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ArmAni fall 2012 / winter 2013 • issue 5
lidabaday.com
Since 1984... Milli
m a g a z i n e
in this issue
8 Fashion Former Flare staffer Catalina Margulis profiles fashion’s favourite recluse, Alber Elbaz, as he celebrates 10 years at the house of Lanvin.
12 Fashion Haute jackets, grown-up prints and updated wardrobe basics are all on our trend report for fall and winter.
24 Beauty Milli’s Confidence Club is newly crowned as Toronto’s top stylists discuss the hottest makeup and hair looks for fall.
28 Travel Globe and Mail travel writer Stephanie Plentl falls for the Ferragamo family’s labour of love in Tuscany.
34 Design Former Fashion editor-in-chief Leanne Delap takes in the scene at hotelier Vikram Chatwal’s Dream hotel in South Beach.
36 Dining enRoute, Toronto Life and Globe and Mail restaurant critic Chris Johns heads west of the GTA to experience the ultimate in local fare.
40 Fashion Globe Style's Tiyana Grulovic looks back at iconic styles from past TIFF red carpets and the "it girls" who wore them.
Milli’S ViEW 6 Services 7 Letter from Milli
Owners Mildred (Milli) Gould Ben Gould Mark Gould Milli Staff Lucyna Bethune Susan Coolsaet Rosaria Giurdanella Michelle Kissore Nancy Lo Greco Emily Middleton Jan Simpson Susan Simpson Joyce Smuk Eva Szakacs Orly Weinberg Lou Zabic
We look forward to serving you!
Advertising and Public Relations Anita Gatto, New City PR anita@newcitypr.com, 647-531-1725
Milli Magazine Fall 2012 / Winter 2013 Editor Aliyah Shamsher Art Director Frank Perito, Globe Edge Contributors Leanne Delap Tiyana Grulovic Chris Johns Catalina Margulis Stephanie Plentl
Before
Proofreader Jennifer Foster Milli Magazine is produced by The Globe and Mail's Globe Edge Director, Client Engagement & Globe Edge Teena Poirier Group Editor, Globe Edge Charlene Rooke
Business Development Manager, Globe Edge Krista Cain kcain@ globeandmail.com
4 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
It is our goal to help you create and maintain a beautiful smile in our safe family dentist atmosphere. Dentistry is a positive investment in your health, your confidence and your appearance.
Marketing Nancy Bryans nancyb@milli.ca, 905-527-1531
Program Manager, Globe Edge Liz Massicotte
luisa Cerano
Dr. Vineet Bhandari has been providing top quality dental care in a friendly, caring environment with his team of dental professionals. He uses state of the art painless laser dentistry for cosmetic and preventive dental treatments and helps his patients to achieve optimum dental health.
Printing and Pre-press by DM Digital+1
We welcome new patients in our practices! Please feel free to call our office or use our online sign up form and we will call you to schedule an appointment (new patients only). DR. VINEET BHANDARI - BHANDARI DENTAL 1106-105 Main St E. Hamilton, ON L85 1G6
905.525.0405
www.bhandaridental.com
After
In my many years as a fashion retailer, it’s still exhilarating to be so excited about each new season. I’ve seen so many beautiful collections and fall is no exception. And as always, inspiration comes from everywhere. Recently I had the good fortune to visit Morocco. The country is a delight for the senses. From the old market in Fez to the incredibly stirring silence and presence of the Sahara Desert to vibrant and pulsating Marrakech, it’s hard to believe that one country can offer so much old world style and new world panache. This hybrid mix is reflected in our fall collections, which resonate with a wonderful breadth of variety. Featured are sharp business suits, bright and sophisticated sweaters, warm and inviting shearlings and incredible colour combinations. Exciting fashion accessories and stunning footwear complement the clothing. Lanvin’s cool and architectural silhouettes, Preen’s antique-hued palettes, Lida Baday’s beautiful separates and Etro’s sophisticated prints are just a few of the treats in store for fall. It’s incredible to see the exuberance of the world’s design community displayed within our walls.
services store locations Milli Hamilton 310 Main Street West (at Pearl Street South) Hamilton, Ont. L8P 1J8 905-527-1531 888-527-1531
Milli Toronto 100 Bloor Street West (on Critchley Lane) Toronto M5S 1M4 416-944-2233 888-389-2233
www.milli.ca • info@milli.ca
store hours Hamilton Mon-Sat: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sun: By appointment only
Toronto Mon-Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sun: By appointment only
our style Milli is the premier destination for women's clothing and accessories in Southern Ontario. Our first fashion boutique opened in 1964, and for the last 48 years, we have remained committed to offering the latest designs from the world's top designers. Customer service is the hallmark of our business and we are the main destination for the well-dressed woman. We look forward to sharing with you the Milli experience.
6 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
We have personally selected collections and styles we think are the best of the best. We invite you to browse our choices at your leisure. You’re certain to enjoy the environment, our expertly trained wardrobe consultants and our friendly demeanour. Contact us through all of the normal channels or some of the newer ones.
experience Our highly trained team has the experience and expertise to help you in designing the ideal wardrobe for your tastes and lifestyle. We provide a tailored personal experience that suits your needs.
In the meantime, enjoy the magazine. We look forward to seeing you soon.
atelier services Our professional team of ateliers is ready to help you create your perfect fitted garment. A service rare in modern shopping, we understand the importance of custom-fit clothing. Our ateliers bring years of couture tailoring experience to Milli Ltd., offering the highest level of quality and attention to detail.
Luisa Cerano
Milli Gould
Wardrobe consultation Let us bring Milli to you in the comfort of your home. We will take an inventory of your closet, suggest new ways to incorporate pieces from our collection in-store, as well as work to mix and match with your existing wardrobe. We also are available for personal consultation at your office, or wherever works best for you. We strive to make looking good comfortable and convenient.
gift Wrap We offer complimentary gift-wrapping for all purchases and special gifts in our signature Milli packaging.
Rhiannon Russell from the Hamilton Spectator (far left) interviewed designer Arthur Mendonca (left) during a May 29 appearance at Milli in Hamilton. Arthur Mendonca with happy Milli customer Anita Valeri (below).
home delivery & shipping
fall 2012 / winter 2013 • milli magazine 7
fashion
Designer of the Moment Alber Elbaz defines the 21st-century house of Lanvin. By Catalina Margulis
Monsieur Alber Elbaz is having a moment. Celebrating 10 years with the fashion house of Lanvin, which he is credited with reviving, and hot on the heels of what some critics call his best collection in years, which is featured in a new 700-page coffee table book replete with behind-thescenes photos documenting the collection from sketch to runway, the designer has unwittingly – and perhaps even reluctantly, for such a modest man – grabbed the spotlight. From a post-show party in Paris attended by the likes of Tilda Swinton and Dita Von Teese, to an eight-foot-tall statue of the designer overlooking Madison Avenue, it seems all the world is feting his genius. While showier designers and the fashion world’s recent spin of musical chairs have captured headlines, the hard-working, unassuming Elbaz has quietly ascended the steps of fashion’s pantheon to become the most important designer of the season.
Known for his interesting cuts and shapes, masterful draping and play with materials, Alber Elbaz bypasses trends for wearable, woman-friendly designs.
8 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
Designer in the Making Born in Morocco and raised in Israel, Elbaz worked with Geoffrey Beene and Yves Saint Laurent before taking the helm of Lanvin 10 years ago. Bringing the label back from near-obscurity with timeless, feminine designs has earned him welldeserved praise, as well as the CFDA’s 2005 International Designer award and the Legion of Honour in Paris. In addition, he’s an artist who has managed to fuse high style and commerce. His immensely successful collaboration with H&M in November of 2010 proved him to be not just a technical master but also an astute businessman. Despite his storied career and transformation of the venerable brand, he remains humble. Lanvin still operates similarly to a small family business – indeed, the designer, who is 51, even eats with his team every day. He is involved in every aspect of the label, from product design to window displays. And he is quick to credit the Paris-based label’s owner, entrepreneur Shaw-Lan Wang (known to all as Madame Wang), for hiring him and giving him the freedom to build the label as he pleases. A Book By its Covers For Elbaz, his new 10-year anniversary book about Lanvin is not so much a testament to self-love but rather an opportunity to showcase his team. “I wanted to thank the people who work with me day after day to realize the dreams,” he has said. “I thought, ‘I’m going to show everyone how much effort goes into making a single dress …’ And I wanted to show the people. All the people. They are all part of it.” With meaningful gestures like this, it is clear the designer is living by his mantra: “Stay big in your work and small in your life,” as his mother, a painter, always told him. His story is a triumph of talent over hype. Known for his interesting cuts and shapes, masterful draping and play with materials, the designer bypasses trends for wearable, woman-friendly designs. His fall collection featured an impeccable, covetable display of luscious jewel tones, ladylike shapes and romantic ruffles on the one hand, edgy metallics, oversized jewellery accents and body-conscious silhouettes on the other. Yes, Monsieur Elbaz is having a moment. Which is not to say his recent glory is fleeting. As the designer himself has said: “I think fashion is about longevity and doing your work. It isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about process – keeping it going.” The world stands watching, to see where he goes next.
10 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz takes a bow.
Couture Cocooning
The jacket has it this season: stay warm in style with wool, shearling and down.
The The big big chill chill A A parka parka stays stays sophisticated sophisticated when when paired paired with with aa knockout knockout dress. dress. (clockwise (clockwisefrom fromleft) left)Marc MarcCain, Cain, Elizabeth Elizabethand andJames, James,Strenesse Strenesse
naTural insTincTs: Keep the 1970s alive this season with a statement shearling jacket. Luisa Cerano
Where Where The The Wild Wild Things Things are are Cut Cut aa sharp sharp silhouette silhouette with with wool wool and and fur. fur. Helmut HelmutLang, Lang,Theory, Theory, Theyskens’ Theyskens’Theory Theory
12 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
fall 2012 / winter 2013 • milli magazine 13
Print Matters
Prints have come of age this season, with grown-up offerings in luxurious fabrics and vibrant colours.
Match point Mix-and-match prints in the same colour family for a cheeky take on monochromatic dressing. Strenesse, Theyskens’ Theory
REad all ovER Lift the look straight from the runway and wear prints head-to-toe.
WhitE noiSE Keep a print in its place with a crisp white topper. Marc Cain
Elizabeth and James, Helmut Lang, Luisa Cerano
16 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
arthurmendonca.ca
www.strenesse.com
Back to Basics
Refresh Refresh your your wardrobe wardrobe staples staples with with luxe luxe fabrics, fabrics, textures textures and and metallic metallic details. details.
SHADES OF PALE Layer winter whites in different fabrics and textures, to create a look far from basic. Marc Cain
SHARP SUiting A perfectly tailored blazer still reigns supreme as the ultimate wardrobe staple. Helmut Lang, Marc Cain
ROCk OF AgES With their wear-with-anything ease, it’s no wonder that metallic and leather accents keep coming back. Theyskens’ Theory
COLOUR COLOURYOUR YOURWORLD WORLD Update Updatebasics basicsby bywearing wearingaahead-to-toe head-to-toesingle singlehue. hue. Elizabeth Elizabethand andJames, James,Luisa LuisaCerano Cerano
20 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
fall 2012 / winter 2013 • milli magazine 21
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beauty
Inner Beauty This season, the women of Milli learn that confidence is true beauty. On the next page, resident beauty experts Amanda Reid and Rino Pirro inspire you to look and feel your best with this season’s hottest hair and makeup looks. C
Our Milli associates inspire, motivate and elevate confidence every day, so it’s only natural that they stay ahead of the curve in style and M beauty. Recently, the women of Milli in Hamilton and Toronto experienced the best of autumn 2012 makeup and hair trends – an indulgent, relaxing experience that inspired the new Confidence Club. Meet its ambassadors and stay tuned for events, social media features and creativeY opportunities exclusively for the Milli woman. CM MY
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Susan Simpson
Eva Szakacs
Joyce Smuk
Lucyna Bethune
Rosaria Giurdanella
Orly Weinberg
Nancy Lo Greco
Lou Zabic
Michelle Kissore
24 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
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Susan Coolsaet
Emily Middleton
Jan Simpson
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THE LOOK: TruE rOmancE “A clean face with a pop of colour on the cheeks is the ultimate in romance – a simple flush is all you need.” – Amanda Reid “Soft, long layers with loose curls are still a major trend this season. Make it your own with the length: a sharp shoulder-length cut creates a sophisticated look, while waist-length hair is free and easy.” – Rino Pirro Get the look: Bright pinks on the apples of the cheeks, blended outward with the fingers, gives a natural finish and complements all skin tones.
THE LOOK: Big Bang THEOry “Colour-blocked lids – swipes of vibrant greens, blues and purples, applied in a mix-and-match style – leap from the runway to the face. This is definitely not for the faint of heart, but the payoff outweighs any fear.” – Amanda Reid “Along with everything else from the 1970s, the Afro is back, and I couldn’t be more thrilled!” – Rino Pirro Get the look: Look for bright shadows with hints of silver or gold mixed in to soften the effect. For a more subtle pop of colour, choose mascaras in blue, green or purple.
THE LOOK: TimELEss TrEasurEs “Red lips are timeless and here to stay. Go Crayola bright or goth deep and pair with minimal makeup for the strongest impact.” – Amanda Reid
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“Full bangs can still do wonders: use them to create a little edge, or pull to the side to soften the face.” – Rino Pirro Get the look: The best way to find the right red is to test the colour on the back of your thumb (the skin there is the closest to your natural lip colour), not the back of your hand. If it looks good there, then it's worth trying on your lips. Rino Pirro is from Maddison Avenue Salon & Spa, Hamilton.
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travel
Designing Paradise Massimo Ferragamo (son of legendary shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo) and his wife, Chiara, open the doors to their hidden Tuscan retreat. By Stephanie Plentl
Tuscany has perfect summer weather and the estate’s hilltop position means dramatic panoramic sunsets.
Lush cypress trees flank the incline to the Castiglion del Bosco estate like jutting spears, proudly marking their territory within Tuscany’s carpet of undulating hills. It’s an aptly dramatic prelude to a stay at the Val d’Orcia area property owned by a scion of the enduringly elegant Ferragamo fashion family. The medieval borgo (borough), a cluster of renovated pale stone 17th-century buildings that once formed a hilltop hamlet, now serve as the property’s 23 suites. Immediately opposite is the main house that once belonged to the original landowner, which has been converted to a library and sitting room and now houses the Presidential Suite. The home of the village priest, La Canonica, is now the casual Tuscan osteria restaurant where cooking classes are held. The nine spectacular villas dotted about the estate (some with vineyard views or of the Tom Weiskopf designed 18-hole golf course) are former agricultural farmhouses. With a kitchen and private swimming pool, several bedrooms and state-of-the-art security, these are oases of calm for celebrities: Chris Martin had brought Gwyneth Paltrow for a birthday treat the week before I arrived (they flew in by helicopter) and Cameron Diaz had recently checked out. fall 2012 / winter 2013 • milli magazine 29
“THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ORDINARY AND THE EXTRAORDINARY IS IN THE DETAILS.”
IN
June of this year, top event designers at Muscari Atelier crafted a rite of spring wedding set atop the escarpment of Ancaster, overlooking the city below from the prestigious Tamahaac Club. Kat Peterson and Andrew Stockton tied the knot Parisian style before dashing to the City of Lights for their honeymoon the next day. It turned into an elegant evening, inspired by the gardens of Versailles and the timeless match of Chanel’s black and white with a twist of lemon. French tulips, bay leaf garlands, topiaries, croquet and bubbling champagne were just a few of the finishing touches. Oftentimes, the months leading up to the big day can be filled with the stresses of decision making, so finding a seasoned designer to make it happen can help put you at ease. Enter Muscari. “We are a design, planning and production company that draws from vast experi-
ence, holding our clients hands until that awaited moment to ensure they get the day they deserve. We even called in a favor from mother nature to hold off the rain that day,” remarks creative director Benjamin Baranas. Having worked for several top New York City event design firms, Benjamin brings a wealth of experience when crafting your day. “Listening to our clients is of the utmost importance. After all, it’s their day and we’re simply here to bring their dreams to fruition.” Paying attention to the client’s personal details helps in-house graphic designer Vanessa Karabegovic employ nuances such as custom designed crests and handmade gold leaf menus to give brides a “brand” of their own, and a day they will never forget.
www.blugirl.it History Comes Alive Massimo Ferragamo, son of Salvatore and now chairman of the American branch of his father’s eponymous luxury goods empire, bought the rundown 800-year-old vineyard estate in 2003. It was later conceived as a home away from home for those eager for a Tuscan sojourn – without the upkeep that comes with buying a foreign property. Massimo and Chiara preserved as much as possible during the five years of careful restoration and redesign. After arriving, I survey my home for the next two nights and wonder how I’ll ever readjust to pedestrian life. The mirrored entrance hall of my suite leads to a cool, stone-floored living room. Chiara and her designer, Teresa Bürgisser Sancristoforo, searched the Emporium Antiques Market in Parma for vintage timber to be specially reworked by local artisans as furniture for all the rooms. Each piece fits the space perfectly, appearing traditional yet pristine. The interior hues of gold, lime and terracotta blend effortlessly with the palette of the landscape beyond my vast private terrace. For the estate colour scheme, Chiara and her designer took inspiration from both the landscape and the nearby city of Siena (yellow, cream and orange), but also, for historical authenticity, from the tones of the Lorenzetti altar fresco (circa 1345) in the tiny estate chapel. Every convenience, technological and sartorial, is discreetly offered in each room. The walk-in closet beside my four-poster bed is beautifully compartmentalized; top shelves are lined with a soft, Alcantara fabric and thoughtful touches include a leather pouch with brushes and shoe polish. The large marble bathroom has a multitude of useful luxuries, including a box of gorgeously scented Ortigia bath crystals. Each villa has custom-made linen nightdresses from C&C Milano specifically for female guests to wear during breakfast. I’m astonished by the artistry and attention to detail.
A deluxe room (left) in warm colours is located within the main buildings at the borgo. The largest suite, Del Voscovo (top), has a sitting room once used as a ballroom. Villas (above), each with its own heated outdoor pool, offer the ultimate in privacy.
Paradise Found A wander around the property reveals more treasures: a heated stone infinity pool with sweeping views, an intimate Daniela Steiner spa and fitness centre, a gift shop selling a kaleidoscope of Ferragamo shoes and cashmere. Even I, a virgin golfer, enjoy a spin around the course with the resident pro to tee off on the picturesque 13th hole. I complete the hole one over par, to murmurs that I might be a natural. Dinner at Ristorante Del Drago (think: pumpkin gnocchi and venison loin, finished off with gelato) gets even better with wine from the estate, like the renowned Campo del Drago Brunello di Montalcino. But I soon discover that cooking is not my own forte. I admit my ineptitude immediately upon meeting the estate’s sous chef, Davide Lorenzini. Undaunted, he teaches me to cook Tuscan-style chicken stew and beef ragu, in the rustic-looking but well-equipped kitchen, using ingredients from the estate garden. The results are not just edible; they are impeccable. As expected, my departure is heartbreaking. Intriguingly, I’m told that back in the early 14th century, this estate was owned by the Gallerani family (their daughter Cecilia is widely recognized as being the lady in Leonardo da Vinci’s The Lady with an Ermine). Having been enveloped in the beauty of the Castiglion del Bosco estate myself for a few days, I felt a bit an artist’s subject myself, captured in a Ferragamo masterpiece. Suites start at €550 per night, including breakfast; villas start at €3,500 per night, including breakfast, welcome dinner and groceries. castigliondelbosco.com
size six: The Ferragamo museum pays tribute to the house's most famous customer, Marilyn Monroe “A Venus is usually of great beauty, glamour, and sophistication, yet under her glittering exterior she is often essentially a home body loving the simple things of life. Because these two characteristics are mutually contradictory the Venus is often misunderstood.” This is how Salvatore Ferragamo described women who wear a size-six shoe in his autobiography, Shoemaker
32 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
of Dreams. He could very well have been describing Marilyn Monroe, the most famous actress of her era and never too far from her Ferragamo fourinch heels – size six, of course. This year, Museo Salvatore Ferragamo in Florence pays tribute to the most photographed woman in the world some 50 years after her death with Marilyn, an exhibition curated by Stefania Ricci and Sergio Risalliti. The
exhibition will include photographs, film clips, 30 pairs of shoes and more than 50 outfits from Monroe’s personal wardrobe. It’s well documented that the icon adored wearing Ferragamo shoes and owned dozens of pairs. Monroe, who never had the pleasure of meeting Ferragamo, is nevertheless credited for making the now-ubiquitous stiletto famous. – Aliyah Shamsher
Red, a pump covered in Swarovski crystals, was designed by Ferragamo for Marilyn's film Let’s Make Love.
Blue mood lighting is Dream’s signature touch (far left), used in all the hotels. The lobby of the chic Dream South Beach hotel in Miami (left) includes artwork by Natalie Arias and a Moroccaninspired, laser-cut bench by metal artist Patrick Vogel. The Collins Avenue art-deco facade (above) and a Sun Suite terrace with outdoor shower (right).
design design
Dream Weaver
The The vibe vibe of of the the modern modern boutique boutique hotel hotel is is being being redefined redefined by by hospitality hospitality magnate magnate (and (and onetime onetime Montrealer) Montrealer) Vikram Vikram Chatwal Chatwal –– from from outposts outposts in in New New York, York, Thailand Thailand and and India India to to his his newest newest in in Miami. Miami. By By Leanne Leanne Delap Delap
Vikram Chatwal knows that his own glamorous playboy image is the gold dust that brings his boutique hotel chain to life. “I am never ho-hum,” says the Sikh billionaire (sometimes billed by the tabloid press as the “Turban Cowboy”). Now 40, he clearly understands marketing: his personality is the brand. His posh New York hotel, The Chatwal, is just one among a cluster of four properties under his brand umbrella near Times Square, including The Time, Stay and Night. He has also launched a worldwide boutique hotel collection around the Dream concept, with outposts in New York’s meatpacking district, Bangkok and Cochin, India. 34 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
Just last year, the stunning Dream South Beach opened in Miami on Collins Avenue around the corner from the Versace mansion. Interestingly enough, Chatwal spent time in Montreal as a child, which has influenced his aesthetic. He recalls: “While I only lived there for a short time, I have nothing but the fondest of memories about Canada. Montreal is an awe-inspiring city and as a young boy I remember being fascinated by the diverse mix of cultures. In fact, most of my formative years were spent surrounded by vibrant cultural communities, and that has certainly influenced the look and feel that the Vikram Chatwal Hotels brand has today.”
Miami Nice The Dream hotels all feature a cool, white, relaxing design aesthetic that has been tailored to each hotel and market. The interiors are highlighted by whimsical public spaces that are daring yet comfortable; in South Beach that means keeping the shell and footprint of two historic 1939 Art Deco buildings, the Tudor House and the Palmer House. Everything outside is a brilliant white. This part of Collins Avenue is an enclave, a quiet world away from the massive-scale new building projects and across the street from the hip Webster boutique. A central courtyard (complete with an eight-foot statue of Ganesha by Las Vegas ceramic artist Miguel Rodriguez) opens onto the converted reception lobby on the Palmer House side; the Tudor side is a restaurant by New York celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian. Of the 108 rooms, most are quite small, accessed off dark, sexy hallways. The interior design of the rooms is a sort of spaceshipmeets-Morocco theme, with blue lighting operated from a control panel. These are relaxing, pre- and post-party crash-pad spaces, with hangover shades at the ready. The High Bar, with its cabanas and louche seating that dazzles in the sunlight then throbs by night, draws guests out of their rooms. Catwalks overlooking the velvet rope in the courtyard make the scene very South Beach seeand-be-seen. But it is the penthouses – a celebrity staple and Chatwal signature – where the design team (Michael Czysz and Kelly Ogden) really shows off the Chatwal vision. Says Chatwal, “When designing Dream South Beach I was very inspired by the resplendence of 1970s glamour with flourishes of French-Moroccan style.” The penthouses are backlit for a jewel-box effect, with intricately carved doors that separate out the bathroom and change areas. All the penthouses have spiral staircases that lead to private decks, separated from the main pool and bar, yet still manage to convey, what Chatwal calls, “the vibe.”
10 things you didn’t know about
Vikram Chatwal
1 He was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and his family
fled the revolution in 1974, landing in Montreal. 2 He launched Vikram Chatwal Hotel group at the
tender age of 28 – no surprise to hospitality industry watchers, as his father, Sant Singh Chatwal, founded the Hampshire Hotel group. 3 He modelled in Vogue and was the lead actor in the
2004 Cannes-screen film One Dollar Curry (and he also played a cheeky cameo as himself in the fashionworld parody Zoolander). 4 He has talked openly about the value he found in a
2010 stint in rehab, and about being a settled-down dad today. 5 He was twice named among the world’s most
eligible bachelors. 6 He has reportedly squired beauties including models
Angela Lindvall, Gisele Bündchen and Kate Moss. 7 He had former U.S. president Bill Clinton as a guest at
his 2006 wedding to Indian model Priya Sachdev. 8 He is the ultimate jet-setter, with a penthouse in
Manhattan, property in Mumbai (where his daughter, Safira, lives with his now ex-wife) and a super-yacht named Fathom docked off Antibes. 9 He plans to build six more Dream hotels, in South Asia. 10 He coined the word “hautel” to describe his particular
hybrid brand of fashion and hospitality.
Rates from $230 (U.S.) per night. dreamsouthbeach.com / vikramchatwalhotels.com
fall 2012 / winter 2013 • milli magazine 35
dining
Beyond Your Backyard Chefs and foodies are going west: these days, some of the area’s best restaurants are well outside the GTA. By Chris Johns
All of a sudden, downtown is not where the hot food trends come from. This might sound like heresy coming from me, a confirmed Toronto urbanite, food writer and restaurant critic for Toronto Life, The Globe and Mail and Air Canada’s enRoute. But it’s undeniable. The evidence: Urban farm-to-table concept restaurants have become so ubiquitous in Canadian cities that the concept is verging on cliché. Hipster foodies in gentrifying inner-city neighbourhoods can rattle off names of celebrity farmers and heritage pork breeds like they were the latest indie bands. At the coolest restaurants in Toronto, all things rural and handcrafted are valued over anything perceived as metropolitan and manufactured. Many chefs, motivated by a desire to live quietly, relatively inexpensively and close to the source of their ingredients, are finding savvy and appreciative audiences well outside of the downtown core. Restaurants like The Carriage House in Burlington, with its globe-trotting wine list, and Seven Windows in Hamilton, with its complex and ever-changing menu, are proving that some of the most exciting and avantgarde cooking today is happening beyond the whitepicket fences of our suburban backyards. But Blacktree in Burlington has to be one of the most impressive and, at the same time, idiosyncratic, restaurants in Ontario. It’s located in a laneway behind a strip mall. It is decorated like an eccentric artist’s loft (vintage cartoon movies projected on a wall outside, an antique bust wrapped in metal). In spite of, or perhaps because of, its uniqueness, it has a loyal local following and attracts curious diners from across the region. Chef Matteo Paonessa – who earned his chops working under such renowned chefs as Susur Lee, Marc Thuet and Michael Stadtlander – cooks highly personal, beautifully plated dishes like ostrich carpaccio with pineapple sorbet, smoked monkfish with celery root dumplings and pickerel served with persimmon and goji berries. For most of my dining life, a restaurant like this would have been unthinkable in a mall parking lot. Blacktree is about as far as you can get from the kind of fast-food, standard-issue strip-mall restaurants normally associated with suburban dining.
36 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
Go West (of the GtA) Food pictured in this photo is from: Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa 1 Langdon Dr., Cambridge 519-740-2100, langdonhall.ca The Carriage House Restaurant 2101 Old Lakeshore Rd., Burlington 905-634-7723, thecarriagehouse.ca Seven Windows Restaurant & Lounge 432 Aberdeen Ave., Hamilton 905-523-7708 Blacktree Restaurant 3029 New St., Burlington 905-681-2882, blacktreerestaurant.com The Only on King 172 King St., London 519-936-2064, theonlyonking.ca Quatrefoil Restaurant 16 Sydenham St., Dundas 905-628-7800, quatrefoilrestaurant.com
Speaking of by-the-numbers dining concepts, London, Ont., happens to be a frequent testing ground for new casual-food franchise concepts. If there’s a new burger, quesadilla wrap or fried chicken nugget idea to be tasted in Ontario, chances are you’ll find it in London first. And yet, driving to dinner at London’s The Only on King restaurant recently, I passed fields of some of the finest farmland in Ontario. This is what motivated chef Paul Harding to open his seasonally inspired restaurant and build a menu around the best available ingredients from the area, cooking in the Italian tradition. The results – dishes like vitello tonnato with Farben Farms round steak and Everspring Farms roast duck breast with asparagus risotto – are helping to create a distinctly local, regional cuisine. If there’s one restaurant, though, that can truly be credited with defining the area’s cuisine while putting southwestern Ontario on the culinary map, it has to be Langdon Hall in Cambridge, Ont. Under the direction of chef Jonathan Gushue the restaurant achieved a Top 100 ranking in the prestigious global San Pellegrino Restaurant Awards in 2010, making it one of only four Canadian restaurants to ever achieve that honour. The restaurant ranked by taking “local” to new levels. Most of the tables in the dining room are a short stroll from the vegetable plots where the beans, kale and herbs on your plate were grown. The kitchen transforms mere produce into modern, adventurous dishes. A shallow white bowl is lined with a kaleidoscopic array of pink slices of roasted beef tenderloin, orange Forfar dairy cheddar agnolotti, Cookstown baby vegetables in bright hues and a golden-coloured maple broth. Crème brûlée is given a distinctly Upper Canada twist with the addition of wild rice, partridge berries and buttermilk sorbet. Langdon Hall directly paved the way for places like the chic Quatrefoil in Dundas, a room that landed on everyone’s best new restaurants lists for 2010. Housed in a converted heritage home, the cool grey, black and white decor is punctuated by vibrant local paintings and ostrich-skin seats. Chefs Fraser Macfarlane and Georgina Mitropoulos create dishes like seasonal white asparagus paired with a crisp-fried duck yolk and a savoury parmesan custard. A delicate pea and ricotta ravioli partners with bright green fava beans, broccoli florets and a white-wine sauce tinged with lemony sorrel. As I fork into the pastry kitchen’s killer cherry cake, with its impossibly pink segments of poached grapefruit, accompanied by grapefruit mousse, oatmeal crumble and fennel ice cream, I am reminded that small-town Ontario dining has never been better. (clockwise from top) The Only on King’s seasonal vegetable salad with herbs and Tuscan olive oil. Tables set for family-style dining at The Only on King. Squid with ink sauce, thumbelina carrots, parsley and almond crumbs at Quatrefoil. Quatrefoil's name is inspired by the Gothic style of the building: a quatrefoil is an architectural feature resembling a four-leaf clover. Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa is a Relais & Chateaux property. Vegetable spring roll with red pepper caramel, goat cheese and avocado from Blacktree.
38 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
fashion
Ladies on Red The red carpet of the Toronto International Film Festival has become an annual showcase of top couture, as worn by top stars. Here, trend-setting looks from some of Milli’s favourite designers, and how you can wear them, too.
Reuters/Mike Cassese
Reuters/Mike Cassese
suPer sequins: Lucy Punch
Designer Armani
Petal Power: Elizabeth Olsen
Designer Escada TrenD The glossy paillettes get an update with jewel tones and an ombre treatment. Why iT Works A sophisticated cocktail cut in the form of a playful knee-length shift takes sequins out of a seriously formal context.
Who can Wear iT No, this trend isn’t just for sexpots like Megan Fox. White is universally flattering (really). Let’s hear it for fashion democracy! if you like This… Keep on wearing it. Fall runways were chock full of the white stuff with winter updates (knits and rich textures).
Todd Williamson/WireImage/Getty Images
By Tiyana Grulovic
Blank slate: Megan Fox
TrenD White gets fresh when worn all-over with matching accessories. Why iT Works Monochromatic dressing is undeniably easy to wear – just be sure to break it up with interesting details, like this belt.
Designer Erdem (a London-based Canadian) TrenD Big, bold buds worn head-to-toe. Why iT Works It’s the easiest way to make a statement without showing lots of skin.
Who can Wear iT A woman who isn’t afraid of the spotlight (literally).
Who can Wear iT Aspiring gardeners (green thumb optional), women with some height (literally: beanstalks).
if you like This… You’ll fall hard for this season’s embellished lace and jacquard.
if you like This… You’ll love this season’s array of brocade prints: think of them as the darker, broodier cousin of florals.
40 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
27/07/12 10:57 AM
fashion fashion
Ladies on Red
The red red carpet carpet of of the the Toronto Toronto International International Film Film Festival Festival has has become become The an annual annual showcase showcase of of top top couture, couture, as as worn worn by by top top stars. stars. Here, Here, trend-setting trend-setting looks looks an from some of Milli’s favourite designers, and how you can wear them, too. from some of Milli’s favourite designers, and how you can wear them, too.
Dara Kushner-INFevents.com/The Canadian Press
Reuters/Mike Cassese
Todd ToddWilliamson/WireImage/Getty Williamson/WireImage/GettyImages Images
Reuters/Mike Cassese
By Tiyana Tiyana Grulovic Grulovic By
Reuters/Mike Cassese
DM120298_Pg04-41_Milli_Fall_2012.indd 40
Blank slate: Megan Fox
suPer sequins: Lucy Punch
Petal Power: Power: Elizabeth Elizabeth Olsen Olsen Petal
emPire state of mind: Jennifer Garner
Designer Armani
Designer Escada
Designer Erdem Erdem Designer (a London-based London-based Canadian) Canadian) (a TrenD Big, bold buds worn head-to-toe. TrenD Big, bold buds worn head-to-toe.
Designer Valentino
Designer Valentino
TrenD Empire waistlines on unabashedly romantic dresses.
TrenD Soft, sugary shades of pink, blue and yellow that recall your favourite desserts.
Why iT iT Works Works It’s It’s the the easiest easiest way way to to make make aa Why statement without without showing showing lots lots of of skin. skin. statement Who can can Wear Wear iT iT Aspiring Aspiring gardeners gardeners Who (green thumb thumb optional), optional), women women with with some some (green height (literally: (literally: beanstalks). beanstalks). height
Why iT Works A look this innocent demands that you show a little leg. It gets even better when a dress like this is paired with a sexy shoe.
Why iT Works While the look is ultra feminine, hard details such as studded heels and a metallic clutch toughen it up.
Who can Wear iT Jane Austen fans, glamorous bohemians.
Who can Wear iT Girly girls, perfectionists… and those with a sweet tooth.
if you you like like This… This… You’ll You’ll love love this this season’s season’s if array of of brocade brocade prints: prints: think think of of them them as as the the array darker, broodier broodier cousin cousin of of florals. florals. darker,
if you like This… You’ll swoon over peplums and exaggerated hip silhouettes this season.
if you like This… You can still indulge in spring’s pretty palette come colder weather, with an array of pastel coats and toppers.
TrenD White gets fresh when worn all-over with matching accessories.
TrenD The glossy paillettes get an update with jewel tones and an ombre treatment.
Why iT Works Monochromatic dressing is undeniably easy to wear – just be sure to break it up with interesting details, like this belt.
Why iT Works A sophisticated cocktail cut in the form of a playful knee-length shift takes sequins out of a seriously formal context.
Who can Wear iT No, this trend isn’t just for sexpots like Megan Fox. White is universally flattering (really). Let’s hear it for fashion democracy!
Who can Wear iT A woman who isn’t afraid of the spotlight (literally).
if you like This… Keep on wearing it. Fall runways were chock full of the white stuff with winter updates (knits and rich textures).
40 milli magazine • fall 2012 / winter 2013
if you like This… You’ll fall hard for this season’s embellished lace and jacquard.
Pretty in Pastels: Freida Pinto
fall 2012 / winter 2013 • milli magazine 41
dd 1
Gourmet Gift Baskets — A most tasteful gift
At Denninger’s, we take pride in every gift basket we make. All of our baskets are distinctive and beautifully designed. We insist on using the same quality, imported and local gourmet products that we sell in our stores. Our baskets are guaranteed to please. When you know exactly what you want to give, customized baskets are available upon request and may now include Reif Wines. Hamilton • Burlington • taylorleibow.com
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