On Friday, Dec. 1, Ottawa Magazine hosted an exclusive opening party for the first Marc Cain store in Ottawa. Guests included fashion insiders, longtime fans of the upscale German brand, style bloggers, and event partners. As canapés were passed and the collection revealed, glasses of Prosecco were raised to this new addition to the Ottawa fashion scene.
The sleek, bright store offers all manner of sartorial elements, from statement outerwear to glam sneakers, sparkling evening wear to luxurious accessories. Located in the Rideau Centre, the boutique is the most recent high-end retailer to open on the third floor. With such neighbours as Tiffany, Stuart Weitzman, Coach, and Michael Kors, Marc Cain adds to the growing allure of the mall as a destination for fashion lovers.
Local stylist Alyssa Beltempo and Ottawa Magazine‘s own stylist Julia Wallace helped guests get to know the line, putting together looks that would work for holiday parties and workday ensembles. While many were familliar with the brand, which is known for its European flair and commitment to production standards, others were exploring the collection for the first time. Eye-popping prints, seamless knitwear, and even trompe l’oeil “tweed” suits took this party into the change rooms, as guests experimented with the unique fabrics, cuts, and colours that Marc Cain is known for.
The event also served as a fundraiser for Cornerstone Housing for Women, a local organization that provides emergency shelter and safe affordable permanent housing for women. Cornerstone is well-known for their community engagement — not to mention their own popular events that bring people together while raising funds that support affordable housing. As charitable partner, Cornerstone will receive ten percent of sales made at the opening party.
Photo by Alex Brault.
In addition to beautiful clothing, accessories, and footwear, the store also carries the first Marc Cain fragrance line, Mysteriously. Guests found time between trips to the change rooms and selfies to experiment with the three perfumes — the first of many planned ventures into beauty products for the German company.
Fashion insiders were excited by the appearance of Marie Anik Desmarais, owner of long-standing womenswear shop Anik Boutique. For years, Anik has carried Marc Cain as well as other hard-to-find European labels; her influence — and passion — is considered to be one of Ottawa’s best-kept fashion secrets.
Whether it was about finding that perfect holiday party dress, or simply connecting over a shared interest in fashion and Ottawa’s growing retail sensibility, the party was a great way to kick off the holiday shopping season.
