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

On the Catwalk

Choupette and Karl Lagerfeld pose for NET-A-PORTER TV.

I have a confession: I've never understood the whole cat thing. I mean, I totally get why people love cats; I've had 3 incredible cats of my own - from my first sweet Tabby cat, Romey (Romanov from the House of Doom), to Cali who lives with my mom (you'd think she'd be a Calico but she's a Tabby, too) to my current big boy, Chachi (my dog's name is Fonzie, so it only made sense). But it's the whole meme thing that confuses me; the OMG cats in space, and cats playing keyboards, the PURRsonals, and of course, the catbearding. Sure, they're super cute and I'll admit that cats that look like beards are pretty funny, but I guess I've just been too busy to pause (or should I say, paws) for a closer look.

Okay, and then as I was looking for the pic for this article just now, it hit me. I'm on the train, and people are starting to stare at me because I am laughing so hard. I mean, like that kind of laugh where I'm gasping for air and almost peeing my pants because Grumpy Cat is just staring at me over and over again and even if she wanted to, she just can't look happy. Hee :)

I finally get it. I've officially joined the cat caravan, especially when you mix cats with fashion, because let's face it: Kitty Couture rocks. Whether you like 'em jungle cat wild or sweet and domestic, check out these purr-fectly catwalk-ready feline finds...(and don't miss the new ad from Britain's O2 - hiLArious)

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The Grown-Up Way to Wear a Romper

You don’t have to be twenty-something (or Prince George Alexander Louis) to look cute in a jumpsuit (really!) Check out these 3 grown-up ways to wear a romper in my article this week for iVillage.ca...

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Beat the Heat in Sweet Pastels

Pretty pastels at J.Crew Spring/Summer 2013. Love this pic! Photo via The Cut

Originally posted in The LOOK

I am sooo hot. I mean, literally. I'm overheated, frizzy-haired, and panting more than breathing at this point as I make my way from place to air-conditioned place. Forget looking polished, I'm a total hottie in the worst possible sense. I just took my dog to the groomer and the poor guy is now practically bald, hiding shamefully in the corner, and yet I can see the sweet relief on his little doggy face. Imagine walking around in a fur coat in this??

When the mercury soars, it's tempting to wear nothing at all but since that law has yet to pass in Canada and most of us still have to bring home a paycheque, it's all about choosing cooling, heatwave-friendly colours to avoid looking like a hot mess, even if you feel like one.  On days like today, white is always right, cobalt blue is cool, too but lately, I've been drawn to the softer side of the spectrum. Like a triple-scoop of gelato to quench your heatwave hunger, sweet pastel pinks, yellows, watery blues and minty greens work wonders at cooling off your summer wardrobe...

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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