THE SCENE: Kate and Laura Mulleavy play host to socialites, designers and “Poordarte”-clad editors at the Bay

With the spate of good weather, Torontonians have been out en masse enjoying the sunshine, but in all the craziness and mishegoss of patios and Bellwoods, we hope they haven’t forgotten the important things: parties at stores. The Bay hosted Toronto’s society set for a meet-and-greet with Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the sisters behind high fashion label Rodarte, last night. While the crowd was much smaller than usual, a lot of names came out to party.

Check out The Scene »

Dressed in simple outfits —Laura in a tan blouse and tuxedo trousers and Kate in a long cardigan and jeans (the same they wore for interviews earlier in the day)—the girls looked a far cry from their outlandish designs. Socialites Suzanne Rogers and Vonna Bitove arrived together before Rogers, in a Peter Pilotto gown, broke off for a loud hug with Bitove’s daughter Jenna. Though plenty of rich ladies stopped in, Stacey Kimmel was the only socialite we spotted actually wearing Rodarte. Designers like Jeremy Laing, Greta Constantine’s Kirk Pickersgill and fellow sisters of the cloth Chloe and Parris Gordon were also in attendance (the Gordons noted they were dying to meet another sister design team). But most numerous were the fashion editors, including Globe and Mail writers Tiyana Grulovic and Maggie Wrobel sporting their finest “Poordarte” (their words): Wrobel in a yellow cardigan from the Target collection and Grulovic in a “way discounted [maroon dress] from Opening Ceremony.” Other media included Fashion magazine’s Bernadette Morra, Flare’s Mosha Lundstrom-Halbert and Fiona Green, the National Post’s Nathalie Atkinson, and the Star’s Derrick Chetty. With so many journalists and bloggers in the house, the Mulleavy girls didn’t have a moment to themselves until they were secreted off to a dinner at Charles Khabouth’s newest venture, Stories. A girl’s got to eat.

SHOW CAPTION

• RETURN TO ARTICLE

Read More

139667

(Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Rodarte-at-the_room-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Rodarte-at-the_room.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Rodarte-at-the_room.jpg

656

437

[]

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/rodarte-at-the_room/

rodarte-at-the_room

0

0

139590

Hair and makeup artist Robert Weir listens in while society doyenne Stacey Kimmel whispers a secret (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49021-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49021.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49021.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337792907","focal_length":"50","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.005"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4902-2/

img_4902-2

0

0

139591

Accessories designer Lara Vincent’s hair garden is in full bloom (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49201-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49201.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49201.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"3.5","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337793566","focal_length":"50","iso":"640","shutter_speed":"0.00625"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4920-2/

img_4920-2

0

0

139592

Director of Glam Media Canada Aya McMillan wants you to know how rad she is (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_48421-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_48421.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_48421.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"4","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337791918","focal_length":"50","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.01"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4842-2/

img_4842-2

0

0

139593

<em>The Grid’</em>s Carley Fortune looks like a Botticelli painting (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_45861-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_45861.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_45861.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337788372","focal_length":"50","iso":"1000","shutter_speed":"0.005"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4586-2/

img_4586-2

0

0

139594

Rodarte: Kate and Laura Mulleavy (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49881-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49881.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49881.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"4","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337795096","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.01"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4988-2/

img_4988-2

0

0

139595

<em>Fashion</em> magazine’s Bernadette Morra: Did you hear?<br /> Kate Mulleavy: “I’m listening”

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49781-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49781.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49781.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337794846","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.01"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4978-2/

img_4978-2

0

0

139596

Social director of The Hudsons Bay Company Christopher Sherman takes a back seat (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49651-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49651.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49651.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"4","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337794570","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.01"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4965-2/

img_4965-2

0

0

139597

The <em>Post’</em>s Nathalie Atkinson and society gal Suzanne Rogers are excited about something (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49591-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49591.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49591.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"3.2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337794488","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.008"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4959-2/

img_4959-2

0

0

139598

The Bay’s fashion director Suzanne Timmins takes in the scene, and is probably thinking pretty highly of herself. Come on, she got Rodarte to come to her store (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49361-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49361.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49361.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337794245","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.01"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4936-2/

img_4936-2

0

0

139599

Blogger Gracie Caroll meets her idols (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49251-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49251.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_49251.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.8","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337793841","focal_length":"50","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.01"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4925-2/

img_4925-2

0

0

139601

PR professional Suzanne Mandarino may be on her way to taking a fashion nap (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_48721-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_48721.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_48721.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337792315","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.00625"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4872-2/

img_4872-2

0

0

139603

The <em>Globe’</em>s Tiyana Grulovic is always the center of attention (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_48691-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_48691.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_48691.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337792231","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.00625"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4869-2/

img_4869-2

0

0

139605

Designer Jeremy Laing and The Bay’s Christopher Sherman take a somewhat classy, somewhat awkward fashion family photo (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4764-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4764.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4764.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"3.5","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337790936","focal_length":"50","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.02"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4764/

img_4764

0

0

139606

Society girl Jenna Bitove takes a chance with this Pepto number (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_47541-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_47541.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_47541.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"1.4","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337790735","focal_length":"50","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.003125"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4754-2/

img_4754-2

0

0

139610

Robin Lacambra and photographer and blogger Stefania Yarhi have some proper girl talk while the others hounded the Mulleavy sisters (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46741-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46741.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46741.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.8","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337789493","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.0125"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4674-2/

img_4674-2

0

0

139611

<em>She Does The City’</em>s Natasha Hunt waits her turn to meet the Rodarte gals. She’s quite stoic (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46661-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46661.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46661.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"3.2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337789263","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.008"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4666-2/

img_4666-2

0

0

139612

The Bay’s Nicholas Mellamphy taking stock of all the notables in attendance (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46641-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46641.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46641.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"3.2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337789242","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.008"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4664-2/

img_4664-2

0

0

139613

The Bay’s Kate Corbett welcomes all of the guests with the poise of Kate Middleton (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46541-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46541.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_46541.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"4.5","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337789206","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.02"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4654-2/

img_4654-2

0

0

139614

The <em>Fashion</em> magazine crew takes a field trip: Paige Dzenis, Caitlin Agnew, Rani Sheen, Nicole Stafford and Randi Bergman

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4644-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4644.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4644.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"4.5","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337789088","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.0166666666667"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4644/

img_4644

0

0

139615

Chloe Comme Parris’ Chloe and Parris Gordon having a bit of a sister moment in the shoe department (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4632-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4632.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4632.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.8","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337788993","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.0025"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4632/

img_4632

0

0

139616

Blogger Anita Clarke gives the Bay’s Nicholas Mellamphy a long, drawn-out double kiss (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4613-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4613.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4613.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.8","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337788852","focal_length":"50","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.005"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4613/

img_4613

0

0

139619

Rana and Samantha Beckerman go shopping (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4929-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4929.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4929.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2.2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337794034","focal_length":"50","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.01"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4929/

img_4929

0

0

139620

Blogger Nolan Bryant pulls his hair into a bun for his photo op with the serious Mulleavy sisters (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rodarte party at The Room

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4907-96x96.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4907.jpg

https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_4907.jpg

624

416

{"aperture":"2","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","created_timestamp":"1337792947","focal_length":"50","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.008"}

https://torontolife.com/city/rodarte-party-at-the-room/slide/img_4907/

img_4907

0

0