Valentine’s Day is coming, which means hands will graze denim—we’re certain of it (perhaps in a movie theatre, or at home). These 12.5-ounce Naked and Famous jeans at Over the Rainbow are perfect for these moments, because they’re scratch and sniff and smell like raspberry candy—a gimmick, to be sure, but it beats smelling like a cat or smelling really bad (if you’re on a date, you should smell nice). Mandy Moore would presumably want you to have these. $150.

Over the Rainbow, 101 Yorkville Ave., 416-967-7448, rainbowjeans.com

It’s a morning ritual: two socks on, then shoes. Ladies know it, men know it and Justin Bieber knows it. Over the past couple of years, there’s been a big boom in loud socks offsetting a solid shoe, and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight. Spring and summer are always opportune seasons to throw on a bright pair—like these Paul Smiths we found at Holt Renfrew—and call it a day, but judging by the fall/winter 2012-13 shows from Dolce and Gabbana, Missoni, Dries Van Noten and Kenzo, there’s really no reason to tuck them away, um, ever. They’d go perfectly with the laces we talked about last week, and for those people who don’t feel this look is dramatic enough, we suggest pairing it with a colourful suit. $35 to $40.

Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., 416-922-2333, holtrenfrew.com.

There are a number of shoe options for men: fancy brogues, casual brogues, wingtips, chukka boots, godawful fur atrocities, creepers, oxfords, spectators, loafers and more. What there aren’t a lot of are shoelace options for our dressier shoes. We recently stumbled upon David Barclay’s Stolen Riches, a Toronto-based online shoelace manufacturer who seemingly grew tired of white laces getting dirty and black, brown and grey laces looking like, um, everyone else’s laces. Right now, his creations are only made for three to four and five to six pairs of eyelets, but there’s word of boot and sneaker laces coming down the pipeline. Just like at Pitti Uomo this year and Dunhill last year. We’re just happy to have a local dealer who can take care of our penchant for ostentatious colour. $14.50.

Stolen Riches, 416-560-0246, stolenriches.com.

Anchors away (Image: Speakeasy)

There are so many reasons to want a tattoo, but so few good reasons to actually get one. For example, we don’t recommend forehead tattoos, no matter how much you love someone (sorry, Drake). And while Justin Bieber may think a giant Jesus on the calf is a great idea, we think that it’s just fine for tattoos to be a little subtler sometimes (sorry, Jesus). We walked by Speakeasy on Harbord and immediately fell in love with its old-school tattoos and custom work—don’t fret though, tattoo artists Lizzie, Adrian and Jen M. all have unique styles, so there’s a lot of opportunity to be modern (well, maybe not by Zac Efron’s definition), should sparrows and anchors not be what you were hoping for. Prices vary (and gift cards are available).

Speakeasy, 299 Harbord St., 647-378-2481, speakeasy-tattoo.com/.

Winter is a time when we develop strategies for staying warm, like wearing underwear straight from the dryer, sleeping on freshly pressed sheets or, when neither is an option, huddling under a warm blanket as soon as we get home from work. We stumbled upon this Filson Mackinaw blanket at the Drake General Store, and we think its appeal is obvious: the red and black buffalo plaid fits perfectly with most holiday motifs, it weighs 35 ounces (so it will keep us warm and toasty) and it is large enough to fit a king-sized bed (the king of beds). We think it would also look lovely next to a roaring fireplace—perfect for sitting and sipping cocoa, or whatever strikes your fancy. $255.

Drake General Store, 1144 Queen St W., 416-531-5042, ext. 101, drakegeneralstore.myshopify.com

The reliability of the TTC is a contentious issue, but most people would agree that the individual aesthetic of each subway stop is something worth celebrating—it’s the reason Spacing’s subway buttons are so popular. We found something for the “next level” transportation enthusiast at Walloper, an online shop that carries wall decals from every subway stop (with the exception of the RT line). Now any home can be as beautiful as a beloved TTC stop, but without the smell, the delays and the curmudgeonly transit workers. $25–$40.

Walloper, walloper.com

Jackets can be very boring for fall and winter, with most people sporting a double-breasted peacoat, a Canada Goose jacket, some other parka or a fur-trimmed poncho-cape (with a seasonal muff, of course). We found this awesome orange Joe Fresh neoprene jacket (with matching belt, not shown) at the Queen and Portland location, and, frankly, it made our winter blahs go away. The colour is a real head-turner (it also comes in green, for those people who have an aversion to orange), and we really just like the idea of a neoprene coat. We don’t recommend hitting the icy water with it on though, because this is a piece of fashion, not functional surf wear (but seriously, there’s no reason to be hitting the icy waters at all, because you should be sitting by a fire drinking a hot toddy). Layer with a sweater and scarf for maximum comfort. $99.

Joe Fresh, 589 Queen St. W., 416-361-6342, joefresh.com

The temperature is dropping, to a point where as much as we’d love to continue going sockless and wearing fall-weight jackets, we’re starting to clue in that we need mittens, hats and sweaters. When it gets this cold, we like to think about clothes that are cozy and warm, and because the holidays are right around the bend, we thought we’d add nostalgia to our list of wintry demands. We spotted this Hudson’s Bay Company retro logo sweatshirt, which is soft, warm and comfortable, and frankly, sometimes we don’t require fashion to be much more than that. $14.99 (originally $29.99).

The Bay, 176 Yonge St., 416-861-9111, thebay.com

There was an abundance of fur on the fall/winter runways, but Philip Sparks has proven that it doesn’t always need to be a big honking animal to be showy. We love that Sparks has opted out of using traditional pelts like arctic wolf, fox and bunny for a more renewable fur source: the mountain sheep. This jacket’s oversized, curly collar reminds us of a lion, and the relaxed military inspiration is perfect for evenings when you may not want to be too formal. Can’t grow a beard or a moustache for Movember? Don’t worry, this collar will keep your baby face warm. It’s also comfortable enough to rest your head on, should the stranger’s shoulder on your train ride home for the holidays not be an option. $795.

I Miss You, 63 Ossington Ave., 416-916-7021, imissyou.ca

This good-looking travel bag is perfect for the adventurer because it’s compact and stain and rain resistant—for those times when an airline employee tosses it onto a greasy turnstile or leaves it out on a tarmac. More importantly, when you’re out urban exploring, you can rest assured that all your valuables are in the pockets closest to you. It was designed by Sarra Tang, the gal behind Toronto based fashion label Hoi Bo, in collaboration with Mjölk owners John Baker and Juli Daoust. John and Juli are known for the artful curation of their store, but this collaboration really allowed them to apply their passion for design directly to the product. Not only are the bags practical, but the accessories that accompany them are equally thoughtful and stylish. We love the beeswax cotton hankies, which wrap your toiletries to protect the inside of your bag from spills. $740.

Mjölk, 2959 Dundas St. W., 416-551-9853, mjölk.ca

Since the green movement hit the mainstream market somewhere in the mid-noughties, we have seen a ton of antique and vintage pieces repainted with a gloss or matte finish to give it a contemporary feel, or disassembled and reassembled as something completely different.  Sometimes we think the final outcome either looks like a bad DIY project or something you could have picked up at a yard sale, but Tahir Mahmood has coined a new term: “design revival,” which means not breaking down the old and rebuilding something new, or painting something old and making it look new. Instead, he actually takes old pieces of machinery and scrap metal and melts them down to make brand new moulds.   His Jugnu lamp, available at Pimlico, is an example of this. We love its mid-century modern look and contemporary construction. Bonus, it’s lead-free (and likely peanut-free too, moms). $650.

Pimlico, 789 Dupont St., 416-538-0909, pimlicogallery.com

Getting panned by rogue reporters at fashion week (or Queen Street street style photographers) might not be so bad when we are wearing these cute kitty-cat flats, because no matter what they say about us, we know they are comfortable and practical (and they have cats on them). The designer, Charlotte Olympia Dellal, a former high-heel junkie, discovered the need for flats when she had her child—now a toddler, who requires being chased around. We aren’t chasing any toddlers around just yet (except when we’re babysitting with full access to the fridge), but we’d happily strut around in Dellal’s cat shoes, because they’re purrfect (like a cat birthday). $695.

The Room at The Bay, 176 Yonge Street, 416-861-9111, hbc.com.

Real guns make panicked parents out of all of us—mention a gun and you’re likely to learn about someone’s politics or, at the very least, hear about that episode of 90210 where Scott Scanlon became the poster child for why parents shouldn’t keep guns in their home. We found a gun that actually helps people, and not in a flag-flying bust-a-cap-in-their-fanny sort of way: the Duello bookends at Rolo in Yorkville were designed to quietly duel on the shelves of an office or study while you busy yourself with bookkeeping or verbally spar over who has to take the kids to soccer practice. $45.

Rolo, 24 Bellair St., 416-920-0100, rolostore.com.

We never endorsed the mullet, but somehow the haircut has worked its way into fashion, with mullet gowns on the red carpet and mullet tunics and shirts on city streets. When we found this Factory by Eric Heart nude blouse at Lost and Found, we knew that the much maligned hairstyle–inspiration was here to stay, for at least one more season. Although it might look like nothing (barely there, even), Heart uses quality chiffon, so it’ll feel perfect against your bare skin (we suggest wearing at least a bra). $145.

Lost and Found, 1255 Dundas St. W., 647-348-2810, shoplostfound.com

When it comes to simple and stylish side chairs that work with any space, designers have often used the Kartell ghost chair. Unfortunately, now that it’s hit the wedding decor circuit with a vengeance, it has lost its cache, and we’ve been on the lookout for a replacement. We sauntered off to the ICFF in NYC this past May and spotted this Pasha chair by Marco Pocci and Claudio Dondoli, but until very recently, we couldn’t locate it in Toronto. That is, until this week’s trip to Office and Shop Furniture on King Street East, where we got a look at the piece with fresh eyes. We’re still in love with its classic styling and modern construction, and it’s made with tough polycarbonate, so not only can it be used outdoors, but it’s also the perfect accessory for an elegant game of musical chairs. $560.

Office and Shop Furniture, 181 King St. E., 416-363-4406, officeandshopfurniture.ca