FASHION Magazine

See all the photos from the Canadian Stage Theatre Ball »

If you’re going to celebrate an innovative theatre company, you better put on quite the show. Such was the case last week the Canadian Stage’s annual Theatre Ball, which brought together over 400 guests at The Carlu for dinner, drinks, a live auction and—most importantly—dancing! (Ask anyone on the fundraising gala circuit and they’ll be quick to admit that of all the parties, Canadian Stage guarantees the biggest dance floor. There’s something about musical theatre…)

While last year’s Theatre Ball was birthday party themed, for 2014 “Shatter: Provoke Your Curiosity” was the name of the game. From floor-to-ceiling panels that looked like artfully arranged pieces of a smashed mirror to shards of translucent sugar candy serving as centrepieces, the party felt like a journey inside Alice’s looking glass. When it came to what attendees were wearing, the shine factor was just as important.

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 pictures from the Toronto Life Most Influential party »

Last night Toronto Life celebrated the reveal of their Most Influential list by toasting Toronto’s 50 most influential people at The Ritz-Carlton. The lucky heavyweights—ranging from politicians to bankers to TV personalities—were profiled in the magazine’s December issue and, as the evening’s emcee Amanda Lang was eager to point out, also given a definitive rank. (Her 41st place spot obviously not affecting said eagerness.) Upon our arrival it was clear how those on the list have become so successful: they’re certainly not the familiar faces of Toronto’s late-night party circuit. The mood was much more about networking than clamouring for a cocktail, despite the impressive array of Ketel One and Tanqueray creations. Tailored suits and black dresses dominated—though oxblood items and fur accessories proved to be just as popular, including many a lush stole and a pair of furry booties on Leesa Butler.

The Drake was the place to be last week (seriously though, when isn’t it?), as the hotel celebrated its 5th anniversary.