On Saturday November 1, 2008 the Metro Toronto Convention Centre was filled with fashionistas, television news crews, colourful characters and high powered entertainment stars, including Actress Lauren Holly, celebrating the event that is the 22nd Annual Fashion Cares. We joined the night as guests of the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT www.actoronto.org)and Fashion Cares to take in the red carpet arrivals, the cocktail party and silent auction and finally to watch the runway spectacle based on select Alfred Hitchcock movies and we loved it all.
Opening comments from Honorary Chair Jeanne Beker and Chair Michael King were followed by the celebrity hosts - Canada's own David Furnish and International Supermodel Yasmin Warsame. David Furnish being an honoured film director and producer, a champion of HIV/AIDS fundraising and awareness and the partner of Iconic pop culture artist Elton John.
Fritz Helder and the Phantoms, faces bejewelled into apparitions of skulls opened the show and hosted the costume competition. Ten individual or couples wearing fantastic outfits picked out from the crowd and were brought on stage to walk the runway in a fight for best costume - my choice was Mr Peanut.
The two hour show passed in a flash and we wanted more! The exotic haute couture fashions were great but came in only three flavours; white, black and red, and were difficult to see from distant vantage points while the National Ballet of Canada was a fantastic additon to the show. It would have been nice to have a brochure showing the over 40 designers involved in the show with photos of their beautiful creations, instead the designers were invisible to the audience. The entertaining mini-dramas based on the Hitchcock movies helped to support the night's theme in the clothes and the set design.
In between fashion we were treated to music by Kreesha Turner who performed one song (I was sad she didn't do "Don't call me baby"), Katy Perry who blew the audience away with her energy and songs "I kissed a girl" and "Hot and Cold" and the crowd's sentimental favourite - Dame Shirley Bassey (of the multiple James Bond movie theme songs) whose powerful voice has not faded through the years.
Kreesha Turner is the first singer.
Katy Perry sings her hit songs.
Dame Shirley Bassey wows the crowd.Fashion Cares, back from the cobbled and confining streets of the historic Distillery District during PEEP Show of 2007, was a little unorganized at the beginning but quickly found it's feet before the strutting on the catwalk. It is also important to remember that this is a fundraiser, the largest for the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), and the support of the community is what makes this event so exceptional. Many of the attendees showed that support by dressing up and getting into the spirit of the evening - see and be seen. I did not attend the after party but I am sure it was a little more risque and hopefully as much fun as Fashion Cares presents: Fashion sCares.
MORE OF THE RED CARPET
The media area was full of about 40 to 50 television camera operators, on-air talent and photographers and assistants and we scramble to get good shots of the celebrities as they walk the red carpet. I must admit I always like to see Fashion TV's beautiful, friendly and multi-talented Jeanne Beker who also has a long association with Fashion Cares.
David Furnish, part of the Elton John Aids Foundation.
Dame Shirley Bassey and Celebrity Host David Furnish on the red carpet.
Honarary Chair Jeanne Beker.
Fashion Cares Chair Michael King in the calm before the red carpet event.
Michael King joins singer Katy Perry.
R&B singer Kreesha Turner being interviewed by Much Music.
International supermodel and event co-host Yasmin Warsame.
Actress Lauren Holly came by to support the event. 
City TV reporter Larysa Harapyn got some fantastic interviews and looked great at the same time.
The media was packed along the red carpet - we take a few steps back from the front lines to show the crowds around Fashion Cares Artist Director Phillip Ing and singing Artist Kreesha Turner.
Looking on the media line in front of the red carpet with your photographer, James Hamilton.
Getting interviewed for ET Canada.
Enza Supermodel at the red carpet.
Guests pause for pictures showing off eleaborate makeup.
Fashion Cares urban space Designer Manny Machado (right) gets some marketing help courtesy of a friend.
Some members of Fritz Helder and the Phantoms before they open the Fashion Cares show.COCKTAIL RECEPTION
After the red carpet we enter Hall F of the south Metro Convention Centre building where the cocktail reception area/lounge and the silent auction are held. We have a great time watching and photographing the many incredible costumes while enjoying a few of those great cocktails.
