Christian Louboutin Exhibit at the Design Exchange

Open all summer until September 15 is Christian Louboutin’s exhibition at the Design Exchange. We had the lovely pleasure of seeing the great man himself in the flesh, and take a nice tour of the exhibit. For all shoe lovers, and just overall fashion lovers, this is a must-see exhibit for you. The exhibit features more than 250 pairs of famous red soles displayed in nine thematic areas based on Louboutin’s influences. Toronto, the only Canadian destination, is the exhibit’s first stop outside of London’s Design Museum.

Just walking into the room, your eyes will begin to widen and your jaw will naturally begin to drop. The first thing your eyes will lay upon is the shoe carousel, with about 10 shoes sitting atop plush red pillows that hang and slowly spin around. Celebrating Louboutin’s twenty years of designs and inspiration, the impeccable large space will reveal the artistry and theatricality behind some of his shoe designs. It is a magical journey into the mind of Christian Louboutin himself, and his magnificently stunning creations. Inspiration from travel, entertainment, architecture and the showgirl are showcased throughout the venue. Every shoe will make you stop in awe as you slowly walk through the exhibit.

Style and glamour pump throughout the whole exhibit and will have you trying to contain yourself. Help Louboutin celebrate his amazing career that has pushed all the boundaries of high fashion shoe design to the extreme. If the exhibit is not enough, all summer the Design Exchange will be hosting talks by featured experts from all areas of the fashion industry to discuss Louboutin’s career and iconic creations. Be sure to check out the exhibit everyone is talking about around the world this summer, and it’s right in our very own neighbourhood!

Click through our gallery below to see some of Christian Louboutin Exhibition at the Design Exchange, and when he was here for the launch.

DX: The annual fundraiser is reborn

Tonight the Design Exchange museum will host the it party of the night. Debut of the re-branded event formerly known as the DX Black and White fundraising Gala, the event’s reveal is sure to impress DX lovers and newbies alike. Funds of the night’s reveries will be raised all for the cause of youth education programs and Canadian design preservation through the DX.

Each area in the former financial hub will feature an installation to tease, assault and awaken the senses. Several DJs from Embrace’s impressive roster will be spinning tunes throughout the night. From experiencing the sounds of Nial McClelland and Alex Durlak to secret rendezvous in a moonshine distillery overlooking King+Bay, the night will be filled with surprises, especially during the carnival styled raffle prizes. Those planning to party into the morning will be set with breakfast food from The Food Dudes.

Acclaimed artist and author Douglas Coupland will be the first to receive the DX’s Gamechanger award in honor of his recognized pieces in the Canadian and international design front.  Another highlight of the night is AUKTION presented by IKEA. Well known Canadian personalities, designers and artists were given a $500 budget at IKEA to select items to make their own creation out of pieces from the major furniture brand’s stores. Each design item will be sold in a silent auction tonight that you don’t want to miss!

Join Toronto Fashionista this weekend for a night to remember and get your tickets here: http://bit.ly/SgImR2

Limited VIP tickets are priced at $450 and Non-member individual tickets are $175 and the members rate is $150. VIP ticket holders receive the chance to meet Coupland and

National Ballet of Canada: Celebrating 60 Years of Designing the Ballet

Images courtesy of the Design Exchange

Follow along for the rest of the month during the Toronto Fashionista Ballet Series starting with our review below of the buzzed about pieces from the new exhibition that has Design Exchange visitors leaving in awe.

Guests were called to attention from mingling among the maze of 60 tutus on the former trading floor in the Design Exchange when Shauna Levy, president of the Dx stepped up the podium.  Soon to address the audience was costume designer and curator of the exhibit Caroline O’Brien. Filled with pieces that O’Brien and her team gathered and commissioned, the third floor above was the spectacle of the night. On display from the National Ballet archives were costume pieces from 2011’s acclaimed Romeo and Juliet and the annual classic The Nutcracker. Guests traveling between set pieces, original sketches, tutus and worn pointe shoes were given a peek behind the scenes of the labourus and intricate costume production processes.

The authentic pieces will excite any exhibition goer and ballet buff. Between July 11th-September 2nd you can see the exhibition that documents the humble mid-century beginnings of the National Ballet of Canada to the critically acclaimed masterpieces that graced the stage of the Four Seasons Centre and beyond.

Be sure to read our next installment of the Toronto Fashionista Ballet Series, a review of the buzzed about ballet documentary Jeoffrey: Mavericks of American Dance. As well, check back for our detailed post on our first look at the collection of 60 original tutus created by Canadian artists in celebration of 60 years of design!