I Walked the @DaretoWearLove Runway to benefit @stephenlewisfdn #charity #lgbtq

The Dare to Wear Love 6 Gala and fashion show took place at the Ritz Carlton Friday, May 12th. It was an amazing evening, raising more than 275K for The Stephen Lewis Foundation‘s new LGBTQ Funding Initiative.

The new initiative will support organizations responding to HIV/AIDS within sub-Saharan African communities where HIV rates are highest.

As always, huge hugs and thanks to Jim Searle and Chris Tyrell of HOAX Couture, founders of Dare to Wear Love. They are two of the most generous people I know, and their tremendous energy brings out the best in everyone around them.

Photo credit: Eyecontact Photography

Many thanks also to designer Farley Chatto who created my beautiful dress, which I love!

Lovely man and designer, Farley Chatto

The evening was filled with love and hope. By celebrating the talents and commitment of Canada’s fashion community and artists, we all used our powers for good!

Thanks to everyone who supported me this year, either with a monetary donation to my Challenge or by sharing the event and encouraging me along the way. It all helped!

Below are a few pictures from the evening’s show, but there are hundreds more! You can see them on the Flickr galleries, accessible via the Photos link on the website.

Enjoy!

Photo credit: Eyecontact Photography

Photo credit: George Pimentel

Photo Backdrop, Eyecontact Photography

Auction, George Pimentel

Inside the ballroom, George Pimentel

Host Garvia Bailey, George Pimentel

Stephen Lewis, Eyecontact Photography

Ugandan activist Frank Mugisha, George Pimentel

Program, Eyecontact Photography

Billy Newton Davis, Eyecontact Photography

John Taccone of Navigate Salon, Eyecontact Photography

Brian Phillips of World Salon, Eyecontact Photography

Gary Allen of World Salon

Matthew from MAC, Eyecontact Photography

Greta Constantine finale, Eyecontact Photography

Glen Baxter wearing Christopher Bates, George Pimentel

Liz Trinnear wearing Peach Berserk, George Pimentel

Liem Vu wearing House of Dalla, George Pimentel

Camille Moore wearing David Dixon, Eyecontact Photography

Councillor Joe Cressy wearing Marty Rotman, George Pimentel

Walking the runway, Eyecontact Photography

Top of the runway wearing Farley Chatto, George Pimentel

Challenge winner, Unikittie wearing Hoax Couture, George Pimentel

Myles Sexton wearing Izzy Camilleri, George Pimentel

Simone Denny wearing Farley Chatto, George Pimentel

Michele Gare, Ilse Kloosterman, DTWL Challenge winners. All wearing Farley Chatto

Photo credit: Eyecontact Photography

Designer Marty Rotman

Diane Hall of 2Life

Fabulous designer, Shelli Oh

John Beadle of JB Graphics

End of night. Photo credit: Michele Gare

Follow Dare to Wear Love on  Facebook,  Twitter @daretowearlove , and Instagram.

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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Music Monday says Let’s Work Together

Wonderful things are created when we work together for a common cause.

I walked the runway for Dare to Wear Love this past weekend and was one of many tiny moving parts that came together for the show.

The event came together because so many worked tirelessly to make it happen.

The end goal to collect funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation drove the mission.

I will write more about the show in a future post, but for today, this song by one of my favourite bands resonates loudly.

Have an amazing week,

eden

Walk the Walk #fashion #charity #dtwl

I’ll be walking the runway tomorrow for Dare to Wear Love. If you want to know more about my involvement, you can read about it here.

Normally, for such a swanky event, I would need to find an outfit to wear. Since I’m part of the fashion show, however, I’m fortunate to have something custom made for me!

The amazing Farley Chatto designed my dress, and I had the pleasure of trying it on earlier this week.

I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s fabulous. Made from six yards of African fabric in colours I would never choose for myself, it’s a complete departure from my all-black wardrobe. Farley calls it “naughty goodness” as he juxtapositions African fabric with Italian lamb leather! My dress is the one in the middle. The other two are also being worn by winners of the Dare to Wear Love Challenge.

I’m having my hair attended to by one of two masters in the craft—Brian Phillips of World Salon and John Taccone of Navigate Salon. MAC Cosmetics will take care of my make-up. Even my jewellery will be looked after by Rita Tesolin.

The only thing I had to get were shoes. Farley told me early on to get a pair of heels, not the chunky heels I’m used to wearing, but the tall, skinny heels. The higher the heel, the better it would show off my legs and the dress, which sits just above my knees.

And I definitely wanted to do that, but … Yikes!

Recently, I wore my highest, skinniest heels for the Toronto International Porn Festival. They are two inches. I was able to walk in them, albeit not for long stretches at a time. 

You’re talking about a girl who lives in sneakers, after all! These are my beat-up runners on the car’s dashboard. Heh.

“Walk the walk” is almost always said in combination with “talk the talk.” It’s an alternative to old sayings such as “Talk is cheap,” or “Actions speak louder than words.” It’s quite fitting as the title of this post.

After weeks of raising money for the event and “talking” about it on social media, I finally have to walk it. Less than a minute’s worth of stepping one foot in front of the other shouldn’t be too difficult, right?

Plus I’ve done it once before.

The difference last time was I walked in boots with wide heels. My floor-length skirt covered my boots, so it didn’t matter what I wore on my feet, really.

This time …

Three inches! Count them—One, Two, Threeeee inches!

I practised walking up and down my driveway after watching some “How to walk in high heels” videos. Pretty sad, right?

Anyway, I managed to scuff up the soles a bit for better grip, and I even surprised myself with how steadily I walked. The test will be tomorrow evening when I take to the runway.

Just when I was feeling more confident, a friend sent me this video.

It actually did make me feel better. I mean … there is no way I’m going to be this bad, and these are professional models!

Join me if you can tomorrow night. It’s fashion for fun, hope, and a great cause. There are limited tickets available as the event is close to being sold out.

An incredible amount of love and work goes into producing the Dare to Wear Love event, and I want to thank everyone who has supported me with a donation or encouraged me on social media.

Wish me luck and that I stay upright!

eden ♥

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Music Monday supports Fashion #DavieBowie #dtwl #charity

The last and only time I walked a fashion runway was back in 2014 for Dare to Wear Love, a charity that uses the power of fashion for good. It collects funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which puts money into grassroots organizations in Africa to fight the AIDS pandemic.

Here I was in my Susan Dicks‘ creation. 😉

This year, I took part in the Dare to Wear Love Challenge again and raised $1775! Thank you so much to everyone who supported me. ♥

From all the challengers, four of us were chosen to walk the runway at the gala on May 12th, and I won one of the spots! The fabulous Farley Chatto is designing my dress this time, and he’s calling me his “Gala Seductress.” Here’s his sketch of my dress, which he considers ‘naughty goodness.’

I love it! 

I’m proud to continue supporting this worthy cause, and I hope you will too. There are still $150 tickets available which gives you access to an amazing Silent Auction, cocktails, the incredible fashion show, and a rocking after-party! Dare to Wear Love is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so connect to them to see all the latest posts and pictures.

It’s a charity event like no other, and this year, Stephen Lewis will be there to introduce the Foundation’s LGBTQ initiative and much more. He’s considered one of the most captivating and eloquent keynote speakers, and his speech is sure to inspire. Renowned Ugandan LGBTQ activist, Frank Mugisha, will also take to the stage.

Join me if you can — fashion for fun, hope, and a great cause.

In the meantime, enjoy the music of the great David Bowie, an icon of fashion if there ever was one,

Thank you so much for your support, and have a fashionable week,

eden

Support my @DaretoWearLove Challenge #Africa #dtwl

Dare to Wear Love celebrates the work of Canada’s fashion community and performing artists. It also raises funds and awareness for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which puts money into grassroots organizations in Africa to fight the AIDS pandemic.

I’ve been taking part in the Dare to Wear Challenge, and with just one week left, I’m so close to my goal!

I’ve done the challenge twice before and even walked the runway.

To show you how amazing it was, I’ve attached a video from the last event. Don’t blink or you’ll miss me (1:50 into the video)!

I’m proud to continue supporting this worthy fundraiser, and I hope you will too. Find out how you can get tickets to the show here.

If you’d like to support me, you can donate by going to this link. No amount is too small, and every dollar is greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your support.

♥ eden

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