FASHION Magazine

See the Joe Fresh/Pink Tartan after party pics »  

Without a doubt, Wednesday night is the biggest of Toronto Fashion Week. The show schedule is stacked with the city’s—the country’s!—greatest hits and the after party scene is getting just as competitive. To keep things interesting, Joe Fresh and Pink Tartan combined forces this season, hosting a smash of a party just down the street from the tents, at Lee Restaurant. Considering that the Pink Tartan crowd has always been a a big part of the Joe Fresh after party tradition, it just makes sense for Joe Mimran and Kimberley Newport-Mimran to make it official.

Also becoming a part of the Joe Fresh/Pink Tartan after party tradition is DJ Mad Marj, the unassuming New York-based heiress who kept the tightly packed crowd dancing, be it to 2 Chainz, Pharrell or… Nora Jones. (Seriously.) Lee’s two-room layout allowed for a bit of a divide between social sets, with fresh-from-the-runway models, stylists and party-hopping editors taking over the back room, while Mimran family friends (including the horn-blowing Bruce C. Bailey) and backstage stars filled up front of house.

See the street style from outside Toronto Fashion Week »

Just when the international Fashion Weeks wind down, Canada revs its engines. Last night, the unofficial pre-cursor to Toronto Fashion Week, The ShOws, kicked off with presentations from Bellevance and Steven Tai. As the city’s industry insiders rejoiced in the 24-hour teaser of warm weather, light spring jackets in mostly neutral palette of blues, beiges and greys were spotted on the street outside the shows. Not wanting to tempt fate however, others layered up, ready for whatever Mother Nature decided to dish out. (Cue today’s blizzard.)

Canadian model Liisa Winkler brought a little bit of rural chic to the city, donning a mid-length lightweight black jacket, paired with a denim ruffled midi skirt and black Chelsea boots with socks. This is how you country in the big city, folks. Holt Renfrew’s Brittany Barkwell and Blaire Borins looked perfectly chic. Barkwell opted for a matching patterned top and trousers finished with lace up heels and a wide collared camel coat, while Borins looked cozy a fuzzy knee-length coat finished with big buttons, adding a raspberry red bag for a well placed pop of colour.

See the Blue Is the Warmest Colour party pictures »

We’re just one day into TIFF 2013 and it’s possible we’ve already reached a gossip fever pitch. At last night’s Blue Is the Warmest Color party, the biggest buzz was about a certain Daily Beast article that’s been making the media rounds all week. While the Thompson rooftop filled with partygoers—basically everyone from Toronto Life’s Most Stylish party plus TIFF fans fresh from The Fifth Estate red carpet premiere—the crowd was eager to see how Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos would act around director Abdellatif Kechiche. (There was also many a mention of the infamous prosthetics used in the film, but we won’t get into that.)

See the photos from the Toronto Life Most Stylish party »

Toronto Life has officially claimed TIFF’s opening night as their own. Last night the magazine toasted the city’s best dressed with the launch of the Toronto Life Fall Stylebook and the reveal of their second annual Most Stylish list. And what a celebration it was: from the moment the elevator doors opened into the ballroom at the Shangri-La Hotel, the party was in full swing.

Leather was the texture of choice for most partygoers. From moto jackets to mini skirts to body-hugging dresses, fall’s influence was certainly in the air. Of course, summer’s influence was still in effect, with floral prints and neon brights being popular style choices, from Jenna Bitove’s flowing Hawaiian-inspired gown to Amanda Brugel’s punchy minidress. However, the guests who took risks stood out the most: Anna Abbruzzo’s pink hair caught our eye—but it was her Roland Mouret eyeball skirt that stole our hearts. And a trio of very stylish twenty-somethings in fur coats, meshback hats and logo tees circled the room with a larger-than-life presence. Lesson learned: when in doubt, go all out.

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 all the Holt Renfrew party pictures »

Not even a micro-blizzard can stop Toronto from celebrating the start of World MasterCard Fashion Week in style. Open-toed shoes and floor-grazing hemlines were spotted on many of the attendees at Holt Renfrew’s cocktail kickoff party, with barely a salt stain or goose-bump in sight.

The party, which started after the last of Monday’s shows, transplanted the front row set—that is, a mix of editors, designers, photographers and buyers—onto the third floor of Holt Renfrew. Ambient music (courtesy a Bellosound DJ in a white Jeremy Laing dress) mixed well with on-brand magenta lighting, making for quite the party den far away from the tents at David Pecaut square. And magenta wasn’t just everywhere thanks to the lighting: from Ashley Rowe’s dip-dyed hair and bright caftan to Lisa Tant’s magenta bolero jacket to a pocket square (that may have actually been a pair of panties, according to one onlooker) worn by a crafty male guest, the evening was filled with shades of pink, purple and red.

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.

Although the weather is still playing some not-so-nice tricks on us, thankfully for yours truly the spring party season is in full, fashionable swing. Case in point, this fashionable girl popped by two very different, but very chic soirees last night.