At a gala held last Thursday night at the
Malaparte TIFF Bell
Lightbox in Toronto,
guests travelled back in time to iconic eras in fashion, in an exhibit curated by Fashion
Television’s Jeanne Beker.
The exhibit, which was held to
release Absolut Vodka's new limited edition Absolut Mode, displayed style trends and looks from the last
eight decades in fashion. The women’s clothing exhibit included contributions from Beker and some of Canada’s
fashion elite.
Beker’s own contributions
of personal clothing and accessories included a vintage Chanel dress circa 1989 given to her by Karl
Lagerfeld, when the fashion journalist was pregnant with her daughter Joey.
“I think there is a
sentimentality that we attach to clothing that in some ways matters more than anything else. The few pieces
that I chose have stories behind them that really meant something to me,” Beker tells
Lifestyler.
Canadian style icons
including philanthropist and fashion enthusiast Suzanne Rogers, Don Cherry, Lisa Tant, Stacey Kimel, Krystyne
Griffin, Heather Gotlieb, Mary Symons, Bernadette Morra, and Lynda Latner of Vintage Couture, all provided
signature looks for the exhibit. Absolut Vodka also contributed to the event with fashion pieces that were
used in numerous international marketing campaigns, including a pair of Manolo Blahnik black patent leather
knee-high boots.
Rogers, who donated a
one-of-a-kind dress by designer Mary Katrantzou, explains why she chose that particular piece out of
her extraordinary
closet to feature in the exhibit.
“It’s a unique piece,
[Katrantzou] made four of them in the world. I had dinner with her in Paris so it was special for me to wear
it for her. She has become a friend of mine — a good fashion friend and I love wearing her designs,” Rogers
tells Lifestyler.
Joined by her “BFF” Glenn
Dixon (brother of designer David Dixon, who was also in attendance), he shared why Rogers is so admired in
the fashion world.
“There are very few people
that I know personally that understands, appreciates, and exemplifies what fashion is about. It’s not the
money you spend or the lack of money you spend. It’s about how you put together an outfit and how you own an
outfit. What I appreciate about Suzanne Rogers is that she owns the outfit and it’s not only a reflection of
not only her, but the designer and fashion in general,” he tells Lifestyler.
He adds, “The most
understated gowns have to be well constructed. It’s not necessarily all about the crazy or fantastic or over
the top. She’s a woman that can wear something like a simple sheath dress and make it look fantastic because
she’s a woman who owns her [style]. She’s confident and appreciates fashion.”
Rogers, whose favourite
designers include Alexander McQueen (whose white fur embroidered ball gown design she was wearing at the
event), David Dixon, Alia and Victoria Beckham, tells us what she looks for in anything she
wears.
“Originality; it has got
to really stand out. It has got to be something constructed with colours. It has to be something that suits
me when I wear it,” she says.
Although she loves her
high-end designers, Rogers says that there is something every woman can do to make the most out of their
clothes.
“Be confident in what you
wear. That will make you — Confidence. You can wear a paper bag but if you’re confident, you’ll be the star
in the room.”
The gala also included
fashion-themed oil paintings and illustrations from renowned Canadian illustrator Frederick Watson. Students
from Ryerson University’s School of Fashion were in attendance as they demonstrated some of their
illustration and fashion design work on new tablet devices from the Canadian innovations company Nytric
Limited.
Absolut Vodka also
provided four delicious cocktails at the event. If you missed out, not to worry, you can always try the recipes out for
yourself. •
Photos by Veronica
Boodhan
