Vancouver Fashion eZine - Online Magazine | Update

The Jacqueline Conoir collection and its designer RozeMerie Cuevas have had a hectic few months, but you would never know it judging by the poise and energy with which Cuevas greets me at JC Studio. Inside, employees are busy putting the final few items on the rack and preparing for the 1 p.m. "Saturday Fashionista Brunch", a weekly tea room-style fashion show and shopping event.

"Busy! Very, very busy," Cuevas says when I ask how things are going. In the last few months, JC Studio participated in and hosted an unprecedented number of fashion shows and events-the Ovarian Cancer Canada fundraiser, the What Wired Women Wear party, and the Valentine's Day casino night, just to name a few. On the fashion front, Cuevas has been adding more separates and gowns to the collection. The gowns in particular have elicited a huge response from JC Studio's clientele so far.

Ever since Cuevas founded the label in 1985, she has designed with a persona rather than a specific age group in mind. The "Jacqueline Conoir woman" is "confident, sensual, sexy, [and] elegant" but also embraces modernity. "She moves and shakes with the time," Cuevas explains. This modernity and enduring boldness are certainly apparent in Cuevas's SS09 collection. Along with the tailored suiting for which Jacqueline Conoir is deservedly well-known, the collection features pieces that drape and flow with ease. Grays and Boucle knits are prominent in the suiting, while day dresses, tie-waist halters, and tunic tops come in a palette of jewel tones and prints. But it's the gowns that are Cuevas's passion and the true show-stoppers. Floor-length, made of soft and gentle chiffons and printed with oversize florals and brilliant colours, they are equally suited to a Vancouver gala or a jet-set getaway to Brazil, Cote d'Azur, Rome, Milan, or Paris-the top five fantasy travel destinations in which Cuevas would like to wear her worldly, glamorous creations.

Looking ahead to FW09, Cuevas says that next season's collection will feature a neutral palette of grays, blacks, and browns, but with splashes of colour-teal, turquoise, cassis, and purple. Jacqueline Conoir fans can also expect brightly coloured coats, flowy silhouettes, and long tops that double as mini-dresses. Despite Jacqueline Conoir's emphasis on changing with the times, Cuevas's designs have a remarkable element of timeless about them, making a Jacqueline Conoir suit purchased this season a worthwhile investment several years down the road. This may be because Cuevas has never lost sight of Jacqueline Conoir's mission and clientele: "The Jacqueline Conoir collection I think has really evolved with women over the years and strives to bring high-quality clothing to the working woman."

Log on to www.jcstudio.ca to view the spring collection or reserve your spot in one of JC Studio's "Saturday Fashionista Brunches" (May 2nd, 9th, 23rd & 30th | 10am or 1pm). To shop the collection, drop by JC Studio (46 W. 6th Avenue) during their hours of operation and ring the doorbell, or make an appointment with one of the wardrobe stylists on staff.

(To read the previous article on JC Studios go to http://www.vancouverfashionezine.com/magazineissue09/fashiondesigner01.html)