Pride by Design Cabaret Gala & Fashion-Art Auction

Pride by Design, sponsored by HSBC Bank Canada, and held at the Shangri-La Hotel, was an evening of sheer fabulousness. We were treated to an amazing performance by Australian drag performer, Courtney Act. She got the audience moving to her renditions of Xanadu (Olivia Newton John hit) and Born this Way (Lady Gaga). And the fun was just beginning.

The event combined the talents of fashion students, who designed Pride inspired dresses and their muses, the talented cabaret performers.

The dresses were all auctioned off to raise funds for Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at University of Toronto, 519 Community Centre, the School of Fashion at Ryerson University, and School of Design at Fanshawe College. We fell in love with both the rainbow Pride dress and the Sydney Opera house inspired dress.

The other performers included Canada’s Christopher Petersen, who sang and did impersonations of Joan Rivers, Carol Channing and Eartha Kitt, Miss Conception, Devine Darlin and Bunny Lapin.

The always debonair, Glen Baxter hosted the event and other attendees included interior designer Hilary Farr ( co-host of Love it or List it), Toronto Fashion Week founder Robin Kay, and TFI’s Executive Director Susan Langdon.

Hors d’oeuvres included beef sliders, poutine, crispy chicken, roasted mushroom canapés and mini grilled cheese.

Signature cocktails for the evening included Jack Daniel’s Pink Punch, and Stoli Drag Kiss.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate World Pride.

Robin Kay & Hilary Farr

(photos by Tanya)

Pride by Design Cabaret Gala & Fashion-Art Auction