Style Highlights From The CONTACT Picture This Fundraiser
Guests Nargis Petris (left) and Pierre Alexandre at the Picture This CONTACT Photography Festival Gala.
Written by Hana Lang
The CONTACT Photography Fundraiser was a night to remember. Stepping into the MOCA to celebrate the festival’s 30 year anniversary gala and fundraiser on Tuesday, February 24th, I was struck by the liveliness of the crowd.
Attendants admired works up for auction such as Edward Burtynsky’s Rainforest #3 and Kent Monkman’s To Have and to Clothe Until Death. In terms of style, CONTACT’s Picture This gala lived up to its name. Guests arrived picture-ready to celebrate the festival and support future programming, dressed in a wonderful array of bold silhouettes and unique details.
Artist Leala Hewak and her husband, Don.
Leala Hewak, a digital artist and retired lawyer who has had her work exhibited with CONTACT, wore a vintage Ungaro silk dress, paired with a Yves Saint Laurent bag and purple jewel encrusted Lanvin rings. Shoulder pads were a crowd favourite, and she wore them well with a purple and black polka dot design. Her husband, Don Hewak, wore a well-tailored vintage Italian suit, showcasing a delightful pairing of contrasting colours and patterns.
Kelly Lui from the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival caught my eye with the silhouette of her black shift dress from Cos. White threadwork persisted from her boots to her dress, pairing wonderfully with a white vintage Prada bag.
Anna Church (left) with DM PR’s Deanne Moser.
Anna Church, artist and founder of Curate and Covet Collective, sported Hoibo balloon pants styled with diverging stripes. Meanwhile, PinkNet Studio’s Negar Petris wore a pinstripe YSL suit. The red of her Gucci heels matched that of her Leila Kashani brooch.
Negar Petris, founder of PinkNet Studio.
Contrasting textures also make for an intriguing look, like artist Pierre Alexandre’s stunningly textured sweater. Seemingly crocheted with a good luck pattern by Spanish nuns, a closer look at the label revealed it was from the brand Joseph. How intriguing! He paired the sweater with black trousers and black Berlin techno boots.
See more looks I admired below.
Photography by Ryan Emberley.
