Originally published in TFI News: June 2009
The tweeting was deafening after Toronto Life’s new Toronto’s Best Dressed segment came out on Thursday, May 27. Real estate developer Deena Pantalone was featured in a red dress she wore to the Butterfly Ball, which she claimed was a vintage piece that she “re-worked” with help from a cousin who is a stylist in New York.
What was all the fuss about? Well, the dress was actually designed and made by TFI New Labels 2003 finalist Caroline Lim of Champagne &Cupcakes . Lim found out about the mis-credit through a customer inquiring about whether the dress she saw in Toronto Life was vintage, or if it was in fact a Champagne & Cupcakes original design. Confused, Lim had the customer send over the link.
Initially Lim was hurt that Pantalone would make up the story. Lim remembers when Pantalone came to the store. “She was super outgoing and a pleasure to work with. She had mentioned she was looking for a fabulous dress to wear to the [Butterfly Ball].” Overwhelmed by the amount of support from loyal clientele and strangers, Lim posted a thank you announcing a discount to anyone who posted their own comment on the post.
“Not only were people blogging endlessly, even the phone at the boutique was ringing off the hook with people calling to let me know, personally, their support and reassurance,” says Lim. “Being a small, local designer it’s easy to be missed in the giant ocean of fashion and it was super flattering and heartwarming to hear warm words from complete strangers.”
Toronto Life closed commentary on the post after it reached over 150 comments. Orders for the infamous dress are pouring in and Lim reported a “packed” store the weekend following. Pantalone herself apologized to Lim in person just as her photo was released in Toronto Star’s Fashion section where she re-credited the dress as Dior. In response to the second mis-credit, Lim said, “All I could say was ‘Wow. Dior? Thank you Ms. Deena…That’s kinda flattering.”
Lim hopes this situation has brought light to the issue of “artistic plagiarism” and opened consumers’ eyes to the talent of local designers. “I really feel like independent Toronto designers need to stay connected to support each other since, at times, the market is not the easiest for us little fish. I just wanted to stand up for myself and my fellow designers.”
And that customer who made the initial call? She’s first on the waiting list.
