FASHION Magazine

See the behind the scenes shots and outfit selects » For those who watched episode upon episode of charity galas, masquerade balls and silent auctions on Gossip Girl, wondering “yeah, but actually?”—This one’s for you. This year, I ascended the ranks of Waldorf wannabes everywhere by becoming a co-chair of Operanation, the Canadian Opera Company’s […]

The post What it’s like to co-chair Operanation (+ what to wear to this year’s event) appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

12 suggestions for what to wear to Power Ball 2014 »

Toronto’s annual arty blowout is happening this Thursday, which means that the city’s partygoers are in serious prep mode. Even for those who don’t circulate often, Power Ball is a big deal. Every year, the Power Plant comes alive with installations, open bars and flashbulbs. As such, you can imagine the importance placed on wardrobing. If you’re going to this year’s event and still don’t know what to wear, here are 12 tips from some of Toronto’s hippest partygoers and some of those involved with this year’s festivities.

Tickets are still available at thepowerplant.org but by this time tomorrow they’re likely to disappear. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

See all the Operanation 2013 party pics »

On Thursday night the Four Seasons Centre was decidedly catering to just one season, with the expansive performance hall transformed into a luscious garden of evil. Filled with party goers and potted plants alike, the green-tinged space was all for the Candian Opera Company’s Operanation fundraising gala, themed as “A Night of Temptation” for its tenth iteration.

While all-black ensembles were by far the most popular fashion statement, texture allowed for individuality. From mesh cut-outs and ruffled pleats to velvet and sequin add-ons, the little black dress (or gown, for that matter) certainly stood out at Operanation. Darker colours, such as navy-blue and deep jade-green—as seen on soprano Leigh Anne-Allen and The Hudson Bay Company’s Megan Loach—provided a different take the all-black trend and should make inky gowns a gala must. And on the opposite end of the colour spectrum, bright primary colours stood out in the sea of dark shades, including Tatiana Read in red, FASHION’s editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra in blue Viktor and Rolf, and a hit of yellow, courtesy Odessa Paloma Parker’s Jeremy Laing number.

See the Booby Ball party photos »

Last Friday night, Toronto’s most nostalgic celebrated the latest edition of Booby Ball, this time themed in ode to the days of campfires and tuck shops. The 11^th annual party-for-a-cause run by Rethink Breast Cancer proved an even bigger blowout success with the massive Sound Academy virtually packed with thousands of partygoers accessorizing with everything from tennis socks to Girl Guides badge sashes to feather headdresses for “Camp Booby.” Just like a scene out of Troop Beverley Hills, the venue was decked out with camp-themed activity stations including mini golf, s’mores-making, warm-ups and more. Of course, there was plenty of breast-friendly messaging strewn throughout the room, including T-shirts emblazoned with the tongue-and-cheek Booby Ball phrase “Save the boobies!” which appeared on volunteer T-shirts.