Cozy Canadians: Pajar Lands in NYC

I miss my Canadians! Pajar, cold weather chic mavens of the North landed in Soho and I was so happy to see familiar style (if not faces). 

If this winter is as brutal as the last, you're going to want the luxe, quilted coats and stylish boots from this Canadian producer. While the outerwear is what the are known for, I am mostly drooling over the footwear. They come in fun colors, and are technically innovative. I love the cleats built-in for icy surfaces. I have seen plenty of influencers hurt themselves running around NYFW in February in the wrong shoes. This would make a better choice for sure.

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Aritzia Fall 2016

No one feels fall/winter more than the Canadians. Aritzia is one of my sister'site favorite stores to shop in Toronto. If she can't make it to the store, I will actually FaceTime her with my phone from the boutique IN New York so she can virtually shop with me. That's sibling love. That is also the loyalty of the Aritzia customer. I like to think if her as the cool girl with a job. She isn't into the stuffy corporate look but is still appropriate with a twist.  She has style and is shopping for herself from her own money. 

I love their abstract prints that they update season to season (I keep buying them). They include complimentary colors that work with pieces that you add from Aritzia in future seasons. Fall 2016 had a lot of deep navy, mustard, oatmeal, gray and black. There were some eggplant colors. There were cozy boiled wool long coats and vests. I am looking forward to some of the swishy washed silk dresses around the holiday. The skirt and dress lengths were long for the cooler weather. rib knit, lace and pleated textures make sure you are warm.

Aritzia's Babaton handbag label have pieces I am constantly drawn to. They aren't particularly fashion forward but have great shapes and great leather. They are rather timeless, so they work the day to day Aritzia wardrobe. 

The awesome team at Artizia always treat me to something nice when I visit. This season, my 'IT' piece is a sleeveless trench that I already love. Look for me and the garment on Instagram soon!

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Aritzia Holiday 2015

One mildly cooler day in NYC and we're looking at winter clothes already. With Aritzia's holiday 2015 lineup, at least it was a fashion collection that was fun. This Canadian label is a favorite of my sister's in Toronto and many of my friends. I like the work clothes with a fashion forward twist vibe to the overall collection. I think the best Canadian labels follow that model.

For holiday 2015, they prominently featured crushed silk velvet, one of my favorite fabrics of all time. They had cute faux fur wraps to accent, thick satin and herringbone pattern sequined separates.

Outerwear is a big strength of theirs for when it gets really cold (well, I guess a Canadian fashion brand should be). They offered up a collection of Parkas and Parka-lite styles that bring more edge and style than your typical winter utility garment. On their website, they also offer other Canadian labels like Mackage for chic jackets.

They are still doing their own athleisure collection, but at a smaller scale. They have terrific gift options in accessories. I am a big fan of their woolly giant shawls that double as blankets. Their Babaton line of handbags are very well made and designed with many pockets for people like me.

While it is still warm out, I am love with the rayon tees and silk rompers I picked up today with my gift card. I'll come back for the rest when the mercury drops.

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Aritzia Fall 2015

Welcome back one of my favorite Canadian clothing chain Aritzia who have rolled South to Soho. Their fall 2015 line-up was preppy and cozy. There were a lot of classic autumn colors like maroon, charcoal, gold and midnight. However, there were muted pastels and creams added as well. 

Aritzia had a lot of traditional wool blends and corduroy that makes their collection practical for work and play. To add more flavor to the mix, were lots of furry textures and novelty knits. 

Short A-line skirts and cropped pants were meant to ease the transition from summer to fall to winter. (Canada's weather is very unpredictable). Warm coats and sweaters were key.

I really like their handbag collection. The structured, faceted silhouettes of their leather handbags always stand out in the store. They updated their purses with trendy colors this season.  Their over-sized scarves and shawls are a favorite of mine. They had more of an ethnic attitude with their rich dyes and patterns. I recently wore one for my (teeny background) role on Netflix's new television show.

Aritzia's fall 2015 collection is not stuffy or formal. Like most Canadians I know, the boutique represents a comfortable but put together esthetic that works for the office, but stylish or relaxed enough for the weekend, even at home. Maybe that's why I like visiting this store. It feels like a trip to see my hometown peeps.

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Aritzia Summer 2015

 

New York City is getting ready for yet another snow storm this weekend. Aritzia presented their summer 2015 fashion preview to help us think of warmer times. This Canadian fashion retailer has been slowly building its share stateside with affordable clothing that fits work and play.

For summer, it was all about layers. Aritzia is based in Western Canada so their climate is generally mild. Breezy cotton separates in a summer palette of light colors were paired with printed or woven native patterns as cover ups. Fabrics were soft and the dresses had pretty pastels.

Besides their internal brands, Aritzia also sells Canadian brand Mackage for its luxury outerwear online and denim brands Citizens of Humanity and J. Brand.

One collection I love is their upscale leather handbags under the label Auxiliary. They had pebbled leather basics like a drawstring backpack and over sized tote. The more structured Bega style emulated the facets of a cut jewel.

To perk up the summer theme on a frigid morning, the showroom was dressed with palm leaves. NYC’s People’s Pops had a great guy offering up flavors of shaved ice to guests. I would have loved to partake but I still felt the chill from outdoors.

If you are not familiar with Aritzia yet, it’s time you were acquainted.

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Aritizia Spring 2015

The day after Christmas in Canada is for Boxing Day Sales. I was at a mall today before the start of a movie and watched one of Canada’s best clothing chain exports being pillaged for its discounts. Thankfully, my position as a blogger of fashion allowed me to preview the upcoming Artizia spring 2015 collection in a civilized manner in their Soho New York location.

The reasonably priced, chic sportswear chain offered up classic trench coat variations in their outerwear. A classic tan, cream and navy color palette dominated their office-friendly fashion looks. While I love popping into this store to grab some basics with a twist, the most exciting thing about this presentation was the handbag collections.

There were the sophisticated leather pieces in over-sized clutch shapes or huge carryall leather totes. The more contemporary collection had brighter colors with styling details that reminded me of emojis.

Like many big clothing brands, Aritzia has launched a fashion forward lounge/athletic wear collection to accompany their main line. This group also mixed in some denim in easy, sporty silhouettes that set them apart from the other brands. The looks also had more of a 1950s vibe to them with short, flirty skirts and pastel colors mixed in with the traditional palette.

Like Club Monaco and Joe Fresh before it, I have watched many Canadian chains cross the border and make a big splash. Aritzia so far has dipped their toes into the water and now waiting for other fashion fans to make the plunge.

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Aritizia Holiday 2014

What are you wearing to work this winter?  Aritizia's Soho Boutique hosted a preview of their winter and holiday collection last week.  While this clothing chain is new to many of my fashion friends, they have been a go-to destination for Canadian peeps for years.

They are not selling revolutionary new styles, but are trend driven and sophisticated at a great price point.  This was the store that you graduated to after you left behind the fast fashion and high street stuff of placed like H&M to be taken seriously with the proper wardrobe of an adult.

I love that their designer look sportswear is price accessible to almost everyone. The super soft jersey and silk tunics I just purchased I have already spent days lounging around in, ($45-$75).  Their new fall dresses run mostly from $50-$165.

While I know their clothing pretty well, I am quite excited about their new handbag collections.  They are launching full grain leather bags in chic structured silhouettes in a price range between $200-500.  I have to say, most contemporary leather handbags with high end details like hand-painted edge coating and custom hardware are positioned in a much higher price point.

I don't know how Canadians manage to do it.  Like Joe Fresh, they seem to be able to produce stylish, budget-friendly fashion at prices that Americans just scoff at.  This is coming from me, who has worked on the development side of sportswear and leather.

Hello Aritzia, nice to see another ex-pat in town.

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Canadian Designer Spotlight: Hilary MacMillan

Happy Canada Day my fashion peeps!  I thought I would introduce you to another Canadian fashion designer this July 1^st.  Hilary MacMillan is a relative newcomer to Toronto Fashion Week.   Her Fall/Winter 2014 was her second appearance at World Mastercard Fashion Week.

Her collection is sourced and manufactured locally and designed in Toronto.  Hillary and her sister Lindsay MacMillan also own a popular accessories boutique Elle Hardware in the trendy neighborhood of Queen West (Hubby and I always love to shop this area when we visit).

The family connections don’t end there.  For her inspiration this season, Hilary MacMillan looked to her Scottish ancestry as her muse.  The birds, tartans and hunting culture may be from the Highlands, but they are also very much a part of Canadian heritage as well.  The first Prime Minister of Canada was a Scottish gentleman named Sir John A. MacDonald.  I only know that because my high school was named in his honor, and I saw tartans everywhere.  Also, history textbooks had old black and white photos of Canadian fur trappers.

The graphic illustration print of pheasants is both elegant and whimsical.  It works really with the sleek suits and sheath dresses.  The traditional tartan pattern is used in updated fashion silhouettes, giving it a fresh look.  The fur accessories, whether it is the over-sized handbag or neck wrap, has a raw, unfinished pelt quality.  Instead of the polished glam collars of other collections this season, the pelts look like they were freshly hunted, reminding you of where they came from.  I like that idea.  If you DO choose to wear fur, why shy away from its origin?  It is kind of like the farm to table idea in cuisine, but applied to fashion. 

On this great Canada Day, get to know your design talent up North.  Hilary MacMillan is a fashion designer to watch!

Photos by George Pimentel

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Canadian Fashion - Indie Designers

Happy Canada Day! In the spirit of this day of independence from the North, I bring you some of Canada's top independent fashion designers.  I discovered some great indie fashion labels at World Mastercard Fashion Week in Toronto this past spring and hope they invade the borders soon!

The design team of Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow behind the BUSTLE label comes to represent what I love about Canada.  The collection is bright, good natured and has a sense of humor.  Menswear dominated their runway with well cut separates and suits in unexpected colors.  A few women's looks made their in as well. The designers started off in law practice, but their stylish collaborations soon came to include everyone from Vespa, Hotel St. Germain to the city of Las Vegas.

Golnaz Ashtiani won the TFI fashion award and quickly racked up press coverage from all of Canada's top fashion magazines.  Her collection, Ashtiani at Toronto Fashion week had sharp, architectural seams with clean cut tailoring.  I loved the mix of contrast fabrications and cool attitude.

MATIS is an award-winning collection from designer Lucian Matis.  He got his fashion design roots growing up in his mother's tailor shop before having is work grace the covers of the country's top publications. His fall 2013 collection had simple silhouettes populated with complex and beautiful prints.
Photos by David TW Leung

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Soia & Kyo Fall 2013

Where is summer? Getting caught in a deluge and some freak cool nights make me fear that we are heading straight to fall.  Soia and Kyo's collection at World Mastercard Fashion Week in Toronto showed Canadian fashion fans that there is affordable chic waiting for them.

Ilan Elfassy's runway had plenty of cozy but sleek looks for the latter part of the year.  Silhouettes were cropped right under the waist or extending the three quarter lengths.  The fit was slim through the waist and slightly flared afterwards for women.  Guys were basically slim and tailored, but not too tightly.

Both men and women had a consistent look of dark, urban colors like charcoal grey, caramel brown, black and navy.  Multiple ways to frame the face were a feature for both sexes as well.  Turtlenecks, portrait collars, over-sized lapel and pointed collars flattered the wearer.  Moto jackets looked great on male and female models down the runway.

While this label isn't earth shattering as far as fashion direction, I love that they give great style that is consistently affordable.  They sum up exactly what Canadian designers need to be to succeed in the fashion industry up North.  Perhaps that's a model more start-ups can learn from.

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TORONTO FASHION WEEK: Dare to Wear Love Gala

I'm here in Toronto this week to scope out the best designers in the North.  Before I get to my first show, I wanted to help spread the word on the Dare to Wear Love Gala happening this Friday, March 22nd. It is a spectacular fashion show bringing together Canada's top designers and a grand party.  It is the passion project of one of my first fashion industry employers, Chris Tyrell and Jim Searle of the label Hoax Couture.

Proceeds of Dare to Wear Love benefit the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which aims to fight the devastation that AIDS has caused in Africa.  Past galas have had shows that honor the silhouettes and fabric patterns of African tribes as interpreted by artists and designers of Canada.

I spent a brief summer at Hoax Couture before my sophomore year at Parsons. I remember that Jim and Chris were always generous with their time, with any organization that asked for their help.  It is great to see their philanthropic pursuits organized to become a huge event that reaches so many ... It also makes me feel good knowing such a large number of fellow Canadians, designers, celebrities and sponsors have come out to support them for the purpose of a good cause.

If you're in town for Toronto Fashion Week, I ask you to buy a ticket to the gala or donate to the organization if you cannot.  Show these guys some love!

Photos by George Pimentel from the 2012 Gala

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Toronto Fashion Week: Evan Biddell Spring 2013

photos by Hing Ching Leung

Exotica meets pop art.  Canadian Project Runway winner Evan Biddell showed a rich, exotic collection for his World Mastercard fashion week show.  Maxi dresses, animal prints, peacock patterns projected on the wall gave the impression that an eccentric jet-setting socialite ruled here.

Maybe that interpretation isn't that far off.  Biddell took a two year hiatus from presenting at Toronto Fashion Week to travel to Asia and collaborate with 69 Vintage store owner Kealen Sullivan to create one-of-a-kind couture pieces from vintage clothing.

While the clothes on the runway were far from mundane, the artistic silhouettes were surprisingly wearable by a diverse range of women.  That is actually something rather difficult to achieve, so kudos Mr. Biddell.

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