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The FLARE Report Flare Report Archives Monday, September 24, 2007
Priced to Move
What does a $52,500 handbag look like? In the case of the Louis Vuitton’s Tribute bag, it’s a patchwork of 14 of the line’s spring/summer and cruise designs. “It takes all the best parts of the season’s creations and rolls them into one. We are confident that the bag is utterly exclusive and that it will remain so,” said a spokesman. Case in point? Beyonce bagged one—The pop diva was one of only five North American customers to get a chance to own the pricey purse.
This Just In!
Todd Oldham Gap Inc. is going on a mass attack. Following the appointment of Patrick Robinson for the Gap, we just got word that Todd Oldham is taking the helm as creative director of Old Navy. A fashion designer for some 20 years, the New York native is best known for his home décor collaborations with Target and La-Z-boy. And, the delicious bit is the announcement that Oldham will develop and launch a line under his own name to be sold exclusively at Old Navy stores in the future.
Thursday, September 20, 2007 Last night, I caught the hilarious opening night show of The Drowsy Chaperone, held at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre. While I’m not a fan of musicals (all that singing and dancing makes me crazy), this show was a goofy laugh-fest that even my date enjoyed. So what’s this got to do with fashion? Under the leadership of Dancap Productions (a new theatre company pledged to bring the best of Broadway and London’s West End to Toronto), the ushers and attendants were all sporting brand new uniforms designed by Pink Tartan’s Kimberley Newport Mimran. I loved the old-style antique gold buttons and cording and velvet trims on the updated navy blazers and vests. The best piece? A chic shift dress.
Sweet-tees
It’s nothing new for a t-shirt to give you a cozy feeling. But it¹s rare that you slip into one that makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. Mendocino’s new limited-edition series does both. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the cult retailer enlisted a coterie of Canadian personalities and style-setters—including FLARE’s fearless editor-in-chief, Lisa Tant—to lend their time and portraits to the ‘She’s Someone You Know’ campaign. Mendocino will donate 100% of the net proceeds to The Jocelyn Foundation, a charity that works to end violence against women in memory of Jocelyn Juriansz, a former FLARE staff member who was tragically murdered by her boyfriend. The front of the shirt showcases a silhouette of the chic personality taken by top Canadian photographer Dustin Rabin. The tagline ‘she’s someone you know’ on the back of the t-shirt delivers the important message that violence against women is pervasive. Meaning, it’s one part fashion, one part charity, and all you. ‘She’s someone you know’ t-shirts are available at all Mendocino locations now and, until October 20th, a stainless steel whistle (think: blow the whistle on violence) will be offered to customers with every purchase.
Bird Call
Attention Edmontonians! You lucky ducks, the first Mandarina Duck boutique has set up shop in your fair city. It’s the first store in North America for the Italy-based bag brand that has all the covetable bits of arm charm a girl could want. Mandarina Duck is located at the West Edmonton Mall, 2nd floor (above the sea lions). Call 1-888-489-8770 or visit shopmandarinaduck.ca for more information.
If you’re a fan of House of Holland like we are (not to mention every other downtown hipster) you’ll want to check out this live presentation. The master of saucy puns and his BFF, model du jour Agyness Deyn, are covering London Fashion Week with real-time pics taken at all the fashion parties, shows and fittings that make up the busiest and most exciting time of the fashion season. Showing until October 7, 2007 at showstudio.com
Toronto International Film Festival Blog Sunday, September 9, 2007 
If you think The Toronto International Film Festival is only about hot flicks with a heaping side order of starlets, think again. ONEXONE, one of Canada’s hippest new fundraising organizations, turned Sunday into a red hot charity focus. Founded by Joey Adler (you can thank her for the super hot Diesel on your backside) with honorary founders Edward and Suzanne Rogers three years ago, ONEXONE has turned into THE event of TIFF. In only three years, the foundation has raised close to five million dollars to improve the health of children worldwide. This year, the day started early—11 am IS early when one has been screening films and partying hard all week—with an exclusive luncheon for Richard Gere. Accompanied by the stunning Indian actress Shilpa Shetty (she’s been in more than 50 Bollywood blockbusters), Gere came to town to call awareness to his Heroes Project, a charity that raises awareness of HIV/AIDS. Shetty was a pioneer in joining Gere in the battle to reduce the stigma of the disease in her home country. Next I raced back home for a glamorama hair and makeup session with Flare‘s top stylist, Tony Masciangelo. To match my cobalt blue Joeffer Caoc dress, he added hair extensions and tons of black eyeliner to channel Madonna in her Confessions of a Dance Floor mood. With barely enough time for a snack, Elio and I were off to ONEXONE in its brand new home—the dazzling Four Seasons Centre. I’m on the board of this fabulous fundraiser—Suzanne Rogers and I were responsible for the dinner this year—which sold-out the moment tickets became available. For the second year running, the night was hosted by Academy Award winner, Matt Damon. The night was a blur of laughs, music and generous charity. Here, the highlights: The best part was the feeling that every single person there could make a difference. For more info, log on to www.onexone.org
Saturday, September 8, 2007 Yorkville is a mess of cars, limos, barriers and fans. Just walking down the street, I’ve spotted hip Canadian twins, Dean and Dan Caten of the uber-cool Dsquared line, and Tara Spencer-Nairn of Corner Gas. I love how the Festival energizes Toronto. My first stop this morning (after a much-needed sleep-in) is the George Christy reception at the Four Seasons Hotel. Christy is the legendary columnist for the Hollywood Reporter and an invite to his exclusive fete is like finding the Golden Ticket in a Wonka bar. Inside, there’s former Bond Girl and Fugitive Pieces star Rosamond Pike, Geoffrey Rush with a bandaged head (he walked into a tree!), director Ivan Reitman, Woody Harrelson, Maggie Grace from Lost (she’s here to promote her flick The Jane Austen Book Club), TIFF founder Dusty Kohl, Caroline Mulroney (a Mum of four kiddies under the age of 3!) and her brother Nicholas, and George Christy himself. Charlize Theron and boyfriend Stuart Townsend slipped up the escalator without stopping in. The reception is always my favourite place to catch up with film-mad friends, including fashion philanthropist Mary Symonds, Canada’s cutest fashion couple Joe and Kim Mimran, Chanel’s Anny Kazanjian, writer Jacqueline Hennessey, entrepreneur Barry Avrich, and town chroniclers Amy Verner, Shinan Govani and Amoryn Engel. After stopping by some of the Festival suites, including the Tastemakers Lounge and another run by Nicholas Mellamphy, I’m going to take a quick nap to gear up for Matt Damon’s reception for Running the Sahara, and then the birthday party for my friend, Pink Tartan designer Kim Mimran.
The Chloe Bag
New York style scion Chloe Sevigny revealed her new it-bag of choice in a recent interview. Sevigny—who just designed her own collection for Opening Ceremony—decided to splurge on lesser-known label Alexandra Knight, a Texas-based designer and former magazine editor and stylist. Says Sevigny, “You can choose everything right down to the lining, then have your initials embossed or your name engraved on a silver plate and attached to the inside. Nice!” Yah, must be nice….
Walk This Way
For those stylistas who spent last week hoofing it from SoHo to Bryant Park and back again to write about Fashion Week, nothing but ballet flats and sneakers will touch our tired feet (at least until Milan starts up). But before you lace up, Stuart Weitzman is making a plea for pumps. For his “Bid for a Cure” celebrity shoe auction, the designer invited 22 stars to put their own spin on his famed Fever stiletto. From Hayden Panettiere’s rhinestone-studded heel and stylist Rachel Zoe’s leopard-printed pair to Charlize Theron’s hand-painted, safari-inspired footwear—benefiting a cause like ovarian cancer research is always in style. Through October 4
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