Mad for Plaid

Local label Adhesif channels fall on the West Coast—think red, yellow and green leaves—along with a sprinkling of old-world romance in the new autumn collection. Tweed blazers, angora sweaters and chic dresses are all made by hand and effortlessly accessorized with cool pillbox hats.  Available at Blushing Boutique  and Shop Cocoon.

Team Spirit

Only five months are left before all eyes will be on Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Games, so show your support by sporting some of the official merchandise.  This fun, colourful apparel has all the bases covered with ponchos, bags, scarves, toques (Canadian for knitted hats), umbrellas, hoodies and even key chains.  These collectable items are sure to be snapped up quickly, so head to The Bay before it’s too late.

Walk This Way

Before a walking tour of the city, slip on Sano Shoes. With built-in shock absorbers and a unique shape that stimulates usually ignored muscles, these shoes help increase circulation, improve posture and burn excess calories. Walk on! Grab a pair at Mephisto.

Best Face Forward

September means one thing here: back to school. Don’t let the stress of a new semester rear its ugly head; keep it at bay with Clean Start by Dermalogica. This new line for teens offers everything from a foaming skin wash to the aptly named Smart Mouth Lip Shine. Available at Spruce Body Lab. Over at Lush, stock up on natural degreasers such as Grease Lightning Spot Treatment to banish blemishes and Hair Doctor to dry oily roots.

Rain Ready

With showers on the horizon, it’s a good time to invest in rain gear. Danish designer Ilse Jacobsen offers an assortment of breathable waterproof jackets, and brings on the funk with a colourful collection of lace-up rubber boots in such colours as red, lime and beige. At Gravity Pope and GumDrops.

Local Luxury

What do you get when a Vancouver textile artist joins creative forces with a New York industrial designer? Rajboori, an eco-friendly line of organic bedding. This colourful collection of pillows, quilts and coverlets is made from peace silk—a process that leaves the silkworm unharmed—and handcrafted using looms that take 15 days to assemble. Included on Time magazine’s Green Design 100 list, Rajboori is available at Provide.

Cute as a Button

The perfect West Coast souvenir for your little one: a darling hoodie from local company Milkshax. These sweet pieces are made in Vancouver, using organic cotton and bamboo, and feature windmills, lollipops and Whistler’s Peak 2 Peak Gondola (pictured). At Vie Maternity Boutique and Barefoot Contessa.

–Jennifer Patterson