The Horsey Set: Our Favourite Looks from Queen's Plate 2013

Très-Chic Trifecta: Colin and Justin (no last names necessary) went matchy-matchy while TV Producer/Director Natalie Deane sported a cheeky star-studded peplum by Maybe by Catalfo and a feathered fascinator.

Horsey Hostesses: Tara Ng and Sharon Ng Hayes of Backseat Stylers hosted the VIP party at the Grey Goose Lounge and looked beyond lovely in their custom David Dunkley fascinators, though we think Sharon's Erdem dress stole the show.

The Power Players: Anita Clarke (with her lovely mum), Vicki Hogarth, and Gail McInnes rocked fierce fascinators by Midencé Oliu while Amira de Vera went for pretty florals and an oversized floppy hat.

Oh Canadaaaa: CBC's Monika Platek reported live from the Hats & Horseshoes party in oh-so-Canadian red and white.

Photo Finish: This dapper Toronto realtor had a lot going on but pulled it all off with aplomb.

Lacy Lady: This pretty party-goer's lace dress and oversized fascinator by Lilliput Hats made for a total fashion win.

As for me? I ended up wearing a Gatsby-esque crystal headpiece by Toronto's I Love Goldie while James wore a bow-tie blazer combo. 

Cute husband and I hit up the Queen's Plate at Woodbine this past Sunday and while neither of us are avid horsing enthusiasts, the party definitely took my love of the races to the next level. Thanks to an invite from Backseat Stylers, we hit the Hats & Horseshoes Party VIP-style, with access to the Grey Goose Lounge, complete with cocktails, canapés and an extremely stylish crowd. As it turns out, Queen's Plate might be one of the best people-watching events of the summer, with everyone trying to their best to outshine the rest. The fascinators were fab, the gents looked dashingly dapper and while there wasn't a set dress code per se, haute hats and bow-ties were the horsey set uniform of choice.

A huge thanks to Backseat Stylers and Woodbine for all the fun! 

xo

Check out pics of my fav street-style looks from Queen's Plate 2013. Don't you just love all the amazing headpieces? Yay or neigh?

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 

 

ALDO X YORKDALE: A VIP Shopping Event

Wondering what to do this weekend? Might I suggest a little shoe shopping? (I mean, why stop now?) The new ALDO Flagship just opened at Yorkdale Mall and let me tell you, it's a little MAJE. The store, now the largest in North America, has an extensive collection of the brand's on-trend footwear and super cute accessories, all housed in a modern, boutique-feely shop.

Check out my pics from the media preview last week and be sure to pop by the new ALDO at Yorkdale Mall today or tomorrow to score 15% off your purchase and enjoy promotions, giveaways, great beats and sweet treats. It's gonna be a party, y'all..

xx

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   

 

Christian Louboutin Exhibition Kicks off at Toronto's Design Exchange Today

Those iconic red Christian Louboutin soles. All other photos by me.

Today might be the first day of summer but in Toronto, it's ALL about Christian Louboutin. The celebrity shoe designer has brought his trademark red soles to the city for the highly anticipated North American debut of his retrospective exhibition, which opens today at The Design Exchange. 

At the media Press Conference yesterday, I sat front row (keener) to find out what makes Louboutin tick, and got a sneak peek tour of the exquisite exhibition featuring over 250 pairs of breathtaking shoes. Among other things, I found out that Louboutin enjoys odd pastimes like trapeze-flying, that he once left fashion to become a garden designer, that he's more inspired by showgirls than fashion, that he designs his Spring/Summer collections in Brazil or Egypt and his Fall/Winter collections at his country home with the heat turned off, and that in the future, he hopes to direct a Bollywood movie. Oh, and that famous red sole? Early in his career, he received a prototype of a floral heel and didn't like how the black sole clashed with the fabric. Luckily, his assistant happened to be painting her nails a vibrant red at the time, so he grabbed the bottle, painted the soles red et voilà - fashion history!

Christian Louboutin: An Exhibition Celebrating 20 Years of Design, Artistry and Magic kicks off today and runs until September 15, 2013 at The Design Exchange in Toronto, featuring a spectacular display of shoes, visual installations, sketches and personal artifacts from the designer's colourful 20 year career. Tickets are $22 and include a 1-year subscription to FLARE Magazine (while quantities last). If you love shoes, it's an absolute must. Want to meet the man himself? Christian Louboutin will be at Holt Renfrew Bloor St. for a shoe signing from 4-6 p.m. tonight. Word on the street is that the Loubouphiles are already queued up. Happy Louboutin Day to you! x

(As for whether or not I splurged on a pair after all, scroll down to find out. #eeeeek) 

Our press kit featuring bios of all the big shots. This is the journalistic equivalent of a 'cheat sheet'.

Shauna Levy, President of Design Exchange, Donna Loveday, Head of Curatorial at the Design Museum, London, and Christian Louboutin in a wicked blazer.

The exhibition feels a lot like a fairground for shoe fetishists, with a carousel of decadent heels, a shadow theatre, and a showgirl stage featuring a trippy hologram of Dita von Teese.

Every Louboutin shoe starts with a sketch. Wouldn't you just love to own one of these?

A shoe mold is handmade - if you're a celebrity, you get your very own (which finally explains why celebs can stand in heels for so long)

Fabric and heels collide to make an exquisite shoe...

...comme celui-çi! Magnifique!

(I had a Holts gift card and I wasn't afraid to use it :) Well, maybe a little afraid...) #wortheverypenny

If you're a shoe-lover, consider Design Exchange your new happy place.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
   

 

Viktor & Rolf Hit The Room in Toronto

The Perrier-Jouët-plied crowd at the Viktor & Rolf party at The Room.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Viktor & Rolf party at The Room the other night and wanted to share my pics with you. Luckily, pictures pretty much say it all, because I need to get packing! In 24 hours, I'll be leaving for a week's worth of white sand, sparkly drinks and some much-needed unplugged-ness with the fam.  #yay

Keep checking back next week - workaholic that I am, I've gotten posts all lined up for you while I'm away. I bet you $5 rlr mini is rolling her eyes as she reads this. In the meantime, thank you so so much for all of your support of this blog over the last 3 years. I cannot believe it's been that long! I love you, I owe you, and I'll be sure to take pics while I'm away. You should see the beach outfits I have planned for me, him and them. Squeee! Is it too late to start crunches now?

I'm with the lovely Afiya Francisco of The Style House. Photo courtesy Sharon Ng Hayes of The Backseat Stylers.

Racks of decadent Viktor & Rolf clothes - all tempting, all on my 'someday' list...

The ever-cool Jay Strut rocking a Balmain blazer. Cue applause.

 Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, the duo behind, you guessed it, Viktor & Rolf.

An all black-and-white tableau of mannequins at The Room.

Two pretty party-goers. I love, love, love her pleated maxi.

Silver python killers by Viktor & Rolf.

D.J Mia Moretti kept the crowd well-tuned.

These ladies are at every party and always know how to ham it up. A little cray-cray but, seriously, how fun are they??

Afiya Francisco, Gabrielle Johnson and I finally got our pic with Viktor & Rolf. Night made.