Oh how I love clothes. Really, if there is one thing in life that I know will make a grim day bright it’s a soft, pretty sweater, or that great jacket that makes me feel super confident and collected.

I generally think of myself as a fairly practical woman – rarely extravagant. But, splurging on something gorgeous – well, if I’m going to consume, it’ll more than likely be in the form of clothes.

That said, I’ve been thinking a lot about greening my wardrobe with fabrics. But, it’s only been in the last couple of months – since stores like Jipsi Clothing Movement opened in downtown Courtenay and BE on Sixth was purchased by B.C.-made lover Erin Dean that I started to get to know Vancouver designers.

Then one of the fantastic parts of my trip to Vancouver a few weeks ago happened to be a tour of some of the hottest designer studios and stores in Gastown where great West Coast clothing designers like Allison Wonderland and Claudia Schulz hang their hats and weave their magic.

We hung out for a while with Wendy de Kruyper, who owns my now most favorite store in Gastown - Dream - and I was so excited to see lots of funky Vancouver designers in her store (she’s all about local designers) that I recognized…not because I am some fashionista. But, because they can now be found in downtown Courtenay.

When Erin Dean bought Be On Sixth from Jennifer Barth about a month ago, she did so with a vision – to bring Vancouver designer fashions to the Comox Valley. I wandered in a couple of weeks ago and melted at the sight of sweet, wearable and dare-I-say affordable vintage-inspired pieces that were simple, funky and super versatile – so West Coast. I’ve been digging Jipsi Clothing Movement’s all-Canadian style too. But, I double melted with the vintage vibe. Oh my.

Just to note, BE does advertise on Our Big Earth. Erin didn’t pay for or solicit us to write about her store.

One of the biggest scores I found there was that she now carries Black Drop Designs – an incredible line of pendants and earrings created from photo etchings cast in acrylic. Vancouver jewelry artist Jade Pellerin is super talented and I’ve been admiring her work from a far for ages.

The other for me is one of my friend crushes in the fashion universe, Vancouver designer Allison Wonderland. Her clothes are so gorgeous and so very me, I would happily have an entire AW wardrobe full of vintage-inspired pieces that I could actually wear running around every day.

I’m also in very serious need of a great dress to wear to several holiday parties that won’t necessarily look like I wore the same dress to all of them. There are so many funky jacket and wrap options, I am totally digging the Vancouver-designed pieces this year.

Erin and BE are seriously taking shopping local to the next level, including great limited edition pieces from designers like:

• Flora & Fauna
• We3
• Jennifer Glasgow
• Maudlin & Joy
• Dru’s Design
• Peel
• Togs Design
• Two of Hearts
• Floating Gold Iceberg (gorgeous accessories and skirts out of Victoria)
• Carny Love
• Namoda
• Dear Pony (eeep, more vintage love)

So, if you are lamenting a lack of time, funds and a babysitter to hit Vancouver for a little style therapy, head on over to BE. It’s tucked away on Sixth Street across from Atlas Cafe in downtown Courtenay and although it’s off the beaten path, so worth the trip around the corner.

Happy shopping!