Designed to enthrall
Christian Siriano’s book launch and the opening of Bisha were the places to be
Oh what fun we had with noted designer Christian Siriano, when he was in town to launch his book, Dresses to Dream About. Hostess extraordinaire Sylvia Mantella invited a gaggle of fashionable friends, all of whom arrived ready to strike a pose. The intimate gathering included model Coco Rocha, actress Selma Blair and king of vintage, Cameron Silver, the founder of Decades, a treasure trove in its own right.
Dresses to Dream About is a coffee table tome that details the creative journey of Siriano’s designs, starting from an original sketch and ending with a dreamy gown. Photography of Siriano at work in his Manhattan studio and narration by the designer himself track
the design process, and give a behind- the- scenes look at the work of one of America’s leading young fashion stars.
“I’m extremely proud of my dear friend Christian and this gorgeous book.” enthused Mantella. I love that it not only showcases such beautiful gowns but also his creative range. In an industry where one can easily become lost in a world of hype, Christian is completely genuine and authentic.” While Toronto temperatures were dipping into the negative doubledigits, an impressive crowd was warming up inside new hotspot Bisha. The much-anticipated opening of the sexy new hotel, located smackdab in the centre of the city’s entertainment district, did not disappoint.
Guests were invited to walk the entire hotel and catch a sneak peek at the Mister C lobby bar, Chef Akira Back’s first Canadian namesake restaurant Akira Back, pastry café French Made and rooftop oasis restaurant KOST. The tour also included the Studio Munge designed fourth floor and the exclusive seventh floor, as envisioned by Lenny Kravitz.
“Bisha is an entirely new standard among the boutique hotel landscape and a passion project of mine I could not be more proud of,” says Charles Khabouth, CEO, INK Entertainment. “Seeing Bisha come to life the way it did was truly inspiring. We set out to redefine luxury and lifestyle boutique hotel brands and I believe that we have.”
The hotel was named for Khabouth’s childhood nickname.