Lightweight Converse for Ladies

Converse for women at Get Outside - downtown 437 Queen Street West and uptown 3456 Yonge Street or even shop online!

Sell your designer duds...

"In today's economy, everyone is looking for ways to make a few extra bucks and a true fashionista won't let the economy affect her style. Let us help you turn your shopping habit into cash and at the same time keep you looking fashionable!"

Fashionably Yours is currently in the process of taking in gently used designer items for resale.

FY is located inside MODA @ 632 Queen St West.
647.802.9687 or email sell@fashionablyyours.ca


Happy Spring Cleaning!!

Stu-stu-studio Warming Party for Philip Sparks!

Toronto menswear designer Philip Sparks launched his new showroom - located in the historic Burroughes Building, 639 Queen Street West, Suite 505 (5th floor).

The Philip Sparks menswear line is rooted in heirloom tailoring techniques twisted to create a nostalgic but modern piece. The collection is sold in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver at Balisi, Delphic, Espace Pepin, Gotstyle, Holt Renfrew, Simon’s and UPC Boutique.

Open to the public every Saturday between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.

All photos courtesy of Meaghan Orlinski

Moda 1 Year Anniversary

It's another mammoth, international clothing company that offers stylish clothing at great prices. And like most European clothing chains, we love the selection. And love that we can afford it!

Toronto's MODA carries a large selection of the two contemporary Danish brands, “Vero Moda” and “Selected Homme” (stemming from Vero Moda, a Dutch company with over 700 stores around the world) and recently celebrated its 1st year anniversary on Toronto's Queen Street West with local media, bloggers and shoppers.

We got to take a closer look at 'Vero Moda' - the womens line that offers $30 blouses and $80 coats; and 'Selected Homme' - mens clothes with $55 waist coats and $270 winter wool coats.

Frankly, I'm a little surprised that more people don't flock to this store. Its much smaller that the typical H&M or Zara but that adds to the 'boutique' experience and makes it all the more easy find great items including top trends like velvet leggings, lacy accessories and chic clutches.

Moda, 632 Queen St. W.

Drake Hotel General Store to open this weekend

(thanks for the E-mail from Rock-it Promotions)

The Drake Hotel General Store, located directly adjacent to the hotel at 1144 Queen West, will be a curiously edited shop catering to the sensible and the hedonistic, the traveller and the neighbour. Slated to open Saturday, November 22, it is a destination for fine goods and goodies with a sense of whimsy and nostalgia.

Merchandise will range from French hotel housewares to jewellery from NYC’s In God We Trust ($60-$100), Le Cool guidebooks ($39), Malin+Goetz apothecary products (Essential Travel Kit $42), candles ($39) and totes ($45) from Opening Ceremony, a wide array of vintage postcards and much more. Like the Drake Hotel, the General Store will contain a healthy dose of Canadiana and art curios, including Hudson’s Bay classic striped throws ($150), vintage Toronto and Canadian souvenirs like key chains, matchbooks and badges, ninja stars by local industrial designers Mat/Cult (box of 3/$14) and naughty colouring books by local artist Mallory Diaczun ($30).

The Drake Hotel General Store will also carry much of what you would find in a classic general store with a Drake twist, including tortoise shell toothbrushes and black toilet paper alongside eccentric items like Marie Antoinette action figures and Mexican good luck packets that surprise and delight. New merchandise will appear monthly.

Store designers and directors Carlo Colacci and Joyce Lo, the duo behind local clothing label Shared, are renowned for their recent Toronto pop-up shop and have based the design of the store on the combination of a Queen West gallery within a retail shopping environment. Recycled French country meets urban sophisticate, the 350-square-foot interior will feature reclaimed wood cabinets and mismatched tables crafted from aged materials sourced locally throughout Ontario, and set upon a vintage inspired custom diamond-patterned floor. The exterior sign is a neon cross, reminiscent of traditional European pharmacies. Keeping with the overall Drake mix of high and low, kitsch and chic, the design makes for a retail concept that truly inspires the imagination.

The Drake Hotel is located at 1150 Queen Street West (between Dovercourt and Dufferin), and can be reached at 416.531.5042.

Doc Martens in Toronto

Could it be?! Docs are making a premature comeback as a hot new trend among the tweens along with a multitude of other 80s styles.

Already, the clunky, laced-up boot is being bought up in faraway places such as Hong Kong and Glasgow. However, like most shoe companies these days, Dr. Martens and its air cushioned soles are now available in even more options: patent pinks, flourescents - I've even seen vegan options!

Apparently, there are 70,000 possible varieties of Dr. Martens, starting at 3-eye and rising to a 20-eye boot. They were popular for postmen in the 60s, then became notorious when skinheads and bad boys donned them through the 70s. In the 80s, the masses adopted the style and they became uniform for rockers and musicians.

In Toronto
You can find Docs in many shoe and goth stores on Queen Street West (around Spadina).

As the first store ever to offer Dr. Martens, Neon, 391 Queen St. W. has brought them back again with a huge selection to choose from claiming that they charge $30 less than other stores.

Shown:
Dr. Martens 1460 8 Eye Boots in Pink Smooth, $109.99
Dr. Martens 1460 8 Eye Boots in White Smooth, $109.99
Dr. Martens 14 Eye 2 Zip Boots in Red Patent, $129.99
Dr. Martens 14 Eye Side Zip Boots in Silver Broken Promises, $139.99
Dr. Martens Phoenix Alexia Rigger Boot in Black Mirage, $129.

Jacflash for Men

Jacflash, another super hip Queen St. West designer store adds a new men's line to its already jam-packed roster of exclusive labels for well-dressed men and women.

jac by jacflash, designed with NY designer Ryan Turner, features classic pieces with slim silhouettes and impeccable fit, taking its cues from style icons like James Dean and Marlon Brando. Slim jeans ($230) are made with denim sourced from the oldest denim mill in the US and feature aged brass trimmings. Gabardine sateen suits with cashmere blend ($525) and cowhide leather motorcycle jackets ($735) are sure to tranform any working man with cash into a rebel.

ALSO for women: new lines exclusive to jacflash include: Ideeen, Cloak and Dagger, Le Mont Saint Michel, Madè, and Sea. Also stocked include Alice + Olivia, Operations, Transit, EVER, Susana Monaco, Won Hundred, Lorick, CP SHADES, A-Lawless, Religion, Corpus, MYNK and Christopher Deane.

jacflash, 1036 Queen Street West

Frederick Watson's "Women" @ SHOPGIRLS

by Coko Galore

Shopgirls Gallery Boutique quaintly sits in the heart of Parkdale Village featuring Canadian and local Toronto designer wares, ranging from clothes to small dolls. As part of Toronto's recent Nuit Blanche event, owner Michelle Germain celebrated the work of long-time Canadian fashion illustrator and artist Frederick Watson.

Watson has been painting since the 50s - and caught attention with his fashion-inspired posters in the 60s (some of the pieces displayed at Shopgirls are originals from that time). His paintings of women, mostly drawn from memory, are glamourous and nostalgic - and are hot commodities in the local scene.

The collection will be on display and available for sale from October 2nd to October 31st, 2008 exclusively at Shopgirls, 1342 Queen Street West.

Preloved Fall 2008

by Daniel Wilson


Picks available @ Preloved include Amelia vest (made from vintage trousers) | Butterfield skirt $139 (made from 3 vintage trousers) | Miss Vale sweater $149 (made from 5 vintage sweaters)
Norrell sweater dress-$129 (made from 3 vintage sweaters)

Earlier this month, Toronto's mecca of well-made re-worked clothing, Preloved celebrated its phoenix from the ashes with its new store opening. A relaxed crowd drank Steamwhistle and crunched nachos in the gorgeous new space. Though roughly the same square footage, this new store feels vast compared to their flagship that was lost in the February Queen Street fire. Exposed brick walls and warm woods frame huge windows looking out at Trinity Bellwoods and a garden in the back of the store. Preloved’s loyal fans would follow them anywhere, but they are sure to be thrilled with the new digs.

Preloved, 881 Queen Street West

Andrew Buckler in Toronto

Menswear Rockstar Outfitter Opening in T.O.
By Daniel Wilson

Photos from the Buckler Fall 2008 show

It is only with hopeless inadequacy that I can describe one of the finger foods and the Andrew Buckler store opening bash as potato skins. Tiny fresh new potatoes were cooked to perfection and scooped out to be stuffed with velvety caviar (and quite possibly small pieces of angels) and served to cigarette panted fashionistas screaming niceties at each other of the sounds of electrified rockers Holy Fuck.

It was good that the flat screen behind the bar showed the Buckler runway presentation on loop as the store was too packed to actually see any of the clothes on the racks. The models fit with the labels shank-sharp tattooed image and they oozed enough sex appeal to make me blush. Buckler somehow manages to make preppy staples like plaid button downs and sweater vests scream 'fuck you'! The makeup perfectly stated that either the models did nothing but lie in the sun in Speedos all day, or that they were in need of a good bath. Rather sexy either way.

The Buckler boutique is the first in Canada and is sure to become a destination for stylish boys with money that are bored of Got Style.

Andrew Buckler, 700 Queen Street West

Queen Street Market

Kealan Sullivan of high-style shop 69 Vintage recently announced a new marketplace for art, craft, fashion and vintage lovers - The Queen West Market, upstairs at 1100 Queen Street West.

The second floor space (previously Spin Gallery) will be the new home of the market and its 35+ artsy vendors - including a farmers market.

Open every Saturday and Sunday, 10 - 6 all year round.

Designers and Merchants: There are many options available to sell your wares from renting small carts to larger spaces. For vending opportunities and more information, go to www.queenwestmarket.com.

New Vinyl @ Magic Pony

Limited Availability!

Magic Pony is a contemporary art space, urban culture curator and underground shop for fashionable tees, designer toys and carefully selected 'street' reads - a Toronto treasure trove for those who appreciate originality and collectible vinyl!

1. Devilrobots, the legendary Japanese toy wonder team known for cute but wicked toys (Tofu Head, Evirob, Cracle, Maffy), has teamed up with Kidrobot and released upon the world an assortment of mini Kiiros! The bizarre and incredibly emotional Kiiro is one of Devilrobots many strange creations. He boasts an unusually large bellybutton that sheds tears when he is sad.

2. Wish Come True, Series One Friends With You
These six new figures have weighted bottoms and built-in bell chimes, giving each one a playful rocking motion and a subtle, soothing sound. The series features six primary characters plus 3 bonus chase figures that have yet to be revealed - magical toys that sing magical songs!
Mini figure series, 3 to 4 inches tall. $9

3. Dunny: French Series
MON DIEU! This Fifth Republic experience features 18 defenders of Liberte, Egalite and Fraternite including Superdeux, Genevieve Gauckler, 123Klan, SupaKitch, Easy Hey, Tilt, Mist, Skwak and Tizieu.
Blind box assortment. $8

MAGIC PONY, 694 Queen St West Toronto tel: 416.861.1684

Radiant Dark - Truly unique Canadian Design

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
by Siya Chen


Amidst the tragedy of the Queen West fire, Radiant Dark premiered last night with a great party at the Burroughes Building 'round the Bathurst corner, celebrating a new page of Canadian modern design while collecting donations for our fellow Queen West fire victims.

Curated by MADE’s Shaun Moore and Julie Nicholson, the exhibit brought together the highest quality works of Canadian emerging modern designs all under one roof.

In this 6,000-square-foot space, you can find 70 pieces of unique designs, such as Andre Ooi's Origami pendant light, Jonathan Sabine's beaded shaped lamp, also strikingly organic yet modern pieces of wood like Agostinis & Harrison’s "Where Does Lumber Come From, Mommy?" - a bench with its carved plank seat emerging from a raw walnut stump. Oh, and Brit Olauson's "Flow" - a rocking chair that got our guests rocking at the party.



Most designs showcased at Radiant Dark are available for sale. If you fall in love with what you see in Radiant Dark, MADE is open all year around with new shows and new works on a monthly basis to keep you "wowing" and "wooing" for Canadian designs.

Radiant Dark is running through Feb 27, Mon-Sat Noon-7 p.m. Sat Noon-5 p.m, @Burroughs Building 639 Queen Street West (at Bathurst) Free admission.
Made is located at 867 Dundas St. West.

DIY @ the Workroom

by Siya Chen

This new year, why not make a resolution to start making your very own fashions and crafts?! Get crafty, meet others and make something useful at Toronto's new DIY centre, The Workroom!

The Workroom is Toronto's first SEW and CRAFT by the HOUR space. I's equipped with everything you need to complete all your large or small projects. This is perfect if your don't own a sewing machine, serger or big working table. Owner Karyn has also personally selected a variety of amazing fabric from Japan to make your pieces extra special!

You can hang out and use the equipment for $7/hour or show up at one of the Stich'n'Bitch free monthly open forums for makers. Classes are also available for non-sewers.




The next Sewing Machine Essentials class is on January 19th. Sign up quick because space is limited and it fills up quickly!

For more information of classes offered and detailed schedule, visit theworkroom.ca
The Workroom, 1340 Queen St West (just west of the Dufferin bridge)

69 Vintage $-Mass Shopping Fete

69 Vintage held its annual Christmas Holiday shopping party, December 12, 2007 at its Queen Street West location. There has been a 69 off-spring location in Kensington ya know! Revellers drank spiked egg nog and festive berry juice whilst stripping down and slapping on vintage treasures in full view. Daniel Wilson, L'Oreal Fashion Week DJ, scored a cool green bomber coat. Leanne Delap, Globe and Mail fashion writer, acquired a chic gold link belt. Anna Von Francis, Pink Mafia Boss, played dress-up for guests. Jen, El Presidente of the new Toronto web site Shedoesthecity.com, was glamorous in a shiny silver dress. The boutique was packed to the gills with holiday joy! Of course, 69's Kealan Sullivan rocked it the most in thigh-high black boots and fur hat - Mistress of her domain.

Studio 1686: Wardrobe from Films

Studio 1686, a new sleek and boxy apparel shop by Marya Duplaga, movie wardrobe stylist opened on the far west end of Toronto's Queen Street this past weekend. Studio 1686's unique selling point is clothing sourced from film studio wardrobe departments. Men's and women's designer fashions gently worn or not at all are on sale for a fraction of what you would pay anywhere else!

Designer snapshot:

Moschino jeans for $85 and Juicy Jeans for $45. A sleek selection of mainly black evening dresses. A stunning coat by L.A.M.B for $245. Trousers by Valentino, Versus, Marni and Issey Miyake. Think of any designer label and you will most likely find it here. Shoes and jewllery are also available.

The boutique also offers cosmetics by R.H. Studio, which feature natural minerals.

It is far out of the normal shopping district of Queen Street West, but worth the trip if you want to save money. The are also a few vintage shops and a great little cafe in the neighbourhood.

1686 Queen St West (east of Roncessvalles)

416.533-5400

Jacflash Indie Glam on Queen West

by Siya Chen






Father-Daughter Duo Jaclyn and Geoff Genovese opened up the much-needed Indie-glam boutique Jacflash on West Queen St. West.
The beautifully designed store is stocked up with unique and hard to find independent brands from New York, Europe, Australia and Hong Kong. While the black sequined top by Alice + Olivia worn by Jaclyn at the opening night is definitely one of our favorites, the TorontoStreetFashion gang is even more happy to realize that there is a listening booth for independent music at the store. Goodie bag to go for the opening party is the stylish white leather water bottle holder. Now we could finally be fashionable even for those dull exercise routines!

Jacflash, 1036-38 Queen West

A few Changes on Queen St. W...

TSF dropped by Queen St. W.'s newest addition Change to check out the popular Danish lingerie chain that has locations in Vancouver and Montreal already. Normally, chain stores don't hold much interest for us here at TSF, but I'll be honest with you - the promise of a free bra and fitting for attending the opening was too much for me to resist. So admittedly, I was already in a good mood after I had picked out my adorable red gingham 'Doris Day' model in a 'balconet' style.

But Change won my support (no pun intended) for two totally cool reasons:

One, they carry bra sizes that fit a range of real, modern bodytypes - upto a J cup that is, in both De Luxe and Basic styles. This might not seem like a big deal if you fit regular La Senza or H&M sizes, but try finding a J cup in Toronto for under a hundred dollars. It's next to impossible, which brings me to my second point.

Price. While annex favorites 'Secrets From Your Sister' does a great job in fitting and educating shoppers, many of their larger styles do cost more than smaller ones, usually around a hundred. Which doesn't even seem like much when you consider that in Yorkville at Avec Plaisir, the Swarovski-crystal-adorned model goes for $695! Change prices start at a reasonable $45~, which shouldn't seem high considering the health benefits of wearing a better fitting bra - including reduced back and shoulder strain, better posture and even fewer headaches.

"Lots of women walk in hunched over and leave standing up straight after they've found a properly fitting bra," Alycia Jenner tells me. "I've had women cry before when they see what a difference it makes."

Here are some bra fitting DON'Ts:
* the back rides up between your shoulders
* you're spilling out the top, sides or bottom
* the underwire presses or digs into you
* straps leave red welts or slip off

And DO make sure:
* try on bras on the loosest hook (you can tighten the bra as the fabric relaxes)
* wear a top that will 'cling' so you can tell if you will have 'double boob'
* get measured every time you buy a bra

Change Lingerie, 315 Queen Street West

Brazen Hussy Store Opening

April 17, 2007
by Rebecca Leung

A pink red carpet greeted media and local fashionistas at the entrance of Brazen Hussy, a precursor to the unabashed girliness inside the store.

Brazen Hussy owners/designers Catriona Smart and sisters Kathleen and Michelle Pedro, glowing in their own designs, celebrated their company’s jump from operating out of their online store to their new Queen Street location. Models, dressed in Brazen Hussy's club-inspired cocktail dresses, greeted the crowd with champagne and hors d’oeuvres.

Favorites include the Katrina Chain Dress with a chained shoulder strap detail and the Michelle Bubble Mini which comes in a variety of bold summer colours. Also featured are street inspired velour sweats, blinged out bikini tops and signature t's. The new store also carries jewellery from Canadian brands HayLuv and Josie Tecson.

863 Queen Street West