Street Chic in Yorkville with Jeannie Lottie
Yorkville is a Canadian Fashion Hot Spot
Yorkville has upscale shopping, restaurants, and the first five star hotel in Canada. Upscale boutiques include Burberry, Prada, Gucci, MAC Cosmetics, Hugo Boss, Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Holt Renfrew, Tiffany & Co., Escada, Ermenegildo Zegna, Cartier, Harry Rosen, Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Vera Wang, Lacoste, Ferrari, Maserati, Williams-Sonoma, Bang and Olufsen, Betsey Johnson, Max Mara, Montblanc, Bulgari, Birks, Coach, Guerlain, Swarovski, and other upscale designer boutiques. The Holt Renfrew store on Bloor is the luxury retailer’s flagship and largest store with four floors and boutiques.
Jeannie’s Pink House was built after the turn of the century when Yorkville was called St Paul’s Ward. Just look at how the neighborhood has grown up over eleven decades, and matured in many other ways around this iconic fashion house.
In the 1960s, Yorkville flourished as Toronto’s bohemian cultural centre. It was the breeding ground for some of Canada’s most noted musical talents, including Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Gordon Lightfoot, as well as then-underground literary figures such as Margaret Atwood, Gwendolyn MacEwen and Dennis Lee.
It wont be long before this property and the one beside it are redeveloped into towering condominiums; the only thing that could prevent that from happening would be if Jeannie Lottie’s Pink House is declared a national treasure, and even then I bet it would be removed and added pink-brick by pink-brick to the facade of the new condo building.
Up in the tree house behind the Pink House, Jeannie Lottie was holding court and hobnobbing with some of the most influential and respected names in Toronto’s diverse fashion and entertainment scene. From noon to three pm there was music, wine and wonderful discussions happening at the rear of 32 Scollard.
Jeannie Lottie’s Friends Wear Her Fashions
So many stunning fashion pieces were on display, but one thing about Jeannie Lottie’s merchandise that always attracted me was her faux diamond ring key chain. This item sells for a few dollars only in the store, or used too (this one is vintage). You can see the photographer’s powder blue shirt and camera in the ‘gem’.
Here is one of Jeannie’s purses being worn to the party by another designer Monica Frangulea of Musesa com
Monica is world class architect that only dabbles in jewelry design. She should probably take it more seriously as her art is very beautiful.
Above is Monica’s bejeweled cuff bracelet and below is her matching ring, also a Musesa original.
Lastly this author must show Musesa’s Pride Week creation and contribution.
Below on the left is Lily Liao taking the name, number and web address of a popular fashion designer at the party. Behind her on the rail is Jeannie Lottie, and this is before it got too busy for such expansive poses.
Under the photographer’s feet are hundreds of complimentary Jeannie Lottie beach bags. Every guest that showed up with their paper confirmation could collect a complimentary signature Jeannie Lottie beach bag. It was all very organized. Participants were encouraged to visit the store first to collect a Love Canada invitation card, and the afterwards join the party on the tree house deck.
As usual Jeannie’s party was very friendly with lots of people from different backgrounds and some folks just dropping in to say hello and have a cocktail before heading back out to attend other celebrations all over town. Those of us who stayed and mingled enjoyed the complimentary wine and snacks, free makeup and anti-aging consultation by Arbonne and conversations with notable artists and fashion designers, Amy Sky, Camilla Scott and Jane Ip.
Here’s Jane Ip (Jeannie Lottie) with Lily discussing the future of Street Chic magazine and how they might help each other. Below is Jane’s younger sister serving wine to guests at the tree house party.
The cover photo shows the esprit d corp of fashion accessories and jewelry designers that formed by the trellis in the corner of the tree-house. Jeannie Lottie (Jane Ip) and Monica Frangulea in the back, Lily Liao from Street Chic joins other bloggers and stylists in the foreground. Everyone here was very chic.