OUT AND ABOOT

I am an unrepentant shoe slut. That is no deep dark secret. As I have variously proclaimed, footwear is my crack. I have been known to stop total strangers to gush about their boots/shoes. I found my thrill last Thursday at the first anniversary cocktailer for Clementine’s luxe resale boutique in Rosedale.

Two of my favourite things: the colour fuchsia and suede booties, stalked at Clementine’s.

I also had a come-to-mama moment with these black fringe Chanel boots at Clementine’s.

Clementine’s owner Christina McDowell (left), designer Dennis Merotto (former senior designer at Lida Baday) and Merotto’s muse/wife Anna toasting the anniversary. McDowell stocks Merotto’s edgy line in her shop.

But it’s not all high-end for the pedal extremities. Loved these personalized boots I spotted at Starbucks on King St. and Brant. Their owner is a stylist. Ya think?

The perfect gift for the Republicans on your list available for only $18.95 at Rolo on Bellair, arguably the best gift and card shop in the city.

THUMBNAIL SKETCHES

Producer Gene Mascardelli celebrate his 70^th last weekend with a party at his digs featuring a cast of musicians, actors and civilians. His partner broadcast journalist Gloria Martin makes a mean pot of chili.
 

You are nobody till thumb buddy loves you and Gene and I are clearly thumb buddies, exhibiting our matching wounds.

A musical interlude at the birthday party, with two seasoned guitar pickers and an aspiring vocalist gamely performing random requests.

Rob Salem rocking the camo look at the Wineva and Queen bus stop. Note the homage to David Bowie hoodie.

FOR EVAN'S SAKE

FAT is where it’s at. Last week, Fashion Art Toronto, the alternate to Toronto Fashion Week, staged their outré shows in assorted venues. I always attend Evan Biddell’s -- they never fail to wow me because his vision and production values. Not for nothing his show, dedicated to David Bowie and Iman, was voted one of the “Most Outrageous Looks” by Blog TO. 

But outrageousness only goes so far. His exquisite tailoring is the real deal.

Furthermore, the outrageousness was not limited to the runway. Everywhere you looked in the fashion crowd, the most interesting ensembles were inevitably worn by the boys.

One of Evan Biddell’s looks, which I call Holly Golightly does Elvira.

Ruth Promislow, a partner in the Bustle line, wearing a red-hot Biddell number, and Marlene Schiff, whose photo was on the Industry pass, flank Evan Biddell after the show. He is clutching a bottle of tequila, my ritualistic contribution to his after party.

Just browsing: Anyone can have purple hair. All it takes is a trip to Shopper’s Drug Mart cosmetics department. This woman has accessorized hers with arresting blinged-out brows.

Bustle partner Shawn Hewison shows off the highly-coveted Jilly’s T-shirt, designed in commemoration of the closing of the infamous strip club.

Quad Spin queen Micheline Wedderburn and I model the other must-have T-shirt, one with Evan Biddell’s shiny little face printed on it.

Just when I thought I’d escaped the ubiquitous selfie moment, there was this cool artwork calling my name.

GIMME SHELTERS

Photos from the Humane Society International/Canada exhibit at the Allen Lambert Galleria in the lobby of Brookfield Place (Bay and Wellington), which opened Monday night at a swank cocktailer hosted by Eric and Dana Margolis of the Eric S. Margolis Foundation. 

Heartwarming image of a rescued kitty, with rescuer, at the lobby art exhibit.

Sobering shot of a captive cat (subsequently rescued). The background of this photo was so disturbing they've blacked it out.

My favorite shot in the exhibit, taken by Ryan Emberly, who started out his camera career as my photo bitch in Ottawa covering Project Runway Canada.

This is Dakota, an incredibly sweet puppy who was rescued (along with hundreds of others) from a dog meat farm in South Korea. She was the guest of honor. Go rescue an animal, and/or give generously to the HSI.

Dana Margolis at the podium. She is such an ardent animal rights activist she has been known to drive all night to Quebec to rescue abused occupants of a horrendous puppy mill.

Me in my $20 Moschino dress (authentic, not knock-off), sourced at Salvation Army thrift shop in Oakville by my pal Micheline Wedderburn, the queen of thrifting.

SAKS AND THE CITY

I came late to checking out the new Saks Fifth Avenue shop at the corner of Queen and Yonge sharing real estate with Hudson’s Bay. In the entrance, it’s Saks on the left and Bay on the right, the only differentiation to the casual onlooker is the extremely affable doorman at Saks.
 

If only that welcoming vibe extended past the door inside Saks. It is so high-end, I counted two security guards giving prospective shoppers stink eye. There was a Valentino display and expensive bling and pricey candles and I don’t know what else because it was too intimidating to register. They need to rethink the first floor and make it more customer-friendly. It is scaring everyone away. I didn’t see any Saks shopping bags during my brief reconnaissance.

Saks got this display right. It is very Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

 

I wanted every pair of shoes in this Marni grouping. Love love love Marni. It is the anti-Valentino. If I see any more of Valentino’s ubiquitous studded rock-star shoes I will hurl. Okay, I get that they had a huge success with that line but give it a rest already. Everyone has knocked it off including Payless.

I pawed through the sales rack at Topshop and scored a fabbo pinstriped tunic (I am a sucker for pinstripes) marked down to $40 from $110. How could I lose? I lusted after this polka dot coat from their runway line priced at $450. Yes, Topshop has pricey items. I will wait till it is on sale.

This display in the window of a floral shop stopped me in my tracks because the gentleman in the photo reminded me of iconic socialite hairdresser Robert Gage, squirrelled away in his country home.

I should sue for copyright infringement over this graffiti’ed utility box outside the Eaton Centre. Lipstick prints are my signature salutations. 

CONSTANTINE COMPANIONS

Neither rain nor snow nor slush kept us from the 10^th anniversary party for the Canadian fashion label Greta Constantine, which shows in both Toronto and Paris, that’s how cool they are.

It was held at the regal Casa Loma, as befitting the stylish event’s “Royal Affair” theme, for which we were commanded to “dress royally.” Alas, our tiara was at the cleaners so we went bare headed.

Greta Constantine’s dashing duo Kirk Pickersgill (left) and Stephen Wong mug for the cameras with their muse, supermodel Coco Rocha.

Me, Rob Salem and stylist Wendy Natale arrive fashionably late on the red carpet after quaffing bubbles at Wendy’s chic flat.

A rear view of my Deco inspired shawl purchased in California – once a hippie, always a hippie.

Two of the impossibly tall and gorgeous models at the event dressed to thrill in Greta Constantine.

Three more leggy models who made us poor civilians feel like garden gnomes.

Nicholas Mellamphy, creative director/vice president of The Room at Hudson’s Bay, gives us the shoulder in his killer jacket.

Here I am taking my best Warhol study-in-blue selfie.

Pickersgill and Wong transformed the Casa Loma party space into a reproduction of their downtown Toronto studio complete with bolts of fabric, patterns and mannequins.

An up close and personal view of the detailing of the back of one of their fabulous frocks.

Fashion royalty: Her majesty Marlene Schiff (in full crowning glory) and the Beckerman Sisters give good face at Casa Loma.

HUME IS WHERE DEPART IS

Our old friend Christopher Hume retired from the Toronto Star this week after over three decades, first as art critic, then carving out his own beat as the must-read urban affairs and architecture columnist. He and I butted desks for years in the Entertainment department. We hoisted a few last night at the Dora Keough pub on the Danforth to send him off into his dotage. Cheers, Chris. Welcome to the afterlife.

Toronto Mayor John Tory with Chris Hume at Hume's retirement party from the Star. Hume dryly allowed that he looked forward to attending Tory's retirement party.

Do not adjust your set: Me and Star staffers Sue Pigg and Ashante Infantry in a holding pattern at the Hume fete.