Open your purse

What’s better than a designer handbag? A gorgeous male model displaying it. That’s exactly what we found last Friday at the YWCA's Open your purse event at Hotel Arts. Right after work we headed over to the event that started at 6:00pm. I don't know how these well to do women manage to pull it off but it seemed that only a handful of the some 200 guests were in casual attire. Myself only having time to re apply some mascara and lip gloss, The rest dressed in cocktail dresses and recently coiffed hair and fully done make-up. I imagine they must be hockey players wives or the type of woman who is certainly not working the 9-5 job. The bags were stunning, from the Elisha Cuthbert donated and signed to the Fergie. I would have bid and tried to win each but my dire circumstances only allowed me to glance and the bags... I am referring to the purses not the mens'. Kath however attempted to bid on two yet was outdone by another ferocious bidder. Beyond the material aspect of the evening, the theme and message of the night was clear and relevant to all the female attendees. Domestic abuse. Hitting on the somewhat current topic of Rhianna and Chris Brown. Stories were shared from victims to educate and drive home the importance of supporting foundations like the YWCA that assist women in their most strenuous and life changing events. I was glad to have taken part in it. It truly shows that this is an issue that can affect anyone at any time and the effects can be far reaching, from the individual victims to their children and families. During the later half of the night after the auction was over and women began to leave with their prizes, I was introduced to Kaths Stylist from SHE Apparel, who in turn introduced me to a couple members from Energy 101.5. I thanked them for the shout out they game me on twitter and Facebook that one day. They of course had no clue who I was or what I was talking about but were gracious and pretended they did. We exchanged pleasantries and common first impression statements. When asked about myself and explaining I came from TO, what I do fro work, who I was wearing and finally where I was living, I felt embarrassed to tell them I had just moved into Kaths (which for the record has been awkward and I lost out on my damage deposit from my old place for late notice on vacating but the price is right and her tub is huge!) I looked and spoke radiantly, Kath tried to set me up with the few straight men that were in attendance and single. I think the total was two. Before we left for the night with our gift bags, I caught a familiar face.... An ex from back home. Not necessarily a bad break-up. He was a photographer who I use to see for 2 years, attended many a fashion show and once to Montreal fashion week with him. We ended the relationship as he was moving to Vancouver for a job op with a magazine. Like most couples we played the staying touch card but never did. He looked good. I looked better. I don't think he caught my gaze as I walked out. I wonder if I can fid him on Facebook.