When it comes to shopping sweatsuits, there’s definitely a fine line between looking cute and looking dumpy. Oversized outfits need to be cut perfectly and not every brand or retailer has mastered fit just yet.
But if you’re like me and you’ve been spending your days in isolation looking for a sweatsuit to add to your work from home rotation, you’ll be happy to hear that I’ve done all the digging for the perfect two-piece for you. And the best part yet? All of the sweatsuits in this roundup are from Canadian brands and retailers.
Happy lounging!
Tea You
Made in Montreal from organic bamboo cotton, Tea You’s Super Cozy Après Set (pictured above) is a favourite amongst influencers and it’s easy to see why. It’s super cute and available in four different colours: black, heather grey, Aperol, and ivory. Just act fast — the styles are selling quickly!
Juicy Couture x Brunette The Label
Channel your inner Paris Hilton with this nostalgic set. Vancouver-based Brunette the Label and Juicy Couture teamed up to create this matching sweatsuit, which is available in black and pink.
Aritzia
Add a pop of colour to your isolation outfit with a tie-dye sweatsuit from Aritzia. Stylish and comfortable, you’ll want to wear this outfit all week.
Lululemon
There is so much activewear to explore on Lululemon but I particularly love this matching ink blue set. The pants are super comfy, but you still look pulled together when you leave the house.
Roots
Roots is a no brainer for cozy sweats for the whole family. There’s a huge variety of styles and colours to shop, but my top pick is the Original Zip Stein because if you haven’t heard, half-zip sweaters are all the rage right now.
Simons
From the Quebec-based department store’s in-house lingerie and loungewear line Miiyu, I love this burgundy-coloured set for the mesh detailing on the sweater. Plus, it’s a pretty good price too.
Province Of Canada
Whether you feel like mix-and-matching your sweatsuit or having a full monotone moment, Province Of Canada has you covered. All of the loungewear at the store is made in Canada and 80% cotton, plus if you’re a first-time shopper, you’ll get 15% off your order.
Mary Young
If you’re looking for a more elevated look, allow me to introduce you to this set by Toronto-based designer Mary Young. Made in Canada from knit waffle and available in two different colours, this ain’t your average sweatsuit.
RYU
Founded in Vancouver, RYU is an athleticwear company that’s loved by athletes and celebrities like Kate Bosworth. I love this basic Carmine-coloured set because it’s OEKO-TEX® Certified, meaning it’s 100% free of harmful chemicals.
MICHIi
Toronto-based MICHI is known for its stylish high-end active and loungewear and this set takes the sweatsuit to a whole new level. Dressed up or dressed down, this neoprene set is pure comfort.
Articles You Might Be Interested In
The 8 Days Of Self-Care Giveaway Ft. Fitbit, Reid Bikes & More
10 Of The Most Stylish Loungewear Brands To Shop While Working From Home
10 Secondhand Stores In Toronto You Can Shop Online
Learning Language App Babbel Is Now Free For All Canadian Students
10 Of The Best Games To Play With Friends While Self-Isolating
The weather may be turning, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of fun to be had in Toronto. September means back to school and back to reality, but it definitely doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Our city is known for always having all sorts of activities and fun things to do and this month is no different. There are pop-ups and markets all over Toronto focused on things from female-led businesses and beauty, to wellness and antiques — there’s seriously something for everyone to enjoy!
Here’s our list of 6 Toronto pop-ups and markets to check out in September!
Pretty Elevated by Irisa
Pretty Elevated by Irisa
Located at Stackt Market, the Pretty Elevated by Irisa pop-up is the first of its kind as it’s not only a pop-up but a community space as well for female-led businesses. Irisa is a women’s cannabis brand that’s passionate about supporting women and building communities and that’s exactly what this unique pop-up is doing. For the 6 weeks that Pretty Elevated will be open (from August 16 until September 22), each entrepreneur will be given the opportunity to amplify their business for two weeks, rent free.
Toronto Fashion Collective
Coming to Yorkville is the Toronto Fashion Collective pop-up from September 5-7 and it’s celebrating all things Canadian craftsmanship, design, and fashion. Shop brands like Jewels By Alan Anderson, Barcelona Collective, ZOFF, Victory Of The People Jewelry, Lesley Hampton and more.
Mary Young Pop-Up
Who doesn’t love a gorgeous new lingerie set? If you’re looking to shop locally, head to the Mary Young pop-up that’s on from September 6-8 at 575 Queen Street West on the second floor. In addition to the new hues the brand is offering, the space is apparently super Instagrammable so don’t miss out on the selfie opps!
Lancome ExtraOrdinary Spaces Pop-Up
Instagram/@annefsrx
Get your cameras ready because the gorgeous Lancome ExtraOrdinary Spaces Pop-Up is coming from September 10 until October 20. Situated inside Hudson’s Bay on Queen, you can experience a whole new of Lancome’s makeup with stunning photo-ops and Instagram-worthy moments. Don’t miss out because the first 50 people to arrive will receive an impressive beauty bag that’s worth over $170!
Mind Body & Soul Wellness Market
Instagram/@themindbodysoulmarket
If you live and breathe all things wellness, you won’t want to miss out on the Mind Body & Soul Wellness Market that’s happening on September 15 at The Great Hall. This market is where like-minded individuals can come together and get inspired. General admission is totally free but tickets to the events offered cost $10 with $5 of every ticket sold going to CAMH.
Toronto Antique and Vintage Market
Instagram/@fat_dachshund
If you’re obsessed with the thrill of the hunt, the Toronto Antique and Vintage Market is happening on September 28 and 29 at the Enercare Centre. Expect to find all sorts of gems like vinyl records, antique jewellery, textiles, and even typewriters. Tickets cost $12 but right now if you sign up for the VIP mailing list, you can save $2 on admission!
Featured Image: Instagram/@thematthewlai
Articles You May Be Interested In:
20 Of The Biggest Celebrities Coming To Toronto For TIFF
6 Cheap Activities For Families To Do In Toronto
HUGO BOSS Just Opened A Beautiful New Canadian Flagship Store In Toronto
10 Stores To Shop For Trendy And Affordable Furniture In Toronto
Take A Peek Inside Eco+Amour: Toronto’s Eco-Friendly, Zero-Waste Refill Beauty Boutique
February has arrived, folks and with that comes all things Valentine’s Day. For some, V-Day is a day that is all about love, chocolate, and sex, but for some, it’s just another day of the week.
Regardless of how you celebrate, who says you can’t still treat yourself? One way to get in the festive spirit (too far?) is lingerie!
Lingerie can definitely be a treat for that “special someone” but it’s also a great way to boost your confidence and put a little spring in your step — even if you’re the only one who knows what you’re rocking underneath.
These 9 Toronto lingerie stores are the perfect place to start shopping and trust me — they’re totally worth getting your knickers in a twist over!
Stole My Heart
Instagram/@stolemyheart_to
If you’ve never been to this super sweet lingerie store, then you’ve definitely seen it on your IG feed. Expertly blending sex appeal with girly romance is Stole My Heart on Dundas West. They’re known for their carefully curated selection of stunning pieces with fun patterns and cheeky details that celebrate the diversity of women.
Secrets From Your Sister
Instagram/@secretsfromyoursister
Specializing in bra fitting, Secrets From Your Sister believe that getting the right fit is something that every woman deserves because the right bra means you’ll not only look good but feel good too! With so much selection for everyone regardless of shape or size, you’re bound to find a few pieces that give you all the confidence in the world!
Rêve Rouge
Instagram/@reverougelingerie
Located a bit north of the downtown core at Bayview Village is Rêve Rouge, and it’s there that you will find smart yet mega sexy lingerie. Carrying a wide assortment of lingerie brands plus their own in-house line, this is the place to go if you’re looking for more than one style or design — it’s the perfect one-stop shop!
Fortnight Lingerie
Instagram/@fortnightlabel
Toronto-born Fortnight Lingerie is as iconic and well-known as it is gorgeous, so there’s no doubt why they made the list. Combining vintage design (think high waists and boning detail) with modern colours and details, these pieces are made to last and trust me, you’ll want to keep them. Plus, make sure you check out the latest collab with MISFITSTUDIO because who doesn’t love velvet rose-gold lingerie?
Tryst
Instagram/@amanda.sobers
A Queen West staple, Tryst knows that us gals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and so do our breasts. That’s why they make sure to stock a variety of bras that are inclusive to all. Their expert fitters are always there to help you find your best fit and their pieces are always gorgeous, comfortable and supportive!
LoversLand
Instagram/@loversland
Looking for dreamy lingerie? Get ready to fall in love with LoversLand! Inspired by all things bridal, this is probably the most magical and whimsical shops I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Their super cool and easy breezy pieces are chic without being over complicated. Even if you’re not getting hitched anytime soon, this store needs to be on your list!
Avec Plaisir
Instagram/@avecplaisirca
Yorkville’s own Avec Plaisir is revered for their ultra fine selection of lingerie and fine it is! Its owner and founder, Vasilia, won’t allow any collections that don’t meet her standards to grace the shelves, so you know what you’re shopping is top notch. These pieces might be a bit more expensive than others but they’ll last you ages and have you feeling fabulous!
Change
Instagram/@gisellafrancisca
With a mission to provide the perfect bra to as many women as possible around the world, Change Lingerie is definitely one to add to your knickers list. Designed to fit each one of our unique curves, their lingerie selections are functional but still sexy enough for, well, sexy time.
Mary Young
Instagram/@itsmaryyoung
Celebrating all things self-love is Mary Young and trust me, you’ll love yourself even more in one of these pieces. What’s unique about Mary Young is that they take comfortable everyday undies and blend it with what we everything we love about sassy lingerie. The result is lingerie that’s mega sexy yet still comfortable and wearable!
Featured image: Instagram/@stolemyheart_to
Articles You Might Be Interested:
Meet Mary Young: The Toronto Designer Who Sells Lingerie With Self-Love In Mind
Spotlight: Fortnight Lingerie
17 Online Outlet Stores To Take Advantage Of
Victoria’s Secret Is Going To Relaunch A Major Fan Favourite
9 Things Every Victoria’s Secret & PINK Shopper Should Know
When Toronto-based clothing designer and entrepreneur Mary Young first started her clothing line nearly three years ago, she noticed a lack of inclusion and diversity in the fashion industry that just didn’t sit well with her. She saw that there was a “very niche category of who a woman is suppose to be and it [was] not accurate.”
As a strong believer that every woman is the ‘ideal woman,’ Young took it upon herself to work to transform the way women see and feel about their bodies starting at the base level: their lingerie.
“After studying the industry for so long, I realized that there was a gap for lifestyle lingerie that focused on comfort and ease versus show pieces and restructuring of the natural body,” said Young. She said lingerie companies were designing with other people people in mind, those seeing the lingerie in an intimate setting, rather than the women actually wearing them.
Trading thick padding and stiff underwire for nylon mesh and bamboo cotton, Mary Young’s namesake brand was born and has since developed a cult-like following in the city. Being previously called the “anti-thesis of Victoria’s Secret,” the Canadian made lingerie and loungewear line understands the importance of fashionable yet comfortable clothing.
“Everything that we design is really focused on encouraging women to embrace their natural shape and celebrate comfort first.”
“The focus of the brand is about comfort, which is something you don’t often see in women’s wear. A lot of clothing, not just lingerie, but ready-to-wear, everyday garments are really focused on looking tailored, not really focusing on being comfortable,” said Young. “Everything that we design is really focused on encouraging women to embrace their natural shape and celebrate comfort first…from the base layers of lingerie, knowing that these garments can be everyday garments as well as worn in an intimate setting.”
But for Young, it’s not just about making women feel comfortable in their underwear — it’s also about helping instil confidence and positivity within those women when it comes to who they are. Mary Young isn’t just a name or a brand of clothing; it’s a culture and a community.
For Young, it’s not just about making women feel comfortable in their underwear — it’s also about helping instil confidence and positivity within those women when it comes to who they are.
“If you feel more confident in an underwire padded bra then that’s exactly what you should do; however you feel the most confident is what you should celebrate, but always ask why that makes you feel confident. Is it because you’ve been told that’s the right thing to do, or is it because your own soul and your gut is telling you that?” said Young.
Many designers try to sell women on an ideal image of who they should be, but with Young’s line, she wants to focus on enhancing who those women really are. It’s all part of the community she is building with her brand rather than just simply selling clothes.
“When it comes to community building, no matter what we’re doing we want to be celebrating other people as well… We’re building a brand, but we also want to be a part of a bigger community that’s growing together,” she said.
“When it comes to community building, no matter what we’re doing we want to be celebrating other people as well… We’re building a brand, but we also want to be a part of a bigger community that’s growing together.”
In the last three years, the 26-year-old’s clothing company has grown into a full-fledged brand and lifestyle. Young’s designs hang in a variety of storefronts across the country and her social channels have established a cult-like following with over 16,000 followers on Instagram alone.
“Social media has been a really important part of shaping the brand, especially the community and culture of it,” said Young. “Before social media was a thing, you really only got to know brands based on huge marketing campaigns and paid advertisements, not as much honest conversation, authentic imagery and storytelling which is what we do focus on.”
“With social media, you have a voice you have a platform and there’s a lot more you can do with it than just sell products. At the end of the day we are selling garments, but my biggest focus is encouraging women and men to open up, to be more supportive, to be more inclusive and to really just grow in a more positive way, and the way that I’m doing that is encouraging women to challenge what they’ve been told by the industry and by the media their entire lives,” said Young.
“At the end of the day we are selling garments, but my biggest focus is encouraging women and men to open up, to be more supportive, to be more inclusive and to really just grow in a more positive way…”
And it shows. Along with delivering modern yet simple garments that embody the new sexy in a back-to-basics sort of esthetic, Young has developed a platform for self-empowerment. She launched her Self Love Club Talks movement this past April – a series of talks, blog posts, events and social content focusing on celebrating, loving and accepting oneself.
“Buying lingerie is a way to treat yourself, and the way that our [brand] focuses on comfort is a different level of treating yourself than other brands,” said Young. “Women buy our products to wear every single day to feel good in every single day… There is not one ideal woman and we need to start celebrating our differences and actually embracing [them] instead of trying to fit into a very thin checklist of what we are suppose to be.”
You could consider it as being in the right place and the right time, but Young sees it as aligning herself with the right movements; movements that matter to not only her, but to her customers and followers as well.
“I just want to focus on helping women feel better, feel more positive in themselves and learn who they are versus who they’ve been told to be.”
All images by Sarah May
Posts you might be Interested in:
7 Local Stores in Toronto Where you can Actually Meet the Designers
Meet the Canadian Designer Torontonians are Freaking Out About
Meet the Successful Students Behind Toronto’s Newest Custom Suit Company
Style Spotlight: Hayley Elsaesser, Fashion Designer
reve rouge Opens in Bayview Village
Lingerie lovers will be happy to hear that there’s a new lingerie shop in town, and they’re stocking a selection of intimates catered to the millennial set.
rêve rouge is the new kid on the block at Bayview Village. Owned by Liliana Mann, the new shop is the younger, hipper sister to Linea Intima, serving up confidence boosting lingerie from coveted local brands like Mary Young and Fortnight, and international labels like LingaDore, Blue Bella, Epure, and more available in sizes 30A to 36F and XS to L.
In addition to sexy cool girl intimates, rêve rouge also carries scented candles, room sprays, fine lingerie wash, and hand cream, all with a French flare. Accessories like body jewelry and hair pieces are also on the shop’s roster.
While Toronto is rêve rouge’s first shop, Mann has plans to expand across Canada.
Take a peek inside rêve rouge below.
Learn more about rêve rouge here.
Featured Image: Instagram/@reverougelingerie
Posts you might be Interested in:
Inside RW&CO’s New Yorkdale Store
Spotlight: Fortnight Lingerie
Popular Online Thrift Store ThredUp Makes its Way to Canada
Bikini Village has Launched a Brand New Store Concept in Toronto
These are the Most Trusted Brands in Canada