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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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by The Backseat Stylers | April 26th, 2011 
The Room at the Bay in Toronto is currently hosting an exhibit of street style photos by photographer Tommy Ton of Anna Dello Russo, Editor-at-Large for Vogue Nippon and one of the most fabulous women on the planet. If you missed last week’s reception and autograph session, don’t fret – you can still catch the exhibit, which is on until this Friday, April 29, 2011. For those of you not anywhere near Toronto, I’ve snapped highlights of the 81-photo exhibit. Enjoy!
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by The Backseat Stylers | April 25th, 2011 
Me and Vogue Nippon Editor-at-Large Anna Dello Russo
The Room at the Bay announced recently that they would be hosting “When Tommy Met Anna”, an exhibit of photographs of Vogue Nippon Editor-at-Large and street style heroine Anna Dello Russo by Toronto-based, world-renowned street style photographer Tommy Ton. When the news first broke, the first question on mine and most other lips in the city was, “Does that mean ADR is coming to Toronto?!” When confirmation came via a tweet from The Hudson’s Bay Company that, indeed, the inimitable Dello Russo would be gracing our city with her perennially overdressed presence, the excitement in the Toronto fashion community’s little corner of the Twitterverse was palpable. Not only was ADR coming to town, but she was also bringing with her a fabulous excuse for The Room at the Bay to break out the fancy schmancy hors d’oeuvres and bottles of champagne again. In the year and a half since The Room was relaunched, it’s garnered quite the reputation for throwing some of the best industry shindigs around (see here, here and here for the evidence).
ADR in a Giles Deacon Spring 2011 bandage print dress and Brian Atwood pumps with a gaggle of her biggest fans
Of course, delicious mini burgers and open-bar aside, the evening was about Anna Dello Russo and Tommy Ton, and boy was it ever. True to what we’ve come to expect of Dello Russo and her multiple outfit changes during each day of Fashion Month, the guest of honour kicked off the evening in a lovely pink bandage print Giles Deacon dress and matching Brian Atwood pumps, and then slipped away briefly at one point to don a new ensemble, returning in the standout yellow and blue lampshade dress from Mary Katrantzou’s Spring 2011 runway show. Not to be outdone, Ton kept up with a mid-party outfit swap of his own. This man, who brings us images of the most fabulous footwear from the streets of the world’s fashion capitals, has serious shoe game himself.
Toronto’s fashion set also did not disappoint, showing up at The Room’s invite-only soiree in amped up getups clearly inspired by ADR’s own outrageous looks over the past few years. There was colour, bling, and a sense of sartorial adventure in the air. The Room looked its best too, with over-sized street style snaps of Dello Russo by Ton, new Spring 2011 designer arrivals and inspired visual displays galore. The Bay demonstrated once again that they know how to throw a party, which was abundantly clear when, as the evening drew to a close, I spotted the guests of honour grooving with guests on the makeshift dance floor - Dello Russo in the DJ booth and Ton posing with the most glammed out transvestite I’ve ever laid eyes on. In a word? Epic.
Tommy Ton and his date *wink*
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by The Backseat Stylers | April 20th, 2011 
In one of our very first posts ever, way back in April 2009, we named Anna Dello Russo, Editor-at-Large for Vogue Nippon, a sartorial heroine of our time. We’ve been following her countless Fashion Week outfit changes through the lenses of street style photographers ever since, and this week we have the opportunity to meet the larger-than-life fashion maven herself!
Dello Russo will be signing autographs at The Room at the Bay in Toronto on April 21, 2011, 11am-12pm. Her personal appearance will kick off “When Tommy Met Anna”, a photo exhibit of past street style snaps of Dello Russo by blogger Tommy Ton that will run until April 29th.
Can’t decide what to wear to meet the formidable ADR? Get inspired by some of our favourite shots by Ton of the lady herself in the gallery below.
xx, S
Image Credits: Gallery photos by Tommy Ton via Jak and Jil and Style.com; Featured photo via Toronto Life
by The Backseat Stylers | October 21st, 2010 
Me with Charlotte Olympia Dellal and her fabulous banana clutch
When the invite came for last week’s God Save the Queen: The Next British Invasion gala at The Room at the Bay (thanks to the Bay PR girls!), I’m pretty sure I squealed. And jumped up and down. And did a little dance. And then apologized to my fellow co-workers for disturbing our finance-related meeting. OK, I made most of that up, but I did immediately begin the party preparations in my head: trying out my British accent, planning my outfit, practicing my best curtsey for the Queen (scratch that – she wasn’t invited)…all very important stuff.
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by The Backseat Stylers | September 10th, 2010 
Tommy Ton‘s editorial debut in Vogue Nippon‘s October 2010 issue has me in utter awe. If this is what we get from Tommy’s first outing, then I eagerly await the many more editorials that are certain to come!
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | September 3rd, 2010 
I’ve been a makeup minimalist over the past few years, but I’m feeling so inspired by this shot of Miss Freja by Tommy Ton. I think I’m going to play with some colour and slap on the face paint this weekend. xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | July 21st, 2010 
I wasn’t overly inspired by what I saw on the Pink Tartan runway at Toronto Fashion Week this past April, but I’m liking what I’m seeing in the lookbook so far – the classic and wearable designs, the chic styling, as well as Tommy Ton’s signature touch. And very little sign of the overabundance of shaggy fur that was sent down the runway…phew! The outerwear pieces are TDF and there are also quite a few work-ready, day-to-night separates I have my eye on. Pink Tartan’s slowly but surely becoming a staple in my wardrobe. Check out more from the Fall 2010 lookbook here if you’re intrigued.
xx, S
by The Backseat Stylers | March 11th, 2010 
Love the chic Parisienne flight attendant look! Wish I could pull off hats, but alas I’ve been told time and time again that I’m not a hat person.
xx, S
Image Credits: Tommy Ton for Style.com
by The Backseat Stylers | March 1st, 2010 
I’m blown away by this look – this is how you wear fur casually.
EDIT: It’s Zanna Roberts! Senior Fashion Editor of Marie Claire. Took us a while to ID our she-wolf.
xx, S
Tommy Ton for Style.com
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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