Actress Tonya Lee Williams and Miss Teen Toronto Abigail Vernardez. Tonya is giving her a red-carpet gown for upcoming Miss Teen Canada. Tonya is holding a thank you card created by Abigail.
“The fashion world scares the hell out of me.
Keep that flounce to yourself, fella.
“Bouillonne,” you say. With mustard? say I.
But part of a columnist’s job is to go where readers lead, in this case Miss Teen Toronto, Abigail Bernardez, 17, of Scarborough.
I wrote about Abby a few days back. She is of modest means and won the Toronto title in a $50 dress from Le Chateau.
She asked me if I could help find her a snazzier gown for the Miss Teen Canada pageant in August.
Nothing in my closet, and we are not the same size anyway, so I put the word out.
Well, knock me over with a feather boa. The fashion biz is not as cutthroat as I thought. Not Toronto’s anyway.
Abby is up to her neck in gowns.
Mark Belford calls from his Avenue Rd. haute couture salon.
“I know what it’s like to be the kid with the bad dress,” he chuckles.
Me too, Mark. I got made over as a lady for Pride Week last year. Front page. My mother still won’t talk to me.
Belford’s resume includes the Oscars’ fashion show. Wendy (The Santa Clause) Crewson and Carla Collins are clients.
ET Canada host Cheryl Hickey wears Olwyn Fleury’s gowns.
Advice for Abby, Ms Fleury? “Something elegant and simple that skims off her body and shows she has a nice figure, but doesn’t overwhelm her.”
Whitby may not strike you as Paris West, but it is home to the studio of up-and-comer Leanne Beagan, 27.
“Purple is so hot right now,” says Leanne, who specializes in gowns. She is the latest in a line of Irish seamstresses.
“For Miss Teen Canada, something vibrant and happy. Purple is a fun colour, but also really elegant.”
Suzette Fitt, partner of Diane Kroe, another Avenue Rd. couturiere, writes:
“We would be honoured to wardrobe her …
“I think Cinderella has found her gown.”
Adam Quang, 35, e-mails: “I am a visual brander. I may be able to help Abby.”
Adam designs whole looks, not just dress. Shoes, hair, attitude. Walk. Talk. Jewels.
“I bring out your personality, enhance it.”
And he knows something of Abby’s road. Vietnam (She came from the Philippines) to Saskatchewan to fashion school in Montreal, Quebec designer of the year …
“Abby looks like someone who’s willing to work hard for what she wants.”
Not all who offered help are fashionistas.
Toronto’s own Tonya Lee Williams, longtime star of The Young and the Restless, opens her ReelWorld Film Festival in town next week. (reelworld.ca)
A TV star has no trouble getting evening gowns and Tonya offers to help Abby.
“It warms my heart to see someone young doing everything they can to succeed and not just sitting back.
“This girl could be governor general some day.
“She’s beautiful, poised, determined.
“What a great role model for young people.”
Takes one to know one, Tonya.
Abby, meanwhile, says she’s “overwhelmed” by the response to that column. “All these people offering their talents.”
On Sunday, she will ride with Miss Toronto through the Beach in the Easter parade.
