What's New in store

SWEDE DREAMS

H&M—the IKEA of fashion—finally sets its feet west of the Canadian Rockies this fall in Coquitlam Centre. Why the fuss? Because Hennes & Mauritz (that's the official moniker) nabs trends ahead of the pack. Designers too. Stella McCartney, Viktor & Rolf, and (lately) Madonna have all created limited-edition, lineup-worthy collections. Preview this Swedish powerhouse's take on fashion at hm.com/ca, where digital magic lets you "try on" clothes in your size. Oh yes, and these folk are hip to social and environmental responsibility, too. > Angela Murrills

HOLT RENFREW II

When the long-awaited Holt Renfrew flagship opens at 737 Dunsmuir Street at the end of May, its cosmetics department will get its own makeover. Instead of organizing the beauty section around brand-name counters, the 16,000-square-foot area will have a relaxed lounge-style feel, complete with banquettes. Its collection will reflect the growing trend toward artistic, indie specialty labels as well as the store's traditional big draws like Bobbi Brown, Stila, and Nars. Rather than focusing on a single line, in-store experts will help you hunt down hard-to-track cult names like Jemma Kidd (subtly glitzy eye shadows and foundations), Pink Beauty (fun, girlie-packaged rouges, glosses, and more in the hue it's named for), Beauté (the deluxe of deluxe makeup brushes, plus lip-plumping gloss), and Shu Uemura (sleekly packaged ultramodern makeup and creams). Other labels the expanded department will finally allow you to find here in town: This Works and Skyn Iceland skin care; India Hicks–Island Living and Agent Provocateur Maí®tresse fragrances; and Ted Gibson hair products. > Janet Smith

Look books

SCHOOLGIRL INFERNO

Tan makeup? We're not talking Donatella but rather part of the cutting-edge vibe that is Shibuya street fashion. In Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno: Tokyo Teen Fashion Subculture Handbook (Chronicle Books, $21.95), Patrick Macias and Izumi Evers define, analyze, and explain the evolution of the look with photos and sketches documenting the details from deconstructed school uniforms to anime-style contact lenses.

INNER STYLE

Need sartorial help? Not quite a 12-step program but close, local style strategist Jan Addams's Discovering Your Inner Style—8 Steps to G.U.R.U. (Author's Choice Publishing Group, $18.95) lets quizzes lead you to defining your wisest wardrobe buys.

AUDREY HEPBURN

Whether she was wearing casual sweaters or couture, she was undiluted elegance. In Tony Nourmand's adoring tribute Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years (Chronicle Books, $29.95), poster art, lobby cards, magazine covers, and photographs record her metamorphosis from ingénue to goddess. > Angela Murrills

Runway Calendar

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Wanna help out our low-income sisters and bid on some funky-ass thongs at the same time? Dress for Success, a nonprofit organization that outfits women reentering the workforce, holds its annual IMPACT event at Birks (698 West Hastings Street) on April 24. It's a silent action, but don't expect this gala gathering to be a quiet function—award-winning journalists and self-admitted shopaholics Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic (aka the Shopping Bags) will MC. There's plenty of stuff up for grabs. Smart Ass pitched in three pairs of stylin' ginch. And give it up for Holt Renfrew, which parted ways with a Gucci dress. Not to be outdone in generosity, Hugo Boss Womenswear coughed up a suit and shirt. Tickets are $60; info at vancouver@dressforsuccess.org.

CAPERS SUSTAINABILITY FAIR

Going green has never been hotter, so it's no wonder fashion royalty find themselves collaborating with the earth-friendly set more and more these days. For an example of this style-meets-sustainability phenom, look no further than the Capers Sustainability Fair, in the parking lot of its 1675 Robson Street location starting at noon on April 28. The Clothes Line Sale will feature samples from local designers and stores such as Peel, Nicole Bridger, and Twigg & Hottie. As well, there will be a mix of consignment items from Vancouver's most fashionable closets. Info, www.capersmarkets.com.

NEW MUSIC WEST

Cat Power recently whipped out The Greatest for pal Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel. Before that, Justin Timberlake was "bringing sexy back" for Victoria's Secret. Musical acts performing at fashion shows is all the rage. NewMusicWest Festival and MF Magazine take this a step further with multiple bands and designers. It all goes down on May 2 at Bar None. As the best in Northwest electronica rock out, runway babes will showcase the latest in streetwear from Seattle and Vancouver. One designer to watch is our own Ken Diamond, whose leather cuffs, belts, and bags are perfect accessories for indie rockers. Now they needn't bother thumbing through the pages of magazines in search of that perfectly proportioned mate—they can just point and pick. Info at www.newwestmusic.com. > Sarah Rowland