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!
kind of makes you wonder what else she may be lying about as well…….
it’s so great to see that so many people recognize the real creative mind behind the dress. I just moved here from Vancouver but will definitely be going by the shop to check out what other lovely pieces are there.
May 27, 2009 at 4:22 pm | by KaleighI agree, I’m loving this discussion and that it only took a matter of hours for the truth to be revealed. Toronto Life, I think this deserves a follow up interview and post!
May 27, 2009 at 4:25 pm | by Ck.@Lorna
No, it’s the other way around. I think Deena IS a best dressed because it’s a really hot dress, she’s just one of the worst liars!
May 27, 2009 at 4:27 pm | by AnnieThis is how its done Deena, dig your own hole. SHAME..just give the credit where it belongs. By saying its vintage doesn’t make you look any more glamorous, especially when we all know this dress doesn’t belong in the era.
Shame on Deena!
May 27, 2009 at 4:27 pm | by ShivaniCaroline,
I love the dress it is gorgeous and I’m totally going to come check out your store. This Deena chick is a jerk.
May 27, 2009 at 4:42 pm | by JennSHAME on you.
May 27, 2009 at 4:45 pm | by Casie StewartNow the whole interweb knows. Boo hoo.
hahaha i know this girl…
Deena you really need to relax with claiming a design is yours when it cleary is not. Like what your so spoiled that you’re afraid to let people know that your not wearing Gucci or Prada? way to use the “it’s vintage card”
ps the new york cousin is real, but she is hardly a stylist hahaha She’s just as much of a poser as her cousin.
Caroline, love your designs girl… my girlfriend wore that exact dress for her birthday and was definitely the best dressed birthday girl i have ever seen. I need to come in to check out your collection.
May 27, 2009 at 4:56 pm | by TiffanyFor the record, the style of this dress is a classic. As if it is an original of Champagne and Cupcakes, if anyone should get the design credit it’s Oscar de la Renta and the store did nothing but knock it off. I think Deena looks amazing and anyone who is bashing the dress can’t argue that. Maybe it’s similar to a dress in some store but either way no one wears it better than she does.
May 27, 2009 at 5:01 pm | by LillyAudrey Hepburn had style & grace.
You may have style with this gorgeous dress but honey…you definitely DO NOT have grace!
shame on you.
May 27, 2009 at 5:04 pm | by CamWell thank you to this Deena chick and the Toronto Star…This is the first outfit on the “best dressed” list I actually liked…and now I know where to go to buy it!
May 27, 2009 at 5:09 pm | by JoOoops…Toronto Life…
May 27, 2009 at 5:10 pm | by JoShe stole credit for a dress and why is she called a recessionista if she’s dropping mega bucks on shoes and high end jewelery???
Considering everyone and their dog knows this dress is from C&C – kind of questions the person who is heading up this section in Style, don’t it?
Recessionistas buy accessories where they are cheap. Their shoes are the same. And the dress? Well I think Deena’s been embarrassed enough. Plus very unflattering on her. Looked better on me!
May 27, 2009 at 5:10 pm | by StephAny chance Toronto Life (or somebody else) is willing to do a side-by-side of this pic and C&C’s dress?
May 27, 2009 at 5:12 pm | by Jenre: lilly – the accusation is that she actually bought the dress at champagne and cupcakes, rather than altering a vintage dress she already owned, as ms. pantalone claims. if true, the dress she’s wearing is definitely not simply ‘similar to a dress in some store’. that’s what’s at issue here. not whether she looks good in it. but interesting spin on the case, i was wondering what angle deena and her friends will take to deflect the criticisms.
May 27, 2009 at 5:16 pm | by kathyNow this is funny. Oh, the facepalms.
May 27, 2009 at 5:22 pm | by Shannon