  |
       |
 | ||||||
  | ||||||
|
|
 |
Arts Cafe and Symposium Presents Art and Fashion: Marilyn Brooks, a Creative Synergy Presented in Collaboration with York Region Arts Council
Kleinburg, ON May 31, 2012 - Marilyn Brooks's adventurous and thought-provoking creations such as the chain bra, black satin hot pants or her signature vinyl jumpsuit, contributed in putting Canadian fashion design in the forefront of the 1970s runways. Today, this celebrated designer and business woman turns to a quieter, but no less exciting artistic pursuit: painting. Visiting us from her beloved home on Lake Rousseau, Marilyn Brooks will tell the story of her life-long adventure with art and fashion, and share a secret on how to make dreams become reality.
Saturday, June 9
For more information, go to McMichael - Public Programs - Special Events On August 4th 2011 I lost a wonderful friend...
Obituary: Eveleen Dollery
By Susan Pigg, reporter for The Toronto Star
Toronto, August 16, 2011 - There aren't many women who still look fabulous at 90. Eveleen Dollery did. Even at the elegant dinner last June to celebrate her birthday -- although no one dared utter the number 90 -- Dollery, the long-time fashion and beauty editor of Chatelaine was her trademark picture of style and grace. Despite months of failing health, she looked radiant in a fuchsia Ferre jacket, black pencil skirt and, of course, high heels, as she greeted dozens of friends and family Dollery, a beloved Toronto socialite, champion of up-and-coming fashion designers and tireless volunteer at the ROM and Canadian Opera Company, died Aug. 4. 
Seneca College's Fashion Resource Centre comes to life!
Toronto, May 3, 2011 - Seneca College's Fashion Resource Centre brought together pillars of Canadian fashion along with some of the newest visionaries in the industry with a week-long exhibit celebrating the breadth and diversity of Canadian design from 1964 to 2011. "Everything from skinny jeans by Joe Fresh to evening wear by Alfred Sung will be showcased in the "Oh Canada" exhibit," said Dale Peers, Costume Coordinator for Seneca's Fashion Resource Centre. We are also thrilled to be offering a glimpse into what inspired the designers during these pivotal years with descriptions in their own words." Toronto Fashion Week Spring 2010
TORONTO, November 1, 2010 - It has been a while since I attended the fashion Noreen Flanagan, the new editor-in-chief of Elle Canada, was there and also the new editor-in-chief of Fashion Magazine, Bernadette Morra. One evening across the aisle I saw Bonnie Brooks, the President of The Bay, enjoying one of the shows.
Marilyn Brooks Special 'PAINTED LADIES' Collection at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre
GRAVENHURST, July 12 - Marilyn Brooks has produced a special collection of "PAINTED LADIES" Marilyn will be in attendance on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, 2009 at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre. The Exhibit will continue until August 15th, daily from 10 am to 6 pm (exception - Aug 15th only to 2pm). | |||
|
Marilyn Brooks to speak at YWCA Networking Luncheon
BRACEBRIDGE, June 9 - Marilyn Brooks will be speaking on The luncheon is part of a series of women's luncheons held on the last Friday on the month in Bracebridge. They include a guest speaker, catered lunch and is designed to facilitate networking among program participants, graduates and all women within the community. Luncheons are from noon to 1:00pm. There is a $10 cost for non-YWCA members and $5 for YWCA members.
Bracebridge Luncheons, YWCA Muskoka,
Visit the YWCA Muskoka site:
Inverlynn Art show huge success
Since retiring from the fashion world, Marilyn's creative magic has been channeled into painting. Her initial show 5 years ago was held at Inverlynn Art and so she was quite excited to be returning to the gallery that believed in her enough to launch her art career. The show continues on through to June 9, 2009, Tuesday to Saturday 2pm - 5pm Inverlynn Art Making a big splash in its debut at this year's show were Marilyn's new "Unicorn Wishes", sets of 10 blank cards with the latest Marilyn Brooks paintings adorning the fronts. These will soon be available for purchase through this Web site and select retailers. Teatro Verde Opening Party on Yorkville
To the right, Wayne Clark, Marilyn Brooks, and Brian Bailey enjoying martinis on the 2nd floor of the new fabulous store.
The store is part floral, garden, home, beauty and wild-and-wonderful lifestyles mixed with Pictured left are Fioro, John, Marilyn, Carson Kressley, Wayne Clark, Robert Gage, and Brian Bailey. The new store is at 100 Yorkville. Once upon a time the building was a hospital, and then a nursing home. It is now the crowning jewel in Yorkville called Teatro Verde.  Corona Chairs for Charity Auction a runaway success
TORONTO, April 2 - We'd like to thank Corona and all those involved in making the Corona Chairs for Charity Auction a runaway success. The auction featured traditional Muskoka chairs that had been transformed by six Canadian artists into Corona Chairs to benefit the Cottage Dreams Cancer Recovery Initiative - a charity that provides time away at a donated cottage for cancer survivors and their families. Participating artists include: V. Tony Hauser, Charles Pachter, Rose Pearson, David Hickey, Marilyn Brooks and Noelia Marziali. The total monies raised was CDN$14,682.80. This money will be used to place additional families into cottages in the new Fall/Winter program. It is so wonderful and much appreciated for the Cottage Dreams Cancer Recovery Initiative to be able to offer these additional getaways. Click to read original press release...
Muskoka is a beautiful place to unwind and create
BRACEBRIDGE, February 7 - Muskoka Magazine is a magazine for Muskoka cottagers, residents and frequent visitors. The magazine covers the rich array of people, lifestyles, events, special places, local issues and activites one will find in this truely unique part of Ontario. Featured in the February 2009 issue of Muskoka Magazine is My Muskoka written by Marilyn Brooks. It gives a glimpse at how she came to arrive in Muskoka, what keeps her busy there, how she absorbs and channels the natural beauty of her surroundings into her creative works, as well as her take on life in beautiful Muskoka.
2009 Heart Beat Ball - A great event in support of a great cause
TORONTO, February 7 - On Friday February 6th, over 300 business, community, medical and political leaders attended the 2009 Heart Beat Ball in the Regency Ballroom of Toronto's Four Seasons Hotel, to support and celebrate the Women's Cardiovascular Health Initiative, Canada's first and only cardiac prevention and rehabilitation program designed exclusively for women. New to the 2009 event was the Hat Bar, the brainchild of designer Marilyn Brooks, who prevailed upon 12 Canadian designers to create one-of-a-kind hats for the gala's auction. These creative masterpieces were modeled by celebrities including Seamus O'Reagan, co-host of CTV's Canada AM, and famed ballet dancer Rex Harrington.
Charles Dickens' Timeless Classic: A Christmas Carol
ROSSEAU, December 7 - Marilyn Brooks and Carroll Sturgeon co-chaired for CBC, the Charles Dickens classic story A Christmas Carol. It was an amazing evening with approximately 175 people attending at the newly renovated Rosseau Community Memorial Hall. The event involved students from Rosseau Lake College's art and music departments as well as the Rosseau Community Choir. The story was dramatically delivered by wonderfully skilled guest readers including Bob McDonald, host of CBC's Quirks and Quarks, and John Dawe, retired news anchor for CBC News World and Global Television. Money raised from the evening totaled $3000 which was donated to four charities, including women's shelters in the Muskoka community and Rosseau, as well as the area's Christmas food hampers. 
Marilyn Brooks at the new Andy Thê-Anh Yorkville boutique
Recently, Marilyn Brooks attended the opening of the new Andy Thê-Anh boutique in Yorkville. Marilyn Brooks said, "Andy Thê-Anh is so very talented and his workmanship and designs are top notch. I am so glad he has opened a shop in Yorkville. Congratulations, Andy!" The coat Marilyn is wearing is by Linda Lundstrom, the leather hand bag is by Naiomi. Photographed by George Pimentel of WireImage at Andy Thê-Anh's opening. The new Andy Thê-Anh boutique is located at 83 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5R 1C1.
Spring/Summer 2008 preview of Canadian fashion
I am currently sketching for Inside Fashion by Audrey Gostlin. Click on the images below to view all my sketches for the Spring/Summer 2008 issue of Inside Fashion featuring Canadian Designers.
The "Summer of Love" Event Part of LuminaTO 2007
The Summer of Love was a five hour music fest celebrating the Yorkville scene of the 60s and its relevance to the birth of Toronto as a major music centre. It took place in the afternoon in Yorkville Park alongside Cumberland St (opposite where Marilyn's old boutique was) just west of Bellair. To read more CLICK HERE...
FASHION CARES 2006
Marilyn Brooks has been in almost every Fashion Cares Show in the last 20 years. E L L E Canada
May 2005 
Marilyn Brooks in her retirement is still making news from all 4 decades she was in fashion! A forerunner in the 60's, not only for her unique fashion and big production fashion shows ... but also documenting through photography each season of her collections!
E L L E F L A S H B A C K PEEKABOOTORONTO, 1967 
 If you haven't worked up the courage to slip into your Catwoman ensemble on October 31, don't fret. The purrfect way to prowl is in disguise. Just ask Toronto designer and Halloween enthusiast Marilyn Brooks, who often used masks - like this one from 1967 - in her runway shows.
"Fashion can be fantasy", she says. "I always put a bit of masquerade in my shows to convey that message." I met with Rita Silvan, Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Magazine, she asked me to show her pictures of some of my past collections ... and they chose from my 1988 collection (below).
A few weeks after this session, there was a gala celebrating my 25th anniversary in Canadian fashion. Text: Marilyn Brooks CLOTHESLINES
by Marylou Luther Marylou Luther is currently Fashion Editor for Clotheslines, a weekly column on fashion. Question:
The coat illustrated here is called a patchwork sampler by its designer, Marilyn Brooks. The 72 percent wool / 28 percent silk fabrics were created by Brooks in Austria by Jill Silk. The bias-cut coat ($235) is from a patchwork group that also includes a bustier ($125), blazer ($230), 36-inch skirt ($180) and shirt ($175). MARILYN BROOKS RECIPIENT OF THE ORDER OF ONTARIO FOR 2000 For more than 37 years, Marilyn Brooks has been one of Canada's leading fashion designers. She is always looking for  new ways to enhance the exposure of her designs and those of other Canadian designers.
In 1988, February 4th was officially declared "Marilyn Brooks Day" in Toronto in recognition of her 25 years in the Canadian fashion Industry.
As well as mentoring young talent, Ms. Brooks has dedicated countless hours to fundraising efforts for organizations and causes such as AIDS, UNICEF, Parkinson's and the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. Her efforts have been appreciated and recognized by numerous awards and accolades.
|
||||||
shows put on by the Fashion Design Council of Canada...Robin Kay extended to me a VIP pass and it was quite exciting to see new fashions and a few people from the past.
for an exhibit and sale at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre. These whimsical paintings depict the Segwun, North America's oldest operating steamship, and the Wenonah II, full of turn-of-the-century charm, as hats in true Marilyn Brooks fashion.
Friday June 26, 2009 at the YWCA Muskoka's Monthly Networking Luncheon. She will be discussing "40 Years of Fashion and Business". Included will be a slide presentation as well as a question and answer period.
WHITBY, May 24 - On May 23 & 24 we celebrated the opening of the Marilyn Brooks "Collection 2009" at Inverlynn Art in Whitby, Ontario. Marilyn's 5th annual art show,
TORONTO, May 21 - Marilyn Brooks recently attended the opening party at Teatro Verde on Yorkville in Toronto.
In the photo to the left, Marilyn is pictured with Michael Pellegrino, Shawn Gibson and friends at the opening of their new flag ship store in Yorkville on May 20, 2009.
drama that has so much magical flourish you cannot believe you are in Toronto...this must be Paris or London ...but it is the magical world of Shawn and Michael right in Yorkville.
Big, brassy and bold - that was the '80s. To capture the over-the-top mood, I had mixed graphic stripes with Parisian-inspired suspenders, belts and berets. Toronto's "it" photographer, Jim Allen - fresh from the New York fashion scene, where he photographed top models such as Claudia Schiffer - was hired to shoot my spring collection.
At the show that night, a mix of my past and present designs were worn by models from the '60s and '70s. Ivana Trump, the most famous of my girls, sent her regrets, but Cathie Shirriff made a cameo on the catwalk, while emcees Andrea Martin and Hagood Hardy entertained the crowd. The most memorable moment? Toronto's mayor declared February 3, 1988, Marilyn Brooks Day.
Answer:       |