Your guide to the city’s retail scene.
OPENINGS
■ The revitalization of the Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge St.) continues with the opening of two new stores this week: iconic American retailers J.Crew (Oct. 3) and Ann Taylor (Oct. 5), both on the third floor. Unlike J.Crew’s Yorkdale location, which opened last year, the 8,972-square-foot downtown shop will carry both the full men’s and women’s collections and offer a personal-shopping service, available by appointment both during and after store hours. The shop houses a handbag and shoe salon, the men’s Ludlow suit collection, as well as limited-edition pieces from the brand’s Collection label for women. A few doors away, Ann Taylor will open its first Canadian store, followed by a second international location in Yorkdale Shopping Centre in November. Known for on-trend, well-tailored clothes for working women across a wide range of ages, the retailer will offer a stylist service by both appointment and for walk-ins.
POP-UPS & SALES
■ Receive a 25-per-cent discount on all Joe Fresh women’s fall/winter footwear until Oct. 18. Joe has upped its selection of heels, flats, and booties for the season to include over 70 different styles. The shoes come in velvet, pony hair, houndstooth, and snake prints, and in autumnal colours like burgundy, teal, and mustard. There’s also an increased assortment of “Fresh off the Runway” footwear, identifiable by their orange soles.
■ The Art Bar at The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. W.) hosts Maelle Vintage Dresses’ open studio and pop-up sample sale from Oct. 5–7. Designer My Johansson-Ganjoo will sew her retro-inspired dresses, made from vintage fabrics, on site. The frocks feature silhouettes from the late ’50s and early ’60s, and typically take four to eight hours to make. Each style is available at 30 per cent off (regularly $350–$400) and samples (sizes zero and two) are discounted by 50 per cent.
NEWS
■ Tickets are now available for Toronto’s World MasterCard Fashion Week. The spring/summer 2013 line-up of runway shows and presentations, under the new IMG Canada ownership, runs from Oct. 22–26 at David Pecaut Square. More than 50 Canadian designers will show, including David Dixon, Lucian Matis, Bustle, Pink Tartan, Mackage, Evan Biddell, Adrian Wu, Travis Taddeo, Rachel Sin, and Whitney Linen. General admission is $25–$50 per show and $175 for a day pass at worldmastercardfashionweek.com.
■ Style icon Anna Dello Russo’s AdR accessories collection for H&M lands in stores on Oct. 4. Dello Russo, the high priestess of excess, has delivered a cheeky 43-piece accessories line of earrings, bracelets, collars, clutches, and shoes. Each piece is a riot of baroque gold, pearl, turquoise, emerald, and rhinestones. Standout pieces include serpent bracelets ($40), a turquoise carry-on ($179), and an over-the-knee leather boot ($299).
Know of any new shops, pop-ups, or major deals? Email thedrop@thegridto.com.
