Club Monaco’s Men’s Shop, 157 Bloor St. W. (Images: Kevin Naulls)
The place: Club Monaco has launched its new menswear section at the iconic Bloor Street location. The stairs down are lined with real books with the spines facing inwards and a tough rope banister (watch your hands, we got a little scratched up), leading to a study that looks like something Hemingway would feel right at home in—rough hewn-wood floors, nautical ropes and classic menswear abound.
The stuff: The big new draw is a collection by A Continuous Lean’s Michael Williams and designer Aaron Levine called Made in the U.S.A. (yes, they know Club Monaco is formerly Canadian, too). Slim-fitting suits sold as separates ($395 for a blazer, $245 for pants), ties in silk, chambray and wool ($89.50) and oxford shirts ($139.50) sit amongst hand-picked items like Tanner Leather goods (all vegetable dyed), Canadian-made Aether shirts and Mark McNairy for Bass shoes.
The shoppers: Urban dandies waiting for J. Crew to open a men’s shop in Canada will find plenty to coo over—the entire section looks like something we’d see on any sartorially minded flaneur. Being on the major shopping strip of Bloor can’t hurt, so expect a lot of families, weekend brunchers and ladies who lunch to wander in. Men with their mind on the bottom line will also find a good selection of affordable pieces; this is still Club Monaco, after all.
Our favourite things: We loved the sweatshirt in heather grey with a Henley placket ($89.50), the hooded duffle coat with plaid lining ($389) and the Fair Isle sweater ($169.50) with a reverse knit that makes the stitching look more abstract.
Fantastically disappointing to walk downstairs into a “den” and be presented with a curated rack of goods “all made in America”. I’m not sure getting to buy foreign-made goods in a basement has quite the appeal that Club Monaco thought it would have. Perhaps they’d like to buy All American Made Stuff in… America
November 23, 2011 at 1:07 pm | by MikeClub Monaco has long been a US owned brand now (hello people it’s been 12 years!) and has evolved in style, quality and store experience since being acquired by Ralph Lauren. Why anyone woudl scoff with the Brand carrying “made in america” collection is beyond me. And frankly no longer is the Brand hampered by “black and white” only clothing, limited men’s product with no semblance of style, and has now FINALLY morphed into one of the coolest men’s shops on Bloor. The new Bloor Street “man cave” is exactly what us guys have been waiting for. The “Made in America” line is just no nonsense “good clothing” and the fit is like it was literally made for you. I think the “bespoke” style is what makes the curated collection so cool. We Canadians may take a stance on claiming where is the “Made in Canada” collection….but really? It is fine by me to NOT have to buy something manufactured at lightening speed from Asia. Well done Club Monaco!
November 26, 2011 at 2:09 pm | by Charley