Exactly where the climax of a career in TV & Film hits is relative. And upon first meeting, Krista’s down-to-earth sincerity belies her soaring perch in our Hollywood North. Her name tops a colossally impressive imDb list – which includes credits for AMC series Fear the Walking Dead, Warcraft, iZombie, Proof, Final Destination 5, Disney’s Descendants and The L Word – and you might not ever have guessed it, had you not caught the focussed glint and forward keel of her speech.

We’re sitting in one of Atelier Campus’ vast glass rooms, where Krista is sharing with us the career that has been tetris-packed into her years since graduating from Blanche Macdonald’s Makeup program. And as with all TV & Film stories, there are delightful deviations of plot to be had too...

“Sam Elliott is a total icon, and he has a beautiful moustache that is almost equally iconic. And I had to trim it the first time that I met him. All I could think was, ‘Please don’t let me be the person to ruin Sam Elliott’s trademark ‘stache!’ ” laughs Krista who, thankfully, left the actor’s golden feature intact.

“It’s important to stay grounded through it all, especially with TV & Film. Maybe you make up some celebrity types but that’s not really what the job’s about. It’s just an aside. It’s not why you’re there.”

So why is she where she is, a hurtling force of the industry, pruning the big screen elite? Together we rewind.

“I fell into TV & Film in the best possible way. I had already gone to University and done a degree in Sociology, had done a lot of traveling, had lived in London, England. And when I went back to Saskatchewan, where I was from, I decided that it was just too small and moved to Vancouver. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life at that point so I started taking a lot of art classes and it was actually a drawing instructor that suggested a career in Makeup for me.”

Krista’s indecision-fuelled leap to Canada’s Top Makeup program was one that would inform the artist that she is today. By the time she left Blanche Macdonald’s halls, she was eager to write Makeup into the next chapter of her life.  

“I use everything I learned at BMC in my work. It gave me a foundation of knowledge on which to build upon, and gave me confidence to go out and try to achieve a career in Makeup Artistry.

“I had to make it work. And I did. If Makeup is what you see yourself doing, then you have to throw everything into it, give it your all. I know that’s a cliche but it’s completely true. When I graduated, I really focused on print and fashion initially just to build my portfolio. I was lucky that at that point I fell into a group of people who were producing a new magazine called Butter, which was a big local fashion publication in the early 2000’s in Vancouver.”

The experience came full and fast, and Krista took it all in eagerly. As such, she was a hot spot on the roster radar for Lizbell, then a fledgling collective of artists, now a world-renowned premiere boutique agency. She whisked about the fashion scene as a represented Makeup and Hair Artist in Vancouver, and in Toronto with The Artist Group for five years. Working creatively within the this world was a dream for Krista, who had always admired it from afar. And some years later, she happened upon her chance to make it to the very core of Fashion’s culture.

“I was in Hawaii shooting a print campaign for the Sheraton Hotel, working with my friend Tania Becker (who co-owns Moods Salon and works on virtually every major fashion show in all four central Fashion Week cities) and I was telling her how sometime I would love to work on a Fashion Week show. She said, “Jon Hennessey is keying a show in New York next month, you should ask him if he needs any more people for his team." And that was that!

“The designer was Raif Adelberg, and it was a menswear show that [Blanche Macdonald Fashion Makeup Director] Jon Hennessey designed and keyed. The look was savage and slightly tribal, and it was a really fun and exciting experience.”

This was 2012, and back at home, Krista had already been making big climbs in the world of TV & Film as a full member of IATSE. During her years signed on with Lizbell, she had begun taking on student films and commercials between editorial shoots. As soon as she had enough credits, she applied for her Permittee Status with IATSE [International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts], worked her 90 IATSE set days and was sworn in as a Full Member. The full time Union gigs rushed in.  

“In the beginning, when you’re not as established and people don’t quite know you yet, you have to take jobs in a quicker succession just to make those connections, get that experience and get your name out there. Day calling is great for that. Working on The Chronicles of Riddick really helped me establish a lot of connections. I met so many Makeup Artists just by working on that one show. But that’s also a part of the battle because once that show’s wrapped, all of the artists split off to work somewhere else; if you’re someone that stood out in your work and in how you worked with your team, they’ll remember that and call you back when they need help on their future shows. So building up your reputation and those relationships is so important.”

Of all such relationships forged on Krista’s first heavy-hitting day call, there is one that brings out the most sparkle in her voice; it was on set of The Chronicles of Riddick that she first worked “out in the real world” with fellow Blanche Macdonald graduate and Associate Makeup Director Jennifer Folk.  

“I love Jen – she’s honestly been my biggest cheerleader and I can’t thank her enough for that. I really looked up to her as a mentor; when you’re new, you observe people and how they work. It’s important to step back to watch the people around you, watch what it is they’re doing, to try to emulate those good qualities. Jen was really sweet but firm; she knew what there was to do, made sure it was done and did it all in such a nice way. I had incredible respect for her.

“I worked again with Jen on The L word and then, for Painkiller Jane, she gave me a huge opportunity. She was asked to go to Europe to shoot but the timing wasn’t going to work with her. She put my name forward to go to Budapest, Hungary for two months. It was awesome.”

Since then, Krista’s name has rarely needed introduction. With over two dozen credits under her belt, and a sweet-meets-steadfast demeanor, Krista has become a choice call-up on big league sets. One Head of Department even proclaimed Krista as their “absolute favourite First Assistant!”

“I was working on the Fear The Walking Dead series before going on to X-men Apocalypse and that was pretty cool, with all the buzz surrounding it!

“Had you told me when I was still in Makeup School that I’d be doing what I’m doing now, 15 years down the road, I would have been overjoyed. It is exciting, but you always want to stay humble. I feel very fortunate to be working as a Makeup Artist for TV & Film. It is really difficult but it’s also possible; the main thing is to have perseverance.”

Difficult and possible, high demand and high reward – the tough realities of a career in TV & Film is not something that Krista gleans over, even if she does love what she does.

“It can be a real eye opener when you start. I remember my very first IATSE day call was 21 hours long. Day one, had never set foot on an IATSE set, and I didn’t leave until 21 hours later. I thought, ‘OK, this is what it is.’ Since that time I don’t think I’ve ever done a day that long, but there are people out there who will have those hours.

“We have to do a lot of creative improvisation in this job too. When I was working on Warcraft, we were shooting with a lot of facial hair. For one group we’d hand laid a lot of crepe hair because we had been told that they would be in the deep background. Of course, at the last minute, these people were brought to the front and these pieces that weren’t finessed for tight camera range were going to be up close. In this sort of situation, you have to make adjustments on the fly to make things camera ready. You have to keep sharp and always watching what the shot is because it’s often not going to be what you’ve been told.”

And yet, the rush, the push and an element of improvisation suits Krista well, both on the job and off.

“I really love the variety of my career. I love that we don’t have a regular schedule. I can’t even imagine having only three weeks vacation a year, or whatever it is that most employees have in their jobs! Traveling is a super important part of my life that I do a lot of when I’m between jobs. I’m usually trying to jump a plane to go somewhere!”

No matter how enticing the faraway is however, Krista always finds herself coming back to Vancouver, settling back into the day-to-day adventure of her career.

“We have uber talented crews here in Vancouver, and I’ve heard the same statement coming from a lot of teams coming up from the States or from out east. The talent pool here is stellar, I’m really happy to be a part of it; to learn within this group of peers and mentors.

“As I’ve gone further in my career, there are only more people that I’ve aspired to work for, that I have worked for and still hope to work with, to add to my list. My goals are to keep learning from the people in this city who are at the top of their game.”

Kindness under pressure and humbleness in the face of well-mustachioed stardom have made Krista mentor herself to those starting out in the TV & Film industry. For some, it may seem she’s reached a climax of her career, but the moxie to bring her bold personal visions into being has made Krista’s climax ever-rising.

“I’ve learned that it’s important to set your own goals, and that you can achieve them if you name them to yourself or to others. If there is something you want to go after or if there is something that you would like to do, I do believe in the power putting it out there. Because people remember. If something comes up, people will remember that and pass it along. It’s using the power of networking and the people that you know.

“You have to keep your ego in check. Nobody knows it all and it’s fine to not know everything. If you have a bit of success, just keep going with it. Don’t think you’ve reached your pinnacle because there is no pinnacle. You set your own ceiling.”

“Artel, in Russian, means an association of artisans living and working together. We brainstormed a whole list of names but I really felt that this summed up what we were about. We’re all artists, we’re all independent but we’re also a family. We’re a team, we all learn together and we’re under one roof,” says Eliza Trendiak proudly, glancing about her sun-soaked empire. The Blanche Macdonald Pro Hair graduate ushers us about the polished concrete and vaulting space surrounding, giving us the grand tour of her newly opened Artel Salon.  

Plump succulents scatter about countertops and pastel-packaged product blooms from the walls. The rustic salvaged wood coffee table (hand-crafted by a friend) jostles warmly with rich textiles, coaxing you to plunk down on the couch and make snug with a magazine. Nestled into the niche hubbub of Fraser Street for only a few months now, Artel has already become the neighborhood’s favourite hair haunt-meets-hang out, with a constant flow of clients chattering through the door.

Eliza is a natural Entrepreneur, but then again, she’s been self-starting since before she can remember.

“My family has always made fun of me, saying that I came out of the womb trying to start a business. As a kid I did lemonade stands, dog walking, sold cucumbers on the side of the road... you name it and was trying to start a business with it,” laughs Eliza.

It was no surprise to her parents then when Eliza declared that she was leaving her native New Hamburg, Ontario to go to the School of Business at Trinity Western University in BC. What did come as a surprise to Eliza was that she wasn’t 100% satisfied with the path that now lay at her feet.  

“I didn’t want to end up working in an office. At the time I was doing my dormmates’ hair and I just loved it. A friend told me that I should do what I wanted to do because I was going to be waking up and doing it every day. I took that to heart, so I graduated university and went straight to Blanche Macdonald. 

“My sister and one of my best friends went to BMC for Fashion Marketing and the quality of their work attracted me to this school from the get-go. Blanche has one of the longer Hair programs in Vancouver, twelve months as opposed to six months; I felt that if I was going to invest in my education, I wanted to spend the most time I could learning. And I loved that Blanche Macdonald had a Business program built into it, as well as Makeup and Hair for TV & Film; you could really get a taste of everything. I wanted to come out of school feeling prepared. Blanche just seemed to be the right fit.” 

It was. Eliza took to the program like a curl to heat.  

“My group was awesome! We prided ourselves on being loved by the instructors. There was a lot of bonding through the intense practical exams and I still keep in contact with some of the girls from my program. I went into hair school like, ‘Oh, I’ve done an undergrad, this is going to be easy,’ but I’d be out in the hallways with the rest of them afterwards just exclaiming about how intense it was! It was a really great experience.”

It was during the Pro Hair’s Work Experience program that Eliza was introduced to Style Lab Headquarters, and by the time her internship had come to an end, they were already at a loss with what they’d do without her. They hired her on to their roster of independent stylists, and the four years she would go on to work there would inform the trajectory of her career. 

“I love the idea of being independent and working for myself, but also within an environment of like-minded people that I could learn from. When I was thinking of opening a salon, I thought about getting a small studio by myself, but that didn’t appeal to me. I’ve always learned so much from working with other people. Style Lab totally opened my eyes to that and I feel really blessed to have only ever worked in chair rental salons. I run the structure here at Artel very similarly.

“One of the coolest things about being a chair rental stylist is that my clients have always had a direct connection to me – they’ll call me or text me on my cell, whether it’s to book an appointment or to joke back and forth about ridiculous hair photos. There’s never been a middle man. That that makes it really personal. It’s crazy – I actually still have some clients that first started coming to see me at the Blanche Macdonald salon. They have followed me all these years, from being a student dreaming of opening a salon to working at Style Lab and Beaute Salon to now opening my own salon in reality. I really feel that these clients have made the journey with me.”

Even with an appointment book brimming with eager salon clientele, Eliza still found the time to take on a side project; she and her lens-wielding power-couple-other are the team behind one-stop-shop personal photography collective Trendi Creative, which has been sassing-up and snapping Vancouver since 2012. 

“It started as a life partnership; Rob was working in the film industry while we were dating and it was a really difficult lifestyle to pace, to have any kind of balance. We got married and literally two weeks later he quit his job. It was terrifying. But I thought, ‘I’ve been running a freelance business myself, so I know that we can do this.’ We came up with the concept of Trendi Creative on the flight to our honeymoon. We would be cross promoting each other.”

Launching Trendi Creative succeeded both in pushing the artists into new heights of awareness, and in whetting Eliza’s appetite for entrepreneurship. She wanted more of it, and with her ever-growing list of loyal fringe followers, she knew that her salon ownership aspirations were now within reach. 

“I’ve always been interested in real estate, and for two years I had been searching online for potential spaces, always keeping my ear to the ground. I had even written a full business plan so that I would be ready.”

She’d been daydreaming about this since she first began Hair School. And when 3558 Fraser Street popped up on the market, Eliza was ready to pounce. 

“The exciting part is just seeing all of these ideas and Pinterest boards come to life! I really wanted to create a space that felt like you were coming into someone’s living room, a place you’d want to curl up in and hang out. We had all of these ideas going in and we would wonder how we were going to make it all come together, if it was going to look right.  

“I’m incredibly proud of this space, proud of the stylists here and of the culture that I feel is forming. As much as you want to plan out what you want a vibe to be, it’s something that grows organically. And I’m really proud that people have told me that when they come in they feel welcome.”

It only takes a moment, the distance from door (which greets you with a golden ‘hello’) to the lounge of Turkish throw pillows, to ease into the chic friend’s living room vibes, but they didn’t come easily. 

“Oh man, were there some trying times during the renovations! There was one week where I probably cried every single day, it just felt like one hang up after another. I was still working full-time at Beaute Salon, coming here before and after work every day to keep on with renovations. Not being a builder or a contractor myself, I didn’t understand why some things were taking so long and just really wanted to be open. There were definitely some times in the middle of it where I questioned if it worth it, being so stressed and tired. But once we opened our doors, it was kind of like having a baby, how you forget all of the pain once it’s finally here. I’d go through that ten times over for what I have now!”

There have been a lot of firsts for Eliza in opening Artel. For a stylist who has been so proudly independant throughout her career, the transition to having a roster of stylists depending on her launched a steep learning curve.  

“Being on this side of things now, I have so much more understanding and gratefulness for my previous employers. Oh man, now I totally get why they did some of the things that they did! 

“A lot of my hiring process was laying out clear expectations, being honest with every one of the stylists, saying, ‘Hey this is my very first salon, this is my first time being a manager; I’m going to make mistakes. I’m learning as I go but let’s learn together.’ I want the channel of communication open.”

Eliza may be new hand in the Boss Lady business, but she knew what she wanted and what she was looking for in curating the Artel team.  

“For me, it was really really important when I was hiring stylists to look for a level of professionalism. Looking not only at their work but their vibe and what they put out there on social media; maintaining a level of professionalism inside and outside of the salon. I was looking also for a warmth and a welcoming because I wanted Artel to be an approachable space. 

“The level of professionalism was one thing that was instilled very early on in Blanche and something that I still value. This is a very personal industry, but you always have to maintain that level of professionalism in the way that you dress, with your language, with your topics of conversation. You really never know who’s sitting in the chair beside you and you never want to make anyone else feel uncomfortable. Just because you feel comfortable in a space doesn’t mean everyone else does. You should always keep that at the back of your mind.”

Eliza has done a lot of learning throughout her career and now, moving into this next big step, she has a lot more to come. The culture of constant education that she has surrounded herself in up to this point is one that she is eager to carry through to her own salon. 

“I’ve learned to be more transparent and vulnerable with other stylists. When you first start out, there’s this constant fear that you don’t know what you’re doing – because you really do have little idea of what you’re doing. And sometimes there’s this pressure to appear like you do. As time went on, I learned to be more open about when I was struggling with a colour formulation, or when my client wanted something and I wasn’t sure where to start. Being humble enough to ask other people for help. The more open you are, the more other people are open back and that sharing of learning and being able to carry each other along has been huge. 

“Surround yourself with people that are willing to teach you, that you look up to, whose work you want to emulate. I’ve been blessed to have worked with some really incredible stylists and I would constantly pick their brains, watch them and learn from them. That is invaluable.”

Artel Salon is an exercise in balance: organics play with industrial in the decor, team success supports independent success, and each plays their part as mentor and mentored. It is professional and it is intimate. And just like Eliza herself, Artel is both savvy in business and rich in warmth. 

It’s early still, but Artel is already slated to be up there with the best of them in Vancouver’s thriving salon scene and Eliza is doing it all herself, in her own way. The new day begins as the first client arrives, and Eliza leaves us to claim the hours with the same fire that brought her here, from chair rental stylist to owner of her six-seat, sun-slicked hair empire.    

“Be hungry, stay hungry. When I was in school every person that I saw on the bus was a potential client. It’s an easy industry to get into, but it’s not necessarily an easy industry to stay in if you’re not hungry. You have to work hard, put in the time and you have to really want it.”

The internet – the final and ever-expanding frontier of, well, everything. These Blanche Macdonald SUPERstars are storming the boundaries with a visual vengeance and boldness in voice, as mega-influencers on the World Wide Web. They are bloggers, vloggers, Insta-stars and Facebook friends to millions in the online community. They are beauty gurus, style mavens, entrepreneurs and artists. They are doing what they love, doing it with passion, and sharing this passion the world over, often making of it a killer career. Want to know what it takes to make it, and make a difference online? Take a leaf from the feeds of our #BMCSOCIALSAYERS!  

EASY FOLLOW FOR: Kit goods gluttony, fiercer than fierce shadow techniques and eye-popping pigments to pour over. 

Bold beauty with an urbanite bite – Blanche Macdonald Makeup graduate Starrly Gladue’s creatives hurtle through your feed with eye-pummeling pigment, and flawless flicks of liner that slice through rich hazes of hue. Born into the small community of Beaver First Nation in Northern Alberta, Starrly’s star has risen with its trail close to her roots, empowering Native Youth through her journey on the up. She daylights as a Makeup Artist at MAC Cosmetics at Edmonton, and illuminates the insta-sphere with sumptuously saturated glamour and tip-offs to tip-top product. THE Jeffree Star, mega makeup icon and generally fabulous human being, once reposted one of her chroma-tastic looks. Oh, and she once doused models in glow-in-the-dark paint for a Riff Raff rap video...

MEET STARRLY! 

You bring focus on the fact that you are an Aboriginal Makeup Artist – what is the importance of this to you?

I’m proud of my cultural background, and there’s not a huge amount of Aboriginal Makeup Artists out there, so I like to represent and prove what we’re capable of. And I also want to inspire Native youth, and show them that you can pursue your goals and dreams, no matter where you come from.

One thing that we love about Instagram is that it has given rise to these amazing online communities – people engaging and sharing with one another, giving shout-outs etc. Do you consider yourself a part of an Instagram or social media community?

Yes for sure. Instagram is an awesome place to gain inspiration and connect with other makeup lovers. I’ve connected with so many amazing artists from all over the world, and it still blows my mind that people have taken interest in my work and choose to share it. If it wasn’t for Instagram and the artists involved in these communities, I wouldn’t have the large online following that I have today.

How do you approach a face?

When I’m working with a client I first talk with them and determine their overall vision, then I assess their features and decide what colors and techniques will look great on them. I think it’s most important to communicate and find out what it is they love about makeup. 

Go-to Makeup technique?

Glamour is probably my favorite style to do. The process of transformation is amazing to me, and I still get excited when clients want to glam it up.

Your current top 3 kit favourites / must haves:

MAC Studio Fix Fluid is my favourite foundation (for normal to oily skin). It’s long-wearing and leaves your skin looking flawless without feeling too heavy. Anastasia Beverly Hills liquid lipsticks have been my fav lately too. They’re matte and last all day. I love them for weddings! And I recently bought Inglot black gel liner, which is amazing because it’s super black and waterproof.

What are some BMC tips that you still use to this day?

My first BMC instructor taught us to always blend everything and pay attention to detail. Unblended makeup is not cute, and those little details can make or break a look. Blanche always told us to be on-time for everything too, even if it’s a volunteer job, it’s still important to be professional. Also don’t burn bridges in the industry, for example, you never know if a makeup assistant that was below you will end up being your boss one day.

How did you come to study at Blanche?

I was living on my reserve in Northern Alberta and had no idea what I wanted to do after high school. One of my teachers gave me an assignment to research my top three dream jobs and Makeup Artistry was one of them. I found Blanche online, I applied and was accepted! I moved to Vancouver six months later.

What is your daily social media routine?

I always check Instagram throughout the day, replying to comments and scrolling for inspiration. I try to post makeup looks at least a couple times a week, and I mainly post on my IG and Facebook fan page.

What makes for a great feed? ie. your Top Tips for IG:

Having good quality pictures makes it that much better. Post original looks, be creative, and be yourself. Also, engage with your followers!

What sort of camera/editing program do you use for your photos?

I use my Canon Rebel t5i for most photos, and sometimes my iPhone 5s. For editing, the Facetune app is my go-to, and/or Photoshop to adjust coloring. I try to keep editing minimal and as natural-looking as I can.

What’s the most empowering thing about running your Instagram platform?

For me, it’s inspiring others, which is one reason why I always share which products I use. I love doing bold looks to show people that you can have fun with your makeup. It’s my creative outlet.

If @starrlygladue could be described as a recipe, the ingredients would be:

Colour, creativity, glam and passion.

Your favourite follows (accounts/blogs/vlogs/personalities that you love):

@JackieAina is my fav YouTuber. She keeps it real and has amazing skill and knowledge. @Amrezy was one of the first IG artists to show me love. She does the most gorgeous looks and has un-real fashion sense. I also love @Sugarpill, their makeup line is made up of vibrant colors and they share insanely creative looks. And last but not least, clothing boutique @CrownTheQueens; I’m obsessed with streetwear and Queens kills it for the ladies.

Favourite places to look for inspiration?

Instagram, Pinterest, and Beautylish are great places to look for inspiration. And a lot of times I'll go through my own makeup collection to draw inspiration from colors and textures.

Your #MVF, Most Valued Follower?

I don’t just have one, there’s so many that show love!

Weirdest personal beauty phase from the past?

I think we all had an “ugly eyebrow phase.” There was a point in time when I used to tweeze my brows to as thin as humanly possible. Then, a few years later, I would use black eyeshadow to fill them in...lmao.

First time you were recognized ‘on the street’ by a follower?

It was literally on the street one night in Edmonton; he was so sweet and told me he was a fan. It’s awesome when followers approach you – when you can connect with them in real life.

Most influential person you've met?

I was fortunate enough to have [Blanche Macdonald Fashion Makeup Program Director] Jon Hennessey as an instructor at Blanche. I also had the opportunity to work alongside [Blanche Macdonald Makeup graduate and] Celebrity Artist Andrea Tiller, and had the chance to meet beauty vlogger Jackie Aina. All amazing artists I’ve been able to meet that are influential and definitely worth checking out.

Coolest Freelance Makeup job you’ve ever done?

One that stands out is a music video I worked on for Hip-Hop artist RIFF RAFF. I did glow-in-the-dark makeup for all the UV scenes. It was such a fun project to be a part of, and it challenged my creativity (which is always a good thing).

Biggest risk you’ve ever taken?

When I moved to Vancouver by myself at 18 years old so I could to attend the Makeup program at Blanche. It was my first time there and I barely knew anyone, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I also achieved a Fashion Marketing Diploma a couple years later while in Vancouver, so it was a great move for me.

Proudest moment?

Honestly it has to be graduating High School, because I thought I would be another drop-out. But I’m happy I pushed through it because I wouldn’t be where I am today.

When I was younger, I got caught up in the partying lifestyle, running away from home... I let it affect my schooling. So graduating high school was an accomplishment because it gave me a huge confidence boost and I felt I could pursue anything after that. If I wasn't in school I wouldn't have found and applied to Blanche. And Makeup school was a breeze for me because it felt right and I knew I’d found my passion.

Five years down the feed dream?

I’m not sure where I want to be in five years... I just want to continue to inspire others.

Motto in artistry? Motto in life?

“You can never stop learning” and, “dreams don’t work unless you do.”

On a crisp, clear November night, under the glorious art deco dome of Vancouver’s historic Permanent Building, a new pack of Canadian and International design talents introduced themselves to the fashion world with brilliance and boldness at The Places in Between, the 2015 Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Graduate Showcase.

The Permanent Building, a converted bank built in 1907, provided a suitably spectacular setting as work from 32 new designers literally stepped out of the vault in front of two audiences of friends, family and Vancouver’s fashion elite. 

For Blanche Macdonald Fashion Director and The Places in Between’s Creative Director Tyler Udall, the combination of a special group of students and a magical venue was always destined to create an unforgettable night.

“We really pride ourselves on transforming spaces into fashion friendly venues year after year,” explained Tyler. “It’s great for students and all the attendees to experience these unique and special spaces in such a celebratory way. When we first saw the beautiful century old vault door, we instantly knew that would be the start of the runway. That was our point of departure and we built the rest of the logistics around that element.”

Led backstage by the multiple powerhouses of Fashion Department Director Peggy Morrison, Fashion Marketing graduate-turned-Vancouver-stylist extraordinaire Lacey-June Berry, Key Makeup Artist Tim Hung and Key Hairstylist Lisa Callendar, teams drawn from Blanche Macdonald’s faculty and classrooms did the impossible, successfully putting on two different shows in one evening.

“This is the first we’ve done the Friends and Family Show and the Media Show on the same day,” smiled Peggy Morrison at the night’s conclusion. “Somehow we did it, throwing shoes on the girls at the last minute! Everyone loved it and it all looked beautiful. 

“Lacey-June Berry was styling the show and she was a pleasure to work with. I worked with her as the voice of the students. I discussed their visions with each of them so I could reflect what they wanted with the styling.   

“This group has been amazing. They’re really great people. We loved them all and are so sad to say goodbye.”

The Places in Between was only an adieu from Tyler, who will be continuing to mentor a handful of students after graduation.

“There were students this year who, for lack of a better word, wowed me,” he continued. “The kind of potential I saw in at least three students this year is the kind of potential you might come across a few times in a career. Garret Elphee made a collection that, with complete sincerity, is worthy of Comme des Garcons status. Every once in a while, Rei Kawakubo inducts a new designer into her house. With the right development, Garret could certainly be worthy of that kind of success. When I see designers like him, Maxine Siperko and Lindsey Kapitzke, I get very excited to think about where they will be in ten years. I should buy a crystal ball already!”

“Tyler could tell that I’m driven and that this is my passion,” agreed Maxine, one of his select protégées. “He knows I take this very seriously and wants to see what I do next!

“I’m really glad I chose to come to Blanche Macdonald. The instructors treat you with a lot of respect and care about you personally. It’s one year, but that year pushes you to your physical and mental limits. If you make the right sacrifices you will succeed. It taught me so much. Being taught by Peggy Morrison – the stories and information she shared – was inspiring. And Tyler is a great Creative Director. He knows this business inside and out.”

Adorned in rattlesnake vertebrae, silk, grommets and the hard cut of mirror, Maxine’s collection showed exquisite dexterity between strength and softness, and an outstanding sophistication in tailoring that won her one of two shared Awards for Overall Achievement. The black leather coat, trimmed with horsehair and cleverly placed parades of studs, wouldn’t be out of place on a luxury boutique rack, or tossed over the shoulder of a particularly chic CEO.  

“I was inspired by the strong and independent women in my life that work so hard to battle and conquer the world around them,” she continued. “I researched different cultures’ mythology and folklore constructed around warriors, powerful female figures and female deities. This collection hints at the contrast and balance of light and dark, soft and hard, masculine and feminine.”

The other Award for Overall Achievement went to Lindsey Kaptizke, who also took home the Award for Best Portfolio. Her collection, Luxury Lunacy, was a revelrous fantasy that balanced waggish gestures (latex jackets and acid fringe swinging from shoulder tops) with beautifully executed silhouettes. The true showstopper of Lindsey’s blitz of looks, however, was the underlying artistic process that brought them about, inspired by the work of cult English comedian (and half of The Mighty Boosh) Noel Fielding. 

“Noel Fielding is such a beautiful creature!” laughed Lindsey. “There is so much colour in his latest show. I love laughing and making people laugh. I tried to incorporate those ideas into my work. I wanted to create an experience for the audience who watch the show, with an instant reaction of joy or laughter when it’s received. That’s what I love doing. 

“My year at Blanche was so artistically challenging. At first I was worried that my ideas would be too out there. I was very hesitant on the day that we were presenting our mood boards. But the exact opposite happened. Everyone seemed so excited about the concept. Tyler pulled out his phone, took a picture of my board and said ‘I have to take a picture of this because Noel Fielding is going to love this.’ It blew my mind that one of our instructors had such incredible connections. There are brilliant professionals here who have worked in the industry for years. They’re resources I wanted to take advantage of.”

Another double award-winner was Joy Nickerson, who took home prizes for Garment Construction and Pattern Making. Taking off from the feed sack patchworks of Depression-era quilts and rising up through the dawn of Hollywood glamour in the 1930s, Joy’s collection earned its technical clout through complex geometries of pattern. Her standouts were a quilted lattice over a golden starlet slip, and an impeccably tailored pant with demi skirt overlay, fastened about one hip like the warm remainder of a midday doze. 

“I’m a very technical person,” confessed Joy. “I wanted to come to fashion school to learn pattern making, so this was perfect for me. Brenda Swinglehurst really pushed me. She saw something in me and I think that changed my life. At one point I was trying to change a design from how I’d originally drawn it. Brenda told me that I couldn’t. She said I needed the challenge of constructing it to my original design. I tried to reach Brenda’s standard and I think it paid off. Challenging myself to complete that garment proved to myself I could do anything.

“I’m hoping to start my own pattern making company for home sewers. That’s part of what I want to do. Although I’m already working as a Teaching Assistant in pattern making and garment construction at Blanche. Our classes finished on a Wednesday and on Monday I was introducing a new class to pattern making.”

For Maryam Niyazi, her Honourable Mention for Pattern Making Award was the most recent step on a journey that began in Afghanistan and went through London, England before finding a home at Vancouver’s top Fashion School.

“My year at Blanche was amazing,” insisted Maryam. “I learned so much in such a short amount of time. I’d taken three years of a Fashion Degree in London out. I feel like we did three years work in a year here. There were tears, laughter, everything!”

Taking inspiration from ‘Sacred Geometry,’ a conceptual force that unites nature and architecture, Maryam’s collection took on grand forms in the vaulting eave of a peplum and in the sharp cascade of origami folds which framed the back of a top. Ruby diamond shapes scattered about the face of a dress woven from lambskin leather hinted at the invisible mathematics behind beautiful design. 

“I wanted to bring the modern and the traditional together in my garments,” she continued. “My heart was racing before and during the show. I was excited for all of my classmates. I’m so proud of everybody and how we worked together.”

It wasn’t just Blanche Macdonald’s Fashion Department that had reason to be proud of The Places in Between. The night was also a triumph for the Hair and Makeup Teams, with the latter led by graduate-turned-instructor Tim Hung.

“When Tyler approached me to key the Makeup for the show he already had an idea where he wanted to go,” recalled Tim. “He gave me some reference images that were very colourful; the same colours we’re using for the show today. I just took it a bit more abstract. 

“Of course, I wanted to use the best artists on my team. So I asked the team at CurliQue Beauty and the instructors I work with at Blanche – Win Liu, Jaylene McRae, Mimi Choi and Vanessa Wong. I also reached out to the Makeup department and recruited some great grads so they could experience what’s always an exciting night. The number one thing for me is to ensure everyone has a really good experience together. We were able to have fun with the look. It was like a painting class!”

Catching inspiration from David Bowie, vintage tribal photos and the simple fact that so many models had beautiful long locks, Blanche Macdonald instructor Lisa Callendar keyed a Hair Team made entirely from current students.

“When Tyler sent me reference images, I got a feel for early 80s Bowie and 90s grunge. Not messy like a next morning walk of shame,” she clarified, “but too cool to care. 

“We had two groups for the two shows and everyone had a blast. One group is only halfway through the program, so this was their first fashion show. I wanted to have fun as well as be creative. This is a different skill than working behind a chair in a salon. You’re working with a creative director here, so you have to be able to take constructive criticism and make changes quickly. We have a great creative director in Tyler and I have great students. I want to inspire them to continue on this path.”

The success of The Places in Between was a tribute to the hard work of the students and staff at Blanche Macdonald, with special mention due to the inspirational leadership of President Lily Lim, the endless efforts of Executive Program Director/Show Coordinator Peggy Morrison, Executive Program Director Donna Baldock, Fashion Director Tyler Udall, Career Director, Fashion Department Mel Watts, the expertise and support in the Sewing and Pattern Labs of Instructors Brenda Swinglehurst and Jenny Hedberg, and creative catalyst Lisa Gellert. Special thanks must also go to Instructors Carlie Wong, Mariana Prins, Maneli Nourbakhsh, Rose Aiello, Emmanuel St. Juste and Wanda Sustersich, Lab Assistants Kari Appelquist and Hana Chiang, Creative Director Kelly Schmidt, Social Media and Marketing Manager Natasha Eng, Social Media and Marketing Coordinators Laila Fox, Rheanna Miller and Allie Samborn, Graphic Design Assistant Esther Chaye, Instructor and Backstage Coordinator Lyndi Barrett and the team at Heth PR.

Infinite gratitude too, must be given to the backstage team, led by Peggy Morrison, along with Lacey-June Berry and a team of volunteers from the Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising programs. While instructors Tim Hung, Lisa Callendar and Simona Gozner and their volunteer graduates and students from the Blanche Macdonald Makeup, Hair and Esthetics Departments ensured the models looked as spectacular as the collections. Thanks also to our fabulous emcee Jaylene McRae and DJ Hana Pesut (Sincerely Hana) for providing an amazing soundtrack to the night.

The entire team at Blanche Macdonald would also like to extend its sincerest gratitude to our corporate sponsors, Make Up For Ever, Oribe, Dermalogica, Embryolisse, Aldo & Aldo Accessories and Town Shoes, along with huge thanks to our colleagues at CurliQue Beauty for putting our guests’ goody-bags together.

For more photos of each collection, click here to be directed to the official Blanche Macdonald Facebook album.

Full List of Fall 2015 Fashion Design Graduates and Award Winners

Overall Achievement: Maxine Siperko and Lindsey Kapitzke (tied) 

Pattern Making (tie): Joy Nickerson and Alsi Katerina Bozdag (tied)

Pattern Making Honourable Mention: Maryam Niyazi 

Garment Construction: Joy Nickerson

Garment Construction Honourable Mention: Chloe Prusa and Sadife Bakar Carne (tied) 

Illustration: Sierra Lundy

Design Innovation: Caitlyn Bellavance

Portfolio: Lindsey Kapitzke 

Fabric Innovation: Garret Alexander Elphee

Sadife Bakar Carne

Zuleika Castro

Sissi Chen

Adam Fawcett

Doris Helena Granados

Caitlin Hall

Robert Higgins

Nikita Ann Hynes-Wall

Esther Lee

Kady McCappin

Jeanette Macdonald

Sheena Naicker

Elora Santos

Sabrina Specht

Irina Warkentin

Karen Yun Wu

Living the dream is dually exalting and exhausting. And when we reach Jayme Miller, dream-liver and Blanche Macdonald Fashion Marketing emigre, she’s happily sprawled at the end of a long day of research, catching a bit of rest in the soft light of her London flat.

“We’re researching for the cover story for the next issue of AnOther Magazine. It’s really special actually because it’s our 15th anniversary – so the 30th issue – and it’s all about celebrations and parties and I’m really excited about it. It’s cool to be a part of! And it’s being shot in Paris,” says Jayme, her poised drawl taking on a definitive note of excitement.

“Every day I am working with the people that I look up to so much – there’s Jefferson Hack sitting a few seats behind me. It’s all in the day-to-day but when I actually think about it, it’s not normal.”

Jayme’s day-to-day is anything but run-of-the-mill. As Assistant to the Fashion Director of AnOther Magazine, she is not only sharing floor space with editorial legends such as Mr. Hack (who co-founded Dazed Magazine at the age of 19, and later AnOther) but is being mentored by world-renowned stylist and Gareth Pugh confidante, the impeccably cool Katie Shillingford.

“It’s kind of hard to say what a typical day is because it’s really different depending on what we’re doing. The past few days have been the same thing – chasing requests, following up on things – which is nice, but then it’s nice also to know that next weekend I’ll be going to Paris,” laughs Jayme (indeed, we think). “It’s kind of the best of both worlds.”

In the year since Jayme – a Kelowna, BC native at the cusp of an earnest 20 years – completed her Fashion Marketing training and hopped the plane to London, she’s been not only exposed to, but completely immersed in worlds that a very select few ever become privy to: fervid and whirring worlds like those pressed into the pages of elite print, or tucked away behind the backdrops of Fashion Week. Her very first London editorial set teemed with legends like photographer Pierre Debusschere, fringe phenom Alex Brownsell, beauty babe Isamaya Ffrench and (of course) Katie Shillingford. And she had her first taste of London Fashion Week for this past SS16 season, tailing this latter editorial master through the realm of runway styling.  

“Temperley London was such a good experience. Katie couldn't actually be there for most of the day before the show, as she was doing final prep for Gareth Pugh, so Isabelle (another assistant) and I had to do a lot of the castings and fittings without her. It was quite stressful but a lot of fun too. I got to meet and talk to so many of the amazing models that I always saw in magazines which was really cool. That night we stayed at the studio until three a.m. which seems late, but apparently that was the earliest they had ever finished on the day before the show!

“Temperley was right after Topshop Unique on the show schedule. Three of our girls were walking in Topshop’s show which, of course, was late and we had to wait for them to arrive before we could start. When they finally did, the whole show team  had to simultaneously do their hair, makeup, nails and dress them. Someone was even feeding one model a brownie at the same time! It was insane.

“People from all over the world come to see these show so there’s a lot of pressure, and a lot of etiquette that I didn’t know about. I was very comfortable doing editorials but runway was a bit scary for me. Even still, it all went really really well and it was a lot of fun.”

And that’s just the thing about these ‘fabulous’ first rungs of London’s Fashion scene – the unrelenting pace that propels this wondrous blitz that “we,” the readers of magazines and oglers of shows, celebrate demands a headlong canter of learning and hard work. Jayme admits that it took her some time, when she first arrived, to catch up to London’s clip.

“I was so so close to coming home. It was an amazing experience interning at AnOther but it was really tough. And the combination of having no friends, not knowing my way around, that everything was so expensive, different and not understanding all of the accents was difficult. But it was so amazing to work with those people.

“Almost everyone at AnOther now has interned there at some point. It’s the same at Dazed. Interning really is so important. That’s the way that most people get hired because if they know that you’ve already been there and know how it works, it makes it that much better because they won’t have to show you the ropes.”

Even through the scrape of starting afresh and alone in a new country, the energy of London swept Jayme off her feet. She excelled in the remainder of her AnOther internship and continued on to an equally momentous stint in the offices of OBE (that’s Order of the British Empire) holder, legendary fashion and portrait photographer, Mario Testino.

“The people that work at Mario Testino + are so nice, so talented and I learned a lot. What I did there primarily was image research and a little bit of casting. Mario likes to shoot up-and-coming socialites and celebrities so I would do a lot of research on Instagram finding cool good-looking people doing interesting things. The image research was great; he’s very specific about the references and it was really good to learn how to do the research for an aesthetic that didn’t naturally come to me, to get out of my comfort zone a bit.”

The friends she made at Mario Testino + whisked her about through London’s rich ecosystem of galleries and art fairs (day trips to Frieze, and the like) in the off hours and she finally fell love with the city. But it was one day in particular, after this internship had also run its course, that Jayme thinks upon most fondly.

“My happiest moment was when I found out that I was going to be Katie’s assistant. She took me and her previous first assistant, Isabelle, out for lunch and said, ‘I would love for you to be my next assistant if you would be interested.’”

The answer, of course, was a resounding yes. Fresh out of Fashion school and Jayme had secured a paying job with one of the world’s leading stylists. The days that have since ensued are just as dreamy as you might imagine, spent hopping about sets with names she’d fancied and followed for years. And even for Jayme, who had played a prominent part in Vancouver’s fashion styling scene, the professional set held much opportunity for excitement and growth.

“I love being on set, it’s the best part. It sounds so cheesy to say, but just being around all of these amazing creative people who are there to make something really cool, putting their talent into making an image, is so amazing. It’s incredible to be around people who are so passionate about what they’re doing, and there are so many of them on set. It’s important to know who to speak to, who’s doing what; there are the producers and the agents, the models and all the assistants, and you think it’s just photographer, stylist, makeup artist but then they have three or four assistants and then there might be some interns as well. You have to know who everyone is and how you can help each other.”

Jayme is one of a team pulling the reference images that go on to give form to each story (a job that ‘necessitates’ regular dips into Central Saint Martin’s mind-blowing sea of art books), a prepper of shoot details (think casting and liaising with the offices of Valentino) as well as Katie’s vintage goods envoy.

“Katie really loves to use vintage pieces. We have a really strong list of pull spots: common ones like Beyond Retro, and really nice ones like Rellik, where they’ll have archive Westwood pieces from the 80s. There are places like The Contemporary Wardrobe where you can rent things as well. I love that part of it. As an assistant I get to have a lot of input with vintage pieces because Katie will send me to the shops. She’ll tell me, ‘Look for something like this.’ I love it when I pull something and we end up shooting it!

“For the shoot with Tilda Swinton, shot by Glen Luchford, in the last issue of AnOther I pulled a vintage white cotton t-shirt from House of Vintage in London. It was one of those nice soft t-shirts that are way overpriced in vintage shops. This one even had stains in the armpits and holes around the collar, but it was perfect for the grungy rocker theme of the shoot and Tilda wore it very prominently in one shot. In the last issue I pulled some nice vintage silk scarves from a shop called Modes and More and one of them was shot in the story by Katie and Benjamin Huseby!”

To put it simply, Jayme has come a long way. Prior to Tilda, dusky vintage expeditions and luxuriating in the London scene, Jayme Miller was a young Kelowna tomboy langoring in Arts & Social Sciences studies at UBCO, impatient to get her life started and wondering what to do. She wouldn't guess then that Blanche Macdonald's career team would help secure her the internship of a lifetime - she only needed a firm direction in which to hurtle her will.

“I was just really excited by the tour, I thought it was great. I was happy to hear that the Fashion Marketing program was only a year because I was so eager to start my life; I just wanted to get going.”

“I was just really excited by the tour, I thought it was great. I was happy to hear that the Fashion Marketing program was only a year because I was so eager to start my life; I just wanted to get going.”

She wasted no time in making moves and great impressions with her instructors.

“Peggy’s classes of course, were a favourite! She’s a legend. I loved those classes so much. I was so into it that, in my spare time, I would keep on researching everything she spoke about.

“One of the best parts about going to Blanche was the styling I was able to do outside of the classroom; it really got me out of my comfort zone. I was quite shy and quiet and felt really uncomfortable reaching out to people before. Styling really helped me with that. It helped me build my aesthetic, and I would learn stuff every time we shot. Even just knowing of the collaboration between the team and how that works has been helpful for me out here. I relished being able to create images that I loved.”

Since Jayme has moved to London, she’s decided that perhaps Styling, though she does excel in it, is not the thing for her. There are daydreams of creative direction for down the road but she’s really too busy absorbing the wonders brimming over in her current position as Assistant to a truly extraordinary woman, and the learnings to be had in the creation of a new life.  

“It sounds so cheesy, but just seeing how I’ve evolved as a person and how much stronger I’ve become being here without my family, building a life for myself. I came here with next to nothing and now I have friends and a place to live and a real job.

“I’ve learned so much. I almost feel like a different person.”

And she has a ways to go yet. Under the brilliant sweep of Katie Shillingford’s experience, tossed into the interminable flurry of Fashion’s core, there can only be more exhaustingly phenomenal experiences on the zenith of Jayme’s career, and in the next steps of her ever-expanding world.

“Take a big crazy step. Take a big crazy step and just go for it, or it’s never going to happen. So many of my friends at home say, ‘Oh it’s so cool that you moved to London, I wish I could do that.’ Well, you can. Why not? People are worried about missing out on stuff at home but sometimes you just have to go do something crazy, start a new life somewhere. And you can always go back.”

It’s not where you’re from. It’s where you’re at.

Few people illustrate this maxim better than Blanche Macdonald Pro Hair graduate Zachary Skyler Jackson, whose journey has taken him from a village on the Northern British Columbia islands of Haida Gwaii to one of Downtown Vancouver’s busiest and most fashionable salons.

“It was awesome growing up on Haida Gwaii,” explains Zachary, relaxing in the bustling surroundings of in.Salon, his creative and professional home for the past two years. “I just knew I wasn’t an island boy. My hometown, Masset, has two streets and about 900 people. I loved cities and fashion was always an outlet for me, which mainly meant MTV and the magazines I could pick up when I went to see my Dad in Prince Rupert or visited Vancouver.”

Zachary isn’t looking at the fashion world from the outside any more. As a key member of the team at in.Salon, photo shoots and fashion shows come with the territory. Located in the heart of fashionable Yaletown, in.Salon does more than pay lip service to its tagline of ‘Vancouver’s trendiest salon.’

“in.Salon and our sister salon is.Salon both contribute to Brilliant, Vancouver’s annual hair and fashion fundraiser. We play big parts in the Wella and L’Oreal shows too. So at least a couple of times every year I find myself backstage at a fashion show. It’s pretty different from working in the salon when you have to get a dozen people on stage in half an hour. It’s hectic but exciting. The energy backstage at a fashion show is incomparable. It’s always cramped but everyone is having a great time.”

As much as Zachary enjoys his forays backstage, he insists that even his adventures in high fashion don’t compare with the connections and creativity he encounters every day at in.Salon.

“I really love my co-workers and the space I work in is amazing. But my favourite thing is seeing someone walk out the door knowing I’ve made their day a little bit better, having talked to them and made them look a little better.”

Connections are special for Zachary. He understood how relationships are the heart of the hair business before he even came to Blanche Macdonald.

“I was working as a receptionist at a salon before I moved to Vancouver. That started me thinking about hair school. Once I started researching it was clear that Blanche Macdonald had the best reviews. My Mom and I went to the Downtown campus. It was super busy and an interesting environment to be around. Being in Downtown Vancouver, coming from Haida Gwaii, I couldn’t begin fast enough. Six months after I graduated high school I was starting Hair School.”

What Zachary lacked in experience he made up for enthusiasm and, thanks to his instructors, a quickly discovered confidence. 

“I have a brother, and it wasn’t like we braided each others’ hair growing up. Everything was new to me. Those first hands-on experiences were a little terrifying. I can remember my first men’s haircut, being helped by Jeff Ranger. I was using clippers and it just came naturally. I became comfortable pretty quickly. There were only seven of us in our class, so we had a lot of individual attention from every teacher. I was with Marcy Hodel for the TV and Film program, which took me out of my comfort zone. I definitely felt prepared by the time we graduated.”

Zachary was prepared. His first job straight out of Hair School was in Kitsilano’s Propaganda Salon. One short month after he arrived he was cutting, colouring and seeing his own clients on the salon floor.

“Propaganda was on the edgy side compared to here in Yaletown. Everyone working at the salon had tattoos and crazy hair, so that brought in a mixed clientele. Which was very different to clients we see at an extensions specialist like in.Salon. I was there for four great years, but when they tore down the building I realized it was time to move on.”

Thinking about a fresh challenge in a new location, the solution arrived before Zachary had even started searching.

“One of my co-workers at Propaganda started working at in.Salon and she referred me to the boss, Erin Moore. I was welcomed with open arms! I’d always wanted to work in Yaletown. It’s Downtown and always busy. And it only takes me 20 minutes to walk to work.

“At least 90% of my clientele followed me here. I was worried at first that people wouldn’t want to trek all the way Downtown to see me, but I’d built relationships with my clientele and it turned into a pretty easy move. Clientele and friendship mesh together. I hang out with a lot of my clientele outside the salon. It’s not just a hair stylist-client relationship. When you spend an hour together once a month you can get pretty close with people. That’s as rewarding as the work itself. They’re concerned about my life and I’m concerned about theirs. It’s not like they’re just coming in to get a haircut, even though they do get a great haircut! Sometimes I look around and see what I do for a job and cant help but feel blessed.” 

Zachary’s clients feel the same way, especially the many coming to take advantage of his expertise in extensions.

“At this salon in particular I’d say about 75% of our clients ask for extensions. Because of the Kardashians everyone wants thick, voluminous hair. And you can’t blame them! I first learned about extensions at Blanche Macdonald. Now I do a lot of tape-in extensions. It’s creative and a lot of fun. Erin, our boss, is a tape-in extension educator across the Lower Mainland. When I moved here I knew she was the Queen of Extensions. That’s important, because you want to constantly learn something new. You never come to work and feel like it’s stagnant. Even if you’re doing the same types of haircuts or styles, you’re constantly inspired by new products or new ideas about doing things. There are amazing people to learn from here. I’m only 25, but I have six years of experience under my belt now. I’m happy to help apprentices and co-workers.”

Eagle-eyed readers might have noticed Shaw TV’s Fiona Forbes among Zachary’s portfolio shots. He won’t mention it unless you ask him, but his celebrity clientele list is slowly growing.

“Fiona Forbes isn't my client but I do her hair from time to time,” he insists. “She's such a sweet heart! I've been on set at Shaw TV to do her hair. There are a number of Real Housewives of Vancouver that I style every once in a while. They’re lovely! Matt Webb, the drummer from Marianas Trench, has also been a client of mine. Really nice guy! So down to earth and chill.”

Although Zachary is unlikely to ever stop seeing clients – he loves it too much – it’s only a matter before that passion for sharing knowledge takes him on the next step of his professional journey.

“I’d love to be an educator, maybe for a product line or even at Blanche Macdonald! Erin teaches the team here on a daily basis, and she teaches extensions on her days off. Seeing someone who is so passionate about passing on her knowledge shows that it’s one of the best things you can do. I’ve done some styling classes already. I just need to build up the nerve to stand in front of a room of 30 strangers!”

Jennifer Folk’s students instantly realize that they’re learning from one of the very best. As one of Vancouver’s most respected on-screen makeup artists, Jennifer’s remarkable résumé includes movies like The Chronicles of Riddick, X-Men 3, Slither, Mr Magoo, White Chicks, The Santa Clause 2 and TV series The L-Word, Tru Calling, The 4400 and Painkiller Jane. 

But inspiration is a two-way street. And Jennifer insists that her biggest makeup thrill is the work she sees on a regular basis as an Instructor and Associate Program Director at the school were she once studied; Blanche Macdonald.

“I’m blown away by the work that comes out of the artists here,” she beams. “I love those moments when you can hear a pin drop because everyone is so focused on their work. I love to see students’ work go beyond their own expectations. There’s been a new level in creativity over the past year. A few of my students graduated and went straight onto set. That’s amazing!”

If Jennifer is able to help students exceed their professional expectations, it’s because she’s been exceeding her own since she was a young lady growing up in North Vancouver, when friends coming over after school would inevitably be on the receiving end of a makeover.

“I loved the colours and different textures,” she recalls. “My grandmothers saw it was a passion of mine and nurtured it. They’d buy me big makeup trays from Sears and I would tan, blush and bronze my friends. Everything could always be washed off and it kept me out of mischief, so my family was happy!”

Once the teenage Jennifer had read an article in Elle about the makeup artistry behind the fashion industry, she knew her passion could turn into a career.

“You could do makeup for a living?” she laughs. “If I need to have a job, I’ll take that one! I took private lessons from Fay von Schroeder, who’s now one of our instructors. She’d been to Blanche Macdonald and had an amazing resume. Fay was getting busier and busier, so she started passing photo shoots to me. I found a modelling agency and started doing makeup for test shoots and brides. I wanted to learn more and every Makeup Artist I met told me the same thing – go to Blanche Macdonald.”

Blanche Macdonald’s reputation as Canada’s top Makeup School was already entrenched by the 1990s. Jennifer wasn’t going to waste the chance to learn from the very best, even when her artistry didn’t always flow instinctively.

“Some ideas I understood instantly. Other things needed study, practice and tweaking. Whether I had a friend’s face or just my hand, I was always working on something. I was committed to studying, practicing and making a career in makeup a reality. I soaked up all the lessons and demonstrations. I was always excited to come to school and see what we would do each new day.”

Her training at Blanche Macdonald led Jennifer to her first full-time makeup job. Which, not incidentally, led to more opportunities.

“A position at Act One came up, which was the only professional makeup store in Vancouver at the time. I was only there for about a year, but I met all the Makeup Artists working on the Vancouver shows. People like Victoria Down, Patricia Murray and Jayne Dancose. This was before online shopping. If you needed something for your shows, you would come in and stock up. When I started doing day calls and would show up on set, people would say, ‘Hey, aren’t you the girl from the makeup store?’”

The makeup store girl began working regularly for CBC and BCTV (which later changed its name to Global) bringing her talents to the channels’ news and hockey coverage.

“I would look after the broadcasters when Hockey Night in Canada came to Vancouver. I had Prime Minister Jean Chretien in my chair. He didn’t like a lot of powder. Seal was cool to meet. Yes, he is sexy in real life.

“I applied to the IATSE union because I wanted to work in films and eventually I got that phone call. I was super happy.”

Once Jennifer had joined IATSE the TV and Film jobs came thick and fast. Feel free to ask Jennifer about her incredible résumé. There are many tales to be told.

“One of my first shows was Mr Magoo. The Head of Department was Sandy Cooper, who was very kind to me. I did a little bit of everything. You’d show up each day and not know what you’d be doing until you arrived. It was a comedy, so everything was funny and light. Comedies are always fun because everyone’s in a great mood. Zach Galifianakis is pretty much the same character you see on screen. I was his Makeup Artist on Out Cold and Tru Calling. He’s eccentric, dry and will say anything. He had me laughing every day.

“One of my favourite effects came when I worked on Slither. Monica Huppert was the Head of Department and Todd Masters was working on the effects. That was a campy horror by James Gunn, who went on to direct Guardians of the Galaxy. We had many long nights out in different farms. You’d show up and see what needed to happen. And it would always be fun. We had these slither slugs that would fit in the actors’ mouths and look like they were going down their throats. I remember taking a massive syringe, the size of my leg, filling it with this methyl cellulose jelly and having to slime around the actors’ faces at three in the morning. I looked like I’d been in a mad butchers shop.

“I love being part of the creative team that delivers the look. The whole department made that believable to the audience. That’s the story told on our part.”

At Blanche Macdonald Jennifer does far more than share stories. Part of her job is ensuring that graduates’ makeup skills are matched with their ability to fit into high-pressure professional situations.

“It’s more than just doing the artistry,” she insists. “You need to know when to be quiet. You need to be adaptable and be ready to jump in while knowing when to stand back. You need to anticipate what will happen next. Set etiquette and detailed breakdowns of what to expect are important parts of the program.”

Jennifer spends less time on set these days, splitting her time between her roles as Instructor, Associate Makeup Program Director and full-time Mom. Teaching TV and Film Makeup and Special Makeup Effects, experience and enthusiasm come as standard every lesson.

“I love keeping up to date on the latest products and techniques. I’m always reading articles, researching, talking to friends on set and going to guest lectures. My friends on set keep calling asking if I’m available so I’ve turned down a few films and TV shows over the past year. But this is my time to be a Mom!”

That maternal quality carries over into the classroom, where students discover an instructor that supports and pushes them in equal measure.

“When I came here I was a shy student. So I take the approach that the majority of people are shy and that’s ok. I try to create a safe environment where people can be themselves. It’s ok to make mistakes. We’re working towards becoming better artists. At the same time, I’ll always stress how essential it is to be punctual and have a makeup station that’s clean and set up perfectly. If I don’t set the standards, how are students to know? I want my students to get jobs and callbacks. Being a great artist isn’t enough. You have to embody so much more.”

She’s created glamour and gore and hung out with movie stars, but for Jennifer, there’s nothing quite as exciting as providing and finding inspiration on a daily basis.

“I’m very grateful,” she smiles. “I love my job!”

With thousands of artists soaring into our halls from around the world each year, our classrooms have become dynamic global communities under the unitedly diverse banner of our Blanche World – a United Nations of creativity! In a glorious culture clash, our International students import a vibrant collection of new customs, insights and inspiration that colour our world in exciting new ways. The leap from their home countries to our corner of Canada comes with big change, courage and incredible journeys. Speaking in the international language of passion, we sit down with our global talent to talk the dreams that brought them here, the challenges they overcame, and all about the power of being an artistic representative in a new country. Meet the burgeoning stars that have joined us from around the globe in our UN storytelling!

Wachirawin Ariyanankul nearly didn’t make it to his first day of classes. Awaiting his Visa application to be processed, Win trekked through the Bangkok heat to the Canadian Embassy every single day, and those days ticked by, inching closer to the deadline of everything he had dreamed about. Finally, success! His Visa was approved. He hopped a plane from his native Thailand to Vancouver, and less than two days later – not time enough to shake his jet lag, let alone settle himself into a new country alone – Win stepped into the halls of the Blanche Macdonald Centre.

“I am so proud and very very excited. I have never lived outside of my country; I’ve only been on vacations around South Asia and never for more than a week. Vancouver is my first big city. I LOVE VANCITY, yahoo!”

We are every bit as enthusiastic as Win. Everyone who has since had the pleasure of meeting him has been blown away by his artistic grace and gratitude in learning, and that’s to say nothing of his makeup. A novice, Win certainly was not when he joined us in the International Co-op Makeup program at Blanche Macdonald; he left Bangkok as one of his city’s most renowned emerging artists. He came here to humble himself in the face of new knowledge, to learn the planes of the Western face, and continue to strengthen his professional clout.

Win had always been artistic, spending much of his free time drawing, but it was one bit of artistry in particular that caught his eye and kept it still; tagging along on a job with one of his Makeup Artist friends, he was mesmerized by her brushstrokes, by the transformation that followed the bristles’ dance. He wanted to create beauty like this.

Win enrolled in the Makeup Technique International School (MTI) in Bangkok, where his innate talent attracted the eye of the Headmaster, Mr. Montri Wadlaiad. When Win graduated, Mr. Montri, a highly-reputed artist in Thailand, took Win under his wing and straight out onto the sets of the local TV & Film industry as his Assistant Makeup Artist. It wasn’t long before Win won over the hearts of Thailand’s premiere starlets, becoming the glam go-to for Maythavee Weiss (Miss Supranational Thailand 2010), Parnlekha Wanmuong (Miss Thailand World 1985) and singer/actress Thunyarat Trisuttiwong. Montri became more and more impressed with Win, and soon decided he was ready for the prestigious world of Khon.

“Khon is a Thai traditional performance art which, in the past, was limited to palace presentations. Currently, the Khon makeup is designed by my mentor, Lecturer Montri Wadlaiad. He has consulted with performance art specialists in the creation of the most appropriate design. He took inspiration from Thai paintings. 

“The Royal Khon makeup shown here was from the performance sponsored by the Foundation of Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit of Thailand. It is organized once a year and lasts almost a whole month! I had the chance to join the team as a Makeup Artist for the past two years. I am very proud of myself to have had such an opportunity, to participate in one of the greatest performances that exists in Thailand.”

Win has been making waves in Vancouver too. In his short few months here, he has managed to make friends of top cultural players, beautifying the likes of Carmen Ruiz y Laza for her Joy TV show and pop band The Katherines.  He’s become a favourite to call up as Assistant to Pro Artists (and Blanche Macdonald graduates) Shaina Azad of Suva Beauty and Bollywood glamour authority Farah Hasan. He was even selected as a Makeup Artist for Vancouver Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2016 season – we really couldn’t have imagined a more perfect fit (neither could he). And throughout each new experience, he’s only been making more connections and propelling himself forward in the local sphere of interest.

“Whenever I work with another artist I make sure to trade contact information with them. I have also used social media platforms to connect, such as the Blanche Macdonald Models Needed and 604 Vancouver Models & Photographers pages on Facebook, and modelmayhem.com.”

Even with Win’s professional savvy and natural charms, it hasn’t been easy; the communication barrier has been something to get used to.

“I did learn basic English in my country, so I could speak it a little, but not very well. Everything was very difficult at first. I am lucky to have friends who help me. Alina, my roommate from Russia, teaches me how to improve my written English. My teachers from Blanche Macdonald have been very helpful too. Also, every night I try find the time to study myself.”

Challenges taken into account, Win’s unshakeable ambitions and initiative in all aspects of learning led him through a powerful three months of artistic development at Blanche Macdonald.

“I liked all of my classes as they were all new and exciting for me. Although, my favourites were Airbrushing and Fashion Makeup. I can see myself working in these fields in the future. It ws a great opportunity to have Natacha as my Airbrushing instructor – she was so nice and talented!

“I’ve been so excited to have this opportunity to explore new knowledge, from such a distinguished and reputable institute. It’s located in such a great environment too – Vancouver is one of the best cities to live in.”

Word quickly spread of Win’s warmth and willingness to share, making him the classmate to call on for extra tidbits of tips. It also made him a beloved addition to Blanche Macdonald’s CurliQue Beauty Boutique Work Experience program. Q Talent Leader, and fellow Blanche Macdonald graduate, Jaylene Tyme thinks fondly upon his time spent on the floor with the CQ team.

“Win is an artist that encapsulates the spirit of grace. His beautiful personality has been a joy to have at CQ headquarters. Win was always there to lend a helping hand and make sure that our clients were well taken care of. Open to suggestion, Win really loves to absorb information and inspiration from fellow artists. Everybody he meets falls in love with him!”

The feelings are certainly mutual.  

“I love the CQ team! I am so glad to have worked with them,” enthuses Win. “There was a lot of teamwork, funniness and craziness. They supported me and developed my knowledge of product, how to sell, how to take care of the customer.”

With less than a month to go until the Co-op Work Experience portion of his stay wraps up, Win is taking in as much as he can, coming by CQ every so often for hugs and updates on his latest cosmetic ventures. He may be soon leaving, but he has been inducted into the Blanche family for life.

“Since the very first minute I have been at Blanche Macdonald, I have been given many valuable memories. The courses were interactive, have fulfilled my will to learn and will be very beneficial for my future career.

“Even though I am far away from home, Blanche Macdonald has made me feel warm and I will remember it as a good time. I am so grateful for all of my instructors, from both BMC and MTI, for guiding me, inspiring me, and teaching me how to become a Professional Makeup Artist.”

Moving ahead, Win hopes to make it, and make magnificent new things, in the world of Fashion, and perhaps even to become a Makeup mentor like those he has so cherished over his years of learning. What is certain is that when Win does make his homecoming, Thailand will be regaining a truly wonderful member of its artistic community, and Vancouver will be a little more beautiful, a little more inspired for what he has left in his wake.

“I would like to continue my career in Thailand, to return there and share all of the knowledge and experience that I have discovered here in Vancouver’s beauty industry.

"KOB KHUN KRUB!" Thank you. 

For aspiring Makeup Artists enchanted by Fantasy and Science Fiction Makeup Effects, Kari Zantolas transforms classrooms into prosthetics-filled candy stores. Students at Canada’s top Makeup School immediately understand that they’re learning from one of the very best; a star on the teams on internationally beloved sci-fi productions, excelling in the roles of Head of the Prosthetics on Andromeda and Makeup Department First Assistant on Stargate Atlantis.

“I have a lot of passion for this,” smiles the Blanche Macdonald graduate-turned-instructor. “I love seeing that passion in my students and watching it drive them forward. I give them the tools they need, the opportunity to learn what I learned, and it always amazes me to see what they do with that. It’s incredible when students come back to Blanche Macdonald and tell me what they’re up to. There’s a sense of pride that comes with knowing I’ve made a difference in someone’s life.”

From Blanche Macdonald classrooms to sets of TV shows and movies like Scary Movie 3 and 4, Battlestar Galactica, Harper’s Island, Dark Angel, Mysterious Ways, Once Upon A Time, Life As We Know It, Reunion, Doing It, Little Man and White Chicks, Kari has been making a difference for two decades, ever since she decided to make the move to Vancouver from her native Ontario.

“I spent most of my youth dancing, singing and acting in musical theatre,” she explains. “I graduated from Sheridan College with a Musical Theatre degree. I wanted to start acting in film and my agent in Toronto suggested that my best bet was to move to Vancouver. So that’s what I did.

“Working as an actress in the theatre there were many times when I was responsible for my own makeup. I was the girl that people would ask, ‘Can you do mine too?’ I had knack for it and I liked it. I was auditioning in Vancouver but nothing was panning out. I thought if I could contribute to another aspect of the industry, I could still audition on the side. I really enjoyed it, so why not Makeup?”

Blanche Macdonald’s reputation as Vancouver’s best Makeup School was already established by the mid-1990s. For the actress who had enrolled to add another string to her artistic bow, classes were little short of daily revelations.

“It completely opened my eyes! I had some experience, but I really didn’t know much about it. I didn’t understand the concepts of makeup before I came to Blanche. I’d been doing makeup for a while, but suddenly I knew how to do it properly. That made a huge difference. I loved how these simple products on a table could transform the person in front of me. You could alter the shape of someone’s face with a brush and some beautiful colour.”
 
Having temporarily put acting on the back burner, Kari’s first task after graduation was turning her newfound skills into paying jobs.

“Getting a full time job was my full time job,” she laughs. “I felt that I was ready. I wasn’t just sending résumés. I was visiting production companies, asking to speak to someone, handing them my résumé and then following up. I was letting people know who I was. I thought that the opportunities I volunteered for would eventually lead to paid jobs, and I was right.”



It wasn’t long before Kari’s talent and persistence led her to be the first option makeup artist for productions companies filming music videos for artists like Bif Naked and Swollen Members, and commercials for major brands like Ford and Mattel. Kari wanted bigger and better, working her way into the ACFC union and sci-fi and fantasy shows like First Wave and The Immortal. Having acquired the on-set hours to join the IATSE union, the door opened for a position on the team for NBC sci-fi hit Mysterious Ways. There was no stopping her.

“The long hours didn’t bother me. I was young. I had energy. I loved it! I was waiting to get on the big shows!”

Kari had become an established member of Vancouver’s TV and Film Makeup community, but she wanted more. Having studied at Blanche Macdonald in the days before prosthetics were part of the curriculum, Kari decided to teach herself. Much to her landlords’ chagrin.

“I lived and breathed horror movies and wanted to be as well-rounded in all aspects of makeup as I could possibly be. I knew how to contour a face, but I wanted to know how to turn someone into a demon. I was reading books, watching videos and trying to figure it out myself. I kept blowing stuff up in my oven trying to figure out how to cook foam latex. I was continually upsetting my landlords! I was making a lot of mistakes, but I was learning.”

Kari was the Key Makeup Artist on Dark Angel’s second unit when a call arrived from Andromeda’s prosthetics specialist Harlow MacFarlane that made all the appliances she’d destroyed worthwhile.

“Harlow heard I was into special effects. I promised him that I was a really fast learner and I would put 100% into it. And he gave me a shot! I was on Andromeda for four seasons. Harlow eventually left and I ran that prosthetics department for three seasons. The character Trance, played by Laura Bertram, played all the time. So many mornings we were there at three or four in the morning so she could start filming at seven. Every day we had to work on and colour different appliances. Some days I had 12 makeup artists working underneath me, some who had been in the industry for years. I made sure I learned from them.”

The Makeup Team on Andromeda deservedly won a Gemini Award for their work for the episode when the entire cast were turned into their evil alter egos. Kari insists that although it’s lovely to be appreciated by her professional peers, the greatest satisfaction comes from the creative journey.

“Some Heads of Department give their team a lot of input and it’s great when that happens. It’s so exciting. I have a huge appreciation for all aspects of TV and film Makeup but there’s a special place in my heart for creating monsters, aliens and freaks of nature!”



Kari spent three seasons working alongside Special Effects Director Todd Masters as the First Assistant Makeup on Stargate Atlantis.

“When you work in TV and film you can’t help but become close with the cast and crew. Atlantis was one of those shows that really had that vibe, with amazing cast and a crew that felt like family. You’re thankful when you get the chance experience shows like that one. The hours are crazy, and you’re away from your friends and family, so it’s fantastic to have that sense of comfort around you.”

After her son was born, she decided to take a break from the long hours of set life. It was time to share everything she’d learned with the next generation. Which is why she chose to return to Blanche Macdonald, teaching Prosthetics and Makeup Effects and ensuring that today’s students have the craft and insider knowledge to step straight onto set from the classroom.

“I’m laid back in class, but I’m tough. We’re going to have a lot of fun on the journey but I always want students to learn things to an industry standard. They need to be details orientated, know the products and understand what’s expected of them. They need to be prepared for the adventure that’s going to be thrown at them. I want things to be done the right the first time. Showing you can do that gets you that second opportunity.”

Kari’s personal successes, combined with the triumphs of her students, prove that high standards and fun times can go hand-in-hand. Just make sure you bring a positive attitude and plenty of passion.

“Makeup Artists need to be confident in who they are and their abilities. I explain how they need to be prepared for everything from bad weather to actors with attitudes. My students are ready to go from the classroom to professional sets. Grads I had as Teaching Assistants, like Darah Wyant and Danielle Fowler, are regulars on big shows now. Danielle is already a Key Makeup Artist! It’s always exciting for me to see my students succeeding. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment knowing I’m putting people on the right path.”

Fashion Marketing Co-op graduate Jake Jang may just be the friendliest head-to-toe-black-clad cool kid you have ever met. He lopes in, a towering silhouette wearing a self-possessed smile and a soft leather jacket that slips down the wide span of his shoulders. His manner is warm and easy (you can practically hear the lean-back in his speech), and he is liable to peel into bright bolts of laughter at any given turn of the conversation.

He cuts a distinct figure against Atelier Campus’ expanse of white, where we sit huddled over an iPhone, sifting through a bright miscellany of squares.  

“I spend a lot of time looking through street photos on Instagram’s Discover section. Not this naked guy,” he snorts, flicking away a particularly brazen bit of feed, “but a lot of these great fashion accounts will just randomly show up. I find new people to follow all the time. Like @GRINDmagazine! I know right? I didn’t know about that one either, it just popped up one day. You gotta follow that one.”

The army is that last place you would envision a character such as Jake, but in his home country of Korea, serving is simply run of the mill.

“Serving in the Republic of Korea Army is our national duty for two years; I was there because I had to be but it actually changed my life. Before that I was just wasting my time, drinking and partying, and I didn’t know what I was doing. For those two years, I could think about my life, about what I wanted to do in the future. It played a big part in my decision to come to North America.

“Some time later, I applied for an internship with a Korean brand in New York but first stopped by Vancouver to study English. I met my girlfriend, decided to stay, enrolled in Fashion School at Blanche Macdonald and now – here I am,” Jake grins.

Jang’s confident hold on the English language and cultural goings-on belie his relative new beginnings in Canada; in just the two years that he has lived in Vancouver, he has made fast friends of a wide array of the city’s subculture coteries and fashion industry self-starters, and has landed himself in a choice slot at tip top trend arena, Topshop. And yet, even he’ll admit that moving to a new country alone was hard-won.   

“My English was so bad when I first moved here! The only things I could say were ‘Hi.’ ‘How are you.’ ‘Thank you.’ ‘See you again.’ My girlfriend helped me a lot and now we are planning our future together. We had to communicate because we were in a relationship and luckily, she was training to be an English teacher so it was a good experience both for her and for me. It was really hard that first year but it’s just in my personality that if I don’t know about something, I’d rather ask. I became best friends with one of my classmates, Daniel; he’s helped me a lot too. It’s kind of like my girlfriend taught me the basic structure of the language and Daniel gave me the fat, the muscle.”

Jake’s advice to those coming to Vancouver to pick up a new language?

“Get a girlfriend or boyfriend!” he laughs, before turning to a more serious, spirited appeal. “Make friends. What I hate seeing is when international students only hang out amongst themselves, in their own communities. Well then, what the fuck’s the point? You’re in Canada and you came here to be in Canada and now you’re hanging out in Little Korea or China? You should try to get out and talk to people; they have actually always been really nice to me, even back when I was awful at speaking English. Almost all of my friends are Canadians. A lot of international students will go to international drinking places, hang out within a replica of their community. What I’m saying is that they should try ‘HELLO,’ and say hello first!”

Vancouver’s pull has intensified over time for Jake and it’s feeling more and more like home, even as he keeps his eyes trained on grand goals. It helps to have a pseudo family in the Fashion department of Blanche Macdonald.

“I loved everyone at Blanche Macdonald. I seriously loved going to school here. I like pray to Jesus, thank God that I was sent here,” he laughs “Obviously Peggy [Morrison] was a favourite, Lyndi Barrett, Tyler [Udall] – Tyler really motivated me. His personal story – working for Marc Jacobs and whatever else – really drove me to want to do something big. And Mel Watts! My Fashion Mom. I just came from her office. I used to go see her every day.”

Jake’s real mom also played a big part in Jake’s Fashion career. She was the one who first set it off, often kitting him out in choice goods selected from the Adidas Original company that she owned in Korea (“I look back at my pictures from back when I was three or four, and I looked good, I used to dress so cool!”). Jake had an eye for style from the start but it wasn’t until after a three-year stint in Business Administration at Hongik University that he began to engage it professionally.

“I went to Business School because I knew that would bring in money and quickly realized that that was not what I wanted to do. I tried several different jobs – I used to teach mathematics and then did accounting things – but I never liked it so I knew I had to move on.  

“After school, I started working at a street style company called Camscon, following fashionable students at various colleges – there are more than 75 schools, so it’s a huge database. I would hang around campuses all day and take photos. Street style is huge in Korea. It’s all about fashion there and a lot of Korean fashion is influenced by street style.”

Here, for Jake at least, lies one of the most marked differences between Vancouver and his home city of Seoul.

“It’s a different lifestyle here. Korea is a huge city and fashion is a big part of our lifestyle. We dress up for ourselves daily, not just for events. Here I find that dressing up is special – there aren’t many that do it day-to-day in Vancouver (except for here at Blanche). The lifestyle here can still be refreshing – sometimes style can be too much in Korea.

“Vancouver is a great starter city; coming from Asia, it is a bridge to the big Fashion capitals, where you can get into the culture and then move on to the next level. And Vancouver is getting bigger and bigger – it’s grown so much even since I first landed here. There’s a Nordstrom just down the street and there are so many high end stores popping up. Did you see that huge new Prada flagship? We just got the Moncler store there too; their windows are amazing. It’s good to have these big brands in the city for inspiration.”

Even if Vancouver isn’t quite as outre in their sartorial choices as Seoul, Jake has been playing his part in influencing the masses towards more style savvy choices, working with international Fashion Designer and fellow BMC graduate, Alex S. Yu for Vancouver Fashion Week, selling cool cool-weather staples at Rudsak, even modeling for Blanche Macdonald’s Fashion Showcase this past year. And recently he’s landed a dual dream job of Stylist and Visual Merchandiser for the men’s department at Topshop.

“I dropped off my resume at Topman because it’s one of my favourite brands here and they had me back for five interviews… FIVE. In the end, they hired me for both the Merchandising AND Styling teams, so I split up the week between the two. It’s been a month and I love it!”

So far, securing this job been one of his proudest moments, though that doesn’t stop him from aspiring for even grander things. He plans to use the expiration of his Visa, coming up for next year, as a boost up to the next stages of his career.

“I want to be a Buyer but for that I want to gain a lot of experience in styling, merchandising – I want to have an understanding of what people want by working in other aspects of Fashion first.

“I’m learning a lot at my job, gaining a lot of experience that you can only gain hands-on, so I’d like to stay as long as possible and then my ultimate goal is to go to New York.”

For now, he’s happy and busy imbuing Vancouver with Seoul’s style sensibilities during his nine-to-five, making friends (of all) and mentoring his newly-landed Korean friend in the after hours. Jake’s no English-teaching girlfriend, but he’s proven to be a patient and well-appreciated coach.

“My friend, Jae Sik, just started classes in February. He actually moved here because of me, to come to Blanche Macdonald. I was such a bratty kid before and he was like, ‘Now you work at Topshop? You went to Fashion School?’ He couldn’t believe it. I’m really happy that he’s here now, getting ready for school. It may be hard at first, with his English, but it’s so worth it.”

Jake gathers up his various black articles of outerwear and the interview concludes with the definitive Instagram account transaction (you best follow him here).

"My mother is an artist, so growing up I was always engaged in some art project. She encouraged me to be creative and to think outside of the box from an early age.”

Every designer’s story is a little different; for some it takes time for the realization to slowly dawn, but for others, it is an innate sense of purpose. For Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design graduate Hilary MacMillan, it's as though every step along the way was kismet, propelling her to where she is today.

Boston-born and Toronto-raised, it was an Undergraduate Degree at the University of British Columbia in Political Science and Economics that originally brought Hilary to Vancouver. However, it was during this time that she decided to change direction, recognizing that her life-long love affair with fashion could in fact become her career.

Her creative journey started at the Blanche Macdonald Centre, when she made the life-altering decision to scrap law school and pursue her unshakable passion for art and design. With a clear artistic vision and a passion to create for the modern urban women she was surrounded by, Hilary’s namesake label has been turning heads since its inception in 2012. Fast forward to present day, Hilary has just established a new stockist in Morocco, allows celebrities to pull her garments for Toronto International Film Festival and is showing both Fall and Spring collections at Toronto Fashion Week. We've come to conclusion, this was always her calling.

Following her graduation, Hilary moved back to Toronto to help her sister with her independent jewelry store, ELLE Hardware in the chic and artistic neighbourhood of Queen Street West. Toronto, often referred to as Canada’s Fashion epicenter, is fueled by a collaborative creative energy. This vibrant and rich arts scene is home for Hilary, and using the skill set and training she took away from her time in Vancouver at Canada’s Top Fashion Design School, her strength and aptitude for design was able to take flight. Maybe it was the ever-inspiring and creative climate of the neighbourhood, or just a yearning to create, but it was during this time that Hilary designed her first independent capsule collection.

"I had designed a capsule collection and I was able to sell it at ELLE Hardware. I was so fortunate to have this outlet to see how customers responded to my garments and reacted to each piece. From there, I started wholesaling to other boutiques and attending trade shows to gain contacts within the industry."

Armed with insider knowledge on her garments appeal, Hilary was ready to take the next big leap.

"I did a couple more collections like this and then I started to show at Toronto Fashion Week. This propelled my designs further into the Industry. People were beginning to recognize my brand and who I was. It was a very exciting time."

Hilary pulls inspiration from a myriad of places: her Scottish heritage, her love of realist art, the Canadian landscape, and the history of fashion itself. Reflecting back on her time at Blanche Macdonald, it is evident that her education continues to be an inspiration for her collections.

"I loved Fashion History and learning about past designers and design history. I’ve always been really inspired by past decades and I still think back to that whenever I’m producing a new collection. It's all in the details: epaulettes, military, corsetry. I carry this knowledge forward as it is still a huge inspiration for me."

During her time at Blanche Macdonald, Hilary also took advantage of the myriad of opportunities, knowing they would be a critical step forward for her career.

“During my time at school, I interned with Vancouver-based designer Erin Templeton and volunteered as a dresser as much I could, gaining the inner workings of behind the scenes of a Fashion Show. Most of the Instructors at Blanche Macdonald are working in the industry and they are there to help set you up for success. A standout instructor for me was Jenny Hedberg. She had her own design company and gave us real insight into the skills we would need to make it.”

Hilary has built a career around creativity and passion, which only becomes more evident with each new collection she designs. Though each collection sees Hilary’s creativity and passion soar even higher, Hilary still has a clear memory of her most momentous collection.

"My most memorable collection to date would be Fall/Winter 2014. This is when I started developing my own prints. My mother is a realist painter and so she designed this beautiful pheasant which we produced as repeat pattern on fabric. Since then, I have always tried to develop a print that is aesthetically me; keeping a signature pattern each season.”

Designing and incorporating a custom print for each season increases both the power and complexity of Hilary’s collections, serving to illustrate just how much Hilary’s design abilities have grown.

"I am constantly growing as an artist and discovering new techniques. Each season I like to see how I have improved from the past seasons. This really drives me to try and discover new ways to be inventive and push myself."

Hilary’s Fall/Winter 2016 collection earned high praise at Toronto Fashion Week this past March. Her collection was to date, one of the most-raved reviewed shows of the season. Off the runway, it was the most talked about collection on Twitter, and her garments were spotted on the likes of Kim Cattrall and the cover of Glow Magazine. Bloggers, journalists and fashion fervours alike flocked to get a sneak peek of this cutting-edge collection.

Innovation, ambition, and talent: Hilary is the embodiment of these qualities, and the prime example of what comes when you pursue what you love.

"I love when I see someone wearing my garments. The fact that they chose that piece to put on that day, that someone actively sought out something you created and wanted to wear it – it’s a big moment.”

We know for Hilary, there will be many more big moments to come.

“I’ll always remember my experience on set for my first fashion editorial in London. I was assisting makeup artist Janeen Witherspoon for Dazed & Confused’s 20th Anniversary Edition. There were racks and racks of clothes, tables full of accessories, makeup for days, suitcases packed with wigs, and a team of ten people working alongside Janeen and myself: photographer Ben Toms, fashion stylist Katie Shillingford, hairstylist Martin Cullen, set designer Amy Stickland, along with the photo team and creative assistants. I remember leaving with goose bumps all over thinking “Yep, this is what I want to do.’”

That was the first of countless unforgettable experiences for Breianne Zellinsky in the upper echelons of European high fashion. After five scintillating years in the UK the Blanche Macdonald graduate-turned-instructor has returned to her hometown of Vancouver. Their loss is our gain. She’s now inspiring future generations of Makeup Artists to follow in her footsteps.

“Makeup was always my passion,” recalls Breianne. “Since I was a young girl I always saw makeup as something artistic rather than making people look pretty. I loved seeing the change and transformation. Growing up, my original goal was to become a professional dancer. At a certain point I knew that wasn’t going to be my future, but being exposed to the creative side of makeup through dancing helped me realize that it could be my career. When I was 20 I made the decision to come to Blanche Macdonald. I knew it was the best. I didn’t even look at another school.

 “As soon as I started Makeup School I realized where I belonged in the industry. The beauty and fashion modules really caught my attention. I wasn’t a fashionista. It was more beauty than clothing that inspired me. I loved the artistic element of fashion makeup: everything was full of colour and beautiful imagery.” 

After graduation Breianne immersed herself in a job at Vancouver’s celebrated Avant Garde Hair Salon apprenticing under legendary hairstylist and family friend Jon Paul Holt. Under Jon Paul’s supervision Breianne became a skilled hair professional (“In this industry, especially in Vancouver, it is important to have skills with both makeup and hair”) while continuing to work on her makeup career, staying busy experimenting with photographer Karolina Turek.  

“We were enjoying the creativity, but we also understood that we were at the beginning of a long path for both our careers, building our portfolios and gaining experience.”  

When Breianne felt that it was time to refocus on her makeup she had the skills and contacts to secure a coveted position at MAC at The Bay Downtown. With real world experience in makeup, hair, fashion photography, bridal, retail and business development Breianne knew she was ready to take her career to the next level. Opportunity came knocking when her husband was offered an unexpected work transfer to London, England, one of the fashion capitals of the world.

“He was hesitant at first but I knew that there was no better place for me to be. I did tons of research before I’d even left Canada, and I made one very good contact, Janeen Witherspoon. We were both Blanche grads and shared the same job working for Jon Paul at Avant Garde. She’d just done it 10 years before me. We instantly made a connection and I knew we would be friends for life.”

Breianne was shooting with Janeen on the aforementioned Dazed & Confused shoot just two days after arriving in London, kick starting a relationship that immersed Breianne in London’s fashion industry as Janeen’s first assistant. The two Canadians worked their magic on campaigns and publications including Cos, Jenny Packham, Vogue, POP, i-D and The Sunday Times (where they created looks on supermodel Karen Elson), along with runway shows like Bora Aksu, Mother of Pearl and Lucas Nascimento.

Within one year of moving to the UK Breianne had travelled between London, Paris and New York for Fashion Weeks, working on designer shows for KTZ, Christopher Raeburn, Fred Butler, Lie Sang Bong, Viktor&Rolf, Qasimi, ACNE, Emilia Wickstead and Fyodor Golan. That’s the tip of the iceberg.

“I worked at over 80 shows. So many of them inspired me, but Lie Sang Bong in New York was one that really stood out. They did an amazing set with illuminated butterflies all along the runway. It captured true elegance and simple beauty.”

Through her backstage presence and a few words of recommendation Breianne landed a first assistant role with superstar makeup artist Ayami Nishimura. As Ayami’s right-hand girl, Breianne started a fresh run of A-list experiences, editorials and campaigns.

“We shot Emma Watson at London's famous Claridge’s Hotel with photographer Ellen Von Unwerth. Emma is honestly one of the most intelligent women I have ever come across; so well educated, incredibly well spoken, very calm and humble, but still with a cute sense of humour. It was great to get to know her as a person and not as a celebrity.”

Breianne takes pains to point out that even with the celebrity glamour, assisting is a demanding and underrated job.

“You’re completely in charge of the kit. You set up and make sure the models are prepped and ready. When the Key Artist is doing the work you’re handing every product and brush to them, so you need to be one step ahead and be ready before they even know what they’re going to do. You have to be focussed at all times.”

Of course, hard work can still be enjoyable. Especially when you’re making films for Gucci with a selection of some of the world’s top supermodels. 

“It was amazing to see the production put together for that shoot. Some the rooms were stacked on top of each other. Some would actually teeter from side to side to create the movement you see in the video. I was constantly on my feet running up and down stairs, but it was so worth it. I got to work with Stylist Katie Shillingford and the amazing Hairstylist Alain Pichon. The models – Suvi Koponen, Diana Moldovan, Nadja Bender, Kasia Struss, Clement Chabernaud, and Arthur Gosse – were fantastic to work with and extremely professional. There’s a reason why they’re so successful.

“Assisting Ayami is always an unforgettable experience. She works so quickly and incredibly efficient. She never wants anyone waiting on her. She knows that the models don't like sitting in her chair for any longer than they need to. I learnt so much from her.

“Working on Triumph’s lingerie campaign in Ibiza with Ayami was something I won't forget either. Every day was go, go, go! I was organizing and preparing the makeup kit, getting the kit safely to the location, making sure that the station was set up efficiently, preparing the models, making sure their bodies were flawless, and maintaining the makeup throughout the day. The main model for that shoot was Hannah Ferguson. I knew she would turn big and sure enough she exploded as a Sports Illustrated model.”

Blanche Macdonald students now have ringside seats for these and many more stories. The lure of home and West Coast fresh air brought her back to Vancouver and into the classrooms of Canada’s top Makeup School, where techniques and tales from fashion’s front lines provide daily enlightenment for her students.

"I love sharing my knowledge and my experiences, although I’m definitely a tough love teacher. I’m friendly and involved, but I also set the ground rules. Soon students will be working around people they don’t know, and they need to behave in a way that’s professional. I try very hard to prepare them for the real world.”

 “I love seeing the passion in the students, where their drive and skill shines through. The improvement in their work warms my heart. I had a student who couldn’t do eyeliner when she started with me but by the end of my module she had no problems creating that perfect line. I’ve had some incredible experiences, but it was still amazing to think that I was the one who gave her the confidence and direction to make that possible.”

Nestled amidst the boreal forest in Northern Alberta is the industrious, tight-knit community of Fort McMurray. While it may sound an unlikely place to find success as a makeup artist, Blanche Macdonald graduate Ruby Hogg has done just that, cultivating and an outstanding career and flourishing as one of the province’s top makeup artists. In the three short years since she graduated from the Freelance Makeup program, Ruby has established both local and national clientele, achieving celebrity status within her community and traveling all over Canada to do makeup for brides and films alike. She attended a workshop in L.A. with the famous Scott Barnes, and her growing reputation landed her on set with National Geographic. She achieved all this while starting her own successful makeup business, Colour Me Famous, and becoming a new mom.

Ruby now lives in Valemount, B.C. with her family, but it’s clear that her establishment in Fort McMurray was instrumental to her success. Humble, hard working and eternally grateful, Ruby is proof that the unexpected and unknown can be transformed into monumental career cornerstones by an expansive view of life, beauty, and business and an enduringly creative eye.

BMC: First thing’s first: We heard you’ve done makeup for Steven Tyler locally in Fort McMurray. How did that come about?

Ruby Hogg: Aerosmith was doing a Canadian tour and Fort McMurray happened to be on the route. Their management team inquired with the venue about a makeup artist. I’d worked on some of the staff for other events and they knew my reputation, so they referred me! I was actually on vacation and asleep when I got an email with the subject “Aerosmith Makeup Artist” and thought I was dreaming.

I thought I’d be so nervous walking into his dressing room, but I felt completely at home. Steven Tyler was a very welcoming person. His makeup artist made it easy for me by sending a list of his favourite products to use – he’s a huge MAC fan. The only difficult thing was figuring out something to wear myself!

BMC: Let’s go back in time. What made you want to become a makeup artist in the first place?

RH: Initially I was interested in International Development for the longest time. I had always had a passion for brightening people’s lives. When I found out I was going to have my daughter, I realized it would be difficult to balance that type of career with our lifestyle. I’d always loved makeup so I decided to pursue it as a career instead.

BMC: When you decided to go to makeup school, what made you choose to study at Blanche Macdonald?

RH: I did lots of research on schools across Canada and the United States. In the end, I chose Blanche Macdonald [because] its reputation preceded it and it had such positive reviews. All the recent grads I talked to were such successes in their fields. When I was put into contact with Admissions, everyone was so friendly and welcoming and the schedule fit so perfectly with my family lifestyle. The location wasn’t a drawback either!

BMC: You ended up in Fort McMurray after graduation and started a very successful makeup business, Colour Me Famous. What kinds of opportunities and drawbacks were there in that type of location?

RH: I find that the industry’s based on a lot of word-of-mouth, and from the beginning I chose to have my work speak for itself. You definitely can’t be a one-trick pony in a smaller city, though. I’ve found myself doing everything from photo shoots on lakes to boudoir sessions to indie films to princess pageants [as] major gigs.

The lack of makeup selection in Fort McMurray is a major hurdle – usually you’d have to plan a trip to Edmonton or Calgary if you wanted to buy certain things. Other than that, I’d definitely consider the location to be a strong factor in the speed of my success; of course work ethic, talent, and presence are huge factors in success as well! But I’d lived in Fort McMurray before I went to Blanche Macdonald and I knew there was a need for more makeup artists there.

One of the things I really appreciate about the industry there is that the beauty sector is small and personal. All of the makeup artists know each other fairly well and became friends, which allows us to share our workloads. That is so helpful. Plus, it makes all of us stronger entrepreneurs!

BMC: Let’s talk about another major gig you landed while in Fort McMurray – a documentary with Bill Nye and National Geographic! How did the people in New York find out about you?

RH: The production company working for National Geographic was actually quite worried they wouldn’t be able to find a makeup artist so far north. They inquired with a few local videographers and even called the municipality to see if they had any recommendations and my name was put up by all of them – unbeknownst to me! I was actually mid-move when I got the call...They wanted me for the next week, but thanks to the help of some great friends, I was able to take the job. I cannot stress how important flexibility is in this industry. Bill Nye was super easy to work with; it was one of the least stressful environments to work in.

BMC: How did you set your self apart from other makeup artists, and what kinds of tips on standing out in a smaller city would you give to a new graduate of the Freelance Makeup program?

RH: I started my company almost immediately after graduation and the first thing I did when I got into town was to get in contact with a local publication. We worked together a few times and the publisher helped me meet more and more people. I found that social gatherings and events really helped me build a brand and get my face out there. I really tried to be diligent when meeting new people because one of the best ways I created connections was attending local events and fashion shows. If you put yourself out there, you open yourself up to so many new opportunities. But I also had a strong foundation to start my makeup business with once I graduated from Blanche Macdonald.

BMC: Color Me Famous’s catchphrase, “Working to instill confidence in women everywhere,” is positive and uplifting. Before you were a makeup artist, your interest in international development led you to spend time in refugee camps and schools in Africa. It’s clear that you’ve bridged your passion for brightening people’s lives with your makeup business. How do you do it?

RH: I’m a huge believer in fate and karma. I think that whatever good things you put into the world ultimately come back. I’m also very dedicated to anything I commit to and I have a fantastic support team; [they] are the reason I’m where I am today.

I realized there are so many different ways to bring happiness into people’s lives. I love being able to highlight my clients’ natural beauty and make them feel like a superstar – hence my company motto, “Working to instill confidence in women everywhere.”

After several successful years in Fort McMurray, my business became overwhelmingly busy. I made the move back to Valemount, British Columbia to find more balance between my work and family life and to focus solely on weddings and the occasional film job. My goals right now are to continue improving my craft and enjoying the opportunities I continue to be blessed with!

As a child actor seeking stardom from the pastoral settings of Mission, BC, Blanche Macdonald Makeup graduate Steven Carty quite nearly had his break. Having been offered the role of Pugsley in macabre kin favourite, The Addams Family, Steven probably wouldn’t have been sitting here today, had it not been for his parents’ reluctance at the prerequisite husking up. As Steven put it, “being young and gay in Mission – you don’t need any more hardships.”

But when one door closes another opens, as the saying goes. And for Steven, calling scene on set life would lead him to spot lights worldwide.

“Watching the Hair and Makeup Artists work on transforming people like John Travolta and Kirstie Alley into their characters was so neat and it just stuck with me. When I was in hair and makeup it would be the best half hour of my life.

“In Grade 11 we did this big production of Stoker’s Dracula, and I got to create the dead Lucy and a vampire. That’s what sparked the thought of going to Makeup School and then meeting [Blanche Macdonald Admissions Director] Jill Wyness during my tour at 16 sealed the deal. I didn’t go to any school interviews after that and started right after graduation.”

Steven was met with a level of support and creative calibre that he remembers to this day. It wasn’t long after his first weeks that he realized the scope of professional opportunity now open to him.

“When I had the chance to see the work that my instructor, Michelle, was doing outside of the classroom, it really created a bond of respect. These are your teachers, but this isn’t just college, not just beauty school. When you graduate, these people can become your coworkers. You get the chance to grow with these teachers and if you are really pushing yourself and really want to learn more, you can. You have to connect and go a little bit further than just ‘Here’s my assignment.’

“I would be running up and down the halls in full face showing each and every teacher because I wanted everybody’s feedback. Every artist has a different way of doing things and that gives your learning this great diversity.”

It was during one of Blanche Macdonald’s Makeup industry tours that Steven first connected with Carla Antrobus, Owner of Studio F/X. And after nearly a decade – which saw methodical shop pop-ins by Steven – she admitted that she was an admirer of his work, and brought him on to the team. The weekly classes that he would go on to teach would benefit from the experience he’d gathered in his near thirteen professional years: from working the MAKE UP FOR EVER counter with Blanche Macdonald superstars Heather Nightingale, Jaylene McRae and Andrea Tiller to celebrity makeup sessions with Virgin Radio’s Denai Johnson, nights spent with the Vancouver Opera and a lengthy collaboration with Senscience International Creative Director, Martin Hillier.

“Working with Martin Hillier was one of my biggest achievements. Maintaining ten years of art with somebody, creating new looks for every single season of hair – that’s a pretty neat feeling. Our work is published all over the world with these big hair advertising companies and it’s a humbling thing. It let’s you know that if you continue on the right path, if you continue pushing your career, and take whatever you can get, it will pay off.”

Today, Steven is still serving fierce transformations in an inspiring dual mentorship role, daylighting as Director of Education of Studio F/X, and breaking out into the evenings as the outlandishly divine, very ‘BusyDragQueen,’ Raye Sunshine.

“Raye started when I was in Mission; I knew that I was gay and I was having a bit of a hard time with that reality so I was looking for an escape. I dressed up as Sailor Mars for one Halloween and kept the wig; later, I would hide away in my room, put on some eyeshadow and really really ugly eyebrows, and spin about. With no internet or cable, I had no idea that what I was doing was called something. I just thought that I was having fun. I learned in Grade 11 that it’s called drag, and Shakespeare used to do it. And I was like, ‘Well then that’s totally fine. Shakespeare’s great! It’s not weird, it’s art.’ ”

Raye Sunshine has become renowned in the community for her extravagant, and often offbeat looks that fall anywhere in the range of Sia to Ginger Spice, Mrs. Grinch to the White Walker, Orange is the New Black inmate to wherever it is that her capricious whims wander that night.

“I’ll take the blank canvas of my gender or non-gender character and I’ll start creating designs. Then the thought process gets away from me and it becomes more of an intuitive visual process. You’re seeing it come to life, and as it’s coming to life, you’re building a backstory for it.

“Taking somebody through from male to female, female to male or a human to a creature of some sort is what I love, what I’m made to do.”

These exorbitant bouts of cosmetic imagination have won Raye worldwide recognition. In 2010, she was honoured with the prestigious title of 39th Reigning Empress of Vancouver, which saw her visiting 22 International ‘Court Systems’ across Canada’s grassroots LGBT network. And after the Busy Drag Queen comedy video that she starred in went viral, Raye even booked a gig in Korea. People were beginning to recognize both Raye and Steven on the street and, as a result, makeup jobs were streaming in.

“Whenever I would visit a new city’s court system, I would make it my mission to go to at least one makeup store to see what they had. Most of the time, they would sell without providing any information on the products that their customers were buying. It was after seeing this that I really started getting into education. I wanted to help these Queens do what they wanted to do without hurting themselves. You can’t put cream foundation on the inside of your eye – get a pencil!”

Now, as Director of Education at one of Vancouver’s top makeup suppliers, Steven delights in the responsibility of teaching fellow Queens such dos and don’ts of product, urging them to “STOP USING BABY POWDER” and coaching them on technique.

“The best thing is when I meet them and they don’t recognize me right off the bat – sometimes they will mention that they saw Raye’s show, and it really got them interested in a style or technique. And right away after I introduce myself, the way they communicate completely changes. They become relaxed. I try to create a safe space so that they feel comfortable and ask a million questions. That way I know that they’re walking out of there with the product that they wanted, and they know how to use it.

“There is a parallel between Raye doing drag and Steven at Studio F/X, in which these young new Drag Queens have a source that they can look to for support in elevating their craft.”

Even if Steven has become a technical and creative counsellor for Vancouver’s burgeoning Makeup and Drag scenes, he is forthright about the fact that he himself is still learning.

“The thing about being a Makeup Artist is that you are never too big to assist anybody. I’ll assist a student, just to observe how they go about a look. You can always learn, from anyone, and there should never be an ego when you’re training for someone. Assisting Jaylene McRae is on my list of things I really aspire to do, not just as a Queen, but as a Makeup Artist. Her transformation makeups are avant-garde and so stellar. I learned so much about changing face shape and creating symmetry in the mouth when we worked together at MAKE UP FOR EVER.”

And for all of the ‘flawlessness’ going on under the spotlights, Steven serves up only ‘realness’ when it comes to the necessity of self-development, failure and perseverance in a Makeup Artist’s career. Whether it’s Steven hosting a class on contour, or Raye out belting tunes under the glitz and glare of the stage, their outlook is exhilarating and inspires us to get out, connect and create.

“There are no set rules in makeup; there is always the ability to take it somewhere fresh and you’re always learning something new as you teach a class. If something is not really working during a demo, I’ll problem solve right then and there. If I make a mistake, I’m going to tell you because mistakes will happen no matter what. It’s a constant challenge but it’s really fun.

“You don’t really ever get over the fear of ‘failure.’ There isn’t a day where, right before I step on stage, I don’t want to puke into a bucket. And even when I’m creating something in my home studio, I’ll be sitting there painting my chest and thinking to myself, ‘Oh this isn’t working, oh this is going to be awful.’ It’s about not giving up, seeing how it plays out, about having the drive to keep pushing. An hour later, when it all starts looking like something, I’ll be so happy that I didn’t quit. The minute you stop, you’re letting yourself be defeated by yourself. You just have to keep going with it, and even if it doesn’t turn out, you’ve learned so much.

We are thrilled to announce that Blanche Macdonald will be hosting a masterclass with the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Team on Monday, July 25th!  This exclusive event will feature a Pro Artist Discount Sale, Recruitment Fair and a live Masterclass with Charlotte's National Artistry Development Manager for the United Kingdom and Blanche Macdonald Makeup graduate, Kelly Mitchell. A guest appearance will also be made by celebrity makeup artist and Charlotte Tilbury Lead Artist, Kate Synnott. The event will be held at Blanche Macdonald's Atelier Campus and will be open exclusively for Blanche Macdonald students, graduates and industry professionals.

Charlotte Tilbury herself is a leading Celebrity Makeup Artist in the industry with more than 20 years of top level experience working with the worlds most influential Fashion Designers, Photographers and Celebrities. She is the industry’s go-to Makeup Artist for the world’s biggest red carpet events including the Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes, as well as Celebrity Weddings and Fashion Weeks, making up the famous faces of Penelope Cruz, Amal Clooney, Rihanna, Natalie Portman, Kim Kardashian, Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Aniston to name just a few...

Having also worked behind some of the biggest beauty brands in the industry and with the world’s most innovative skincare and makeup labs, Charlotte has embedded all of her years of experience into a her own makeup range that has revolutionized the cosmetic industry! Whether you’re a Makeup Artist, mother, business woman, or late night hedonist, Charlotte’s products are easy to choose, easy to use and easy to gift. Charlotte truly believes “if you give a woman the right makeup she can conquer the world!”

PRO SALE POP-UP SHOP
Following the live masterclass Blanche Macdonald students, grads and professionals can shop for products and receive the 30% Pro Artist Discount on the day of!  This will be the first ever Pro Sale in North America. Charlotte Tilbury products will be ordered and purchased on the day of the event and later delivered to your preferred mailing address.

RECRUITMENT FAIR
The CT team have come to us in search for candidates to join TEAM TILBURY as it rapidly expands though out the US/Canada and globally!  During the event there will be a chance for our grads to take part of the Meet & Greet interview and express their interest to join Team Tilbury. This is an incredible opportunity to become a part of the hottest brand in cosmetic industry. To take part in the interview, please come prepared with your resume and cover-letter and dress to impress!

THE BRAND
Charlotte Tilbury on Instagram @ctilburymakeup
Charlotte Tilbury's Official Website

Anyone meeting Yupin Tsai is immediately drawn into her gentle soft spoken shyness. Her personality is tucked away underneath expertly clashed prints, with a touch of dipped fuchsia red hair tickling her shoulders. With her straight cut bangs landing just-so above her brow, Yupin is self-composed with an insatiable heart for adventure. Her simple matter-of-fact attitude landed her in the hearts of our instructors, where she became a cherished student.

“At Blanche Macdonald everyone is striving for you to succeed.”

With a dream of retail buying on her mind, Yupin chose a fashion school to set her course. With her heart seeking a new city and her desire to develop her independence, the decision was clear.

“I decided to choose Blanche Macdonald after hearing about the school through a friend who also took the International Fashion Marketing program. Actually Blanche Macdonald is quite well known in Taiwan!”

While settling into a new city, the greatest challenge as an international student was language. Each day Yupin would stay after class to review the class material with Fashion Program Directors and Instructors, Peggy and Donna. This allowed her to see the deep care and responsibility the instructors invested in their students.

“I felt so appreciative and touched at the number of hours Peggy and Donna sat down with me after class just to make sure they had all my questions answered so I was able to keep up with the class.”

Her move to Vancouver quickly became more than just for school. She proved to herself what her capabilities were, and day by day she developed her own sense of self while being away from her family.

“I’ve become more independant. Before I was a little bit of a mama’s girl,” she recalls, laughing. “Now, since moving here, I know how to cook and how to find myself around a new place.”

Upon graduation Yupin quickly saw the impact of her knowledge once she stepped out of the classroom, out of Vancouver, and into Taiwan. The International Fashion Marketing Program gave her the confidence to approach new businesses, and ultimately influenced her day to day decisions in her own online company, Nine to Night. Her acuity to trends and analysis of Taiwan’s fashion culture allows her to curate items to meet client demands and continuously pique their interest. On top of travelling to Thailand and Korea to curate items, she builds client relationships through direct communication using social media channels to connect and advance client loyalty. In less than a month she gained over 3500 likes and growing.

While Yupin humbly credits her instructors for the valuable knowledge she gained, at the core was her ability to overcome each challenge, allowing her to develop her independence and confidence in herself. Her diploma isn’t simply a diploma. It is proof that her potential is limitless.

Her advice for students?

“Take charge and work hard. You’ll learn fast and grow.”

We are thrilled to announce that Blanche Macdonald will be hosting a masterclass with the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Team on Monday, July 25th!  This exclusive event will feature a Pro Artist Discount Sale, Recruitment Fair and a live Masterclass with Charlotte's National Artistry Development Manager for the United Kingdom and Blanche Macdonald Makeup graduate, Kelly Mitchell. A guest appearance will also be made by celebrity makeup artist and Charlotte Tilbury Lead Artist, Kate Synnott. The event will be held at Blanche Macdonald's Atelier Campus and will be open exclusively for Blanche Macdonald students, graduates and industry professionals.

Charlotte Tilbury herself is a leading Celebrity Makeup Artist in the industry with more than 20 years of top level experience working with the worlds most influential Fashion Designers, Photographers and Celebrities. She is the industry’s go-to Makeup Artist for the world’s biggest red carpet events including the Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes, as well as Celebrity Weddings and Fashion Weeks, making up the famous faces of Penelope Cruz, Amal Clooney, Rihanna, Natalie Portman, Kim Kardashian, Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Aniston to name just a few...

Having also worked behind some of the biggest beauty brands in the industry and with the world’s most innovative skincare and makeup labs, Charlotte has embedded all of her years of experience into a her own makeup range that has revolutionized the cosmetic industry! Whether you’re a Makeup Artist, mother, business woman, or late night hedonist, Charlotte’s products are easy to choose, easy to use and easy to gift. Charlotte truly believes “if you give a woman the right makeup she can conquer the world!”

PRO SALE POP-UP SHOP
Following the live masterclass Blanche Macdonald students, grads and professionals can shop for products and receive the 30% Pro Artist Discount on the day of!  This will be the first ever Pro Sale in North America. Charlotte Tilbury products will be ordered and purchased on the day of the event and later delivered to your preferred mailing address.

RECRUITMENT FAIR
The CT team have come to us in search for candidates to join TEAM TILBURY as it rapidly expands though out the US/Canada and globally!  During the event there will be a chance for our grads to take part of the Meet & Greet interview and express their interest to join Team Tilbury. This is an incredible opportunity to become a part of the hottest brand in cosmetic industry. To take part in the interview, please come prepared with your resume and cover-letter and dress to impress!

THE BRAND
Charlotte Tilbury on Instagram @ctilburymakeup
Charlotte Tilbury's Official Website

The rain-heavy clouds have only just swept past this city block and a crisp beam of winter sunlight now rays down upon the shop front of Vancouver’s Greenhorn Cafe. Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design graduate-turned-instructor and eponymous label owner Sara Armstrong ambles up the sidewalk, folded in to the dark cocoon of her coat, and we pause together to marvel at the timely turn of the weather. As we upright a couple of chairs outside, brushing off a few errant drops of water, our conversation turns to the magnificent line and craftsmanship of her jacket. 

“I finished it just now, actually. I’d been feeling a cape, but I think I might stick with this,” Sara says with a humble shrug. Her shoulders are framed in angled raglan seams, sloping and structured all at once. 

When she speaks, it’s with dream-like deliberation; every word—the right word—matters, her sentences themselves like sharp garments patterned and sewn with precision. “My style is a strange combination of fashion and sculpture,” she says, “though I actually feel that combination should be more common. It’s about transforming a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional form. I reference this a lot in my architectural seams. My background in sculpture has also been helpful in being a bit more fearless with materials.”

Sara received her B.F.A in Intermedia & Sculpture from the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, the province she calls home and the city where her foray into art-as-career first began. Though she ultimately decided that sculpture wasn’t the medium for her, her studies became the lens through which she developed her fashion aesthetic: Dynamically arching lines and intriguingly formulated silhouettes that have garnered international acclaim. 

“When I was doing my degree,” Sara says, “I was focusing mainly on public sculpture. I thought, ‘Well, what do you do – work on one project for five years? How do you stay inspired through that?’” She smiles. “Fashion design is my own kind of public sculpture, I suppose. Everyone can take a piece, and what I want people to do is to make their own stories and life around them. I don’t think of them as these trendy one-season pieces. I want the people who own them to incorporate them into their lives.”

It’s no secret that inspiration works differently for every artist, so as I sip the foam off my latte I wonder aloud how Sara goes about conceptualizing, building and showing a collection. “Silhouette, shape and form always come first when I’m thinking of a theme,” she begins after careful consideration. “Then I think about what it sounds like or what kind of scene it would be in. From there it runs into runway, music, and video. All of those things together make a collection. I can’t say that I’d be interested in showing a collection if I didn’t have them all because they’re what bring it to life. It’s completely holistic.”

Taking cues from the melody of “Peruvian Nights,” Sara’s Spring/Summer 2015collection featured romantic, gender-inclusive looks with compelling proportion and a structured ease that fused urban design with the effortlessness of backcountry strolls at dusk.

Her vision continues to wow fashion media and fashionista fans alike. Last year, the third season of Sara’s eponymous label stalked down the runway of Vancouver Fashion Week to grand success. Reaching a new culmination of hype in the fashion community, eager requests for pre-orders and editorial pulls rained down upon her after the show. Her line was picked up—and featured on a global scale—by the likes of Vogue, Glamour UK, and ELLE Italia.

Of course, bringing a vision from mind to harmonious matter each season is no easy feat.

The support of a fantastic team, Sara adds, is essential for every task at hand. “A good leader—a good brand—has great people behind it. Delegation is huge because as someone who’s designing and working full-time and trying to build a type of brand, you can’t do it all on your own. 

“You need people with the right skills who are just as passionate. This is especially true the further I go with my collections, photo shoots and videos. Even my music last season was completely made from scratch. It’s the only way to really take it to the next level—you need next-level people.”

When it was time to expand her team of trustworthy associates, Sara returned to the Blanche Macdonald Fashion Marketing classrooms seeking PR expertise for her label and selected Laila Fox straight out of the program. She knew that hiring students from the Top Fashion School that first launched her own journey meant she could be confident in their knowledge, skills, and industry savvy.

Despite critical career success and global recognition, she still felt like she remained a part of that community during her ascension, having kept in touch with Fashion Career Director Mel Watts and the friends she made in the Fashion Design Program into her post-graduate years.

Of the courses she took, Fashion Awareness was a particular favorite. “I’m such a history buff,” she reveals, “so…Peggy Morrison’s Fashion Awareness class is still something I think about a lot when I’m designing. When I want to pair a sleeve, I think about how they might have done it in the 1940s or some Gothic era.” 

Would she say that her time in the program helped prepare her for the success she’s been met with at this stage of her ever-evolving fashion career? I ask her. Sara doesn’t hesitate. “There’s so much that I learned over that year and I literally use it every day. Even when I’m doing press releases, or writing out the description of a piece.”

Nowadays, it’s a desire to generate new experiences and to keep evolving that drive this self-professed ambitious designer forward—she’s forever on the move, taking in and drawing inspiration from the world at large. “I’m a lifelong learner,” she explains. “I love the academic environment.” After her string of runway and editorial successes, she’d made tentative plans to undertake a Masters degree in Britain when her mentor, Fashion Director and industry-renowned editor Tyler Udall, offered her a position at Blanche Macdonald lending her skills, advice and expertise to aspiring Fashion Designers. 

It’s a role she was able to slip right into, like an expertly tailored coat. “I love the collaborative aspect of teaching,” she says, “especially with design students. They’re working on their own collections and I like being able to problem solve with them. For many of them, it’s their first time making something. In the Blanche Macdonald classrooms there are a lot of people willing to experiment, not just make a pretty dress, and that’s where I love to be, in that experimental…”—she brings her hands together and curls them into an elegant sculptural shape, interlocking her fingers—“…dome. That’s where I live every day. It’s been fun.”

Sara’s academic background has helped shape her approach to mentorship, which is just as considered and deliberate as her aesthetic. “As a teacher, it’s important to be open to being taught something in return,” she says. “Whether it’s what I’ve been learning lately – like how to manage a room of 10 different types of personalities – or, for example, what to do when someone has a question and there isn’t one right answer, as there often isn’t. So how do we find the best way for them to do what they want to do? If you’re not learning from your students, you probably shouldn’t be teaching. In design, it’s about your own process as a student and not about right and wrong.” 

Latte finished, the ever-shifting sky above us silvers over. It looks like rain on the horizon once more. With what time we have left before the weather takes a turn for the worse, I ask Sara what’s next for her and her eponymous label. With a successful present that’s stuffed with projects and the responsibilities of teaching, how does a designer-in-demand draw up plans for the future? 

She has a few rules for herself—but that doesn’t mean she follows them to the letter. “I’m a loose person,” she qualifies with a laugh. Nothing can’t be experimented with. Still: “You have to give yourself the time to grow and go out and do things, but not enough to stop yourself from being hungry. You’ve got to keep yourself driven. You’ve got to give yourself a time limit. I’m a huge goal-setter; I have a life vision board; one year, two year, five year plans. It’s all up here.” She smiles and gestures to her brow.

Not that ambition ever stops her from experiencing the moments of joy that emerge—often delightfully and unexpectedly—from pursuing her passion. “I feel like I have an ‘aha moment’ every day,” she says. “I just have to do it. It’s an inclination to design and create.”

With international recognition and strong local support so early in the game, Sara’s line is set to flourish in the years to come—and the world is eager to watch. Reflecting on her success so far, she has apt words of acumen for the next generation of emerging Fashion Design talent: 

“Own your craft. Own your future. Make your own curriculum. Go to your classes, do well in your classes, but also look outside in your community: What workshops can you take? What can you do to be the best version of yourself? When I went to [Blanche Macdonald], I really dove in…and was committed to learning what I wanted to learn.

“That’s the biggest thing,” she says. Across the table from me, her bright blue eyes stand out against the dark of her coat and the shifting light of the afternoon. “You can go to the best school but if you don’t have a vision of what you want to make—of who you are—then it doesn’t really matter. So own it.”

“Thank you for being alive and for following your heart.”

Makeup Superstar Roque Cozzette knows how to make a great first impression. And his beautiful opening words at his magical presentation at Blanche Macdonald’s Atelier Campus provided an apt introduction for a morning coloured with splashes of emotion, inspiration and creativity.

Roque’s makeup has appeared on runways and in print for Christian Dior, Valentino, Y3, Louis Vuitton, John Galliano, Yohji Yamamoto, Victoria’s Secret, Prada and Givenchy. Creating professional grade products alongside high-end fashion looks; he’s also turned Infinite Makeup and his own Cozzette vegan brushes into global brands. In short, Roque Cozzette is makeup royalty.

Both his artistry and products were on display throughout a fascinating makeup demo, as Roque transformed Blanche Macdonald grad-turned-youtube beauty queen Trina Duhra into a shimmering explosion of fashion editorial colour. Throughout the application Roque answered questions from host, CurliQue Beauty Team Leader Jaylene McRae and students, covering topics ranging from Photoshop (“think about it as a colour tool”), to confidence (“It comes from having a standard look and building colour theory into my plan”) to the often underrated art of assisting (“You’re serving the higher good, and there’s greatness in that”).

Most of all though, Roque came to Canada’s top Makeup School to reinforce the importance of emotion, intuition and inspiration, whether it comes from individuals’ faces or motorcycle gas tanks.

“Being here means you’ve already taken the first step,” he explained. “Having the opportunity to create is the greatest joy. Be your most authentic self. I created this. You can create your dreams too.”

For the Blanche Macdonald and CurliQue Beauty team welcoming Roque to Vancouver, it was a pleasure spending quality time with the man and the artist behind the products they’ve already fallen in love with. 

“Since I first met Roque at the 2010 IMATS I’ve always felt a wonderful connection of artistry and friendship to him,” explained host Jaylene. “He has always shared his gracious personality so freely and also championed my own journey of artistry. I’ve witnessed time and time again the wonderful gifts he brings to our world with his education, artistry and spiritual insight. Anything he creates is exceptional and surrounded by love and his Cozzette brush collection is the best in the business! 

“We love the quality of the tools and the fact that they are a vegan option, but we’re also inspired by the exciting and passionate career of Roque! We call Cozzette brushes our ‘magic wands.’ They’re made to stand the test of time. I’ve had mine for years now and they still look and perform like new. They really allow us to create great makeup designs!  His outlook on life, artistry and business is fantastic and really contributes to our positive environment of continued learning. I have truly become a better artist and person by knowing him.”

Speaking after his presentation, Roque could barely contain his enthusiasm for what he’d discovered on his first visit to Blanche Macdonald. 

“I connected to Blanche Macdonald through Jaylene and Jon Hennessey. I’ve known Jon from the time we were trainers at MAC. They introduced my products to the School, and through that the School was introduced to me.

“We often say that beauty is more than skin deep. I look at life that way. You can look at an establishment like this and you can feel its vibration. Each person I speak to here reinforces that. Blanche Macdonald has attracted really interesting, nice people. This is the most beautiful Makeup School, not only with the architecture and how it’s structured. That shows its creators’ intentions and the thought they’ve put into it.”

Honesty took a front seat throughout Roque’s presentation. Even though he explained the engineering behind his superb brush line, he took pains to point out that it’s craft and creativity, not products, that make a makeup artist. If you need to use a Beauty Blender or your fingers, go for it!

“I have to tell the truth,” he explained. “No matter what product I create it’s not going to be a miracle for everyone. As an educator, I have to know what products are available and how they perform. If I’m going to be inspirational, I have to come from the vantage point of a Makeup Artist. Being a businessman is secondary.”

In front of a spellbound audience of Blanche Macdonald students and Makeup Instructors, Roque’s message of emotional investment resonated with everyone.

“You have instructors here that are inspiring and talented. When I do presentations like this I want those instructors to see that being genuine, open and understanding that we’re all different is the most important thing. I don’t expect people to do things like I do. I hope they do it better than me. We’re all different and that should be celebrated. 

“Speaking to students after the presentation, there were a lot of emotional people! When they see me here, I hope they understand that it’s ok to be yourself. I’m not trying to be anyone else. They seemed to think I was a real, down to earth person. That floors me every time!”