Two of Hearts GiGi Dress, Stewart and Brown Hilda Cap

Victoria’s annual fund raising fashion show was yet again a big hit for Not Just Pretty and thirteen other local boutiques.  Set outside in charismatic Market Square, models strutted down a rectangular shaped runway to show off this seasons hottest looks.

Not Just Pretty exhibited a gorgeous collection of new fall styles from favorite eco-friendly designers Stewart and Brown, Red Jade and Ashley Watson as well as pieces from some soon-to-be-faves: Jennifer Glasgow, Kelly B and Second Jeans.

Loomstate Barbara Dress, Stewart & Brown Ashton Scarf, Nixxi Antique White Leggings

All in all it was a fun filled and beautiful evening – the show even had a circus at intermission! – made even better by the donation it enabled organizers to contribute to the BC Cancer Agency.  Be sure to check out our pics from the show as well as the pieces in our online store.. while they’re still around!

“If last week’s Nuit Blanche fashion show is any indication of what’s going to be hot this fall, it must be the weather — or perhaps it’s wishful thinking by Victoria’s most stylish boutiques.”

Stewart & Brown Ina Coat, Nixxi Electric Blue Leggings

Read more about the show in the Times Colonist article by Sarah Petrescu

Happy Fall!

Congratulations to Elizabeth Peters for winning the grand prize and participating in the shopping spree!

Green Goodie Giveaway Winner Announced! 05/04/2009

Studio Ryu

and Not Just Pretty

invite you to

Fashion Mosaic

A spring fashion show, fundraiser and sale!

Friday April 3, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm;

Fashion Show at 6:30

At both stores: 1032 and 1036 Fort Street, Victoria

10% off, one night only!

Champagne & divine delicacies from The Little Piggy

Hair by Luna Salon

A percentage of the evening’s sales will go to the Creating Homefulness Society and Wildlife Rescue Victoria

Limited Guest List

RSVP: Studio Ryu 250.590.5081 or Not Just Pretty 250.414.0414 

Make Fashion Mosaic your first fabulous Friday night party!

STUDIO RYU 1032 Fort Street Victoria, B.C. 250.590.5081

NOT JUST PRETTY MODERN CLOTHING 1036 Fort Street Victoria, B.C. 250.414.0414

http://www.notjustpretty.com

Coming Soon to Not Just Pretty … S(eco)nd Jeans!

Arriving for Spring 2009 to Not Just Pretty is the much talked about S(eco)nd Jeans line.

Second Jeans is a Montreal-based company led by designer Eric Wazana that searches the globe for the latest trends and fabrics to find premium class denims and styles. Each denim garment is distressed – individually hand-rubbed, nicked and reworked to give it the unique character that ensures that no two garments are exactly alike. Focusing on fit, quality and style – Second jeans fit like a second skin.

With their new collection, they hope to make people even more aware, and to demonstrate that it is possible to be both eco-friendly and fashionable. They do this by adopting washing techniques that involve less chemicals and methods that reuse rinsing and finishing water, using recycled leather and existing buttons rather than having new ones made up, and concentrating all their manufacturing in Canada.

. . . introducing the YOGA Jeans!

Second Yoga Jean

Jeans are not generally associated with perfect comfort. They tend to impede the large movements of the body and restrain stretching, but Second has changed all that!

Combining fashion and comfort, Second Yoga Jeans are perfect for any lifestyle with an emphasis on well-being, flexibility and relaxation. Made of top-quality denim containing 97% brushed cotton and 3% elastane, Second Yoga Jeans hug the curves of the body in any position. They fit the ups and downs of a hectic day and metamorphose into laid-back fashion in the evening. Second uses denim with 92 percent shape memory, while the industry standard is only 64 percent. And thanks to their revolutionary treatment, the cuts and styles actually shape, hold, and lengthen the body and help flaunt just the right areas.

Check out the pics below to see which celebs are sporting Second Jeans. . .

Second Denim Worn by Celebs

Dace Wettig Sweater

This spring we are excited to introduce several new designers to our online store – designers who up the bar for stylish eco-friendly clothing and who we just can’t wait to suit up in!  We’ve provided a little info about each of the designers below so that you can come to know them and understand the important things they stand for.

Introducing Dace…

Dace is a Vancouver-based designer who launched her eponymous collection in 2002. With styles that possess sophisticated modern lines, the Dace brand always conveys a sense of classic femininity. Clothing by Dace is known for its clean lines and for being well constructed, with attention to fit and detail. The clothes are versatile and designed to be flattering and sexy, with an overall classy but fun look. Dace uses natural products such as linen, silk, and wool making the pieces uber-cozy as well as great looking!

Red Jade Sierra Top

Presenting Red Jade:

Red Jade, by designer Margarita Angelatos, is a Vancouver-based company that exists to design beautiful clothing for chic and inspiring women while being mindful of the environment that surrounds us. The company is committed to a sustainable lifestyle and demonstrates this by using eco-luxurious natural fabrics such as organic cotton, merino wool, silk, linen, hemp, micro-modal and cashmere.

Red Jade clothing is designed for the woman who cares for her community and planet, with an impeccable sense of style. Red Jade creates sophisticated, ultra feminine clothing which embodies the spirit of a confident woman living in a modern, future-forward world.

Lav & Kush O-Ring Dress

A Little Bit About Lav & Kush:

Meet the flirt of sustainable fashion. Every item in the collection is a little piece of luxury. Lav & Kush use eco-friendly fabrics in beautiful textures, designed with the urban woman in mind — the result is feminine and flirty styles that not only make you look and feel beautiful, but you know you are doing the EARTH a little bit of good! Lav & Kush believe in having it ALL: not compromising style and yet all the while being aware of our environmental footprint. Lav & Kush do not claim to be saving the earth, but they are trying – a little bit at a time. Style & Sustainability. Beauty & Awareness. Who says you can’t have it all?

Noir Bonbon Yin Yang Cardigan

Meet Noir Bonbon:

Noir Bonbon is a Vancouver-based designer whose mission is to create clothing that will stand out either by its look, story or material. Noir Bonbon has designed a collection that suits any day and everyday wear. They celebrate each individual’s uniqueness and – through layering, styling and attitude – Noir Bonbon provides perfect go-to pieces.

A Noir Bonbon girl has her own sense of style and doesn’t like to commit to any specific fashion trend. Their design philosophy is based on a contrast of opposites balanced to present a new fashion statement. They love edgy fashion-forward clothing but at the same time can be very feminine, flirty, and sweet. When it comes to fashion, a girl shouldn’t have to choose, so Noir Bonbon lets you have your cake and eat it too.

Red Flag Design Sail Bag

Behold Red Flag Design:

Founded in Vancouver in 2004, Red Flag Design was born of a desire to create products that offered more than just function or style. Seeing how saturated the product market was with disposable goods which sacrificed design and quality for mass production, they decided to start a design company which would counteract those methods. Red Flag design became inspired by the amount of useful material that was discarded as a by-product of industrial production and saw opportunity lying in the waste. The challenge of working with unique materials is what drove them creatively. The goal was to develop those resources into products that challenged consumers and offered a fresh perspective on contemporary design by focusing on quality, process and innovation. Thus Red Flag introduced the beautiful and functional sail totes: stunning tote bags made from recycled sailcloth.

In order to keep quality consistent, while remaining dynamic enough to operate with ever-changing materials and methods, they pay close attention to every step of the manufacturing process. All of the materials are locally-sourced, and they work with a handful of skilled technicians to create all of their products in-house at a studio in Vancouver, Canada.

Red Flag Design Sail Bag

We hope you guys enjoy these new lines just as much as we do – make sure to check out the site for even more fabulous pictures of their designs!

Dace Butler Jacket

Love art, fashion and Canadian culture? Then check out GLOSS!

GLOSS magazine “explores the substance of popular culture by blending the underground currents of arts and fashion with mainstream trends.”

We love this article about Not Just Pretty by Raekha Merner!  Read more from GLOSS here…

Not Just Pretty

Want to visit the West Coast but afraid your Habituals will be replaced by hemp, and your perfume replaced by patchouli?  Well fear no more.  Victoria’s Not Just Pretty delivers high-end sustainable designs that even the most diehard urbanite can appreciate.

As the name so duly suggests, Not Just Pretty is more than a boutique that sells pretty clothes.  With designs made from earth-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton, wool, and bamboo, as well as recycled materials, among others, Not Just Pretty is your one-stop shop for all that is stylish and sustainable.

“I have always been interested in fashion – not so much the latest trends, but the quest for a personal style that is comfortable and empowering,” notes Pam Skelton, store owner.  “We want to show the fashionable and earth-conscious woman that she can have it all – style and sustainability.”

Patrons will be excited to note that Not Just Pretty’s spring collections include eco-friendly pieces from Vancouver designer Dace, along with styles from BC Fashion Weeks 2007 Generation Next award winner, Nicole Bridger.  Shoppers will also find labels such as naturevsfuture, del forte denim and EDUN, the socially and environmentally conscious label headed by U2 front-man, Bono, and his wife Ali Hewson.

Find Not Just Pretty on Victoria’s antique row at 1036 Fort Street, or shop online at www.notjustpretty.com.

Nicole Bridger Today Dress

Nicole Bridger Self Pant & Market Blouse

Your New Year’s resolutions can be good for yourself and for the environment too.  Here are some ideas for steps we can resolve to take that can have a positive impact!

#1. Walk, cycle, bus it, and if you have to drive – take less trips and carpool if possible.  Great for your health, great for the planet, and saves money too!

2 – Buy local and organic.  Local food doesn’t have to be trucked as far to the grocery store and so has a lighter carbon footprint than exotic food.   Get to know what is in season and plan your meals around it.   Organic farming avoids the use of pesticides and herbicides.  Remember to put your reusable grocery bags in your purse or somewhere else easy to remember!

3 – Bring your own mug, thermos or bottle of water.  ‘Nuff said.

4 – Green the house.  Use cloth towels and napkins instead of paper.  Make recycling easy for everyone by having a system.  Use non-toxic cleaning products.  Unplug electronics easily by plugging them into a power bar and switch off all at once,  put your computer on a power saver setting.  Turn off the lights.  Put on a sweater!

5 – Share.  Sharing is nice and if we share our resources, more can benefit from less stuff.  A car ride shared by four people means three fewer cars on the road.  Sharing cars, jobs, tools, babysitting, etc. all can make practical and economic sense, can save time and have less impact on the environment too!

6 – Cook More. Eat out less, eat from the outside of the market (the fresh, non processed stuff).  Pack a lunch to work, and snacks!

7 – Go online.  Reduce paper and mail by changing to online banking, bill paying and direct deposit for your paycheck.

8 – Dress sustainably.  Buy quality pieces you love and take care of clothing so it will look great longer.  Wash fabrics gently, with cold water.  Lift the lid of the washer to give clothes an extra soak before rinsing.  Hang up to dry when possible.  Don’t use dryer sheets

9 – Green your beauty routine.  Choose organic.  Read labels and learn about ingredients in products you apply to your body.

10 – Be a good example.  Show others how to live happy, healthy low impact lives by doing it yourself.  Pay it forward – get help when you need it and give it to others when you can.

Maybe you are already doing all this stuff and have some other resolutions you are working on?  Share  your ideas and we can all learn from them!

Happy Healthy 2009!

This month LOU LOU magazine went shopping in Victoria, B.C. in , “Where Canada Shops”, in “Insider Access : Where LOU LOU shops” by Briony Smith.

Many of our favorite stores are mentioned, including Roger’s Chocolates, Silk Road Tea, and Muffet and Louisa…

Of course Not Just Pretty is featured!

Here’s an excerpt:

This city has awakened from its style-free slumber and emerged as a trend-setting powerhouse. Head to British Columbia’s capital for a double dose of old-fashioned setting and newfangled everything else, from jewellery and clothes to beauty booty and decor discoveries.

Posted in fashion, Not Just Pretty Tagged: canada, Lou Lou, magazine, shopping, victoria ]]> http://notjustpretty.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/loulou-shops-at-not-just-pretty-organic-clothing/feed/ 3 elisa Victoria Not Just Pretty Organic Clothing http://notjustpretty.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/fall-persuasion-fashion-show/ http://notjustpretty.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/fall-persuasion-fashion-show/#comments Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:04:01 +0000 notjustpretty http://notjustpretty.wordpress.com/?p=227 ]]>

Stewart+Brown Fairisle Dress

Not Just Pretty had the opportunity to show off their exciting new arrivals at the Fall Persuasion Fashion Show on September 10th. With a mix of Victoria’s trendiest boutiques participating, the show was a fashion knock-out!

“Eco-chic boutique Not Just Pretty showed that environmentally friendly fabrics and style have come a long way in recent years. Fitted blazers with detailing and rich earthy tones — forest green is finally back — had the crowd uttering audible ahhhhs. “

Read the whole article by Sarah Petrescu of the Times Colonist, Sept. 16, 2008.

The outdoor venue and perfect weather at Victoria’s Market Square added atmosphere and pure enjoyment for the over 1000 people in attendance. Proceeds were donated to the BC Cancer Agency.

Elroy Inula Jacket, NaturevsFuture Top, Loomstate Flux in Plum

Stewart+Brown Plaid Top, Edun Twilight Jeans

EcoSkin Marcasite Dress, Stewart+Brown Hooded Coat

Ecoganik Athena Dress, Stewart+Brown Hat

Myco Anna top, Del Forte Bluebell Jeans

Behind the scenes at Not Just Pretty

Katrina at Not Just Pretty

“Who are your favorite sustainable fashion designers?”

Katrina’s absolute favorites?

“I love Ashley Watson for beautiful, unique leather purses. The attention to detail that goes into them is amazing!”

“I’d pick Myco Anna for one-of-a-kind pieces. I love that you’ll never run into someone wearing the same thing.  Plus I get about a million compliments whenever I wear one of their pieces.”

“Everything by Stewart & Brown – Their clothes make everyone look great!  Their styles are so easy to wear, yet chic at the same time.”

and last but not least:  “Thieves …beautiful, beautiful dresses that always get a second look from passersby!”

Katrina also added: “what a hard hard job it is to photograph the clothes for the website because you just end up falling in love with the clothes through the camera lens.“

We can relate! Thanks for the peek behind the scenes, Katrina!