Fifty Shades of Pink at the White Cashmere show

Last week I hit the recently renovated Arcadian Court for a rather unusual lunchtime event, the 9th annual White Cashmere Couture for the Cure show. The event pairs designers up with the task of creating fabulousness out of seemingly endless reams of pink and white bathroom tissue. 

The White Cashmere Collection 2012 stars 15 top Canadian designers who crafted runway gowns and accessories 100% pure, soft and luxurious Cashmere Bathroom Tissue. This year one of my clients, MMCrystal, took part, bringing her Swarovski crystal-magic to a few BT accessories. After snacking on pink popcorn in the lobby, we settled into seats laden with pink gift bags. The show opened with a some candy-colored floss acrobatics. Check out the full Cashmere photo stream here.

MMCrystal boa & Rod Philpott dress

Even the shoes were bathroom tissued!

Michelle Merizzi of MMCrystal with Rod Philpott of Rodney Philpott Designs

The runway show is just one part of the fundraiser in support of The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  Check out photos of the Cashmere BT Couture collection at Facebook.com/Cashmere and vote for your favorite design. Cashmere will donate $1 to The Foundation for every vote, up to $10,000, in the winning designer’s name. Plus, voters will be entered in a draw to win one of four $2,500 shopping sprees. Voting is open from September 19 through November 19, 2012.

Giles & George C raise money for The Princess Margaret

Earlier this month I was fortunate to work on a new fashion fundraiser, Lunch with Margaret and George, to raise money for The Princess Margaret's Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre. The brainchild of Toronto boutique George C owners, George and Lisa Corbo, it featured a runway presentation of Giles Deacon's spring 2012 collection. Guests were treated to a champagne lunch at Scarpetta in the Thompson Hotel followed by an old-school atelier show and a live silent auction.

Giles Deacon could be your new best friend. (Wait, please mine.) It's impossible not to like him when he's so easy going and nice. And getting to see his work up close and on models was a treat - feather headdresses don't come around Toronto too often! The event raised $200,000 for the Princess Margaret. There is already buzz about who will be featured next year, but I'll bet they are on the racks at George C. I just hope they are as nice as Giles.

Giles Deacon

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Girls modeled the silent auction items live

Check out more photos on the George C and Princess Margaret Facebook pages.

Need that? Shop for the Cause

Local design shop Nathalie-Roze leaped into action this week to plan Shop for the Cause, a fundraiser for Haiti. Three locations around the city are accepting donations of gently used items to compile with new/used donations for (what may be) the biggest and oddest sale of the season.

We're expecting some great surprises, since charitable efforts like this often bring out the best from people's closets. If you're planning to shop Saturday, arrive early! And spend like your mama is making you...it's the least we can do.

Details on the FB event page - http://bit.ly/4Sax9B

Please note! Only Nathalie-Roze is accepting donations on Friday. Locations include:

Nathalie-Roze & Co.
1015 Queen St. East (Leslieville)
416-792-1699
www.nathalie-roze.com
Accepting donations Tues. thru Friday, 11- 7
*Open until 8:30pm on Thursday night (Jan 21st)!!*

Peach Berserk
507 Queen St. West (near Spadina)
(416) 504-1711
www.peachberserk.com
*Accepting donation Monday thru Thursday, 10-7

Lilliput Hats
462 College Street (just West of Bathurst)
(416) 536-5933
www.lilliputhats.com
*Accepting donations Monday thru Thursday, 10-6