FASHION Magazine

Last Thursday, Vancouver’s classiest held court at The Room for a champagne toast to New York–based writer Derek Blasberg’s latest tome, Very Classy. The boy about town(s) touched down along with gal pal/DJ/model/Chanel ambassador Leigh Lezark (in Chanel, of course) for his first visit to the city—and just in time: it was the first sunny day the west coast had seen in a long time! (Score one for Van weather staying classy long enough to impress.)

After a January hibernation, guests, including our February issue It Girl Manjy Sidoo, seemed eager to dress up, and a long queue formed to shake hands, pose for Instagrams, and book sign. With his signature charm and newly slicked-back hair, the Blas was as Truman Capote 2.0 as ever (but with a nicer disposition… and better clothes).

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UK retailer Harvey Nichols holiday commercial features adorable dogs being bought and sold as accessories. That sounds about right. [Elle UK]

Ben Mulroney will be teaming up with necktie manufacturer Braemore Neckwear to design a line of pocket squares. Toronto Life has a greatest hits gallery from the TV host’s own wardrobe.  [Toronto Life]

The New York Times has declared the red carpet to be stylish again. Thank god. [NYT]

Writer and gent-about-town, Derek Blasberg, gives a tongue-in-cheek etiquette lesson (no sexting please!) in his book Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady. We caught up with Blasberg recently as he swung through Toronto for his book launch, thrown at The Room at the Bay’s Queen Street store.

What’s the rule regarding BlackBerry etiquette these days? Is it considered rude to e-chat at a dinner party?

“I don’t think we live in a world where it’s unacceptable to keep in touch with someone who is not present at an event. The point that I try to make in the book is that there’s nothing as important as speaking to someone in person. I think sometimes we forget that when we’re at dinner with a friend and you’re on your phone the whole time. Why don’t you just either have dinner with the person on the phone that you’re obviously more interested in or go home and hang out by yourself and keep in touch on the phone.”