CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS

It has been getting to look a lot like Christmas ever since Halloween. Now get a grip; that is total overkill. Having said that, I confess to dipping my twinkle toes into the early festivities.  Anything with an open bar and I am there.

Oyster bar, beauty boutique, prosecco flowing – and hello, sailor. On November 23^rd, OverCat Communications hosted Shoppers Drug Mart’s beauty boutique holiday party at Malaparte on the sixth floor of TIFF Bell Lightbox. Here I am with OverCat president Audrey Hyams Romoff, one of my all-time fave p.r. mavens.

Romoff is traditionally the chicest chick in the room, and that night was no exception. I lusted after her velvet booties, which she scored at Topshop. Alas, I don’t have a Topshop foot. It’s the reverse little-red-riding-hood curse: too big or too small but never just right.

  

Here are two young glam gals at the beauty party just to make you feel bad about yourself.

The folks at Michael Kors previewed some of their spring 2017 line – and we haven’t even got through winter 2016! Michael Kors makes the best straw totes around and I love these platforms which work if you don’t go anywhere near a spring shower.

A pair of vertiginous floral Mary Janes that are so sweet and serviceable as long as you have an Uber hovering. My back hurts just to look at them.

These bejeweled skinny jeans are way off the cool meter but are not available in Canada. Just as well. How would you launder them anyway?

I was circling this Dries Van Noten sleeveless feather duster coat at Holt Renfrew. It went on half price but I still couldn’t justify buying it. It is such a knock-out show piece that you wear it once and everyone remembers it; wear it twice and the feathers trail behind.

Rob Salem at broadcaster turned entrepreneur Gene Valaitis’s 60^th birthday party at the Spoke Club on November 18^th.

Gene and me at the party, which included happy gang members like Jesse Dylan, Gene’s fellow Morning Zoo keeper starting way back in 1987 on Q107; Lorraine Segato, Gene’s sister in law; Kid Rock; Geoffrey Dawe and Wendy Muller; John Gallagher; Rosie and Michael Levine; and Joanne Smale.

No, it’s not me but a resident at Labdara Lithuanian Nursing Home putting up her feet near the Christmas tree. Give me 20 years and it’s me in fuzzy slippers.

Some members of our unofficial whine club doing a photo op at the Distillery. The gaggle includes gal-around-town/real estate person Val Dooley; journo Rosie Levine; photographer Biserka Livaja; and irrepressible BamBoo-who Patti Habib.

You know it’s a great bash when the shoes come off. These belong to Sheila McCarthy and they were resting comfortably last Saturday in the kitchen of party hosts nonpareil Colin Mochrie and Deb McGrath.

LIP SERVICE

My bad. I have been out of town visiting pals in the hinterlands and have not updated the blog for weeks.
But there will be shoes.

My tireless foot soldier Tom Sandler has been snap happy, shooting the party folk in their finery.

 

SHOE DEPARTMENT

 

Going for the golden glitter at the Literary Review Gala at 1 King West.

Put on these dancing shoes and dream in technicolour.

A black magic woman right down to her pedicure.

Silver platforms are made for an event like the Imagine Gala at the Westin Harbour Castle in support of the Pinball Clemons Foundation.

More Pinball wizardry: sexy suede stilettos.

Leapin’ lizards in pointy-toed blue.

These black-and-white crocodile cuties rock!

Leopard has always been the new black.

A lip-print installation by Canadian photographer/artist David Drebin, who debuted his revolutionary photo sculptures at Art Toronto in October.

This pet portrait spotted at Winners is not remotely revolutionary but it is so cute. Though distinctly royal, it is not a corgi.

The All Saints coat that got away. Loved, loved, loved it but it retails for about $600, and it was either buy that or pay my water bill.

Jewelry designer Rita Tesolin, the coolest woman at FashionCan Runway Shows & Yorkdale Expansion Preview. She is wearing her own bijoux and a rockin’ coat by Simon Chang.

A creepy hologram of either Slash or Alice Cooper in the men’s lounge area of Nordstrom’s at Yorkdale.

A zebra ponytailed pair of Gucci pumps at Nordstrom’s, celebrated for their shoe section.

How can you miss with this fun fur? It goes with everything. And nothing.

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSIE

I am suffering train lag. Last Sunday we hit the rails to Stratford to visit pals actor Graham Greene (a recent Order of Canada recipient) and his charismatic wife/muse Hilary. There was no theatre involved except for the theatrics of wining and dining and walking and shopping and more wining. The day after we returned, we high-tailed it to the Sky Yard patio lounge at the Drake Hotel for the “Peace” installation by journalist Rosie Levine, Now magazine’s iconic chronicler of T.O.’s nighttime scene for decades.  Her stamina was legendary. 

And tireless Tom Sandler has been busy photographing bold face from the feet up. Here are more examples of his foot-where.

Tom Sandler shot these Tin-Man shoes at a pal’s 85^th birthday party.

Which do I like more? These cool lace-ups or the pedicure?

Additional Sandler footage: Just when I thought I was so over the ubiquitous Valentino rockstud shoes, I am seduced by these in leopard.

And who can resist neon polka dot socks with brogues?

Studded suede, block heels and red toes? You got it all going on, hot mamma.

Marquee outside the Drake Hotel for Rosie Levine’s show of photos of famous folk from Gordon Lightfoot to Mick Jagger flashing the peace sign. Appropriately she staged it on the International Day of Peace.

Uncharacteristically Rosie Levine is not flashing the peace sign, probably because she is otherwise occupied gripping a glass of champers.

Partygoer Coco all decked out in her peace paraphernalia.

CP24 Breakfast TV host Steve Anthony, moi and party promoter Kid Rock (a.k.a Keith Corren) let our fingers do the talking.

All-knowing Oprah rules in the lobby of art dealer Sandra Ainsley’s Annex loft.

Is it just me or does the dude on the menu cover of Pan resto on the Danforth look like Jeff Bridges with Medusa curls and unruly facial hair?

Graham, Hilary Greene and Rob Salem prepare to dig into pre-dinner cocktails and snacks on the patio of the Greene’s stunning Stratford home. It is so sprawling, we could have squatted there and they wouldn’t have noticed.

Horse graffiti on a Stratford side street en route to picking up lunch at York Street Kitchen.  Screw the diet. Their sandwiches are beyond amazing.

Security at the Dollar Store. The pup looks menacing but he is Mr. Softie.

A herd of elephant pants congregated at a Global March for Elephants and Rhinos event to commemorate World Elephant Day.

And yes, they come in blue.

SHOE BIZ

Veteran celebrity and social photographer Tom Sandler has snapped everyone fron the Royals to Nick Nolte. During TIFF, he's gone from crowned heads to festival feet. Here are some of the samplings of red-carpet footwear:

Sarah Beard ties one on.

A little bit retro, and a little bit rock 'n roll.

The good guys wear white hats and white boots (even though it's after Labour Day).

These stilettos weren't made for walking, but maybe for tripping the light fantastic.

These beauties reference two top trends: block heel and gladiator.

Anne Heche and Sandra Oh duet on the red carpet. Not necessarily in that order.

Jennifer Connolly is always fashion forward, this time in a pair of killer combats.