7:55 a.m on opening day of the Toronto Premium Outlets. #keener
Here's something to ponder as you head into your Long Weekend: Canada's 1st ever Premium Outlets is now officially open at Halton Hills. I went early yesterday before the doors opened, before the ribbon had been cut, before all of the parking spots were taken. I checked out the outlet mall and as promised, it was really lovely and felt just like its American counterparts. As a member of the media (ooh la la), I got to check out a few stores before they opened to the public, from Tom's Place Outlet (first ever) to the chic new Danier outlet to Icebreaker from New Zealand (love!). Line-ups formed early at Restoration Hardware, Michael Kors, Coach and Nike, but nothing I couldn't handle. After the offical opening ceremony, I made a beeline for Hudson's Bay Outlet and much to my delight, I saw designer merch from The Room at 40% off regular price, plus an additional 25% off for Grand Opening Weekend. Deals are sweet if you have the money to spend. Over the next hour, the ambient buzz started to grow. And grow. And by 10 am when I had to leave to reunite with my kidlets back in the city, it was total mayhem. The in-store lineups were crazy, overflow parking lots were already practically full, and at 2:30 when I left the city, the 401 was moving at a crawl. To give you an idea, it took me 4 HOURS to get home from Toronto to London. Yup.
The upshot? If you have the time, the courage and the inclination to score super deals, a trek to Premium Outlets will totally pay off this weekend. (Visit torontopremiumoutlets.ca for the weekend's event schedule and a list of Grand Opening sales.) If you're claustrophic and/or hate long line-ups, I highly suggest waiting a few weeks for the frenzy to subside. I considered this my reconnaissance mission. Next time, I'm taking a day off for Kate Spade, Ted Baker, J.Crew, Restoration Hardware, Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic and another shot at Hudson's Bay. Oh Erdem, you will be mine...
Happy Long Weekend! Hope you enjoy every minute of it
My outlet outfit. No practical shopping footwear for this girl - an occasion like this calls for heels!
My license to shop.
If you really love Coach, this weekend is the time to buy (if you don't mind long line-ups, that is)
Mugging for the camera with the legendary Tom of Tom's Place.
Oooh. LOVE this origami skirt from the Danier Outlet.
YESSS! Designer beauties from The Room at outlet prices? SO exciting!
J.Brand, Andrew Gn, Juicy, Erdem, Alice + Olivia, Armani Collezioni, Comme des Garçons...
Every shopper needs to recharge. Thank you Hudson's Bay Outlet for the sweet cupcakes.
Hello, Burberry. 'Til we meet again this Fall...