There’s an archaic tradition that dictates one should only wear white between Memorial Day and Labour Day. The reasoning seems to stem more from an old-fashioned code of etiquette than logic. Fashion trends have been obviously bucking that adage for decades, but with this weekend being Memorial Day for our Yankee cousins, we thought we’d play along with Miss Manners just this once. Here’s this week’s sales roundup.
Torontonians have been getting their fix for affordable fashion lately. Earlier this year, U.S. chain Marshalls claimed its stylish stake in our city, and today fellow U.S. retailer Target announced its first 105 locations in Canada, six of which will be located in Toronto. But that’s not all: rumour has it that Montreal’s Simons department store may be heading our way sometime soon.
When Holt Renfrew held a designer preview of its fall 2011 collection early last week, among the big announcements replete with internationally familiar names (Tom Ford, Jimmy Choo, Rachel Zoe), there was a unique — and local — standout: the exciting collaboration between Preloved and Holts. The Toronto-based eco-friendly clothing line is teaming up with Canada’s leading specialty retailer in a one-of-a-kind partnership that will surely endear itself to fashionistas with a conscience.
For Toronto clotheshorses that prefer distancing themselves from mass-market reproductions and big label brands, The Clothing Show is your next destination. Indie clothing designers and vintage pickers are converging at Exhibition Place from May 27-29 to represent local flair. For the 34th year of the event, more than 300 booths filled with loads of stylish merch will be under one roof, creating a fashionista’s paradise.
This long weekend marks Victoria Day, and that usually kicks off the start of summer (symbolically at least). But with the recent dreary weather, it sure doesn’t feel like warmer days are coming anytime soon. Don’t let the wet weather dampen your plans, though — or your wardrobe. Whether you’re going to a barbecue, enjoying a picnic or planning a trip to the cottage, you can still enjoy the extra day off in style. So before you head out for Victoria Day, make sure your style is up to date.
As if the impending apocalypse wasn’t enough to worry about, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a zombie survival guide. Apparently, it’s never too early to start preparing for an onslaught of ravenous, disease-infested, lusting-after-your-brains walking dead. Here’s a list of the essentials required to survive a night of the living dead, and where to find them in Toronto.
After five years of serving the denim-loving public exclusively in Vancouver, Dutil Denim finally opened its second store last week in Toronto. The store is the latest in a string of out-of-province labels that are feeling the love on Queen Street West. “We feel very welcomed in a city that feels like our big brother,” says co-owner Eric Dickstein. “People are continuously coming in and letting us know how excited they are that we’re here.”
My “head-gear” collection knows no bounds. Or so it would seem, when I think back on all the scrunchies, Hot Loops, plastic butterfly clips (I’m looking at you, 1999), bandanas, hats-that-could-pass-as-tea-cosies, bumpits and headbands that I’ve owned. Woefully nerdy elementary school photos aside, these ghosts of head-adornments past have served me well. Lately, though, I’ve managed to convince myself that my tastes have matured a little — thanks, in part, to the Headmistress.
The Festival de Cannes is a fashion beast. From the bronzed residents of the French Riviera, with their easy Euro glamour, to the visiting celebrities dressed “down” in St-Tropez-inspired resort wear by day and redefining “dressed up” in black ties and cascading gowns by night, this little Mediterranean coastal town is a towering fashion giant come May.
Wedding season is upon us, and with the new hyped-up movie, “Bridesmaids” opening this weekend and the growing popularity of Pippa Middleton, never has it been cooler to be “always the bridesmaid and never the bride.” This week’s sales round-up is for all those single ladies who don’t have a ring on it, but who are celebrating the ones who do. Maybe you don’t have the perfect date, but you can still rock the perfect outfit.
Parkdale will be looking a little greener next week with the opening of Chartreuse Style, an eco-friendly fashion boutique. Owner Mary-Ann Kowala is hoping to bring a little bit of organic chic to the stretch. “We wanted to infuse some greenness in the area,” she says. “The area’s kind of known for antiques, and that’s very eco. We just felt like we would fit in.”
For those fashion mavens who crave cozy boutique shopping along Queen Street West rather than the mass-market big guns like Zara and H&M, your wish has been granted: Stacey Zhang’s new eponymous flagship store opened its doors last week. Located between Spadina and John, the Montreal-based women’s designer hopes to bring a unique and personalized shopping experience to the area. Already, the store seems to be just what the stylish strip was missing.
