Your weekly guide to the city’s retail scene.
NEWS
■ A limited-edition collection for men designed by GQ’s six Best New Menswear Designers in America for 2012 makes its debut at select Gap stores and online at GapCanada.ca today, September 27. The Gap-exclusive collection is a stellar merchandising move covering every menswear need from accessories to essentials to sportswear and outerwear. The excitingly diverse range of menswear runs from downtown to surf style, and consists of capsule collections from Saturdays NYC; Johan Lindeberg’s BLK DNM collection; Mark McNairy New Amsterdam; twins Ariel and Shimon Ovadia of Ovadia & Sons; Todd Snyder; and Ian Verlardi, suiting guys across a wide plane of sartorial tribes. Prices range from $20 for boxer briefs to $348 for a leather bomber jacket.
■ Rosedale accessories boutique Luxe and Found (1134 Yonge St., 647-343-9367) has recently added Toronto designer k-ah-ree to their global collection. Designer Kari Serrao combines beautiful ribbon with textured chain and vintage elements to create unique handmade statement pieces. Prices start at $49 for Japanese grosgrain ribbon-wrapped headbands embellished with vintage jewellery findings to $185 for multi-strand necklaces of woven ribbon and chain.
■ Iconic Canadian retailer Roots and design duo Jennifer Wells and John Muscat of LINE Knitwear have collaborated in creating a new collection of Canada-inspired knits. Incorporating a subtle muted palette of earth tones with hits of strong colour, the cozy wardrobe staples for Canadian winters include a Maple Intarsia Crew ($128) or a Beaver Canoe Wrap Sweater ($218). Suitable for both street and après ski, the rustic Fair Isle style patterns draw on the current obsession with heritage Canadian knits.
SALES
■ SlavinRaphael agency is holding a don’t miss sample sale at their fashion design district showroom (80 Wingold Ave., 416-703-8338). The two-day sale, featuring 20+ men’s and women’s contemporary apparel and footwear brands, begins Thursday, September 27 (noon to 7 p.m.) and continues through Friday, September 28 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) It’s cash only for deals on J Brand, Hunter Boots and Outerwear, Velvet, Mink Pink, New Balance, BB Dakota, Spiewak, Alternative, Bench and more, but if you run out, there are plenty of ATMs in the Dufferin and Eglinton ‘hood.
■ After an 11th hour decision to cancel last month’s scheduled Vintage Style Lab Trunk Show, the raincheck has come due. The showcase of designer vintage eyewear and sunnies in original and never-worn condition has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 2 (4 – 8 p.m.) at Petite & Sweet (420 Summerhill Ave., 647-248-7700). More than 60+ designer brands are represented, crossing decades from the ’60s through the ’90s, including Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Carrera, Dior and more. Bubbly will be served.
EVENTS & OPENINGS
■ Add Philip Sparks to your list of Nuit Blanche stops on the evening of Saturday, September 29. The designer is hosting an exhibition featuring images from the Fall 2012 collection shot by long-time collaborator Mckenzie James at Sparks’ eponymous shop at 162 Ossington Ave. (side entrance off Foxley St., 647-886-0467). For the past nine seasons the duo have designed the label’s distinctive campaigns, and this fall the look is inspired by nostalgic man-in-the-moon images. The event also features an in-store photo-booth and a late-night shopping party. Hours are 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.
■ After months of renovation, the second Topshop and Topman store opens at The Bay Queen St. on Thursday, October 4. The 19,000-square-foot store with its stairway access between the 2nd and 3rd levels of The Bay’s flagship store follows the same model as its counterpart at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, which opened last year. The trend-driven high street fashion destination will launch a six-piece collection by Louise Gray for Topshop on opening day, which includes multi-coloured sequined mash-ups translated into shift dresses, trousers and jackets. Shoppers will also have a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree, take photo-ops at the Topshop photo booth, grab a limited edition Topshop tote with any purchase, and take home other giveaways with a spend of $75 or more while quantities last.
