Everyone knows a well-rounded wardrobe consists of timeless and practical basics that can be worn for years to come, which is why women have come to obsess over Vancouver-founded Aritzia.
Known for its elevated and quality-crafted basics, Aritzia is where most shoppers go to stock up on well-made coats, quality tees, great jeans, tailored trousers, layering essentials, and cozy knits. And let’s not forget about the brand’s trendier pieces including the Super Puff coat, silk slip dresses, teddy jackets, and jumpsuits.
You have to admit, you probably realized you own many (or most) of these items as you read that. But for the devoted shoppers, who feel like they already own all of the brand’s essentials, they can find solace knowing there are other brands like Aritzia out there that offer similar styles, and sometimes at a lower price too!
Here are brands to shop For if you’re obsessed with Aritzia.
Frank & Oak
Montreal-based clothing brand Frank & Oak is not only known for being deeply committed to minimizing its impact on the planet but it’s also known for its sustainably made men’s and women’s essentials. Sold online and in 22 stores across Canada, Frank & Oak has reinvented the customer experience through its personalized shopping experience. Aritzia fans will be able to find similar products to what they’re used to, only with a more environmentally conscious blueprint. You can shop for outwear, responsibly-made denim, tops and blouses, sweaters, dresses, pants, footwear, accessories, and more.
TOTEME
The beautiful contemporary brand, TOTEME, is actually based in Stockholm. A modern uniform through distinct designs, meticulous craftsmanship, and high-quality materials. This brand is inspired by women’s lives and their needs in fashion, creating a wardrobe that not only is stylish but also has a purpose.
OAK + FORT
Also hailing from Vancouver, OAK + FORT now has over 19 locations across North America, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver. Here you’ll find minimalistic, Japanese-inspired basics that we promise will go with just about everything in your closet. Most of what you’ll find here comes in a timeless, neutral colour palette of black, white, gray, tan, and navy, meaning it can all be mixed and matched with what you already own with total ease and without complication. In addition to women’s and menswear, you’ll also find jewellery, accessories, homeware, and beauty products.
Reformation
This summer, popular L.A.-based, sustainable fashion brand Reformation opened the doors to its first international retail store right here on Canadian soil at Yorkdale. The new Toronto location features natural and recyclable materials, including eco-friendly fabrics, vintage furniture, hangers, reusable totes, and garment bags, and will offset 100% of electricity usage with wind energy. Here you can shop for sustainably made styles, including dresses, jeans, tees and tops, shoes, and bags. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the Toronto flagship, you can shop the sustainable brand right from the comfort of your home.
Lou & Grey
For the gals that live in cozy basics, we highly recommend giving Lou & Grey a try. Here you’ll find all the comfortable essentials, without having to sacrifice on style. You can stock up on affordable cashmere and loungewear, which can easily be dressed up for nights out or down for those cozy nights in. But easily the biggest selling point is how insanely soft every piece is. Seriously, the brand’s motto is making items that are “crazy soft” and will give you “all the feels.”
Petite Studio
Petite Studio focuses on, well you guessed it, petite sizes. The brand puts a strong emphasis on steering clear from fast fashion and creating pieces that you’ll want to wear season after season. Investing in clothing that will last for years is the idea behind this company.
Madewell
While known for its incredibly crafted denim, Madewell also focuses on all the things you’ll want to wear with your jeans including effortless tees, keep-forever bags, cool jewellery, and compliment-worthy shoes. If you’re looking for some essentials to style with your beloved Aritzia favourites, this shop is definitely worth the visit. Think tops and sweaters in retro-inspired hues, corduroy bottoms, cozy sweaters, and flowy floral maxi dresses.
The Frankie Shop
Another top pick for brands like Aritzia, The Frankie Shop features understated yet elevated pieces that are timeless. Think feminine, menswear-inspired pieces like sweaters in slouchy silhouettes, paper bag waist pants, and wide-leg trousers. But let’s not forget about the swoon-worthy lineup of tops and blouses, coats and blazers, and accessories including structured bags and stunning footwear to suit the modern woman’s lifestyle.
UNIQLO
UNIQLO designs clothing for everyday life. Simple, high-quality, and practical, you’ll soon find this brand as your new go-to. It’s always evolving to satisfy the needs of its customers and creating innovative technology to strive to be the best.
& Other Stories
Part of the H&M group, & Other Stories has a fab selection of contemporary yet still trendy clothes. Expect to shop feminine silhouettes, florals, pretty pastels, as well as the brand’s selection of stunning jewellery, handbags, shoes, accessories, and even swimwear.
kotn
Similar to Aritzia, kotn is a Canadian brand that you’re sure to love. The Toronto-founded brand sells effortlessly cool pieces for the capsule closet of your dreams. Find turtlenecks, trousers, t-shirts, dresses, and more, all made ethically with the finest Egyptian cotton.
Storets
If you’re all about classic with a twist, then you’ll want to check out what’s available at Storets ASAP. This brand, like Aritzia, is filled to the brim with chic and trendy everything, but nothing is over-the-top or overdone. Think lots of boyfriend blazers, stunning co-ord sets, fun rompers, and more all for prices that won’t make your head spin.
RE ONA
RE ONA is a women’s ready-to-wear label offering transitional, functional, and clean designs. It believes clothing should be effortless, minimal, and comfortable— all at the same time. The label is passionate about creating quality-made garments using soft fabrics that can easily transition from morning to night, that transcends from season to season.
Mijeong Park
The LA-based brand, Mijeong Park, draws major inspiration from the city. With modern silhouettes and neutral colours, these pieces are truly timeless. The brand was designed with quality and refinement for the modern woman in mind. Mijeong Park actually donates a portion of its online sales to elementary art education in areas of LA.
DÔEN
DÔEN is a gorgeous contemporary brand with dreamy dresses, flowy skirts, sleek blouses, and more. If you love Aritzia’s Wilfred Free line, you’ll definitely fall in love with this brand. Not to mention, DÔEN is currently transitioning to organic and recycled fabrics for certain styles of clothing, so you can feel extra good about your purchase at this shop.
Mango
Mango is a brand that’s similar to Zara, but it feels a little like its older sister in a way. While there are no more Mango stores in Canada, you can thankfully still shop the brand online. It’s here that you’ll find super wearable items that are fashionable and on-trend with a modern contemporary feel.
Pixie Market
Online store Pixie Market is a one-stop-shop for all your straight from runway-inspired finds. Everything you’ll find here is elevated beyond its basic form and even though the prices are a bit steeper than Aritzia, once you take a look, you’ll fall in love too. Plus, the site also has lots of sustainable offerings and we all know how important that is.
For Love & Lemons
This popular brand can always be found all over Instagram being modeled by celebs and influencers. With whimsical clothing that makes you feel like you’re in a fairytale, browse its site for puffy sleeves, corduroy pants, pom-pom sweaters, and more akin to some of Aritzia’s trendier styles.
Anthropologie
Since 1992, Anthropologie has become a contemporary fan favourite. If you love bold patterns or neutral designs, there is something for everyone’s personal style. The brand also has a great plus-size section and is constantly hosting awesome sales.
Dynamite
For a more affordable brand like Aritzia, there’s Montreal-based Dynamite. You’ll find trendier pieces and basics here. There’s a great variety that’s near-identical — think knit tank tops, blouses, faux leather pants, cardigans, sweatsuits, blazers, and more.
COS
With a focus on creating pieces to last beyond trends, COS is a brand that offers beautiful essentials for your closet. Stock up on elegant and chic pieces from this store, similar to the style you admire from Aritzia.
Latest Scoop
Popping up all over Vancouver and Toronto, The Latest Scoop fills up its retail spaces with fresh basics and trendy pieces from Paris, Italy, New York, Bali, Los Angeles, and Spain. Proudly Canadian, The Latest Scoop not only carries the hottest brands from our nation but also scopes out what’s trending around the world.
Eileen Fisher
This womenswear brand, Eileen Fisher is an industry leader in ethical and sustainable fashion. The chic company plans to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions from production by 25% by 2025. Not only does it source sustainably, but it also makes a point to create a supply chain of fair working wages.
Simons
Simons carries modern and minimalistic pieces that will seamlessly fit into your wardrobe. Plus, the pieces are quite affordable too which is always a bonus!
LEZÉ The Label
LEZÉ The Label was founded in Vancouver back in 2017 by Tanya and Karen. It was created on the basis of wanting workwear that’s recycled, comfortable, and chic, all at the same time. Plus, sustainability is definitely at the forefront of the brand’s practices and manufacturing processes.
Everlane
Everlane wants the right choice to be as easy as putting on a great T-shirt. That’s why it partners with the best, ethical factories around the world, and sources only the finest materials. It offers beautiful fashion pieces that are so effortlessly chic.
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In Canada and the United States, online shopping is growing at a faster rate than brick and mortar retail sales, and brands who fail to adapt are suffering. Shopping online is easier, cheaper, and more comfortable, while the accessibility of information, choice and availability can make getting what you want online much more simple than in store. According to the Toronto Star, online sales in Canada are growing at a rate of 15% per year compared to 3% for in-store retail sales. The reasons behind this shift to online shopping are complex and varied, but it is safe to assume that the increasing security, convenience and pervasiveness of e-commerce has altered the retail landscape forever, making an online store a must for any brand that wants to stay competitive.
However, traditional retail isn’t doomed and more online shopping doesn’t spell the immediate death of the physical storefront. Even online-first brands like Casper, Warby Parker and Frank & Oak see the benefits of brick and mortar, because they recognize there will always be consumers who want to be able to physically see, touch, try and/or hold the product they’re about to purchase. Brands need both because these two channels serve different purposes. While brick and mortar spaces allow for the physical interactions with products, people and space, online stores are a better, more efficient way for customers to actually buy the things they want and need.
The #CasperCottage pop-up shop in Toronto (Image: Instagram/@Casper)
This should be seen as an exciting opportunity for retailers to elevate the use of their physical spaces for purposes that go beyond basic business transactions. If the act of moving inventory and taking money can be done better online, then that is where those activities should take place. Physical stores should be used for creating spaces that don’t just provide a good or service, but allow consumers to engage with the brand on a deeper and more emotional level. The use of physical space should then be optimized to strengthen the organization’s brand, increase customer loyalty and develop a two way customer-brand relationship.
One of the few brands in Canada that is doing this well is Nike. They operated the Nike Running Club out of the Toronto Nike Loft, a “loft and chill out space” situated in downtown Toronto. Although the space was also used to test and promote new products, the primary intention for was to create a gathering place for runners. This space was not used to directly sell products but to incorporate a social aspect into running; to keep runners accountable and motivated, and to create a Nike branded support system to help them reach and surpass their athletic goals. Although they removed the business transaction from the customer-brand relationship, Nike used the space to create a community around Nike’s brand to promote several of the values tied to brand identity.
Nike Run Club (Image: Instagram/@NikeToronto)
In early 2017, Nike redesigned the loft to shift away from runners and engage with a more style focused customer segment. The space now showcases the myriad of ways in which you can customize your sneakers using NikeID (an online sneaker customization engine), offers “SNKR Services” which can winterize your sneakers (very important in Toronto) as well as a few areas to relax and hang out. Although the space is no longer as community oriented as it once was — Nike still offers free workouts across the city — this is not exactly a store where one goes to make a purchase. The loft is still very much a space that is reflective of the NikeID brand, allowing customer to explore and interact with the brand, and become familiar with its value proposition.
More and more of the stuff we buy is going to be bought and sold online, and as the technology and attitudes around e-commerce change this trend will only increase. Physical stores are no longer the only place where customers can buy the things they want and need, and this should be seen as an opportunity for brands to get creative with how they use their physical space.
How brands do this will vary brand to brand because the uses should be a reflection of the unique values that a given brand represents. But it’s safe to say that we’ll see business transactions take a secondary role in physical stores which will be used to develop stronger relationships with customers and build greater meaning behind brand purpose, values and identity.
Do you think retail stores are changing for the better? Share your opinion in the comment section!
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Fans of Frank + Oak‘s last NBA collection will be happy to know that they’ve released a second line of the collection, just in time for the 2017 playoff season.
While the initial collection only featured pieces for Raptors’ fans, the new collection, which dropped on April 12, features six different styles highlighting five different teams including Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and of course, Toronto Raptors.
Ranging between $55 and $125, the line’s clean and minimalist designs are sure to win over fashionable fans. Take a look at a few piece to cheer our hometown heroes on in below.
You can view all team merchandise at frankandoak.com, or in person at Real Sports Apparel at the Air Canada Centre and Frank + Oak stores nationwide.
Which look is your favourite? Let us know in the comment section.
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The Frank + Oak Toronto Warehouse Sale is coming to a wrap and we want to clear the whole store which means mega savings for you!
We’ve restocked, refolded, and repriced everything. Prices start at $5 for accessories and cap off at $60 for heavy outwear, while most items are priced around the $20 range. Plus, the more you spend, the more you’ll save with the special promotion we’re running.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for the store location and final weekend hours. 
When:
Now until Sunday, March 19, 2017
Saturday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where:
533 College St.
Toronto, ON
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Is it Spring yet? Nope.
If you’re feeling the winter blues, a little retail therapy always helps. Like always, we’ve got the down low on the best sales happening this weekend. Whether you’re looking for super cheap duds or a steal on furniture statement pieces, these sales have what you’re looking for.
Frank + Oak Warehouse Sale
It’s the final weekend of the Frank + Oak Warehouse Sale, meaning it’s your last chance to score big on women and men’s apparel, footwear and accessories! There are some great final week promos running. For example, spend $125 (before tax), get 20% off your entire purchase or spend $250 (before tax), get 30% off your entire purchase. In addition, all prices have been lowered and everything is between $5 and $60, with most items priced between $20-25. Head to 533 College St. to shop and get full sale details here.
Artemano Mega Moving Warehouse Sale
Time for new furniture? You’re in luck! Artemano is hosting a mega moving warehouse sale and they are taking up to 80% off their nature-inspired offerings. Shop bed frames, benches, dining room tables, accessories, and more. The sale runs from March 17-27th but we suggest visiting early to shop the cream of the crop. Get full sale details here.
GEOX Yorkdale Grand Opening Event
Out with the old, in with the new! GEOX has opened a brand new location in Yorkdale Shopping Centre and they want to celebrate with you. On Saturday, March 18th, the first 50 shoppers will receive an extra 15% off their entire purchase. Plus, everyone who shops will receive a free gift! Get full details and preview the store here.
Gap Site Wide Sale
Freshen up your wardrobe for Spring with some mighty fine finds from Gap. Right now, they’re taking 35% off all skirts and dresses, plus 30% off everything else with the promo code, “GAPDRESSUP”. Oh, and did we mention there’s free shipping on all orders over $50? Shop the sale here.
Jean Machine Flash Sale
One bill. That’s all you need to shop the Jean Machine flash sale (but you’ll probably drop a few more). Shop men and women’s apparel for $30 or less – prices start at just $10 with tons of options. They are also hosting a denim BOGO sale, just use the code “MOREBLUES” for buy one, get one 50% off Spring denim. Shop the sale here.
Did we miss any of the best sales happening this weekend? Share them with us in the comment section!
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Those who love Frank + Oak will know that the Montreal-born brand ventured into womenswear late last year, launching a line of versatile staples and basics. And now, following the success, Frank + Oak will be expanding their offerings even further to include women’s footwear.
With styles available online and in-store at the Montreal and Vancouver flagship starting today, the collection is built on clean, minimalist silhouettes featuring sneakers, loafers, pumps, and espadrilles made in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Prices range between $125 and $155, and shoppers can shop the collection in a variety of fresh colours.
In addition to Frank + Oak‘s in-house footwear line, the retailer also carries select sneakers from Reebok, Asics, Puma, and Saucony.
Take a look at the new women’s footwear collection below. All styles will be available to shop online and in select stores between now and April 12th.
What do you think of the Frank + Oak women’s footwear collection?
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You can thank us now… or later. Up to you!
Due to popular demand, the Frank + Oak Toronto Warehouse Sale has been extended for one more week!
Re-opening on Tuesday, March 14th, we will be bringing in NEW product, reducing prices, and giving you even better deals.
The new price list will be posted tomorrow, but all week long the following promotions will be in effect:
– Spend $125 (before tax) and get 20% off your entire purchase
– Spend $250 (before tax) and get 30% off your entire purchase
Hours:
Tues. March 14. 11 am – 8 pm
Weds. March 15. 11 am – 8 pm
Thurs. March 16. 11 am – 8 pm
Fri. March 17. 11 am – 8 pm
Sat. March 18. 10 am – 6 pm
Sun. March 19. 10 am – 5 pm.
We’d like to thank everyone who has stopped by, waited in lines, and shopped the sale this week – you guys rock!
Get Location and Event Details Here
Calling all stylish ladies and gents! The Frank + Oak Toronto Warehouse Sale officially opens today (Wednesday, March 8th at 12:00 pm) and we’re about to hit you with some major savings.
As per usual, the sale features tons of men’s clothing, footwear, and accessories. While there’s a wide selection of bottoms such as shorts ($20) and pants ($30), there are tons (and we mean, tons) of tops like short sleeve tees ($15), long sleeve tees, sweaters, hoodies, and button-up shirts ($25) available. On top of that, the sale features jackets galore and plenty of shoes ($30) and boots ($70).
Accessories start at just $5 for socks and other accessories like belts, gloves, hats, underwear, wallets, and more are just $10 each. Larger accessories like leather bags ($60-100) and canvas bags ($20-40) are also available to shop.
And ladies, don’t think we’ve forgotten about you! There’s a selection of women’s dresses, blazers, sweaters, button-ups, pants, and more to shop. Prices for womenswear starts at $15 and almost everything is under $30.
Check out some of the offerings below and remember, all shoppers get an extra 10% off on Opening Day (Wednesday, March 8, 2017). Get full sale details here.
Will you be visiting the Frank + Oak Toronto Warehouse Sale?
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The Frank + Oak Toronto Warehouse Sale is right around the corner and we have some exciting news! The good people at F+O have just let us know that the Toronto Warehouse Sale will carry a curated selection of women’s clothing. What’s great about it, is that the women’s clothing will also be on sale at up to 80% off.
Although the F+O’s women’s line is relatively new, if you are interested in scooping some up we suggest you arrive at the sale early as the garments are extremely popular and we expect them to be a hot seller at the event.
For more information about the Frank + Oak Toronto Warehouse Sale head over to our event page here.
Take a look at some of our Favourite F+O women’s looks. * Please note we can’t guarantee the availability or selection of any of the below products shown.
For a limited time, shop the Frank + Oak Warehouse Sale in downtown Toronto and take up to 80% off. The sale will feature everything you need to start off Spring, including footwear, outerwear, apparel, accessories, and more.
Preview last year’s sale below:
