Jonathan + Olivia Do Main Street

Climate often dictates what we put on before streaming out our front doors.

For the northwest fashion crowd, this usually means comfy, casual and outdoorsy clothing reliable in rain, sleet, snow and sunshine.

For Jackie O'Brien of Jonathan + Olivia on scenester Main Street, it's her love for fashion and forward-thinking clothing labels that dictates not only what she wears, but what she carries in her conceptual boutique. With Vancouver continually growing both in size and in style awareness, Jonathan + Olivia has quickly become the go-to boutique and Vancouver portal for European and fashion-forward items since its October 2005 debut. Jackie, with ten years industry experience, carefully edits her roster of labels without alienating any new or loyal clientele, making Jonathan + Olivia the perfect hybrid between bourgeoisie and street. There is an open friendliness about the boutique -- you'll always find Jackie and her team lending a helping hand and a discerning style eye. European brands -- both Swedish and Parisian -- carried at the store meet the needs and wants of Vancouverites who crave fashionable comfort with an edge, and who constantly seek a refreshing alternative to style mass production. With space renovations currently underway, Jonathan + Olivia is not only the place to shop, it's the place to be.

It's no small observation that a large core of design genius is coming by way of the Netherlands, particularly Sweden (hello, Ikea and H&M). Jonathan + Olivia's Swedish roster includes below-the-radar Cheap Monday, denim leader Acne Jeans, national award-winning Whyred, critic-favorite Filippa K. and avant-garde Velour.

Paris, as a major fashion city, helps mandate international fashion. French labels, despite an established heritage, constantly look to the future for design inspiration. Jonathan + Olivia's Parisian roster includes easy-to-wear Vanessa Bruno, casually chic Isabel Marant, funky La Prairie De Paris, rock-fused April 77 denim, sister label Martin Margiela 6, music-inspired men's label Surface To Air and its darkly romantic women's collection Estuay.

But by far, the boutique's number one draw is O'Brien's bulldog Estelle, who makes the best door greeter of them all.






I'm Lovin' it: My job. And nanaimo bars from the cafe beside Jonathan + Olivia. Bad for the diet, good for the sweet tooth.

I'm Over it: Taking buses on rainy days because they -- and some people -- are really, really smelly.

Film of the Day: This one is easy, folks. Go see 300. Everyone else is doing it.







* Photo property of jonathanandolivia.com, chud.com