The dreamiest looks we saw at the National Ballet of Canada’s annual gala

On June 2, the National Ballet of Canada drew guests into a whimsical wonderland for its annual Mad Hot Ballet gala. This year’s theme was “Reverie,” which set the stage for a slew of imaginative, fantastical outfits that could have been pulled straight from the costume department of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Attendees enjoyed a medley of ballet performances including the traditional neoclassical Suite en Blanc from 1943, a deeply weird avant-garde piece called Gush, and a powerful contemporary number scored to the operatic stylings of Gustav Mahler and the frenzied strings of Antonio Vivaldi. Afterward, guests ate dinner on the Four Seasons Centre stage. Below, the best outfits of the evening.

Isabella Araujo, influencer

“The dress is from an Australian brand called Peppermayo. You can play around with how you want to wear this dress, so today I chose to wear it tied in a knot on the side. It’s very playful and flowy, and I love red.”

Mariana Milborne, real estate agent; Cat Fidani, property manager; and friend

Mariana: “I’m wearing Chanel. I actually bought this to wear for my 50th birthday last year, and it’s the first time I’ve worn it since. The blouse underneath it is old, from 2017.”

Cat: “I’m wearing Rick Owens. I looked in my Toronto closet, and all my dressy things are in Miami, so I thought, I’m going to wear Rick Owens tonight. My favourite designers are Rick, Chanel, Dior and Balenciaga. The glasses are by a new designer, Anna-Karin Karlsson.”

Related: The best (and most bonkers) outfits from the Fashion Art Toronto opening party

Michael Hyatt, entrepreneur and investor, and Vanessa Hyatt, CEO of the Hyatt Family Foundation

Vanessa: “I saw this outfit on the runway in Paris and had to have it. It’s by a a Toronto-based designer called RVNG—she just won designer of the year at the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards. I wore it tonight because we’re celebrating the ballet. When you think of ballet, you think of beauty, so I thought it was fitting for the occasion.”

Julianne Costigan, CEO of Costigan Studio

“I found this dress at a sample sale. It’s by a Vancouver-based designer named Catherine Regehr. To me, it felt elevated and embellished, which is the perfect vibe for tonight. The Chanel bag is a rental from Zero Collective, and the feather brooch was made by a designer in New York.”

Niall Wingham, software developer at Substack, and Roma Fitzgerald, registered nurse

Niall: “I wanted to do something light and breezy—lots of white, lots of linen, with a sparkle on top.”

Roma: “I wanted to represent nature with lots of flowers. I pinned them all on myself—some of them I found on Amazon, some are from the dollar store. I only had a day and a half to work on it, so I’ve attached them with safety pins.”

Meredith Shaw, broadcaster

“This evening called for a garden fantasy explosion. I’m wearing a fabulous dress from Fitzroy. I think clothing rental is phenomenal. It’s so sustainable and inclusive, and I’m all about inclusive style. I’m also all about fun, fluffy proportions. I feel like a confection in this dress.”

Kirk Pickersgill, fashion designer, Greta Constantine

“Tonight I went for lots of colour because it’s springtime. I’ve been in a winter rut, so it’s always exciting when you realize that spring has begun. I just pulled something out of my closet that looks bright and represents me.”

Harrison James, principal dancer

“I was thinking about what reverie and daydreaming means, and it took me in a bit of a fantasy direction. I feel a bit like a cloud fantasy pirate prince. I based the look around the pants and then kind of went from there. The crown is from Amazon. I spent a while earlier tonight trying to figure out how to make it stay on my head.”

Related: The best-dressed guests at a swanky dinner honouring Elton John