In Photos: The inaugural Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA)

It was a night to give recognition and celebrate outstanding achievements in Canadian fashion last Saturday, February 1st, 2014 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. I was expecting a bit of a media frenzy and that’s quite what it was on the red carpet with cameras blazing and interviews all around. It wasn’t the worst I’ve seen so it was manageable. Everyone was fairly accessible particularly Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha who obliged photo ops and many other interruptions with grace.

Comedian Gerry Dee was the host for the awards show and top winners included Coco Rocha for Model of the Year and Dean and Dan Caten, the famously stylish design duo winning Outstanding Achievement.

Coco Rocha wearing D Squared with Dan and Dean Caten of D Squared

Sarah Stevenson is making a name for herself winning honours upon honours with her TFI New Labels win last May and now awarded by CAFA with the Emerging Talent Award ($10,000 cash prize). Congrats, Sarah!

Here’s the full list of winners for the inaugural 2014 Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards:
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Jeremy Laing
Menswear Designer of The Year: Travis Taddeo
Outstanding Achievement: Dean & Dan Caten (DSQUARED2)
Accessory Designer of The Year: Dexter & Byron Peart (WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie)
Canadian Style Award: Joe Mimran (Joe Fresh)
Image Maker of the Year: Chris Nicholls
International Designer of the Year: Dean & Dan Caten (DSQUARED2)
Stylist of the Year: George Antonopolous
Model of the Year: Coco Rocha
Emerging Talent Award: Sarah Stevenson

r: Shawn Hewson (Bustle Clothing)

Elisha Cuthbert wearing an Atelier Swarovski necklace

D Squared

Chloe Rogers wearing Mary Katrantzou

THE AFTER PARTY

Dancing at the CAFA after party

The after party was packed with fashion enthusiasts with all 4 sides of a busy bar and eats running late into the night with the DJ pumping the tunes. Sephora gave out a variety of custom lipsticks and had touch-up booths.

My highlights included seeing some familiar friends Stacey McKenzie, Elena Semikina, Ken Taylor, and Veronica Chail and so many others. I remarked that Jay Strut’s pose for my photo was scandalous and he casually replies “tell me something I don’t know“.

Shout outs to my friends, Brittney Kuczynski, Vicky Milner, and Jennifer Bassett and many more who worked hard behind the scenes to bring CAFA to fruition. All the best success with bringing continued recognition for the fashionably talented in Canada!

Here are my photos from the red carpet reception and CAFA after party.