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The city is abuzz with pre-TIFF flurries of excitement, as everyone and everything is getting primped for the upcoming Hollywood invasion. To celebrate its first birthday in Toronto, the Shangri-La Hotel – which will become a scenester’s heaven given its prime location beside Soho House during TIFF – unveiled a new uniform with a mini fashion show and cocktail party in the candlelit lobby lounge. On Tuesday night, an intimate crew of 100 watched a string of wait staff strut through the crowd in a Ming vase-inspired frock by Canadian designer Sunny Fong of Vawk. Guests sipped on the Vawktini (a prosecco, brandy and yuzu zinger) and snacked on sashimi and crab puffs at the cinq à sept that was attended by media mamas, fashion bloggers and a fierce duo from Canada Philippine Fashion Week, Rommel and Jeff Rustia. It was the final calm before the storm as Simcoe Street enjoyed its last quiet night before a sea of cameras take over the neighbourhood. It’s official: happy festival!

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Sunny Fong is pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Hannah Yakobi, Richard Fabregui and Spiro Mandylor are pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Jason Bossenberry, Amira de Vera and Mitch Parker are pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Melanie Selv and Logan Ly are pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Rommel, Sunny Fong and Jeff Rustia are pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Sheena Brady and Sunny Fong are pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Amelia Kearns and Alex Filiatrault are pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Vivian To is pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Cary Shields is pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Rommel is pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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Jeff Rustia is pictured at the Shangri-La Hotel’s first birthday party in Toronto.Teddy Chau/The Globe and Mail

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