In yesterday’s blog entry for the Post, designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong of Greta Constantine offer a glimpse into their background as designers. Both were clearly brown-nosers from the start, scoring major internships while still in high school: Pickersgill with Toronto fashion label Comrags and Wong at Alfred Sung. Wong pursued his passion for fashion with veteran costume designer Susan Dicks; Pickersgill moved to Milan, working with fellow Canadians DSquared2 and British designer Neil Barret.
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March 9, 2010 | 1:16 pm | Fraser Abe
Toronto Fashion Week
Greta Constantine’s fashion show is next week, collection far from ready
March 9, 2010 | 11:54 am | Carley Fortune
Shop Talk
Heather Reisman not invincible: Pistachio’s Yorkdale mall location to close
The Yonge and Eg Pistachio location will remain open (Image: Google)
Not even a powerhouse like Heather Reisman could withstand the economic downturn. The Indigo CEO is closing the Yorkdale location of her green lifestyle and stationery shop Pistachio, reports Quill and Quire. Indigo has yet to make an official comment on the closing, but a sign went up in the store window last week—merchandise is now marked down between 35 and 75 per cent—and a staffer has said the last day of business will be March 31.
The large Yonge and Eglinton location, once home to modern furniture store Nestings, will remain open, though businesses in that area have been quick to turn over in the past year.
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March 9, 2010 | 11:10 am | Carley Fortune
Good Stuff Cheap
Sales roundup: designer pop-up shop, bridal trunk shows, up to 50 per cent off at Quasi Modo Modern
FASHION
BRIDAL TRUNK SHOWS
White hosts two trunk shows this weekend: New York designer Anne Bowen’s sexy and slinky gowns are available here for the first time in Canada, and Jenny Lee’s spring collection (available only at White) is on display. Space is limited, so be sure to schedule an appointment. March 12 and 13. White, 19 Hazelton Ave., 416-849-9196, whitetoronto.com.
DESIGNER POP-UP
A large selection of clothing from Betsey Johnson dominates this designer sale. Also, look for pieces from Lululemon, Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford marked down by 60 per cent. March 12 to 14. Public Office, 780 Queen St. W., facebook.com/event.php?eid=349062658232.
GOTSTYLE Read the rest of this entry »
The menswear store is offering 20 per cent off already reduced items. Look for 50 to 70 per cent off outerwear from Spiewak, Sand and Drykorn, and shirts from Maison St. Pierre and Full Circle. 489 King St. W., 416-260-9696, gsmen.com.
March 8, 2010 | 3:05 pm | Carley Fortune
Gossipmonger
Jeanne Beker wears Hudson’s Bay coat to Paris fashion week
Last week, we wondered whether the Hudson’s Bay Company would be able to maintain its buzzy status post–Olympic Games. Well, this should help. Fashion magazine has snapped a photo of a svelte-looking Jeanne Beker in Paris wearing a brightly striped HBC blanket coat, which she was also rumoured to be sporting in Vancouver. This weekend, Beker wore the coat while on her way to the Viktor and Rolf show. Designed by Smythe for The Bay, the coat has also been spotted on Rachel Bilson. Beker tweeted, “My Hudson Bay blanket coat is getting raves! All kinds of photogs are taking my pic…” followed by, “Great to see blatant Canadian fashion turning heads at the Tuileries.” Publicity doesn’t get much better than an internationally respected style icon wrapped in your company’s logo.
• Paris street style: I dream of Jeanne [Fashion]
• Canadian style so hot, HBC Web site crashes [Toronto Life]
• The Hudson’s Bay Company fights to keep Olympic energy [Toronto Life]
March 8, 2010 | 1:36 pm | Glynnis Mapp
Gossipmonger
Tavi Gevinson’s gig on Fashion Television: less chat, more hat
Mad hatter Tavi Gevinson
When we first wrote about Tavi Gevinson’s reporting gig for Fashion Television—the pint-sized teen blogger was hired to cover a few runway shows in New York while Jeanne Beker headed to the Olympics—we still hadn’t seen the footage. A short clip of Gevinson’s stint is now on the FT Web site. In it, she walks from show to show, air-kisses friends and poses for photographers. Her personal style is the main draw, with blue-grey hair accessorized with a turban or flower-shaped hat. (We can’t decide whether she looks like she dresses from the Tickle Trunk or like a 60-year-old cat lady.) We see her chatting with model Coco Rocha, designer Jeremy Scott and fellow blogger Bryan Boy, but she doesn’t actually interview anyone. Instead, she’s the subject of the brief segment.
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March 8, 2010 | 9:35 am | Glynnis Mapp
Toronto Fashion Week
Evan Biddell’s top-secret fashion week plans
Biddell used cellphones as accessories last season (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
One week before LG fashion week, Evan Biddell, winning designer of the premiere season of Project Runway Canada, and his business partner, photographer Joseph Fuda, will open Oz Studio Boutique on Ossington. Biddell has commissioned well-known stylist Peter Papapetrou to help display his wares and invited media and friends to attend the March 16 opening.
But Biddell’s collection is currently absent from the fashion week lineup, and the designer has said he won’t comment on whether Oz has affected his involvement until the store opens its doors. We got in touch with the Fashion Design Council of Canada, which organizes fashion week, who told us that Biddell would be participating, but the show may not be a traditional one. Reality television alumni Lucian Matis, Jessica Biffi and Brandon Dwyer have all been slotted in for the weekly catwalk shows in the meantime, though PRC alums Sunny Fong and Jason Meyers, who both showed last season, are also absent.
• Evan Biddell sends out a troupe of intergalactic warriors for spring collection [Toronto Life]
March 5, 2010 | 12:59 pm | Alanna Davey
The Find
Happy feet: foldable ballet slippers for the reception party
We’re at the end of Wedding Week on torontolife.com, and we’re capping things off with this nuptial-themed edition of The Find. Many brides and bridesmaids feel obligated to wear heels on the big day but find them unbearable by the time the reception dinner is over. These leather ballet flats fold in half and fit into a four-by-four-inch silk pouch that easily tucks into a purse until the heels come off. We like the gold version, but they’re available in other wedding-friendly colours, like silver, rose gold and red.
$55 U.S. (plus shipping) at shop.yosisamra.com; $65 at TNT Blu (in store next week), 87 Avenue Rd., 416-975-1810, tntthenewtrend.com.
March 5, 2010 | 11:08 am | Olivia Stren
Weddings
To the ’moon: five honeymoons worth getting married for
The Metsi Suite deck at the Molori Safari Lodge in South Africa (Photograph courtesy of the Molori Safari Lodge)
You survived the ceremony, and it’s time to get out of town. Here, five spectacular honeymoons worth getting married for:
• South Africa
• Buenos Aires
• Vienna
• Mayan Riviera
• Eastern Townships
More from the Toronto Life Wedding Guide >>
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March 5, 2010 | 9:30 am | Toronto Life Staff
Weddings
Tiers of joy: 13 spectacular wedding cakes
This is the one time in your life when spending $1,000 on dessert seems almost rational. But for that price, it should look spectacular and taste even better. Here, statement cakes that almost upstage the bride. View the slide show >>
More from the Toronto Life Wedding Guide >>
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- Lemon cake with raspberry buttercream and white chocolate ganache. $900. Allyson Meredith Cakes, 558 Jones Ave., 416-466-8800, amcakes.com
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- Vanilla bean cake with dulce de leche buttercream. $630. The Wedding Cake Shoppe, 859 College St., 416-533-9575, theweddingcakeshoppe.com
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- Chocolate génoise with chocolate truffle ganache and chocolate fondant. $644. I Do! Wedding Cakes, 416-782-8114, idoweddingcakes.ca
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- Devil’s food cake with chai latte buttercream. $740. The Wedding Cake Shoppe, 859 College St., 416-533-9575, theweddingcakeshoppe.com
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- Traditional white sponge cake with vanilla bean buttercream. $945. I Do! Wedding Cakes, 416-782-8114, idoweddingcakes.ca
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- Vanilla cake with mango–passion fruit buttercream. $1,000. Allyson Meredith Cakes, 558 Jones Ave., 416-466-8800, amcakes.com
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- Vanilla bean cake with vanilla buttercream. $700. Chloe Lespierre Cakes, 416-567-2241
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- Classic mocha cake with chocolate-mocha buttercream and fresh flowers. From $435. Dufflet Pastries, 787 Queen St. W., 416-504-2870, dufflet.com
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- Mango sponge cake with mango purée filling and passion fruit buttercream. $728. I Do! Wedding Cakes, 416-782-8114, idoweddingcakes.ca
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- Double chocolate cake with white chocolate buttercream, fresh raspberries and chandelier topper. $1,400. Cake Opera Co., cakeoperaco.com
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- Tiers of Belgian chocolate, French vanilla, and pineapple-walnut carrot cake layered with strawberry confiture and chocolate mousse. $1,000. Iris Segal Cakes, 905-465-3729, iriscakes.com
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- Classic golden sponge cake with layers of fresh strawberry and orange buttercream. $365. Dufflet Pastries, 787 Queen St. W., 416‑504-2870, dufflet.com
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- Red velvet cake with white chocolate–cream cheese icing. $900. Papillon Cakes, 3335 Bathurst St., Unit 2, 416-931-0434, papilloncakes.ca
March 4, 2010 | 2:06 pm | Toronto Life Staff
Weddings
Ask the expert: a caterer’s dos and don’ts for the big day
Arpi Magyar became a culinary star in the kitchen at Splendido, and now his catering company, Couture Cuisine and Event Artistry, delights palates at more than 150 weddings a year. His dos and don’ts for the big day.
Photograph by Vanessa Heins
How much of the wedding budget should be for food and booze?
About 60 per cent of a wedding budget should be devoted to the food, booze, staffing and rentals. But I never know what they’re spending on everything else—a bride can spend $10,000 on a dress.
Where should couples splurge?
Most people should spend an extra $500 to $600 on better wine. It makes all the difference, and it’s only the equivalent of two flower arrangements.
Where should they save their money?
Don’t serve wedding cake as dessert—it never looks good on the plate, and most of them aren’t that tasty. Get a small, symbolic cake and serve a plated dessert. My favourite thing to do is an assortment of samples: a crème brûlée in an espresso cup, maybe a miniature molten chocolate cake, and a quenelle of raspberry sorbet.
Has the recession changed the way people cater weddings? Read the rest of this entry »
For sure. Fewer cheese plates. They’re a luxury item—at the end of the night, after the coffee and dessert—and at $9 a person, that can mean spending thousands of dollars just on cheese. People are also shying away from more expensive main courses. I’ve done fewer veal chops this year and a lot more poultry. Playing it safe with beef, chicken or salmon is always smart.
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