FASHION Magazine

After I was introduced to artist Todd White’s work by a friend in public relations, this fashionable girl decided to venture in a slightly different direction and use my blog to introduce you online fashionistas to this insanely talented contemporary artist. (I would’ve made my first real art purchase while interviewing White at the Liss Gallery had my credit card not been over limit!)

As summer heats up, so does celeb-spotting season.

Hilary Swank and Amelia co-star Ewan McGregor were filming at the Carlu on College Street one lovely Sunday afternoon. The film, based on the life of Amelia Earhart who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937, also stars Richard Gere and Virginia Madsen and is being directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding).

Before heading to New York to reportedly marry Beyoncé, his girlfriend of six years, Jay-Z stopped by Lobby on Bloor Street in Toronto for what people were calling his bachelor party. Arriving after his Hogtown concert with Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, a.k.a. Shawn Carter, was escorted in through the back door and held court with his mostly male entourage including Roots public relations guru Raymond Perkins.

Until next time!

Shown: Robin Kay, FDCC President, and Executive Director of L’Oréal Fashion Week

As Fashion Week Fall 2008 came to an end, there was still some celebrating to be done. Thursday night’s festivities were in full swing by the time we ventured out. A brief stop at Ultra Supper Club for Paul Hardy and Travel Alberta’s pre-show cocktail (and some yummy baby kobe burgers) and we were off to the tents.

Shown: Jeanne Beker at the Bratz Diesel afterparty at Atelier. 

After a little siesta on day three of Fashion Week, it was time to get going yet again, this time stopping by superswank Atelier on King Street West for fashion maven Jeanne Beker’s birthday party/launch of her new passion-for-fashion Bratz doll, a collaboration with Diesel.

The beat goes on

Shown: ET Canada’s Kim D’Eon and Cheryl Hickey at the Heart Truth Cocktail.

Day two of Toronto Fashion Week was off and running last night, starting at the Heart Truth Fashion Show for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, where some Canadian femmes strutted their fabulousness down the runway in red dresses by our fave local designers, such as, Pink Tartan and Comrags.

Let the games begin

Toronto Fashion Week is not only about the fashion–ok, maybe it is. But the places to check out for what’s truly on trend in the city are at the multitude of events that take over in the evenings.

Dear readers,As if it was not frantic enough to start a new job as the Montreal editor of FASHION (cocktail parties galore, lunch dates, an intoxication of beauty treatments, weekly trips to the hairdresser and dry cleaner), the next few weeks coming up are looking particularly intense.

In between nights out on the town with a certain Toronto public relations man, a very handsome Mark Wahlberg was spotted last week shooting scenes for his latest flick Max Payne at a Queen Street East parking lot (the crew was also spotted the week before, just down the street at Church and Adelaide). In mega-star-style, while the crew spent the better part of the day setting up the shoot, Wahlberg was later dropped off on set in a limo, hopping directly into the car in which he was shooting his scene. Nearby, resident neighbours said the star was very friendly, even waving to on-lookers in between takes.

Even though most of us still have the winter blues, there was some fun to be had in Hogtown of late. Britain’s latest sensation, Crystal Castles, who actually hail from Toronto, popped by their hometown for a rockin’ set at Wrong Bar on West Queen West one lovely, chilly evening. Supporting her fellow label mates: Emily Haines of Metric.

As most party people know, January tends to slow down after the hectic holiday season. But as we kick-start 2008, there has been no downtime for this fashionable girl, what with new bar openings and a quick Jamaican retreat with the BF—but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

The combination of early morning screenings and late night parties are taking their toll, and fatigue is setting in. Luckily, in between screenings and interviews, I can visit an eco lounge where I put my feet up and peruse the earth-friendly swag they have on offer. Standouts include Warmbat boots, which claim to be the world’s first 100 per cent all-natural sheepskin shoes, and a new line of jeans called Undune. Sure to become a cult classic, the jeans combine style and sustainable living into one stretchy pair of green-hearted goodness.