Joe Fresh to Launch Online Shop

This is good. This is exciting. Because while we non-Torontonians/Vancouverites/Montrealers can already shop our local Joe Fresh stores (and shop them, we do) we rarely ever get the really good stuff - the fresh off the runway collections, the super trendy Joe Fresh pieces so prevalent in the big city stores. Thanks for spreading the love Mr. Mimran. And if you have yet to see the full array of what Joe Fresh designers dream up, just you wait...

x

Toronto Premium Outlets: The Lowdown

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... 

YAY! Hudson's Bay is Bringing Saks to Canada

Saks Fifth Avenue (aka. shoe heaven) © BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons

The girly road trips were fun, I'll admit. And I did enjoy the adrenaline rush of bitchy border guard tête-à-têtes. But yesterday's retail announcement means that our frenzied cross-border shopping trips will be the things we only tell our grandkids about.

Me: "When Grandma was a girl, we would head to the States for something they called 'Black Fridaaay...'

Grandkids: "Ooooh! Tell us more, Grandma!"

Me: "I almost got trampled to death 5 times, just to save $5 on a pair of pumps. We would shop for back-to-school clothes all through the night when everyone else was sleeping. Once I almost lost a kidney when another woman and I duked it out over a Prada clutch. Luckily, I had the most vicious elbows in the place."

WWD reported yesterday that as suspected, Hudson's Bay has agreed to buy Saks Fifth Avenue for a whopping $2.9 billion. Saks could open up to seven full line stores and 25 Off-5th outlets in Canada, according to Richard Baker, CEO of Hudson’s Bay Company.

“We are going to move as quickly as we can,” Baker said in reference to bringing Saks to Canada. “There is a lot of opportunity to accomplish that rollout very quickly.” Read: Nordstrom is coming, so we've got to bust it.

Um, SO awesome, right? Are you as excited as I am? Anyone want to arrange a little shoe shopping trip when it opens? I'll be sure to keep you in the loop as I hear more Saks news!

xx

Get a First Look at the New Banana Republic and Issa London Collection

Atteeeention! All photos courtesy Banana Republic 

As one of my top ladylike style icons, Kate Middleton (aka the Duchess of Cambridge) consistently pulls off polished, pulled-together looks fit for a modern royal. Kate relies on a rotation of Issa London dresses (the brand designed that iconic blue engagement photo dress from 2010 - see below for the replica), from post-baby-friendly wraps to ladylike A-lines fit for afternoon tea with the Queen. Well, ladies in waiting, I'm happy to announce that pond hops are no longer required to add a little Issa to your wardrobe!

Banana Republic and Issa London just announced details about the new limited-edition Banana Republic Issa London Collection, with pieces meant to transition from day to night and summer to fall.  The nearly 40-piece collection includes apparel and accessories in Issa London’s signature figure flattering silhouettes, with hits of exotic zebra and leopard prints and flattering jewel toned hues, perfect for dialing up a stagnant work wardrobe. Jewelry includes statement gold chain necklaces and bracelets as well as leather wrapped bangles and gorgeous leather envelope clutches that I can't wait to get my hands on. The collection includes petites and will range in price from $50 - $185.  

The capsule collection launches exclusively at select Banana Republic retail locations worldwide and online August 8, 2013. Royal parade waves and delicate hand claps all around!

P.S - Speaking of Kate, would she please have that baby already?! xx

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Toronto Premium Outlets: The Grand Opening Weekend Lowdown

It felt like it would never happen, right? But with only two weeks to go until Toronto Premium Outlets™ opens its doors for the very first time (eek!), construction crews are now putting the finishing touches on the mega outlet mall and opening weekend planning is well underway. 

For the August 1-4 Grand Opening, it's gonna be a serious shopping party y'all:  expect live entertainment, including a 'classic rock band' (please let it be the Paul McCartney)  in-store promos and the chance to enter to win more than 125 prizes worth over $25,000. Prizes announced so far include an Ultimate Getaway Weekend at Trump Hotel and Tower Toronto, a Spa Getaway from Rosewater Spa of Oakville or Burlington and a Toronto Blue Jays autographed baseball (aka. a consolation prize for any benchwarming husbands who've been coerced into a 'quick' trip to just 'check out' the mall).

Individual outlet stores are also getting in on the action to celebrate the opening. Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store will give away a $1,500 shopping spree, Mountain Warehouse will offer free gifts to the first 200 customers and best of all (IMO) Hudson’s Bay Outlet will offer 25% off your entire purchase. Expect loads more opening weekend deals with many stores offering deep discounts beyond the regular savings of 25%-65%.

As I reported earlier, Toronto Premium Outlets™ will feature 85 outlet stores including many top Canadian, American and British brands, many of which have never offered outlet shopping in Canada before. The store list will be a who’s who of top designer labels and leading brands including: Hudson’s Bay Outlet, Banana Republic, Bench, Bose, Brooks Brothers, Burberry (opening Fall 2013), Coach, ColeHaan, Columbia Sportswear, DKNY, Dynamite, Eddie Bauer, Gap Outlet, Garage, Guess, Icebreaker, J.Crew, Kate Spade New York, Lucky Brand Jeans, Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren, Restoration Hardware, Ted Baker London, True Religion and Zumiez. 

Just FYI, Toronto Premium Outlets™ is located at Hwy 401 at the Trafalgar Road interchange in Halton Hills. Oh, and be sure to sign up for the VIP Club and get the whole grand-opening low-down at www.torontopremiumoutlets.ca.  See you there August 1st! xx