Cute 2012 Team Canada T-Shirt!

By Lisa Ovens

Well,  my Canucks have been knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so I now have a little more time on my hands. I was curious about the latest Team Canada Apparel from The Hudson's Bay and decided to have a look. The above t-shirt is definitely my favorite. It's the colorful crest that did it for me. I wasn't able to capture a larger example of it, so please click here to check it out....

"Canadian pride gets a retro-inspired makeover in this crest tee from HBC's Olympic Collection. The tee features vintage lettering combined with a colorful crest displaying iconic Canadian imagery".

It's all about the iconic Canadian imagery! Plus I find the crew neck to be refreshing change from the plunging necklines we often see in NHL clothing for women. The shirt cost $20 and comes in black, white, red or green.

One Year Later: Inside my 2010 Winter Olympics Box of Stuff

by Lisa Ovens

Well, there it is...my 2010 Winter Olympics Box of  Stuff.  If you are wondering why...please read the column below as an introduction. As you can see, Lisa's Big O stuff  didn't all fit inside. Locating more Olympic stuff in the far reaches of hockeyandhighheels.com's headquarters just didn't fit into the plan, so I strategically placed two: the Holland Heineken House Hat, and one of the many Petro Canada Olympic glasses that I own.

There it is, dumped out onto my 2010 Winter Olympics fleece blanket that conveniently folds up into a small pillow. That 's one item of Olympic stuff that's been frequently used. Some things that aren't used at all...

These pins...


and...



These other...


Trinkets...

I have a small army of CBC buttons that are in the plastic bag in the bottom corner of the above photo. Those were relatively easy to come by: every time I walked by the CBC's studio I was given one. Don't worry, at the third pin I was protesting, but those cheery "street team people" would have none of it!

Here you can see more of the paper items, like my Olympic visitor guide, some ticket stubs, various torch relay and hockey game cheering accessories, an Olympic scratch and win (I won $30), an un-chewed pack of Exel gum, and a wrist band and a server's note pad from Holland Heineken House. And speaking of Heineken...look at the hat...

A fabulous hat when you are in a Holland Heineken House and there's an Olympics going on in the background. And, being the hat person I am, I must admit, I have not worn the hat since Feb.19, 2010, the night my friends and I tore it up at Holland Heineken House. In my travels since the Olympics have ended, I have yet to see anyone else wearing this hat. And you know a few of those babies sold - there were only $15.00!

I do like knowing I have the newspaper with Canada's first Gold win on home soil featured on the cover (bottom right corner)...

That was a thrill for us Canucks, eh? So was claiming as our own, the hottest winter accessory in recent years...the red Olympic mittens.

I was just at the Hudson's Bay downtown store on Thursday, and they have the new look mittens available...

...and they also have the original mittens, but only for those with small hands.

Oh those mittens! I know I wasn't the only one running around for those. They sold out every day! But I finally hit it on the right day during the last week of the Olympics; had to pick up a pair for my good friend, and fellow hockey writer, Jan Snyder, down there in Houston, Texas. She got them for Christmas. She told me she took them to the NHL's 2011 Winter Classic featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals.  Apparently they kept her brother-in-law's hands warm, because he was one of those guys that arrived unprepared for what turned out to be a chilly evening.

As for my pair...never worn. But hey, there's always Sochi 2014!

So, everyone, as we'll be bombarded with Vancouver 2010 memories from the local media this coming week, don't forget to drag out you 2010 Winter Olympic Box of Stuff and show the souvenirs, the trinkets and the occasional piece of crap some love.

Oh yeah...Happy Hockey Day in Canada!

Piece of crap item not shown above: a flimsy, black ball cap advertising Parmesan cheese. Oh yes. You know you waited in line at the Italian House for that puppy, admit it! ;o)

2010 Vancouver Shopping Notes

Messenger bag at the Olympic Superstore

by Lisa Ovens

I had some free time to spend in downtown Vancouver today, and this is what caught my attention ...and oh, my camera died mid photo in the Ralph Lauren section at The Bay :o(   The photos shown are from a previous visit...

1) Bumped into two men with arm loads of red mittens at the Olympic Superstore. When asked "whatever are you going to do with all of those red mittens, " the older man replied "Give them away. Everybody wants me to bring something back and these are cheap!" So that's why the mittens sell out so fast...they are the ultimate cheap souvenir for tourists to buy!

2) Just outside the little white Olympic Superstore fence, mixed in with the Team USA Ralph Lauren Collection you'll find a new Embroidery Counter. For about $30 you can have most any country's flag or colours sewn onto a ball cap or a toque. In fact if you are in the mood to customize, they will sew the patches onto any Olympic merchandise purchased in the Superstore...customizing costs extra of course.

3) The Team Canada hockey section is pretty small and it's tucked away in a corner of the Superstore area.

4) I'm a hat person, and the selection of Olympic hats is pretty dismal.

5) Inside Pacific Centre, Le Chateau has a little bit of Canada inspired products in stock like ear muffs, hats and pin sets.

6) After walking Pacific Centre, the Olympic Superstore inside The Bay and several blocks along Granville Steet I have to say I think I overdosed on Canada stuff today. Seriously!

The 2010 and High Heels Tuesday Photo

By Lisa Ovens


One of the "quick change" changing room pods at the 2010 Superstore in the Hudson's Bay Downtown.

Could also be a terrific little place to share Olympic kisses with your sweetie, too...

Gimme Shelter: UBC Students Will!

By Lisa Ovens

2010 Count down clock...when it's not raining

Some exciting news from the University of British Columbia: a competition was held for architecture and planning students to see which team could come up with the best design for a temporary pavilion to be constructed on Granville Street between West Georgia and Dunsmuir Streets. The winners of the First Annual Spacemakers Competition will have the opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity to Vancouver and the world during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The teams had 24 hours to design a space that will dazzle Olympic enthusiasts, and keep them comfortable and dry should it be raining buckets in February. The pavilion, located on a pedestrian only downtown street, will be alive with people: it’s close to the entrances of Pacific Centre Mall, the Hudson’s Bay Company (2010 Olympic Superstore) and the entrance to the Granville Street Skytrain Station. An estimated 6000 people will be passing through the area daily during the games. Rain or Shine, it’s another venue to experience.

photo: ralphlauren.com

Speaking of the 2010 Olympic Superstore... I was passing through it the other day and noticed a “Team USA” apparel section under construction. Polo Ralph Lauren designed Team USA’s Closing Ceremony outfits, and they are looking pretty sharp. The merchandisers told me the full collection with be on display over the next two weeks. The Team USA department is actually located just outside of the little white fence dividing the Superstore from the “regular” Hudson's Bay departments on the main floor. When you eye ball the situation, Team USA is in the opposite corner from Team Canada’s corner. Let’s hope there aren’t any rumbles by the Shiseido counter.

Speaking of rain, it’s still soaking us, and is supposed to continue into the weekend. Perhaps Mother Nature is just using up February’s supply of rain now, so we’ll have beautiful, spring like conditions during the Olympics. It’s happened before....

One Way to Celebrate the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay

by Lisa Ovens

Let's say you entered in a contest to win an opportunity to be a 2010 Olympic Torch bearer, but you were not chosen. What's the next best thing? How about a Birks 2010 Olympic Torch Replica?

It's a scale model of the torch with a brushed aluminum base, stored  in a gorgeous, genuine Canadian Alder wood box. The replica torch is a limited edition piece (50,000) and the set includes a certificate of authenticity.
Cost:  CDN $295

Birks is the official supplier of jewelry for the 2010 Winter Olympic games. The name Birks goes back to the late 1800's in Canada. Generations of Canadians have received precious keepsakes in Birks blue boxes for birthdays, Christmases, graduations, weddings and those gifts "just because..."

Birks 2010 Olympic Collection website

Okay, let's say you you didn't make the torch bearer team, and the replica doesn't fit your budget. How about a nice 2010 Winter Olympic Torch scarf? These scarves are an acrylic/ polyester blend in beautiful rich, fall colors.

Cost: CDN $20.00

The Olympic Torch replica and scarves are both available at the 2010 Olympic Superstore in The Hudson's Bay, downtown Vancouver.

Happy Torch Bearing!!!!

It's Starting...

by Lisa Ovens

                                photo: Lisa Ovens

I spent some time in the newly expanded 2010 Winter Olympics Superstore at The Bay downtown this afternoon. If there are Vancouverites out there who need a shot of 2010 fever, this is the place to get it.

La Superboutique Olympique (en Francais)  is colourful, hot, cool and cozy all at the same time. I felt so, so athletic cruising through the aisles. It might have been the pumpin'  DJ tunes, or maybe the oversized images of snowboarders and skiiers that put me in such a great state of mind. Seeing the downtown store decked out like this should convince the locals that the pre-Olympic build up is in full swing.

photo: Lisa Ovens

The Canadian Olympic Team apparel section was missing something. Where are the sweaters?

I asked a staff member about the status on the sweaters. She said as of saturday afternoon they were sold out, along with the matching toques. Wow, all gone in two and a half days! There are two versions of the sweater: machine made (CDN $125) and hand knitted (CDN $350). She didn't have an E.T.A. on the next shipment.

I didn't have time to try on the clothes, but here is a guy's perspective on how he felt donning the cool threads.....

"As soon as you pull on these colours, you think about Canada and what it stands for - quiet determination, hard work and sharing the load... These are values all Canadians share. You think of heros like Gordie Howe, Terry Fox and Rick Hansen."  -Steve Yzeman, Executive Director Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey team

Canadian Athletes...this is your look....and ours too!

By Lisa Ovens

This is good. Not only do I love the new look for our Canadian Winter Olympic athletes, but I'm very impressed with the man modeling the collection! Steve Yzerman, you are looking very good!

Just for the female readers, at 2010andhighheels, I give you the guys. This cozy and sporty collection is only available at The Bay and Zellers stores. Check out the Bay's website here.

To see more and read the story behind the clothing, please visit olympic.ca    

The sweater below reminds of a beautiful Cowichan sweater my grandma knitted for me when I was 12 years old. I still have the sweater, correction, my sister has had it for like, the last ten years!

Now that we know what we are wearing this winter, The Hudson's Bay Company wants to know what we're made of. This is a cool contest....

Hey Canada, what are YOU made of?

Upload a story, photo or video. The best entry will win a trip for two to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games to watch the men’s gold medal ice hockey game, including flights, cash, 2010 Canadian Olympic Team Apparel and more!

Time to unleash your creativity, Canadians...check out the contest, and the latest entries at whatareyoumadeof.hbc.com



The Launch
 Here is a photo from the launch event earlier today at the 2010 Olympic store in the downtown Hudson's bay store. Unfortunately, yours truly wasn't able to attend, but I talked about it all day!

photo credits: olympic.ca, globaltv