The Society: Life on the S-list

While most young scenesters are spending their extra time hitting the clubs, they may not be gaining anything from the experience but a hang over. Gone are the days of culture, while celebrity role-models seem to be preoccupied with less than legal activities. So, what’s a twenty-something to do when they want to escape the shallow? Seeing an immediate need to putting the “social” back in socialite, Amanda Blakely and Ashleigh Dempster have created The Society, a non-elitist club which includes activities such as photography lessons, private film screenings, book clubs, Spanish lessons with twist, and, of course, philanthropic soirees.

The Society was an idea spun from their involvement with Rethink Breast Cancer's social soirees, and a yearning for something more fulfilling than what Toronto had to offer. The girls still organize the annual Boobyball - this year’s them is "Glamified". Always ready to push the limits, the venue Up Country furniture store was transformed into a gigantic rock star hotel room/playground reminiscent of the glam rock era. Cotton candy booths, a Guns and Roses cover band, mini VIP rooms, and more made guests feel like true rock and roll royalty.

The Society knows how to rock, but they also understand the importance of cultural education. Dempster explained that the Society's activities were based on things that they themselves wanted to try, but which weren't presented to them in an enticing way. "Why aren't we going to the ballet, [so] what's stopping us?"

Apparently nothing at all. Events range from cocktail/language nights to architectural bike tours around Toronto. Tamara Glick, six month member and image consultant, enjoys the Society because every event is "an exciting experience, there's always something a little bit unusual. You're going to do something that you haven't done before". Who else can you go with to take polo lessons, learn how to DJ or check out a ballet movie screening in the ballet studio itself? The S-List is the only one that you want to be on if you're looking for out-of-the-box entertainment. Recently members have been given special charms to flash for special treatment at restaurants, spas, clubs and more. Apparently the "S" stands for splendidly spoiled!

Started a little over a year ago, the Society has grown from 200 members to approximately 1200, all by word of mouth. Sarah Wickens, a consultant who was referred by her friend, remarked that the Society is "a great organization that lets you reach out and touch the arts a little bit more than you normally would without having to hit the thousand dollar plate dinners." Blakely and Dempster explain that they wanted to keep the Society personal, so that they could know every single person who joins. Since membership is on a referral basis, these girls really do know their customers. "You can trace any member to the founding members." if you're interested in joining but don't know an S-List soul, don't be discouraged. To get your foot in the door, head down to an event to make nice and mingle with the culturati. Glick says, "In the Society you have an opportunity to meet people that you might not otherwise run into".

"Amanda and Ashleigh are inspirational - they're our age, they're doings some really great things. It's great to meet women like that", say television producers Jocelyn Mercer and Connie Contardi, who joined just a month ago. Their reason for joining? "[We were] looking to network with other young entrepreneurial, ambitious, philanthropic women who were creatively driven." They certainly came to the right place considering that most members are well educated and looking for cultural stimulation. There's a 60/40 split of women to men, who range in age from 23 to 35 and are in a place in their lives where they aren't settled down yet.

The Society doesn't seem ready to settle down either. On Thursday, November 8th, the group will be spreading its socialite wings to the Big Apple itself.

If you live in Toronto or New York, find a way to get yourself on the "S" list! A world of culture and excitement await you.

The Society: www.thesocietytoronto.com

The Seen @ Aritzia

Bryanna Brown & Sarah Forsyth

The kick-off party for “The Seen” – a photography exhibition at Aritzia’s Bloor Street boutique in Yorkville – turned out to be the spot to be seen for GTA hipsters. It was truly an event to behold with star studded Canadian talent from all aspects of the visual arts.

It wasn’t exactly clear how the party was “saluting” the film festival but there was an abundance of liquor, food and fierce chicks, so no one seemed bothered. The party was hosted by Aritzia, Gen Art, Rock & Republic, and Flaunt Magazine and featured the work of nine young photographers including host Ryan McGinley, the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Nick Zinner – he calls Toronto “Awesomeland” – and Kanako Sasaki, whose work will be on Artizia’s shopping bags this season.

The evening was a true representation of Canadian cool. Socialites swam around the party like sharks in everything from Aritzia to Proenza Schouler. Despite the fact that this was an art event, the invitees weren't initially looking at the walls. The room full of eyes inspected every hipster and fashionista, judging who was fit to be there.

By midnight, the store was crammed with beautiful people and gentlemen slyly chatting. While "Seensters" sipped on white cranberry martinis, DJ Stretch Armstrong was revving things up with hits by Kanye, Timbaland, Justice vs. Simian, and Justin Timberlake. Everyone was dancing, including Emily Hanes of Metric who was seen canoodling on the dance floor with her fellow band mates and KOS.

The ladies from Common Cloth stopped by, and Jessi Cruickshank and Dan Levy from MTV showed up fresh from filming The Hills: The Aftershow. Jessi was wearing one of the newest silver stunners by Artizia’s new Mint line. The new collection features plenty of silky trapeze dresses, (perfect for layering during the cold winter months) and silvery frocks perfect for day or night. Also new this season is the high-waisted Marc Jacobs for Wrangler jeans line.

Sitting pretty wasn't the only reason for this gathering of the glitterati. Aliya Naumoff, the curator of the Seen, gathered seven talented photographers to show off their works to the public from September 8th-16th.

The images showcased glimpses of unexpected beauty in the world that we live in. Even the simplest images captured a sense on long lost romanticism. According to Hannah Jung, a good portrait "captures the essence of one's personality". While most city dwellers are far too busy to stop and smell the roses, Aliya's selection of photos and photographers inspired in its viewers a childlike awe. Jessi Cruickshank commented that, in photography, it’s "important to make you feel the images and capture the emotion". This evening, even the hipsters’ icy hearts were melted.

Although the photography came second to networking, Aritzia fulfilled its promise to connect fashion, culture, music and art in one “uber-hip” evening.