VOLUME 4
JUST FOR FABULOUS EDITION
LIVE. LOOK. MAKE. ESCAPE. INSPIRE.
THE PARTY
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Primary distribution Montreal Gazette - The Gazette (514) 987-2222 www.montrealgazette.com Also circulated with select retail partners and at select benefit and corporate events. Published by Diary of a Social Gal (D.S.G) Management Inc. Printed by Imprimerie F.L. Chicoine No part of Diary of a Social Gal Magazine may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Diary of a Social Gal (D.S.G.) Management Inc. All views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those belonging to the editor-in-chief. Diary of a Social Gal Magazine takes no responsibility for any unsolicited manuscripts or photography. Copyright © 2014 Diary of a Social Gal (D.S.G.) Management Inc. All rights reserved. For general information or inquiries: info@diaryofasocialgal. com. For print and/or online advertising: ads@diaryofasocialgal.com. Special thanks to: Cristina Acevedo, Saad Al-Hakkak, Emmanuel Anassis, Marie Julie Archambault, Black Atlass, Barbara Battah, Pamela Battah, Joelle Binet, Gad Bitton, Maude Boisjoly, Amy Cammalleri, Gail Campbell, Helen Chamourikos, Mathieu Charrois, Lawrence Castera, Lucinda Chodan, Normand Ciarlo, Annie Cohen, Olivia Collette, Mike De Luca, Coeur de Pirate, Charlotte De Poncins, Marie-Ève Desrochers, Nathaniel Dezan, Tamara Di Lullo, Zoe Duchesne, John Essaris, Cinthia Ferraresi, Charlotte Marie Flannery, Isabella Forget, Mitch Garber, Manon Gauthier, Estelle Gervais, Elizabeth Glimenaki, Leonard Gorski, Caia Hagel, Eva Hartling, Dawn Hodes, Vicki Hogarth, Rad Hourani, Chris Iliopoulos, Lissy Kates, Valérie Laliberté, Nanette Lambert, Steeve Lapierre, Laurent Lasnier, Danny Lavy, Karim S. Leduc, Florence Lessard, Simon Léveillé, Joel Leonoff, Brandon London, Leo Loutfi, Keith Mac Donald, Gwen Madiba, Sylvia Mantella, Debra Margles, Brahm Mauer, Evan McKie, Tony Miceli, Marco Miserendino, Noémie Monic, Sloane Montgomery, Maripier Morin, Neil Mota, Nik from Salon Pure, Mark Patrick, Katia Piccolino, Jane Potapova, Karine Provonost, Brandon Prust, Paco Puertas, Marielle Quesney, Patrick Rahmé, Karim Rekik, Jennifer Roman, Lida Sahafzadeh, Milad Sahafzadeh, Alexandra Saulnier, Filippo Scordo, Johanne Sternthal, Cary Tauben, Alireza Teimoury, Andrew Torriani, Pierre Trahan, Antoine Vadacchino, Karine Vanasse, Gary Wechsler, Suzanne Wexler, Janna Zittrer, Tim Zyto, and all the other remarkable angels too numerous to mention who helped make the impossible possible and give life to a Social Gal’s Diary dream. Thank you and bless your brilliant, generous souls. #TEAMWORKMAKESTHEDREAMWORK.
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LIVE THE PARTY
122. ESTELLERIZE!
40. FABULOUSNESS UNMASKED!
126. EXTENDED STYLE
44. PARTY CENTRAL
130. FACETIME
48. MAC ATTACK IS BAAACK!
134. SECRETS OF A BEAUTY PRO
Both the Annual Les Printemps du MAC and Annual MAC Ball rock your world.
JANNA ZITTRER nails the Diary exclusive with homegrown hair and makeup master VITTORIO MASECCHIA.
52. A PERFECTLY WILD AD-EVENT-URE
136. THE PERFECT WORKOUT? JUST MAYBE
HIGHLIGHT EVENTS FROM THE ENTIRE YEAR. A DIARY FIRST.
The spotlight shines on the Farha Foundation Maskarade and the formidable four behind it.
Next-gen leaders raise the bar at the Annual Bal du Mont-Royal.
Take a walk on the wild side at the 2014 Daffodil Ball benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society.
54. THE WELL-WALSHED GALA
DICK WALSH takes the 10th Annual Gala Benefit Eve for the Canadian Red Cross, Quebec Division into epic territory.
58. A GOLDEN AFFAIR
Gold was the standard at the Annual Benefit Ball for Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal (BJM).
62. C2 MONTRÉAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE
ESTELLE GERVAIS crafts some very fine head-to-toe for Diarystas and Diarystos.
Discover some of the mightiest manes trending now thanks to SALON PURE and TRESSE HAIR COLLECTION.
CHARLOTTE MARIE FLANNERY shares behindthe-scenes makeup tips. As she should.
STUDIOTEC powered by XBody delivers the goods.
MAKE THE PARTY
PARTYMAKING GONE FABULOUS.
138. PARTY BRANDS WITH THE GIRLS
SUZANNE WEXLER catches up with one of the freshest party-perfecting trios in town.
142. INTERIORS KINGS MITCHELL GOLD AND BOB WILLIAMS TALK PARTY
Where commerce and creativity intersect, perfectly.
Revered interior designers MITCHELL GOLD and BOB WILLIAMS share invaluable event insight with OLIVIA COLLETTE.
66. F1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX 2014,
144. CAKEWORLD
MORE FAB THAN EVER, THANKS TO:
THURSDAY: Le Grand Soir F1GP Benefit Event Kick-off. FRIDAY: Moët & Chandon Beach Bash. Ferrari F1 Grand Prix Cocktail. Ritz-Carlton Montréal and Infiniti Canada Exclusive Black-Tie Grand Prix Party. SATURDAY: Hotel Le St-James Ferrari F1 Grand Prix Cocktail Event. Le Richmond Presents Luxury Retreats and Dom Pérignon. SUNDAY: Race Festivities in the F1 UGG Australia Élite Loge. Closing Party Presented By The Code 20 at Ristorante Cavalli.
74. LET’S DO LAUNCH
Your one-stop shop for some of 2014’s most spectacular launches.
76. DIARY LAUNCH VOL. 3
‘Course we had to include it!
80. PARTIES PRIVÉS
An exclusive peek into two private birthday bashes that redefined birthday bashes.
84. THE TORONTO TUNE-IN
The Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA) and “Suzanne Rogers Presents” Zac Posen: An Evening of Modern American Glamour, had to be shared. Point finale.
LOOK THE PARTY
YOUR BEST DESTINATION FOR PARTY FASHION, BEAUTY & FITNESS PREP.
88. DIARY LOVES FABULOUS FASHION
A gratifying look at 2014’s oh-so-well dressed, tressed, tuxed and luxed.
92. THE RIGHT TO CHOOS
Yes, VICKI HOGARTH got the stiletto scoop on the first Canadian Jimmy Choo flagship launch.
96. SOARINGLY FAB SARTORIALS FOR COOL DOS EVERYWEAR
146. CORSET COSMO
BRAHM MAUER’s exclusive SATC-styled cosmo enjoys a reveal by burlesque queen SCARLETT JAMES.
ESCAPE THE PARTY
MUST-READS FOR YOUR NEXT GLAM GETAWAYS AND BETWEEN-BASH BOOSTING.
152. THE PERFECT EXHALE
Five solid reasons to “St. Regis Bal Harbour.” Start packing.
156. VEGAS, DIARY-STYLE
Vegas jaunts go next-level with Diary’s hot-off-the-presses Vegas Fabulous Bible.
INSPIRE THE PARTY
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH TWO REMARKABLE WOMEN. YES, I MET ONE AT A PARTY.
158. MOTIVATING MANON GAUTHIER
CAIA HAGEL has an afternoon chat with powerhouse Montrealer, MANON GAUTHIER.
160. VICKI’S STORY
A raw and honest piece by award-winning journalist/editor VICKI HOGARTH.
JUST FOR FAB
NO CLARIFICATION NECESSARY.
164. GO JESS GO!
The happening heARTfelt world of artist JESSICA GORLICKY.
168. INSTAFAB
ESTELLE GERVAIS celebrates some of Montreal’s superstar Instastars. #Fabulous.
110. UNISEX RADIFICATION
Designer/visualist extraordinaire RAD HOURANI photographs top Canadian stars in his ready-to-wear collection. Just for us.
Australia-based accessories designer LOUISE OLSEN sits down with pal CAIA HAGEL.
THE JUST FOR FABULOUS EDITION
Premier cake makers create Diary fab cakes and update OLIVIA COLLETTE on the sweetest trends.
Fashion your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff.
120. AN AFTERNOON WITH JET-SET DESIGNER LOUISE OLSEN
Contents
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Editor’s Note
THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE I
conic actress Audrey Hepburn left us many gifts. One of the most valuable was her brilliant and infinitely inspirational claim, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible!’” After launching and living the Diary experience for the past two and a half years, I can confidently assert that she was right. Though from the outset, numerous seemingly insuperable challenges loomed large – zero experience in print and online publishing, no deep-pocketed financiers, a finite amount of production time, lean team, and legions of naysayers insisting we wouldn’t make it past the first issue, particularly during such a transitional and precarious period in print history – here we are, proudly introducing our biggest book to date: volume 4, the JUST FOR FABULOUS (JF2) edition. Did it come easy? Definitely not. Did the team work incredibly long hours and access superhuman reserves of energy (in my case Jennergy) to bring a dream to life? You betcha. But with positive attitudes, fierce dedication, loads of creativity, and an unwavering desire to render the impossible possible à la Audrey, the finishing line was crossed. Teamwork does indeed make the dream work. As for the final product, we think it does the trick (and hope you will too) packed to the brim with features and profiles celebrating all things party-fabulous, from the hottest trends on the dessert front (cakes are BIG) to the most happening going-out threads (fashion your seatbelts), and sexiest vacation escapes (think Miami and Vegas bliss). There are also a slew of unexpected outta-the-box spreads, including a 10-page fashion editorial featuring some of the best names in Canadian art, fashion, sports, and more (hello power couple MARIPIER MORIN and BRANDON PRUST!), styled by none other than internationally revered designer/visualist RAD HOURANI (heart you much, bro). Oh, and for the first time in Diary history, the famed LIVE THE PARTY section highlights a record number of events from the entire year. Clearly, the sky was our limit, and we’re currently applying that same impossible-is-possible drive and work ethic to the launch of our state-of-the-art generation 3 website and online shop, planned for takeoff in the next little while at one of our signature over-the-top (OTT) launch parties. Details to follow. We hope you’ll come play. So that’s the Diary dish. Sending all you Social Gals and Gents lots of love and magic for the New Year and beyond, Thanks for tuning in! xxxJenn
Photo: Barry Harris
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Spotlight on: Contributors
OLIVIA COLLETTE COPY EDITOR/WRITER, PAGES 142, 144
VICKI HOGARTH WRITER, PAGES 92, 160
MOST FABULOUS PARTY ATTIRE: Anything black. MOST FABULOUS PARTY COCKTAIL: Anything with champagne. MOST FABULOUS PARTY SPOT: Anything in Berlin. MOST FABULOUS PARTY: Anything with an ‘80s theme.
MOST FABULOUS PARTY ATTIRE: Monochrome onesies and head-to-toe pleather are my party circuit attire right now. I have a fabulous mechanic-inspired Etienne Marcel onesy from Parloque in Toronto that I’m wearing like a uniform this fall/winter. I layer pleather pieces from Editorial in Montreal and The Store on Queen in Toronto until I’m a borderline fire hazard. MOST FABULOUS PARTY COCKTAIL: Diet Coke. Sober is the new black. MOST FABULOUS PARTY SPOT: Andy Wahloo in Paris; Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood; Design Exchange in Toronto; the streets of Montreal in the summer. MOST FABULOUS PARTY: I love “First Thursdays” at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, but nothing tops the annual Boxing Day Dance back home at the arena in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. My cousins and I never miss it when we go home for Christmas.
CAIA HAGEL WRITER, PAGES 120, 158 SUZANNE WEXLER WRITER, PAGE 138 MOST FABULOUS PARTY ATTIRE: Jimmy Choo stilettos, a lacy Erdem dress, maybe some fun black wrist gloves. MOST FABULOUS PARTY COCKTAIL: Mint julep served in silver cups with silver straws (oh yes, the straws exist). MOST FABULOUS PARTY SPOT: New Orleans. (Currently working on a funny and poignant book of essays called “How to Swing Like a Southern Belle When You’re Frozen in the North”). MOST FABULOUS PARTY: Mardi Gras, apparently.
MOST FABULOUS PARTY ATTIRE: Themed dress-up, so everyone can be someone different. MOST FABULOUS PARTY COCKTAIL: Rose petal martini. MOST FABULOUS PARTY SPOT: Somewhere exotic, with thrilling people. MOST FABULOUS PARTY: Arabian Nights on a superyacht with The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
MATHIEU CHARROIS PHOTOGRAPHER, PAGE 144 MOST FABULOUS PARTY ATTIRE: Battaglia & Aly suits. MOST FABULOUS PARTY COCKTAIL: Margarita. MOST FABULOUS PARTY SPOT: Las Vegas. MOST FABULOUS PARTY: Pool party in Las Vegas with Tiësto.
FLORENCE LESSARD ILLUSTRATOR, THIS PAGE MOST FABULOUS PARTY ATTIRE: Pearl pink, second skin, lady-fitted mermaid dress, and so much bronzer. MOST FABULOUS PARTY COCKTAIL: The “Viva Las Vegas,” a pink mousse martini from Deville Dinerbar. MOST FABULOUS PARTY SPOT: My room, of course. MOST FABULOUS PARTY: Anywhere with my three best friends.
SIMON LÉVEILLÉ ART DIRECTOR, PARTOUT! MOST FABULOUS PARTY ATTIRE: I like to dress up; I even used to do drag! But now, I’d say something chic and comfortable yet out of the ordinary, like my Martin Margiela skirt. MOST FABULOUS PARTY COCKTAIL: I don’t like cocktails, so champagne or beer. MOST FABULOUS PARTY SPOT: The spot doesn’t matter. It depends on who you’re with and if the music’s good. MOST FABULOUS PARTY: Diary launch, of course …
ESTELLE GERVAIS STYLE CONTRIBUTOR, PAGES 122, 168 MOST FABULOUS PARTY ATTIRE: Saint Laurent head-to-toe. A suit, no dress shirt. Red lips and a sleek pony. MOST FABULOUS PARTY COCKTAIL: Dom Pérignon. MOST FABULOUS PARTY SPOT: PH-D, Marquee, and Provocateur in NYC. In fact, any party in Manhattan, count me in! MOST FABULOUS PARTY: The Just For Fab party for Vol. 4. Duh!
JANNA ZITTRER WRITER, PAGE 134 MOST FABULOUS PARTY ATTIRE: On a dream budget? Anything by Erdem. MOST FABULOUS PARTY COCKTAIL: A coupe of cold champagne. MOST FABULOUS PARTY SPOT: Anywhere under the stars. MOST FABULOUS PARTY: The launch party for this issue, of course!
B I R K S 1 8 7 9 TM C O L L E C T I O N
S H E S PA R K L E S. Y O U S H I N E.
T R AC E A B L E C A N A D I A N D I A M O N D S
3 8 / DI ARY O F A SO C IA L G A L
LIV E T HE PAR T Y
The Farha Foundation Maskarade
FABULOUSNESS UNMASKED! LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN
A
s you all know by now – thanks to not-so-subtle proclamations on both the cover and editor’s page – the theme of this special fourth edition of Diary (which for the very first time in our history wraps up the entire year of events) is a deliberately OTT (over-the-top) JUST FOR FABULOUS or, speaking acronymically as we so often do: JF2. That said, this Social Gal could think of no better OTT event to kick off the newly titivated LIVE THE PARTY section than last February’s Farha Foundation Maskarade 2014. Not only did the annual masked gift to the social whirl astonish in an unprecedentedly next-level way, with entertainment by the likes of legendary R&B sensation MARTHA WASH, irresistible epicurean edibles courtesy
of Montreal Gourmet Group, and a crowd alight in countless snappables including honourary chair LINDA SMITH and husband, physician TERRY SMITH, revered AIDS researcher and specialist DR. RÉJEAN THOMAS, Ritz-Carlton Montréal CEO ANDREW TORRIANI and wife ARLENE, and Ogilvy-Holt Renfrew Quebec divisional vice-presidents NORMAND CIARLO and STEEVE LAPIERRE, but it underscored the fabulous that is possible when a formidable foursome pool talent, drive and energy. So without further ado, let’s unmask the formidable fabulous four: sisters CAROLYN, NANCY and LINDA FARHA, and their extraordinary mom, EVELYN FARHA. Endlessly inspired by the courage and determination of RON FARHA – beloved brother and son, respectively
– who started the foundation in 1992, the power pack have valiantly continued his mission and work, successfully turning the foundation into today’s leading Quebec fundraising organization helping men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Clearly, as noted on the editor’s page, iconic actress/activist Audrey Hepburn was spot-on: with the right ingredients (or, in this case, the right foursome), the impossible is indeed possible. The 15th editon of the Maskarade raised a soul-replenishing quarter mil.
For the complete masked experience, throw caution to the wind and turn the page.
B I R K S B E E C H I C TM C O L L E C T I O N
S H E S PA R K L E S. Y O U S H I N E.
B I R K S I S P RO U D T O S U P P O RT H O N E Y B E E C O N S E RVAT I O N
BIRKS FOR BEES
The Farha Foundation Maskarade
ANDREW HOPS ANNE-MARIE LAOUN JENN CAMPBELL
MICHELLE MCHUGH SCOTT FORDHAM
SONIA BENEZRA
ALEXANDRE DESPATIE
BARRY GARBER
LINDA SMITH
POTA NANJI
MARTHA WASH SAMANTHA GUMENICK
ANDREW LUTFY BAHIA BOUCETTA
FOR MORE MASKED FAB, SPLASH TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
BRADLEY GRILL
STEEVE LAPIERRE
ALI HAMZA
GHIYOM TURMEL LYNN HAZE
DAVID LAPIERRE LINDA FARHA CAROLYN FARHA NORMAND CIARLO
NANCY FARHA GIAHCHAI EVELYN FARHA
Photography ESTELLE GERVAIS, MOHAMMAD GARAWANY, SÉBASTIEN ROY
EVENTS & RENTALS 514.271.9904
info@happening.ca
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LIV E T HE PAR T Y
The Annual Bal du Mont-Royal
PARTY CENTRAL
F
or those who fear that the future may not be in good hands, or rather fabulous hands, fear not. The resounding success of the 2014 Annual Bal du Mont-Royal, strategically and brilliantly engineered by an organizing band of young Montreal movers and groovers, including event chairs SOPHIE ROY and PHILIPPE ADAM and gala chairs SÉBASTIEN ROUTHIER and NICOLAS BÉLANGER, is proof positive that we’re in very good (ahem) fabulous hands.
LE GALA On the gala front, a swish pre-ball ticket for approximately 400 VIPs held in the Belvedere Room of the Science Centre, the creative crew maxed out the glam with a very well-executed Golden Age of Cinema theme, where memorable touches included a theatre entrance flashing the names of gala sponsors, the National Bank and Bloomberg, a welcoming shoe-shine stand that had sheen seekers queuing up, perfect victuals by La Guilde Culinaire, singular musical entertainment by Sweet n Sour and Groupe Top 40, and table cloths so gold and glitzy they even inspired one imaginative guest to tackle on-the-spot dressmaking. Stylish supporters like BCBGMAXAZRIA Canada marketing and PR manager ELISABETH LEWIS, National Bank senior vice-president GUY CÔTÉ, Pembroke Management tops NICOLAS CHEVALIER, and ball spokesperson and TV personality ANOUK MEUNIER were bowled over. ‘Course they were.
LE BAL
While the pre-ball gala could easily have been plenty wow for one evening, there was more for both the gala patrons and those who committed to just the ball. For this big-impact party that took over both the Perspective and Panoramic Halls of the Science Centre, the theme was POP ART. And boy, did it pop, doing serious justice to Warhol’s Factory. Colossal globes suspended from the ceiling brought ambiance to life. An oversized pout became one of the night’s most popular backdrops for cell pics and selfies, and tunes by beloved DJs MISSTRESS BARBARA and RR KELLY had everyone moving toward the dance floor, while food stations from the likes of FCO, Ricochet, Keurig, Petis Gâteaux, and the above-mentioned Guilde Culinaire offered much in the way of fuel. The themed magical eve raised a magical $290,000 for the CHU SainteJustine Foundation, monies instrumental to the 2014 beneficiary: the CHU Sainte-Justine Centre of Excellence for Newborn Intensive Care.
Still worried about our future? Didn’t think so. Now turn the page and live the why.
The Annual Bal du Mont-Royal
DANIEL MELANÇON ANOUK MEUNIER
LE GALA
PHILIPPE ADAM NICOLAS CHEVALIER FRANÇOIS RIVARD
FRANCE-ÉLAINE DURANCEAU
SOPHIE ROY
NADER HAMID
HUGO TASSONE JESSE CARRIER
ZOYA KULESHOVA ROCHELLE DESROCHERS ANDRÉANNE PICHETTE BRENDA PAQUET SARA LEBLANC
Photography DAVID CURLEIGH
FOR MORE POP AND SASS FROM BAL DU MONT-ROYAL, HEAD TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
FRANÇOIS-CHARLES SIROIS
MARIE-CHRISTINE LEMERISE
ELISABETH LEWIS
ANNIE ROBERT
OLIVIA AGOSTINO
ELINA TEA CAMILLE MONETTE
LE BAL
LAURENCE BURTON
KARINE ROY
ÉRIC HÉBERT IAN DESGAGNÉ KSENIA BOEVA
MAC ATTACK IS BAAACK!
YVES MICHEL, DARWIN DOLEYRES
MARIE-HÉLÈNE TÉTREAULT
JANY-EVE SAUCIER
JENN CAMPBELL EVA HARTLING MARIA ANTONOPOULOS
JEAN SASSEVILLE, VINCENT TURGEON
THE JEWELS MAESTRO
MÉLANIE JOLY, EFFIE GIANNOU
OLIVER BOYD, CAMILLE DG
MAURICE KASPY, ENZO REDA
CHRISTINE BOIVIN ANTOINE ERTASKIRAN
DOMINIC KEYSERLINGK
KAROLINA JEZ, JULIAN BRASS
THE ANNUAL LES PRINTEMPS DU MAC It is with pride, joy and a very discernible twinkle in the Diary eye that we welcome the annual Les Printemps du MAC benefit to the pages of Vol. 4. Planned with passion, persistence and precision by a gaggle of enthusiastic young urbanites who care deeply about contemporary art and the future of our treasured cultural jewel, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, the annual Printemps du MAC spectacular is now a springtime must-go for the city’s hip and in-the-know. Indeed, with their committed team of volunteers, 2014 power-girl co-chairs EVA HARTLING, vice-president of marketing and communication at Birks Group, and MARIA ANTONOPOULOS, director of communications at the Antonopoulos Group, knew exactly what they were doing when masterminding an art-infused mega ball that also took the 2014 tally to a record-breaking $160,000, funds essential to growing the museum’s collection and lending invaluable support to emerging artists. Spring was definitely ON at the MAC.
Photography DAN PROKOPOWICZ (FIUSHA STUDIO), VPHOTOGRAPHE
BÉATRICE CÔTÉ
MAUDE BUSSIÈRES
MARIE-ÈVE DESROCHERS CAROLINE LEWIS
SARAH GAUTHIER, KSENIA BOEVA
NATHALIE GOYETTE
RACHEL GILMORE VALERY ZAMUNER
JOSÉE NOISEUX
MARIE-JOSÉE SIMARD
MARY DAILEY DESMARAIS, CHRISTINE BOIVIN
ÉRIC BUJOLD, MARIE-ÈVE LEMAY
MURIELLE ZAGURY, PHILIPPE MORIN
KEVIN GILMORE MICHAEL SPANIER
AMÉLIE CLICHE, MARIE-CLAUDE ROCHER
DEBBIE ZAKAIB, FRANÇOIS DUFRESNE
MICHÈLE DIONNE, JEAN CHAREST
FRANÇOIS CÔTÉ, MONIQUE LÉGARÉ
VALÉRIE TAILLEFER, FRANÇOIS LAMBERT
MARC SÉGUIN, SHARY BOYLE
MICHELINE BRAZEAU, RAYMOND BACHAND
THE ANNUAL MAC BALL
VANESSA MULRONEY, MARK MULRONEY
DENIS CODERRE, HÉLÈNE DAVID
NOT DONE YET: While Les Printemps revved up the contemporary pARTy scene, the A-team behind the Annual MAC Ball – also held at the museum – rounded off the MAC magic in November with one of their best events to date. And the timing couldn’t have been better, since the precious art institution recently turned 50. Among the many surprises major planners and super hosts GUY CÔTÉ, ALEXANDRE L’HEUREUX, ALEXANDRE TAILLEFER, DEBBIE ZAKAIB and FRANÇOIS DUFRESNE had in store were an inventive theme – In Aeternam, The Rite of Passage, bountiful gourmet fare courtesy of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, amazing musical entertainment thanks to Alter Ego and DJ Alexandre Dufresne, and one HOT silent auction. Not surprisingly, the anniversary bash – sponsored by the haute corporate likes of National Bank Private Wealth 1859, WSP Global, and presenting partner Sid Lee – raised an anniversary-worthy $525,000-plus for the foundation. Cheers to the next fab 50!
MORE MACTABULOUS AWAITS AT DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
The Daffodil Ball
A PERFECTLY WILD AD-EVENT-URE
NATHALIE SCHWARTZ DÉCARIE
CHARLES DÉCARIE
Y
es, we could go on and on about the glitz, the gowns, the VIPs, the entertainment, the food, all the glam goss fit to print (we are talking about the international award-winning Daffodil Ball, brain-baby of premier event architect ALISON SILCOFF). But let’s call a spade a spade: been there, described that! So with this special JF2 edition, we choose to veer in a different Daffodil direction, letting the compelling optics of this year’s wild-themed fête speak for themselves. And, uh, we think you’ll agree: they “communicate” rather well.
MARTIN ROULEAU PATRICK ELFASSY
JENN CAMPBELL ANNE-MARIE LOSIQUE
DAFF 2014 FAST FACTS
EMILY DEANE
ANICK BEAUBIEN GUY CREVIER
VIRGINIE COOSSA
CHAIRS
Sanofi Canada president and CEO JON FAIREST, UAP president and CEO ROBERT HATTEM, and then-McKesson Canada president NICK LOPORCARO.
KARIMA BRIKH
DECOR
JAY WALKER
Decor & More.
ANNE-MARIE WITHENSHAW
LIGHTING DESIGN
Nol Van Genuchten.
FOOD
Armando Arruda and the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth.
FLORALS
Yves Chénier.
ENTERTAINMENT
Cirque du Soleil, Dream Hunters, Lorraine Klaasen, Extreme Beam, Académie de Danse de Montréal, and Paul Chacra and 1945.
ROBERT HATTEM JON FAIREST
NICK LOPORCARO
AUDIO AND LIGHTING EQUIPMENT Groupe Kloda Focus.
STAGING
Scène Scapin.
TALLY
A wow $1,600,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Photography DAN PROKOPOWICZ (FIUSHA STUDIO), ALLEN MCINNIS, STÉPHANE POIRIER, CHANTALE LECOURS
TO DAFF ON, WILD TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
LORRAINE KLAASEN JOANNE VRAKAS ALEXANDRE DESPATIE
ESTHER BÉGIN
GILLES COULOMBE
JOHN PARISELLA ANDREW LAPIERRE
ISABELLE HUDON JULIE DU PAGE
NORMAN M. STEINBERG
ALISON SILCOFF KATIA PICCOLINO
CALIN ROVINESCU
CAROLINE CODSI
SARAH ORLANDO
ELAINE ROVINESCU RENÉE KESSLER
ANINA BELLE GIANNINI
JEAN-MICHEL LAVOIE ANDREW TORRIANI SCOTT YETMAN ERNEST GRIVAKIS
ARLENE TORRIANI BELLE GRIVAKIS
DOMINIQUE BERTRAND JACQUES MAURICE
DAVE CLARKE GUY C. HACHEY MAUDE LALLIER LUCINDA CHODAN
CHRISTIANE HACHEY
10th Annual Gala Benefit Eve for the Canadian Red Cross, Quebec Division
A L A G D E H S L A THE WELL-W ry good at ances are you’re ve rphs into a verb, ch at he does wh at od go hen your name mo tor DICK WALSH is so ec dir art the Cad for an , Eve do u fit what yo al Gala Bene r for the 10th Annu hundreds of t sen s Ga y that his all-red déco Cit w Ne Quebec Division, at s were nadian Red Cross, Walsh wow soupçon many memorable the , and g IER on ÉN Am CH . ES og YV discerning jaws ag the event by florist of cool. VIP ated especially for el cre lev es er iec oth ep ole ntr wh ce soaring lebratory to a tti blast that took ce , president, Quebec a mid-soirée confe MARTIN THIBODEAU air -ch co ing lud inc rs e chair of QueRTINE TURCOTTE, vic guests and supporte l Bank, co-chair MA ya founder of the Ro d C an RB r of tee ers lun Headquart chair, Red Cross vo ry ura no ho d en to that and an , Am . bec, Bell Canada ressed, to put it mildly ss Quebec. NNE, were very imp Cro DIO d Re ÈLE Go CH e. MI ev ing ary even to a brilliant annivers , ain ag ce on ss, a raised gla
W
PINA DE CUBA
REGINALD MENTOR MARIE-ANDRÉE JODOIN ANDRES SUAREZ MATHIEU CALLEWAERT
GENEVIÈVE COUTURE VALÉRIE TAILLEFER
PHILIPPE COUTURE
FRANÇOIS LAMBERT
RACHELLE HUYNH
CLAUDIA FELICIO THOMAS VALLIÈRES ALEXANDRA DIONNE CHAREST
Photography DAN PROKOPOWICZ (FIUSHA STUDIO)
YES, THE BENEFIT ROCKS ON AT DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
NOÉMIE-ANNE LAROSE JUSTINE JOYAL
IOHANN MARTIN
MITSOU GÉLINAS
JEAN CHAREST MICHÈLE DIONNE JEAN-FRANÇOIS LÉPINE MIREILLE DEYGLUN
DICK WALSH RUBY BROWN RICHARD SPEER
ESTELLE GERVAIS
Enjoy responsibly – www.moet.com
OLIVIER PERRON COLLINS
ISABELLE SAVARD
MARILOU SIMARD
PATRICK SUTER
ERIKA G.
VASCO CECCON
FÉLIX GUTIERREZ
PASCAL DE GUISE
PETE KLEIN
MARIE-CLAUDE SIMARD
ELIF GUTIERREZ
TARA WILLIAMSON
ANDRÉ B. CHARRON
CAROLINE CHARRON
INGRID HATEGAN
VÉRONIQUE THIBAULT
GENEVIÈVE SALBAING
MARC DJOKIC
Annual Benefit Ball for Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal (BJM)
FANNIE CHARRON-BISSETT
ELYSE LÉGER
AVERY ZHAO
ALYSSA DESMARAIS
JOHN F. TRUFFAULT
CHRISTIAN DENICE
MAUD BRUNEAU
ALEXANDER HILLE
GUILLAUME MICHAUD
FOR MORE BJM EVERYTHING, DANCE TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
Photography DAN PROKOPOWICZ (FIUSHA STUDIO), GEORGES DUTIL
ur party city is forever the gift that keeps on giving. Exhibit A: May’s 42nd Annual Benefit Ball for Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal (BJM) at the St-James Theatre, presented in 2014 under the honourary co-presidency of corporate influencers JOHANNE BERRY, president of Télé-Ressources, and JEAN-MARC LÉGER, president and founder of Leger. Boasting a gold-themed decor worthy of a movie set (kudos to party professionals at Paprika agency), the circuit fave served up gourmet eats fit for royalty (yes, the Fairmont Queen E. was at work), wowed with a series of unforgettable performances by company dancers (in one number they even wore perfect pieces from PHILIPPE DUBUC‘s SS14 collection), did the glam silent auction and casino exceedingly well, and then made sure all 300 guests danced ’til the wee hours. (Admittedly, DJ MINI deserves most of the credit here.) The gift that keeps on giving also pulled in a giving $200,000, funds that will go the distance in facilitating the production of new works by guest choreographers like ANDONIS FONIADAKIS, as well as homegrown choreographers KRISTEN CERE and FRANÇOIS CHIRPAZ, while continuing to support BJM artists, ensuring that the 40-year-old company – a major player locally and globally – continues to grow and flourish. Obviously, this gift is a keeper.
O
A GOLDEN AFFAIR
JEAN AIROLDI JOHN F. TRUFFAULT
MARC-ANDRÉ GRIGNON
MORGANE LE TIEC ANDONIS FONIADAKIS
SASKYA PAUZÉ-BÉGIN
MAKE THE MOST OF TODAY. AND START THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW.
Money for Life Real life means real goals. Talk with an advisor today about Money for Life – Sun Life Financial’s customized approach to your financial and retirement planning.*
Visit sunlife.ca/moneyforlife Life’s brighter under the sun * Only advisors who hold CFP (Certified Financial Planner), CH.F.C. (Chartered Financial Consultant), F.Pl. (Financial Planner in Quebec), or equivalent designations are certified as financial planners. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2014.
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Visit telus.com/accessories or a TELUS store for this season’s hottest devices. Device availability may vary by store. TELUS, the TELUS logo and telus.com are the trademarks of TELUS Corporation, used under license. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. © 2014 TELUS. All rights reserved.
C2 MONTRÉAL
Annual C2 Montréal Business Conference, where commerce meets creativity
VÉRONIQUE LANDRY
JAMES CAMERON JEAN-FRANÇOIS BÉLISLE
HERBY MOREAU
CHARLES VAILLANCOURT
JEAN-PIERRE DESNOYERS
JOSÉE NOISEUX BERTRAND CESVET
NADINE PICARD
FRÉDÉRIQUE SARRAZIN
SÉBASTIEN NASRA HANS KOECHLING PHILIPPE FEHMIU DENIS CODERRE NATHALIE BONDIL
Photography ESTELLE GERVAIS, C2MTL@ALLEN MCEACHERN, C2MTL@JIMMY HAMELIN, C2MTL@SÉBASTIEN ROY, C2MTL@AGNIESZKA
MORE C2 SPLENDOUR IS YOURS FOR THE ENJOYING AT DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM PHILIPPE DUBUC DENIS GAGNON
EXPERIMENT GONE FABULOUS
MARIE SAINT PIERRE
E
STEFAN SAGMEISTER
VER WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SOME OF THE PLANET’S MOST CREATIVE CORPORATE MINDS GOT TOGETHER AND EXCHANGED IDEAS IN A REALLY COOL CITY, IN A REALLY COOL VENUE, IN A REALLY COOL WAY? WONDER NO MORE. SID LEE, THE ENORMOUSLY SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE AGENCY, CONDUCTED THIS “EXPERIMENT” FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, FAST COMPANY, AND MICROSOFT WITH THE LAUNCH OF C2 MONTRÉAL, THEIR IMMERSIVE, OUTTA-THE-BOX THREEDAY EVENT WHERE THE CELEBRATION AND STIMULATION OF CREATIVE BUSINESS THINKING AND SOLUTIONS ARE THE PRINCIPAL GOALS. AND THE RESULTS ARE IN: C2 MONTRÉAL AT ARSENAL IS FABULOUS. PEOPLE SIMPLY CANNOT GET ENOUGH. YEARLY ATTENDANCE KEEPS SKYROCKETING, GARGANTUAN GLOBE-CHANGERS AND INNOVATORS CAN’T WAIT TO PARTAKE (KEVIN SPACEY AND CHELSEA CLINTON ARE SLATED FOR 2015), AND EVEN MORE INVENTIVE PLATFORMS, PERFORMANCES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND, YOU GUESSED IT, PARTIES ARE IN THE WORKS FOR NEXT YEAR, ALL IN THE NAME OF SHARING GOOD IDEAS. THE EVIDENCE IS CONCLUSIVE: C2 = JF2.
STEEVE LAPIERRE
PEDRAM KARIMI
FRANÇOIS LAMBERT VALÉRIE TAILLEFER AMÉLIE FAHEY
GREGORY VILLEMEJANE
ANINA BELLE GIANNINI NATHALIE SCHWARTZ DÉCARIE IOHANN MARTIN JENN CAMPBELL MITSOU GÉLINAS
MANON GAUTHIER
CINDY GALLOP SEAN JONES STÉPHANIE VERREAULT NADINE MARZOUGUI JOJO MAISLIN
JOHN HARDY
DEBRA MARGLES MICHEL BRISSON EMMANUELLE DUPERRÉ
CLAUDINE BLONDIN BRONFMAN
BYRON PEART DEXTER PEART
DENIS GAGNON
DANIEL LAMARRE
DANIEL LOISELLE
OFFICIAL FERRARI AND MASERATI DEALER
Ferrari Maserati Québec Our state of the art 44,000 sq. ft. facility is home to Montreal’s exclusive factory authorized Ferrari and Maserati retailer. Our increased capacity will greatly enhance our ability to look after your personal requests with great efficiency. Our personalized service includes sales, regular scheduled maintenance, collision repair and the Classiche restoration program for your classic Ferrari. Our team possesses the expertise to make your experience second to none. We are committed to and passionate about your total satisfaction. We invite you to visit with us, enjoy an espresso, a Ferrari or a Maserati.
Ferrari Maserati Québec 3980 Jean-Talon West, Montreal QC H4P 1V6 Telephone : 514.337.7274 www.ferrariquebec.com www.maseratiquebec.com All trademarks and copyrights are exclusively rights of Ferrari S.p.A.
THE ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE OF ORDINARY
STARTING FROM $75,800* It touches all the senses with a powerful twin-turbocharged V6 engine, available Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive and Bowers & Wilkins Premium Surround Sound. Discover a stunning fusion of unique Italian style, performance, sports handling and luxury. Experience exclusivity that only comes with owning a Maserati.
MASERATI LAvAL
MASERATI QUéBEC
SCHEDULE TEST DRIvE: 1-888-957-9881 1750 Boulevard chomedey, laval, Qc h7t 2w3 www.maSeratIlaval.com
SCHEDULE TEST DRIvE: 1-888-703-2684 3980 Jean-talon weSt, montreal, Qc h4p 1v6 www.maSeratIQueBec.com
*Maserati Ghibli base MY2014 MSRP $75,800; Ghibli S Q4 base MY2014 MSRP $87,200. Not including dealer prep and transportation. Actual selling price may vary. Taxes, title, license and registration fees not included. ©2014 Maserati North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Maserati and the Trident logo are registered trademarks of Maserati SpA. Maserati urges you to obey all posted speed limits.
THE FORMULA 1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX
There are certain events that define a city and become part of its essence. For Montreal, one of those events is the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix (F1GP). And there’s no denying that 2014’s race and its surrounding festivities were some of the best ever, which inevitably inspired the following Diary coverage, our biggest and most vibrant of F1GP to date. In the spirit of JUST FOR FABULOUS, we’ve also decided to recreate our experiences as the Diary team lived them. So without further ado, start those engines …
MITCH GARBER
ANNE-MARIE BOUCHER JOEL LEONOFF
P.K. SUBBAN LORI LEONOFF
PHILIPPE MORIN
ÈVE SAUVAGEAU
ROGER DUGUAY
JOSÉ GAUDET
JESSICA HARNOIS MURIELLE ZAGURY LOUIS-FRANÇOIS MARCOTTE PATRICIA PAQUIN
CAROLINE NÉRON
RÉAL BOUCLIN
YVES LALUMIÈRE
PASTOR MALDONADO NICO ROSBERG DANIEL RICCIARDO
DENIS CODERRE FRANÇOIS DUMONTIER CHANTALE RENAUD
CHARLÈNE VILLENEUVE
Photography DAN PROKOPOWICZ (FIUSHA STUDIO), ESTELLE GERVAIS, OCTANE MANAGEMENT
MÉLANIE CHARBONNEAU
FOR MORE GRAND GLAM, RACE TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
THE ULTIMATE KICK-OFF
No, this is not an ode to the Octane Racing Group team and/or their chief, Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix CEO FRANÇOIS DUMONTIER. Though, quite frankly, it may as well be, because once again, they delivered the goods, starting with the opening event, Le Grand Soir. Chaired with elegance and dedication by JEAN TODT, president of the Fédération international de l’automobile (FIA) and MARC POULIN, president and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys, the Mercedez-Benz-sponsored kick-off was a bastion of good stuff that included a festive outdoor cocktail awash in PURE Vodka and MUMM Champagne, a performance by Ellen Degeneres’ fave DANIEL CLARKE BOUCHARD, a sizzling fashion show by catwalk king HANS KOECHLING (featuring models in slinky-hot SHAN bathing suits), themed feast by the Fairmont Queen E., and, most importantly, hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for Moisson Montréal and the Fondation de l’Hôpital Sacré-Cœur de Montréal. As for all those heavenly fabulous guests from the diverse worlds of commerce, culture, sports and politics? Catnip for social columnists.
FRANÇOIS DUMONTIER BRANDON PRUST JEAN TODT
MARIPIER MORIN JANIE DUGAS CHLOÉ LANGEVIN
PELLEGRINO CASTRONOVO JULIE DU PAGE
BETTA LEMME MARIE-LISE ANDRADE
BONNIE ROBINSON
DARRYL HICKS
NICOLAS DUVERNOIS CHRISTOPHER LECKY KAROLYNE AUGER
MAGALI CAMBRON FRANCIS PIERRE
LEWIS HAMILTON GABRIEL CARRIÈRE DELILAH KANOU
CHRISTIAN HORNER GERI HALLIWELL
DENIS GAGNON
FOR MORE ON THIS TANTALIZING TRIO, VROOM TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
2014 Canadian Grand Prix
GEOFFREY DAWE
MALANDRINO MODELS
ANDREW TORRIANI ARLENE TORRIANI SHARON DAWE
SPIRO MANDYLOR
KAT (DULCEDO MODEL)
ANNE RM (DULCEDO MODEL)
THE BEST KIND OF BEACHING
MICHEL VEILLEUX DAVIDE MARCOVITCH
STÉPHANE DE MEURVILLE JENN CAMPBELL
You’re only as good as the company you keep and Diary’s company during the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix was of the stellar variety, especially at the beach. Indeed, it was both honour and pleasure to share space with the likes of grand brands like presenting partner Maison Boulud and Catherine Malandrino at La Plage Moët & Chandon, conveniently situated just outside the Ritz-Carlton Montréal. The much-anticipated lead-up event attracted legions of the well-dressed and tressed, who couldn’t wait to immerse themselves in the brand’s signature F1GP luxury beach experience, soaked in, oui oui, the best kind of bubbles.
FRIDAY
ANNE-MARIE BOUCHER JON SILVER
DIANA FERRARA-SCALIA
MITCH GARBER
JOSH SILVER
SAM SCALIA
NADIA SAPUTO GABRIELLA MUSACCHIO
CHRISTINE MURAD
GUY BAILLARGEON TODD CAVALUZZI
CYNTHIA MARINEAU HENRY KARP RONNIE VOGEL UMBERTO BONFA
MARIA GUZZO
JOEY MASTROGIUSEPPE
LISA WOLOFSKY MASTROGIUSEPPE
BAHIA BOUCETTA VINCE GUZZO
SABRINA D’AMICO JEFF SEGAL
FERRARICIZING AT ITS BEST There was no choice but to resort to word-crafting and coin a new verb to honour the annual Ferrari Maserati Quebec VIP cocktail at their stunning flagship. It was that good. Not only did the fine bubbly flow and catering by Beatrice awe (shrimps to die for), but the unveiling of the new Ferrari California T by Ferrari Maserati Quebec president UMBERTO BONFA and members of the Ferrari team sent shivers down many a spine (ours included). A pity they weren’t packing one in each goodie bag.
YVES LALUMIÈRE STEEVE LAPIERRE ANDREW TORRIANI
KATIA PICCOLINO
ANINA BELLE GIANNINI JOYCE GIRAUD MICHAEL OHOVEN
AYMANE SEBTI KARIM S. LEDUC
JEFFREY FELDMAN
SIKA
FRANCO NIRO MAHÉE PAIEMENT
ISABELLE RACICOT
TIM ZYTO VALERIE CAEL ABEILLE GÉLINAS
JEAN-FRANÇOIS COMEAU
BRUCE HILLS
LIZ HILLS
CHARLÈNE VILLENEUVE
FRANÇOIS DUMONTIER ANNE RM MARTIN ROULEAU
KAT ANGIE SEMPLE MARIE-CLAUDE DEBLOIS
MYLÈNE CHARETTE
ANN SHATILLA
NADINE PICARD
ANNE-MARIE LOSIQUE
MARIANNE TRUDEL
JENN CAMPBELL KARIM REKIK
MILAD SAHAFZADEH ÉRIC SALVAIL
JUSTIN KINGSLEY THERESA KIM
ANNE-MARIE WITHENSHAW
TRAVIS TADDEO
BETTA LEMME
GEORGES ST-PIERRE
JEFFREY BERNSTEIN DAVID COULTHARD
BRAHM MAUER
DENIS CODERRE
EMILIE WAXMAN
CLAUDE LEGAULT KRIS LETANG VIRGINIE COOSSA SUGAR SAMMY
P.K. SUBBAN
CATHERINE LAFLAMME
INFINITE FUN, GLAM & VROOM! When two powerhouse brands like Ritz-Carlton Montréal and Infiniti Canada team up to host an F1GP event officially titled The Ritz-Carlton Montreal and Infiniti Canada Exclusive Black-tie Grand Prix Party “Inspired by Performance,” chances are performance is gonna rock. And it did. A-list attendees like Montreal mayor DENIS CODERRE, Montreal Canadiens P.K. SUBBAN and LARS ELLER, and UFC Champ GEORGES ST-PIERRE had nothing but rave reviews for the majestic Dom Pérignon bar, wide array of gourmet goodies provided by some of the city’s top eateries and food suppliers, perfect mixed drinks courtesy of Brahm Mauer Bar Services, professional Dior Makeup Touch-up Station, and exclusive Q&A with Red Bull ambassador and former Grand Prix driver DAVID COULTHARD, which just happened to be presented in front of another star of the evening, the hot new Formula 1-inspired high performance Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept car, launched that night. A fine performance indeed.
JEAN PASCAL
Photography DAN PROKOPOWICZ (FIUSHA STUDIO), DOMINIC GOUIN, BADGER PHOTOGRAPHY
YVES JEAN LACASSE ALEX GOETZ JONAS
2014 Canadian Grand Prix
ANDREW LUTFY CHIKO NANJI JULIE DU PAGE
JENN CAMPBELL
HERBY MOREAU ÉRIC SALVAIL JEAN AIROLDI
CARINE BERBARI
ESTELLE GERVAIS
EPHIE TSATAS JEAN-DANIEL ADORABLE
ANA ASLANIAN
TANYA CALLAU THICKE
JOYCE GIRAUD
WILDER WEIR ELIZABETH GLIMENAKI
ALAN THICKE
MARTIN ROULEAU IMPACT PLAYERS
SATURDAY NIGHT SIZZLE
TRAVIS TADDEO UMBERTO BONFA
SABRINA D’AMICO
SATURDAY STALLIONS, WHIPS & BURLESQUE BABES
One of the newest additions to the F1GP party line-up, this über-exclusive do was the handiwork of a powerful trifecta comprised of so-hot-right-now eatery Le Richmond, glam getaway maven Luxury Retreats president JOE POULIN and stunning wife JIMENA RESTREPO, and of course, world-class purveyor of haute bubbles, Dom Pérignon. Clearly a good foundation for the start of something beautiful. Supplement with sexy race cars, a white stallion, bendy burlesque babes, acrobats suspended from the ceiling, and hostesses equipped with “just for fun” whips, and the line to epic eventdom was officially crossed. So looking forward to 2015.
Photography DAN PROKOPOWICZ (FIUSHA STUDIO), HOTEL LE ST-JAMES, ESTELLE GERVAIS, THE CODE 20
THE ROLLING STONES won’t stay anywhere else. For that matter, neither will MADONNA. There’s just something about the cozy, swanky, classy Hotel Le St-James. Throw an equally fabulous luxury lifestyle brand like Ferrari into the mix and the outcome can only be their hot-ticket Annual Hotel Le St-James Ferrari F1 Grand Prix Cocktail Event. Hosted in 2014 with signature elegance and cool by Ferrari North America president and CEO MARCO MATTIACCI and gorge wife FARAH MATTIACI, the swish soirée aflow in Veuve Clicquot was a veritable magnet for some of the most stirring international, national and local movers and shakers. Heck, don’t take our word for it. Check the accompanying pics and let them do the convincing.
JEAN PASCAL
JENN CAMPBELL
JOE POULIN SCOTT JACKSON
CHRISTINE PANET-RAYMOND
JOE POULIN
IRINA PAVLOVA
ALEXANDRE NOISEUX
JIMENA RESTREPO
DAVID ALTER TATIANA LONDONO
BRIAN JONES LUCY JONES
BEN TUFF STEPHANIE TUFF
FOR MORE ON THESE BABIES, HEAD TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
ALAN THICKE
NICOLAS DUVERNOIS SUGAR SAMMY
TANYA CALLAU THICKE JOYCE GIRAUD JENN CAMPBELL
JAY STRUT
ALEXANDRE DESPATIE
SUZIE MONTAGANO
GINETTE RENO
ESTELLE GERVAIS HAILEY BALDWIN
TANYA CALLAU THICKE
MICHAEL STEGER
KRIS LETANG BRANDEE TUCKER
MICHAEL OHOVEN
CATHERINE CLAMAN
CATHERINE LAFLAMME ZOE CLAMAN DEMELO
JOYCE GIRAUD
ZACHARY CLAMAN DEMELO
#UGGatTHERACE! While F1GP does our party city justice, the experience would have been wholly incomplete without a visit to the race itself. And there was no better perch in 2014 than the fully loaded F1 UGG Australia Elite Loge overlooking the circuit. Think power towers, insanely good buffet and stocked open bar, in the grand company of celebrities like 90210 hottie MICHAEL STEGER and wife BRANDEE TUCKER, Pittsburgh Penguin KRIS LETANG and wife CATHERINE LAFLAMME, beloved 80s sitcom dadturned-reality star ALAN THICKE and wife TANYA CALLAU THICKE, Real Housewife of Beverly Hills JOYCE GIRAUD and husband MICHAEL OHOVEN, and model HAILEY BALDWIN, all on scene because of, and to support, UGG Australia’s Canadian distributor Se Ce Apparel. Founder and president CATHERINE CLAMAN couldn’t have been more visionary in her pioneering decision to bring the luxury fashion footwear brand to F1 in the form of both the Loge and an Elite Suite Exhibit showcasing UGG’s spring line. Yes, there were UGGS in the swag bag, making race day even more perfect and giving rise to our new favourite hash-tag: #UGGatTHERACE!
SUNDAY ARMIN FLOSSDORF
MICHELLE MCHUGH
CLOSING TIME IN BLACK&WHITE As the adage goes, all good things must come to an end, even the 2014 F1GP festivities. And one of the best places to rock those bittersweet final hours was long-established party central: Ristorante Cavalli. Partnered with The Code 20, master of the F1 fête universe, the glam closer had all bases covered: the patronage of major drivers like FERNANDO ALONSO and LEWIS HAMILTON, elaborately decked-out dancers, great tunes, and even a green fairy. Bisous and congrats to ELENA CHATZIKONSTANTINOU, GIORGIO DAMIANI and their talented gang for a job well done. You made saying goodbye that much easier.
MOE MOUSA
TRAN PHAM
JAY STRUT
JASON LAMARRE
ELENA CHATZIKONSTANTINOU NINA MOURIN
ELLY SAVAS
ALEXANDER ROSSI
GREEN FAIRY
JULES BIANCHI MARCUS ERICSSON
GIORGIO DAMIANI JENN CAMPBELL
KAMUI KOBAYASHI
THERE’S A NIGHT OUT. Please enjoy Belvedere responsibly.
AND THERE’S A NIGHT OUT.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Presented by
More than 100 Musicians and singers
cirquedusoleil.com/30years
THE LAUNCHES LAUNCH ON AT
DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
It’s that time again, Montreal …
LAUNCH
LIV E T HE PAR T Y
LET’S DO
CABINET ÉPHÉMÈRE CAPTIVATES
MICHEL LEPAGE
STEEVE LAPIERRE MARIE SAINT PIERRE VALÉRIE TOLILA
74 / DI ARY O F A SO C IA L G A L
One of the most compelling launches in 2014 came by way of the Montreal-based style mag Dress to Kill’s launch of its Gallery Exhibit THE MAGAZINE TAKES A STAND at the Eaton Centre’s Grévin wax museum (which housed the exhibit on its fourth floor throughout the summer). Tastemakers and industry insiders attended the captivating cocktail hosted by DTK co-founders SYLVAIN BLAIS, KATHIA CAMBRON and SHERVIN SHIRVANI, where, naturally, the buzz was all about the exhibit – featuring forty oversized magazine pages – created to honour the many homegrown contributors who helped take the publication’s body of work into epic territory. Speaking of epic, the night killed. Duh.
ELYSIA RACANELLI ROBERTO RACANELLI
MAXIME GAGNÉ
AZAMIT
PHILIPPE DUBUC
ALIX LAMBERT-VASSAL
When the e-vite comes from Montreal shopping mecca La Maison Ogilvy, you know you’re already off to a spectacular start. When the e-vite notes that you’ll be sipping colourful cocktails and enjoying hearty cuisine while perusing a Pop-Up Show featuring capsule collections from some of the city’s most gifted designers – including ANASTASIA RADEVICH, ANNE-MARIE CHAGNON, BETINA LOU, BODYBAG BY JUDE, CANTIN, ÇA VA DE SOI, ÈVE GRAVEL, FURLUX, INUKT, IRIS SETLAKWE, KQK, MAISON GODEFROI, MARIE SAINT PIERRE, MATIÈRE NOIRE, MICALLA, MICHEL DESJARDINS, NADYA TOTO, NISSE, PASCALE GIRARDIN, PEDRAM KARIMI, PHILIPPE DUBUC, VAIKEN and more – nirvana sets in. Thank you, Ogilvy, for shining the spotlight on such extraordinary homegrown talent at the glittering-chic launch of your third Cabinet Éphémère. Diary hearts you much. Photography ESTELLE GERVAIS, MARIE-CLAUDE VALLIÈRES
JUDITH DESJARDINS
WILLIAM GARABITO
MARIOUCHE GAGNÉ
PEDRAM KARIMI
LINDA TREMBLAY
DTK TAKES A STAND
JEAN-FRANÇOIS LÉGARÉ
NOÉMIE MONIC SANDS PALABRICA
CARY TAUBEN FRITZ
Photography ESTELLE GERVAIS, DRESS TO KILL
Picture this: 1,500 square feet of glossy gorgeous space in Old Montreal, row upon row of state-of-the-art skincare products with 25 years of tried and true science behind it, a team of professionals ready to complexion-save at the snap of a finger, and a seemingly endless supply of fine cocktails and nibblies. Social Gal heaven? Kinda. The launch of the very first Dermalogica Immersive Learning Space in Canada was quite the elite beauty/ social event. Thanks Dermalogica. As for all you beauty disciples, what are you waiting for?
SKINCARE & SOCIAL FAB
ROSE SIMARD CONSTANCE CARPANESE
MARIE GAUTHIER
JILL ZRIHEN
CHLOË ST-FÉLIX
Photography MARC MURI SYLVAIN BLAIS
VINCENT QUACH ELLIE SOMFELEAN
APIGEON
MELISSA DANIELS ALEXA LOWE
BIANCA DI BLASIO JOSÉ MANUEL ST-JACQUES
MARC BENATTAR JENNY NUNES BENATTAR IAN SUTHERLAND
TRAVIS TADDEO MARIANNE LOBASSO TINASHE MUSARA
SHERVIN SHIRVANI ANDY LONG HOANG
ERIC DEMANN KATHIA CAMBRON
MAUDE MARTIN CHANTAL DESJARDINS CHRISTINE FAULHABER
THE BIRKS BUZZ
ALEX BIRSAN CAROLINE GUINDON
Of course, hundreds of the city’s chicest descended upon the MELISSA FARINACCI downtown Birks flagship in May to fête the Canadian luxury brand’s 135th anniversary. While the garden party celebration was as upmarket as expected, the glam gang was also smitten by the launch of three exquisite collections with a conscience: Birks Bee Chic, Birks Bee Sweet, and Birks Busy Bee, all of which pay homage to the beauty and preservation of the bee. “To mark the fact that we’re turning 135 this year, we decided to focus on celebrating the JONATHAN BIRKS future,” said JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BÉDOS, Birks Group president and CEO. “What better way to do that than by protecting nature’s most representative symbol of life and continuity – the honey bee?” Indeed, ten per cent of all sales from the new honeycomb-shaped silver pendant directly benefit the Honey Bee Research Centre at the University of Guelph, Ontario, North America’s largest research and teaching apiary. A truly beautiful, buzzing bash.
CHRISTINA TAYLOR FRANCIS GUINDON
SUKI PARK ZOYA ÉLISE GAGNON-LEVERT MARIE-ÈVE DÉZIEL HUGO THIBAULT CHRISTINE BOIVIN
JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BÉDOS
CINDY LEONG
TRAVIS TADDEO
MARIA BIRKS CARRIE MACPHERSON
DANNY LAMARCHE
SERGE JEAN LAVIOLETTE EVA HARTLING
Photography ESTELLE GERVAIS, NEIL MOTA
MONTREAL GETS RAD MICHEL BRISSON
MAX ABADIAN RAD HOURANI JOSH DORSEY MARNEY ABADIAN
COURTENAY FISHMAN
SYLVAIN BLAIS SAAD AL-HAKKAK MELISSA MATOS
MYRIAM ARCHAND
CHERRY CASH DAVIDSON
PHILIPPE DUBUC ERICK FAULKNER
CARY TAUBEN
CLAUDIA BARILÀ
MUBARAC ALSABAH BROOKE COCO DEVILLE RAFAEL ESTRELLA DUNN
SIMPLY iTACULAR
KELLY BENNETT
IRVING TEITELBAUM JOEL TEITELBAUM
REV TEAM
ESTELLE GERVAIS
MITCH JOEL
JENN CAMPBELL TUTI DO
CATHERINE DUPLESSIS
It’s 2014, people, the era of all things i. How could we not feature the official international launch of the flagship iStore at Rockland Shopping Centre? Especially when owners JOEL TEITELBAUM and MIKE BATTAT took things into iTacular territory? Not only were all the covetworthy gadgets and high-tech wares on flawless display for guests to gawp at (though they needn’t have gawped much because swag bags were actionpacked), but the alcohol flowed, amusebouches were impeccable, and the sweet table was one of the best ever. Not surprisingly, the A-list crowd (ahem i-list) topped by luminaries like NHL megastar ALEX KOVALEV and digital marketing whiz MITCH JOEL was smitten. Photography MARTIN BRISSON
MARC-ANTOINE BRUNEAU
ELISSA WILLIAMS ALEX KOVALEV
MIKE BATTAT CATHERINE FOREST JOEL TEITELBAUM
For those who worship at the altar of super stylish threads, or better yet, award-winning global design powerhouse and visualist RAD HOURANI, the recent opening of his first Montreal Flagship Boutique and Unisex Gallery in the heart of Old Montreal was a cause for great celebration. The complete RAD HOURANI collections (all made in Canada) were here, at last, satisfying the popular demand. Could it get any better for the chic-obsessed? It could, and it did, at his much-anticipated by-invite-only launch, to which the city’s (heck, country’s) most accomplished fashion insiders and fashionalities including photographer MAX ABADIAN, songstress COEUR DE PIRATE, fellow designers MARIE SAINT PIERRE and PHILIPPE DUBUC, turned out in spades … and much stunning Rad Hourani.
RAD HOURANI BRIGITTE CHARTRAND
Photography DAN PROKOPOWICZ (FIUSHA PRODUCTIONS)
STEVEN TUZZOLINO YUNES BOUCETTA BAHIA BOUCETTA WESS KASTALLI
ANINA BELLE GIANNINI
JENN CAMPBELL
JEAN-PIERRE PRIMIANI REBECCA MAKONNEN
ESTELLE GERVAIS FERIAL BDIRI
PATRICIA GAJO
ANNE-MARIE WITHENSHAW
ALEXANDRE DESPATIE
WILDER WEIR
NATASHA GARGIULO
PHILIP VANDEN BRANDE LOVASI
JAY WALKER
DAX GIUNTA KAROLINA JEZ
JOANNE VRAKAS KATIA PICCOLINO STÉPHANE DE MEURVILLE
A DOM PÉRIGNON FIRST
CHARLOTTE DE PONCINS
There’s only one thing better than a timeout from the rigours of everyday life in the famed Palm Court of the iconic Ritz-Carlton Montréal: the same timeout, enjoyed with a flute of Dom Pérignon 2004 in hand. So it was no wonder that the city’s moststylish denizens and oenophiles flocked to the landmark site this October to toast the official opening of the hotel’s sleek new Dom Pérignon Champagne Bar – the first in Canada – in, you guessed it, the Palm Court. “We are excited to launch the first Dom Pérignon bar in Canada in partnership with the RitzCarlton Montréal,” said Moët-Hennessy Canada GM STÉPHANE DE MEURVILLE. “It is a place that embodies the true Dom Pérignon values of excellence, elegance and expertise.” Amen to that … and bottoms up. Photography GUILLERMO CASTELLANOS (FIUSHA PRODUCTIONS)
Diary Vol. 3 Launch Party
CARY TAUBEN KEVIN CALERO
SAAD AL-HAKKAK WYNN HOLMES RAFAEL ESTRELLA DUNN
STÉPHANIE MAROIS MARTINE ST-VICTOR
NATHALIE ANDRADE
ISABELLE COURT
BROOKE COCO DEVILLE
YOSSI ‘DJ YO-C’ OHANA
ISABELLE RACICOT
CHERRY CASH DAVIDSON
TAMMY FROHLICH
HEIDI SMALL
MATHIEU CHARROIS CRISTAL HAN AYE
ÉTIENNE
GWEN MADIBA
NATHAN ROY ROMANE VILLENEUVE NICO ARCHAMBAULT ORLY SHAPIRA FAYER
BRAHM MAUER
WYNN HOLMES
LISA KISBER
BMBS TEAM MEMBER
HAGAN MEHNERT NICOLE AMIEL
CAIA HAGEL TIM GEORGESON
TILDA DELUCA JENNIFER ROMAN
MARCO MISERENDINO
CHRIS ILIOPOULOS
NORMAND CIARLO DAVID LAPIERRE
SUGAR SAMMY MIRELLA CIOTOLA
CINTHYA CHALIFOUX
JENN CAMPBELL
STÉPHANE DE MEURVILLE DANIELA CRISTIANO FRANCO CRISTIANO
MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN TONY MICELI
Photography FIUSHA STUDIO
DIANA MICELI THERESE BROWNSTEIN
REDA BEDJAOUI CINDY LEVY
FOR STILL MORE PICS AND VIDEO FROM DIARY LAUNCH VOL. 3, HIP TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
TATIANA LONDONO
DAVID ALTER
MILOS TEAM RICHARD GAGLEWICZ
IRENE WEINSTEIN DOMINIQUE BERTRAND
JENN CAMPBELL MARK PATRICK MAUD MARQUIS-BRETON RICHARD STOICA RAD HOURANI LARA SCAFF
LISA SINGER MILLER
ALISSA PERZOW
LISSY KATES
JULIE-KATERINE TURCOTTE
MIA SCAFF
CLAUDINE BLONDIN BRONFMAN JESSICA WELCH
LYSA LASH
CHARLOTTE RISCH
ISABELLE SALESSE KATIA PICCOLINO
RACHEL LADOUCEUR-GIRARD
KATRINE GOURON
SIMON LÉVEILLÉ KATHLEEN
CHERYL BESNER
GENEVIÈVE BORNE MILAD SAHAFZADEH
ARA SASSOONIAN
STAVROS DASKOS
MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN
EKATERINA ULYANOFF THERESE BROWNSTEIN
EVELYN JERASSY ALEXANDRE ASSOULINE NANNETTE DE GASPÉ BEAUBIEN
ESTELLE GERVAIS
ANTOINETTE DE JONG ALAN VICTOR
LENNY GORDON
LORI PESNER LEEJA MURPHY CHARLOTTE DE PONCINS
CHERYL BLAS
GLORIA BASS RICHARD BASS
Though the Diary Vol. 3 Launch Party – presented in collaboration with THE RITZ-CARLTON MONTRÉAL, and MILOS and CAVA SPILIADIS – happened in 2013 (rendering it technically ineligible for this special Vol. 4 which highlights 2014 events), we couldn’t possibly imagine not including a little something ‘cause, well, according to myriad reports, it was one heckuva good do. Plus, we did have some editorial pull (wink). Hope you enjoy the jaunt down party lane. A very special thanks is owed to mountain-moving Diarystas and Diarystos JENNIFER ROMAN, MILAD SAHAFZADEH, ESTELLE GERVAIS, SIMON LÉVEILLÉ, KATIA PICCOLINO, LISSY KATES, and SLOANE MONTGOMERY, and cherished event partners THE RITZ-CARLTON MONTRÉAL, MILOS, CAVA SPILIADIS, LE MAITRE DE CHAI, BRAHM MAUER BAR SERVICES, TOTAL EVENTS, LUXE RENTALS/LOCATION GERVAIS, BELVEDERE VODKA, MOËT & CHANDON, and DULCEDO MODEL MANAGEMENT, without whom this magical, transformative event would simply not have been possible. Bless you all and much love toujours.
THE BAND
Ų Ų Ų Ų Ų Ų ŲŲ
đ ē Ē Đ Ų Ų Ų ş đ Ē ē Ų Ě Ų ŀ Ų Ě Ų b Ų Ě Ų ē Ų ē Ę ĝ Ų ĕ đ Ĕ Ě ėĔ ėĚ ė Ē ĕ Ĕ Ų Ń Ų ĝ Ų ĕ đ Ĕ Ě ėĔ ėĚ ę ę đ Ė Ų Ń Ų Ě Ě
It’s too bad these two Montreal moguls-slash-philanthropists don’t turn 50 every day, ‘cause wow, can they host a party!
SPOTLIGHT ON PARTIES PRIVÉS SAMANTHA GUMENICK SOPHIE CONSTANTACOS ELIZABETH BACI HARLEY OBERFELD, BEN LABRECQUE
ALEX LUTFY, OLIVIA TORY JOSÉE NOISEUX, SAMANTHA GUMENICK, CHRISTINA MILLER ANDREW LUTFY, JESSICA LUTFY
HERBERT BLACK, ANDREW LUTFY, JEAN-FRANÇOIS BRETON
CAROLYN BOISVERT, STEVIE B. HAMRON, ERIKA G. ELNAZ SOTOUDEH, NATALIA BLANCHETTE, KAROLYNE AUGER DUVERNOIS
On September 12, Groupe Dynamite CEO and philanthropist ANDREW LUTFY and fiancée SAMANTHA GUMENICK did his company name (and parties everywhere) justice with one seriously dynamite 50th birthday fest. Heck, straight from the start, glam guests knew they were going next-level when the hall into the main party at Dynamite headquarters featured high-tech elastic walls behind which larger-than-life dancers and acrobats did their thing. As for the main event, it was just as OTT. Think massive bars equipped for even the most imaginative swill proclivities, trapeze artists swinging from the ceiling in poses most mortals can only dream about, live body art painting, and some of the most mouth-watering offerings possible. Uh wow. I mean Dynamite.
Photography ED YAO
Event concept and design TOTAL EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
FOR MORE FUN WITH THE BIRTHDAY BOYS, PARTY TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
ANTONIO ESFANDIARI, DJ THOMAS H
SANDRA LUESSE
DANIEL LAMARRE, MITCH GARBER, EDDIE MONEY, BERTRAND CESVET, FRANCE CHRÉTIEN DESMARAIS, CLAUDIA BARILÀ EDDIE MONEY, MITCH GARBER, ANNE-MARIE BOUCHER
STEPHEN BRONFMAN, CLAUDINE BLONDIN BRONFMAN LYSA LASH, DON WALKER RUBY BROWN
On September 5, Caesars Acquisition CEO and philanthropist MITCH GARBER and wife ANNE-MARIE BOUCHER welcomed a similarly glittery crowd to his beyond-fabulous 50th birthday bash at Parisian Laundry, where invitees were also entranced time and again. Among the most masterful Mitch touches were perfect victuals by Tuck Shop’s JON BLOOM and celebrity chef ANTONIO PARK, an endless flow of Dom Pérignon and lobster towers at the ingenious “nightclub lounge,” live performances by multi-platinum rocker EDDIE MONEY and Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band LOVERBOY, and some major dance floor action thanks to nonstop spins by DJs extraordinaire THOMAS H. and L.A.-based SANDRA LUESSE. In lieu of gifts, friends and family donated over $150,000 to Mitch’s chosen charities. Oh yeah, there was that epic Moroccan-themed after-party, too (but some things are sacred).
Photography LADISLAS KADYSZEWSKI
We may think otherwise (wink), but Montreal has not cornered the market on party-fabulous. In fact, Diary had the pleasure and privilege of coveted invites to two of Toronto’s most impressive 2014 gala evenings. Enjoy! (We certainly did).
CARY TAUBEN
JEANNE BEKER
JOE MIMRAN
YASMIN WARSAME PETER PAPAPETROU
HANS KOECHLING
MARILYN DENIS
ESTELLE GERVAIS JENN CAMPBELL
RAPHAEL DONGIER KATIA PICCOLINO
ANINA BELLE GIANNINI CHERYL HICKEY JENN CAMPBELL
RANA FLORIDA
JAY STRUT
JEANNE BEKER
COCO ROCHA
DEBORAH LAU-YU
DEAN CATEN DAN CATEN
Photography GEORGE PIMENTEL
THE CAFATASTIC CONTINUES AT DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
DEAN CATEN DAN CATEN
ELENA SEMIKINA
BEN MULRONEY JESSICA MULRONEY SUZANNE ROGERS CHLOÉ ROGERS
GEORGE ANTONOPOULOS CAROLYN QUINN JOE MIMRAN KIMBERLEY NEWPORT-MIMRAM
SYLVIA MANTELLA
VICKY MILNER BRITTNEY KUCZYNSKI
DEXTER PEART BYRON PEART
CANADIAN ARTS AND FASHION AWARDS
When I first got the call from Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA) powerhouse managing director VICKY MILNER to ask if I’d like to sit on the nominating committee for their inaugural awards in February, I was flattered and intrigued, and very much enjoyed the process and lead-up to the major happening. That said, nothing could have prepared any of us for the truly outstanding Awards Ceremony and festivities that ensued in February at Toronto’s historic Fairmont Hotel. Canadian Fashion shone as it never has before. From the glittering guestlist awash in luminaries and award recipients – including supermodel COCO ROCHA (Model of the Year), design legends DSQUARED²’s DEAN and DAN CATEN (International Canadian Designers of the Year), fashion journo JEANNE BEKER (the evening’s Vanguard Honouree), and retail royal JOE MIMRAN (winner of The Canadian Style Award of the Year) – to the elegant dinner and rocking after-bash, no dazzling detail was left unattended. As for stylish Montrealers, ‘course we were everywear, with prestigious nominations going to stylist CARY TAUBEN and designers MARTIN LIM, PHILIPPE DUBUC and MARIE SAINT PIERRE, and awards going to WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie’s DEXTER and BYRON PEART (Accessory Designers of The Year, presented by Browns’ tops MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN) and to TRAVIS TADDEO (Menswear Designer of the Year). World, take note: Canada is one awesome runway.
MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN
Suzanne Rogers Presents: Zac Posen Benefit Gala and Fashion Show
WITH SIGNATURE SUZANNE STYLE
She’s beautiful, stylish, glamorous, and she clearly raises the bar when it comes to hosting world-class benefit events. I’m talking about the inimitable SUZANNE ROGERS, who once again awed the Toronto social scene (CORRECTION: every social scene) last April with her “Suzanne Rogers Presents” Zac Posen: An Evening of Modern American Glamour. Held at ever-chic The Carlu, the much-anticipated event was a draw for the country’s most powerful and successful, all of whom gowned and tuxedoed their best for a benefit experience not likely to be forgotten any time soon, or rather, until it’s eclipsed by Suzanne’s next edition. Among the highpoints (and there were many) were the elegant cocktails, jaw-droppingly stunning ZAC POSEN fashion show (unveiling his fall 2014 collection for the first time in Canada), multicourse gourmet dinner (hosted with sass and class by CityTV’s DINA PUGLIESE and SUSIE WALL with a sizzling auction by master BEN MULRONEY), and way-too-much-fun after-party, inspired by Stilife nightclub, an 80s Toronto hotspot. Guests including major fashion insiders like LEIGH LEZARK, headlined the party, and contributing Vogue editor LAUREN SANTO DOMINGO, who initiated festivities, were duly impressed. Most importantly, Suzanne’s singular soirée raised a heart-warming $800,000 for Boost Child Abuse Prevention & Intervention, and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. A round of applause please for this power-girl who goes the distance and never ceases to inspire.
ANNA CLEVELAND
COCO ROCHA
EDWARD ROGERS
CHLOÉ ROGERS
DEREK BLASBERG HAMISH BOWLES
ZAC POSEN
COCO ROCHA SUZANNE ROGERS
ZAC POSEN
SUZANNE ROGERS
Photography GEORGE PIMENTEL
FOR MORE ON THIS AMAZING BENEFIT EVENT, ROGERS TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
BEN MULRONEY JESSICA MULRONEY
SUZANNE ROGERS
BETTA LEMME JAY STRUT MICHEAL HOWARD
CHERYL HICKEY
SYLVIA MANTELLA ZAC POSEN
HAMISH BOWLES
JEANNE BEKER
DIARY LOVES FAB GABRIELLE COUTU: BCBGMAXAZRIA, CÉLINE.
COCO ROCHA: DSQUARED2.
LAUREN BROWN: MARIE SAINT PIERRE.
ERICK FAULKNER: RAD HOURANI.
JOHANNE STERNTHAL: BALMAIN, SAINT LAURENT, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN.
MR. ANTHONY: LA MAISON SIMONS.
GWEN MADIBA: HOUSE OF DARE.
ULOUS FASHIO
BIANCA DI BLASIO: TRAVIS TADDEO.
CARRIE MACPHERSON: DVF, OSCAR DE LA RENTA, ALEXANDER WANG, TRUTH OR DARE.
MICKAËL MARCHAND: HUGO BOSS, JOHN VARVATOS.
VIBI PATEL: HER OWN DESIGN.
JOSÉE NOISEUX: DENIS GAGNON. JUDITH ARSENEAU: ISSUE NEW YORK. RUBY BROWN: LAUNDRY BY SHELLI SEGAL.
Photography BARRY HARRIS STUDIO, DAVID CURLEIGH, FIUSHA STUDIO, ESTELLE GERVAIS, VINCENT GIRARD, MARC MURI
ISABELLE HUDON: OSCAR DE LA RENTA. STEEVE LAPIERRE: DIOR HOMME. NORMAND CIARLO: CANALI, PRADA. DEBRA MARGLES: MICHAEL KORS. CARRIE MACPHERSON: MARIE SAINT PIERRE.
CHLOÉ LANGEVIN: H&M, TOM FORD, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN. JANIE DUGAS: BCBGMAXAZRIA, LANVIN.
BULOUS FASHION VALERY ZAMUNER: CATHERINE MALANDRINO. RACHEL GILMORE: ROLAND MOURET.
VALÉRIE BOYER: VALENTINO.
CAROLINE NÉRON: BCBGMAXAZRIA, CAROLINE NÉRON.
JESSICA CONCANNON: LE CHÂTEAU, CHANEL.
MANON CHICOINE: DVF.
ANNIE ROBERT: BCBGMAXAZRIA.
IARY LOVES FA
ESTELLE GERVAIS: RUSH COUTURE, VINTAGE.
HALEY LANKAU: ALEXANDER WANG, 3.1 PHILLIP LIM, MANOLO BLAHNIK.
AZAMIT: RAD HOURANI.
MURIELLE ZAGURY: HERVÉ LÉGER RUNWAY. PHILIPPE MORIN: MOSCHINO.
NATHALIE BROWN: VINTAGE. JULIE DU PAGE: BCBGMAXAZRIA.
BETTE LEMME: H&M, VINTAGE, CHANEL, MARC JACOBS, PANDORA, ANNA SHEFFIELD. DANIEL QUINTAL: ZARA, VINTAGE, DOC MARTINS.
CHERRY CASH DAVIDSON: ALL VINTAGE. BROOKE COCO DEVILLE: GILES DEACON, CÉLINE, GIVENCHY, EUGENIA KIM.
Before we move officially to the LOOK THE PARTY section, time now for a final adieu to stylish Social Gals and Social Gents. FOR MORE FASH FAB, SWISH TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM.
JACKVICTOR.COM
AND NOW, THE PERFECT KICK-OFF TO THIS EDITION’S LOOK THE PARTY SECTION COURTESY OF DIARYSTA VICKI HOGARTH, WHO HAS THE STILETTO SCOOP ON THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST CANADIAN JIMMY CHOO FLAGSHIP. ACCESSORIES AWAY!
THE RIGHT TO CHOOS BY VICKI HOGARTH
Caillianne and Samantha Beckerman donned the Jimmy Choo Flash sunglasses and Toronto-exclusive Candy clutch and Carrera sunglasses and La Blah Blah clutch, respectively.
LO O K T HE PAR T Y
The first Canadian flagship Jimmy Choo store, unveiled.
Guests of honour, Mila Mulroney, wearing the Reese clutch and Tiger boot, and Waris Ahluwalia, sporting the Prescott loafer.
“
I lost my Choo!” screamed fictional character and iconic shoe lover Carrie Bradshaw, once upon a time, as a lavender stiletto embellished with white feathers slipped off her foot in the midst of running for the Staten Island ferry. If Jimmy Choo wasn’t a household name for women across North America before that moment in season three of Sex and the City, the high-end accessories brand became an instant international obsession for footwear fetishists and sartorial dreamers alike after Sarah Jessica Parker donned that single purple pair. Her seemingly irrational love of Choos made us all wonder, “Could stilettos really be that good? And, if so, didn’t we all have the right to Choos?” Unfortunately for Canadian women and men looking to follow in Bradshaw’s high-fashion footsteps, we’ve had to wait a rather long time to get our foot in the door of the first Canadian flagship Jimmy Choo store. That time finally came this past fall, when the British design house opened up shop in Toronto’s Yorkdale mall, which is fast emerging as the go-to luxury shopping destination for Torontonians and Canadians alike, with Mulberry, Versace, Michael Kors, Bulgari, and
Hermès all recently opening up standalone stores in the luxe centre. This latest addition to the designer shopscape offers a bespoke service, which the brand first launched at its other international locations in May 2014 (and online to all Choo collectors this past fall), allowing customers to completely customize their Choos, personalizing everything from the style and heel height to the finish and colour. To truly make it personal, there’s also the option of having your initials monogrammed on the sole of your shoes. Carrie Bradshaw would certainly Choo-Choo-choose that and – let’s be serious – so would SJP, who’s become the “J-Lo” of old school initials in pop culture. Besides, if we’ve learned anything from Sex and the City over the years, it’s that if the shoe fits, you should definitely put your signature on it – you never know when an unassuming party host will make you leave your shoes at the door. Fortunately, guests got to keep their feet covered at the glamorous Canadian Jimmy Choo flagship store launch event, since shoes were the point of the party. The executive team from the brand joined forces with the PR group from Power of Privé to host
THIS LATEST ADDITION TO THE DESIGNER SHOPSCAPE OFFERS A BESPOKE SERVICE … PERSONALIZING EVERYTHING FROM THE STYLE AND HEEL HEIGHT TO THE FINISH AND COLOUR.
a two-part event, starting at the new Yorkdale store on October 8. Guests of honour, MILA MULRONEY and WARIS AHLUWALIA (she wearing both the Reese clutch and Tiger boot,
A gorgeous intimate dinner at the Four Seasons Residences topped off festivities.
and he sporting the Prescott loafer) helped cut the metaphorical ribbon by toasting the new boutique with a handful of cutting-edge fashionistas and a curated crowd of VIPs, from the always avant-garde BECKERMAN sisters (perennials on Toronto Life’s annual “Most Stylish” list and high-profile fashion columnists for Flare Magazine) to local dreamboat CORY VITIELLO of The Harbord Room fame, and Fashion Magazine editor-in-chief BERNADETTE MORRA, who added a dose of bold colour to her ensemble with the Charlize clutch. After a tour of the Yorkdale flagship location where many of the footwear enthusiasts made like Bradshaw and maxed their credit card limits in the name of new Choos, select guests were also invited to an intimate dinner at the Four Seasons Residences. Here, a floral wall created by Frank Rea of Forget Me Not Flowers was clearly meant to draw eyes upward from the show-stopping Choos worn to perfection by so many of the attendees. The night was certainly the ultimate engine starter for the new boutique, which is now going full steam into the holiday season and the New Year. Choo-Choo, indeed!
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The Choos have landed, at last.
2014
SARTORIALTO
Man of the year award nominees Alexandre Bilodeau Antoine Bertrand Charles Lafortune Corey Hart Francisco Randez Marc Bergevin Martin Matte P.K. Subban Philippe Falardeau Sidney Crosby
Vote from January 5th to January 31st at sartorialto.com/award2014/
Francisco Randez 2013 Man of the year
393 ST-JACQUES / MONTRÉAL
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701 RUE ST-PIERRE / MONTRÉAL
LO O K T HE PAR T Y
SOARINGLY FAB SARTORIALS FOR COOL DOS EVERYWEAR
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FASHION YOUR SEATBELTS Photography NEIL MOTA (Rodeo Production) Styling CARY TAUBEN (Folio) Creative direction JENN CAMPBELL
HOT BOY BOARDING
NICK HARVEY: Sunglasses DIOR HOMME (Boutique Europa). Suit BRUNELLO CUCINELLI (Holt Renfrew). Turtleneck VINCE (Michel Brisson). Suitcase RIMOWA (PRFKT by Europa).
PEEK-A-JET
NICK HARVEY: Suit ARMANI, turtleneck Z ZEGNA (ALL Boutique Europa). GABRIELLE P.: Jacket MOSCHINO (PRFKT by Europa). Leather pants IRO (Se Ce Apparel). Clutch PACO RABANNE (ssense.com). Earrings and ring PESAVENTO DNA COLLECTION (Bijouterie Dominic). Nudist sandals STUART WEITZMAN. CÉLESTINE: Sunglasses DIOR HOMME (Boutique Europa). Earrings OSCAR DE LA RENTA (Holt Renfrew). Black leather perfecto BALMAIN. Dress PARKER (TNT Montreal). Bracelet PESAVENTO DNA COLLECTION (Bijouterie Dominic). Cowgirl suede over-theknee boots STUART WEITZMAN.
CABIN FEVER
CALVIN: Jacket and pants J.LINDEBERG (Boutique Europa). Turtleneck HOLT RENFREW (Holt Renfrew). Watch bronze and titanium limited edition Chimera U-BOAT (Bijouterie Dominic). ON CALVIN’S LAP: Chinchilla shawl GORSKI. Birkin bag HERMÈS. GABRIELLE S.: Dress LANVIN (Holt Renfrew). Dress (underneath) CYNTHIA ROWLEY (Groupe JS International). Leather biker vest SAINT LAURENT. Necklace LANVIN. Collier de Chien HERMÈS. Sandals STUART WEITZMAN.
LOVE IN THE AIR
GABRIELLE S.: Bracelet (Stylist’s own). Silver fox jewelled bolero GORSKI. Jeans IRO (Se Ce Apparel). JEFF FINN: Suit LE 31(La Maison Simons). Sweater HOLT RENFREW (Holt Renfrew).
A NOSE FOR CLOTHES
CALVIN: Leather jacket DIESEL BLACK GOLD (La Maison Simons). T-shirt VINCE (Michel Brisson). Jeans 7 FOR ALL MANKIND (Se Ce Apparel). NICK HARVEY: Sunglasses DIOR HOMME (Boutique Europa). Turtleneck HOLT RENFREW (Holt Renfrew). Silver jacket MONITALY (La Maison Simons). Watch DATEJUST II ROLEX (Bijouterie Italienne). Jeans HUGO BOSS. JEFF FINN: Jacket AMI (Michel Brisson). T-shirt BLK DNM (Holt Renfrew). Trousers MARNI (Michel Brisson).
PARTY IN THE PIT
GABRIELLE S.: Dress MOSCHINO (PRFKT by Europa). 18K white gold and diamond link earrings FOREVERMARK, silver Horsebit bracelet and mesh bracelet watch GUCCI FINE JEWELRY (ALL Bijouterie Italienne). CÉLESTINE: Silver Horsebit earrings and necklace GUCCI FINE JEWELRY, diamond ring FOREVERMARK (ALL Bijouterie Italienne). Suit A.L.C. (TNT Montreal).
WINGING IT
GABRIELLE P.: Shoes MANOLO BLAHNIK (Browns). Gown HOUSE OF DARE. Biker leather jacket RTA (TNT Montreal). 18K white gold, diamond and London blue topaz ring VIANNA (Maison Birks). 18K white gold and diamond link earrings, necklace and ring FOREVERMARK (ALL Bijouterie Italienne).
JUST FUR FAB
GABRIELLE S.: Blue dyed silver fox jewelled bolero GORSKI. CÉLESTINE: Emerald dyed silver fox jewelled bolero GORSKI.
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LO O K T HE PAR T Y
PARIS HERE WE COME
CALVIN: Leather jacket DIESEL BLACK GOLD (La Maison Simons). T-shirt VINCE (Michel Brisson). Jeans 7 FOR ALL MANKIND (Se Ce Apparel). Shoes HUGO BOSS. Suitcase RIMOWA (PRFKT by Europa). GABRIELLE S.: Black leather perfecto SAINT LAURENT (ssense. com). Dress MICHAEL KORS. Clutch PACO RABANNE (ssense.com). Nudist sandals STUART WEITZMAN. NICK HARVEY: Sunglasses DIOR HOMME (Boutique Europa). Turtleneck HOLT RENFREW (Holt Renfrew). Silver jacket MONITALY (La Maison Simons). CÉLESTINE: Vest DENIS GAGNON (La Maison Simons). Purse CHANEL (Stylist’s own). Watch OYSTER PERPETUAL ROLEX and Silver Horsebit necklace GUCCI FINE JEWELRY (ALL Bijouterie Italienne). Belt GIANFRANCO FERRÉ. Stack rings (La Maison Simons). Leather pants IRO (Se Ce Apparel). Sandals STUART WEITZMAN. JEFF FINN: Jacket AMI (Michel Brisson). T-shirt BLK DNM (Holt Renfrew). Trousers MARNI (Michel Brisson). Watch DATEJUST II ROLEX (Bijouterie Italienne). Travel bag WANT LES ESSENTIELS DE LA VIE (Michel Brisson). GABRIELLE P.: Suit PHILOSOPHY DI ALBERTA FERRETTI (PRFKT by Europa). Chinchilla shawl GORSKI. Bustier HOUSE OF CB. 18K white gold, diamond and morganite earrings, 18K white gold, diamond and London blue topaz ring ALL VIANNA (Maison Birks). 18K white gold and diamond link necklace FOREVERMARK (Bijouterie Italienne). Shoes GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI (Browns). Suitcase RIMOWA (PRFKT by Europa).
LO O K T HE PAR T Y 107 / DIARY O F A SO C IA L GA L Makeup and hair PACO PUERTAS (Folio). Nail art TAMARA DI LULLO (Folio). Retouching VALÉRIE LALIBERTÉ. All models DULCEDO MODEL MANAGEMENT. Video CEDRIC SEQUERRA (ProjekRoom). Photography assistants MIKAEL CARDIN, ENRIQUE SANCHEZ. Makeup and hair assistant NISHA GULATI. Special thanks to DAC JET INTERNATIONAL’S EMMANUEL ANASSIS, JANE POTAPOVA and JESSICA MASSÉ, mama bear extraordinaire GAIL CAMPBELL, stylish soul sister JOHANNE STERNTHAL, CHRIS ILIOPOULOS, NOÉMIE MONIC, MILAD SAHAFZADEH, Diarystas ESTELLE GERVAIS and SLOANE MONTGOMERY, and the EXECAIRE MONTREAL TEAM. FOR BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACTION AND ONE HOT VIDEO, FLY TO DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM
STUARTWEITZMAN.COM
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UNISEX RADIFICATION MY FRIEND RAD HOURANI IS THE FIRST CANADIAN DESIGNER IN HISTORY TO PRESENT AND DESIGN A UNISEX HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION DURING PARIS HAUTE COUTURE FASHION WEEK IN JULY 2012 AT THE PRESTIGIOUS INVITATION OF LA CHAMBRE SYNDICALE DE LA HAUTE COUTURE. REMARKABLY, HE IS A PHOTOGRAPHER AND ARTIST AS WELL, A SELF-DESCRIBED VISUALIST WHO USES MYRIAD PLATFORMS TO EXPRESS HIS UNIQUE POINTS OF VIEW. HIS LIFE’S WORK IS AN ATTENTIVE STUDY OF THE HUMAN FORM AND EXPERIENCE THAT CELEBRATES NEUTRALITY AS A DEFINING HUMAN TRAIT. NOT SURPRISINGLY, HIS IMPECCABLY CUT UNISEX DESIGNS, WITH SEEMINGLY MAGICAL FOLDS, MIRROR THIS PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY AND ENABLE THOSE WHO WEAR HIS GARMENTS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE, POWERFUL AND BEYOND THE CONFINES OF TIME. AT ITS CORE, THE RAD HOURANI UNISEX PROCESS ADVOCATES NONCONFORMITY AS THE ESSENCE OF INDIVIDUALISM. HE SEES MODERNITY AS AN ODYSSEY FREE OF RULES, GENDER, AGE, SEASONS, BOUNDARIES AND CONDITIONING. WITH HIS VISION, HE IS SKETCHING A NEWER, FREER WAY TO LIVE. FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION, RAD PHOTOGRAPHED SOME OF CANADA’S TOP STARS IN THE WORLDS OF SPORTS, TELEVISION, MOVIES, DANCE, MUSIC, FASHION, AND ART, ALL WEARING HIS READY-TO-WEAR COLLECTION – MADE IN CANADA. PHOTOGRAPHY, STYLING, DESIGN: RAD HOURANI. HAIR + MAKEUP: PATRICK RAHMÉ (PM1). WORDS: JENN CAMPBELL
MARIPIER MORIN, TELEVISION HOST, AND BRANDON PRUST, HOCKEY PLAYER
Maripier is wearing a unisex black belted vest and white shirt dress (all RADHOURANI.COM) with gold, diamond, and pearl jewellery by GLORIA BASS DESIGN. Brandon is wearing a unisex white shortsleeved shirt and black wool blazer (all RADHOURANI.COM).
KARINE VANASSE, ACTRESS Karine is wearing a unisex black crêpe belted trench and white longsleeved tuxedo shirt (all RADHOURANI.COM).
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EVAN MCKIE, BALLET DANCER
Evan is wearing a unisex black jersey scarf and black crêpe coat (all RADHOURANI.COM).
LAWRENCE CASTERA, SINGER/SONGWRITER Lawrence is wearing a unisex grey fleece hoodie, black wool perfecto jacket and black crêpe pants (all RADHOURANI.COM).
COEUR DE PIRATE, SINGER/SONGWRITER Béatrice is wearing a unisex black wool jacket, grey jersey top and black crêpe backpack/handbag (all RADHOURANI.COM).
BLACK ATLASS, MUSICIAN
Hair + makeup: Andrew Ly.
Alex is wearing a unisex black crêpe short perfecto, white jersey t-shirt and black denim pants (all RADHOURANI.COM).
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BRANDON LONDON, FOOTBALL PLAYER Brandon is wearing a unisex black wool blazer, black jersey tank top, black crêpe back pack and black crêpe shorts (all RADHOURANI.COM).
SAADVISION, MODEL MAKER Saad is wearing a unisex black crêpe tuxedo shirt and black denim pants. Models Clarisse, Rachel and Simon (DULCEDO MODEL MANAGEMENT) are wearing unisex white shirts and black crêpe shorts (all RADHOURANI.COM).
PIERRE TRAHAN, FOUNDER/ PRESIDENT ARSENAL CONTEMPORARY ART COMPLEX
Pierre is wearing a unisex grey and black crêpe trench coat (RADHOURANI.COM).
ZOE DUCHESNE, ARTIST/MODEL
Zoe is wearing a unisex grey crêpe tuxedo shirt (RADHOURANI.COM).
SYLVIA MANTELLA, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER/HUMANITARIAN Sylvia is wearing a unisex black draped crêpe vest (RADHOURANI.COM). All Rad Hourani unisex ready-to-wear collections are made in Canada and available at his Montreal Unisex Gallery, 231 Saint Paul St. West, #100, and on RADHOURANI.COM, with free shipping worldwide.
AN AFTERNOON WITH JET SET DESIGNER
LOUISE OLSEN BY CAIA HAGEL
Photography STEPHEN WARD, EARL CARTER, DINOSAUR DESIGNS
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LO O K T HE PAR T Y
Of course we’re jools- and accessories-obsessed at Diary and love nothing more than sharing our finds. One of our latest go-to queens on this front is Australia-based designer LOUISE OLSEN. Contributor CAIA HAGEL has the fashionable, fabulous 411.
Handmade silver rings look even better stacked.
Talk about a statement piece: the Atelier Sun Necklace in brass.
Another statement necklace: the Atelier Waterfall.
Nudes by Stephen Ward show off the Sterling Silver Collection to perfection.
LO O K T HE PAR T Y
Lighter bangles in sterling silver.
T
he gorgeous wearable art jewels that my dear friend LOUISE OLSEN and her Dinosaur Designs team fashion at their luxurious Strawberry Hills headquarters in Sydney, Australia, are worn and adored by some of the world’s most fabulous women. Rachel Weisz, Stella Tennant, Erin Wasson, Kate Winslet, Elle Macpherson, Anna Piaggi and Kylie Minogue are all regularly spotted wearing their favourite Dinosaur pieces. Sensual bowls, vases and plates are also part of the Dinosaur Designs oeuvre, along with special pieces like limited edition rugs, artisanal side tables, oversized necklace artworks, even a chess set for Louis Vuitton – who chose Olsen, as well as iconic actress Cate Blanchett, to create an “amble” around the city of Sydney for their Louis Vuitton travel app. I recently caught up with my magnificently productive pal, fresh from the launch of her new Dinosaur Designs London flagship, to chat design, places, people, parties, philosophies, and high-octane adventures:
Louise, one look at your exquisitely crafted pieces highlights just how integral materials and process are to Dinosaur Designs. Can you talk about your approach to design? Dinosaur Designs is a fusion of art, design and fashion. I like playing with and blurring these boundaries. Each piece has a textural and artful aesthetic, but is also wearable and practical at the same time. Resin is an amazing material; it’s painterly yet sculptural so the possibilities it offers are endless. I love juxtaposing it with elements of silver and gold to create unexpected pieces. We make everything by hand in our Sydney studio so there’s a real immediacy to the process. Every piece bears the slight differences of the artisan who’s made it. The Japanese have a phrase “wabi-sabi,” for the result, which really describes what we do. Perfection in imperfection – a perfectly formed bowl that has an indent adds humanness, for example, and makes it so much more interesting. The sense
of touch is so crucial to our pieces because people wear jewellery so close to their hearts. It’s very important that they invite you to appropriate them. Fashion is normally about labels that wear you. Our pieces become part of you, so you wear them. We want to enrich people’s lives through our work, creating something that people will cherish and love. What about sources of inspiration? Derived everywhere! For example, at the Matisse show in London I saw old footage of him, the artist, working with scissors to cut out these huge coral forms, and loved how raw and immediate it was. That made a grand impression. In Rome, I visited MAXXI: Museum of XXI Century Arts, the new museum designed by Zaha Hadid. It’s incredible. You feel like you’re walking into her arms; the whole building embraces you. Art helps bring us to those enriching places, the ones we don’t see and feel enough. In addition to art, nature is ever inspiring. I’m currently working on a collection based on flowers, which will be released next year. There’s something very poetic about the burst of colour, shape and perfume from a flower; it’s a statement of its being, its crowning glory, but it’s also so fragile and ephemeral. I heard the opening of the London flagship at the new Ham Yard Hotel was a great happening … We had a really good turnout, which took place in the middle of London Design Festival. People were spilling out of the store and onto the footpath. As the evening progressed, we moved up to the rooftop garden of the hotel and I’ll never forget the wonderful chef Antonio Carluccio foraging in the garden for basil to make pesto while we all sipped champagne. In the very early years of Dinosaur Designs, our work formed part of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Australia exhibition, and was then picked up by Harvey Nichols and Liberty, which were incredibly exciting moments for us. We’ve always
thought about a store in London, but the timing’s never seemed right so when we were approached by Craig Markham of Firmdale Hotels about opening a store in a new hotel with a specially curated shopping precinct at Ham Yard in London’s Soho, we jumped at the chance. We’ve had a great reception for the pieces we’ve stocked at Paul Smith’s Mayfair store, and the location for our new store is perfect. Soho has such vibrancy and diversity with a great mix of restaurants, stores and bars. You always travel to the most luxurious places. I can’t help but inquire about your recent travels because they’re always so fertile in terms of hotspots. Inquire away! In London for the launch, I stayed at the Ham Yard hotel, which has managed to perfect the balance between creating an atmosphere with a great buzz and somewhere to relax. Earlier this year, I travelled to India for the first time. I stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, and then at the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, which were both amazing. The Rambagh Palace was the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and his stunning wife. There were patterns of pastel flower petals arranged on my floor every time I came back to my room, and a resident sitar player who filled the air with exotic music. A palm reader would come to the hotel every night and told me unusual things like what colours I should wear, which direction I should sleep in, and which way I should be seated for the highest productivity when I’m working. We’ve also just managed to have a family holiday at the Punta Tragara, a beautiful hotel designed by Le Corbusier in Capri. The light in Capri is magical, the food is voluptuous – delicious lemons, olive oil, pasta, seafood, and wine.
For more Dinosaur fab, head to DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM, and visit DINOSAURDESIGNS.COM.
FASHCHAT For the island beach holiday, I love Eres Swimwear, Miskini and Zimmermann bikinis. I also love Miu Miu sunglasses, and my Jane Lambert hat. I love shopping in different cities, but I do believe that less is more. I usually invest in a select few good things each season. My current favourites are some very Japanese slides from Céline, a never-fail jacket from Burberry, and an Indian-inspired dress from Isabel Marant. Dinosaur Designs’ Louise Olsen.
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Bangles in resin add pop to holiday outfits and beyond.
GIVENCHY Embellished chain necklace luisaviaroma.com
GIVENCHY Chunky buckle gloves farfetch.com
GREG LAUREN Tail studio shirt farfetch.com
CHRISTIAN DIOR Dior so real sunglasses Holt Renfrew
HELMUT LANG Stretch-leather leggings mytheresa.com
STUART WEITZMAN Highstreet suede boots stuartweitzman.com
SALAR Jules woven leather backpack with buckles luisaviaroma.com
AGENT PROVOCATEUR Whitney bra agentprovocateur.com
MICHAEL KORS Maritime link pavé ring La Maison Ogilvy
CHLOÉ Single striped cape farfetch.com
little ithout a plete w IS. Cheers m o c VA be in LE GER would PARTY llerizer, ESTEL rystos. E H T K Este LOO d Dia om the Diarystas an input fr ds a re th d to goo
E Z I R E L L E T ES
A T S Y R A I D
O T S Y R A I D
MARIO PORTOLANO Crocodile leather and nappa gloves luisaviaroma.com
OBSCUR Single-breasted coat farfetch.com
SAINT LAURENT Classic 2 sunglasses Holt Renfrew
ROLEX Cellini Time watch Bijouterie Italienne
GIVENCHY Zip through shirt farfetch.com
J.W. ANDERSON Slim-fit woven-wool trousers mrporter.com
BALENCIAGA Arena suede high top sneakers Holt Renfrew LAURA B Silver pleated brass mesh belt luisaviaroma.com
One of our greatest accessories for the party and beyond is, yes, hair, LOADS OF IT. And so, for this special edition, we joined forces with award-winning SALON PURE, to showcase – and weigh in – on some of the most powerful looks of the season, as well as TRESSE HAIR COLLECTION, who provided all the extensions used in the shoot.
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LO O K T HE PAR T Y
EXTENDED STYLE Photography NEIL MOTA (Rodeo Production) Styling MAUDE BOISJOLY (Dulcedo Artists) Creative direction JENN CAMPBELL
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LO O K T HE PAR T Y
BIANCA
LO O K T HE PAR T Y
While braids have been trending for awhile, Salon Pure’s NIK, LEO LOUTFI and ANTOINE VADACCHINO explained that the latest versions reflect an overall drift towards contrasting textures that, in turn, project a more natural look. Note the sleek slick-back at the top of Bianca’s head and its pleasing juxtaposition with the intricate side braids and messier, more relaxed main braid.
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AUDREY
Long straight locks never go out of style, but now, said the trio, a strong modern take on the classic is all about sheen and shine, with variations in length. The ultimate impression is one of warmth and innocence, the former accentuated by a touch of bronze in the extensions; one of the hair accessory’s added perks.
ARIELLE
While hints of the Victorian permeate this elaborate do, the slinky-esque top roll set against extended lengths gives modern drama, making it a grand entrance’s new bestie.
BIANCA
LO O K T HE PAR T Y
This bohemian-seasoned style is a bonus by-product of Bianca’s first look, which continues the tendency towards opposing textures and lengths. It’s also another option for a long-haired look that works well during day and evening.
Eighties-inspired, Audrey’s second look plays up volume at the crown (and in the length) and highlights just how popular half-up/half-down has become, embraced by the celebrity likes of Ariana Grande and Jennifer Lopez. A naughty prom queen ready for her big night.
ARIELLE
Hair NIK, LEO LOUTFI and ANTOINE VADACCHINO (Salon Pure). Makeup CHARLOTTE MARIE FLANNERY (Dulcedo Artists). Retouching VALÉRIE LALIBERTÉ. Photography assistant KANE OCEAN. All models DULCEDO MODEL MANAGEMENT. Studio RODEO PRODUCTION. All hair extensions TRESSE HAIR COLLECTION. Special thanks to MILAD SAHAFZADEH, CINTHIA FERRARESI, MIKE DE LUCA, The RODEO PRODUCTION team, ESTELLE GERVAIS, SLOANE MONTGOMERY, MARIE-ÈVE DESROCHERS, NOÉMIE MONIC, mama bear GAIL CAMPBELL and Diary mascot PRESLEY PRECIOUS CAMPBELL.
Finally, victory rolls go nextlevel with the team’s contemporary interpretation of a twenties bad girl that uses extensions to boost volume in the wrap ponytail, subsequently bent backwards for more up-to-date chic. Once again, contrasting textures and lengths play a pivotal role.
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AUDREY
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LO O K T HE PAR T Y
And now, let’s make up ‌
FACETIME
BY JENN CAMPBELL
F
or the first three looks, professional makeup artist CHARLOTTE MARIE FLANNERY took a cue from runways and used an overall warm and rosy palette merged strategically with metallic earth tones on lids. Lips were intentionally creamy in lieu of matte or glossy, and subtle in hue (nude to pinky brown). Skin was kept natural with a delicate glow and dewy sheen on cheekbones. For the next three looks (showcased here), Charlotte dialled up drama by deepening shadows, especially towards the outer corners of the eyes, and darkening and exaggerating liner. Lips received added intensity thanks to richer shades with amped up shine; power pink on Bianca, siren scarlet on Audrey and a sultry purple on Arielle. Do try this at home.
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LO O K T HE PAR T Y
Nope, not done on the beauty front. Diary contributor JANNA ZITTRER sat down with homegrown hair and makeup master VITTORIO MASECCHIA, who had much to share.
SECRETS OF A BEAUTY PRO BY JANNA ZITTRER
I
s there any woman who doesn’t dream of having a miracle worker on speed dial to keep her looking her best? For countless celebs and who-knows-how-many models, that man is pro hair and makeup artist VITTORIO MASECCHIA. Born and raised in Montreal, Masecchia has come a long way from playing make-believe in his mother’s salon to become the go-to guy when everyone from pop star Kesha to funny gal Chelsea Handler want to get gorgeous. Now based in L.A. – when he’s not busy jet-setting around the world to work for such major magazines as Nylon and FLARE, and on campaigns for the likes of Target and Joe Fresh – Masecchia shows no signs of slowing down. “If I go a couple days without working on someone’s face or head, I start to feel a sort of uneasiness,” he says. With such a passion for all things pretty, who better to divulge to Diary readers the trade secrets to a party-perfect look?
THE EDITORIALS
THE MUSE Photography Idlator
A taste of some of Masecchia’s hair and makeup. Photography Greg Swales for Dress To Kill with styling by Amy Lu
Let’s talk party hair. Which trends are you most excited about right now? Long hair is making a comeback. Tons of models were chopping their hair for the last few seasons, but we’re seeing a return to length, and I love it. Long hair is sexy. There is currently a huge wave of “less is more,” so while big blowouts will always have a place in my heart, I love suggesting something more natural looking. If your hair’s natural texture has tons of frizz, I love to blow-dry and flat iron using TRESemmé 7 Day Smooth system. The keratin keeps hair smooth for a week, so you can rock an air-dried look like the Chanel or Chloé girls, while not feeling like a mess. Braids and hair ornaments are also trendy right now. They’re a great way to add texture and interest to your look, while also solving a bad hair day. And of course, the new wave of hair colours is exciting.
Photography Vittorio Masecchia
Singing sensation Kesha at the American Music Awards. Multicoloured mane by Masecchia.
Photography Greg Swales for Dress To Kill with styling by Amy Lu Photography Francisco Garcia with styling by Cory Ng
Homegrown beauty pro Vittorio Masecchia
THE MASTER
Indeed, rainbow-coloured hair has become something of a signature for you. How can we non-models and non-pop stars work the trend for our next big event? I’ve seen faded colours that look better than fully saturated ones, like mint, lavender, peach, pink, and sky blue. Try temporary spray or chalk for a night out, or semi-permanent for a week – that will allow you to express yourself without damage or commitment. I’ve experimented with every single colour possible at this point, and the one thing I’ve taken away is this: If you’re going to mix colours (especially vivid or pastels ones), use a colour wheel. Greens with yellows become magical, while pinks and blues look great with purples in between. Also, the lighter the hair is before adding colours, the more visible they turn out. Moreover, diluting colours with a hair mask or conditioner will create a softer shade. And of course, if you’re looking to give it a try, maybe start with coloured extensions. What about makeup? Any must-have looks to try this season? The incredible attention brows are getting is a DREAM! I’m obsessed with brows, and it’s great to see that they’re trending. They sculpt the face
What are the key products every woman needs for a big event? Lash curler and mascara, of course! Maybe even a set of lashes; a compact with mirror and powder for touching up; a highlighter or illuminator, because even ultra-matte skin needs a little glow in order to look its best; YSL Touche Éclat to touch up under the eyes; lip and cheek product (even a stain to dual as both) to add healthy colour to the face; hairspray to keep your mane looking lush all night; a heat protector to keep your hair safe; and a hair brush, elastic, and pins in case you change your mind about your hairstyle. What are the most common beauty mistakes you see women make? Any faux pas when it comes to looking party-ready? The biggest mistake any woman could make is doing her makeup in poor lighting (either the wrong colour bulbs, or shadows from the light being too high or low). Another common tragedy is making the eyes appear smaller instead of larger, or not paying attention to brows. Sometimes, I’ll see a woman with curling iron curls that I want to pounce on and brush out. Athome dye jobs, different face colour from body colour, or nails that are too busy … those are a few things that catch my eye for the wrong reasons. Any trade secrets you can share to help women look their best? Duh, confidence! It may sound like hippy jargon, but I can spend hours on a woman’s hair and makeup without success if they can’t own it. Aside from that, though, the Beautyblender has been a game changer among makeup gurus for flawless complexions, hair extensions have given women super-babe hair, dry shampoo is helping woman not overstress their hair, and papaw ointment is a miracle worker with a million different uses. Then, of course, the ultra-useful, always amazing and super-natural coconut oil is a must-have for everyone for so many reasons. What’s in your tech arsenal? Any tools or apps that keep you inspired and ahead of the curve? The Style.com app keeps me current with all the shows from fashion week. The Keynote app allows me to create storyboards with all my image references. Instagram is ammmazing for hair and makeup inspiration. I’m constantly doodling eyes everywhere I go, so I keep a pack of pens, markers, and pencils with me all the time (it keeps my hands practicing). My iPhone allows me to share a calendar with my assistant, so we’re always synced. And the Skin Deep app to check the toxicity level of the products I use on my clients.
LO O K T HE PAR T Y
What’s been your most surreal professional experience so far? I feel like every job these days blows my mind, but in June, when Kesha asked me to help her express the beauty and joy in her life through colour, retro vibes, and simplicity for ABC’s Rising Star, I was humbled by the opportunity. It was a perfect match to my own personal creative journey at that moment – serendipity and alignment at their best! Life felt truly magical all summer long while we expressed ourselves in such a healthy and positive way.
and can take someone from a 2 to a 10. They don’t need to be thick, but they need to be right. (I even had my assistant use a lash-growing serum on her brows last year.) Anastasia Beverly Hills has her brow product game on point. It’s all about sculpting the brow. And less is more with skin: subtle sculpting and highlighting along with toneperfecting prep products are the way to go. Plus, a black kohl liner is perfect for pulling off tons of trending eye looks, from smudged and smoky to a soft and subtle wing.
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You are quite the busy man! What does a typical day look like for you? Every day is different, which is part of what makes my job so amazing. One day could start on a private jet to Spain, and end backstage touching up a pop star’s makeup while thousands of fans scream for an encore. I also have a place by the beach in L.A., so if I’m not on set working with models or travelling with celebs, I spend time recharging my batteries by the beach, checking out all sorts of hair textures and colours, looking for my next wave of inspiration.
LO O K T HE PAR T Y
THE CONTEXT
Upon hearing about a new 20-minute workout from a friend that allegedly delivers the same benefits – if not more – as four hours of weight-training, I was sceptical, to say the least. Upon hearing that the session entailed donning an astro-looking unisuit hooked up to a touch-screen monitor programmed to deliver simultaneous electrical impulses to multiple muscle groups, I became convinced she’d smoked something funny for breakfast and/or was suffering way more than initially expected from the recent breakup with her ex. However, several months of training with this Starship Enterprise-sounding system called STUDIOTEC powered by XBody has not only reinstated my faith in my friend’s sanity (and generous nature), it’s also delivered what might only be described as the workout of my dreams. Fast, challenging and beyond effective, it has completely reshaped and toned my body in ways previously unimaginable, and delivered a silhouette in record time that makes bodyhugging frock shopping a pleasure rather than a curse. Hellooo parties!
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THE SCIENCE Based on existing electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) technology, used for over a century by physiotherapists and kinesiologists alike for purposes of muscular training and rehabilitation, the science has more recently been adapted in Europe for general workouts, essentially reproducing the process of muscle contractions initiated naturally by the brain to target muscle groups. What makes it especially advantageous (and ground-breaking) when it comes to efficient exercise (and sculpting J-Lo-esque booties) is its ability to target numerous muscle groups simultaneously (think abs, quads, biceps, glutes, and many more) so that the whole body gets an optimal workout in almost no time at all. Even cooler: the technology accesses muscle fibres at a far deeper level than any regular gym workout ever could, which does wonders for aches and pains, especially in the back, and underscores the system’s therapeutic potential, itself well-documented by several studies. That translates into, yes, a pretty perfect workout.
THE HOW In preparation for the workout, participants wear a lightweight bodysuit, specially designed to optimize the effects of the system, before placing the XBody vest over it. They then stand before the sleek sci-fi looking monitor to which the certified personal trainer connects the cables. Once the workout gets under way, trainers assign a sequence of exercises, using the monitor to adjust the electrical impulses transmitted to the different muscle groups. Participants conduct the exercises for four-second intervals, immediately followed by four seconds of rest. As for the high-performing magic, that happens thanks to the combination of muscular contractions stimulated by the XBody system and those generated naturally by participants.
THE CHALLENGE
Sounds pretty easy, huh? Even Jetsons-like? You stand there while the state-of-theart machine does most of the work? Reality check: like any good, endorphin-producing workout, you push to your limit while the experienced (and oft-entertaining) trainers continually raise the impulses, and mix up the level of difficulty of the exercises. The futuristic workout might only last 20 minutes, but trust me, the challenge and accompanying exercise high are all there, and sweat you will! In a good way.
THE WHERE
While EMS training centres are pretty widespread in Europe, and have been for over a decade, they’re brand new in North America (TG!), brought to us by everyone’s new favourite body-saving angels AMIRAM EHRLICH and KENNETH BERALL, who just several months ago, opened the first of a series of centres planned for Canada and the U.S. in Westmount Square. (See below for address and details.)
THE FINAL NOTE
For the entire duration of my life, I have never gotten a compliment on my backside. And now I do, frequently. Sure, I’ve never felt better or been in better shape, but the booty-enhancing takes things to a whole other level of fabulous – the X-level. For more on STUDIOTEC powered by XBody, power to DIARYOFASOCIALGAL. COM, visit their website at STUDIOTEC.CA, or stop into the studio at 1 Westmount Square, C-305 in Westmount.
Photography STUDIOTEC POWERED BY XBODY
BY JENN CAMPBELL
JUST MAYBE
STUDIOTEC POWERED BY XBODY DELIVERS THE GOODS
THE PERFECT WORKOUT ?
Time now for some fabulous fitness …
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HEIDI SMALL: Dress VICTORIA BECKHAM. Shoes MANOLO BLAHNIK. Gloves HOLT RENFREW. WENDY SCULNICK: Dress VICTORIA BECKHAM. Leather quilted gloves HOLT RENFREW. Cuff ALEXIS BITTAR. Shoes JIMMY CHOO. CHRISTINE RUSHWORTH: Dress MARCHESA. Bow gloves KATE SPADE NEW YORK. Shoes JIMMY CHOO. ALL CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES, HOLT RENFREW. Photography ALIREZA TEIMOURY (Fiusha Studio). Styling MARIELLE QUESNEY. Creative direction SUZANNE WEXLER. Hair SHAWN KEITH MAC DONALD (Orbite). Makeup NANETTE LAMBERT (Orbite) Special thanks: RESTAURANT LE SERPENT, LIDA SAHAFZADEH, HUBERT MARSOLAIS, GAIL CAMPBELL and ESTELLE GERVAIS.
PARTY BRANDS WITH THE GIRLS The Girls, Heidi Small, Wendy Sculnick, and Christine Rushworth.
Making a party fab sounds way easier than it is, which is why calling in professionals has become so de rigueur. For this MAKE THE PARTY section, contributor SUZANNE WEXLER caught up with one of the freshest party-perfecting trios in town: The Girls.
Photograp
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THEIR STARTING POINT, HERE ARE FIVE PARTY BRANDS, AMONG A PLETHORA:
hy KATIA PR
OVENCHER
EVENT LOOK: Angular, symmetrical lines, slick finishes. VENUES: Long, modern rectangular open spaces. FLOWERS: Structured, shiny arrangements of florals like proteas, boasting lots of branches and upward movement. MENU: Minimalistic with smaller portions. Think miso black cod with microgreens, meat sans bone. CLIENT BEHAVIOUR: Has their Ts crossed and Is dotted; knows exactly what they want, and what they don’t.
M AK E T HE PAR T Y
#1: SMOOTH AND MODERN
#2: COOL AND RAW
BY SUZANNE WEXLER
#3: TRIED AND TRUE
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f they can accommodate Jake Gyllenhaal, Julia Roberts and Kristen Stewart, then why not accommodate party-minded Montrealers as well? This mode of thinking inspired HEIDI SMALL and WENDY SCULNICK (with CHRISTINE RUSHWORTH) to launch event-planning business The Girls after moving on from their successful celebrity housing company Livv Mtl in 2013. With Livv, which Heidi began in 2004 and Wendy joined in 2009, the duo created countless custom environments and event experiences for celebrity clients, including a Zen-like home for Angela Bassett and exclusive private party for Jake Gyllenhaal at the then brand new Tuck Shop. Now they’re parlaying that expertise into organizing private and corporate affairs for a variety of clients, while also offering niche services at popular eateries like Le Club Chasse et Pêche, Le Serpent, Milos and Olive et Gourmando, among others. “Event planning is similar to [film housing] in the grand scheme of things,” Small explained, noting how overseeing the needs of actors, producers, directors and costume designers involved “A to Z” coordination. It meant managing privacy and security and dealing with various circumstances and personality types. Some preferred a spa-like experience, while others enjoyed a wild and swinging one. To discern an A-lister’s preference, Small and Sculnick interviewed agents and production staff prior to
their arrival – a profiling skill that gives these ladies a long, sexy leg up in the event planning biz. Today, hosts seekout custom-designed parties that reflect their personalities – or their “brands” as The Girls put it, but more on that later. Since launching last year, The Girls have been at it nonstop, taking on everything from a princess-style bat mitzvah at the Windsor Ballroom, to a hot air balloon trip for HP. Much of The Girls’ success is also thanks to third co-owner, Rushworth, a 20-year veteran events coordinator and owner of staffing company Trillium. At Trillium, which she established in 2003 (and still runs), Rushworth was the event manager for mega brands like Louis Vuitton, Armani A/X, Tom Ford, Harry Rosen, and BCBGMAXAZRIA. Working for big thinking and meticulous clients developed Rushworth’s conceptual design muscle and attention to detail, skill sets she is truly tapping into with The Girls. She remembered how company CEOs insisted, “I need it yesterday, I need it cheaper, and I want it to be something nobody’s ever done before.” (The ultimate on-the-job training!) Indeed, with wavy-haired Rushworth as the events and creative expert, blond Small managing PR and sales, and tall, angular no-nonsense Sculnick manning (er, womaning) administration and operations, a vision may be elicited of a certain mega-attractive crime-fighting trio such as, you know, the Shmarlie’s Schmangels. “Too cliché,” Sculnick laughed.
Rather, The Girls insist their brand message is unique – again, “brand” being a term that gets tossed around The Girls’ St. Henri loft office space like a box of chocolates, and they love chocolate. To them, a brand is what makes a company or individual distinct, just like Kellogg’s represents family or Harley Davidson reminds people of vroom and bigness. The Girls believe their brand is all about being “super fresh, untapped, and new,” Small said calling themselves “eventistas” instead of event planners; professionals who will create out-of-the-box events, dig for “needles in the haystack” as necessary, or even make a tried-and-true party, depending on the client. While The Girls’ brand may not pop in one’s imagination like Coke or Pepsi – such impressions take years to cultivate – the important takeaway is that they envision party planning as personalized and fun. To bring this concept to fruition, they routinely ask clients several chatty questions to get a flavour for their brand – a process that is less limiting than it sounds, said Rushworth. There are several partybrands and most people converge and diverge. In the end however, for The Girls, finding an individual’s sparkle is what it’s all about.
For more fun with The Girls (and video and pics from the shoot) party to DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM. For more on their brand, visit: THEGIRLSMTL.COM.
EVENT LOOK: White curtains, damask linens, plexi-light up bar. MENU: Champagne cocktail, eight to 10 bouchés, four-course meal. ENTERTAINMENT: Montreal’s top bands like 1945, songs from the ‘50s to today. FLOWERS: Round tight bouquets in pretty colours; blush roses and peonies for weddings. CLIENT BEHAVIOUR: Safe and dependable; ideal venue responsibly booked in advance.
#4: PRINCESS
(Think outside the bride; there are lots of princess events!) EVENT LOOK: Feminine feel, linens sweeping to the floor, chair covers, taffeta. FLOWERS: Romantic spray roses, ranunculus, and whimsical greens. MENU: Kir Royale, sit-down meal, white glove service; a filet tenderloin and gorgeous fish option. CLIENT BEHAVIOUR: Regal posture, endearing.
#5: ECO CHIC
EVENT LOOK: Hemp tablecloth and lace accents, pretty scroll writing on thick linen paper; wooden tones, but ultimately refined; candles. VENUES: Barnyard wedding, but stunning. MENU: Eco everything; local farmed duck (even if pricy), locally sourced wines; homemade dessert by mom in a mason jar. FLOWERS: Freshly picked by a friend. CLIENT BEHAVIOUR: Hands-on, creative.
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EVENT LOOK: Brick walls, polished cement floors, and gritty lofts add unrefined edge to otherwise formal affairs. MENU: A sumptuous raw bar, gamy meats, stand-up dInatoire. ENTERTAINMENT: DJ or an up-andcoming act, like Dragonette or uRockaoke. CLIENT BEHAVIOUR: Takes charge like a rockstar.
The
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We’ve heard from The Girls, literally. Time now to talk party with the boys, aka revered interior designers MITCHELL GOLD and BOB WILLIAMS, who shared interesting event insights with Diary contributor OLIVIA COLLETTE during a recent jaunt to Montreal for the launch of their flagship store.
INTERIORS KINGS MITCHELL GOLD & BOB WILLIAMS TALK PARTY BY OLIVIA COLLETTE
I
f you watch The Good Wife, you’ve seen the brand of contemporary comfort MITCHELL GOLD and BOB WILLIAMS deliver to a scene. The founders of the eponymous home furnishings company are known for having created Will’s iconic leather chair, Diane’s office and Alicia’s sofa, among other classic pieces from the popular show.
Bob Williams loves the comfy Daphne Swivel Chair, a perfect perch for relaxation and reflection.
Photography © ABEL VILLALOBOS
Interiors Kings Mitchell Gold (left) and Bob Williams at the Montreal launch, just prior to their interview with Diary of a Social Gal.
Photography © LEONA MOZES
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M AK E T HE PAR T Y
The spread at MG+BW’s Dallas store during the 25th anniversary party.
THE MTL LAUNCH
MORE MG+BW BASHES If anything, this event was a testament to the duo’s reputation for throwing smashing bashes that are heavy on good times and light on thrift. Their 10th anniversary party revolved around the notion that “if Heaven were furnished, MG+BW would do it.” To start the evening, go-go boys and girls wore winged white angel costumes, then changed into black suits mid-soirée, and ended the night in red devil outfits. There had also been a murmur that Cher – one of their famous clients – would make an appearance, a rumour that Gold and Williams neither confirmed nor denied. During their speeches, they brought out a Cher impersonator they’d met at a Key West drag show. “It rocked the place,” Gold recalled. “For the first few minutes, people really thought it was Cher!” Still, Williams will attest that the best party he’s ever been to was Gold’s wedding to his partner Tim. It took place at the Des Moines Art Center in Iowa, and was a lavish affair that warranted coverage in the New York Times. “There was nothing like it,” said Williams. “Part of the wedding took place outside in the courtyard. There was a big fountain and a reflecting pool.” Guests had to walk through the galleries to get to the ceremony, dinner was in the grand lobby, and a dance floor was set up next to the reflecting pool. “It was one of those magical nights where, as soon as the party was over, it started pouring,” Williams added. “But it held out all night.” Gold joked, “I don’t know why I keep doing events outside!”
For reading, Mitchell Gold is partial to the James Chair.
M AK E T HE PAR T Y
Versatile swivel chairs, like the Cooper, are a staple in MG+BW collections.
The Ainsley Sofa is one of Bob Williams’s favourite additions to his recently renovated media room.
HOUSE PARTIES 101 Since I’m known – sometimes expected – to throw several parties a year in my downtown pad, I was curious about how a hostess should furnish her place, and who better to ask than the masters. “One thing is to have fabrics that are easy to take care of, and that are cleanable,” Gold advised. “At almost all the parties that we have, we nearly never have any damage to the furniture because of our fabrics. Even if wine is spilled, it usually cleans up pretty easily.” Williams recommended assorted seating. “I suggest having sofas and chairs where people can sit up and actually face each other, that are not extra deep, so people have the chance for easy conversation,” he said. “A variety of seating is good too, because everyone’s a different size.” He even pointed out that where we were sitting for the interview was a good example. The two men were over to the side, each seated in black Directoire Leather Chairs. I was facing them on an “ink purple” Alex Sofa that’s at a slightly lower level. “We’ve noticed that the tallest guy always gravitates towards the shortest chair,” Williams threw in. I suppose that’s why a short person like me tends to stand. But each time I felt like giving my feet a rest at the launch party, I had many plump, cozy seats to choose from. Well played, gentlemen. Well played. For more on the sit-down with the interiors kings, décor to DIARYOFASOCIALGAL. COM. For more on their brand and the collection, visit MGBWHOME.COM, or drop into the new flagship at 1057 Wellington St., Montreal.
ESCAPING AT HOME
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When I met the duo at the launch party of their new Montreal-based signature store, it wasn’t just to celebrate their continuing success; it was to toast 25 years of it. To mark the occasion, Gold and Williams released a coffee-table book called Who We Are, detailing their views on life, style and business. They also challenged each Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (MG+BW) store to get involved with a charity and contribute to it financially, in keeping with a long-standing company tradition. “For years, we’ve supported many causes from women’s breast cancer to homeless shelters for women, teens, LGBT kids, and we’ve done advocacy work for equal rights,” Gold explained. In Montreal, the chosen charity was Groupe de Recherche et d’Intervention Social, or “GRIS,” which raises awareness about and demystifies LGBT realities through a series of workshops, many of which are held in schools. “Gris is a shade of silver,” Gold pointed out, making the connection with MG+BW’s silver anniversary and the leitmotif of their latest creations. “We worked really hard to come up with a collection that had silver accents,” said Williams. “Whether on the encased goods or figuring out ways to work silver and greys into the fabrics.” And there was certainly sheen to the launch party’s general ambiance. Perhaps it was the sleek furnishings, or the popping of sparkling wine bottles. Maybe it was the appetizing tapas provided by Montreal’s famed Tapeo restaurant, or the buzz of the mingling crowd. In the background, the DJ provided a gentle rhythm to enliven the guests’ chatter without drowning it out.
E
verybody needs one special place in their home that remains unsullied by an active social life, and sure enough, Gold and Williams have created such spaces for themselves. Gold’s home sanctuary is his bedroom, where you’ll find an upholstered headboard and his reading spot, the winged James Chair in a soft and silvery flannel fabric. In his living room, which has a view of a lake, Gold has positioned a Cooper Swivel Chair that can spin to view the water or turn back to face the seating set-up. A big fan of sci-fi, black and white pictures, and a good murder mystery, Williams’s home-based retreat is a large media room, where he and his two dogs can lie on a soft sofa and watch TV or movies for hours.
Style meets softness in an upholstered bed like the Theodore Floating Rail Bed, which Mitchell Gold has in his own sleep sanctuary.
Photography © MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS
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CAKEWORLD Dress V-FRANZ. 18K white gold earrings with rose cut diamonds, stacked black, white, mixed hue, and yellow gold ring bands, and oval fancy diamond pavé ring ALL GLORIA BASS DESIGN. Birks links diamond ring MAISON BIRKS. Pavé diamond station bracelet and stackable bangle bracelet in white gold ROBERTO COIN (Maison Birks). Shoes SALVATORE FERRAGAMO (La Maison Ogilvy). Cake CAKE ME PRETTY. Required reading DIARY OF A SOCIAL GAL. Photography MATHIEU CHARROIS. Styling CRISTINA ACEVEDO (Dulcedo Artists). Creative direction JENN CAMPBELL. Hair and makeup NATHANIEL DEZAN (Dulcedo Artists). Model KATIA (Dulcedo Model Management). Production coordination and creative consulting ESTELLE GERVAIS. Special thanks to PAMELA BATTAH, BARBARA BATTAH, AMY CAMMALLERI, DAWN HODES, MARIE-ÈVE DESROCHERS, NOÉMIE MONIC, MARCO MISERENDINO, MILAD SAHAFZADEH, SLOANE MONTGOMERY and the inimitable GAIL CAMPBELL (for enduring patience and fab digs). Cakes CAKE ME PRETTY, DABOOM DESSERTS, GÂTEAULOGIE
Cake makes a lot of people happy, including saucy sex symbol Sofia Vergara, who can’t stop extolling its virtues. We at Diary love it too, in every frosted, fudgy, festooned incarnation. In fact, we love it so much, we created a whole shoot around it, starring our very own cake Barbie. (Could she be any more adorable?) Anyway, ‘nuff sweet chat, if you heart cake too, then OLIVIA COLLETTE’s update on cakeworld has your name frosted all over it.
M AK E T HE PAR T Y
Cognac, yellow and white fancy diamond earrings GLORIA BASS DESIGN. Necklace BCBGMAXAZRIA. High dome yellow diamond pavé ring and ring band with white diamonds GLORIA BASS DESIGN. Dress WAYNE CLARK (Jenna les collections, 3rd floor La Maison Ogilvy). Boots STUART WEITZMAN (La Maison Ogilvy). Cakes (in order) GÂTEAULOGIE, DABOOM DESSERTS, CAKE ME PRETTY.
BY OLIVIA COLLETTE
M
odern historians may eventually refer to the last few years as #GlutenGate, when baked goods were seen as a guilty-as-charged pleasure, punishable by other people’s running app statuses. When cupcakes and cake pops elbowed their way into the party scene, coddling the “one can’t hurt” crowd, we barely noticed that they were merely paving the return of the real thing: rich, riot-rousing cakes. Fake-protest if you like; we all know this ends with a big fat slice on your plate. Where there’s a cake, there’s a party, which is why Diary has never declared war on cakes. So, we decided to give these lush pastries their own spread, and asked three respected Montrealbased cake creators to help us in the baking department. I sat down with each to get the skinny on the concoctions they made especially for the shoot, and to find out what’s trending in cakeworld.
DAWN HODES, DABOOM DESSERTS My lede suggests cynicism towards food fads, but Dawn Hodes, who made the gluten-free sweet-and-salty chocolate truffle (featured in the third pic), changes minds and hearts. “Truffle could be considered a trend, but it’s a timeless trend,” said Dawn. “With the splash of roasted almond nuts and
the splash of sea salt, it’s just divine.” That’s the thing about Dawn. When gluten-free products became popular, she wasn’t concerned with finding wheat substitutes. In fact, some of her creations are completely flourless, because she wants each cake to be a standalone superstar in its own right. “Don’t try to match it to something that you already do,” advised Dawn. “Go with the deliciousness and work from there.” Since entering the gourmet dessert realm almost 30 years ago, the master baker has seen her successful business evolve from direct-to-consumer to primarily distributor-based. Through it all, deliciousness has been at the core of each recipe, right next to love. “We still create in the same organic way that we always have, which is from the inside out,” Dawn explained. “I use a lot of really great nuts, a lot of great chocolate. We also have a mango cake that’s fabulous. Just stay with the core ingredients so that it’ll taste wonderful, and work with them enough so that you can create a stable, phenomenal dessert.” Who am I kidding? She had me at “truffle.”
PAMELA AND BARBARA BATTAH, GÂTEAULOGIE Since the mother and daughter duo opened their Outremont shop three
years ago, they haven’t slowed down, creating custom cakes for celebs like the Beach Boys, Neil Patrick Harris, and Ginette Reno. For the Diary shoot, they made a four-tiered cake with two black sequin layers. “Sequins are very ‘in’ right now,” said daughter Pamela. “They add a fun, sparkly element to the cake.” Pamela painstakingly made each sequin one-by-one over the course of three days. It paid off. They’re so convincing, you can barely tell they’re edible. Then again, the general rule of thumb at Gâteaulogie is: if it’s on the cake, you can eat it. Closely followed by: if you think it, they can make it. Showing me their catalogue, Pamela and Barbara highlighted a recent fivetier wedding cake that was Batman on one half and a red and gold sari on the other. Though that request wasn’t as unusual as, say, the pair of cakes shaped like dachshund dogs inside hot dog buns. “There’s a meaning behind it all,” Barbara pointed out. “Sometimes, you make the cake and you think it looks ordinary, but once you take it to the venue, it fits in incredibly. It highlights exactly what’s going on.”
have no frosting on the sides or the top – are big right now. Perhaps they’re part of the same rustic movement that brought back handlebar moustaches, mason jars, and, well, cakes. For our photos, Amy combined the idea of a Social Gal with classic blackand-white Chanel. “It looks like a woman, ready to go out at night,” she explained. “So the bottom ruffled layer is the skirt, the next is her purse, and the black bow on top is like her hair.” Her cake’s mismatched tiers reflect another trend, where people play with different textures and designs. It’s partly what stirred Amy to launch CakeMePretty.com over a year ago. Her web-only business lets users custom-build their own cakes, arrange for delivery, and all without leaving the house. Even parents can easily involve their kids in the process. Coming from a family of pastry shop owners, Amy’s seen first-hand how cakes inherently bring people together. “It’s with family or friends, or for a celebration, a reason to be reunited,” she said. “So it’s this one piece of food that you’re all sharing, and you’re all eating it at the same place. It ties the whole thing together.”
AMY CAMMALLERI, CAKE ME PRETTY
For more on the shoot, including behindthe-scenes scoop and sweet pics, go to DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM. For more on the cake masters, visit DABOOMDESSERTS.COM, GATEAULOGIE.COM and CAKEMEPRETTY.COM.
As Pamela and Barbara did, Amy underscored that “naked” cakes – which
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Cuff and bracelet MICHAEL KORS. Silver 925 bracelet VENTO (Gloria Bass Design). Triangle diamond ring and second diamond ring NOAM CARVER. Platinum set earrings with 2.12 and 2.08 ct. diamonds and 94 side stones FOREVERMARK (Bijouterie Italienne). Cat ears BCBGMAXAZRIA. Graphic diamond pavé ring GLORIA BASS DESIGN. Shirt TMANI (La Maison Simons). Culottes ANTONIO BERARDI (TNT Montreal). Boots GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI (Browns). Cake GÂTEAULOGIE.
Photography BEAUTYFOTO
M AK E T HE PAR T Y 146 / DIA RY O F A S O CIAL G A L
CORSET COSMO
W
ho better to unveil this edition’s special CORSET COSMO, created expressly for the JUST FOR FABULOUS edition by Brahm Mauer Bar Services, than Canada’s reigning queen of burlesque SCARLETT JAMES? Beloved worldwide for her signature style and production of scintillating events including The Burlesque Festival (currently in its fifth year) and Grand Burlesque Show (where global performers unite for an unforgettable evening of the long-established art), Scarlett continues the magic in 2015 with shows planned in Japan, Dubai, Las Vegas, L.A., Nashville, and more. For an immediate fix, head to SCARLETTJAMESBURLESQUE.COM and check out her popular tome, Burlesque: The True Art of seduction.
INGREDIENTS (SERVES ONE) 3 tbsp (1½ oz) Belvedere vodka 1 tbsp (½ oz) Cointreau 1 tbsp (½ oz) fresh lemon juice 10 fresh raspberries
PREPARATION
Muddle raspberries into the base of a mixing glass. Add remaining ingredients. Add ice and shake with gusto. Strain into a chilled coupette rimmed with pink or gold sugar. Garnish with 1 lemon twist.
DRINK UP!
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ES C APE T HE PAR T Y
Photography STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS
Seeing that this is our JUST FOR FABULOUS edition, we chose to focus this special ESCAPE THE PARTY section on two destinations that are all about the fabulous: Miami and Vegas. Happy fabulousing.
FOR THE PERFECT EXHALE TOP FIVE REASONS TO “ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR” BY JENN CAMPBELL
Well-stocked and gorgeous, the St. Regis Bar was a favourite roost (especially useful to spot celebs).
State-of-the-art design is the rule, not the exception, at the St. Regis Bal Harbour.
1. FLAWLESS FOOD & DRINK One of the best things about a vacation, be it a quick escape or longer stay, is the opportunity to take a break from the usual healthy (read restricted) diet and let loose a little on the consumption front. Thanks to great options at the St. Regis Bal Harbour, yours truly did exactly that. Not only did I routinely indulge in many of the decadent offerings available at the poolside Fresco Beach Bar & Grill (the Bal Harbour Bloody Sunrise was a particular favourite), but I also enjoyed morning breakfasts on the terrace of the Atlantico, in addition to several spectacular evening feasts at J&G Grill, a concept inspired by international celeb chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, where house specialties including black truffle pizza, black truffle cheese fritters, and slowly cooked halibut in sweet garlic lemon broth are not to be missed. And for those late-night drinks (aka après-beach Social Gal Soirées), there were, as well, frequent pilgrimages to the St. Regis Bar, where a selection of the world’s finest champagnes and a menu starring mouthwatering sushi and Asian-inspired dishes were made all the more agreeable thanks to live music.
Breakfast floating over the ocean or an early appointment with the pool? Ah, decisions.
Paradise found.
With a pool like this (actually two), it’s a wonder I ever left.
Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the14,000square-foot Remède Spa had it all.
Lodging fit for kings and queens.
FAVE OFF-PROPERTY DESTINATIONS
ES C APE T HE PAR T Y
A soaking tub for two was just one of Remède Spa’s many lures.
SHOPPING
THE WEBSTER MIAMI 1220 COLLINS AVE., MIAMI BEACH, FL 305-674-7899 THEWEBSTERMIAMI.COM
EATING 2. LUXURY ACCOMMODATIONS
‘Kay, I’m just gonna say it: I LOVE hotel rooms and can spend hours lounging around them, revelling in the peace and calm, watching television and movies, and ordering room service. That said, every morning in my deluxe oceanfront room presented a challenge: savour a hearty breakfast on the terrace with stunning pool and ocean views – you literally feel like you’re floating over the Atlantic – or tear myself away and head out early to reserve an optimal spot by the pool, preferably on one of the oversized lounge beds, surrounded by their very own Zen ponds. Ah, decisions. Even more incentive for room-nesting lay in its state-of-the-art automated everything, from flat-screen mirrors/televisions in the spacious bathrooms to a control panel by the bed. Beam me up, Scotty.
3. SPA NIRVANA
There is nothing – absolutely nothing – like spending some revivifying time at a fully equipped professional spa, where the only choices to be made are which treatments to indulge in. And the exquisite 14,000-square-foot Remède Spa, designed by Canada’s own Yabu Pushelberg, had it all, from the Couples Treatment Room (with a decadent soaking tub for two) to the Bal Harbour 24-Karat Designer Facial (the copper-enriched peel and gold oil did wonders for skin and soul), and
restorative Bal Harbour Body Wrap, an experience especially well-suited for those who love a tuck-in to a warm and pampery “womb” infused with Hungarian moor mud and nurturing sea salts. Yes, there were an array of massages and other beauty services too, including manis, pedis, waxing, and more. Can you say ahhh?
4. POOLING PERFECTION
Pre-St. Regis Bal Harbour, there was the Sheraton Bal Harbour, and, for decades, it too was a destination vacation spot, renowned for its luxurious accommodations and haute amenities. One of its best features back in the day was the fabulous sprawling pool, around which the likes of even former U.S. president Bill Clinton would lounge. Accordingly, I was anxious to see if the St. Regis pool area would deliver the goods as well as its predecessor. One look at the accompanying photos indicates that it did (and does). In fact, there were two wow infinity pools, one for families and one just a few steps above, for those seeking a more tranquil poolside experience. This subset was also a fan of the Ocean Front Day Villas, decked out with air-conditioning lounges, restrooms, showers, satellite TV, iPod docking, minibar, Wi-Fi and more. As for the beach, think 1,000 square feet of white sand beaches, with all the same poolside services and amenities. Indeed, moving from such sumptuous sunspots
was difficult (if not impossible, in my case). However, there were surprising numbers who kept to their discipline, paying frequent visits to the high-tech St. Regis Athletic Club. (Guess that cause was helped somewhat by the club’s sweeping views.)
5. L OCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Sometimes the best, most extraordinary resorts are located in the middle of nowhere, which leaves you with much to enjoy on the property, but not much to explore or experience beyond it. That is definitely not the case at the St. Regis Bal Harbour. Conversely, its location is so perfect, I wanted to, well, move in permanently. Not only is it directly (stress on directly) across the street from the famous Bal Harbour Shops (legendary for their wide array of designer and popular brand boutiques), but it’s also just a short drive from party central: South Beach. Plus, it’s dangerously close to numerous other shopping meccas, eateries, and clubs. For some of my personal faves, see the accompanying list. And there you have them, the top five reasons to “St. Regis Bal Harbour.” Though clearly, there are more. Many more. For more from yours truly’s jaunt to the St. Regis Bal Harbour, beach to DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM. For more on the hotel, visit STREGISBALHARBOUR.COM.
MILOS 730 1ST ST., MIAMI BEACH, FL 305-604-6800, MILOS.CA ZUMA 270 BISCAYNE BLVD. WAY, MIAMI, FL 305-577-0277 ZUMARESTAURANT.COM PRIME 112 112 OCEAN DR., BROWNS HOTEL, MIAMI BEACH, FL 305-532-8112 MYLESRESTAURANTGROUP.COM YARDBIRD 1600 LENOX AVE., MIAMI BEACH, FL 305-538-5220 RUNCHICKENRUN.COM SEASALT AND PEPPER 422 NW NORTH RIVER DR., MIAMI, FL 305-440-4200 SEASALTANDPEPPER.COM CECCONI’S 4385 COLLINS AVE., SOHO BEACH HOUSE, MIAMI BEACH, FL 786-507-7902 CECCONISMIAMIBEACH.COM
PARTYING
SET NIGHTCLUB 320 LINCOLN RD., MIAMI BEACH, FL 305-531-2800, SETMIAMI.COM MANSION NIGHTCLUB 1235 WASHINGTON AVE., MIAMI BEACH, FL 786-735-3344 MANSIONMIAMI.COM
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BAL HARBOUR SHOPS 9700 COLLINS AVE., BAL HARBOUR, FL 305-866-0311 BALHARBOURSHOPS.COM
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RESIDENCE BOUTIQUE 3150 PLACE DE RAMEZAY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 514-935-8000
CATO DEVELOPMENT
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, especially when our Vegas Fabulous Bible factors in.
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ES C APE T HE PAR T Y
Caesars Palace villas are of the superstar variety (but not just for superstars).
VEGAS, DIARYSTYLE BY JENN CAMPBELL
Photography CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
Every conceivable designer brand can be found at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
Photography CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
Yes, it’s a brand new Nobu Hotel replete with sleek Nobu eatery and room service. Photography CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
or a long time, the only thing Las Vegas didn’t have was an ocean. But thanks to modern technology and soaring entrepreneurial ambitions and imaginations, even that hurdle’s been overcome by superdevelopers who saw fit to craft a manmade beach at the Mandalay Bay mega-resort, complete with soft sand and giant waves. Yes, modern-day Vegas has something for everyone, which makes it so much more than a gambling destination. That’s why we created the Vegas Fabulous Bible, highlighting some of our favourite hotels, shops, eateries, shows and more. Enjoy. (How could you not?)
gas, boasting superlative rooms and suites, and one of the best pool and day clubs in Vegas; The Cosmopolitan, redefining what it means to be hip on the strip with its avant-garde décor, and resto-bar hotspots, STK, The Chandelier Bar and Marquee Nightclub; and Caesars Palace, the ultimate destination for a classic Vegas experience, where villas are of the superstar variety (think 11,000 square feet of opulence), food comes courtesy of the most recognized culinary names in the world like Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsay, and every conceivable designer brand can be found at the famed Forum Shops.
HOTELERIES
SLEEK BOUTIQUE
BIG & GLAMMY Vegas has always had a predilection for supersized glam casino resorts, harking back to the golden era of the Sahara and the Sands, when Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley reigned. And for those seeking contemporary equivalents (guilty as charged), the selection is still stunning, topped by our faves: the Encore at the Wynn Las Ve-
If you prefer something more boutiquy and intimate, for the first time in Vegas history, there are fabulous options on that front, as well. We love: the Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace, replete with Nobu room service; The Cromwell, featuring celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis’s, hot new resto and out-of-thisworld party-perfect Drai’s Nightclub (see below); The Delano at Mandalay Bay, formerly TheHotel, now fully reno-
vated and recently reopened; and SLS Las Vegas, previously the Sahara, located off-strip but well worth the trek, with rooms designed by interiors virtuoso Philippe Starck and select suites by his royal rockness, Lenny Kravitz.
CASINO-FREE LUXE We can’t say enough about the Mandarin Oriental, where accommodations and service are the international brand’s usual first class, minus the hustle and bustle of the casino experience. Not to be missed here: the Forbes FiveStar rated holistic spa, an exquisite oasis of serenity with an extraordinary range of treatments including their famous Chinese Foot Spa.
SHOPPERIES
Where to start. So many options, not enough pages! Aria Resort’s The Shops at Crystals are perfect for premium luxury brands (think LV, Dior, Chanel, Dolce and much more), while the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and ever-expanding Fashion Show Mall also offer a variety of popular mid-level brands in addition to luxury labels.
Recharge the Vegas batteries with a Maverick heli-tour of the Grand Canyon.
Photography MAVERICK HELICOPTERS
F
Photography MANDARIN ORIENTAL
The Mandarin Oriental is a perfect pick for visitors in search of a more serene Vegas experience.
Photography DAN PROKOPOWICZ (Fiusha Studio)
Photography MANDARIN ORIENTAL
The new state-of-the-art Drai’s Nightclub, offers well, everything.
When the night calls for refinement, a jaunt to the Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan is the perfect choice. The ambiance is a conversation piece in itself, with a massive chandelier occupying multiple stories, and a crowd that’s ever hip, ever humming. If romance figures prominently on the evening’s agenda, try Mandarin Oriental’s elegant Mandarin Bar on the 23rd floor where, be forewarned, views of the strip are so outstanding many a couple have been known to make declarations of love. And if the mood is all about the new, sexy and cool, best make a beeline for mixologist Salvatore Calabrese’s Bound at The Cromwell.
EATERIES
Like everything in Vegas, there’s no shortage of choice here either. For fine dining, Joël Robuchon and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand never disappoint. For fish, Estiatorio Milos at The Cosmopolitan rises to the occasion with fresh offerings and a hearty Mediterranean spin. Sushilovers should head to Nobu in Caesars Palace, Sushi Roku in the Forum Shops, Social House in The Shops at Crystals and Kabuto-Edomae, off-strip. Meantime, buffet lovers dare not leave Vegas without experiencing The Buffet at the Bellagio and The Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan. And for must-have post-party burgers, Gordon Ramsay BurGR in Planet Hollywood gets it right every time while many still call Bachi Burger the best burger joint in town.
CLUBBERIES
Fashionable folks never tire of Sin City’s mind-blowing clubs, many of which flaunt the most gobsmackingly gorgeous decors and party experiences on the planet. Our top three are LIGHT nightclub at Mandalay Bay, a revolution in reveling created by the imaginative masters at Cirque du Soleil; XS at the Encore (created by nightclub visionary Victor Drai) which easily lives up to its name with perks like bottle ser-
Cirque du Soleil founder/CEO Guy Laliberté and Caesars Acquisition Company CEO Mitch Garber.
vice on the dance floor and around the spectacular pool; and the brand new Drai’s Nightclub at The Cromwell, a massive indoor and outdoor rooftop fantasy (also by Drai) masterminded with a view to offering, well, everything.
ESCAPERIES Sometimes, even the strip gets a bit tired. But nothing recharges the Vegased-out soul like a hike up Red Rock Canyon, or heli-tour tour of the Grand Canyon with Maverick Helicopters.
HOMIES
OUI, Vegas even delivers a distinctive Montreal flair, thanks largely to a handful of supremely talented Quebecois who have contributed much to the most famous boulevard in the world. First of course, are our entertainment kings, Cirque du Soleil founder/CEO GUY LALIBERTÉ and president, DANIEL LAMARRE, both of whom saw the Vegas potential early on, and, to date, continue to dazzle sold-out audiences with eight permanent shows, including the “O” at The Bellagio, Beatles LOVE at the Mirage and Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay. Second, who could ignore the starry stamp of CÉLINE? With the support of husband and manager RENÉ ANGÉLIL, legendary songstress CÉLINE DION’s breathtaking spectacle at Caesars Palace is still one of the strip’s most popular long-running shows. Third, a congrats is in order to resident restaurateur extraordinaire COSTAS SPILIADIS, who established yet another of his globally revered Estiatorio Milos at The Cosmopolitan, where patrons can’t get enough of the signature Greek fare and stunning ambiance. Finally, this list would be wholly incomplete without a nod to homegrown lawyer-turned-mogul MITCH GARBER, who, for the past six years, has assumed a pivotal role on the Vegas scene as CEO of Caesars Acquisition Company, which owns six casino hotels in Vegas and the World Series of Poker. Clearly, Montrealers bring a certain je ne sais quoi to Vegas.
ES C APE T HE PAR T Y
If romance is on the agenda, the Mandarin Bar on the 23rd floor of the Mandarin Oriental is a must-go.
VEGAS FABULOUS BIBLE MANDALAY BAY 3950 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-632-7777 MANDALAYBAY.COM ENCORE HOTEL/XS NIGHTCLUB 3121 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-770-7000 WYNNLASVEGAS.COM THE COSMOPOLITAN/STK/THE CHANDELIER/MARQUEE NIGHTCLUB/ ESTIATORIO MILOS/WICKED SPOON 3708 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-698-7000 COSMOPOLITANLASVEGAS.COM CAESARS PALACE/NOBU 3570 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-731-7110 CAESARSPALACE.COM THE NOBU HOTEL 3570 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-785-6677 NOBUCAESARSPALACE.COM THE CROMWELL/GIADA/ DRAI’S/BOUND 3595 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-777-3777, THECROMWELL.COM SLS LAS VEGAS 2535 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-761-7000 SLSHOTELS.COM/LASVEGAS MANDARIN ORIENTAL/ MANDARIN BAR 3752 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-590-8888 MANDARINORIENTAL.COM/LASVEGAS
THE FORUM SHOPS AT CAESARS/ SUSHI ROKU 3500 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-893-4800 SIMON.COM/MALL/THE-FORUMSHOPS-AT-CAESARS THE SHOPS AT CRYSTALS/ SOCIAL HOUSE (ARIA) 3720 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-590-9299 THESHOPSATCRYSTALS.COM FASHION SHOW MALL 3200 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-369-8382 THEFASHIONSHOW.COM L’ATELIER JOËL ROBUCHON - JOËL ROBUCHON RESTAURANT (MGM) 3799 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-891-7358 JOEL-ROBUCHON.COM THE BUFFET BELLAGIO 3600 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-693-7111 BELLAGIO.COM/RESTAURANTS/THEBUFFET.ASPX KABUTO EDOMAE SUSHI 5040 W. SPRING MOUNTAIN RD. #4, LAS VEGAS, NV 702-676-1044, KABUTOLV.COM GORDON RAMSAY BURGR (PLANET HOLLYWOOD) 3667 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., PARADISE, NV 702-785-5555 PLANETHOLLYWOODRESORT.COM/ RESTAURANTS/RAMSAY.HTML TAO NIGHTCLUB (THE VENETIAN) 3377 S. LAS VEGAS BLVD., LAS VEGAS, NV 702-388-8588, TAOLASVEGAS.COM
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DRINKERIES
Photography CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
Photography CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
Emmanuelle Duperré and husband Cirque du Soleil president Daniel Lamarre.
INS PIR E T HE PAR T Y
Occasionally you meet someone and feel an instantaneous connection. That’s how I felt upon crossing paths with MANON GAUTHIER a few years back, when she was head of the Segal Centre. Since then, it’s been a treat to pay witness to her inspiring achievements. She is truly one of those extraordinary humans who does so much, and motivates so many along the way, as you’re about to discover in the following profile by contributor CAIA HAGEL. I could think of no better start to this special INSPIRE THE PARTY section.
MOTIVATING MANON GAUTHIER BY CAIA HAGEL
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T
he elegant woman sitting behind the large desk in one of City Hall’s grand historic offices is MANON GAUTHIER, a self-made success. Along her path of greatness, Gauthier has carved out a unique position for herself in public office, where she currently sits atop the cultural throne of the City of Montreal and reigns as its ambassador on many glittering international stages. Although her long list of accomplishments point to Gauthier’s maverick ambition, it is ultimately her soft-spoken, generous, and wise demeanour that reveal the real story behind her lifelong motivation: to be a humanitarian. Having worked her way up along an unlikely path that saw her assume myriad positions of influence, including the vice-presidency of two of Montreal’s most international public relations companies, Weber Shandwick and Cohn & Wolfe, CEO of the Segal Centre, and now elected government official, there seems to be nothing in culture, business, or politics that Gauthier hasn’t experienced and quietly mastered. Recently back from Buenos Aires, where she represented Montreal in the drafting of a new international declaration on the role of culture, this seemingly indefatigable go-getter was in a thoughtful mood. Sipping tea together in her cosy office, she explained with signature sparkle that she is currently in the most exciting position of her life. As she expounded upon the trajectory towards this point, an inspiring image emerged of how a girl of humble beginnings evolved to become a powerhouse in her field, currently serving as city councillor of the Champlain-Nuns’ Island district, as well as the executive committee member responsible for culture, heritage, design, the Space for Life, the status of women, tourism, and the Fashion Bureau. “I had huge dreams as a girl,” she recalled. “I wanted to be an ambassador, thinking I could study to be an ambassador.” Indeed, from a remarkably young age, this exemplary student inherently understood the power and potential of education, particularly for children like herself, who were not blessed with the same privileges as some of their peers. Accordingly, success and achieve-
ment through academic excellence, sheer determination, and hard work became the focus. “I believed that to learn was success, that knowledge is power,” she explained. “But I also knew that I needed to learn about life as well because that is what determines who you become, even or especially if you’re likely to succeed.” To her credit, Gauthier never forgot where she came from, deeply valuing the support she received as a child in the form of essentials like clothing, food, and schoolbooks, vowing to help others whenever and however she was in a position to do so. “We all have angels and people who help us,” she said. “We don’t get anywhere in life without helping each other.” Even when money was scarce, she would give in other important ways, contributing time and ideas, always maintaining that it’s as vital have role models as it is to be one. The arts too played a pivotal and positive role in Gauthier’s life, and in the direction her future would take. She was reading by age four, so from a young age, literature served as a gateway to the world and the many exotic and interesting places she would eventually visit both in a professional capacity and for leisure. Music was equally impactful. Based on her personal experience, it became acutely clear to her that culture, in and of itself, had immense social and commercial potential. Though many of the clients she worked with early on invested time and money in culture and the arts out of love and respect for them, she saw more profound and long-lasting possibilities. In addition to empowering individuals psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually, as they had her, she also recognized their role in creating stronger, more dynamic and cohesive communities, pointing to libraries as a shining example of a hub for people from divergent cultural backgrounds, including newcomers to the city, to unite over literature and performances. Stronger, more connected communities, she further explained, are then in a position to become more commercially viable. Ingeniously, Gauthier has applied these ideas to her professional
responsibilities in a number of ways. For example, under her direction, the City of Montreal co-chairs the Committee on Culture of United Cities and Local Governments, a global platform tasked with the promotion of culture as the fourth pillar of sustainable development. Politically, Gauthier had childhood dreams of being at the federal level, but in retrospect, she’s very glad she didn’t rush it. “Now that I’ve had experience on the federal, provincial and municipal levels, I know that you learn the most and have the most impact politically when you’re working at the more direct city level,” she said. “This is where you learn to understand what people really want. You learn about potholes, waterworks and garbage removal. You learn about everything that impacts our quality of life. But first and foremost, you learn about people.” Without this genuine rapport and a sincere desire to represent the people who elect you, Gauthier elaborated, authority is hollow. “Leadership is no longer about power or control,” she pointed out. “Power over others is a very lonely thing. Real leadership generates collective effort; it’s about inspiring people to improve the world in any way they can. This is contagious and it leads to community efforts that happen faster and in a more exciting way, because it’s a shared vision and a shared mobilization of that vision.” Applied to municipal politics, this translates into what Gauthier calls “quality of life via culture.” What does that mean? “It’s your environment, it’s where you live,” she said. “The culture of community is so important for this reason. It’s what we care about the most. At the city level, you walk your talk; you have to because it’s all about creating relationships with the citizens of your community. You are accountable to them.” Gauthier is perhaps so impassioned by the idea of accountability because of her constant awareness of her roots. “My background taught me about the survival instinct,” she said. “It’s always guided me to know how far I can go. Any time I’ve made decisions that were not following my instincts, they didn’t turn out so well.” Because of this, she feels that no mat-
ter where she goes, she has the necessary abilities to make a difference. “People may think that infrastructural issues like potholes are small, or that cultural infrastructures like libraries don’t matter so much, but they really do, and to a lot of people,” she argued. “There’s no such thing as making a small difference. Everything we do has an impact.” Her accolades speak to this. Because she chairs and sits on several cultural and philanthropic boards that have a positive and direct effect on social conditions and many individual lives, Gauthier has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network. La Presse listed her among 15 personalities contributing most to the future of culture, and she was also nominated as one of the greatest power players in the entertainment industry by Premières en affaires magazine. Gauthier is effectively using leadership to help Montreal capitalize on its diversity and cultural charisma to its advantage as a world-class city. With her prestigious and coveted titles, her role affects the various aspects that nurture a place and its people towards an exciting and sustainable future. About her personal prominence, she noted: “You can climb too fast, make mistakes, and fall. It’s more important to pace yourself and stay on the right path.” She’s wanted to be a lawyer, an ambassador, an arts patron, and a businesswoman, so she had to think about how to consolidate it all. In her experience, the vision of the destination doesn’t have to be precise, but you do have to keep your eye on it, always. While thinking of words of wisdom, especially for girls and young women who want to rise above limitations and gain influence, Gauthier smiled warmly and said “Always be caring, always give back. Don’t wear a mask. Be exactly the same person personally as you are professionally. Keep your essence. Always question yourself. Stick to what you’re good at.” Finishing her last sip of tea, she concluded for good measure, “And leave when you’re on top.”
Photography ALIREZA TEIMOURY (Fiusha Studio) Makeup ISABELLA FORGET
Manon Gauthier photographed at City Hall.
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INS PIR E T HE PAR T Y
INS PIR E T HE PAR T Y
SOBER IN THE CITY: Vicki Hogarth left Montreal for a stint in government rehab, but her plans to dry out didn’t go the way she expected them to. Photography W NETWORK, VICKI HOGARTH
BY VICKI HOGARTH
“
Hi, I’m Vicki,” I said with ease, as if I expected a publicist holding a guest list to then welcome me into an exclusive media party. I tried to pull off the next part of what I knew I had to say with as much natural confidence, but I stumbled over the words and muffled their sound: “And I’m an alcoholic/addict.” I assumed the alcoholics over at Promises in Malibu had to face their own versions of shame, humiliation, and frustration on a daily basis, like being denied a private chef to accommodate a gluten allergy. At my government-funded rehab, about an hour outside Montreal, we had mandatory support groups to attend. There was no hot yoga room or horseback-riding trails for the 20 of us patients here to “find ourselves” with. The building was a converted convent. The nuns who once lived here were now buried in the cemetery across the street as cycles of sinners doing four-week redemption slept in their beds. It was 21st-century Darwinism: virgins and religions die out; addicts don’t even need to procreate to multiply. Our “no pain” philosophy attracts members on its own. I knew AA and sobriety were supposed to work the same way – when alcohol and drugs finally bring you to your knees, you will want a new way of life. Six weeks prior, I didn’t just fall to my knees; I collapsed while visiting my parents’ house. I stayed in the hospital for a week where doctors determined it was a withdrawal-induced seizure. I was ready to write it off as a lesson in excessive holiday drinking, but I was also diagnosed with alcohol and Ativan dependency. The doctor refused to sign papers saying I was fit to go back to my job as an entertainment editor because, well, I wasn’t. I got on a wait list for government rehab knowing, at the very least, I needed to get some stability back. It was getting so out of control that I had to have a vodka-spiked drink and bottle of benzos in my purse at all times, just in case the shakes started setting in. My nightly blackouts were so commonplace, waking up was the most terrifying part of the day. There was always a possibility I’d done something erratic the night before, or that I didn’t even make it home. I even got fast-tracked to rehab after overdosing one night at my parents’ house, taking what was left of my Ativan and chasing it with wine. I
didn’t even remember doing it when I woke up in an emergency room and a psychiatrist asked me if I was suicidal. Was I? All I knew was that I could give up the pills, but a life without booze seemed like a worse sentence than death, and yet there I was in rehab after spending a week in a detox ward. I’d been sober for multiple days in a row for the first time in years. When I agreed to go to rehab, I assumed learning to drink in moderation was an option. I wasn’t ready to just adopt a new label and lifestyle with the ease someone might say, “I think I’ll live my life completely as a German speaker now.” If I was going to agree to calling myself an alcoholic, then I really thought it should be in the context of my old life on the media party circuit, where many of us magazine editors laughed, with cocktails in hand, about our high-functioning alcoholic lifestyles. Open bars and multiple drinks on any given weekday evening were just a part of life. My new rehab friend Sandy, also a writer, understood that. We’d arrived just days apart and bonded immediately. Rehab has a way of accelerating relationships with the same intensity I imagine bonds on Big Brother, Survivor, and America’s Next Top Model are formed. We had similarities other than just our careers. For one, we both had clean criminal records, whereas many of our fellow patients were in rehab just to reduce court sentencing. We both had issues with knowing when to say no to Cristal, but we’d never done crystal meth. We often chatted in the hallway near her room, the closest thing we had to privacy, both questioning whether our love of overindulging in Chardonnay really warranted a life of not drinking. We’d made mistakes, but we both had Master’s degrees; we could easily learn to moderate, we agreed. Sandy confessed to crossing her fingers as she introduced herself with the AA qualifier during the group meeting. She was not an alcoholic. I didn’t know what to expect when I turned the key to my apartment door, almost a month later. My days in rehab didn’t exactly culminate in an epiphany. I felt stable, but I did not feel “cured.” I was apparently just supposed to go back to my life now – but live it as a completely different person. That was all. I’d written a survival plan
“I WENT TO A SUPPORT GROUP OF MY OWN FREE WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME THE NEXT DAY. I DIDN’T KNOW WHO I WAS YET AS A SOBER PERSON, BUT I KNEW WHERE I’D HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF BEING UNDERSTOOD ” .
to show to my personal therapist at the rehab, explaining how I planned to stay sober. I wrote “go to AA meetings” with the same sense of mandatory duty in which I said the words “I’m an alcoholic” in our rehab support groups. I knew I wouldn’t go. I would just dry out for a while and maybe reconsider drinking again in the future. I looked around the room at my tattered couch and photos of scenes from my life. I was holding a drink in almost all of them. I dropped to the floor and cried. When I went back to work, my coworkers tried to play it cool, like I’d gone away for major plastic surgery and might not want to talk about my transformation. I wanted to say something to kill the awkwardness, but even I wasn’t sure what there was to say. It’s hard to make an “Eat, Pray, Love” story out of scrubbing toilets in government rehab. I went to the gym near the office every morning as my grand gesture to show I’d changed. After seven months of the same routine, in the middle of gurgling mouthwash, I started stressing about a coworker I’d been butting heads with. I remembered drinking at my desk just
to tolerate her before, and now every aspect of my job seemed like just another headache without booze to make it bearable. I’d stopped going to press parties not because I couldn’t control myself, but because my old acquaintances seemed boring when we didn’t have the common bond of booze to unite us in delinquency. I felt defeated, so I gulped the minty liquid down. The mouthwash burned its way down my throat. The buzz hit, the familiar numbness I always hid in, and I suddenly knew myself again, or at least the escape route from being me. Within a day, I started pouring yellow Listerine into empty kombucha bottles to drink at my desk. I couldn’t buy booze because that would make me a failure, even if I was the only one who knew. It took only a week before the habit had made my blood pressure skyrocket, and I had to quit my job to sober up, this time with a greater sense of failure. I managed to make it 50 days clean before I relapsed one more time on a nice red wine just to see if pricy booze was less addictive to me now. It led to an over-weeklong binge alone in my apartment. I drank a final beer on a Friday morning while staring in the mirror and knew it was my last drink. Beer, Chardonnay, and mouthwash were one and the same for me. I was an alcoholic. I finally believed it. I went to a support group of my own free will for the first time the next day. I didn’t know who I was yet as a sober person, but I knew where I’d have the best chance of being understood. Almost three years later, I’m still sober. I look back on my last drink and realize that’s the moment I didn’t close the curtain on my party days; I just found a new scene. I built a new career path, relationships, and interests I wholeheartedly love, slowly but surely, from there. I couldn’t be more proud to be an alcoholic in recovery. The label doesn’t define me, but accepting that I am one was the first step in discovering the real me: a young alcoholic woman who – in recovery – is also a hard-working writer, loving daughter, and genuine friend. Saying the words, “Hi, I’m Vicki, and I’m an alcoholic/addict” isn’t my way of letting a disease determine who I am; it’s how I make sure it never will again.
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VICKI’S STORY
INS PIR E T HE PAR T Y
We move now to a raw and honest piece by new Diary contributor, award-winning journalist and editor VICKI HOGARTH, who agreed to share her personal tale. We’re so glad she did.
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GO JESS GO!
The artist, Jessica Gorlicky.
Photography JESSICA GORLICKY, BRIGITTA KOGUT
JU S T F O R FAB
It’s the JUST FOR FAB section and our (he)ART is in it.
JU S T F O R FAB
Larger-than-life iconic personalities like Brigitte Bardot and Marilyn Monroe often inspire the artist and emerge as subjects time and again.
Love and self-expression intertwine in Gorlicky’s world, as is clear in this painting from the Speak4Urself collection: The Many Different Languages of Love.
W
alking into Galerie 203 this summer, I knew I’d happen upon some great and innovative art, and I did. What I hadn’t anticipated was a chance encounter with one of the gallery’s featured artists, JESSICA GORLICKY (aka JessGo) who was hard at work – in a state of seemingly superhuman motion – assembling pieces for an upcoming show. And what a sight she was: trademark curls flying in myriad directions, eyes flashing blue fire, and a passion so powerful and palpable, I lamented the absence of a film crew to capture every mesmeric move. But, at that moment, caught up in the JessGo of it all, the epiphany was had: the artist’s contagious exuberance and titanic talent simply had to be shared in the next edition of the mag. And so, here we are.
“I ENCOURAGE ALL ASPIRING CREATIVES TO GO AFTER THEIR DREAMS AND DO WHAT THEY DO, BECAUSE SOMEONE ALONG THE JOURNEY IS GOING TO LOVE IT AND SHARE IN THEIR PASSION.”
SOME BACKGROUND There’s nothing like a good underdog story to fire you up, and that’s exactly what Gorlicky’s story did for me when I had a chance to sit down with the Toronto-based artist after a recent Montreal exhibit. Indeed, her enormous success and far-reaching appeal (she’s routinely commissioned by the high-profile likes of KPMG, Holt Renfrew, Coca-Cola, Absolut Vodka, RBC, and Fiat and to date, has created numerous live artworks for clients including the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Cirque du Soleil) make it hard, if not impossible, to believe that the early part of her journey was anything but smooth. In fact, despite having honed considerable talents from the tender age of 13 and subsequently enhanc-
ing that skill set with a year of intense art-study in Italy (she speaks fluent Italian), the now sought-after and versatile artist was refused by many Toronto art schools when applying in 1997. “My grades were simply not up to snuff,” she explained. “I was also told the portfolio wasn’t sufficiently abstract, which left me feeling somewhat discouraged at the time.” Well, thank goodness for all that above-noted energy, enthusiasm and belief-in-self, which, along with one of the most inspiring work ethics this writer has ever seen, propelled the young visionary to champion on, using every
spare moment away from her day job as a sales rep at Le Château to keep painting and pursuing the dream. And, as is inevitably the case, hard work, focus and staying true to oneself paid off. Gorlicky soon sold her first painting for $500, a critical turning point that inspired her to quit her job in 2000 (with no backup plans and little cash in the bank) and devote herself wholeheartedly to the pursuit of her passion. Which continued to pay off. Slowly but surely, with the help of her then boyfriend/now-husband, she launched a website and one sale turned into many until she could barely keep up with the demand. Today, the power-pack painter presides over a spectacularly successful Jesspire, run proudly from her very own 10,000-square-foot studio in North Toronto, a perfect perch for her many fantastical exhibits and benefit events for causes and nonprofits close to her giant heart, including The Breakfast Club of Canada and The Big Give. “Today, I’m making my dreams come true while giving back to the community,” she shared, with that contagious sparkle, “and I encourage all aspiring creatives to go after their dreams and do what they do, because someone along the journey is going to love it and share in their passion!”
SOME WOW
life iconic personalities – human and animated, like Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot and Jessica Rabbit – that so intrigue the artist. “I love to reimagine extraordinary figures and characters and use my art to honour their timeless enduring appeal,“ she said. When it comes to media, the groundbreaker’s choices are no less daring, as exemplified by the wide range of backdrops she has used through the years: mirrors for the Through The Looking Glass Collection, mannequins for several shows, and perhaps most inventive of all, virtually whatever was on hand for her Art In Motion (AIM) Project, which entailed travel to dozens of global destinations, and the creation of extemporaneous works inspired by surrounding architecture. Finally, this JessGo wow-chat would be entirely incomplete without reference to the live art creations, performed largely at densely populated events like those mentioned above, that have come to assume such a pivotal role in Gorlicky’s body of work. Really, how many other creatives possess the know-how, the performance skills, and the overall charisma to pull this off? “I’m all about energy and feeling what you are, where you are and who you’re with, even in a large room with hundreds of guests,” she divulged. “I’m just instinctive that way. I think that’s when my work is best.” Touché. Go Jess go!
As for the art, well, it’s clearly a radiant reflection of its creator; as alive, exuberant, and multifaceted as she. Brush strokes are often bold and deliberate, dipped in vibrant primary hues, in keeping with the larger-than-
For more on this one-of-a-kind artist, head to DIARYOFASOCIALGAL.COM, visit her website at JESSGO.COM, and stop in at Galerie 203, 227 Notre-Dame St. W.
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JU S T F O R F U N 16 8 / DIARY O F A SO C IA L G A L
westmountfashionista
carytauben
gabriellecosentino
thezelatakogan
ilike.iwear
garrettnaccarato
Instafab
Clearly, Diary loves Instagram. One visit to our insta page @DIARYOFASOCIALGAL shows just how much. So, what better possible feature to close this edition than a celebration of some of our favourite Montreal Instastars? Diarysta ESTELLE GERVAIS delivers the goods.
consciencecoupable
modediplomatique
bettawerk
dentellefleurs
@ANIKLACASSE
WHO: Anik Lacasse // NICHE: Fashion and beauty. // FAVE FILTER: The “Russ” filter on the AfterLight app. // GO-TO HASHTAG: #ootdmtl and #mtlblogger. I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: You can find daily fashion inspiration and beauty tricks, travel through other people’s eyes. It’s pretty amazing what people can do with this app. And of course, I get to share my fashion and beauty finds with other fashionistas.
@BETTAWERK
WHO: Betta Lemme // NICHE: Entrepreneurial jet-set lifestyle incorporating fashion, ukulele playing, meatball eating, occasional Canadian Supermodel selfies, and naughty adventures! Mostly just staying grounded while reaching for the stars. // FAVE FILTER: No filter! Just natural lighting. // GOTO HASHTAG: #adventuresofbetta. // I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: Where do I start? It’s a fun platform that allows me to share my adventures and positive and honest outlook on the somewhat convoluted and mysterious industry I work in. I love that you can inspire people via social media, which has led me to build an engaging and supportive following. Also, it’s led me to meet some very special people in my life.
@CARYTAUBEN
WHO: Cary Tauben // NICHE: Fashion and image consulting. // FAVE FILTER: No filter. I use Afterlight for borders and little tweaks. // GO-TO HASHTAG: Nothing like a good old #tbt.
@CONSCIENCE COUPABLE
WHO: Claude-Alicia Guérin-Roy NICHE: Fashion and street style that never takes itself too seriously. Pouting, as embarrassing as it continues be, is still ok in my book. // FAVE FILTER: #nofilter or saturate the hell out of the photo. I’m an extremist. What can I say? GO-TO HASHTAG: #ootd all day errday. I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: I love quadrilaterals with equal angles and sides? ... Nah, just a slave to the rhythm, like everyone else.
@DENTELLEFLEURS
WHO: Gabrielle Lacasse // NICHE: Fashion, breakfast and lots of white. FAVE FILTER: HB1 in VSCO Cam. // GOTO HASHTAG: #fblogger. // I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: It is too awesome.
@GABRIELLECOSENTINO
WHO: Gabrielle Cosentino // NICHE: Fashion, blogging, modeling. // FAVE FILTER: I don’t really have a favourite insta filter, per se. I generally use
VSCO Cam, AfterLight, Camera+, and LINE camera to filter my insta pics. // GO-TO HASHTAG: The standard blogger hashtag #ootd. // I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: Instagram is such a great platform to express and foster one’s creativity. It really allows us to have a voice, brings us together, connects us with people from all around the world, and constantly inspires us!
@RAFAELESTRELLADUNN @HAIRBYRED
@GARRETTNACCARATO
@THEZELATAKOGAN
NAME: Garrett Naccarato // NICHE: Fashion. // FAVE FILTER: VSCO Cam. GO-TO HASHTAG: #garrettbesidethings. // I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: It makes my life seem pretty glamorous.
@ILIKE.IWEAR
WHO: Candice Pantin // NICHE: Fashion, style, design. // FAVE EDITING APP: VSCO Cam. // GO-TO HASHTAG: #ilikeiwear. // I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: I’ve discovered and connected with so many talented creatives on this platform.
@MODEDIPLOMATIQUE
WHO: Alessandro Berga // NICHE: #FASHION. // FAVE FILTER: #NORMAL (no filter). // GO-TO HASHTAG: #modediplomatique // I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: #iENGAGE.
WHO: Rafael Estrella Dunn // NICHE: Fashion, food, and travel. // FAVE FILTER: Normal with +7 contrast and +7 brightness. // GO-TO HASHTAG: #everything. // I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: Instagram connects me to the ones I love and many talented people around the world, from art to fashion, food to traveling. WHO: Zelata Kogan // NICHE: Coffee and ootd. // FAVE FILTER: I don’t use any additional apps or filters. I take my pictures from the iPhone camera and play with the brightness and sharpness. // GO-TO HASHTAG: #ootd, #nom, and #montreal. // I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: It lets me connect with like-minded individuals.
@WESTMOUNTFASHIONISTA
WHO: Jessica Concannon // NICHE: Fashion. // FAVE FILTER: Valencia. // GO-TO HASTAG: #ootd (outfit of the day). // I HEART INSTA BECAUSE: It’s a great way to connect and communicate with my readers directly. Also, I love that I’m able to peek inside the daily goings-on of my favourite fashion houses and personalities like @maisonvalentino and @oscarprgirl.
JU S T F O R F U N
aniklacasse
16 9 / DIARY O F A SO C IA L G A L
rafaelestrelladunn
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