If you’re on the hunt for quality men’s wardrobe staples and don’t know where to begin, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking to add to your denim collection or buy a new go-to knit for the cooler months, there are so many great stores to shop at, across all different price points. And let’s face it – not all wardrobe staples are made equally, so knowing what stores to visit is essential when shopping for essentials.
Here are 8 of the best stores to shop for men’s wardrobe staples!
Uniqlo
When it comes to wardrobe staples, Uniqlo knows what it’s doing. You can find everything from cashmere sweaters to dress shirts to functional outerwear, all at a reasonable price point. Plus, its pieces are never overly trendy, meaning they can last in your closet for years to come.
Roots
For all of your cozy clothing needs, head to Roots. Its sweat sets are notoriously super comfy, and the brand also carries some stylish basics as well.
Kotn
Kotn is known for its timeless, high-quality, fashion-forward wardrobe basics. Browse through its selection of Canadian-designed essentials, all made with care from the finest natural fibres. Although the brand isn’t overly “cheap,” pretty much all of its items are under $200.
Everlane
From perfect-fitting jeans to classic shirting, Everlane has it all. Hitting a high/middle price point, Everlane is a great place to shop for investment-worthy wardrobe staples, designed to be worn for years to come.
Massimo Dutti
If you’re looking to add some high-end wardrobe staples to your wardrobe, check out Massimo Dutti’s extensive selection. We’d recommend shopping for items like blazers and jackets here, as you really are paying for quality and design.
Lululemon
Of course, it’s no secret that people turn to Lululemon for athletic wear, but did you know the brand also reps some really great everyday classics? Well, now you do. Whether you’re hitting the gym or going out to lunch, you can find an array of options at Lululemon.
Zara
For trendier wardrobe staples, you can’t forget about Zara. Here, you can shop for essential items with a modern twist at a relatively affordable price. There’s never any shortage of items to browse, as new styles are constantly being added.
Frank And Oak
If you’ve yet to check out Frank And Oak, what are you waiting for? Pretty much any item the store carries could be considered a wardrobe staple thanks to their classic and wearable designs.
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Ossington is quickly becoming a go-to place to shop and grab a bite in Toronto. With trendy new shops and businesses opening on the regular, the street is becoming increasingly popular! Whether you’re looking to get a relaxing facial, some new jewellery, a new pair of jeans, a cup of coffee, or a bite to eat – Ossington has it all – and more!
Here are our favourite places to visit on Ossington Avenue!
Formula Fig
Formula Fig is a facial bar like no other. Its unique interior, high-tech 30-minute facials, expert staff, and curated selection of skincare products to shop sets it apart from the rest! It’s our fave spot to get a facial, and shop for high-end skincare products!
Duer
Looking for high-quality, performance-driven (and sustainable) jeans and apparel? Look no further! Duer is one of Ossington’s newest additions and it’s stocked full of great denim and lifestyle apparel designed for “doers”… get it? No matter where your day takes you, you’re set, thanks to Duer’s comfortable yet stylish options.
Mejuri
Mejuri just opened a new location right on Ossington! The shop is stunning (and huge), and of course, has Mejuri’s full collection out on display for you to shop, alongside its expert staff to help you along the way.
Paris Paris
Head on over to Paris Paris, into its converted auto garage – that is now an inviting and airy dining room, to indulge in seasonal, contemporary, bistro-inspired cuisine, fun wines, fine spirits, and cocktails!
I Miss You Vintage
I Miss You Vintage is your one-stop shop for luxury designer resale finds. You can find all kinds of designer bags, shoes, clothes, and so much more for up to 70% off the original retail price!
LoversLand
LoversLand is a bridal boutique with a fresh approach to the bridal scene, serving you pieces for your big day and beyond. You can make a private bridal appointment, or pop in to shop the floor. Even if you’re not getting married, you will surely find some great pieces.
Rooms Coffee
If you’re looking for a spot to enjoy some great caffeinated beverages and even better vibes, you have to check out Rooms Coffee on Ossington! Seriously, the vibes are immaculate. Grab a spot on the patio, main floor, or even in the basement to enjoy a cup of coffee and maybe even a game of chess.
Reposado Bar & Lounge
Head over to Reposado Bar & Lounge to enjoy a huge selection of Tequila and Mezcal along with some live music! While you’re there, make sure to order some Mexican tapas to indulge in while you sip.
Melanie Auld Jewelry
Since 2013, Melanie Auld Jewelry has been providing collections of fine and demi-fine pieces that each showcase the power of storytelling. Experience the beauty of the jewellery in-store, and you can even make an appointment to get a bracelet welded on “permanently”!
Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery
Line up at the ever-so-popular Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery to indulge in unique ice cream flavours on house-made cookie ice cream sandwiches (sammies), waffle cones, cups, and to-go tubs! Check out the daily menu prior here!
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Our friends at Retail-Insider are reporting that iconic Canadian footwear chain Town Shoes is set to be closed down after a stellar 66 years in business.
Town Shoes currently operates 38 stores across Canada, and according to industry insiders, this may cause problems for mall landlords as another departing chain will cause significant vacancies in malls across the country.
This is an interesting turn of events for Town Shoes, as the retailer recently announced in April that it was improving operations and acquired new brands to stock on the shelves. Stores had already begun the renovation process, so it’s somewhat a shock to people following the brand.
Retail-Insider points out that this announcement isn’t completely out of left field. Many Canadian footwear brands are struggling for market share, hence why brands are looking to consolidate their offerings and save on the hard costs of store operations.
In case you forgot, American Parent company DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse bought Town Shoes in 2014. The acquisition of Town Shoes by DSW allowed DSW to open large format concept store in Canada and used Town Shoes expertise in distribution and logistics.
Fast forward to 2018, DSW now owns 100% state in Town Shoes and according to reports as early as May told suppliers that the Town Shoes nameplate would be shut down. As of 2018 Town Shoes Limited was the largest branded footwear retailer in Canada with 38 Town Shoes stores, and 113 Shoe Company and Shoe Warehouse Stores.
DSW will continue to operate in Canada and also will continue to operate it’s newly launched sneaker concept GRAIL in Vancouver. The concept is expected to be rolled out in key markets nationally and possibily an expansion into the United States.
It will be sad to see Town Shoes go as many Canadians have at least bought one pair of shoes there. The history of Town Shoes is extensive and it was founded in 1952.
It would be an understatement to say that American Apparel went through some serious woes over the past few years. Their owner Dov Charney was ousted, AA filed for bankruptcy, the company closed stores globally and was later acquired by apparel giant Gildan.
According to Hypebeast, American Apparel has re-launched globally and is looking to capture some of the brand’s magic from days of yore. To mark AA’s return, the brand has launched a “Back to Basics” campaign, which showcases the products that made the brand famous in the first place. The new collection will feature a range of all-time favourites including those colourful hoodies and T’s that everyone wanted in 2004.
If you can remember, at one point American Apparel was a cultural juggernaut essentially ushering in the mass proliferation of hipsters in the early 2000’s. The style was simple, American made and could be incorporated into many varying styles.
AA officially launches today with a brand new web store.
Ever since Toys “R” Us announced plans to shutter their U.S. stores, there has been endless speculation on what will happen to Toys “R” Us’ Canadian stores.
Ontario-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. has signed an agreement to buy the Canadian components of Toys “R” Us Inc. for approximately $300 million.
According to The Financial Post, the agreement big is called a “stalking horse” bid that allows other potential buyers to enter competing proposals. Fairfax holdings would then have the option of matching other organizaitosn bids or can decide to walk away from the deal completely.
The so-called stalking horse bid allows other potential buyers to enter competing proposals by Monday, the person said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. Fairfax would then have the option of either increasing its offer or walking away. Under the terms of the deal, Fairfax would receive a break fee of about 4 per cent if another bidder is chosen, the person said.
According to insiders close to the agreement, Fairfax would be able to continue operating stores under the Toys “R” Us stores in Canada under the same name.
Earlier this week Toys “R” Us turned down an offer from MGA Entertainment…
Casper, the sleep company that introduced its outrageously comfortable mattress in Canada in 2014, today announces the launch of a multi-province retail fleet and its first Canadian headquarters.
The expansion is actually good for Canada, because, not only will Casper’s products be more accessible to Canadian consumers, Casper will also begin manufacturing its sleep products in Canada, and aims to create more than 75 new jobs across the country.
One of Casper’s recently launched U.S. retail locations
According to Casper, the need for expansion into the Canadian marketplace comes from overwhelming demand.
“We’ve seen tremendous success in Canada with three years of triple digit growth,” said Philip Krim, co-founder and CEO, Casper “Investing further in the market and expanding our local presence will enable us to bring better sleep to even more Canadians across the country.”The first of Casper’s Canadian retail shops, which are designed to reimagine the sleep-shopping experience, will open next month in Toronto. Visitors can try Casper’s full product suite in one of four miniature homes, purchase in-store to carry out, or deliver to their doorsteps.
“Over the past three years, Casper has built a loyal customer base in Canada and we’ve seen the demand to experience our products in person grow exponentially,” said Nicole Tapscott, Senior Director and General Manager, Casper Canada. “Putting down permanent roots with our fleet of retail stores and a headquarters in Toronto will allow us to engage with customers on a local level, as well as tap into Canada’s impressive talent base.”
In addition to their own internal retail concepts, Casper has also recently announced a partnership with Indigo, reaching even more customers where they are most comfortable.
We’ve all been in this situation. It seems that when you shop, customer service staff either fall into two categories. There are customer service staff that seem to never be there when you need them (we’re talking to you The Bay), and then there are customer service staff that essentially harass you as you try to navigate the store. The truth is, that when most of us do our shopping we want to do it in peace.
A recent survey from the firm HRC Retail Advisory surveyed close to 3,000 North American shoppers to find out how they want to be treated in stores and a resounding 95 per cent stated that they want to be left alone while shopping.
We are currently living in a world where shoppers want to be left alone until the exact moment where they don’t. We have a feeling these are the same people that will say no to a helpful sales staff only to complain shortly after when no one is there to help them. While this isn’t everyone we’re sure the fact that 95% of shoppers don’t want to be bothered while shopping is very interesting. We assume that when most floor staff are replaced by robots you’ll all be cool with that as well?
When you dive a little deeper into the survey you also discover that a massive 85 per cent of people would rather price check an item on a scanner than ask a person for help. This is concerning because decision makers and retailers use this type of information to plan out their store, and if they are getting numbers like 9 out of 10 people don’t want to be helped in a store, then guess what you’ll slowly start to see salespeople disappear from the retail landscape.
What we also found interesting is the fact that many customers are averse to tech-enhanced dressing rooms, that would remove the need for salespeople and retail floor staff. So the real question is what do people want? Shoppers don’t want to be bothered but then want immediate help when they want something. In the end, it’s making it harder for retailers to plan and anticipate what customers want.
The one thing to note is that if you are one of the few that likes to be helped in a retail store, your days are probably numbered…
Source: HRC Retail Advisory
The Globe and Mail is reporting that one of our favourite brands and iconic Canadian retailer, Roots, has filed a preliminary prospectus with the Canadian securities authorities in preparation for an initial public offering of its common shares.
Roots rose to prominence crafting quality leather goods and lifestyle wear, and is looking to raise $200 million CAD with the IPO, which could generate a market value of around $700 million CAD.
According to the Globe and Mail, the stock will trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ROOT.
With a new focus on the Roots’ core business and the launching of new concept stores, we believe Roots will continue to grow and be successful in the current retail climate.
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Certain Canadian news outlets are suggesting that Hudson’s Bay. Co. is aggressively growing their international presence and now has American retailer, Macy’s in their sights.
According to 680 News, HBC declined to comment on their interest in Macy’s after The Wall Street Journal released a report stating that HBC and Macy’s were in early talks for a takeover.
While there hasn’t been any confirmation industry insiders speculate that “when there is smoke, there’s fire”. Richard Baker, HBC’s current Governor and Executive Chairman is a master at acquisition and Macy’s extensive real estate could be very enticing for HBC.
Reports go into further detail analysing the fact that Macy’s is currently experiencing some financial difficulties and could be ripe for a takeover.
If the takeover is successful, we think it’s unlikely that HBC would bring Macy’s north of the border in a full retail department store model. It’s more likely that products and product ranges from Macy’s would be available through existing HBC channels.
Source: 680 News
North Vancouver-based outdoor clothing and sporting goods company Arc’teryx will launch a concept store in downtown Vancouver this spring, with a particular focus on the consumer experience. It’s the sixth store for the brand in Canada, as Arc’teryx expands its retail operations both domestically as well as globally….
In mid-May of this year, Arc’teryx will open a new store location at 813 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver, in a retail space formerly occupied by fashion retailer Le Chateau. Arc’teryx will span about 4,020 square feet, according to the company’s Marketing Manager Stephanie Jamieson. It will be the first location for the brand to be particularly ‘community focused’, with a space where shoppers can meet, socialize and experience the product. The store will therefore be “less transactional” and more experiential, according to Ms. Jamieson. Features such as a ‘warranty and repair bar’, for example, will allow customers to further engage and deal with any potential product issues…