As promised, here’s a little insider’s look into the world of TIFF gifting lounges! And let me tell you, it’s good to be a celebrity, visiting Toronto, and being showered with gifts and pampered to the max! And sometimes other lucky lounge guests enjoy the perks…and then blog all about it! Enjoy!
1. Tastemakers Lounge
The first lounge I visited this year was rock-it promotion’s Tastemakers Lounge. And I was definitely in good company! This year, celebs like Emily Blunt, Kristen Stewart, Adrian Grenier, and Eli Roth stopped by to check out the goodies and get refreshed.
And there was no shortage of goodies…from sexy La Senza underthings, to stylish Yorkdale offerings (Tiffany’s, anyone?), to yummy Popchips, to even yummier Demeter Fragrances, we could hardly keep up!
There were also fun and useful Bobble bottles with built-in filters, sweets from Le Dolci, skin rescue from Indeed Labs (yes, please!), and manpering (man pampering) from John Allan’s! Just like interior designer Hilary Farr, I got my nails did, courtesy of imPRESS, grabbed a hot tea from the Tea Emporium, and went back to work, weighed down by a heavy swag bag. Wish I had an entourage to help me out.
Read on for more TIFF swag!
2. Essentials Lounge
Next up, was EGPR’s Essentials Lounge, “dedicated entirely to arming media with the “essentials” they will need for the Toronto International Film Festival”, where guests received not one but TWO bags full of goodies!
First one, titled SURVIVAL, contained products meant to help you get through TIFF in one piece. The bag was full of items like vitaminwater, John Frieda hair products, Benefit Cosmetics, Calvin Klein underthings, Elizabeth Grant Skin Care, and so much more! I have to say the skincare and hair products sure did help me get through TIFF in style.
The RECOVERY bag was full of mostly healthy-living items like Tealish teas, Vitamints, Joy-A-Toes, and Raw Juice Guru cleanse system, and lots more! I have to say that I am pretty excited to try Raw Juice Guru’s organic and 100% handpressed juice cleanse. I’ve never done one before, and after hearing about all the benefits, I think I might really need it for my own post-TIFF recovery!
3. NKPR IT Lounge
My third stop was NKPR’s famed IT Lounge, hoping for a glance of Patrick Demarchelier. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, I got snapped by the amazing Norman Wong (of the Coveteur), while Patrick took photos of Trudy Styler (aka Mrs. Sting), Agyness Deyn, Paul Haggis, Nina Dobrev, Yasmin Warsame, Jeanne Beker, and other lucky celebs the next day.
And though, having an amazing photo to remember the day by was good enough for me, the swag just kept on…swagging. Just like Milos Raonic, guests got to check out Swarovski encrusted Tweezerman products, pick out their fave bling courtesy of lia sophia, try on some fun fall fashions fom RW&CO, and play for charity with STiKS Gaming. The best part of the lounge for me, however, was Yogurty’s! I piled my cup sky-high with chocolate, sprinkles, and other yummy goodness, mixed in with delicious froyo. SO GOOD! Those, without a sweet tooth, got to recharge, refuel, and relax over at the refuelling station, sponsored by Grain Farmers of Ontario and Great Lakes Biodiesel! Yum!
4. TDot TV Lounge
My fourth and final TIFF swag stop was TDot TV’s gifting lounge held at Bata Shoe Museum, helping raise awareness for CANFAR, which helps fund AIDS research in Canada.
At the lounge, guests were treated to manicures courtesy of Cheeky Monkey Cosmetics, fun extensions from Doll Bar Inc, yummy cupcakes from We Bake in Heels, and a sneak peek at Rebekah Price Designs‘ gorgeous jewels. I also spotted Toronto-based Lazypants loungewear at the TDot TV Lounge, which, had I gotten a pair, would’ve been all I’d wear post-TIFF.
So that’s my recap of just a few things that celebs and lucky media types receive at TIFF Gifting Suites. Pretty sweet, if I may say so myself. It also makes Christmas gift-giving a lot easier! I think I have that stocking stuffer thing locked down!
What do you think about all this swag? Which lounge do you wish you were invited to ransack? Share in the comments, and maybe next year, you might just get invited! In the meantime, stay tuned for some fun giveaways we have planned on Style Blog!
Photo Credits: 1-4 c/o rock-it promo; 6-8 c/o EGPR; 9-11 c/o NKPR; all others Style Blog
