What a 9:00 AM shoot feels like

Lady and the... Tramp?

Dawning an eye popping flower printed bowtie, it's the next best alternative to the real Derek.

One evening with Derek Blasberg in a week is brag worthy (even if that is a little sassy). Two days in a week is socialite status. Three days? No need to worry- he and his army of fashionable (and pretty to boot!) young things left this morning on a flight back to New York City.

For our second evening with the culture maven himself, we had the opportunity to meet his friend Lyle (who models in the book as an illustration for ladies to distinguish gays from goths from good boys), and the ever glamourous Byrdie Bell, Classy's covergirl (who also in parts demonstrates that wearing lace up leather chaps is trampy (there's a girl in the suburbs crying right now over her latest purchase)).

The Toronto crowd could not get enough of Blasberg, with crowds gathering around the writer extraordinaire and most recent inductee to the New York Times bestseller list. Amidst the chit chat about whether he sleeps naked, a trampy question, or how he copes with being frequently beset by the press, a classy question (which also happened to be my own), Derek was kind enough to generously sign copies of his book while waiters served buttons boasting 'I've read CLASSY and I'm CLASSY' (though the 'daring' guests opted for a button reading the opposite).


None of the Greta Constantine team picked up this pin...

With Stephen and Amanda each leaving with messages referring to them as 'the classiest girls' in the world (which may now be possible considering that Miss USA is contending with a pole scandal), and Kirk being told to 'stay classy if you can', and Paul notified that he spends most of his time on his knees, there was a perfect combination of class and sass all evening long.

Because let's face it- although being classy requires one to be a lady, it doesn't hurt to have a little pinch of tramp.


Stacey in Stella- elegant, playful, and feminine. Not to mention classy.

IN THE STUDIO TODAY

Everyone deciding whether to be CLASSY or TRASHY for tonight's event for Derek Blasberg at The Room.

Kirk: received a pair of UGG shoes today. Shelving them till fall, kind of warm outside to wear them now...

Paul: kicked start the day with a fiber boost from Booster Juice. That's his excuse!

Krystal Koo came by the studio to try on an outfit for next weeks party at the King Edward Hotel, 60's theme party!!

Amanda: decided not to have a personal wardrobe since she's surrounded by such amazing clothes in the studio!

Stephen: questions Jesse questions

Jesse: continues to ask questions

Mrs. Rogers and Derek Blasberg show us how to be a lady and not a tramp.

Case: You enter a party of roughly 15 attendees. The invitation says: "business casual". The host is a vegan. You, however are an avid meat eater. When you enter, who do you say hi to first? What do you wear (is leather out of the question even if it's 'in'?) What about the menu?

This is where Derek Blasberg comes in. As a contributor to international fashion and culture publications including Interview, style.com, and Harper's Bazaar, he's attended quite a few events. He's dined with some of the design industry's greatest innovators, celebrities, and critics. So the boy who grew up loving vintage in Missouri has a lot more credentials than you would otherwise imagine.

For the Canadian launch of his book, Suzanne Rogers (in a gingham Christopher Kane number no less!), held a party for the author at the Spoke Club. It was chic, refined, and opulent. And to make the event that much sweeter Derek was such a down to earth, enthusiastic gentleman. The cherry on the cake? Liz Cabral's gorgeous Lanvin's. They were like a little piece of the red carpet at Cannes here at home.


Classy? No doubt about it.

O and, as we learned from Derek, you always greet the host first.

Anatomy of a Sunday Photo Shoot

The make up table with the necessary starbucks cup. Imagining if it fell is how most make up artist's nightmare dream sequences begin.


While most we're either out to brunch with family (some hungover, others not), attending church, or enjoying the beautiful weather outside, the Greta Constantine team was preparing for a F/W 2010 website revamping.

With the aid of a top model, even Tyra would agree, a phenomenal photographer (it always helps to have talented friends), and a loyal team (from staff, to make up and hair), the shoot itself took less than 3 hours. Between outfit changes, the examining of Gabor's Elle Italia double issue from 2 years ago, and dropping plexi glass on our set (the clean up was quick and slightly painful), there was always something happening.

No such thing as 'taking a break' in fashion.



The set. Using shards of plexiglass to enhance the frame is otherwise not recommended.

ONES TO WATCH!!

JOSH @ Elmer Olsen models
JUSTIN @ Elmer Olsen models

IN THE STUDIO TODAY

Amanda finally finds a new apartment... Big shout out to her gorgeous b/f Paolo in ARENA HOMME + (so proud of him!! also an original EZRA CONSTANTINE man)

Jesse tells us some news, whats a second family for?

Kirk had a hot tempered moment (seemed like hours!!)

Scheduling photo shoots can be stressful but the end result is always TOP!!

Shooting with Gabor Jurina, Melissa Gibson (makeup), Adrian Carew (hair) and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (model, you have to wait and see!!)

The Brazilian Ball

This past weekend The Brazilian Ball took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, benefitting the Toronto East General Hospital. For the evening, between the spectacle of costumes, sparkling body painted outfits, and an Avatar (or two!) it may have been easy to get lost in it all. Cue in CP24's Melissa Grelo, who did the opposite, by holding her own in a Greta Constantine number. Dressed in a red, knotted dress stunner, Melissa simply dazzled. Elegant and refined, yet still bold and fun, Melissa embodied the characteristics of a Greta girl.

THE STAR MAY 13 2010

'And the designer label that got an A-plus for sheer ubiquity was Greta Constantine. Almost everyone at one table at dinner was dressed in this hotshot local label known for jersey gowns.'
- Derick Chetty

IN THE STUDIO TODAY

Booked a SUPERMODEL for a shoot.

Paul is back from Jamaica and peeling all over the studio. Pieces of him left on Kirk's desk.

Dresses came back from Nashville. Guess who was trying them on?

Stephen makes a schedule for the design office and strips the floor.

Jesse, Jesse "you're pretty"!

The girls cut dresses after dresses.

Kirk has pea coats, models, makeup & hair all on his mind...

MMVA's are coming to town, June 20th!

We are in THE STAR today, thanks Derick!!

THE INNOVATOR'S BALL

On Thursday May 6th we had the pleasure of being invited to the Science Center for the 4th annual LG Innovator's Ball. The theme was 'Midnight Spell - An Evening of Magic and Enchantment'.
We had a wonderful time! The food, the drinks, the beautiful people!! And it didn't hurt to see an abundance of fabulous ladies wearing Greta Constantine!! We were so proud and excited to see our clothes off the runway and on the bodies of some of Toronto's elite women. Next year Ezra!!
Below are some beauties from the Ball (more pictures to come)!
Ashleigh Dempster & Amanda Blakely
Toufik Sarwa & Yasmin Warsame
Moira Wright
Ciara Hunt

GLEN BAXTER'S PHOTO EXHIBITION

Kirk has an iPhone

"... and this is a disasta!"

Quote of the Day

Who said:

- "I am fluent in Mandarin."
- "No you're not."
- "I learned when I was in Mandarine... uh I mean Mandarinia."

Nelly Furtado Shines at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Nelly, one of our most loyal supporters, wears Greta Constantine on the red carpet at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. With her bold chartreuse yellow number, she dazzles on the red carpet with her effortless sense of style.


Nelly Furtado wears the Gilda dress.

BACKSTAGE

INSPIRATION

THE LUX

AKA our mascot