Canadian Winter Ninja Hats

Toronto designer Adrienne Butifoker makes Caninja's - these Canadian, Ninja-like hat/scarves, made from sweaters and lined with fleece that can be worn many different ways.

She's having a big sale and all Caninja's are $20!

http://butikofer.com/blog/2009/11/13/last-chance-caninja/

Vintage-Look Fidelity

Distressed Denim by Canada's Fidelity

http://www.fidelitydenim.com/

Canadian Designer for Home Shopping Channel

Shown: all David Dixon for the Home Shopping Channel 1. Lace Jacket $100 2. Mesh Sequin Stretch Tank $99 3. Metallic Jersey Dress $190


...that's the Home Shopping Channel - home to affordable top designer Lucian Matis, David Dixon and Kendra Francis.

In a press release, Kendra Francis of Franke fame says, “Learning and growing and reaching out to a wider clientele and educating myself on the business, is a welcome and rewarding challenge.” The collection is fashionable, contemporary and styled exclusively for the Shopping Channel. ‘K Kendra Francis’ is made up of 13, all jersey pieces that can be mixed, matched and worked into every woman’s existing wardrobe. The very affordable line includes dresses, tops, pants and jackets ranges in price from $60 - $220 ‘I focused on bold colours, great cut and fit."

I would love to report that this is sort of a Canadian version of say Viktor and Rolf for Target; but no, unfortunately it's still the Home Shopping Channel and the clothing, though labeled, is still geared for mostly mature, get up and go gals.

However, if it's genuine designer you're after (there's even a little Brian Bailey and Wayne Clarke), there may be one or two buys.

Crochet Bikinis @ Shopgirls

Pricila Gomes, a local knitwear designer that originally hails from Brazil, is offering up exotic hand-crocheted bikinis in a multitude of colors and styles! Starting at $135 - only at Shopgirls.

Shopgirls Gallery Boutique, 1342 Queen Street West

JUMA in T.O.

Find JUMA 2009 Spring/Summer collection in stores! The collection is modern, clean, sporty and can be dressed casually or formally depending on how you accessorize it.

Womens Stocklist:
Pho Pa (Toronto), Oak (New York), Victoire (Ottawa), James Boutique (Montreal), Turtle (Boston), Pink Sugar (Calgary), Tenth & Proper (Vancouver) and others

Mens Stocklist:
UPC (Toronto), Oak (New York), Boutik (Calgary), Two of a Few (Vancouver), U&I (Montreal) and others

Online Boutiques for Canadian Designers

FashionCan builds and manages online boutiques for independent Canadian designers. What a great low-cost option for designers to confidently hand over admin and tech duties to a company that has already built up a clientele of successful working designers such as House of Spy,Snoflake, Valerie Dumaine, etc...

The boutique sites are clean, easy to navigate and shop from!

Also, head to Fashioncan.com to find Canadian designers selling wares online >>

My Tagalongs Travel Accessories

On my last trip to Vegas, although it was sweltering in the desert - I almost froze my butt off on the plane since the airline stopped distributing blankets due to the Swine Flu outbreak.
Fortunately, I actually brought my own blanket/pillow duo (and really only because I recently received the package in the mail!) - a warm, convenient MyTagalongs 'Undercover Traveler' blankie/pillow/mask combo. A great idea if you don't want to share pillow germs with the previous guests! I even bought one for a friend and she was happy simply for the 'I wake for food' velcro mask signage!


I also brought along with me the Sunhat to Go. I love this concept - it's a sunhat in black or beige that conveniently rolls up when not in use and easily unrolls into a well formed sunhat! Perfect for travel! ($18us)

My Tagalongs is a new line of 30 lifestyle accessories that are specifically designed to save time and make life a little easier. They sell in Toronto at various shops and ONLINE >> go here for list.

Speech: Jewellery for Dudes

Speech by Michael Mercanti, a Toronto-based handmade line of rugged "pirate chic" jewellery has found its way onto the pages of Teen Vogue, refinery29's pipeline and is well endorsed throughout the blogsphere.

Nails and screws that look like they've been pulled out of a wall; swords and daggers and even mini Manolos and Louboutins adorn leather and chains - rock 'n roll embellishments, if you will mainly for men but equally striking on babes (although apparently a line for women is in the works).

Speech also has t-shirts available >> check the website for more info.

In Toronto,
Carte Blanche, 758 Queen Street West
george C, 21 Hazelton Avenue

Lightweight Converse for Ladies

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

Gifts For Dad

Father's Day is June 21, 2009.

www.braveleather.com

JUMA Spring/Summer in T.O.

If I was in town on my birthday, Thursday June 4, 2009 - I would definitely hit up this JUMA trunk show to try and find a great deal on new, designer summer piece from this local label. (But I will be on remote location in Las Vegas (yay!) and will have to make due without).
Rachel


About JUMA:
Brother and sister design duo Alia and Jamil Juma have been creating cleanline, contemporary and active wear for about six years. As ex-Toronto Fashion Incubator residents, they've previously shown at Toronto Fashion Week, but have clearly found more success exhibiting at New York and Las Vegas trade shows (JUMA was also invited to present at Capital Fashion Week in Ottawa last fall) resulting in sales throughout North America.


JUMA's black kurta pants are flying off New York retail shelves.

Free Shipping @ Psalms

There are only six days left to take advantage of free shipping on jewellery and accessories at Psalms 91:1 Accessories, a Toronto-based line led by designer Sally Han.

There's so much to see and buy >> Check it out >>

9 Spring Shoes (2009)

One of the greatest things about Spring and longer sunny days is the burst of color indoors and out! And shoe stores this Spring 2009 are no exception.

In a twist of trends, shoes for sale are every color of the rainbow, in patterns and stripes; animal skins and suedes. There are fringes, gaudy beads and baubles and tons of decorative details. Of course the gladiator sandal and strappy heels reign for the masses this year, but now black is boring as sandals are multi-colored. A new look for Toronto is the 'bootie shoe', which was HUGE in Europe last year and likely your best investment this year as it'll work next as well!


Aldo (in most malls - outlet on Yonge Street)
$75 gladiators | $100 orange | $90 Lacau


Browns (locations in HBC stores and most malls)
$150 suede purple | $120 reptile | $130 bootie shoe (all the rage in Europe last year)


Another chain store by leading Canadian shoe retailer, The Aldo Group - Little Burgendy has three Toronto locations, offering name brand (youth styles) footwear.
Shown $100 wedge | $50 sandal | $189 (my splurge) cork pumps

Dancing Shoes: Keep your feet comfy!

I was sooo excited to receive an Airplus 'PR' gift in the mail - something every single woman should have!

Airplus makes cushioning insoles, gel pads and heel liners, all designed to make shoes more comfortable. Heel liners make high heels more snug and easier to walk in, while the gel foot cushions provide shock absorption and grip - which means I can wear my heels longer!

So, I've been testing out all the insoles and I can honestly say, 'why did I not do this sooner?!!'

Seriously, it takes $16 for the Coolmax regular shoe insoles and the difference in comfort is amazing. I put gel pads ($8 for 2 sets) in my heeled booties , the full Gellies insole in my strappy sandals - and the heel cushions ($7) are a necessity for any heels! (I also previously tried the Aloe Spa Socks - heavenly!) All the gel pads are clear and stick right into your shoes. The extra grip makes it easier to walk in.

When it comes to insoles, buyer beware - all gel insoles are not created equal. You get what you pay for. In the past, I've bought the heel grips from Payless - garbage. I tried the gel insoles from Dollarama - garbage.

The Airplus products are well-priced for decent quality and are easily available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Zellers and other leading grocery stores in Canada.

Dresses under $150 in Toronto

If you're still on the PROM dress hunt (or you likely have an upcoming wedding or shower), you can find an amazing, original-looking dress at a vintage shop in Toronto for under $150. If you insist on new, you may have to head to the mall (but risk the chance of wearing the same dress as someone else).

However, the surefire places to find a dress for under $150 (Canadian companies in the mall):
(Biggest malls: Eaton Centre, Yorkdale, Scarborough Town Centre, Fairview Mall)

Le Chateau
Although they've bumped up their prices in the past five years or so (so, cheap clothes that cost more), you can still find some really stylish items from shoes to earrings, to hats to coats. Canadian company Le Chateau is worth the visit and have a great selection of prom dresses - and while you're there you can find shoes, tights and accessories too.


Fairweather
I don't shop here - anymore (not even to buy cheapy tank tops), but if it's an inexpensive dress you're after, you should stop in. Prices are super affordable.

Winners
I love Winners, but sometimes you have to search through racks and racks and multiple stores to find what you're looking for. The selection varies from great priced designer finds to mass produced youth labels - all previous seasons' overstock. There are Winners locations throughout the city - and for the most part, they are all different. Happy hunting!


Sears
Yes, it's true. Sears is a great option if it's inexpensive dresses you're after. I found these three ideal dresses among many online - perfect shells to accessorize around!

Drunk in the Trunk - Part II, May 14th!

Toronto's favorite Sustainable, Fashion Designing Midnight Bike Gang, The Deadly Nightshades are hosting one last Drunk in the Trunk Show before pre-ordering closes for Fall '09! Hosted by 69 Vintage Buy the Pound at 1234 Bloor St. W on May 14th from 6-9pm it's the only way to get 20% off retail price and to ensure you get the size and colour that you want before DNS gear even hits stores!!!

PROM: Dresses (list in progress)

Fashion Crimes
http://fashioncrimes.ca/
Perhaps one of the most coveted dress boutiques in the city, Fashion Crimes has the potential to hook you up, if you're willing to spend a few bucks. Designer and owner Pam Chorley has been in her Queen Street West store for 25 years and has since racked up tons of great press and her dresses have been in numerous magazines. For a beautiful dress or at least a lot of inspiration, stop in here. 322 Queen Street West (east of Spadina).

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Build Your Own Dress @ Peach Berserk (ready in 2 weeks or less)
www.peachberserk.com

With its "Dress Design' software, you can go to the Peach Berserk website and click and drag to build an offbeat printed dress of your dreams. There are over 200 Peach Berserk prints to choose from, from fabulously funky to delightfully demure. $395

- 15 different bodices
- 9 different skirts (each in 3 lengths)
- 6 different sleeve types
- 45 different silk fabric colours
- and a whole bunch of cute accessories such as flounce, crinoline, rosettes, buttons and bows.

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The Little Black Dress Shop Online
http://littleblackdressshop.com/catalog/
Mostly classic styles, black or 'light' black, designer and Canadian designer.

PROM: Vintage Shops for Dresses (Toronto)

These images, taken from our 2006 Prom shoot, feature the gals in 69 Vintage dresses - still completely fashionable for 2009!

If you want an original-looking, usually well-made and special dress for prom that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars, consider going vintage.

Vintage shops take the pain out of 'thrifting' and pickers are well-seasoned at choosing top items to sell in their shops. It can be the difference of hitting up every store in the mall, or simply picking a dress off a rack!

I tried asking my pro-vintage friends about their 'favorite' shops in the city, but I should've know - that's like asking people to divulge their most private secrets. And I have to agree - SO, instead of taking the fun out of discovering your own favorite vintage shops by listing them, I'll instead just lead the way:

Kensington Market
Kensington Market, a few blocks slightly north of the Spadina/Dundas area is probably the area with the most concentrated number of vintage shops in the city. That's not to say they're all top quality, however, you can hit them all in a few hours without stepping foot indoors at a mall! And the prices are great.

Fav's for dresses include Flashback, 33 Kensington Avenue and Dancing Days, 17 Kensington Avenue.
Then stop in Courage My Love, 14 Kensington Avenue or a number of other shops on the street to find some great accessories.

Ossington Avenue
Over the past few years a short strip in the Ossington/Dundas area has been struggling to snazz up its artsy turf with quaint shops opening and closing. However, a few great finds do remain among cafes and galleries including Silver Falls, 15 Ossington and I Miss You, 63 Ossington (at Queen).

Queen Street West
Undisputably Toronto's best/easiest 'shopping' street that runs from west of University Avenue all the way to WEST Queen West beyond Ossington. Furthest west, we like 69 Vintage, 1100 Queen St., then east of Bathurst there are many higher-end shops like Cabaret, 672 Queen St., Brava, 553 Queen St., and House of Vintage, 571 Queen St. Really there are too many for me to mention - but if you start your search at Spadina Avenue and walk west, I would think you'd be sure to find a great dress!


Toronto Midtown - High End
Head north of Bloor to find high-end designer focused vintage shops like Act 2, 596 Mount Pleasant Road, The Cat's Meow, 180 Avenue Road and The Paper Bag Princess, 287 Davenport Road.


Other
There are vintage dress shops throughout the entire city - on Roncesvalles Avenue, Queen Street East, Dundas Street and Bloor Street (visit Irene at 69 Buy the Pound, 1234 Bloor Street) - even in Yorkville.

If you do consider buying a fabulous vintage dress for prom (or any occassion), take out the frustration of thrifting and go to a specialized vintage shop, where staff can truly help make it a great experience!

Tiff's Clothing Show Fav 5

by Tiff Ing

If there’s one event that Toronto shopping addicts look forward to, it’s the bi-annual Clothing Show. There’s always an opportunity to score deals and discounts, and to meet and chat up the (mostly local) faces behind the labels. Four years ago, when I first trekked down to the Exhibition grounds for the show, it opened my eyes to the wonderful creative talents of Toronto designers. Now, four years later, media pass in hand, I’ve compiled a list of my five favorite Toronto-centric booths through the years, in no particular order:


1. JOOL – Local designer Julie Phelps always has a beautifully set up booth with affordable, boldly printed reworked vintage blouses and lots of vintage shoes and trunks. Check out her wares in her Etsy shop.

2. I Miss You Vintage – Super mark downs on a well-edited, but abundant collection of vintage dresses and accessories--$15 dresses? $5 purses? I’m sold. Check out I Miss You’s shop at 63 Ossington Avenue or online.

3. Snoflake/Dagg & Stacey – Debbie Sutton, Stacey Paterson and Karen Dagg are a Clothing Show staple, with an extra large booth to sell samples and leftovers from past collections at discounted prices. Check out www.snoflakefashion.com and www.daggandstacey.com before the
show to find choice pieces, but be prepared to fight for your size!

4. Propaganda – Regina Shum likes to sell off pieces from past collections of Valerie Dumaine, Eve Gravel, and other Canadian designers at major discounts, and she’s totally open to bargaining with Clothing Show attendees for better prices. Check out her website at www.shopaganda.ca and her adorable 686 Yonge St shop for more fun stuff.

5. Model Citizen – For the boys, you just can’t beat Julian Finkel’s Model Citizen prints. Their Clothing Show booth usually has some serious deals—my boyfriend scored a devil’s pitchfork printed collared shirt for a mere 5 bucks this year! For more printed awesomeness, check out Model Citizen’s Kensington store at 279 Augusta.

Mothers

Mother's Day is is Sunday May 10, 2009.


Mimi&Marge bouquet ring @ Propaganda $70 | Foxy 'Henna' Earrings @ Deva Shoppers $28 | Ceramic glazed Poppy Pin by Julie Moon @ Shopgirls $30



Joe Fresh beauty products available at Loblaws Superstores throughout Canada.
Tinted lip balm $8 | Bronzer $8 | Eye Shadow Trio $6

Damned Dollies @ One of a Kind Show

I'm sure you've seen these little 'Damned Dollies' in Toronto by now - There's the five inch stuffed gals with stands (that come in their own screen-print boxes), mini-versions that can be used as brooches and even a line of damned dolly sketches screened onto tees.



Designer Dana De Kuyper recently relocated to Toronto from Montreal so its possible we may see even more of her curious little creations throughout the city. Already, Damned Dollies are available in nine stores throughout the province. Find more here >>