The Desigual Fall-Winter 2025 collection has arrived at Angel
Angel has lots of new men’s styles from the Desigual Fall-Winter 2025 collection, including a cotton canvas jacket with Japanese prints, a red canvas jacket with contrasting faux-leather brown collar, and amazing prints on new shirts, T-shirts, jeans & sweaters.
Desigual is a unique Barcelona clothing line with bold prints and colours. We have dozens of new styles for Fall 2025, all on sale 10% off. And 30% to 50% off Desigual from previous seasons for men & women. We also have Desigual for kids (all styles 30% off).
Desigual man TERNI cotton canvas jacket with patchwork of Japanese prints. $379. Fall 2025 collection.
Desigual man TERNI cotton canvas jacket with patchwork of Japanese prints. $379. Fall 2025 collection.Desigual man TERNI cotton canvas jacket with patchwork of Japanese prints. $379. Fall 2025 collection.Desigual man TERNI cotton canvas jacket with patchwork of Japanese prints. $379. Fall 2025 collection.
Desigual red cotton canvas jacket with zip pockets and contrasting collar. $339. FW2025.
Desigual red cotton canvas jacket with zip pockets and contrasting collar. $339. FW2025.Desigual red cotton canvas jacket with zip pockets and contrasting collar. $339. FW2025.Desigual red cotton canvas jacket with zip pockets and contrasting collar. $339. FW2025.
Desigual 2-Tone brown cotton jacket. Was $249, now 50% off ($124.50). FW2025 collection.
Desigual 2-Tone brown cotton jacket. $249. FW2025 collection.Desigual 2-Tone brown cotton jacket. $249. FW2025 collection.Desigual 2-Tone brown cotton jacket. $249. FW2025 collection.
Desigial DINO reversible cotton-polyester blend short overcoat. Was 339.95, now $237.30. Summer 2025.
Desigual FRUIT short-sleeve viscose shirt. $139.95. Fall-Winter 2025 collection.
Desigual FRUIT short-sleeve viscose shirt. $139.95. Fall-Winter 2025 collection.Desigual FRUIT short-sleeve viscose shirt. $139.95. Fall-Winter 2025 collection.Desigual FRUIT short-sleeve viscose shirt. $139.95. Fall-Winter 2025 collection.
Desigual FRUIT black background short-sleeve shirt. $139.95.FW2025.
Desigual FRUIT black background short-sleeve shirt. $139.95.FW2025.Desigual FRUIT black background short-sleeve shirt. $139.95.FW2025.Desigual FRUIT black background short-sleeve shirt. $139.95.FW2025.
SOLD OUT: Desigual NEWSPAPER long-sleeve cotton shirt. $169. FW2025 collection.
Desigual SUN cotton navy blue T-shirt with patchwork on back. $139.95. Fall 2025 men’s collection.
Desigual SUN cotton shirt navy blue with patchwork. $139.95. Fall 2025 men’s collection.Desigual SUN cotton shirt navy blue with patchwork. $139.95. Fall 2025 men’s collection.
Desigual man I LOVE WHO I AM cotton orange-red T-shirt. $99.95. Fall 2025 collection.
Desigual man I LOVE WHO I AM cotton orange-red T-shirt. $99.95. Fall 2025 collection.Desigual man I LOVE WHO I AM cotton orange-red T-shirt. $99.95. Fall 2025 collection.Desigual man I LOVE WHO I AM cotton orange-red T-shirt. $99.95. Fall 2025 collection.
The new Desigual by Paris fashion designer Christian Lacroix has arrived at Angel, Vancouver’s only Desigual Wow Shop boutique. Monsieur Lacroix brings us faux-fur jackets, a matching purse and lots of T-shirts and sweaters for the Fall-Winter 2025 season.
Below are the styles we have in stock so far, with more coming soon. If there’s a style you’re looking for, we might be able to order it in for you – call Angel at 604-681-0947.
DESIGUAL CLOUD faux-fur jacket by Christian Lacroix. $469. Fall-Winter 2025 collection.
Desigual faux-fur bag designed by Christian Lacroix. $249. FW2025.
Desigual HOUNDSTOOTH jacket (wool-poly blend) by Christian Lacroix. $339. FW2025 collection.
Desigual zip-up “Browns” jacket (wool-poly blend) by Christian Lacroix. $379. FW2025.
Desigual YIGAL zip-up dress by Christian Lacroix. $349. FW2025 collection.
Desigual TAPIZ thin-knit sweater by Christian Lacroix. $169.95. FW2025.
Desigual PARED T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. $99.95. FW2025.
Desigual BIRD sweater designed by Christian Lacroix. $309. FW2025.
Desigual DRAGON T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. $99.95. Fall-Winter 2025 collection.
Desigual ABYSS dress by Christian Lacroix. $209. Fall-Winter 2025 collection.
Desigual NENUFAR viscose-linen sweater by Christian Lacroix. $169.95. Fall-Winter 2025.
Desigual unisex shirt ($169) and Boca pants ($249) designed by Christian Lacroix. FW2025.
We’ll have more styles by Lacroix later this Fall-Winter 2025 season.
I loved this song when I first heard it – it reminded me of Kate Bush, an amazing singer from the 1980s. I was surprised to find out the song, Pink Pony Club, was five years old but suddenly shot to No. 1 after singer Chappell Roan performed the song at this year’s Grammy Awards:
Desigual for Men, Spring-Summer 2025 Collection, now at Angel
Angel has a great collection of Desigual for Spring-Summer 2025. Lots of new sweaters, shirts, jackets and pants, now on sale 30% off (the prices listed below are before the sale discount is applied).
We also have Desigual for men from previous seasons on sale up to 50% off, including winter jackets, raincoats and some Desigual shorts and men’s swimsuits from last summer (sizes are limited)
The Desigual Spring-Summer 2025 collection has arrived at Angel, with more coming later this season. The new collection is on sale 30% off, with Desigual from previous seasons on sale up to 50% off. Below are the New Arrivals in stock so far (the prices listed below are before the sale price)..
Desigual is always big on denim because that’s how the company began – with deconstructed denim jeans made into a jacket on the island of Ibiza. But it always has an exotic twist, which this season is embroidery, prints and patches on denim jackets. We also have lots of new dresses and tops for Spring, with swimsuits coming as the weather gets warmer. We do have swimwear in stock, and a few swimsuit from last summer.
Desigual designed by Christian Lacroix for Spring-Summer 2025 is here.
If you’re looking for a Desigual style we don’t have in stock, we might be able to order it in for you – call Angel at 604-681-0947. We ship worldwide.
TheDesigual Spring-Summer 2025 collection has arrived at Angel
Desigual MISSOURI cotton denim jacket with embroidered flowers. $339. SS2025.
Desigual VIRGINIA combined black blazer with denim. $409. SS2025 collection.
Desigual MUNICH cotton denim midi dress with straps, side zipper and asymmetrical hem. $249.
Desigual COLLAGE cotton blazer jacket by Christian Lacroix. $249. Spring-Summer 2025 collection.We can order in the matching dress.
Desigual ARKANSAS cotton trenchcoat with waterproof parka sleeves. $409. SS2025.
Desigual DES MOINES detachable two-tone trench coat. $409. SS2025. It’s like three coats in one– the top jacket comes off and can be worn separately, leaving a sleeveless trench coat.
Desigual VENECIA black viscose dress with graffiti. $189.95. SS2025.
Desigual VENECIA black viscose dress with graffiti. $189.95. SS2025.Desigual VENECIA black viscose dress with graffiti. $189.95. SS2025.Desigual VENECIA black viscose dress with graffiti. $189.95. SS2025.
Desigual URUGUAY long striped green viscose dress. $209. SS2025.
Desigual URUGUAY long striped green viscose dress. $209. SS2025.Desigual URUGUAY long striped green viscose dress. $209. SS2025.Desigual URUGUAY long striped green viscose dress. $209. SS2025.
Desigual URUGUAY short-sleeve green striped viscose T-shirt $129.95. SS2025.
The Uruguay dress & top reminded me of thestripes at this Vancouver pool, locatedat 8 Smithe Mews on False Creek (North), Vancouver.
Desigual TOURS woven cotton azul blue dress with cutout palm trees. $189. Made in Sri Lanka. SS2025.
Desigual SOFIA combined cotton midi dress. $209. SS2025.
Desigual cotton money/passport belt bag with pocket. $79.95. SS2025.
Desigual HALF VENECIA mini cross-body bag with two straps. $129.95. SS2025.
Desigual DOUBLE SUEDE leather belt. $129. SS2025.
Desigual FANTASIA SUN belt. $129.95. SS2025.
Angel also has lots of Desigual boots, running shoes and bags from previous seasons, now on sale 30% off with some 50% off. Here’s a sampling of what we have in stock, with limited sizes. The first two pair, the Retro Red leather running shoes and the xxxx Ballerinas, are from the SS2025 collection.
Desigual RETRO RED leather running shoes. $249. SS2025.
Desigual JOLENE silver metallic embroidered cow leather cowboy boots. Was $569, now $398. FW2024.
Desigual TRACK COMBAT nylon boots. Was $269, now $188. FW2023.
Desigual TREKKING boots with watercolour print. $269. FW2023.
Desigual high Chelsea boots with Spanish graffiti. Was $269.95, now $188 One pair left. FW2022
Desigual DIGITAL JOGGER newspaper collage running shoes. Was $205, now $143. Leather & nylon uppers.
Desigual RETRO split-leather orange and pink running shoes. Was $209.95. now $147.
Desigual denim running shoes with heart and studs. Was $205, now $143.50.
Desigual Trekking running shoes sneakers. Was $249, now $174. SS2024 collection.
Desigual ANIMAL PRINT high-top running shoes. Was $255, now $178. FW2023.
COMING SOON: Desigual BARCELONA sleeveless white cotton midi dress with postcards print. $249. SS2025.
Earlier this week, I watched actress Amanda Seyfried play dulcimer and sing Joni Mitchell’s song California on the Jimmy Fallon show and realized she would be perfect to play a young Joni Mitchell, when Joni was living in a cave in Matala on the Greek island of Crete, crafting some of her best-known songs for her masterpiece album, Blue. Someone has got to do the same movie treatment of Joni that Bob Dylan got in A Complete Unknown.
Joni played the dulcimer on four songs on Blue, released in 1971. She has a house outside Vancouver on what is known as the “Sunshine Coast.” Here is a reminiscence of Vancouver musician Rick Scott, a long-time dulcimer player, of meeting Joni Mitchell and the events that led to Joni purchasing a dulcimer from Scott’s friend and then band member JR Stone (from the Joni Mitchell archives):
“In 1971, I was hitchhiking with my wife Sue, my friend JR Stone and my dog Mousse up the Sechelt (Sunshine) Coast of British Columbia. It was tough for three hippies with a dog to catch a ride, but after about half an hour a woman driving a beat up Ford Pinto pulled over. Big and shaggy, Mousse immediately climbed into the front seat and laid his head down in the driver’s lap. JR slid in next to him, Sue and I got in the back and we headed off down the road.
“The woman was patting Mousse’s head and complimenting us on what a nice dog he was. She asked us how far we were going… about 30 kilometers to Pender Harbour. Between her question and our ability to answer, there was a group realization that the driver was Joni Mitchell. Each of us took turns trying to articulate the name of our destination, but all that came out was stammering. When we finally managed to tell her, she said she could take us almost all the way but she had to stop off at Lord Jim’s Lodge to pick up a friend. She said they might go to the pub and if we were still hitchhiking when they came out they would give us a ride the rest of the way. I think we just sat there staring at Joni Mitchell stroking Mousse’s head. I was fantasizing that in the next life I might be lucky enough to come back as a dog.
“When we got to the turnoff she pulled over and as we were getting out she noticed my instrument case and asked what it was. When I told her it was a dulcimer she said, “Way out, can I see it?” The next thing I knew she was examining my dulcimer with great interest. JR Stone is a soft spoken North Carolina mountain man of few words, so I volunteered the information that he had built my instrument. She beamed at him and examined the dulcimer even more closely. After a few minutes she asked if he would build her one. With a great deal of difficulty he finally managed to answer. “Sure.”
“As Joni left us, she renewed her offer to take us further later and asked JR where she could find him. We told her where we would be for the weekend. We couldn’t believe what had happened and didn’t think we’d ever see her again. Nonetheless, we stopped hitchhiking and just stood by the road. An hour later she came back down the road with her friend in the passenger seat and stopped to pick us up. Paying no mind to the passenger, Mousse jumped onto his lap and settled back down with his head on Joni. We all squeezed in the back and she introduced us to Graham (Nash). She drove us to Pender Harbour and the next day came to visit to discuss dulcimer specifications with JR. I was amazed when she took up my dulcimer, tuned all the strings to the same note and proceeded to play, A Case Of You from her BLUE album. It seems ‘less is more’ is a very dulcimer thing.
“Over the next three weeks JR built her an exquisite mountain dulcimer. But it took him another week to deliver it because he was so shy. She was so delighted she paid him a hundred dollars more than his original quote, which I think was $300. Over 20 years later, in 1996, I was reading a Rolling Stone article about Joni and in the accompanying photograph there she was with JR’s dulcimer hanging on the wall behind her. I must admit I felt a twinge of jealousy that JR got in Rolling Stone before I did. JR Stone still lives and builds amazing instruments in Boone, North Carolina. He has built me several four string dulcimers and a 6 string and bass dulcimer as well.”
JR Stone, Shari Ulrich and Rick Scott in a triple-S band called Shari, Scott & Stone.
At the time. Rick Scott and JR Stone were in a three-piece band called Shari, Scott & Stone. When Stone left to return to his home in North Carolina, Joe Mock took his place and the band was called Pied Pumkin String Ensemble, which I saw many times over the years.
Rick was also a good friend of a dear friend of mine, Taki Bluesinger (real name Takao Sekiguchi). Rick and Taki met in Japan and Taki. a photographer, later moved to Vancouver, where he and Rick lived in the New Age Social Club on Powell Street – a whole floor of an apartment building a few blocks east of my current store, in what was once known as Japantown.
For some reason, this song popped into my head: Hooka Tooka by Chubby Checker from 1963. My brother and I would sing this song in the back seat of my dad’s 1956 Chevy, coming back from a family dinner at my aunt’s huge house in New Westminster (my aunt had a gardener, who lived above her garage, who my brother and me always went to visit); we always sang Hookah Dooka, which we thought was the name of the song, which didn’t make much sense, but we loved singing it. The song was one year before Chubby Checker released The Twist, the biggest dance craze of the 1960s.
One day Steven Tyler of Aerosmith walked through the door of my Angel store and announced: “You’re my Angel.” I had no idea who he was. He asked me if I could hand-paint two outfits his wife made that he wanted to wear onstage each night. I was a bit confused, not knowing who this guy was but agreeing to hand-paint his costumes. I told Steven that I had to go in the back room for a minute, where two painters were painting T-shirts. “Has anyone heard of a guy named Steven of Arrowroot?” (Okay, I know, but I had never heard of the band). I asked the painters.. “Is it Steven Tyler of Aerosmith?”replied Justine, our youngest painter, who was dating Dave Gregg, guitarist with the Vancouver punk band DOA. She peeked out the door and looked at the dude standing at yhe counter. “That’s Steven Tyler,” she said. Steven said he had just written a song called Angel. Here is an early studio version of the song, recorded in Vancouver:
We’ve just received the first shipment of the Desigual Spring-Summer 2025 collection by Christian Lacroix, who has designed a lot of collage pieces this season. Here’s what we have so far, with more coming, as the weather warms up. If there’s a Lacroix piece you’re looking for and we don’t have it, we might be able to order it in for you. Call Angel at 604-681-0947.
Desigual by Christian Lacroix, Spring-Summer 2025 collection
Desigual COLLAGE dress designed by Christian Lacroix. $269. SS2025.
Desigual NEWSPAPER COLLAGE sleeveless dress by Christian Lacroix. Made in Morocco. $249. SS2025.
Desigual Tropic Lithography cotton dress by Christian Lacroix. $209. SS2024.
Desigual CELLS layered blue & gold dress by Christian Lacroix. Made in Morocco. $189.95. SS2025.
Desigual CELLS long blue & gold dress by Christian Lacroix. $309. SS2025.
Desigual PAISLEY MESH dress by Christian Lacroix. $249. SS2025.
Desigual MELTED PAISLEYS midi dress by Christian Lacroix. $189.95. SS2025.
Desigual ONDAS cotton dress by Christian Lacroix. $169. SS2025.
Desigual CELULAS trousers ($189.95) and matching blouse ($169.95) by Christian Lacroix. SS2025.
Desigual TROPICAL HAWAII T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. $169.95. SS2025.
Desigual TROPICAL HAWAII T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. $169.95. SS2025.
Desigual RECORTES cotton shirt with zip front by Christian Lacroix. $189.95. SS2025.
Desigual RED COLLAGE viscose T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. $139.95. SS2025.
Desigual NEWSPAPER button-front T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. Made in Morocco. $139. SS2025.
SOLD OUT (BUT MORE COMING): Desigual COLLAGE buckle canvas bag. $139.95. SS2025.
Desigual COLLAGE thin-knit linen-viscose sweater by Christian Lacroix. $169.95. SS2025.
We still have some Desigual stock, in limited sizes, by Lacroix at Angel from previous seasons, including this faux fur coat from Fall-Winter 2024:
Desigual LUBLIN faux fur coat by Christian Lacroix. Was $469, now 30% off = $328. FW2024.
Desigual SURREAL BLOSSOM midi dress by Lacroix. Was $209, now $146.30. FW2024.
Desigual AIRPLANE T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. Was $99.95, now $70. FW2024 collection.
Desigual SURREAL BLOSSOM shirt by Christian Lacroix, made in Morocco. Was $129.95, now $91.
Desigual PETALS dress by Christian Lacroix. Was $299, now $209. FW2024 collection.
Desigual COEURS knit polo shirt by Christian Lacroix. Was $139.95, now $98. FW2024.
Desigual oversize PADDED COAT by Christian Lacroix. Was $409, now $205. FW2024.
Desigual BLUE viscose midi dress by Christian Lacroix. Was $309, now $216.
Desigual CUBIST Mickey Mouse cotton hoodie sweatshirt by Christian Lacroix. Was $209, now $146. Only S left.Desigual OVERSIZE MICKEY MOUSE cotton hoodie sweatshirt by Christian Lacroix. Was $205.95, now $144.
Desigual ORCHID linen-viscose pullover sweater by Christian Lacroix. $169.95. SS2024.
Desigual SALZBURG jacquard oversize landscape sweater by Christian Lacroix. Was $295, now $206.
Desigual SMALL LIPS backpack by Christian Lacroix. Was $169.95, now $118.
Coming Soon from Barcelona, the home of Desigual (actually Barceloneta Beach) these cotton trousers with a collage print designed by Christian Lacroix, the Paris fashion icon. There’s also a matching shirt.
NEW ARRIVALS: Desigual BOCA cotton trousers with collage print by Christian Lacroix. $249. SS2025.
I was driving in my yellow car and this song came on CBC FM and I instantly fell in love with it (I hear John Coltrane‘s A Love Supreme in the piano runs, but maybe triple time tempo – Michael Torke: TELEPHONE BOOK, 1. The Yellow Pages:
We Love To Be Different: The Desigual Fall-Winter 2024 Collection.
Desigual was born in Barcelona in 1984, after a birthing process on the island of Ibiza, where company founder Thomas Meyer started deconstructing and upcycling old denim jeans to make a fabulous new jacket with a patchwork of faded denim and not so old denim in darker shades of blue.
Desigual’s headquarters is located on Barceloneta Beach, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on palm trees, sandy beaches and the Mediterranean blue sea, which combine to remind its dozens of designers every day that La Vida es Chula – Life is Cool. Desigual has a positive, non-conformist spirit. Their founder defines the tribe’s DNA as Radical Optimism.
This year’s season’s theme is: We Love To Be Different, celebrating 40 years of Desigual’s adventurous originality.
We just received our first shipment of the Desigual Spring-Summer 2025 collection, so stay tuned to our Instagram @angel_of_gastown, where we post new styles daily. The 2025 collection now is on sale 10% off.
This post start swith new Desigual styles designed by famed Paris fashion icon Christian Lacroix, then shows to new Desigual for women and then new Desigual for men.
The Fall 2024 collection is on sale 30% to 50% off, with Desigual from previous seasons up to 60% off. All Desigual for kids is 30% off.
Desigual PETALS dress by Christian Lacroix. $299. FW2024 collection.
Desigual PENSEE long-sleeve mini dress with pleats, lilacs & ruffles by Christian Lacroix. $209. FW2024 collection.Made in Morocco.
Desigual PENSEE T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. $129.95. FW2024 collection.Desigual PENSEE T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. $129.95. FW2024 collection.
Desigual CAMO PETALS sweater by Christian Lacoix. $139.95. FW2024.
SOLD OUT: The Desigual PENSEE shirt designed by Christian LacrioX. Fall-Winter 2024.
SOLD OUT: Desigual PENSEE shirt designed by Christian Lacroix. $209. Fall-Winter 2024 Collection.
Desigual oversize padded jacket designed by Christian Lacroix Fall-Winter 2024 Collection.Desigual oversized Padded Coat designed by Christian Lacroix. $409. Fall-Winter 2024 Collection.
Desigual LUBLIN faux fur coat by Christian Lacroix. $469. FW2024.
Desigual Maxflower button-up pink midi dress by Christian Lacroix. $299. Fall-Winter 2024 Collection.
Desigual SURREAL BLOSSOM midi dress by Christian Lacroix. $209. FW2024.
NEW: Desigual SURREALBLOSSOM shirt by Christian Lacroix, made in Morocco. $129.95.
Out of Stock: Desigual POSTERS short skirt by Christian Lacroix. $189. Desigual FW2024 collection.
Desigual AIRPLANE T-shirt by Christian Lacroix. $99.95. FW2024 collection.
Desigual SURREAL AIRPLANE cotton sweatshirt by Christian Lacroix. $249. FW2024.
Desigual POSTERS printed-sleeves sweatshirt by Christian Lacroix. $209. FW2024.The skirt just arrived..
OUT OF STOCK:Desigual POSTER woven cotton coat by Christian Lacroix. $519. FW2024.
Desigual SCRIBBLE long scarf by Christian Lacroix. $129.95. AW2024.
New Desigual Bardot neckline sweater designed by Christian Lacroix, Fall-Winter 2024 collection.
Desigual COEURS knit polo shirt by Christian Lacroix. $139.95. FW2024.
Desigual LYON faux-fur-jacket with zip-off knit sleeves. $339. FW2024.
Desigual RÓTERDAM bomber jacket with woven floral top and sleeves. $299. FW2024.
Desigual DIJON two-piece black midi dress. $409. Fall-Winter 2024 collection.
Desigual LOVE LIFE arty T-shirt. Made in Morocco. $99.95. FW2024.
Desigual OREGON female faces viscose dress. $139.95. Fall 2024 Collection.
Desigual LOIUSVILLE cotton mini dress. $189.95. Fall 2024 Collection.
Desigual MIAMI midi dress with straps, made in Morocco. $209. FW2024.
Desigual NIZA long coat. $469. Fall-Winter 2024 collection.
OUT OF STOCK: Desigual AMBERES purple wool coat. $379. FW2024 collection.
OUT OF STOCK: Desigual NAPOLES long plaid wool-poly blend overcoat. $409. Fall-Winter 2024 collection.Also available in orange – One size left of the orange plaid below.
Desigual NEBRASKA cotton shirt with B&W urban print. $169.95. FW2024.
Desigual ARGIDER black cotton T-shirt. $95. FW2024.
Desigual MAX white cotton patchwork shirt. $189.95. FW2024.
Desigual JAPAN CULTURE blue cotton T-shirt. $99.95. FW2024.Also comes in black (see below).
Desigual ANUAR black cotton hoodie sweatshirt. $209. FW2024.
Desigual ARMANDO pink cotton T-shirt with gradient effect. $99.95. Fall 2024.
OUT OF STOCK: Desigual SAMSON long-sleeve Mickey Mouse cotton shirt. $169.95. FW2024.
Desigual DAKOTAN blue illustrated cotton T-shirt. $99.95.
July 25, 2024 update: Angel just received our last shipment of Desigual Summer 2024 styles that we sold out of earlier. We have a few of these items in stock, on sale 20% off:
You may have noticed the Desigual “Birmingham” sweater above is listed as a “tutti-frutti” colour, an Italian term for “all fruit” in ice cream. But I always think of Little Richard‘s first hit, Tutti Futti, recorded in 1955 – it was recorded in 15 minutes, in three takes, and changed the history of rock and roll. To hear the backstory about how the lyrics, originally about sex, were tamed down to get radio airplay, click here. Little Richard was wild on stage, jumping on the piano, singing and dancing -a big inspiration for Prince’s stage act. Here is a rather sedate performance of Tutti Frutti for a 1956 film:
The Desigual “Santi” shirt posted near the bottom of the Desigual men’s styles has a seemingly handwritten lyric “Wild thing, you make my heart sing” from a Troggs song,Wild Thing. Jimi Hendrix played a wild version in 1967 at the Monteray Pop Festival, starting off with guitar feedback that the world had never seen or heard before. Jimi spent part of his early childhood in Vancouver; his father was from Vancouver and for a few years Jimi went to elementary school here and lived with his grandmother, a cook at Vie’s Chicken and Steak House, a 5 pm to 5 am late-night joint in Hogan’s Alley, then a predominantly black neighbourhood; it was frequented by Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne,Sammy Davis Jr,Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Lou Rawls,Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Diana Ross & the Supremes. The late-night diner was on the bottom floor of a small two story house at 209 Union Street. It was also a popular spot for white folk who had been out on the town, had a few drinks and were looking for a late-night eatery. Vie’s was a welcoming spot. I went to high school with a friend whose grandmother owned Vie’s and his mother worked there. Vie was born on Saltspring Island, from a pioneering B.C. family who were descendants of free blacks from California.
In 1858, free Blacks who had ended up in California from various parts of the United States became increasingly concerned about the discriminatory racist laws that were being enacted and feared for their safety. They began to explore possible safe havens to settle in and delegations were sent out from San Francisco to look for prospective places. One group came to then British Colony of Vancouver Island. They met with Governor James Douglas to find out how they would be received. The Governor, the son of a Scottish father and free West Indian mother, told them they would be welcome and fairly treated. The colony had abolished slavery. They could purchase and pre-empt land, their children could go to school. After seven years they could become a British citizen by taking an oath of allegiance, giving them the right to vote, sit as a juror, and be treated equally under British law. While the British colonies of the Pacific Northwest were overrun with migrants from all lands on the quest for gold, this black community sought freedom and political enfranchisement as much as fortune. So by the spring of 1859, 400 to 600 free Blacks had landed in Victoria. Jimi embodied their strength, spirit and he was an amzing trail-blazer to this day:
Don’t forget: You Only Get What You Give; this song was first to use the term “frenemies” (people who you think are your friends but they work against you). This song and what is below are the songs I was listening to while doing the tedious job of posting Desigual photos of new arrivals and style descriptions. I mention if the garment was made in Morocco because that is my next holiday, or maybe Oaxhaca :
Don’t Forget: You Get What You Give, the OG by the New Radicals
Here’s a cool version by a Gastown neighbour, deejay Felix Cartel:
Gastown DJ Felix Cartel’s remix of You Get What You Give
Westside DJs’ remix:
Daft Punk mashup with Daft’s One More Time and You Get What You Give at 4:01:
Daft Punk mashup One More Time with the New Radicals’ You Get What You Give at 4:01:
After this, I feel Deee-Lite-full (notice she’s wearing Fluevog Shoes, which started in 1970 at my store at 2 Powell St):
Miss Deeelite
This song gives me immense delight, seeing Joni Mitchell standing with her musician friends, singing to Elton John, his hubby & lyricist Bernie Taupin.
Okay, I’m going way back in rock and roll history into the DooWop era, with a song called Little Darlin’ by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs from 1960, followed by his million-seller hit from 1967, Stay, a holdover from the Doo Wop song era:
Maurice died last month. Just recently, I found this “live” version and didn’t realize the biggest guy did the falsetto.
This is Jackson Browne‘s version, with the late great pedal steel guitarist (along with 82 other instruments he could play) David Lindley singing a falsetto chorus:
Wow, did I get off track. I wanted to highlight this guy, David Lindley, and his band El Rayo-X (he stole the name from a Mexican wrestler), perhaps the weirdest/most wonderful band to come out ofTopanga Canyon. There a lyric in this song that always gets my imagination going: “…his old lady shoots up freeway signs.” Is that good behaviour, or just good songwriting? We will never know because the songwriter, Bob “Frizz” Fuller, and Lindley are both no longer in this world:
The new Desigual Spring-Summer 2024 collection for women has arrived from Barcelona.
This is the 40th anniversary of Desigual, which began on the island of Ibiza and now is based on Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona. It continues to draw its inspiration from the Mediterranean sea, the sun and love of life as if it’s an endless summer.
Here are the Summer styles this season.The new collection is on sale 30% off.
Desigual JUNGLE swimwear dress, made in Spain. $169.95. Spring-Summer 2024 collection.
Desigual TROPICAL LEAVES viscose swimwear wrap dress. $169.95. Made in Morocco. SS2024.
Desigual is celebrating is 40th anniversary this year. Owner Thomas Meyer started his clothing line on the island of Ibiza in 1984. The company’s headquarters now is on Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona – I visited there years ago and the building is home to 800 designers, executives and other staff, including our North American liaison rep. It has floor-to-ceiling windows – all you can see is sand, palm trees and the Mediterranean, with Morocco somewhere on the other side of the sea.
So that’s what’s coming in so far from the SS2024 season for women. If you’re looking for a Desigual style that we don’t have, we might be able to order it in for you. Call Jackie at 604-681-0947.
We love what we’ve ordered for Summer. And we’re also excited about what we’ve already ordered for Fall-Winter 2024. This video is a sneak peak at the Desigual Fall-Winter 2024 line, and also features some highlights from the previous year:
Sneak peak at Fall-Winter 2024 styles and some highlights of 2023
Gastown is offering three hours of free parking, once a week
The Rolling Stones will perform in Vancouver this summer, on July 5. I expect the Desigual Stones T-shirts will be be sold out at Angel by then. Here is a Lou Reed song, I’m Waiting For The Man, released two days ago by Keith Richards:
This song popped up in my email recently – Doctor My Eyes, an old Jackson Browne song, played by an older Jackson Browne. What I like about it is Browne is joined by musicians and singers from around the world – the sitar just adds something special, as do those two women from Jamaica.
Jackson Browne had a guitarist in his band, who played a pedal steel guitar on the original version of the above song (and he played more than 80 other instruments), the late David Lindley, who put out a 1981 debut album with his band El Rayo-X, a name he stole from a Mexican wrestler. This is Mercury Blues, a mix of Cuba, ZZ Top & Chuck Berry:
In 1967, David Lindley was a studio session guitarist on this debut album, Songs by Leonard Cohen:
Leonard Cohen, Suzanne. He touched her perfect body with his mind.
By the Time I Get to Phoenix, remade by Isaac Hayes, with a long rap intro (8 minutes and 40 seconds) before he starts singing:
Desigual by Christian Lacroix Spring-Summer 2024 collection.
Desigual designed by Christian Lacroix. Spring-Summer 2024 collection
Desigual dress by Lacroix, Spring-Summer 2024
The Desigual Christian Lacroix collection just arrived at Angel. Here’s what we’ve got in stock from the Spring-Summer 2024 collection. We’ve only ordered a few sizes of each, so if there’s something that catches your eye we can put a hold on the size you want before it arrives.
We also do private shopping by appointment. Call Angel at 604-681-0947.
We’re Vancouver’s only Desigual boutique. We originally decided to carry the Barcelona clothing brand because we loved the Lacroix designs.
This is the 13th year of Lacroix’s collaboration with Desigual, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. We’ve been choosing a broad range of Lacroix’s designs for Desigual since 2011 -that’s 26 seasons (we’ve already ordered the Lacroix Fall-Winter 2024 collection and it’s even more fabulous then ever).
“I fell in love with the brand because of this so different form of producing clothes,” Lacroix once said, “whose inspirations, themes and roots are common to mine, in addition to our passion for colors, prints and the patchwork that I have always worked. Desigual, as I always say, is not as easy to create as it looks. It is a colloquial language, but a language one has to learn and practice. more possible, in other words, by sharing ideas and insights with the team every day.”
Desigual ERICEIRA silk-viscose orchid shirt by Christian Lacroix. $309. Matching pants, $349. Spring-Summer 2024 collection.
Desigual ERICEIRA silk-viscose orchid print pants by Christian Lacroix. $349. SS2024.
DesigualCADIZ short layered orchid print dress by Christian Lacroix. Made in Morocco. $209. SS2024.
Desigual ORCHID linen-viscose pullover sweater by Christian Lacroix. $169.95. SS2024.
Desigual LILA viscose midi dress by Lacroix. $209. SS2024 collection.
Desigual SEA medieval blue cotton shirt by Christian Lacroix. $169.95. SS2024.
Desigual BLUE viscose midi dress. Made in Sri Lanka. $309. Spring-Summer 2024.
Desigual CLOUD sleeveless T-shirt with tulle Mediterannean landscape print in medieval blue, designed by Christian Lacroix. $99.95. SS2024.
Desigual SKY tube skirt by Lacroix. Made in Spain. $139.95. SS2024 collection.
Desigual MALAGA knit viscose dress. Made in Morocco. $189.95. SS2024.
Desigual LIN ribbed-knit viscose dress -also comes in blue top – made in Morocco. $249. SS2024.
Desigual MARBELLA viscose dress made in Morocco. $209. SS2024.
Desigual MALAGA cotton jacket with medieval blue pattern sleeves by Lacroix. $299. SS2024.
Desigual JOURS DE SOLEIL zip-up cotton sweatshirt by Christian Lacroix. Made in Turkey. $269. SS2024.
Desigual CUBISM cotton hoodie sweatshirt by Christian Lacroix, made in Turkey. $299. SS2024.
Desigual CUBIST Mickey Mouse cotton hoodie sweatshirt by Christian Lacroix. $209. SS2024.
Desigual arty Mickey Mouse black T-shirt by Christian Lacroix, made in Portugal. $79.95. SS2024.
Desigual by Christian Lacroix, Spring-Summer 2024 Collection
We think we chose the best Lacroix pieces for Spring-Summer 2024. If there’s a Lacroix piece from this season that you want to order, we can do that for you. Call Angel at 604-681-0947.
Gastown is offering three hours of free parking, once a week
Christian Lacroix now lives in Paris but was born in Arles, where Vincent van Gogh painted his most famous works. Here is a song about Paris by my East Vancouver neighbour, Jill Barber:
Ella in Paris in April
Ella & Louis, April In Paris
Give Paris One More Chance by Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers:
The new Desigual Spring-Summer 2024 collection for men has arrived at Angel, Vancouver’s only Desigual boutique.Now on sale 20% off.
This is the 40th anniversary of Desigual, which began on the island of Ibiza and now is based on Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona. It continues to draw its inspiration from the Mediterranean – the sea, the sun and love of life.
Desigual is known for its bold mix of design and colour. It’s designs are expressionistic of its belief in Radical Optimism.
Here are the men’s Desigual styles that have arrived so far, with more to come:
Desigial DINO reversible cotton-polyester blend button-up short overcoat with removable hood. $339.95. SS2024 collection.
Desigual DANI straight cut India print cotton jeans. $245.95. SS2024.
Desigual ROBERT laser-print jeans. $249.95. Made in Turkey. Spring-Summer 2024.
Desigual patchwork jeans for men. $249.95. SS2024 collection.
Desigual JAN embroidered white cotton T-shirt. $129.95. SS2024.
Desigual Mickey Mouse BAD MOOD cotton hoodie sweatshirt. $209.95. Spring-Summer 2024.Sorry not sorry.
Desigual RAFAEL cotton hybrid sweatshirt. $209. SS2024 collection.
Desigual LEOdigital print palm trees T-shirt. $99.95. Spring-Summer 2024.
Desigual ROMAN cotton T-shirt. $129.95. Spring-Summer 2024 collection.
Desigual LUCAS photo-collage T-shirt. $99.95. Spring-Summer 2024 collection.
Desigual HARRY T-shirt for men. We also have this in white (see below) $99.95. SS2024 collection.
Desigual MARTIN “wild thing” navy blue cotton T-shirt. $99.95. Spring-Summer 2024.
Desigual MARK khaki shorts. $169.95. SS2024 collection.
We Love To Be Different
If you’re looking for a Desigual men’s style and we don’t have it in stock, it’s because Angel is a small store and can’t stock everything. But we can order in other styles of Desigual for men. We also ship worldwide, including Canada’s Yukon Territories.
Gastown is offering three hours of free parking, once a week
My new favourite song this week – it’s not without flaws (too much repetition), but it makes me happy, mainly because it samples one of my favourite Burt Bacharach/Hal David songs, Walk On By, originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1964:
Walk On By by Doja Catsamples one of my favourite Burt Bacharach/Hal David songs.
Who needs enemies when you got frenemies – the first song to use the term; this makes me happy too:
You Get What You Give by the New Radicals. The first song to use the term “frenemies.”
Since this is Black History Month, here’s a funky version of Walk On By by soul brother Isaac Hayes, from the 1969 album Hot Buttered Soul, recorded at Stax Records.
Isaac Hayes, Walk On By
Hayes, who died in 2008, is probably best known for his funk-soul masterpiece – the theme song from the 1971 movie Shaft. It was bold both musically and lyrically, at the time.
Theme song from the 1971 movie Shaft, written & performed by soul brother Isaac Hayes.
It’s our biggest sale of the year – 40% to 50% off all Desigual for women, men & kids.
Our annual Winter Sale sale continues into February – the Desigual 2024 Spring-Summer collection is expected to arrive soon. Take advantage of big savings on all Desigual, including styles designed by Christian Lacroix. If you’re headed somewhere warm this winter, we still have summer swimsuits for women and men from last year, along with shorts and resort shirts for men.
Angel is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, noon to 6 Sunday.
Call 604-681-0947.
We ship across North America and worldwide.
What? Bob Dylan dancing? Or is it a stand-in? Regardless, it’s a rockin’ version of Must Be Santa. It’s based on a German drinking song, with a call and response; Mitch Miller made this song popular:
In memory of Shane MacGowan of The Pogues, who died last month. He was born on Christmas Day.
Shane MacGowan and Kristy MacColl sing Fairytale of New York
Glen Hansard leads the singing of a Fairytale of New York at Shane MacGowan’s funeral in his Irish hometown.
River was never really a Christmas song, but a lament about Christmas time in L.A., a longing for a Christmas on the Canadian Prairie in 30-below weather, and Christmas loneliness, which is maybe why I like it so much that I post this song once a year:
Joni Mitchell’s River was never really what it became: A Christmas Song.
Blue was recorded at the A&M Records Studio in L.A., which had three recording studios. Carole King was recording her album Tapestry in one studio, and James Taylor was in the third. There was only one piano for the three studios so Joni and Carole would sometimes fight over who got to use it. To avoid conflict, Joni decided to record at night. Joni and James became lovers, which led to Joni bringing along James as a surprise guest at the first Greenpeace benefit concert in Vancouver on October 16, 1970. Taylor performed a new song, Fire & Rain. which he wrote about the suicide of his good friend Suzanne Schnerr: there is a second and third verse about fame and substance use disorder, in the parlance of now.
Before Greenpeace, the activist group was called the Don’t Make A Wave Committee. One American Quaker left a committee meeting and someone said to him “Peace” and flashed the v-for-victory hand peace sign. The fellow replied, “Make it a green peace.” And a new vision was formed. The first benefit was to raise enough money to have a protest ship sent from Vancouver to Amchitka, part of the the Aleutian Islands off Alaska, where the U.S. planned to test an underwater nuclear blast in the Arctic ocean. Our salmon are our lifeblood, and to put radiation in the Pacific Ocean currents where our fish swim, well it was worthy of protest.