Fashion

Fashionable Mother’s Day: 6 stylish ways to celebrate her special day

How to choose the perfect Mother’s Day date idea to suit your mom’s style.

by : Ava Baccari- May 7th, 2012

We’ve taken care of every Mother’s Day date idea —from where to go to what to wear—that meets your mom’s colourful personality. All you have to do is get her there. (And remember a card.)

Date idea: Spa by the sea

The locale: A spa getaway at Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel’s Interlude Spa to experience Mom’s Spa Vacation treatment package, ($290), 1919 Upper Water St., 1-902-474-2091.
The scene: Pamper mom with a well-deserved, total-body relaxation experience that includes a spa facial, custom body massage and mani and pedi, followed by a hairstyling—to hit the harbour in style. Did we mention the hotel’s waterfront view?
Dress code: This stress-relieving getaway calls for the luxe bedtime stylings of Marni’s aqua blue oversized silk pajama shirt—and a glass of single malt scotch from the hotel’s Fife & Drum Pub—to cap off the indulgent day.

Painting by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973) Jacqueline aux mains croisées (Jacqueline with Crossed Hands), 1954 Oil on canvas 116 x 88.5 cm Pablo Picasso gift-in-lieu, 1979, MP1990-26 Musée National Picasso, Paris © Picasso Estate SODRAC (2012) © RMN/Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Date idea: At the art gallery

The locale: Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St. W., Toronto).
The scene: What better way to spoil mom than to temporarily surround her with 150 highlights from the Spanish painter’s oeuvre, including paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings?
Dress code: A vibrant, colour-blocked ensemble to parallel the painter’s whimsical, cubist depictions of his infamous and equally colourful muses: stand next to his 1954 masterpiece, Jacqueline with Crossed Hands, which features his second wife and most-painted muse, in a matching black and red Marc by Marc Jacobs cinch-waisted dress.

Date idea: For high tea

The locale: High Tea for Mother’s Day at the Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut St.), which includes a tour of the Arc Deco Chic exhibit on Saturday May 12, from 2 to 5 p.m.
The scene: Indulge mom’s palette with a cup of freshly brewed tea, served with an assortment of petite tea sandwiches and cakes, before taking in a guided tour of the 66 luxe garments, featuring works of art from Lanvin and Schiaparelli. Next up? There’s tea demonstrations and a silent auction to raise money for the museum.
Dress code: A perfect excuse—other than Halloween—to wear your favourite flapper gown. There’s the champagne Marchesa number with a shaggy, beaded fringe or any of Gucci’s gilded, Art Deco-inspired dresses—both from this season’s Spring/Summer 2012 runways.

Need fashionable gift ideas? Click here for retro sunglasses under $200.

Our Mother’s Day Gift Guide: 10 gifts under $50

For the perfect Mother’s Day date idea at the theatre, read on…

Date idea: Afternoon shopping

The locale: Retail therapy at Canada’s luxe shopping mecca, Mink Mile—a collection of high-end shops scattered along Bloor Street, just west of Yonge.

The scene: Featuring A-list names like Chanel, Cartier and Michael Kors, this haute strip makes for fashionable bonding time with mom while window shopping the latest styles (or actual shopping, if you forgot to pick up a gift). Stop by the Ron Hami counter at Holt Renfrew and browse through the L.A.-based jeweller’s Mother’s Day selection, which includes a pair of 18-carat white gold diamond octagular studs ($1,365).

Dress code: Test out your favourite runway trends of the season: any one of the high-end takes on peplum, colour-blocking or floral-printed suits, works—preferably with a Starbucks cup in hand. A tiny dog fastened with a Louis Vuitton collar works too.

Date idea: Out for brunch

The locale: Brunch in the Le Meridien King Edward Hotel dining room (37 King St. E.), served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $69 per person, with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

The scene: Treat mom to the
upscale brunch she finally doesn’t have to whip up herself—a luxe buffet featuring eggs Benedict and lemon buttermilk pancakes. Perhaps the regal experience will inspire future culinary creations the next time you head home for breakfast. Win-win.

Dress code: Don your bowler hats for the teatime affair: think
Gatsbyish grandeur as reimagined in Ralph Lauren’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection. Anything, from fluttery bias-cut tea dresses to ruffled georgette blouses, goes for this Jazz Age-inspired brunch.

Date idea: At the theatre

The locale:
The Real World?, running at the Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace at 30 Bridgman Ave. at 2:30 p.m.

The scene: Treat mom to the hard-hitting and undoubtedly Canadian world of Quebec playwright Michel Tremblay’s
The Real World?, which examines the fallout of art imitating life when a young playwright hands over his first script for his mother to read. Then promise to depict her favourably in the memoirs—it’s her day, after all.

Dress code: Revive the old-school sartorial grandeur of the theatre spectator for your trip to this quaint and storied Annex-based theatre. Think Diane Keaton’s
Annie Hall-inspired suits from Tommy Hilfiger’s Fall/Winter 2012-13 runway. For added class, don’t forget your monocle.