So here’s the deal: I hadn’t had the pleasure of covering the Quebec Lung Association’s largest annual fundraiser – Gala Bulles et Tapis Rouge til recently. Which, in party hindsight, is a grand pity because the grand dazzler at luxe jools retailer Birks’s downtown flagship (a Diary partner and fave) was a heckuva good way to spend a Wednesday night. Among the many memorables were a red carpet awash in champagne; insanely impressive menu catered by Europa’s JÉRÔME FERRER (yes a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux); and the main event, a scintillating fashion show featuring the best of this season’s SHAN swim and beachwear for men and women. Photography KAREL CHLADEK
SPOTLIGHT ON: Birks Group PR / communications manager FRANCIS GUINDON, Elle Québec beauty editor ANGÉLIQUE MARTEL and L’Oréal Canada integrated marketing communications director HUGO THIBAULT.
TOP BRASS: QLA board president CHRISTIAN SCHRYBURT, CEO DOMINIQUE MASSIE and committee member MICHEL CLOUTIER.
BUZZING: DJ ABEILLE.
BUZZING: DJ ABEILLE.
EFFERVESCENT EMCEE: Award-winning media goddess ANNE-MARIE WITHENSHAW in BCBGMAXAZRIA.
PRESIDENTS CORNER: 2016 co-chairs IOHANN MARTIN, president/ co-founder of Dazmo and GENEVIÈVE BIRON, president of Biron Groupe Santé.
BIRKS BELLES: CHRISTINA PERSAUD, mom CINDY PERSAUD and pal TRIS SOL.
SUITED UP: Dress To Kill editor-in-chief STÉPHANE LE DUC and SHAN exec SHAN GILBERT.
SHANTASTIC: SHAN tops, vice-president sales and marketing JEAN-FRANCOIS SIGOUIN, founder/ designer CHANTAL LÉVESQUE and son, director of mens commercial SHAN GILBERT.
TEAM CREATIVE: Marketing whiz STEVEN LEDOUX, EMILIE LAGARDE and SID LEE coordinator FRÉDÉRIQUE GUAY.
STYLISH SUPPORTERS: Attorney LAM JUTRAS in COS and biz lawyer JEAN-DIDIER BUSSIÈRES in ARMANI.
ARTIST’S ZONE: Suite 701hotelier BENOIT BEAUSÉJOUR-SAVARD, designer STÉPHANIE BELANGER and artist RIO.
MORE MAGIC.
MAGIC MOMENT:Three amazing women, all battling serious respiratory challenges, open the show, inspiring raucous applause.
THE SHAN SHOW.
THE SHAN SHOW.
THE SHAN SHOW.
THE SHAN SHOW.
THE SHAN SHOW.
THE SHAN SHOW.
THE SHAN SHOW.
THE SHAN HOW.
STRIKING A POSE: JULIE LAFRANCE of Le Blog de Julie.
TAKING A BOW: SHAN founder / designer CHANTAL LÉVESQUE.
