Operanation 8: A Muse Ball is happening Friday, October 21, 2011. This year the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio fundraiser has chosen "the Muse" as it's theme, and has created a teaser website called The Daily Muse which features notable designers, industry insiders, film and media notables, and members of the Canadian Opera Company talking about their Muses and personal inspiration. Operanation will showcase Canadian fashion designs and custom made garments from Calla (by Calla Haynes), Joeffer Caoc, Greta Constantine (by Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong), Arthur Mendonça and Ashley Rowe. These designers have created garments that reflect the personal muses of the design house, presented in the form of a fashion installation curated by RAC Boutique, with shoes provided by Holt Renfrew.

Now that fashion has been covered, let's get to the music. Rufus Wainwright will be headlining the evening and there will be a special performance by Austra in collaboration with soprano Ambur Braid and baritone Adrian Kramer, two rising opera stars from the COC’s Ensemble Studio. I love the mix of popular and opera.

Tickets to this magical night of dancing, rousing live entertainment and specialty food and drink are $150 per person, and are on sale at operanation.ca or by calling COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231.

Cecily Carver, the Social Media Guru at the COC has posted a series of behind the scenes photos from the poster shoot on the COC blog. Check out my gallery below for a selection of those photos. Cecily's original post can be seen on the Parlando blog.

All photos courtesy of the Canadian Opera Company - © Canadian Opera Company 2011

Shawn Brackbill goes behind the scenes at Marc Jacobs for Interview Magazine

The COC Ensemble Studio's Wallis Giunta, a mezzo-soprano who has charmed critics with her creamy voice and charismatic stage presence, is collaborating with noted Canadian couturier McCaffrey Haute Couture. She will be featured modelling David McCaffrey's gowns in print and online ads, and McCaffrey will supply custom-made gowns for her upcoming recitals.

Wallis Giunta models gowns from the McCaffrey Haute Couture 2011 Collection Iridescence, by David McCaffrey. Photos by MIV Photography, 2011.

Continue reading Opera singer Wallis Giunta is the new face of McCaffrey Haute Couture

Image courtesy of La Perla

The enfant terrible of French fashion is back in old form, mixing music with ultra glamorous lingerie. Jean Paul Gaultier, the iconic designer who collaborated with Madonna on her Blond Ambition and Confessions tours, and who designed the the cone-bra, which is the most distinctive piece of lingerie ever, has once again taken to the boudoir, this time collaborating with ultra luxurious lingerie boutique La Perla on some very enticing designs. If you peek through the gallery below you will find undergarments that glamorously pad hips, and shoulders, and oh yes my friends you will find some wearable cones alongside delicate lace and unique embroidery.

Now for the music, Jean Paul Gaultier and La Perla are launching the collection tomorrow night in collaboration with New York City Opera.

Shop For Opera is a shopping event for young opera patrons that will be an indulgent soiree full of wine, chocolate, women in fine lingerie and performances by New York City Opera artists.

What a fabulous event. If I lived in New York I would undoubtably be in attendance.  If you do live in NYC (lucky you) here is a link to the invitation, which also gives you a 20% discount on your most wanted items. I have my eye on the shoulder-pad bra.

I hope to get my hands on some photos from the event, and when I do, you'll be the first to know.

Click for a full gallery of images from the collection, care of La Perla.

Milan, the city best know for La Scala, Giuseppe Verdi, and Alta Moda is embracing American casual, but with a twist, of course.  Milan is opening their very first Gap store this month on Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, and is celebrating with a high profile, seven piece design collaboration with Valentino. Check out the gallery for a preview of the collection.  Oh, did I mention the Valentino for Gap collection will NOT be available in Canada? Of course not. C'est la vie.

Images courtesy of The Telegraph, and Red Valentino

Photography Karl Lagerfeld 
Styling Jacob K

PHOTOS - V MAGAZINE

Hand crafted by "veik11" are a bunch of Lady GaGa Barbies that prove to be striking renditions of GaGa's outrageous costume creations.  I've included a bunch of photos for you to check out and you can click here to find the original pics and a bunch more of veik11's Lady Gaga Barbie Dolls.