All posts filed under: Events

Jason Wu At The Room

Jason Wu at The Room

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Jason Wu and I have similar shaped heads. I can’t get that thought out of my mind whenever I look at this picture. I met Jason when he came to The Room for a Trunk Show and cocktail party in his honour. Jason Wu’s bio reads like one of the those prodigy kids. At 16 he was well on his way to becoming a designer creating couture like clothing for dolls at Integrity Toys. At 17, he became the Creative Director of Integrity Toys. Jason studied fashion design at Parson and started his namesake label in 2006. He created Michelle Obama’s ivory inaugural gown which pushed him into the limelight and made him a household name. I never appreciated Jason’s collection until I saw it up close. His style is very ladylike; socialite wear if you’d like. The details and fabrics that make his clothing interesting aren’t noticeable in photos. I was really surprised at some of the luxurious fabrics he used in the collections. All clothing is manufactured in the United States. The Room …

Haider Ackermann comes to Toronto

Haider Ackermann comes to Toronto

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There was small group of people to gathered to see the Haider Ackermann Fall 2010 fashion show at the ROM. It was a real treat.  119 Corbo is the exclusive Toronto retailer for Haider Ackermann and they were responsible for bringing him to the city. Holt Renfrew Calgary and Vancouver will carry Haider in the fall. I wrote about the Haider Ackermann Fall Winter 2010 show during Paris fashion week. This presentation wasn’t the full collection but it was amazing to see the pieces up close. Haider is a master of materials. The draping and architectural details were phenomenal. The collection and music almost brought a tear to my eye. It’s the same emotional reaction that I get when I go to the symphony or opera.  I wish I had the access to play and touch the clothing. I’m going to have to befriend Linda Perisa, owner of 119 Corbo. My photos were completely shit. I still have to learn how to take good low light shots with the Olympus E-PL1. The two shots I’ve …

Derek Blasberg at The Room

Derek Blasberg at The Room

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Derek Blasberg was at The Room to promote his best selling book, Classy, Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady. If you’ve ever wondered how to climb the social ladder with grace, how to feel confident in every situation, or even how to make a lasting impression (but not the kind that lands you on the latest “Worst Dressed List”)—Derek Blasberg is here, with quotes and secrets from all the socialites so girls everywhere can learn how to have class. This hilarious handbook will provide everything you need to know about fashion, socializing, dating, and etiquette. With tons of practical tips and tools for learning to flaunt what you’ve got, dozens of specific how-tos, common no-nos, and huge blunders that even smart girls make, this tongue-in-cheek book will train you to be a lady, and not a tramp! The people watching at the party was very interesting. There were a lot of scenester kids around dressed to the nines. I love that. They make fashion fun and I’m glad someone is there to take it …

Holt Renfrew Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 Womenswear Preview

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I took a day off work and attended the Holt Renfrew Fall 2010 Womenswear preview.  It was a chance to see samples of the fall merchandise and learn about upcoming fall trends according to Holt Renfrew. Fall 2010 Holt Renfrew Women’s Trends The Masculine Topper The Reefer The Fur Trimmed Parka The Vest The Masculine Shirt The Feminine Blouse The Slim Leg – legging or cigarette; looking newest in prints The Fuller Pant – masculine, pleated or military influenced The Shorter Skirt The Longer Skirt The Knit Dress The Long Sleeve Dress Fall 2010 Holt Renfrew Women’s Accessories Trends The Oversized Beret The Knit Hair Band The Loop Scarf – fur or knit The Pendant The Brooch The Extra Long Belt The “Stash” Bag The Iconic Satchel The Lace-up Boot The Wedge The Loafer – high or low heel The Pointy Toe Pump New Designers – 6126, Carven, Christ Shearling, Cinzia Rocca, Cosabella, Dylan George, Eight Sixty, Fuzzi, Helen Morely, Hudson Collection, Jane Post, JNBY, Lounge Lover, Marlies Dekkers, Michael Michael Kors, One Teaspoon, Pleasure …

Summer Entertaining with Bombay Sapphire on top of 533 Richmond Street West

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Food and drink based events make me excited. They have introduced me to new new scotchs, beers and vodkas. Last year, I attended a Bombay Sapphire food and drink pairing event in Rosedale. It combined education about summer entertaining and a voyeuristic peak into the former home of Ted Rogers. For this year’s event, Bombay moved the venue to the penthouse of 533 Richmond Street West. Merlin Griffiths, Master Mixologist and Bombay Sapphire Global Brand Ambassador was back to show us new drinks and celebrity BBQ master, Chef Rob Rainford. The penthouse of 533 Richmond Street West is pretty stunning. It has the whole rooftop as a terrace. The views are spectacular and probably will stay that way for a few years as everything is pretty much developed around it. The unit itself has two levels and an additional balcony on the first floor. Chef Rob Rainford created some really tasty dishes for us. It wasn’t vegetarian friendly for the most part but the SAPPHIRE Salsa Fresca and the Honey Dew Melon Soup were delicious. …

I want – I got goes to the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival – Behind the Lens Tour

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I went on the Heineken Behind the Lens Tour which is a guided tour of Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival exhibits. It was a fun way to see more exhibits at the festival in a group setting. Join us each Saturday afternoon in May for the Heineken Behind the Lens Tour, an exclusive interactive tour of Scotiabank CONTACT. Go behind the scenes with top photographers and other culture mavens as they share curated insights on fascinating photography from an insider’s vantage point. Each tour, located in one of Toronto’s unique neighborhoods, will end at a local watering hole for discussion, snacks and the opportunity to enjoy a cold Heineken. I chose the City Centre tour which took us to the AGO for Barbara Kruger’s Untitled (It), U of Toronto Arts Centre for The Brothel Without Walls and Probing McLuhan, the ROM for Creative Commons and the Boss Store for Glen Baxter. Barbara Kruger’s Untitled (It) At this stop in the tour we had one of the curators talk about various aspects of the installation. This piece …

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival – Hermann & Audrey

I want – I got goes to the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival – Hermann & Audrey

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The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival exhibit by Hermann & Audrey is held in The Baitshop and I’m obsessed with it. There is a huge skateboarding ramp as soon as you walk in. The ceilings are high with exposed beams, ductwork and brick. The Baitshop makes me want to throw a party or an event. The space is just that inviting. The exhibit features photographers Steve Carty, Javier Lovera, Stefania Sgambelluri, Jalani Morgan and Cory Vanderploeg. These photographers will collaboration with artists Skam, Jon Todd, Derooted’s Simon Rojas, Smakstudio’s Scott McIntyre and Kimmy Yun to create 40 pieces challenging Marshall McLuhan’s theory of Hot and Cold media. In Understanding Media, Marshall McLuhan defined photography as a ‘hot’ medium, characterized by single sense stimulation with a high degree of data. According to McLuhan, absorption of the ‘hot’ message requires minimal involvement on the part of the viewer. ‘Cold’ mediums, by contrast, are low in data because little visual information is provided, thus putting the user in a more active role of filling in the gaps. Hermann & …

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival – Right To Play – Azerbaijan, 2009

I want – I got goes to the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival – Right To Play – Azerbaijan, 2009

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Right To Play – Azerbaijan, 2009 is Glen Baxter’s exhibition for the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. I had no idea that Glen was a photographer. This is his fifth solo show with Scotiabank CONTACT. I just assumed he was always in front of the camera as the host of In Fashion and not behind. Glen traveled solo to Azerbaijan and visited the many settlements which host a million people displaced by war and conflict. Glen is auctioning off all 25 images in the show with 100% of the proceeds going to Right to Play. He has raised over $45,000 with his photography for Right to Play to date. The show is in the 3rd floor event space in the BOSS store on Bloor street. It was my first time in the space and it’s perfect for an art event.  There is lots of wall space and minimal obstructions in the middle of the room to allow for chatting and socializing without distracting those that want to stare at the photos.  I’m looking forward to attending …

Markover - stylist Afiya Francisco, make-up/appearance specialist Janine Falcon and hair stylist Gary May, photography Rannie Turingan

I got a Marksover

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Mark’s aka Mark’s Work Warehouse has decided to change focus and is now trying to get people to think of them differently. They’ve changed their name to Mark’s to rid themselves of the work warehouse moniker. With this they’ve changed some of the offerings in the store to appeal to a larger audience but still serve that core business of workwear. To get the word out about this change they invited members of the media to: Come experience the latest in style and innovation from Mark’s Work Wearhouse. We’re pleased to invite you to an interactive style event, featuring the Spring/Summer 2010 clothing line from Mark’s Work Wearhouse. They called this a Marksover and we used it as a hashtag for twitter conversations. This would include a talk with Marks representatives about the new innovations they have added, a stylist to help you select a perfect Marks outfit, hairstylist to work your do and a makeup artist to round out the whole package. I was told it was an exercise to see the reactions from …

Oscar de la Renta at Holt Renfrew

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So Oscar de la Renta made an appearance in Toronto for a fancy fundraiser and a PA at Holt Renfrew. Unfortunately I was at work during his Holt Renfrew PA. I definitely didn’t have the money to be at his fancy fundraiser either. All I have is these photos that were provided to me by Holts. Maybe one day I’ll get to meet this legend. Holt’s prepared for Oscar’s arrival with dedicated windows. Holt Renfrew unveils its “Croquet, Anyone?” national window installation to celebrate the arrival of spring. Mannequins play with giant mallets and brightly coloured croquet balls inside the windows. “The uncompromising style of C.Z. Guest, the timelessness of Slim Aaron’s photography and the unapologetic spirit of The Official Preppy Handbook were all inspirations for our croquet windows this spring,” says John Gerhardt, Creative Director of Holt Renfrew. “We played with patterns and proportions this national window installation, resulting in whimsical and joyful treatments.” The window fashions take inspiration from the prep-school trend from the spring 2010 collections of designers such as Oscar de …