Welcome to West Coast Alert, FLARE.com's monthly e-newsletter which profiles all things fresh, fabulous and straight out of the Vancouver area. Whether it's this month's product obsession, fashionable must-have or snapshot from the party circuit, FLARE correspondent Susie Wall will deliver it all directly to your inbox!

The Bra (g)

Holy Golden Globes! Brace yourselves, girlfriends. North Vancouver’s Jane Webb has designed a chic, sassy carryall to protect your prized, padded bras from getting bent, bumped and creased in transit. The Bra (g) bra bag promises to maintain the form of your cleavage helpers no matter how far the long haul (and also doubles as a naughty girl tote, to boot). Available in black, creamy leopard and pink polka dots, the Bra (g) holds up to six bras (depending on the cup size, natch).
Visit www.bra-g.com.
 
 

Photo: misscoquette.com

Miss Coquette

The grim reality has set in: your closet reads like a dog-eared beach novel starring peasant skirts, pink Havaianas and stretched-out tissue tanks. But a Victorian blouse in a sexy jewel tone? Nope. How about a shrunken, velvet blazer? Not yet. A pair of dance floor fishnets, at the very least? Nada. Escape the craziness of downtown and cruise by Point Grey’s sweet ‘n sassy Miss Coquette to shop for fall, where you will enjoy a marked absence of thumping club music, clueless till girls and mass market merch. West Coast brands include Narcissist, Dace and Chulo Pony in addition to London’s cult status Nougat and a revolving selection of accessories, books, candles and chachkas. Just think of it as chic boutique heaven, folks.
4372 West 10th Ave., (604) 221-2888 or visit misscoquette.com.
 
 

Photo: komakino.ca

Komakino

Finally. Your boyfriend has somewhere new to shop for up-the-minute threads from the likes of Yohji Yamamoto, Raf Simons, Dirk Schonberger, Verri, Darkshadow, Derange Everything, Vivienne Westwood, Xavier Delcour, Anne Demeulemeester and Nice Collective. Vancouver’s new Komakino is aimed at the forward-minded, uber-hip male who isn’t shy about peg leg trousers or wearing saucy, random sayings on his sleeve. Just don’t expect a Barcelona chair, shag rug or cappuccino bar inside. This bare bones, installation-minded outpost is owner Campbell McDougall’s first stop of what looks look a long line of moveable Komakino tour locations. Focused on the product rather than the props, Komakino will up and move on (guerilla-style, as they say) with little notice. Hint: you’ve got ‘til January at this location. Hey man, we never hip was easy.
882 Homer Street or visit komakino.ca.

Shop with FLARE!
 

Photo: opensundaes.com

Open Sundaes

While you’re in the hood, wander down West 10th (towards Alma Street) to Open Sundaes for a guilt-free date with sweet-smelling fizzes, soaps and scrubs. In addition to beauty brands such as Mudlark, Jaqua Girls, Cake Beauty and Vancouver’s own Principessa, Open Sundaes’ Bakery Bath Treats Collection (handmade with essential oils) includes shea butter Body Frostings, Bath Frappes, glamour soaps (try the Almond Shortbread, sparkly Champagne, Hot Chocolate with a white swirl, Buttercream and Birthday Cake), Brown Sugar Bears (body scrubs dispensed from a bear-shaped honey pot) and Cupcake Bubble Baths (try the angel food cake with rainbow sprinkles, the peanut butter chocolate or the sleep-friendly nighty night with real frosting). See? Told you finding a last minute shower gift was easy. Just park and pay. Love that.
3742 West 10th Ave., (or 982 Denman St. downtown) or visit opensundaes.com.
 
 

Photo: chocolatefestival
.ca

West Coast Chocolate Festival

We’re giving you plenty of warning. From Chocolate Factory Tours (go, Lucy!) to a Willy Wonka-style Chocolate Chip Pancake Breakfast, the festival celebrating our universal obsession runs from October 15th-22nd at various locations around Port Coquitlam (translation: worth braving the #1 Highway for). So make like Juliette Binoche from Chocolat and pull on your sexy blue cardigan and a full skirt and get tasting. See you there.
Visit chocolatefestival.ca.