So I have been out and about in the spring drizzle doing
nothing as fabulous as meeting Iris Apfel, but that is like seeing a unicorn
twice. But meeting Fogo Island Inn founder Zita Cobb didn’t suck either -- two
landmark women within several weeks! It is to plotz.
For the uninitiated, Fogo
is the largest of the offshore islands in Newfoundland/Labrador and the trendiest/hottest
travel destination. "Fogo Island is a salty Narnia," says Zita.
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Me and the aforementioned Fogo Island Inn
founder, social entrepreneur Zita Cobb at the Holt Renfrew reception on April
12 for their Fogo Island pop-up shop featuring such artisan goodies as hand-made
quilts. Fogo Island is home to 2,400 people in 11 communities. Cobb grew up
poor on Fogo but is making up for it. Her inn has a two-night minimum with
rates starting at $1,545 Canadian with a three-night minimum in July and
August. Too rich for my blood but there are B&Bs on the island.
Bumped into Hans Gerhardt,
genial former GM of Sutton Place Hotel (or the “Slutton” as we used to call it)
and his gracious wife Helga at the party. Ahhh. We have such fond memories of
the Slutton’s Loni Anderson/Burt Reynolds memorial suite and hearing Shelley
Winters anecdotes from the hotel’s legendary butler Werner Jankowski, which got
more colourful depending on the amount of champagne he consumed.
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Yummy grilled octopus from Buster’s Sea Cove
eatery at the seafood end of the St. Lawrence Market. We braved the cluster
fuck on the day before Easter to get turkey parts and scarf down this dish,
best octopus I’ve had since Greece. |
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When I went to university I hung out at pubs
sipping flat draft beer (I hated beer and drank it through a straw fashioned
from a piece of red licorice – I know, so wrong for so many reasons) in jeans
and a shapeless T-shirt. So I was taken aback so to speak to spot this coed at
the Duke pub on Prince Arthur in her backless black top. Kudos to her; I never
could pull that look off. |
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Me at the Winners location at Bathurst and
Lawrence, one of the best sources for Runway items. I am auditioning a
Christian Dior black swing coat reduced from whatever to about $1,300 which is
still undoable. A fellow shopper agreed. “Winners has to get over themselves
charging that much.” |
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A close-up of the coat, which didn’t fit me
but will be a good fit for someone in the Forest Hills neighbourhood. At least
I had a Christian Dior on my back. |
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If my fellow shopper was outraged over the
price tag on the Dior, she had a meltdown when I showed her this Etro man’s
white cotton shirt with embellishment. It was marked at $399.99 “comparable at
$680.00.” Seriously? Charging $700 for a white shirt with froufrou at the neck?
It must be palatable in a parallel universe. In some galaxy Gene Roddenberry is
smiling. |
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Me and fabbo femme around town Val Dooley celebrating
her “fossil” birthday party on Sunday at Dora Keogh Pub on the Danforth. Val
has undergone tons of iterations from restaurateur to realtor. I have known her
since she had the fashion line Toots way back in the ‘80s when we were zygotes.
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Me, writer Rosie Levine and photographer/image
consultant Yanka Van der Kolk doing peace work at Val’s party. |
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Who doesn’t love a bargain? As I have always
said, full price is for amateurs. So I was chuffed to get this perky pair of
fuzzy slides almost free.
They are knockoffs of the hot ones from Prada which retail
for about $450 a foot. Not gonna happen. So I checked the Nordstrom website and found reasonable
facsimiles from knock-off czar Steve Madden going for a palatable $40 but they
were sold out in the bold colour combo. Oh well. Then during a drive-by at the Winners Dundas Square
location, I spotted these beauties that were knock-offs of Steve Madden by the
Qupid label priced at $20. Gotta love it. Sold!!!!
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I really didn’t need another hat; I’d have to
be a multiple-headed hydra to wear all the ones I already have. But I sauntered
into the BCBGMAXAZRIA shop on Bloor
Street because they were advertising a closing sale with up to 80-percent
reductions.
How can a girl resist that siren song? I scored this 100-percent
wool topper in an intoxicating moss green regularly priced at $110, reduced 50
percent then take off another 30 percent. Hello? I am so there.
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I love your flair Rita, and you certainly added that 'je ne sais quo' at the Fossil Birthday Bash - you fashionista You! Thank you for referencing it in your Absolutely Fabulous blog! Val
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