BATTLE OF THE BELGE: For a brief period during pre-adolescence, a young Shop Talk was cloistered in suburban Brussels. It made for some very unpleasant memories thanks mostly to more grey days than even a Vancouverite could handle. The countrys traditional attractions were newly uncool (Smurfs, Tin Tin!), unattainable (beer!) or unfathomable (Bruges!) to a pimply-faced North American tween. But there was one thing that almost made up for the culture shock: Belgian chocolate. And so it is with bittersweet feelings (get it?) that we announce the opening of Vancouvers first Leonidas Belgian chocolate store inside the new Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Convention Centre (1055 Canada Place, 604-647-7559, ). Founder Leonidas Kestekides practically invented the hard-shelled, soft-filled praline in 1913 (pictured right) and for that alone he deserves some sort of monument. (Perhaps made out of strawberry cream and dark-chocolate encrusted Orangette candied orange peels?)
FAIR AND FOUL: Last week, while browsing the racks at French Connection (1150 Robson, 604-682-1978. ), Shop Talk learned two things: (1) That a lot has changed in the decade since our last visit to the store, when every twink on Davie Street seemed to sport a too-tight FCUK T-shirt (guilty as charged!). The brand has grown up considerably and boasts reasonably priced denim for men and women, very affordable formal gala wear for women and a long list of celebrity clients like Saint Angelina, give-it-up-your-career-ended-with-the-Harry-Potter-movies Emma Watson and country singer/beard to the stars Taylor Swift. And (2) if youre in the market for a Halloween costume you can wear after Oct. 31 or even next year, look no further than this logo T-shirt of silkscreened dead birds that spells out FCUK (pictured above). Its totally creepy and arty at the same time. Maybe thats why similarly off-kilter film director Guillermo del Toro is slated to feature the T-shirt in his upcoming thriller, Mama, scheduled for release in 2012.
SCHOOL FOR STYLE: Its that time of year again! Fashion Finals! Skirt the well-wishing friends and proud parents and see if you can pick out the fashion superstars of tomorrow at two graduation shows happening next month. First up is the glamour of PAPARAZZI: Fashion Meets Hollywood Art Institute of Vancouvers annual runway show (pictured above) on Nov. 8 at River Rock Casino (8811 River Road), 2pm and 7pm. Tickets $14.99-$24.99 from . On Nov. 17 at Villa Amato (88 E. 1st), 7:30pm, the always inventive fashion business and creative arts students at John Casablancas Institute will present Obsidian, a show and fundraiser with a mining-inspired catwalk... Heigh-Ho? Tickets $20 from JCI (220 Cambie) in advance, $30 at door.
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