Created by Edie Orenstein, Tart Boutique was inspired by her open spirit, her enthusiasm for performance, and her love of beautiful things. Edie’s ethos is to provide a haven for the hedonist within us. She invites everyone to explore their sensual side and browse in a sumptuous and fun space. Explore the unique surroundings in a relaxed atmosphere. Satisfy your curiosities and indulge your senses.

Tart’s friendly and open cast will help you choose anything from a crisp cotton shirt, a stylish black dress, an artistic book, to a gorgeous toy for exploring your sexuality. Her cast are knowledgeable and playful. You can trust them to give you an entertaining experience. Whether it is demonstrating how to tie a corset or accessorizing the perfect outfit, they are theatrical, joyful and accepting.

Tart’s heart is full of passion, joy and curiosity. She is an adventurous dreamer who wants you to take pride in your sensual side and release your creative potential.

Come, enjoy, and leave filled with pleasure.

Tart Boutique
Granville Island
103-1551 Johnston Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9
Tel: 604 685 7755
info@tartboutique.com
www.tartboutique.com/

Guided by her son, Phyllis – an eighty-five year old hat collector from West Van, dropped by with a very special delivery. Her husband had recently passed on and in the business of downsizing she decided it was time to let go of some old companions. She carried with her two worn but cared for hat boxes from Vanité – a store on Howe Street long gone. What emerged from the box were some well loved hats. She coyly showed me each exquisite piece with a distinct mid-century style. Unusual shapes, weaves, fabrics, feathers and ribbons each holding the secrets to different parts of Phyllis’s life. As she rustled through some tissue papers her eyes watered when she revealed the pink piece worn on the day she was married fifty-seven years ago. It was easy to imagine a giddy twenty-eight year old standing in that forgotten store on Howe Street, plunging into an unknown adventure.

After a moment of nostalgia passed she took in the surroundings and was thrilled to see the display of hats we had, and the bustle of fellow hat lovers browsing for new treasure.

She left happy, having found the place to retire her old friends. I considered our hats around the store, each ready to embark on its own journey with a companion just about to walk through the door.

Edie Hats: A Passion For Hats
The Netloft, Granville Island
Vancouver, BC
(604) 683-4280
www.ediehats.com

If you find that your cologne doesn’t last long enough on your skin, try using a stronger concentration or combine layers of the same scent.

Cologne is the very lightest form of any scent. It has the highest concentration of alcohol so it disperses relatively quickly.

Eau de Toilette is slightly more concentrated – the ratio of perfume to alcohol is higher so while it is still a nice light way to wear a scent, it has more staying power than cologne.

Eau de Parfum is even more highly concentrated. This can be quite powerful and usually comes in an atomizer so that you can spray it in
a fine layer.

Perfume is the most concentrated form and is often very expensive. As
they say, “a little dab’ll do ya” – you really only need to use the tiniest amount. Perfume almost never comes in a spray. It would be
overwhelming.

Rather than using a lot of strongly concentrated perfume, you can extend the life of a scent on your skin by layering it. Use a soap, shower gel or bubble bath, and then treat yourself to a luxurious body lotion in the same fragrance. Finish off with a fine mist of eau de toilette and you will carry the scent with you for much longer.

Scents in their bottles don’t last forever either. Temperature fluctuations, and especially excessive heat, will cause them to deteriorate; destroying their complexity and making them smell a bit sour.

Your perfume will last a lot longer if you can store it in a place with a consistently cool temperature. If you like to display your collection, try to choose a spot that doesn’t get too warm in the sun. Keeping your scents in the bathroom is not usually the best choice.

Visit Edie Hats for an exclusive collection of unique fragrances you won’t find anywhere else. Try a beautiful gift set combining a fragrance with a lotion, soap or shower gel. Nothing lasts forever, but you can make the most of a good thing!

Edie Hats: A Passion For Hats
The Netloft, Granville Island
Vancouver, BC
(604) 683-4280
www.ediehats.com

I AM is an extraordinary clothing company from Belgium. It began with
a revelation of the magical randomness of the moment of conception –
when the fastest swimming sperm fertilizes an egg and sparks new life.
It is because of that moment that we can say “I am”.

I AM has matured through the partnership of two women who design
and make clothes for women. Everything is custom made exclusively
to order – the tailoring, details, and fabrics are outstanding and each
piece is lovingly dedicated to the expression of being in all its
individual ways.

As Sven says of Maya’s designs, “When a woman wears something
from I AM, she should feel good in it, she should take strength from
it. Then we have succeeded in our mission. It doesn’t matter if she
is 20 years old or 60, if she is size 36 or 44”.

I AM Jackets are available at Edie Hats in the Net Loft on Granville Island.

Edie Hats: A Passion For Hats
4-1666 Johnston Street
Vancouver, BC
(604) 683-4280

I AM Jackets, Skirts, Dresses, and Shirts are available at Qortezan in Yaletown.

Qortezan: Live Royally
1035 Mainland Street
Vancouver, BC.
(604) 685 7755

If you are like me, there is not much in the world more intimidating than the perfume counter at a big department store. It’s not just because of the incredible mixture of scents hovering in the air, though that’s part of it. It’s all those choices, all those special words they use, all those ladies behind the counter that seem to have access to some alchemical secret that’s … well … secret.

I recently had the good fortune to meet with Parise Yun, a perfume expert and representative for some of the unique scents available at Edie Hats. She shared some of her experience and wisdom with me and helped to demystify the art of choosing the right perfume.

First of all, most perfumes are fairly complex and have at least 30-40 different ingredients in them. Some have more than 100. All those ingredients are mixed together so carefully that they actually take 20 minutes or more to “settle down” on your skin so you can smell them properly.

The first thing that hits you is the top note. This is the first impression you get when you spray a perfume and it can actually be quite fleeting.

Next, as the top note disperses, the middle notes come through. This is the heart of the fragrance – a bit of everything that is essential to the perfume.

After about 10 or 15 minutes the perfume begins to “warm down” and the bottom notes begin to surface. These are often warm woodsy lingering components.

Chemistry is everything. Every scent will take on different characteristics depending on your skin and its acidity. Once you have waited for all these layers to emerge, you can start to get a sense of how it reacts with your body chemistry.

Here are some tips for trying a new scent.

When you first test a perfume, spray it into the air and then wave your hand through the mist. This way you won’t be stuck smelling like it all day if you don’t like it. It will disperse quickly and you’ll be able to wash it off easily.

If you think you’ll like it, spray it on your wrist. Resist the urge to rub it – that will mash up all the ingredients and they won’t get a chance to settle and develop in all their intended complexity.

Wait about 20 minutes before you decide to buy a perfume. It takes that long for you to know if you really like it. If you find yourself smelling your wrist for the whole 20 minutes, you’ll know it’s right for you!

Visit Edie Hats and let us help you find a scent you’ll adore. Our collection of exquisite women’s and men’s fragrances features unique perfumes that you won’t find anywhere else. And that means no more department store fragrance counters!

Edie Hats: A Passion For Hats
The Netloft, Granville Island
Vancouver, BC
(604) 683-4280
www.ediehats.com

Toronto-based Erazo is practically self-taught, gaining impeccable leatherworking technique by working for a fine leather furniture company. Inspired by the fine art of corsetry and the costume of classical ballet, she says that the ideal of perfect symmetry lies behind her corset belts.

Each individually crafted belt is a work of wearable art. Many are made from vegetable-tanned leather for beautiful tones of rich red, deepest black, and dramatic cobalt blue.

Perfect for any time of the night or day, try pairing a wide wrap belt with a long tunic or sweater and leggings. Match it up with a pair of striking high boots to really turn heads.

For evening, try a buckled corset belt with a simple little black dress for a sexy retro hourglass look. Pair it with a sleek pencil skirt and a delicate camisole for a stunning contrast in texture and feel.

Visit Edie Hats on Granville Island and experience the entire line of Susana Erazo belts. Perfect for the holidays, perfect anytime.

Also available at Edie’s new store Qortezan in Yaletown.

Edie Hats: A Passion For Hats
The Netloft, Granville Island
Vancouver, BC
(604) 683-4280
www.ediehats.com

Mad Men character, Don Draper

Chasing fashion has never been more exciting, as designers like Michael Kors create new runway collections based on the hit TV series “Mad Men”. The design department for the award winning series has fashionable heads turning to an era in which women were elegant and feminine, men dressed in slim suits polished with skinny ties and pocket squares and would never be seen without a handsome hat.

Mad Men character, Roger Sterling

With new items arriving everyday at both Edie Hats and Qortezan, you can bet the characters from the show would feel right at home if they were to come visit us. I can see “Don Draper” with a Magill fur felt grey fedora or a classic Biltmore. “Roger Sterling” would be dazzled at the new arrival of cufflinks by Bugatchi at Qortezan, a classic staple that every man should have in his wardrobe.

This show has brought back great fashion, reminding us why we love the 1960’s. As you search to recreate this classic style be sure to visit us soon.

Always a customer favourite, they are more than just a herd of pretty faces. Delux animal hats are manufactured in Nepal by a woman’s co-operative that is committed to equitable and responsible labour practices. Delux is making a huge difference in these women’s lives, enabling them to support their families with a reliable, competitive income. Delux even donates a portion of the proceeds from every animal hat to a local Nepalese orphanage.

These hats are already flying out of the store in flocks, packs and droves! Come in soon to take your own animal hat home or pick one up as a gift for someone special. They’re going fast!

View our Gallery of Delux Animal Hats on Flickr.

Edie Hats: A Passion For Hats
The Netloft, Granville Island
Vancouver, BC
(604) 683-4280
www.ediehats.com