This week’s pick donned the perfect party frock, which nails all the right balances: classic, but not boring; bright, but not blinding; youthful, but definitely not for teenybopper set. We spoke to the diva behind the dress, Toronto developer Deena Pantalone, who explained her approach to recessionary fashion that, incidentally, doesn’t involve skimping on shoes.
(Photo by Emer Connon)
Your vibe is sort of Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina. Is that what you were going for?
Exactly. I even got my hair done to complete the look. My style is more sexy and elegant than it is trendy.
Who designed your dress?
Well, me, sort of. It’s a really old vintage dress I’ve had lying around the house for years. My cousin is a stylist in New York, so she helped me decide how to alter it, and then I just took it into one of those tiny mom-and-pop seamstress shops on Queen West.
You’re quite the recessionista. Do you find a lot of people are repurposing clothing because of the economy?
Sure. Or they’re wearing the same dress but getting a great bag or a great pair of shoes to make the outfit.
Sort of like how guys are buying new ties rather than new suits.
Yes. It’s all doom and gloom out there, but it’s still nice, if you can, to get dressed up and have fun.
What about your accessories. Are you a big shoe person?
Oh God, yeah. These are Louboutins. They’re a splurge, but it honestly feels like you’re walking around in bedroom slippers, so they’re worth it.
How much is too much to spend on footwear?
I don’t even want to say. In my business, we’re all singing the blues, so expensive shoes are really over the top. For some reason, it’s OK to spend $2,000 on a Gucci purse, but people make a big deal over $700 shoes. You wear the hell out of shoes!
Speaking of wearing the same dress. I have this dress. The exact same dress, down to the colour and every last detail of stitching. Its neon red and amazing. Although it looks vintage, its not. FYI hunny, ‘you’ didnt design this dress, at all. They didnt make neon red cocktail dresses in the 50′s.
The “tiny mom-and-pop seamstress [shop] on Queen West”,
is in fact a fabulous dress boutique called Champagne and Cupcakes. I think credit should be given where credit is due.
Great dress though.
May 27, 2009 at 10:20 am | by AnaNo disrespect to Deena, but there a lot of people in toronto who aren’t interested reading about what shoes a person wore or how much she paid….or whether or not she is singing the blues while wearing them.
May 27, 2009 at 10:36 am | by MeredithIf dresses and shoes aren’t of interest, then perhaps, Mededith, you shouldn’t be reading the STYLE blog?
May 27, 2009 at 11:28 am | by PDAna thanks for your comment! I really love this dress and my heart sank when she said it was vintage. I called the store you mentioned just to see whether this dress was really from there and lo behold the store designer confirmed and further more sold her this dress herself for this event! Too funny. Because of you, she is now getting credit where credit is due and i’m going to buy this dress but in a different color
May 27, 2009 at 12:51 pm | by EstherDeena,
I am EXTREMELY disappointed that you are claiming that you, “sort of” designed the dress and had it “altered at a seamstress shop on Queen.”
WOW!
I’m not sure what you are trying to prove, but you did not “sort of” design the dress. I, PERSONALLY designed AND made that dress. All I must say is WOWEE…talk about trying to steal credit. You should be ashamed of yourself.
And FYI, Champagne & Cupcakes is NOT a “seamstress shop”, as I am NOT a seamstress. I am a designer. Champagne & Cupcakes is a local dress boutique which sells dresses designed and made by myself.
All I have to say is WOW, the nerve of some people.
Ana, thank you so much for making the correction! I really appreciate people who understand how to properly credit someone’s work and have an appreciation for it. Thanks again!
May 27, 2009 at 12:59 pm | by Carolineoh…and Deena,
I’m not sure how this dress was “lying around your house for years” if it was only created this season.
Wow.
May 27, 2009 at 1:37 pm | by CarolineI HAVE THIS DRESS TOO – but in an electric purple!!! From the amazing designer, Caroline Lim – Champagne & Cupcakes, on West Queen West! BUSTED!!
May 27, 2009 at 1:40 pm | by Mariaperhaps deena believes that the queen west set doesn’t read toronto life:) since you’ve been to the strip recently, deena, you must have noticed there are very few mom-and-pop anything here left, much less a mom-and-pop tailor shop.
note to the editor of this section: given the obvious appropriation of the dress design, i think a formal correction is in order. after all, we all know that copyright in the fashion industry is a hot issue right now. first mercy, now champagne and cupcakes (and the latter case so much more tacky since it seems to originate in the wearer’s egocentric need to present herself as ‘creative’ and ‘unique’, when what she seems to be is moneyed and crass).
May 27, 2009 at 2:01 pm | by kathyProduce the receipt Cupcakes, finish her off.
May 27, 2009 at 2:17 pm | by RichardBet there isn’t even a cousin in New York.
I cannot believe Deena’s audacity. What a complete and blatant lie! I work as a fashion stylist and often pull from Champagne and Cupcakes for shoots and magazine editorials. I know 200% that this dress is an original Champagne and Cupcakes deisgn as I would get to preview some of Caroline’s new designs before it’s sold in the store, and this was one of them! She had even consulted me on some of the fabric color choices she was thinking of offering in her new collection. She has options in yellow, green and red in that dress, and it’s one of her best selling designs! Does she seriously think she can fool the fashionistas in Toronto?! I completely agree with Kathy’s comment above on copyright. Please, have some class and own up to your pathetic fabrication.
May 27, 2009 at 2:29 pm | by AnnieHow horrid. Ewwww shame on Toronto Life and Deena. Being fabulous is about being true, open and honest not sugarcoating the story to seem like a “recessionista” . How ugly and definitely not worthy of Best Dressed. Whoever submitted this should really have a look in Vogue and perhaps read it to understand real beauty, because really that’s appalling.
May 27, 2009 at 2:30 pm | by KrysI’m so happy for you that the truth came out! It’s really unfortunate when people take credit for your work or steal your ideas or don’t give credit!
Patricia
May 27, 2009 at 2:35 pm | by PatriciaLMAO… someone twittered this; totally outed. ;)
May 27, 2009 at 2:39 pm | by impious1(caveat; if true).
May 27, 2009 at 2:40 pm | by impious1I have been a loyal customer to Caroline (the owner and designer of the dress above) and it is sad that this happened…thank god it was corrected but you have to wonder how many other people out there are fabricating the truth for their own profit.
Champagne and Cupcakes is a wonderful store with a very hardworking and talented owner and designer! She is not only an amazing talent but a great person!
May 27, 2009 at 3:05 pm | by VivLove you Caroline!