Unleashing my inner wry sophisticate with OSKA

I'm a sucker for the daydreams that ooze from fine fabric, so when I find them in a thrift shop, I do a little happy dance. This time I ditched the dance and went full-on aria, as you'll see later, when the people who run OSKA boutiques in Canada agreed to my first-ever pitch to showcase some of their fall-winter line. They sell new clothing.

So yes, this is a sponsored post - so happy to do it! The fabrics, the colours, the cuts - you'll see why I couldn't resist. These clothes speak to my inner wry sophisticate. 

Sandra Bernabei was the photographer. So good.

Running on air in an OSKA coat, the Valina

I found out about OSKA at a fashion show at its West Vancouver boutique, as friend Barbara's +1. I didn't know about this label beforehand, but the clothes and air of camaraderie that night hooked me on the OSKA vibe. There is another OSKA shop in Canada, in Calgary, and it is sold at callidas in Edmonton. 

The models were customers and the audience was a fun-loving bunch of impeccably dressed women, which included many skilled sewers who can't resist the call of tantalizing textiles. 

A closeup of the fabrics I wore for this post.

Clockwise from top left: Xera hat, Vilma pullover, 

Vlada jacket, Valina coat, Xaveria gloves, Vamika trousers, Plissee scarf

These pieces are all boiled wool from mouline yarn exclusive to OSKA, except for the scarf, which is pure merino virgin wool, and the trousers, which are velvety soft baby corduroy. Luxurious all.

In the next photo, I'm a film star in an arty European romance, or think Dr. Zhivago without the snow and violence. I have an urge to speak to you in a foreign language, but with all this swooshy boldness at hand, we don't need words, do we, darling?

Conveniently, the drama level of these outfits is easily adjustable with the height of the hat. Me? I go full mast to accommodate my imagination and my tower hair. The hat is sturdy boiled wool with a cuffable ribbed brim. And there is a cute loop on top.

Koi looking for snackies

OSKA's designs are edgy, have a sophisticated Euro/Japanese twist, and even dreamier fabric than most labels I am familiar with. They are definitely a step up the chain. And the layering possibilities are endless.

In this next shot, I feel securely wrapped and snuggly warm. Chic. Successful with flexible quirk. Mysterious. When I'm not starring in a European film, I'm on my way to the gallery or my PR firm or mon petit chalet.

Xera cap

I wore the coat open and wraparound blanket style for these photos, but it has three front press-fasteners too (seen in first photo). The wide sleeves can be cuffed; I prefer bracelet length. And there are two oversized patch pockets.

And then presto - the whole vibe changes when I switch coats to the Vlada jacket in Jasper with its front zip and a hood that looks like a very wide collar when it's down.

There's also a better view of the trouser's complex seaming which creates that cool silhouette. The trousers have a front zip and elastic back, and you know what that means, don't you? - partay at the buffet!

The pullover is light OSKA-boiled wool, toasty and ultra soft. Those are my own shooties and socks. And of course I'm wearing my magic loupe by O (see sidebar).

Vlada jacket in Jasper, Vilma pullover and Vamika trousers in Merlot colour

The baby corduroy trousers have a Prince-of-Wales print and stressed edges (just like me!)

Sandra and I had lots of fun on this shoot, which was no surprise. I tried to puff out the hood in a version of Alien lite, but it kept collapsing into enhanced normalcy.

Below is the jacket zipped with the hood down. Check out the line of the trousers.

And a little Obi-Wan Kenobe action from the original Star Wars - I'm old-school that way. We thought I should levitate, so I did.

The zipper on this coat goes all the way up, sort of an infinity zipper, which is extremely handy if you're having a bad hair-and-face day. I hope you don't need this feature, especially if you're driving, but I think the zipper is an excellent playful and distinctive detail whether you use it or not. 

The gloves have a ribbed cuff for adjustable length, and the palm side has double padding. These would be awesome Christmas gifts! Fer real - not because this is sponsored.

Finally, as so often happens when I'm inspired by the coloratura of my clothing, I burst into in aria in the lobby of this building. But what's that?! Suddenly I noticed the pianist was missing, a vexing problem when my appoggiatura (the singer starts with a wrong note then slides into the right one) tends to get stuck at the starting line.

Every few bars I ran over to play the piano myself - opera back-and-forth style. It's a new thing. The piano is a Fazioli, the best there is. Any other brand I would not deign to touch. In fact, the sign there telling me not to touch this one too was a tremendous excuse to exercise my mastery at air-piano. It's an art.

Some people are born with great clothes; some have great clothes thrust upon them; and, some achieve great clothes. Well, these clothes were too late for the birth thing, but it's definitely a combo of the next two. A big win-win collaboration.

I love OSKA, and I know that those of you who are feeling restless with your wardrobe, especially if you tend to dress on the quieter end of the scale, would love the soft slap and wrap these clothes would bring to your style. 

And for those of you elsewhere on the scale, you can mold these pieces any which way, as I did, in the lap of luxury, darling. Now excuse me. My agent just called and said Hollywood wants me to star in a documentary based on Florence Foster Jenkins. Who is she? (HERE)

That's all. If you want to know more about OSKA, check these links: Vancouver Facebook, Vancouver OSKA, Calgary OSKA, Calgary Pinterest, Calgary Facebook, and callidas in Edmonton.

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I'll link up to Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb, #iwillwearwhatilike, when the time comes. Of course I'll join Judith at Style Crone for her Hat Attack #52, November. How could I miss that?

Regular programming will resume in the next post. Mwah!! I'm just trying to keep things lively. We all need a kick in our baby corduroys from time to time.