BONDING IN STYLE AT HOLT RENFREW
Sometimes, noties, at the height of the spring social season, when the black-tie gala/ball cup runneth over, it’s important (or rather, socially savvy) to mix things up a bit and enjoy an equally gratifying but different kind of benefit experience where good noshing meets good schmoozing meets good music meets good vibes meets ... good shoes!
No, that last one wasn’t a typo or wishful thinking. I meant shoes. In fact, there was an entire wardrobe of a good time to explore and enjoy at this recent benefit eve, because the backdrop was the whole of event partner Holt Renfrew, where patrons were able to buy to their heart’s content for a blissful three hours of private shopping, while lending invaluable support to the cause via tickets and a percentage of sales.
Perktastic: As hinted above, the hundreds of sartorially keen supporters on scene were also treated to a host of creative amusements, pampery pamperings and scrumptious spoils, including a pair of themed flash fashion shows ingeniously presented up and down store escalators; a live painting corner; continuous pulsating beats courtesy of famed DJ/entrepreneur Thomas H.; myriad primp and beauty stations (even complimentary barber services and vintage shoeshining for the gents); and a pack of perfect food and bev stops on each floor generously supplied by Soubois, Le Pois Penché, Olive Orange, Buonanotte, Shuck Me, Cacao 70, Emily Chin Cakes, Rachelle-Béry, Jack Daniel’s, Grey Goose, Last Call Bars & Events, and École des métiers de la restauration et du tourisme de Montréal.
Crowdtastic: Clearly, bored we were not — smitten kittens was more like it. Just ask the contented likes of Mademoiselle Jules’s Julie Etienne, enjoying a gals’ night out with pal, Rouge Nail Bar’s Jenny Benattar; Carbonleo exec extraordinaire Murielle Zagury; super singers Carmen and Jonas; the suave squad starring Camillo Cravetto, Louis Scubert and Pierre-Luc Lapare; Papermans à la Joseph, son Evan, and son Bram with love, Jess Lutfy; Mixte Magazine’s Alexie-Émilie Gauthier; Nouveau Noir’s Dania Lecomples hanging with pals Zelata Kogan and Messica Berri; model Michelle McHugh and pal Robbie Mariani; bevy of beauties Julie Goldsman, Geneviève Guertain and Ottawa’s Mimi Surada; developer Rico Berloni with GF, Love Your Linens’ Alex Kertzer; Holt’s social media maestro Carrie MacPherson; and new addition to the Holts team, Rachel Ladouceur.
Whytastic: So you’re now privy to almost all of the details surrounding this dazzler, but are still in the dark re: the name and cause behind it, which were both impressive and noble. Time for the big reveal: the name of the refreshing spring benefit was the second annual Let’s Bond x Holt Renfrew Spring Event “En Vogue avec Holt,” powered by Holt Renfrew and Audi Popular and presented by RBC, and the beneficiaries were Fondation Jeunes en Tête and the Douglas Foundation.
As for Let’s Bond, it’s an amazing collective with a conscience, founded by a group of extraordinary young professional Montrealers who saw a need to make a difference for those suffering from mental illness, by raising awareness and acceptance, organizing engaging events like this one and providing financial support via funds raised to leading foundations working in the field, like the aforementioned pair.
Congrats, and then some, to the dream team that brought the night to beautiful life, including president Chris Harden, JeanPhilippe Shoiry, Anna-Isabelle Morency-Botello, Lelia Naima Vincent, Brendan Baxter, Catherine Bureau-Lavallée, Samuel Alain, Natalie Nadaira, PierreLuc Du Sault, Isabelle Richard, Anne-Catherine Shoiry, Vincent Lebrun-Fortin and Ashley Rosenberger.