Vancouver fashion designer Lindsay Walsh of Standing Armed launches new collection

Standing Armed is Walsh’s debut collection for the mod sophisticate, proving that fine tailoring and natural materials are the secret to stealing the show at cocktail hour

 

The Standing Armed studio is perched on the edge of Gastown in the semi-scruffy transition area at Hastings and Carrall. I pressed buzzer four and when designer Lindsay Walsh chirped a scratchy hello through the ancient intercom, I climbed the creaking stairs past a ‘Custom Dentures’ sign and entered another world—a place of fine tailoring, texture and sophistication.

 

The Standing Armed Spring 2012 collection hung in the minimalist wood front room against a wall papered with shocking coral damask velvet. Walsh let me take a sneak-peek at next season’s gypsy-inspired dresses before we settled down to talk about her elegant Fall/Winter 2011 line and why she decided to take a go at becoming Vancouver’s next big designer.

Lindsay Walsh’s inspiration for a collection

‘I wanted to do something very classic for my first collection so I chose cocktail hour,” she explains, friendly and open, completely comfortable with herself in a monochrome maxi skirt and flip-flops. She leans back and says, “Things that you could wear to wine or gallery openings or anything you’d do in the evening with friends. I took timeless shapes and I would add a small understated detail.”

 

The Fall 2011 collection consists of wearable, charming frocks in luxurious natural materials ranging from wool to wool-silk blends in sapphire, sombre grey and slinky black. Each dress features the promised twist. Walsh has added 1940s long-sleeves to a fitted black number and removed fabric on a stark thigh-grazing sheath, creating a sultry 1990s-evoking open back.

 

The pieces retail for $365-$465. When pressed, Walsh explains the price: “I like to buy one or two pieces a season and it’s an investment: something that I’m going to wear over and over again, something that will stand up to the test of time.”

A well-tailored touch

Walsh completed a four-year degree in design at Ryerson and trained under Toronto menswear designer Farley Chatto, known far and wide for his tailoring techniques. She’s collaborated with MAC cosmetics on ‘Fashion Cares’ and is currently designing for Lululemon.

 

The artful, skillfully executed lines on Walsh’s Fall/Winter dresses reflect her strong tailoring talent, emphasized by the best fabrics. I’m not only convinced Walsh has what it takes to become a big West Coast label, I’ll bet she can even make yoga pants look sharp.

One on one with Lindsay Walsh

Granville Online sat down with Lindsay Walsh to learn a little bit more about her life outside of designing.

Q: Name someone you admire in the local fashion scene, and someone at the global level.

 

Obakki for their unique and successful business structure; Isabel Marant.

 

Q: What’s your boozy drink of choice?

The Caesar.

 

Q: Bright red lipstick, demure pink or just Chapstick?

Demure pink. It works with cocktail hour.

 

Q: Thing that makes you the angriest?

People who stop suddenly in the middle of the sidewalk.

Q: Thing you wished people cared more about?

Where their food comes from.

 

Q: Addictive television habit?

True Blood!

 

Q: What’s your default look for every day?

Right now, I’m into the maxi skirt and flip-flops.

 

Q: Sport you use for daily exercise?

In the summer, it’s running. In winter, snowboarding.

 

Q: Best shoe for everyday wear?

I love Laurentian Chief moccasins.

 

Q: Best place for dinner in Vancouver?

Calabash Bistro for the food and decor. Plus, it’s right across the street.

 

Q: The city’s best bar stool?

Is at the Cobalt.

 

Q: The last glamorous place you traveled?

Barcelona.

 

Q: Favourite junk food?

Sea salt and malt vinegar Kettle Chips.

 

Q: What are you listening to now?

The Peak Performance Project artists. You should be too!

 

Q: Is dancing a riveting pastime, fun after three drinks, or a swift route to total humiliation?

Riveting pastime.

 

Q: Thing you’d most like to change about Vancouver?

The conception of the East Side.