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by The Backseat Stylers | May 24th, 2012 
Me with Rodarte’s Laura and Kate Mulleavy
The Bay still knows how to throw a party. After several quiet months, Toronto’s social and fashion set returned to The Room at The Bay last night for a shindig in honour of Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy. With their Fall 2012 collection in tow, the sisters charmed the likes of socialites Suzanne Rogers and Stacey Kimel, editors Bernadette Morra and Mosha Lundström Halbert, as well as bloggers Anita Clarke and Kimberly Lyn.
Yours truly spent the evening photographing the city’s most sartorially endowed, sipping champagne with my fellow media types, and chatting about Kirsten Dunst’s unexpected Met Ball dress (Rodarte, of course) with the designers themselves. Clad in a Manish Arora dress (fit for a hippie wedding) and navy velvet Loeffler Randall shoes (something blue?), I sought to rectify the Rodarte-less situation happening in my closet. When I asked the design duo about any upcoming collaborations, though, the answer was a disappointing no: “Right now, we really need to focus on our next collection,” Kate said. I’ll take that as a ‘maybe’.
In the meantime, The Room at The Bay is the source for all things Rodarte. And with The Room’s spring sale just around the corner (a little birdie told me so) and my pocketbook at the ready, I may just get my hands on my very first piece of Rodarte yet.
 
Flare’s Ryan M. Cheung, Glam Canada’s Aya McMillan and Flare’s Fiona Green
Kate Mulleavy, The Room Creative Director Nicholas Mellamphy and The Bay Fashion Director Suzanne Timmins
I Want – I Got’s Anita Clarke and Front Row Mag’s Michelle Bilodeau and Rachelle Saevil
Me with The Souls of My Shoes’ Kimberly Lyn
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by The Backseat Stylers | May 7th, 2012 
As soon as I passed through the orange lacquer doors into the packed press preview of Tory Burch’s first Canadian boutique at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, I knew I was in for a fun night. Within the gorgeously decorated space – filled to the brim with what the designer herself describes as “beautiful things that don’t cost a fortune” – fashion aficionados intensely debated what their first Tory Burch in-store acquisitions on Canadian soil would be.
Bold colours and delightful prints were enthusiastically embraced by the more sartorially adventurous. After careful deliberation and polling, Nelia Belkova of StyleBlog.ca settled on the coveted Robinson Mini Chain Bag in an eye-catching orange. Meanwhile, Liv Judd, Shopping Editor for LOULOU Magazine, is reportedly enjoying the spring weather in her new pair of Tory Burch flats, made in a to-die-for yellow snakeskin.
In addition to all the vibrant colour, there was a strong selection of classic garments and accessories in pastels and neutral tones. I myself was drawn to the Small Suede Briefcase and the Owen Jacquard Dot Pant, though I ultimately went with an Angelique silk blouse (one can never have too many blouses). The thoroughly enjoyable shopping experience I had was in no small part due to the tremendously friendly, helpful, and efficient staff.
The Tory Burch boutique is now open to the public, so be sure to pay a visit!
The infamous mirrored accessory wall, a feature of all Tory Burch boutiques
Flare Magazine’s Mosha Lundström Halbert
S would love these whimsical cherry-print pumps
Blogger Gracie Carroll giving the Owen jacquard dot pants a try
 
Flare Magazine’s Ryan M. Cheung, undoubtedly texting his friends about the iPad-equipped seating areas
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by The Backseat Stylers | December 31st, 2011 
Liz Cabral of FLARE Magazine at the Mugler event at The Room at the Bay
Toronto’s most fashionable folks made our gig as part-time street style snappers rather easy this past year. We spent little time trolling the streets and, instead, had the pleasure of shooting the city’s most impeccably dressed at the very best industry events and charity galas the city had to offer. These 10 shots are our favourite from the year, and they feature 11 stunning women in ensembles that made us drop our jaws and shamelessly chase after them for photos.
And on that note, thank you to all of our street style subjects from the past 12 months, included in this post or not, who graciously allowed us to interrupt conversations with long lost friends or accost them as they were just biting into an hors d’oeuvre, and who pretended not to notice when we started snapping with our lens cap still on. We look forward to shooting all of you again in 2012!
Suzanne Rogers in Paul & Joe Spring 2011 at the 10th Annual POGO Gala, with Jenna Naumovich
Elly Barlin-Daniels in Marc Jacobs Resort 2011 at the 10th Annual POGO Gala
Amy Burstyn-Fritz of Knot PR in Calla Fall 2011 at Operanation
Carly Stojsic of WGSN and Lisa Tant of FLARE Magazine (in Prabal Gurung Fall 2011) at the P&G Beauty and Grooming Awards
Vyara Ndejuru of ALDO at the A is for ALDO launch
Faith Orfus of RAC Boutique at Operanation
Jenna Naumovich in Erdem at the Ignite the Spark Gala
Mosha Lundström Halbert of FLARE Magazine at the Proenza Schouler event at The Room, with Shinan Govani of the National Post
Ainsley Kerr in Lucian Matis Fall 2011 at the 10th Annual POGO Gala
xx, T & S
by The Backseat Stylers | November 17th, 2011 
Nicola Formichetti
Last night, Creative Director Nicola Formichetti and his creative team, including women’s designer Sébastien Peigné, previewed Parisian design house MUGLER‘s Spring 2012 collection at The Room at the Bay in Toronto. With the likes of FLARE editor-in-chief Lisa Tant, supermodel Yasmin Warsame and socialite Suzanne Rogers (in Givenchy!) in attendance, it was an evening of bold-faced fashion names and fierce clothing and shoes, both on the guests and the MUGLER-donning models and mannequins.
Though his frequent collaborator Lady Gaga sadly didn’t make an appearance, Formichetti himself was enough of a rock star on this night. Dubbed the “sexiest guy on the planet” by the Bay’s own President & CEO Bonnie Brooks, the man best known as Gaga’s fashion director charmed the invite-only crowd of editors, clients and fashion fans. Check out the gallery below for party photos.
FASHION Magazine’s Susie Sheffman and supermodel Yasmin Warsame
Models in MUGLER
Blogger Anita Clarke and socialite Suzanne Rogers
 
Flare Magazine’s Liz Cabral
Nicola Formichetti and writer Septembre Anderson
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | June 1st, 2011 
Blogger Kimberly Lyn, Proenza Schouler designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, blogger Nelia Belkova and me
Last night, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, the designers behind womenswear and accessories label Proenza Schouler, dropped by for a visit at The Room at the Bay in Toronto and charmed the pants off the city’s fashion set. Bringing with them pieces from their Fall 2011 collection, the duo made the 200+ crowd swoon with their obvious design talent and – let’s face it – boyish good looks and down-to-earth charm. Most of us present, including yours truly, were reduced to schoolgirls with crushes.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jack and Lazaro, and wish I could tell you that there was witty banter or intelligent debate. Unfortunately, all I can recall of my starstruck moment was a cheery “Welcome to Toronto!” on my part, some discussion around how gorgeous and comfortable Nelia Belkova’s Proenza shoes are, and a hurried group photo session snuck in before the rest of the partygoers lost patience. There was the shaking of hands too and, needless to say, I haven’t washed my right hand since. I kid, of course.
Boyband-like appeal aside, the designers’ Spring and Fall 2011 collections were intriguing in their own right. There were PS1 bags galore, but what stole this fan’s heart was a certain printed neon yellow top, spotted on a lucky mannequin, and the matching tweed skirt on The Room’s Megan Loach. Proenza or not though, reception attendees showed up in their surprisingly colourful Tuesday best, taking full advantage of the city’s scorching temperatures (finally!) to don their couped-up summer fare, with Liz Cabral’s Prada SS10 printed beach scene skirt and Suzanne Rogers’ Rodarte SS11 Ming print dress leading the charge.
As for me, I deemed my Proenza Schouler Fall 2011 pieces entirely too warm for the 40-degree weather and settled for a 3.1 Phillip Lim dress and silver patent Louboutins to match. I don’t think Lazaro and Jack minded though – there were far too many usually too-cool-for-Schoul fashion folks fawning over them for them to notice anyway.
Proenza Schouler’s signature PS1 bags in black and raspberry suede
Stylist Tricia Campbell Hall, Kimberly Lyn and blogger Anita Clarke
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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