The atmosphere of the 2024 Book For Men VIP event could best be described as electric. Much like years past, SHARP‘s esteemed guests arrived for an unforgettable evening, being immersed into the world of luxury automotive design, refined spirits, fashion, and haute horlogerie. With this year’s presenting partner INFINITI, the all-new QX80 took centre stage, as guests were invited to get a first-hand look at the brand’s flagship luxury SUV.
SHARP welcomed an exclusive list of friends and VIP guests for the evening, alongside fresh faces that arrived in style to explore the latest activations from our curated assortment of sponsors. While Redbreast Whiskey and Jefferson’s Bourbon provided cocktails and whiskey tastings, L’Oro Jewellery showcased the latest luxury watches from IWC, Timberland displayed its finest fall fashion (including its recent Louis Vuitton collaboration), and Rabanne delivered notes on its latest Million Gold fragrance.
With a pair of polished QX80s placed in the large loft-like venue, parked in the centre and rear of the space, respectively, INFINITI proudly welcomed guests to take a seat and enjoy its refined and luxurious interior. What’s more, an additional pair of QX80s were parked at the front door, with the option for eager invitees to get in a brief test drive (prior to any sort of whiskey sampling, of course).
Just to the right of the INFINITI QX80 was an equally-sophisticated presentation of IWC watches by L’Oro Jewellery. The latter recently celebrated the opening of its Yorkville boutique, lighting up the luxurious corner of Bloor Street and Avenue Road. At the Book For Men VIP event, L’Oro brought its trademark opulence direct from downtown, welcoming guests to view and try on the latest releases from Schaffhausen.
Across the room, faux-foliage trees framed a table of technical designs by Timberland. The brand’s sustainable styles continue to impress, riding the recent wave of workwear to reach new heights. At the event, Timberland’s selection of clothing, accessories, and boots — including the recently-launched Biggie boot collaboration — brought functional fashion to the forefront.
Kentucky-born Jefferson’s Bourbon set up shop behind a sleek white counter, pouring out refreshments and showcasing a decadent display of decanters. As the brand poured its pair of signature cocktails — a Jefferson’s Old Fashioned, and a Bourbon Cider — the brand’s display brought Jefferson’s experimental methods to mind; the brand is known for its unique process of aging barrels of bourbon on the high seas.
Elsewhere, the Irish whiskey label Redbreast claimed a slice of the room to offer tastings of its portfolio. 12, 18, and 21-year old whiskies were sampled over the course of the night, offering VIP guests a chance to experience the diversity found within its offering. There’s good reason the house has been a leader in premium Irish whiskies, after all. For guests seeking something other than Irish whiskey or bourbon, Finlandia Vodka, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and Heineken all stepped up to satisfy those in need.
Of course, the interactive display from our beloved fragrance partner Rabanne was hard to miss. A mirrored gold backsplash lit up the area, glittering in gold and turning into an impromptu selfie stop for several of the night’s guests. Metallic shelves were lined with bottles of fragrance, including feminine and masculine variants of Rabanne’s intoxicating Million Gold scent. An artist installation on the corner of Rabanne’s display treated partygoers to whimsical sketches, ensuring each received a bespoke souvenir of the night.
In addition to all of these activations taking place centre-stage, INFINITI also played host to a dedicated VIP space on the second floor of the venue. Highlighting its partnership with Klipsch, ambient lounge music played through a top-tier set of Klipsch The Nine speakers, as an INFINITI Multi-sensory Concierge guided guests through the brand’s signature scent program — crafted with 100% natural ingredients, the meticulously crafted aroma evokes a Japanese forest with hints of hinoki wood (Japanese cypress), sugi (Japanese cedar), and yuzu (Japanese citrus).
This latest event was a return-to-form, so to speak, as our last Book For Men VIP event was held in 2022, coinciding with SHARP’s fifteenth anniversary. Though we have been busy hosting exceptional gatherings with our various partners over the last two years, this gathering of like-minded brands and VIPs brings us back to the all-encompassing experience that is reflective of our publications.
The Book For Men continues to tackle culture, fashion, and curated luxury head-on: crack open any issue, and you’ll find In-depth conversations with stars like James McAvoy, Patrick Dempsey, and Josh Brolin, alongside innovative photoshoots, showcasing (and shaping) the latest trends in watches, clothing, and objets d’art. We’re reporting on the cultural zeitgeist from its core, and these curated moments bring our VIPs into that space for a firsthand experience that isn’t found elsewhere in Canada.
Photography by Josh Fee.
The post SHARP: The Book for Men VIP Event is Back appeared first on Sharp Magazine.
