FASHION Magazine

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.

See The Room’s Viktor & Rolf party photos »

Viktor & Rolf’s love affair with Toronto began last night with a fittingly springy fête at Toronto’s Hudson’s Bay Queen Street flagship. In town to celebrate their recent collections as well as to do press spots for their upcoming Dolls retrospective exhibit with Luminato this summer, designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren sported matching embroidered jeans (Horsting’s featured sunglasses while Snoeren’s featured moustaches) and matching thick rimmed frames, making them the ideal models for Toronto’s new eyewear-specific blog, The Spectacled.

In keeping with the Dutch duo’s eccentricities, The Room was transformed with newly papered walls featuring the Fall 2013 runway room’s eerie black and white floral print, a string quartet playing instrumental takes on pop music and strapping waiters, who passed many a prettily-decorated Perrier-Jouët champagne flute while wearing V&R-esque (and maybe even a little Denis Gagnon) glasses.

See photos from the Holt Renfrew Rag & Bone party »

Toronto is so desperate for springtime, that not even last night’s biblical style storm wouldn’t stop its style inclined inhabitants from flocking to Holt Renfrew for a party in honour of Rag & Bone’s neon-heavy spring collection. Packed to the racks of the department store’s third floor, partygoers—including designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville, who made it in the nick of time after hours of flight delays—seemed especially eager to throw down to the DJ tunes and get crafty with the makeshift graffiti board that had been installed on a nearby wall.

And now for the fashion: Spring’s graphic black and white trend was embraced by many partygoers, most notably by stylist Mariko Lauren who channeled Wednesday Adams in a peter pan collar dress and wide brimmed hat and the always-fabulous Kealan Anne Sullivan, who artfully paired a vintage policeman’s hat with a black velvet cape, a white turtleneck sweater and beat up jeans. Socialite Stacey Kimmel braved gravity in a skin-baring halter black dress with selectively geometric fabric slashes. And at the other end of the spectrum, designer/photographer Ashley Rowe went for the kaleidoscopic effect with her lime green active suit suit, turquoise-dyed hair and gal pal stylist Cara Joy Purkis who wore head-to-toe red.

Check out the photos from the Joe Fresh after-party »

Given the well-heeled ladies and gents that show up for a Joe Fresh fashion show, you’d never believe the label’s wears run as affordably as they do. Though as any Loblaws shopper in Canada knows, they do. After last night’s punky all-black Fall 2013 outing, showgoers were looking to kick off their heels (proverbially speaking) with signature orange cocktails, mini tacos and pulsing DJ beats at the private watering hole, Storys.

Fresh off the Fresh runway, models Heather Marks, Meaghan Collison and a group of studly males in tight sweaters flooded the room with just enough impossible beauty to make the ogling worth it. Creative director Joe Mimran and wife Kimberley Newport-Mimran showed up in coordinated head-to-toe black suiting, adding their own luxe touch to the non-colour of the night. As the two cozied up to Loblaws frontman Galen Weston, nightclub impresario Charles Khabouth and our favourite dandy, Bruce C. Bailey, an informal dance party broke out with queen of the moves, Andrea Bolley, at the forefront. Just an average rip roaring night in Toronto as of late, it seems.

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.

See the photos »

Our favourite fashion voyeurs are at it again. Last night Toronto’s most discernibly trendy gathered at Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street location for private viewing of The Coveteur’s photo exhibition (which we exclusively previewed) in collaboration with J Brand jeans. The show, which runs until September 17 at Holt Renfrew features intimate snapshots that take us inside the drool-worthy closets of DJ Daisy O’Dell, costume designer Erin Benach (recently in Toronto in conjunction with her work on the new Ryan Gosling flick A Place Beyond The Pines), actress Mickey Sumner (she may just be the daughter of Sting and Trudie Styler) and celebrity stylist Karla Welch. The exhibit also celebrates J Brand’s latest ready-to-wear collection.

For those of you who thought synchronized swimming only existed at the Olympics, think again. The prettiest water sport proved to be alive and well at Greta Constantine’s annual summer bash last Thursday. Held in the grandiose backyard of Michael Cooper and Krystal Koo’s east Annex home in Toronto, guests were left spellbound when mid-soiree, a foursome of girls (IRL members of the Variety Village Synchro Club) jumped into the pool, performing to Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl.” After that, things got back to normal, and by that we mean many many Stoli cocktails held by gals in floor-length dresses (case in point: Ainsley Kerr and Shay Lowe wore matching diaphanous aquamarine gowns). Toward night’s end, as many free spirited gals kicked off their heels to dip in the pool, fifty-something artist Andrea Bolley was spotted dancing on her own to Diego Armand’s DJ set with moves that made many a youthful onlooker green with Advanced Style envy.

See the photos »

Last night, some of Toronto’s fanciest tastemakers headed to the east side’s hanger-cum-venue Airship 37 to partake in The Society’s equally fancy soiree: a pairing of fancy wines and fancy music. Dubbed The Urban Symphony, the event planning duo Ashleigh Dempster and Amanda Blakley combo’d fine wine from New Zealand brand The People’s Wine and fine music from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s violinists Peter Seminovs and Amanda Goodburn, viola Eric Nowlin, and cellist Igor Gefter. Bathed in purple light, the group, including designers Maryam Keyhani, Amanda Lew Kee and Kirk Pickersgill (Greta Constantine), as well as PR aficionados Lauren Wolff and Candice Best, enjoyed a Pinot Gris and Mozart blend followed by a Pinot Noir and Tchaikovsky. For those who thought music was best listened to with your ears, think again.

View the photo gallery »

View the full collection »
See our full gallery of backstage pictures! »
See all Toronto Fashion Week coverage »

When it comes to a Greta Constantine show, there are a couple of things an editor can expect: 1. It will be an hour late 2. Their signature draped dresses will fall somewhere in the mix. This time around, designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong delivered on both of these points. While we’re always perplexed as to why they are an hour behind schedule, the GC boys did manage to pull two new rabbits out of their hat last Friday at the Bay’s newly reno’d Arcadian Loft: chunky knits and black-on-black tailored separates. Big points for the colourful cozy mufflers and Rooney Mara–esque sharp-shouldered dresses and leather boleros. Judging from the abundance of strategic and oh-so-sexy cut-outs, skin is fall’s best accessory. As for colour, it’s all about those rich jewel tones, darling—ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue and amethyst. The miss of the night? The white backless dress. Women don’t want to accentuate their hips (hello, Zumba class!) even if the volume is set on low.

Toronto’s Thompson Hotel shares our love for all things Greta Constantine. The super sleek hotel chain is making sure their staff is up to snuff by teaming up with the label’s designers, Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong, to create a new chic staff uniform. Check out the sketch for the design above, and read up […]

The post Thompson Toronto teams up with Greta Constantine to create a sexy new Lobby Bar uniform for its staff appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

View the runway photo gallery »
View the backstage beauty gallery »

Pre–Toronto Fashion Week or “Rogue Fashion Week,”as some like to call it, kicked off last night with Greta Constantine’s Spring 2012 show. Swapping their usual venue, the Don Valley–neighbouring BMW dealership, for King Street West’s Century Room, but changing little else, designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong sent 51 looks that mainly consisted of the draped jersey and asymmetrical edge for which the duo are best known. Beginning with juicy-hued dresses in tangerine, cranberry, violet, and teal, the collection switched gears 15 looks in, morphing into a biker gang of sorts. (Those sorts being the same sorts you’ve seen time and time again.) Done well? Of course. Redone? Well, that too.

Last night’s HELLO! Magazine party at the Ritz Carlton was a virtual who’s who of home-grown Canadian superstars. The stunning Gabrielle Miller of Corner Gas charmed reporters on the red carpet while members of the cast of Being Erica proved that those who work together, play together. Dolce Vita chef David Rocco was on hand […]

The post TIFF partysphere: A virtual who’s who of home-grown Canadian superstars at last night’s <i>HELLO! Magazine</i> bash appeared first on FASHION Magazine.