idea of mixing food, fun and summer fashions was too good to pass up. So, on July 25, Ottawa will have its first Picnic En Blanc – location to be shared just hours before the event takes place. And it won’t just be about food and fashion – we’ve just heard... | Continue reading article

If you’ve seen our Style File posts, you’ll know Ottawa’s got swagger. Two of the lovely ladies we’ve got to thank for it are Katie Frappier and Regine Paquette: fashionistas, besties, and successful local business women. This delightfully dressed duo is responsible for the carefully curated and much loved Victoire Boutique. The girls clearly have great style, but what really sets Victoire apart is their philosophy. The pieces you find are timeless and well-made, because Frappier & Paquette are  “smitten with Canadian design.” Victoire features designers from all across the... | Continue reading article

Consider this a bit of payback for our t-shirt contest from last year. Nick Charney and Chris Pointer have come together to create Bureaucratees - a set of satirical t-shirts aimed at the city’s public servants. They’ve combined some of the sayings, puns and funny realities of government employment and some creative design treatments to create a fun set of t-shirts. “Sometimes you’ve got to be able to make fun of yourself and own your stereotypes, we figured what better way to do that than wear it proudly on your... | Continue reading article

On June 1st, Ottawa Velo Vogue held a fashion show at the Kichesippi Beer Co. Between the cute dresses, cute bikes and fashionable people, the event was filled with style inspiration. If you didn’t have an opportunity to attend the event, photos can be found here.   Name: JORDAN DE RUITER Occupation: Designer at Jordan De Ruiter Outfit: Dress from her line, Jordan De Ruiter Style Inspiration: “I just make what I would really wear. Stuff you can dress up in, but that you buy and doesn’t just sit in your closet forever.”... | Continue reading article

Calling all fashion-forward cyclists! Our favourite bike blog Ottawa Velo Vogue (OVV) is raising money for Cycle Salvation tomorrow night at Kichesippi Beer Co and they want you to be there! Zara Ansar and Michelle President (of OVV) have been busy putting together Velo Vogue: A bicycle fashion show, which highlights the latest trends in clothing, accessories, and bikes (vintage and new) from local and international designers. The event is sure to be a fun time – what with China Doll playing host, great beer and tasty food, door prizes, a silent auction – and it’s... | Continue reading article

Post by Steven Artelle The dust has barely settled along Somerset, and the rhythms of Chinatown Remixed are still ringing in our ears—you would think this would be the ideal moment for one of the event’s curators to take a well-deserved breather. But Jennifer Stone, who helped transform the Daily Grind Café into an anthropomorphic wonderland only days ago, already is moving on to her next feat of curatorial innovation, as she conjures up the spring edition of the Idle Hands Craft Sale. Billed as “something for everyone naughty or... | Continue reading article

Enjoy hunting for curious and one-of-a-kind wonders? Apt613 has bravely wandered the city streets in search of the cute, the funky, and the truly bizarre in order to help kick-start your spring shopping adventures. These “best” boutiques were chosen for their pleasant vibe and unique offerings that won’t burn too large of a hole in your pocket. Please tell us about your favourite shops in the comments section. 1. Wunderkammer (238 Dalhousie St.)Wunderkammer is like a museum of the strange and beautiful. The main attraction might be the jewelry, but it also offers... | Continue reading article

Matt Love has been an Ottawa Senators fan for as long as they’ve been around but was never really impressed by official Senators gear. He wanted something with more personality, something that showed the true character of some of his favourite Sens. He got an artist friend to create the ’stache and it took off like crazy. Soon after, other artists came to him, offering their own designs for Senators players t-shirts, and that’s how The 613’s Boys of Winter line was born. What was a first a quest to... | Continue reading article

Did you heave a sigh of relief when December 21st, 2012 came and went with nary an apocalypse to be found? One designer isn’t so sure we’re out of the woods just yet. Jordana Globerman, owner of NIGH apparel, creates clothing that draws on apocalyptic imagery from the world over, with the tagline “Everyday Wear for the End of Days”. Her designs reference that old standby, the Book of Revelation, but also the Norse Ragnarök myth and the mystical Jewish tradition of Kabbalah, favoured by Madonna. While now based in... | Continue reading article

Looking for something to do tonight? As a part of the launch of Northern Scene, a handful of galleries in Ottawa and Gatineau will be hosting events, exhibition openings and performances by some of the best talent coming from the North. Billed as “the largest gathering of artists from Yukon, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut”, the festival will showcase more than 250 artists over ten days. SWARM starts with a gallery crawl at 6pm — to get around the city you can walk, bike or take a ride... | Continue reading article