Holt Renfrew Launches New H Project Shops in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver

The new H Project shop at Holt Renfrew Bloor St. launches today. Photos courtesy Holt Renfrew

We can always count on Holt Renfrew to keep things fresh, forward-thinking and fashionable. Case in point: Holts' brand new in-store shop, H Project, featuring a curated assortment of apparel, accessories, home décor items and beauty products with a focus on culture, craft, and global artisans, 

Leading the charge of H Project is the store's always-on-top-of-it Director of Brand Strategy, Alexandra Weston. “We are thrilled to partner with exciting international designers – some well-known and others just making their mark,” noted Weston. “H Project offers a stage to help tell their unique and compelling stories."

The shop will offer exclusive designer collabs, often with an element of sustainability or a charitable component. H Project shops will launch with over 30 covetable brands that have been scouted from around the globe including Acca Kappa, Cornelia Guest, FEED, Jenny Bird, Lemlem, Lizzie Fortunato, Me to We, Proof, Rodin, S’Well, The White Briefs, Virginia Johnson and WeWood. 

As for the shop's design, Holt Renfrew collaborated with Janson Goldstein to design a modern gallery-like space where customers can discover elements of theatre, art and culture. The open flow shops will inspire with artisanal installations, cultural music, and videos on a listening wall where customers can learn about the stories behind the products. So, it's kind of like a mash-up of MoMA and Ten Thousand Villages, then?

H Project pilot shops are open this week at Holt Renfrew Toronto (Bloor), Calgary, and Vancouver, with the first full concept H Project shop set to open at Holt Renfrew’s Yorkdale location in fall 2013. See you there - I'll be the one getting my Lemlem on. x

Nordstrom Coming to Yorkdale!

A pretty pic from the Nordstrom March 2013 Catalogue - photo courtesy Nordstrom.

A rendering of the future Yorkdale Nordstrom. I'll be the happy girl with the shopping bags.

I'm constantly on the lookout for exciting retails news but am especially happy when it arrives on a Monday. Well here it is - Nordstrom just confirmed that it will open at Yorkdale Mall in the Fall of 2016. Wheehoo! The three-level, 188,000 sq. ft. Nordstrom will carry the full line of luxury clothing, shoes and accessories that we've come to expect from the American department store.  Yorkdale keeps getting better (and bigger) with its continued expansion - an impressive number of big-name retailers like Kate Spade, Ted Baker and All Saints are already open with David Yurman, John Varvatos, Mulberry, White House/Black Market and Zara Home all set to open later this year.

As already announced, Nordstrom will also be opening stores in the vacated Sears locations at Chinook Centre in Calgary (opening Fall 2014),  Pacific Centre in Vancouver,  and Rideau Centre in Ottawa (both opening Spring 2015) as well as a brand new store at Sherway Gardens in Toronto (Fall 2016).

Can't wait to shop Nordstrom without having to cross the border.  Pretty exciting, huh?  I have visions of shoes upon shoes floating around in my head. How's a girl supposed to work with this many distractions??

Happy Monday! xx

Hudson's Bay Brings Kleinfeld Bridal to Canada

Photo courtesy Hudson's Bay

After nabbing the perfect guy, the next daunting task on every newly engaged girl's list is, of course, finding the perfect dress. Brides-to-be can put their dreamy minds to rest with the announcement that renowned purveyor of bridal chic Kleinfeld Bridal (and hallowed halls of 'Say Yes to the Dress') is finally coming to Canada!  

Hudson’s Bay will open a 20,000-square foot Kleinfeld flagship in early 2014 at its Toronto Queen St. store, giving Canadian brides access to expert bridal consultants and the same scope and breadth of designer gowns available at the New York store. 

Sigh...almost makes you want to get married again, doesn't it? (I mean same guy, new dress, of course - love you, James xx)