A walk along the Ossington and Queen West strips means two things for vintage shoppers: more room in the wallet and less room in the closet. Of course, it’s hard to avoid purchases when it comes to the many unique pieces that are found in the vintage shops around Toronto. With over 50 stores alone in the city centre, Torontonians have long known that the vintage scene here is one of the best in the world.
If there was only one thing we could get this holiday season, these ‘80s Chanel earrings from Carole Tanenbaum’s vintage collection would be it. First off, they are Chanel, so how could anyone not love them? Second, they are gold, have crystals and also a medallion drop. Third, they are simply chi-chi-chic to the highest degree. Who cares about new clothes when you could be wearing these?
We can’t think of anything better than a brand new, slouchy tee that feels as soft on the skin as a well-worn favourite, wouldn’t you agree? This is why we love L.A. label KAIN so much. The sisters behind the line, Amanda and Melanie Kain, have dedicated themselves to creating modern, stylish and super-soft basics of the utmost quality for women around the world since 2008.
Joe Jonas and thousands of hysterical teens launched the opening of Calvin Klein’s new freestanding store in Toronto last week, located at the Fairview Mall. The Jonas brother in the middle rocked a James Dean-esque look — black leather moto jacket, white V-neck T-shirt and black Calvin Klein jeans – to serenade his fans (well, the lucky first 150 to be let through the shop’s glass doors) with songs from his new solo album, Fastlife.
Something old can now be new this Sunday at Tabula Rasa. Head over to the Queen and Broadview boutique with your old, broken and unworn jewellery for a cozy afternoon of jewellery repair, vintage re-working and custom necklace creations. Local jeweler Brittany Hopkins, of Anice Jewellery, will be presiding.
It’s the first of December, and you know what that means: your social schedule is going to be jam-packed with holiday parties for the next two months. If you haven’t already begun adding a bit of razzle-dazzle and jewel tones to your wardrobe, we suggest you begin now. Of course we could tell you to go buy another little black dress, or even a red-satin showstopper, jazzed up with some “holiday” accessories — but then you would end up looking like everyone else, and we wouldn’t want that.
The Muttonhead Collective twins (we’re referring to Meg and Mel Sinclair, the twin sisters behind the label) are at it again with another pop-up shop. This time they’ve recruited a variety of their talented friends from the Toronto vicinity to participate in LOCO for LOCAL, a four-day pop-up shop at NACO Gallery and Cafe on Dundas West.
Three French hens decked out in Chanel, four fashion bloggers sitting in front row, five Gucci handbags and a Prada-clad model in a pear tree. Wondering what the heck we’re talking about? We’re singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with a fashion spin! But we can’t take the credit for the lyrics: we got them from Toronto-based illustrator Monica Smiley of Eighty Seventh ST.’s fashion-inspired holiday greeting cards.
We can’t think of a better time than now for one of our favourite local lines to have a sale. It’s right before our wallets feel the holiday pinch, giving us an excuse to indulge in some new duds at deal prices. Toronto-based indie design label Diepo has teamed up with Queen West boutique Robber to host a holiday trunk sale from Dec. 1-4.
Now that leaving work means entering total darkness, we’ve turned our backs on any sort of social agenda, choosing instead to retreat into hibernation at home. Chunky sweaters, flannel PJs and a nice glass of wine by the fire: that’s the kind of happy hour we’re talking about. When in winter mode, there’s nothing that rocks our socks quite like a fresh new pair of slippers to keep our tootsies cozy while hanging around the house.
Marie Saint Pierre is the latest in a slew of designers to combine forces with a mega retailer, and this time around, Reitmans is acting as the other half. The tough-as-nails Québécois designer — who, a day after giving birth to her first kid, hopped on a plane for a New York showing — recently showed a series of (mostly) little black dresses at LG Fashion Week. The presentation ended with Saint Pierre doing a tour of the room accompanied by FDCC head Robin Kay, each with a pint-sized pup in tow.
Like the wardrobe of so many other cultural cliques today, the storied “nerd look” — which would have once brought about a torment of wedgies, swirlies and all other manner of school hall pranks — has been appropriated by the reigning league of hipsters. In their evanescent cool, they have claimed buttoned-to-the-top collared shirts and shrunken, ankle-grazing slacks for their own.
