Worth a trip to the big apple

• The spring 2011 Costume Institute exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, will be on view May 4 through July 31. The exhibition will celebrate the late Mr. McQueen’s extraordinary contributions to fashion. From his Central Saint Martins postgraduate collection in 1992 to his final runway presentation, which took place after his death in February 2010, Mr. McQueen challenged and expanded our understanding of fashion beyond utility to a conceptual expression of culture, politics, and identity.

1. 

Beautiful things

TEN

So here we are, a decade later.
When I opened the doors to my very own little beauty shop I was a mere 25 years old and had two babies under the age of three.

The year was 2001, and as most newly minted entrepreneurs, I had a vision, a truck load of creativity, and enough enthusiasm to take on the world…
…plus absolutely no idea what I was in for, which looking back was an unexpected benefit.

Now here I am. 2011. Ten years later, having weathered many storms and triumphed over the trials and tribulations of ten long winters in business.

This business has taught me more about people, leadership, and what success truly means than I could have ever hoped for. From the naivety that carried me through the initial years to the continual learning process and the wisdom that experience creates; it is truly more than I had ever bargained for. I have grown to have a deep sense of respect for the entrepreneurial spirit, and all those who follow its path

The “Good Ship” Hive has sailed through its fair share of rough seas, with many fantastic adventures along the way, and has arrived on the glorious, sunny horizon of today.

Within 10 years the journey has come full circle, and I can say whole heartedly that the salon I envisioned, the salon we have worked hard to make a cornerstone of Victoria life is today, the one I had always seen in my mind.
I suppose, like life itself, if you are willing to learn and open to growing, despite each curve ball thrown your way, you will become wiser, stronger and all together better as a result.
It us with great pride and honor that I invite you to celebrate this milestone with us. Hive is presently home to the best team of stylists I have ever worked with....I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Whatever changes may come our way in the future, this team has set itself miles ahead of ordinary, and you will go down in history as leaders in the industry.
It is with great esteem that I collect my memories and build our reputation as a salon.
It is an absolute joy and pleasure to arrive at work each day. The individual personalities and beauty that you all bring to the table make Hive not only a business concerned with making people beautiful, but you create a living, breathing, beautiful entity within itself. Thank you to all of the staff members who have contributed over the years, and to our current Hive family, with whom I share the excitement of this milestone.

The Hive Team:
Cristina
Leah
Shannon
Rachel
Don
Teneel
Bev
Lise
Petrina

And a huge thank you as well to all of the folks who have supported us over the years. Our sister from another mister… our brother from another mother… Our extended family:
Stephanie Hull- Centric photography
Brooke Semple-Seesaw design
Amber Larsen - design/photography
Claudia and Erin (Rebel Rebel/Bernstein & Gold)
Kylee Weber of Hemingway/Suasion
Cosmo and Leah Meens (entrepreneurs extraordinaire)
Josh Miller-Mole
Donna Dryer-Fish Salon
Marcy Ross-Morena Clothing
Karen Abbott-Bumble

Having an arsenal of fellow entrepreneurs to lend an ear and share support makes a world of difference. Thank you all for your wise words and inspiration over the years.

And lastly, but most importantly, a word to our clients:

Thank you for sharing your stories and your lives with us over these past ten years. I doubt that there is any other profession in the world that allows for such deep and personal bonds.
It is in this connection with all of you, and the satisfaction we get when we help you feel even more beautiful that makes this, our chosen career, such a success.

Yes, Ten years has given us a lot.
We have had the opportunity to work closely with Bumble and bumble which has opened the door to travel and further education, and a window into the greater world of style and beauty.
We have introduced the world of wig design to the Victoria salon community and have opened the door to the opportunity to showcase that in plays, fashion shows, exhibits and the Opera no less.
We have been featured both in digital media along with newspapers and magazines, and have most recently undertaken the appointment of editorial stylists for Y.A.M magazine (thanks guys!).
We have produced and been part of countless fashion shows. Ever, we are climbing towards the summit, and forging our name indelibly in the theatrical and editorial worlds.

And now, as this new chapter in our story is about to begin, Hive is perched on the edge of launch of our latest (and possibly greatest) conquest of the fashion and beauty world, stay tuned and be prepared to be amazed!


As a special commemoration of our 10th year birthday we are having two(2) exhibitions of our fashion photography, the first at Mole for the month of June and the second at Bean around the World starting July 11th.

AND IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH… JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE 10 FANTASTIC YEARS, WEDNESDAY JUNE 1st @ 7pm

SMITH’S PUBLIC HOUSE
Drink, Dining & DJs Including;

Marcy Ross & Katie Pearl
Emily & Robyn from Tapa bar
Claudia & Erin from Bernstein and Rebel
Shannon Lake
Tommy LaCroix

VICTORIA: IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING TEN YEARS (THANK YOU) - WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT DECADE WILL BRING!

Goodbye violet eyes.

No one will ever grace the screen with those breathtaking violet eyes again. Thank you for teaching me that if one marriage doesn't work out you try try again......a true romantic. Rest in peace.

Oh........ New York

When I step off the plane in New York I take a deep long breath. I breathe in that thick filthy air like most people do when they enter the forest or a beach. The hustle, noise, garbage and pollution wash over me like a Buddhist Zen kind of calm. New Yorkers have a certain pleasing way about them, they talk loudly and with their hands, they don't sugar coat everything to spare the feelings of the sensitive, they just say it, they walk quickly with purpose, unapologetic and productive.....that's my tribe. My recent journey into the world of photography and obsession with black & white in particular has reignited my deep and passionate love affair with New York City (not that it had ever really burnt out). I was raised on the juice of the big apple and although I can't thank my mom for the longevity of the relationship I can thank her for introducing us....me and Manhattan that is. When I was a little gal about 5 or so my mother was pursuing her career as a model in New York. My mother who has always been an eccentric wild woman brought back a picture of herself running down 5th ave. in an I heart New York T-shirt in a sea of yellow cabs. That photograph graced the walls of Pagliacci's for a good decade or so. My mother moved there when I was about 13 and attended the New York City School of Performing Arts That was so "Fame" to me. Around the age of 9, being the oddball that I was I began my fascination with old movies. I started with films like The Seven Year Itch and An Affair to Remember and moved on to Breakfast at Tiffany's, Taxi Driver, Woody Allen's Manhattan, Midnight Cowboy and of course my favorite The Way We Were....I have never been all that into the Au courant. From there my childhood love for this city mostly existed through the stories and photos from my mom and films. I made my first journey to the big city about 8 years ago and have been back several times. The last time I visited I made sure to eat a croissant and drink a latte outside Tiffany's....not that great after all. The films that depicted the heart and pulse of this great city never let me down. New york to me will always mean crisp long walks in Central park, great vegetarian grub in Greenwich Village, horse drawn carriage rides with my little girls, the Plaza, the Chelsea, Bumble, hot pretzels, great coffee, glamor, dirt and black and white. During a trip I took there a couple years ago for work I dreamed up my next great dream in a dirty ol' taxi ride to the grody ol' Laguardia airport. That trip was almost 4 years ago now and my resolve to realize my next great adventure has only grown stronger and after years of work, love, money and dreaming Barber and fritz is born. For the little bit of inspiration and energy I take with me each time I leave this great city I thank you New York..............My longest love affair yet.

Just another Sunday in the trenches.

love is a battlefield.

Ahhh, gone are the good ol' days when prostitutes only had to dance with their Johns and you could fight off scary gold toothed pimps with your killer dance moves.

Irina Werning - photographer

Thank you for finding this Cristina, What a beautiful concept, well executed!