Last night, Toronto’s top nightlife sartorial spotter, Jeff Rustia, host of Club Fashion, hosted his own fashion extravaganza. Every year, the city’s most stylish clamour for an invitation to his exclusive holiday party.  Bernie and I showed up promptly at 7:55pm - just before the doors closed not to be re-opened until midnight.

The Solid Gold theme forced me to do something I never, ever do: reprise an outfit. For last season’s BuyDesign event, I wore the most exquisite vintage gold Halston dress from The Paper Bag Princess. It is simply too beautiful to wear once.

Jeff was all-new and all bling. He wore brand new D&G gold sneakers (which came in a gold box) paired with a gold-painted jacket customized by his stylishly-extraordinary friend, Jefre Nicholls.  Jefre wore an outfit of golden spandex topped with black lace. With everyone in gold and black, the night’s fashion was absolutely decadent.  An in-house makeup artist provided guests with requisite gold makeup highlights and body paint.

Not only were partygoers wearing gold, they consumed it as well. Every kind of gold drink was there - Goldschlager, Gold tequila, and many golden bottles of sparkling wine, lined up behind a circular bar with a gold-painted bartender.  And what party would be complete without a cake? Naturally, this one was divinely gold.

The night’s highlight?  A show, which brought everyone in the room together, where Jeff chose the top twelve best dressed to each sing a part of the “twelve days of christmas”.  The lucky chosen dozen will be treated to a private dinner with the consummate host.  After the stylishly impromptu carol, the beautiful Quinn Burdick  - who started the night in a stunning chocolate brown and gold sari - was revealed in full gold body paint and danced a Bond-worthy  “Goldfinger”. For the finale, two handsome shirtless bodygaurds accompanied Jeff, who showered his gorgeous guests with gold coins. Though the coins were indeed chocolate, we all left the party feeling richer.

This magazine thing is getting a little ridiculous! Okay, totally ridiculous. Today, Sandee brought me ANOTHER new magazine to read and it’s rad! (Dressed to) KILL has all these amazing photos and completely avant-garde designers. I even get to practice my high school French by reading it.  Super-cool. That’s how they say cool in Quebec, isn’t it?

I really have to get my clothes in my new favourite magazines.

Canadian fashionistas were all a-twitter today after receiving an e-mail announcement from LG. It seems Canadian fashion will have a new supporter: LG.

Now our Toronto Fashion Week is a branded bit of mouthful: LG Fashion Week presented by L’Oréal Paris, but if the LG closing night party last season was any indication, the Fashion Design Council of Canada will treat Canadian fashion fans to an exciting future.

I do hope LG phones will be in media bags next season.

Okay, seriously, there are so many cool magazines around. How could I not have noticed them? Today, I found a copy of Worn Journal and it’s DIY-fantastic. They’ve got an indie-shopping guide and a blog and a facebook group.

Everyone keeps telling me that I should join facebook. Maybe I should.

Crap! I totally forgot that Elmo made me sign on to this twitter thing. Maybe I should do something with it.

OMG! How have I never seen Gasoline Magazine before? It’s like the perfect blend of rock ‘n roll and fashion. I love it! I need to get my clothes in it. But how? Maybe I should stop by the offices and show them my collection.

My lovely friend Laura, who happens to be an especially talented hairstylist, celebrated her birthday party tonight at The Drake. I never knew Mondays were so popular. Everyone was dressed so stylishly that I do declare Mondays as the new non-905 Fridays.

When passing the concierge, I noticed a magazine I had not seen before called Argyle: A lifestyle quarterly. What an exquisitely elegant publication. Fashion Editor Serge Kerbel shows refined taste and an exceptional eye with his fashion spreads. Bravo, Mr. Kerbel.

If I know you, Dear Reader, I know you are planning an elegant holiday soirée. Like me, you will plan it to perfection and create the most magnificently memorable event. From invitations to thank you notes, everything will be perfect.

How do I know this? I know this because you will follow my tips on how be the most sophisticated hostess you can be this holiday season.

Lucinda’s List: How to be the Most Elegant Hostess

1. Invitation Affectation – Exquisite invitations are imperative for a formal fest. If you missed the mailing deadline, they must be hand-delivered by your assistant. If your assistant is too busy planning the party, you could use a local boutique courier service.
2. Valet Display – Your guests should never be pestered with parking perils. Plan a valet service. To show how thoughtful you really are, you could lend your driver to guests for the evening, but ensure a snappy schedule.
3. Entry Gentry – Ensure your concierge is well-groomed and well-versed with the society pages. Provide him with photos and names of your guests so they feel immediately welcome.
4. Non-Nervous Room Service – Three employees should be situated in your entrance: doorman to handle coats, food server to offer hors d’oeuvres, and drink server with a variety of beverages. Your guests should never have to hunt for refreshment.
5. Meet and Greet – Greet guests with open arms and air kisses. If you know the guest particularly well, you are permitted a greeting kiss on the cheek. For certain dear friends, you can indeed offer a kiss on the lips.
6. Production of Introduction – Encourage socializing at your event by introducing guests to one another with interesting anecdotes. Make sure not to reveal anything personal, though. These days you do not know exactly what one wishes to reveal.
7. Manage Advantage – As the hostess, you will be required for sparkling conversation; you will not have time to manage your servants. This is what a mother is for.
8. Ambiance Ambulance – A successful holiday party contains equal amounts refreshment, conversation, networking, music, and good cheer. It is your responsibility to ensure this all occurs, so you should employ an event planner for your fête to make sure it happens.
9. Gift Lift – As guests depart, they should receive a heartfelt gift from you to remind them of the lovely time they spent at your holiday party. I recommend hand-made scented candles.
10. Thank You Adieu – You thanked guests for attending while saying your festive farewells, but they must receive a follow-up thank-you card in the mail. An electronic greeting will not do.

My friend Lindsay just threw the funnest Christmas party ever. It was a Mad Men party! I never watched the show, so Sandee, Elmo, and I watched a million episodes online over the last two days and ran around to a bunch of vintage stores to get outfits.

We found a new store, Penny Arcade, at Dundas and Ossington, which was pretty cool. And it happened to be their opening, which was fun. Free cocktails! Woo!

Then we ran back to my studio to get all dolled up. We looked great and everyone at the party loved us. Elmo looked really good in a suit. I kinda want him to wear one all the time. Maybe I’ll make him one for Christmas.

It is the holiday party event every fashionista anticipates with tingles: Bernie’s Yultide Pride.

Naturally, everyone adored my miss rowe party dress and Louboutin heels. Though there were many flashy statements indeed, something must be stated for elegant sophistication and miss rowe embodies it, as do I. I prefer to let others drape themselves in tinfoil and lamé. I can never go wrong with classic and tasteful.

While Bernie was doing his hosting rounds, he stopped to introduce me to his newest friend, Mademoiselle LaPierre, a Parisian socialite in Canada for the holidays to visit Quebec’s Hôtel de Glace, skate in Ottawa, ski in Banff, and shop in Toronto. Bernie thought I might be interested in profiling Mademoiselle LaPierre for a story, but she preferred to mingle with him. Normally, I would be offended, but not tonight. Mademoiselle LaPierre was not whom she claimed to be. She was Madame Rouge.

When she acted as though she did not know me, I followed her cue and pretended as though we had never met. The Fashion Mafia seem to be checking up on their new recruit.

I simply had to ring my dear friend and colleague, Nathalie Atkinson to congratulate her on her recent reviews of the most stylish books. Thanks to her, I solved all my holiday shopping for my stylishly impaired relatives.

It was far too long since we had seen each other, so we agreed to do some holiday shopping for ourselves. She thought I would look smashing in Smythe’s holiday edition Boyfriend Blazer, which is black, but absolutely elegant with midnight blue silk satin lapels and lining and Juma’s Kurta pants. I did look wonderful, of course, but Nathalie owned the Kurta look at Fashion Week, so we decided to go more festive. She told me that I absolutely required a Christmas party outfit outfit that says, “Yes I dressed up, but didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard.” This is what she chose, and I do indeed believe that I look festively fabulous.

We started at the Mercy studio, where I tried a shocking Schiaparelli pink silk velvet minidress with side ruching, fluttery wide raglan sleeves and long tab collar detail. The wonderful Ms. Atkinson said,

“Even when you’re tired from all the fabulous holiday cocktail parties, this intense fuchsia gives your face a healthy, rested glow. It also radiates energy and confidence, so it’s a great fake and strategic colour choice on both counts.”

I ended up custom ordering the beautiful piece from Jennifer and Richard, but it will be worth it, especially when paired with skinny black Yoga jeans by Second Clothing, designed by Eric Wazana. Nathalie once again provided me with the best advice:

“These jeans are inky overdyed black and very skinny but they’re called Yoga jeans for a reason: they look chic and put-together but they FEEL like you’re wearing your comfiest sweatpants or flannel PJ bottoms because there’s 3% elastane in them and 92% shape memory. Also? If you want to wear boot with a tall shaft, these will fit into them like tights.”

I picked up my pair at Shopgirls in Parkdale, but I understand they can be ordered online at Mudshark Streetwear.

The accessories to go with such a fun outfit? Nathalie insisted, “since you’re already going bold with the hot pink, why not pile it on?” We stopped at Jessica Jensen’s studio to pick up her giant fold-over clutch in limited edition magenta goatskin that has a little sheen, perfect for the holidays.

The shopping tired us out, so we stopped at the Scotiabank Theatres for an afternoon matinee of Twilight. We are culture reporters, after all, so we have to keep up-to-date on everything hot. And we did conclude that teenage vampires are indeed hot.  We both agreed that Canadian actress Rachelle Lefevre was the most stylish vampire in the entire film. Her fashion was fabulous.  Nathalie was particularly intrigued with the chiseled Robert Pattinson, declaring him “the new River Phoenix.”  I, on the other hand, was preoccupied with the extended trailer for Confessions of a Shopaholic. I cannot wait to take Lady Miss Angora to that little movie.

After the movie break, Nathalie insisted I have my own version of her signature jewellery piece: the sterling silver Blowfish ring by Cinelli & Maillet.  I always admired her aubergine ring, and only a true friend would encourage another to purchase a similar piece. Mine is, of course, enameled in fuchsia.

Finally, we stopped at John Fluevog for Shoes - the black patent Audrey heel. Nathalie and I agreed that the shapely heel and scalloped details make them more interesting than a plain pump. And Nathalie added, “the black patent is so shiny, it looks like wet car paint!”

What a wonderful day we had together.