As Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto prepares to welcome festivalgoers and Torontonians during TIFF, the hotel celebrated its four-year anniversary last night with the debut of a revamped Lobby Lounge. The hotel was dressed to impress for the occasion thanks to a new collaboration with William Vintage. As a nod to the synergy between fashion and film, four couture masterpieces now stand on display in the lobby. As Hollywood elite descends on Toronto for TIFF, the city’s best-dressed fashionistas will have a chic new backdrop for social gatherings, and a couture-inspired cocktail collection to enjoy.

Famed vintage collector William Banks-Blaney has provided four extraordinary ensembles from designers Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Roberto Capucci, and Bob Mackie. Each dress demonstrates a unique perspective on elegant evening wear from eras throughout 20th century fashion, including an evening gown and statement cape created by Yves Saint Laurent which featured in his retirement runway show, and a the legendary golden gown Bob Mackie created for Sharon Stone to wear in Martin Scorsese’s film “Casino.”

In tandem with the couture dress display, Lobby Lounge is introducing a new series of cocktails titled the “Couture Cocktail Collection.” Each cocktail has been carefully crafted by Lobby Lounge’s mixologists to complement the elaborate designs of each dress. Standout cocktails are the “Casino,” made with Bombay Gin, Prosecco, Simple Syrup, and dusted with gold, as well as the “Fire and Ice” made with Patron Silver Tequila, Grapefruit, Cointreau, Lime, and a Rose and Chili Sphere.

“Since our opening four years ago, the Lobby Lounge at Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto has solidified its reputation as the hottest social spot in the city,” said Jens Moesker, area general manager, Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto. “We have always wanted our guests to feel as if they were sitting in a friend’s well-appointed living room; a welcoming environment for locals and travellers to experience the space as desires, whether that’s in a seat by the fireplace, cocktails and live music at the piano, or tucked away in a cozy corner amongst the couture. We are incredibly grateful that this community has embraced the Lobby Lounge, and hope this refresh will continue to make everyone’s gatherings that much more memorable.” 

The Couture Cocktail Collection will be available in Lobby Lounge through TIFF, from 1 to 18 September. Lobby Lounge is open daily from 5:00 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday to Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Thursday to Saturday, and 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Sunday. For more information or to make reservations, please call 647-788-8888 or email lobbylounge.slto@shangri-la.com. For online reservations please visit http://www.opentable.com/the-lobby-lounge-at-the-shangri-la-toronto.  

Notes to the editor:  

Expert vintage retailer William Banks-Blaney is a world leader in collecting vintage couture. His revolutionary vintage haute couture company William Vintage has become synonymous with inspirational rare vintage and timeless style, earning him the moniker as the “King of Vintage” by Vogue Magazine. In 2015, Banks-Blaney released his first book, 25 Dresses” by Quadrille, and William Vintage introduced its first contemporary collection, an exclusive collaboration with Liberty London.

In collaboration with Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto, William Vintage has provided four couture masterpieces from designers Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Roberto Capucci, and Bob Mackie:

• Created for friend and muse of Yves Saint Laurent, Nan Kempner, this rare couture evening dress and cape ensemble debuted in 1983 at the opening night of the Saint Laurent exhibit at the Met, and featured in his retirement runway show in 1992.
• Hailing from one of the world’s greatest couture houses, Dior, “Bal Masque” is a rare dress that was part of a collection inspired by the French empire of the 1820s.
• Celebrated and admired by Dior, Italian designer Roberto Capucci’s career spans more than six decades and his exquisitely made dresses – including Fire dress – are found within the world’s great museum collections.
• An important part of the legacy of Hollywood fashion is a spectacular couture dress by Bob Mackie designed for Sharon Stone’s role in Martin Scorsese’s “Casino.” The dress gives a nod to Marlene Dietrich’s 1961 crystal dress and Marilyn Monroe’s crystal dress of 1962.