Much Love Monday : Dare to Wear Love

Keeping with the guidelines to post a picture that includes a heart in it, and a discussion on something you love, this week my ‘Much Love Monday’ post features this heart photograph. I’m honoured to be able to put this picture into context for you.

I’ve mentioned that we were at the closing gala night for Toronto Fashion Week on Friday, however with this post I’d like to talk more about what it was about. For the past three years, an important event for our fashion week has been the ‘Dare to Wear Love’ event. This is organized by Hoax Couture designers, Chris Tyrell and Jim Searle, and benefits The Steven Lewis Foundation whose goal is, “turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa by providing care and support to women, orphans, grandmothers and people living with HIV and AIDS. Since 2003, we have funded over 700 initiatives, partnering with 300 community-based organizations in the 15 African countries hardest hit by the pandemic.”

The reason we were invited, aside from believing in this very good cause, was that Nick developed their website at Daretowearlove.com

These photos were taken at the reception party before the runway show, during which guests were treated to tasty hors d’oeuvres and nice drinks.

Following this we all entered an adjoining room to enjoy the fashion show. The clothing featured in the show was designed by a number of different Canadian designers, and each outfit was based on the inclusion of 3 yards of an African printed cotton. It was so interesting to see how each of the designers incorporated their colourful cotton, and particularly unique about this runway show was that the models were not all models. There were some experienced runway walkers in the show, however there were also many local celebrities invited to walk too, including Canada’s fashion queen, Jeanne Beker.

I took some shots of the fashion show too, which I will put up in a separate post, so as not to overload you with pictures now.

For the love story portion of my post … obviously I love being involved in Dare to Wear Love, however there was more to love in association to this fun night. While at the reception we were invited to buy a raffle ticket, one of the exciting prizes being a ‘Date Night Package’. This included a long list of things for a couple to do on date night, including tickets to various theatre shows and hotel stays. And I guess I wouldn’t be telling you all about this if we hadn’t won … We did win it! Our first outing will be this Thursday night, when we go see a play in an under-explored-by-us part of the city, over on the east side.

I’m not exactly certain of all that is included in the prize at this time because we have yet to pick-up the details but we know the dates will be spread out over the year. What fun … we’re so happy to have won!

In closing I’d like to mention a love but maybe not-so-much thing too. That is having been woken this morning by the cheerful and exuberant chirping of a recently returned migrating songbird outside my window, which was shut but I could still hear that birdie loud and clear. The not-so-much part was that it was only 4:30 in the morning! Hey bird, I appreciate your serenade, but that was just a tad too early.

Please drop over to Anna’s blog Much Love to see the other participants in Much Love Monday, and perhaps you will consider joining in yourself.

Thanks for your visit,
xo loulou

Related Posts:
Dare to Wear Love Reception
What I Wore