FASHION Magazine

See the amfAR red carpet style up close »

The amfAR gala, largely considered a social highpoint of the Cannes Film Festival, consisted of a Red themed, Marilyn Monroe inspired fashion show extravaganza! The term “extravaganza” may seem a bit over the top, but so is this event.

The show, now in it’s eleventh year, featured one-of-a-kind pieces from 35 of the top fashion houses (Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Tom Ford, Givenchy just to name a few) with nearly 40 models working the runway in the one-off couture gowns. The dresses are subsequently auctioned off to raise money for AIDS research. Last year the gowns raised a whopping $2 million dollars.

See all the photos from the TIFF 2013 amfAR gala »

“I have Spanx on top of pantyhose and I’m about to have a hose stroke,” Beth Ditto winced as she took the stage at the TIFF 2013 amfAR gala on Sunday night.

Still the Gossip singer and M.A.C Cosmetics collaborator blew the roof off The Carlu, first with her own set, then in a duet of Dolly Parton’s “Here You Come Again” with emcee Alan Cumming.

Adrien Brody, Maria Bello and Paul Haggis were among those in the crowd which was also treated to a showing of menswear by Marc Jacobs and a rousing auction. Okay, so it may not have been quite as exciting as the amfAR benefit in Cannes in May, when Brody took the Cartier watch off his wrist and auctioned it off for $100,000. Still, two Toronto ladies pushed the bidding up to $22,000 for a night of New York bar-hopping with Cumming.

See the red carpet looks up close »

Ukrainian Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy made an appearance in her hometown at last night’s North American premiere of Lancôme’s Rôses By…20 Artists for a Rose at Toronto’s Frist Canadian Place. Featuring twenty well-known photographers from all over the world (ahem, Patrick Demarchelier), the exhibition celebrates Lancôme’s rose emblem as part of the Luminato arts festival. Wearing an all-white Céline pantsuit, Werbowy looked every bit the modern dandy. The Lancôme spokesperson paired her white attire with white pointed-toe heels and simple gold necklaces. Showing off her model features, the supermodel kept her face natural and styled her hair in a surfer-approved high braid.

See the red carpet pictures from the Cannes amfAR Gala 2013 »

It was a cool, wet week for the Cannes Film Festival, but the skies cleared in time to cast a warm glow over the 20th annual Cinema Against AIDS amfAR (the Foundation for AIDS research) Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Our tinted Mercedes SUV was one of many that lined a steep incline to the luxurious venue just outside of Cannes. After passing through gates (with a smattering of fans waving), we were led past a pack of photographers who urged us civilians to “hurry up!” so they could shoot the likes of Heidi Klum, Karlie Kloss, Joan Smalls, Aishwarya Rai, Rosario Dawson and Zhang Ziyi. 

Inside the main house we spotted Adrien Brody waiting for his girlfriend outside a washroom, while John Taylor of Duran Duran air-kissed a friend. We moved to the rear of the building to arrive atop a wide dramatic staircase. A long path leading to the sea was covered in a cushion-like platform. Perhaps to protect the grass? Or visitors’ heels? 

Nearby we saw Jessica Chastain and Milla Jovovich posing playfully with host Sharon Stone for an event photographer. Down the stairs were tables stacked with Moët & Chandon Imperial. I drained my glass as Jeremy Renner popped out from a shrub and Pucci designer Peter Dundas wandered by laughing, with two models on either arm. A ragtime jazz band played as we followed the band in to dinner. En route we passed a seated Leonardo DiCaprio talking with Goldie Hawn—over the evening he was lauded repeatedly for his philanthropic efforts.