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by The Backseat Stylers | May 8th, 2013 
On April 30, Toronto Fashion Incubator held its annual TFI New Labels fundraising gala at The Carlu in Toronto. Chaired by Suzanne Rogers and emceed by a David Dixon-clad Dina Pugliese, the evening’s main event was the design competition runway show presented by Target and the crowning of this year’s New Labels winner.
Suzanne Rogers and Dina Pugliese
The show was the culmination of a six-month long competition that saw the field of contestants narrowed down to a very talented final four that included Christopher Paunil by Chalo Barrueta and Christopher Paunil, Paria Shirvani, Sarah Stevenson and SEVENTHIRTYONE by Maiko Suzuki and Defne Husrevoglu. With the support of beauty partner P&G Beauty & Grooming, the finalists presented four very distinct and well received collections in front of a discerning crowd of industry insiders that included designer Arthur Mendonça, model Stacey McKenzie, The Room’s Nicholas Mellamphy, and sponsor Mantella Corporation’s Sylvia Mantella.
Gabrielle Miller and Stacey McKenzie
If their audience didn’t already have them shaking in their fashionable boots, then the New Labels judges surely did. This year’s distinguished panel was made up of FLARE Editor-in-Chief Miranda Purves, TNT Boutiques’ Arie Assaraf, Target Divisional Merchandise Manager Elisha Ballantyne, Target Senior Vice President, Merchandising John Morioka, TFI President David Dixon and gala chair Suzanne Rogers.
Winner Sarah Stevenson with the esteemed judging panel after her win
After a short but tough deliberation, the judges named Sarah Stevenson, who presented a cohesive line-up of looks featuring gorgeous prints and laser-cut detailing, the 2013 TFI New Labels winner. In addition to bragging rights, the Toronto native’s prize haul included a $25,000 cash award donated by Suzanne Rogers, a full-page feature in FLARE Magazine, and the opportunity to design a collection to be sold exclusively in Target locations across Canada in 2014. Congratulations Sarah!
Table #8!
Check out the gallery below for 40 images from the 2013 TFI New Labels gala, featuring Canadian fashion both on and off the runway.
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by The Backseat Stylers | November 12th, 2012 
Soho House’s Markus Anderson and FLARE Magazine’s Liz Cabral
On November 8, 2012, The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Yorkville boutique George C hosted the 2nd Annual Lunch with Margaret & George at the Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto. Surrounded, quite literally, by lovely ladies who lunch decked out in their noon-hour finest, the charity function was one of the swankiest and most fashionable meals I’ve had the good fortune of enjoying in some time.
The highlight of the event came when, just before dessert, guests were treated to a presentation of Derek Lam‘s Spring 2013 runway collection. Though the New York-based designer himself was unfortunately unable to attend as planned (Mother Nature had other, snow-filled plans for him), his pieces, inspired by Barkley L. Hendricks paintings from the 1970s, thankfully made it to the luncheon for our viewing pleasure. And pleased we were, with the very covet-worthy line-up of ready-to-wear, handbags and shoes that we got to see up close and personal.
Canadian fashion industry heavyweights like FLARE Magazine‘s new editor-in-chief Miranda Purves, her counterpart at FASHION Magazine Bernadette Morra, Holt Renfrew’s Lisa Tant and FLARE fashion director Liz Cabral lent their support to the very worthy cause and stylish event. By the time the last morsel of food was consumed, over $150,000 had been raised in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. A very productive working lunch indeed.
FLARE Magazine’s Miranda Purves (centre) with George C owners Lisa and George Corbo
Sylvia Mantella
Models line up in preparation for the Derek Lam Spring 2013 presentation
Holt Renfrew’s Lisa Tant
FASHION Magazine’s Bernadette Morra
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by The Backseat Stylers | May 9th, 2012 
Honorary chair Suzanne Rogers and sponsor Sylvia Mantella
On May 3, Toronto Fashion Incubator celebrated its 25th anniversary with a fundraising gala at the Royal Ontario Museum, aptly dubbed TFI25, that was attended by a who’s who of Toronto’s social set and fashion industry and fit for Barbie herself. Chaired by Suzanne Rogers and emceed by a Greta Constantine-clad Jully Black, the evening featured a VIP dinner, a Barbie-inspired celebrity runway show, the annual TFI New Labels design competition fashion show and, of course, an after-party.
Singer and TFI25 Master of Ceremonies Jully Black
After a 6 month long competition, finalists Patrick Larrivée, Sid Neigum, Jameson Kane by Genevieve Pearson and Stanley Capobianco, and [blak] – i by Diego Fuchs and Helder Aguiar showed four very well received collections that made the TFI New Labels judges’ decision that much more difficult to make. “Judges are in big trouble from @SusanAtTFI”, FLARE Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief Lisa Tant tweeted, ”because we can’t decide and won’t come out.”
FLARE Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and TFI New Labels judge Lisa Tant
Tant was joined on the judging panel by TNT Boutiques’ Arie Assaraf, Toronto Star‘s Derick Chetty, TFI President David Dixon, TFI Executive Director Susan Langdon and the gala’s honorary chair Suzanne Rogers, who donated the $25,000 grand prize. In the end, Edmonton native Sid Neigum was named this year’s TFI New Labels winner, taking home a prize package valued at $60,000, which included a feature in FLARE Magazine and a design studio at the TFI sponsored by Arie Assaraf.
TFI New Labels winner Sid Neigum and model
Those weren’t the only prizes up for grabs at TFI25. The Barbie-inspired fashion show featured celebrity models like Dina Pugliese, Tanya Kim and Trish Stratus in designs by VAWK, Arthur Mendonça, Anastasia Lomonova and more. While past TFI New Labels winner Sarah Nicol of Sar Couture was awarded the $10,000 cash prize, it was actress Tara Spencer-Nairn in VAWK who stole the show with her robotic runway walk, tweeted FASHION Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief Bernadette Morra.
Dina Pugliese in Barbie-inspired dress by Stema
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by The Backseat Stylers | April 16th, 2012 
Sylvia Mantella and Suzanne Rogers
On April 14, the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario hosted the 11th Annual POGO Gala at the Liberty Grand in Toronto. The yearly soirée is the non-profit organization’s annual fundraiser in support of its efforts to deliver the right care at the right time and in the right place for children with cancer and their families. It also happens to be one of the most glamourous events on the city’s gala season calendar.
The evening featured a top notch 3-course dinner (I’m still dreaming about the lobster salad!), an incredible live auction that raised $111,000, a Tiffany & Co. jewelry raffle (two pieces valued at over $20,000 were up for grabs), one of the most fantastic silent auctions I’ve seen to date, as well the after party of all charity gala after parties. The live auction included a Justin Bieber meet and greet that went for $22,000 to a generous bidder who immediately donated it to a 14-year old cancer survivor who had bravely shared her story with the crowd earlier in the evening. It was just that kind of night.
And the gala attendees were dressed for it, too. Toronto’s social set donned their black tie finest, with Suzanne Rogers leading the charge in a beautiful Grecian gown by Marchesa and jewelry to match. Jenna Naumovich’s short white frock by Alexander McQueen was a standout, and Biko Beauttah’s black velvet Bill Blass was pitch perfect. Canadian fashion was represented beautifully by Rebecca Levy, who donned an eye-catching fuchsia number from Lucian Matis’ Spring 2012 collection. I too wore a Lucian Matis design, a demure printed dress from the Fall 2010 collection.
It was a fabulous affair for the worthiest of causes. Congratulations to the POGO Gala committee on a gala extremely well done. For more information on the important work that POGO does, please visit the organization’s website at pogo.ca.
Jenna Naumovich in Alexander McQueen
Rebecca Levy in Lucian Matis (left) and Biko Beauttah in Bill Blass (middle) and her dapper guest
Suzanne Rogers in Marchesa
Me in Lucian Matis Fall 2010
xx, S
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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