Author Archive | Niki Hope

Five press release mistakes to avoid

By Niki Hope on July 25, 2016

Having been on the receiving end of thousands of press releases during my years as a reporter/editor, I know what does and doesn’t grab my attention when it comes to crafting the perfect press release.

Here are five press release features that have driven me crazy over the years:

ALL CAPS: Unless you’re Kanye West on a mega-rant, please avoid using ALL CAPS in any and every release. They don’t make the info more potent, or exciting, they just leave me feeling annoyed (though not Kanye-level annoyed).

Missing critical bits of info, or not having it up front where it can be easily found. Specifically, the who, what, where, when and whys. Don’t tell me in the last paragraph about what makes this event important to readers, or how they will benefit – say it at the top.

No PDFs, please. Send in a Word doc, because the writer can then easily copy and paste the pertinent information out of the release.

Too much sales pitch, not enough concrete information. Flowery language, insincerity, hyperbole … all of that makes it hard to read, and even harder to believe. Stick with the facts: this product is good because a), b), and c).

Avoid exclamation points! Like sparkly nail polish, they just come off as tacky. Just because you throw one at the end of a sentence, doesn’t make the point anymore intriguing. In fact, it can even have the opposite effect. Exclamation points are the written equivalent of yelling in someone’s face – so if you’re going to do it, make sure there’s a really good reason, like “Fire!” as opposed to “My product is the best!”

There are other more obvious mistakes: punctuation problems, use of first-person voice (use third, as they do in newspapers), not making the most of quotes, etc. Check out Indie Game Girl for the perfect press release template (see above) – it’s geared toward the gamer biz, but the format is fluid enough to work as a standard press release for almost any industry.

Eliza Faulkner at Vancouver Fashion Week

By Niki Hope on October 1, 2015

Eliza Faulkner’s spring 2016 show was like a cup of fresh-squeezed juice – a bright, youthful, energetic collection of clothes that prove the young designer, who was raised on Vancouver Island, is one to watch.

I caught her show on Tuesday, which was dubbed B.C. Day at VFW with the runway showcasing the work, along with Faulkner’s, of Allison Smith of Allison Wonderland, Aniimiism by Cassie Dee, Taran Cheema’s TKC Design Inc., Connally McDougall and Sofia Mendez Schenone.

At 19, Faulkner realized her dream of becoming a fashion designer when she was accepted to study fashion design at Central St. Martin’s College of Art & Design in London.

She couldn’t find work after graduating, so she resigned herself to small-town life, working in the back room of her mother’s shoe shop in the Cowichan Valley and writing about style for the local newspaper. She kept creating clothes at night, selling them to family and friends. From those first dresses – made in a cabin on Vancouver Island – her namesake line has since gained recognition across North America for its clean lines, feminine silhouettes, and relaxed feel.

In 2014 she was nominated in the Emerging Talent Category at the Canadian Art & Fashion Awards and ELLE Canada named her “One of the Top Ten Canadian Designers to Know.” Marisa Tomei, Nikki Reed and Kelly Clarkson have all worn her clothes.

Doing literally nothing in my activewear

By Niki Hope on September 26, 2015

Can’t. Get. Enough. Fashion editors call it “leisurewear.” Call it what you want, this video is hilarious. Being hungover in my activewear, smoking on the street in my activewear, doing literally nothing in my activewear …

Blanket fall fashion at Holts

By Niki Hope on September 22, 2015

Holt Renfrew Vancouver held an in-store fashion show last week, where Lisa Tant, Holt’s vice-president of exclusive services, (a great interview, I might add – no surprise, really, given her background in editorial) weighed in on the season’s biggest trends, including loose fits, bold graphics, men’s inspired tailoring, utilitarian chic, new romantics, and winter white. My personal favourite was defined as “The Perfect Yarn” – thick, chunky textures worn from head to toe. It’s like rolling your entire body in a soft, snuggly throw blanket.

One of the inspiration’s For Tant’s Perfect Yarn looks comes from Chloe’s stunning fall 2015 collection, which is way out of my price range, but still a beauty to behold.

For a small dose of tassels, I also really love this dreamy Rebecca Taylor grey sweater.

Here are some of the images from the Holt’s fashion show:

Note the two guys sitting across from each – they are completely engrossed in the show 🙂

Nordstrom Vancouver gala: cocktails, canapés, and shopping

By Niki Hope on September 21, 2015

It was a big deal in little Vancouver. The Nordstrom gala opening proved the store means business with its third location in Canada.

The buzzed-about gala opening was about as glam as it gets in our rugged, outdoorsy town, with Nordstrom showing it can run a world-class show and even attract a few names while doing it (models Coco Rocha, Amber Valletta and Karolina Kurkov, actresses Diana Bang and Camilla Belle, and actor Zachary Quinto).

But best of all, the sold-out fashion show and gala (underwritten entirely by Nordstrom) raised $420,000 for local charities: BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, BC Women’s Hospital and Health Center Foundation, Covenant House Vancouver, and the Vancouver Art Gallery. More than 2,200 guests attended, with co-chairs Kathleen S. Bartels, Jillian Harris, Jill Krop, Judy Leung, Jason Sarai and Tamara Taggart among the crowd. Tickets for the fashion show and gala were $300 each; $150 for the gala alone.

The event began with a cocktail reception at the VAG, moved downstairs to the runway show, which featured a massive set of stairs (those poor models) with a stunning screened backdrop of rushing waves.

After the fashion show, attendees sauntered across the street for an in-store gala and shopping event, where the cocktails and canapés flowed. It was a bit surreal to shop in the midst of a party – complete with live band – but nice to get an early peek at the new digs.

My only purchase of the night … a Natori bra, of course.

Hat designer Brookes Boswell coming to Charlie & Lee

By Niki Hope on August 10, 2015

Portland-based hat designer Brookes Boswell will be at Charlie & Lee boutique in Chinatown on Aug. 22, from noon to 7 p.m.

The designer will be in the shop along with her fall collection, samples and vintage hats. Shoppers can also create a custom made-to-measure hat order.

Local craft beer favourite 33 Acres will be providing the brew and snacks will be provided by the online store Garmentory. Enter here for a chance to win a straw hat from Brookes Boswell, $100 gift card from Charlie & Lee, and $100 gift card from Garmentory.

Here are some samples from Brookes Boswell’s Fall 2014 collection:

Sneak peek customer event at Nordstrom Vancouver

By Niki Hope on August 6, 2015

Curious shoppers are invited to get an early look at the new Nordstrom coming to Vancouver. The public can preview the 230,000 square-foot flagship store during a pre-opening charity fundraising event from Sept. 11 to 12, and a Beauty Bash on Sept. 18 in the morning before the doors officially open.

NORDSTROM BFF (BEAUTY + FIT + FRIENDS) EVENT

Friday, Sept. 11, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will include makeup demos and bra fittings. As well, for every bra purchased from a participating brand, $2 will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – BC/Yukon Region. Nordstrom and participating brands will make a minimum donation of $5,000 to the foundation. Appointments are required. Book by calling 1-866-792-6167 for a personalized bra fitting, makeup appointments or beauty classes.

(Speaking of bras – one a personal note, Nordstrom Seattle carries my absolute all-time favourite bra brand – Natori. Fingers crossed that the line will be available at the Vancouver location. I bought a Natori bra from Nordstrom six years ago – it has kept it shape through a pregnancy and many, many wears and washings; plus, it’s ridiculously comfortable.)

NORDSTROM OPENING DAY BEAUTY BASH

Friday, Sept. 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

The event will include info on the latest tips and tricks from Nordstrom’s beauty experts during complimentary consultations and demonstrations. The first 2,500 customers to get their makeup done will receive an exclusive Nordstrom Beauty Bash tote (one per customer while supplies last). While celebrating all things beauty, the CBCF table will be there for those who want to do something truly beautiful and sign up for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. The event will also have food truck eats, a photo booth, and live music.

The sneak peek includes a charity component as Nordstrom is partnering with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – BC/Yukon Region (CBCF) to raise funds and awareness for the cause during the events. Nordstrom will open its third Canadian location in the heart of downtown Vancouver at Pacific Centre on Sept. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Navigating Vancouver’s ever-growing retail landscape

By Niki Hope on August 6, 2015

Focused on new shops for this week’s Westender column, including Kiss and Makeup, which made its way over to this side of the Lions Gate after a decade on the North Shore. Managed to get over there for a visit last week and can’t stop thinking about the S’well water bottles they sell – non-toxic, stainless steel interiors that keep beverages cold for 24 hours and warm for 12. Plus the bottles have really charming designs. S’well, a women-run company, also partners with a number of charities, including UNICEF, to help bring clean water to vulnerable children.

(Interior shots of Pendleton towels and Brixton hats at Kiss and Makeup)

More good news: Aesop opened a Gastown location. Previously the line was (and probably still is) available in Vancouver at WANT Apothecary. I use a couple of the quality products – and especially love the fact that they that don’t irritate my sensitive skin.

The newish outlet in Richmond is also mentioned. Haven’t made it out yet to know if it was worth waiting in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Then there is the new Dior stand-alone at the Fairmont Hotel. I didn’t mention it in the article because it took away from the focus, but the French fashion house recently came under fire for using 14-year-old model Sofia Mechetner. The new face of the house opened Dior’s latest Haute Couture show wearing a sheer dress. Some media are painting her tale as a “Cinderella story,” saying that she was “plucked from poverty.” Dior’s creative director, Raf Simons, discovered Mechetner in a Dior store in Paris. She grew up in a town outside Tel Aviv, sharing a bedroom with two siblings, and raised by a single mom holding down three gigs, according to The Washington Post. The model looks like a (very) young Claudia Schiffer – the 90s phenom who didn’t start her modeling career until age 17. Anyway, who’s to say whether the controversy will impact the company appeal … sadly, I doubt it.

For those wondering why I included it in the list – not just because of the near-tween model, but also because in reality the overwhelming majority of us will never set foot in the new shop, the reason is because I think the store’s opening speaks to Vancouver’s growing luxury retail market. It’s a sign of the times, whether we like it or not.