FASHION Magazine

See the photos from Holt Renfrew’s Uncrate India party »

We gave you a behind-the-scenes peek at how Alexandra Weston and Waris Ahluwalia curated the Holt Renfrew H Project Uncrate India collection. We shared 50+ artisanal items from the collection. And now it’s time to take a look at the incredible bash that Holt Renfrew threw last night in celebration of it all. The Bloor Street store was transformed into a vibrant Indian market, welcoming hundreds of guests adorned in sari-inspired attire. Rooms were tented with pink and orange fabric for an intimate feel, gilded bird cages stuffed with flowers hung from the ceilings and guests were greeted upon arrival with a shower of rose petals. But the lavish extravaganza didn’t stop there.

See the Drake One Fifty party photos »

The Drake Hotel can easily be credited with introducing Bay Street types to Queen West, and now, with the launch of Drake One Fifty, they’re reversing the flow. Nested between Toronto’s tallest skyscrapers and expense account-funded bars, the Drake has transplanted its signature sense of (dare we say hipster?) style into a standalone restaurant that will change the scene of the downtown core.

While the space has been on the radar of Toronto’s style set for months, doors officially opened earlier this week with a jam-packed party. From Holt Renfrew’s Moira Wright and Jennifer Daubney to artists Tommy Matejka and Niall McLelland, the guest list was a perfectly curated uptown/downtown mix. In typical Drake Hotel fashion, Drake One Fifty is as much about art and interior design as it is the food. Most of the dining room sits under a huge wooden pergola, designed by Brothers Dressler, book-ended with artwork by Douglas Coupland and Micah Lexier. (You’ll also be sure to see the extremely photogenic emerald-green leather bar stools and banquettes in the background of Instagrams for years to come.)

See all the photos from the Toronto Life Spring Stylebook launch party »

Is there a better indication that spring has finally sprung than an empty coat check room at a party? Such was the case at the launch for the spring issue of the Toronto Life Stylebook—there was an abundance of sheer dresses, bare legs and strappy sandals but not a single winter accessory in sight. Adding to the spring atmosphere were Edward Scissorhands-worthy topiaries that dotted the Distillery District’s Fermenting Cellar and greeted guests at the party’s entrance.

Speaking of guests, Toronto Life Stylebook cover girl Sarah Gadon was a perfect fit for the role of guest of honour, wearing a sleek blue and black Greta Constantine dress from the Fall 2013 collection. Considering that many of the partygoers have appeared on most-fashionable lists (be it Toronto Life’s or elsewhere) it was hard to stay focused on one outfit for more than a few seconds. The Beckerman sisters kept things colourful with Samantha in a neon accented blouse and Caillianne in a pastel floral-print dress. Florals certainly were the uniform of choice for the party—from vibrant digital prints to whispy petals, watching the crown was like witnessing an Erdem and Mary Katranzou-themed Pinterest board come to life.