FASHION Magazine

After a facelift that rang in at over $270 million dollars, the new Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St., 416-979-6660, ago.net) is finally open to the public. The Frank Gehry–fronted project, which began three years ago, drew a major media crowd yesterday, the day before the AGO would be open to the public for the first time in over a year. And it was well worth the wait.

By Siofan Davies

New Yorkers were firmly in the grips of election fever when I visited over the weekend (indeed reminders to vote punctuated many a conversation, even between strangers), so it was fitting that fashion got a bit more democratic with the arrival of Chanel’s Mobile Art exhibition. If the current economic climate makes purchasing the classic, and now 50-year-old, quilted 2.55 bag the exhibit celebrates a little difficult, not to worry, Chanel has made entrance free and accessible to all.

Odd Gems by Connie Ng

The ROM has been upping its fashion cred lately. First was this month’s showing of one of Marie-Antoinette’s original court gowns—part of the Out of the Vaults series—complemented by a screening of Sofia Coppola’s biopic, which juxtaposed pounding ’80s music with pale, ivory satin dresses with lavish embroidery, ribbons and bows.

Block one and the bleached glow from a gallery open long past closing time bleeds into the pedestrian stippled sidewalk. Block two and a set of storefront windows blink and wink with the darting movements of massive projections of the human eye. Around the corner, the local architecture school has opened its doors to a cardboard city with stations for Haligonians to pull out the scissors and add to a mini metropolis.

On October 4, Toronto hosted its third annual Nuit Blanche.  Over a million people gathered for this all-night, after-dark adventure and discovered a city invaded by artists. Art of every medium, in every corner, illuminated the city with excitement, mystique and beauty. The event was an opportunity to seize a brief moment to connect with each other and our environment.

Friday night hits and fine art student Shakeel Rehemtulla is plunked down in front of his sketchbook, adding a page to what has become his T-shirt diary. The artist behind silkscreen company Woodenbullets, Shakeel has assigned himself the weekly task of conjuring up a design that puts the previous seven days to paper. The illustration turns into a small run of 30 to 50 shirts (from $25) that will hang from the racks at Halifax’s Farmers’ Market (1496 Lower Water St.) on Saturday morning.

I apologize for being a little AWOL lately, but between all the fall fashion previews and trunk shows, there have been backyard barbecues, evenings at the beach (neither of which are good excuses, I know, but who doesn’t love the Celebration of Lights fireworks?), and of course, trips to the Islands, the Okanagan, and, next week, New York!

You may have heard: Luminato’s on this week. I went to the Giorgio Armani opening-night shindig at the R.O.M. on Friday with a couple of the FASHION crew. After a quick tour around the party, we ensconced ourselves in the VVIP room, which was outfitted with makeup touchup stations and a small cadre of living dolls outfitted avec Giorgio. (To get the full scoop on the party, including the celeb quotient, check out Michelle’s Fashionable Life blog.)

This past weekend saw the launch of the 2008 edition of Luminato, Toronto’s festival of arts and creativity. Along with the plays and concerts, FASHION made time for some partying, natch. We were invited to the Giorgio Armani Luminato Opening Night Gala, which took place at the R.O.M. The main room, full of business and arty types, had an Indian buffet and a stage for performances by belly dancers and contortionists.

After I was introduced to artist Todd White’s work by a friend in public relations, this fashionable girl decided to venture in a slightly different direction and use my blog to introduce you online fashionistas to this insanely talented contemporary artist. (I would’ve made my first real art purchase while interviewing White at the Liss Gallery had my credit card not been over limit!)

After a long and dull winter, Montreal is full of life again. Last week the Festival Transamériques (www.fta.qc.ca) drew dance and theatre lovers to its indoor and outdoor shows, exhibitions and workshops. With artists in from Paris, Dusseldorf, Brussels, New York, Rio and Berlin, the atmosphere was really thrilling. Among the favourites was Benoît Lachambre and Louise Lecavalier’s Is You Me, a dark, minimalist dance show that questioned the body and its relationship to others. With N.Y.C. composer Hahn Rowe’s magnetic electronic music and artist Laurent Goldring’s live digital creations, it was a voyage for all the senses.

By Kate MacLennan

If you’re anything like me, right about now you’re in an eleventh hour panic for at least a couple holiday presents. Exhale. We’ve got some last minute gift ideas that any fashion savvy soul could pull off as her (or his) own.*

Hunter rain boots (from $129)
*Vancouver availability listed, but most items available across Canada.