HOLT RENFREW CELEBRATES 5TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY WINDOW UNVEILING

Shut down Bloor Street and throw on this years Pucci Parka in aztec, Holt’s is having a party! Yesterday marked Holt Renfrew’s fifth annual holiday window unveiling celebration and this year Dylan Lauren, Feist and Pink Mafia were there. Free Courvoisier. Free Vaccines. Free Proscuitto wrapped Bacon. Unreal.

Warming up with Latin Winter Wonderland, Sinatra, and a scratch mix medley of The Nutcracker- the best recording of the evening. Regular Folk rubbed shoulders with the Fashion Police who rubbed shoulders with Soccer Moms who rubbed shoulders with Old Money. A merry-go-round of lavishes and squalors, peaches and prunes and everything in between.

Pretzels were a bonus and summer campers enjoyed bagged popcorn. The elderly stayed out of the way, and the better half of fashion junkies waited patiently for the crimson drapes to drop and mark the official start to the 2009 shopping season.

Rick Campanelli and Kim D’Eon, Mackaged et al. took the stage at seven pm sharp and pulled some energy out of the crowd for a performance from the countries most iconic female songwriter. Feist.  In a past life, she danced around the Calgary Punk scene and played bass guitar for By Devine Right, but regardless of what angle she is perceived, or through whichever media her soul be distorted, this girl can sing.

The Windows were comparable. This season, Mr. Holt and Company took simplicity’s route. Using their window as an illustrative stage of magic juggling the reality of the holiday season.  A series of traditional themes: song, dance, food, drink and winter recreation.  The French Canadian founded company challenge a familiar colour pallet and tantalize the sophisticated with subtle yet infiltrating details.

The twelve days present. Trumpeteers, carolers, ballerinas, shortbread cookies, ice skating and turtle doves.  The interaction of a Christmas window and the artistic glamour of a company 150 years young, brings merchandizing to an urban plateau.  Suspended angels and marionettes highlight the installations, while a peek-a-boo Scottish Terrier satisfies the under 20’s taste. An enterprise that began as a simple hat shop in the 1800’s now pays homage to its Canadian roots and continues to displayed their savvy for contemporary design.

This season calls on the elegance of an upscale department store in a market of romantic apparel and suggestive accessories. Neutral colours throughout; blacks, whites and creams masquerade the five window fleet. Hints of silver and gold set shop front depth and an inexplicable satin wrist corsage in Robin’s Egg blue, foreground to a mound of scarlet leather, asserts the stores elaborate merchandising intent.

Success.