Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day): Dori’s Dolls Launch Party was a wonderful event that came to life at Mango Shiva Indian Bistro & Chai Bar.

Hosted by Dorian Dunkley of Dori’s Diamonds, the event raised quite an amount of funds and support for the Japan Disaster Relief. The night was filled with all kinds of excitement, including a photo art exhibit, a Dori’s Dolls fashion show, a performance from Jenavive, a Taiko drum show, and a sneak peek of Dori’s Diamonds’ new summer collection.

The photo art exhibit was provided by Litrato – Images by Bonskie Photography & Ariel Arrieta and featured Dori’s Dolls. These canvas prints were stunningly beautiful, capturing the true beauty of Japan. The dolls were dressed in elegant but simple kimonos matched with contrasting, patterned obi – a traditional sash tied at the waist. Hair and makeup was done simple, not to deter attention from the model or scenery, but to blend the two together. Kesar Lacroix, who is part of Dori’s Diamonds design team, was the lead make-up artist and make-up designer for the project.

Rather than portraying Asian influence on Western Art, the photo art had the opposite feel – Litrato created Japanese art with a touch of Western exoticness. This exhibit raised around $400 through a silent auction.

The fashion show also featured Dori’s Dolls. The models were dressed in Beatrix – designs by Patricia Livingstone,  and the jewellery was provided by Dori’s Diamonds.

Livingstone really showcased her skills as a designer in this show.  Creating designs for models ranging from 5’3” to 6’1” would be a daunting challenge for anyone, but Livingstone was able to tailor the garments to fit the models perfectly. She used hour-glass silhouettes, black and white striping of different sizes and angles, and waist sectioning to showcase each model’s unique feminine curves.

This collection from Beatrix – specifically designed for Dori’s Dolls Launch – had hem lines up above the knees that showed off the models’ bronzed summer legs. Livingstone’s use of wider and lower necklines also allowed the skin to be sun-kissed or cooled by summer breezes. The most eye-catching feature of the outfits was the shade of blue that was incorporated into every outfit. It was the perfect pop of color.

Dori’s Diamonds matched the outfits with amazing fashion jewellery. The accessories appeared as extensions of the outfits, matching colors of the fabrics and design details. Circles and spheres were the themes for this runway. Pearl-textured beads and multi-coloured necklaces of connecting rings graced the necks of the models, but one piece stood out more than the others – a sparkling cheetah-head shaped pendant.

The make-up and hair for this runway elevated the show to an inspiring display of high fashion. Lacroix designed Japanese-inspired face art, and assisted by Trena Laine and Kada Issa, she created breathtaking faces that added to the fashion of the garments. Lacroix also drew up the designs for the hairstyles. Mallory McGowan aided Lacroix in shaping these geisha-inspired hairstyles, decorated with colourful ornaments.

Beatrix’s designs were so well received that she will be partnering with Dunkley for Dorian Inc. to offer her line for sale. The new designs seen at the event will be made available online shortly.

Words by Elle Nguyen

Photography by Gary Evans of Full Frame Photography

Videography by Paul Spenard

Anne Corpuz-Bacalso was more than excited to showcase her jewellery on the AFW 2011 runway. Her passion for designing jewellery shines through in every piece. Her line, Anne B Accessories, specializes in luxurious fashion jewellery and that is exactly what she delivered on the runway.

The clothing and models were kept simple, so all the focus was on the fashion jewellery. The first half of the runway show featured wood and turquoise pieces working together to form accessories for everyday wear. Corpuz-Bacalso proved that one can layer her elegant necklaces to create a high-fashion look or wear single pieces for a more simplistic mod-style.

My favourite piece was a necklace made of many strands of small wooden beads pulled through a turquoise square loop, ending in a turquoise square pendant. It was paired with strands of large nugget-shaped tigerwood pieces and a turquoise stone.

The second half of the runway show highlighted the designer’s shell and horn resin accessories – jewellery for evening wear. The designs were kept simple, which allowed the colours of the shells to really sparkle against the black dresses worn by the models.

Anne B. Accessories proves how important accessories are for an overall look. With her pieces, you can change a plain black frock into a stylish canvas of fashion.

Words by Elle Nguyen

Photography by Eymeric Widling

“I make things because I love them and can’t find them myself…” Listening to Morgan Mallett, you have to wonder just what it is she’s been in search of. Her fresh designs and unusual material have caught the eyes of many in the fashion industry and with good cause. The funky designs and odd materials leave for a shocking effect on the eye. Made from plastic, Design + Conquer specializes in geometric retro- inspired jewellery.

“It has a space age 2001 Space Odyssey aesthetic to it,” says the Vancouver born, Mallett. While her designs could be considered almost alien, the jewellery carries the clean cut geometric lines that made the sixties so cool.

While some would be scared off or frightened by first impressions, the material helps to quiet the nerves. Mallett has used thin polymer plastic in her latest line to give the jewelry an organic elegant look that works with the contours of the body.”I usually just want to see what I can do with this material…  It’s such a dynamic material. It behaves very differently under different conditions and I find that exciting.”

Mallett has held a variety of fancies, starting with a Bachelors in Fine Art at the University of Calgary before moving on to complete a Graphic Design degree at the Nova Scotia College of Art. She came back to Calgary to work at an ad firm before landing her current job as an in house graphic designer for the University of Calgary.

The small side business is something that has been growing for years. “I started designing jewellery when I was a kid,” Mallett says. As a way to entertain herself. “I just sort of did it for fun and didn’t think of it as serious potential.” But Mallett has certainly found the potential in it now, her designs are getting picked up all over.

The absolutely bold line of jewelry recently adorned Jessica’s Biffi’s Spring/ Summer collection at Toronto Fashion Week and again on November 7th at Fashion Cures a la Mode in Ottawa. She has also in the past done custom work for Joseph Domingo. “I had to do quite a lot of pieces for his show and a lot of custom work and a lot of that process informed this collection and pushed me so I could get familiar with the material.”

Her familiarity shows with her Spring/ Summer 2010 collection.

The new collection is bigger and bolder allowing the material to speak for itself. “It allows me to do things I can’t do with gold or silver… the weight of the metal, the way it behaves doesn’t allow me to do big scale off the wall designs.”

This is exactly what Design + Conquer is delivering. The Zenith Necklace is a full neck piece that stuns the eye and calls to mind great adornments of some of the more powerful women of the ancient world.

Even her small pieces, from the streamlined Cylon Earings to the Warp Necklace, manage to find an elegant way of presenting plastic tubing. “It’s definitely for people who are confident and aren’t afraid to express.” But the muted colors and historical reference can certainly allow for all people to find something to like in either the large or the small.”

“I wouldn’t be doing it (Design + Conquer) if I were trying to conform to small dainty jewelry,” says Mallett, who also just can’t seem to find a genre to fit her jewellery into. It’s certainly a style all on it’s own, but with it’s light flexible form and soothing, modish design, it’s sure to fit right in for any one who wants their jewellery to stick out above and beyond the norm.

With it’s appearance already in nation wide fashion shows and a bold new collection, it would appear Morgan Mallett has finally found what she was looking for.

Words by Levi Meaden
Interview by Kimberley Jev

Photographer Yvonne Chew
Model Mirelle Urumuri
Makeup Artist Sara Goins
Hair stylist Dana Lyseng
Art Direction, Morgan Mallett.

For more on Design + Conquer http://www.designandconquerjewellery.com/