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Introducing: The Men’s Shop at Club Monaco, Bloor Street’s answer to “what if I don’t want to shop at Harry Rosen?”

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. Check out our tour of the men’s shop in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Shop Talk

November 18, 2011 | 5:36 pm

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A Continuous Lean’s Michael Williams and Club Monaco’s Aaron Levine are changing Club Monaco’s image

Aaron Levine and Michael Williams (Image: Kevin Naulls)

We just popped into the new men’s shop at Club Monaco, the first of its kind in the world (we’re number one!), with an expected opening in New York next fall (they’re number two!). Launching in Toronto is an effort on Club Monaco’s part to reconnect with the history of the brand (it was Canadian once) as it attempts to reintroduce itself to women and men in North America. It’s a slow build, but A Continuous Lean’s Michael Williams and menswear designer Aaron Levine say the beauty of having carte blanche to define the clientele is that they can pick what they like and go with it. They chose Wolverine and Mark McNairy footwear, Tanner Goods products and more, not because that is necessarily what every man is after, but because they just liked the product (they’re even carrying Canadian brand Aether). They used the same philosophy when working with the design team to create the men’s shop on Bloor Street and achieved a men’s club vibe using vintage pieces that were sourced from “all over the place.”

Not only is it the launch of the shop, but Club Monaco has also introduced the Made In America collaboration with Williams, which includes a variety of suiting, shirting (oxfords, plaid) and blazers. We asked him how the brand was handling the criticism that it is an American-focused collection for a once-Canadian brand, and he said, “We’ve noticed the criticism, but there are still people who appreciate it. We’ve created things that we think men will like, and these prices aren’t what you’d expect.” He and Levine also said that there are early rumblings of working more closely with Canada on future projects, but that’s as much as they could reveal at this time. As for what defines men’s style in Toronto, Williams says “there really isn’t anything” and that “it is very much like New York, Europe and Tokyo—there is no longer this requirement to live in a major city to develop style, because we can access information from wherever we are.”

The Goods

New in Shops

July 11, 2011 | 1:49 pm

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Club Monaco likes men—a lot—beginning this October

Toronto dudes disappointed with the news that the city’s first J. Crew store will be ladies only should be happy to learn that Club Monaco has opted to do something for those oh-so hard-done-by fellas, much like Ben Sherman’s latest “let’s hear it for the boy” endeavour. The store’s flagship locations on Bloor Street and in New York City’s Flatiron District will retool their men’s sections this October, partnering with Michael Williams—founder of the popular menswear blog A Continuous Lean—to bring in brands like Wolverine footwear, Archival Clothing, Cunningham Classic Sports Equipment and more. Pop-up shops and brands aligning themselves with bloggers aren’t new concepts by any stretch of the imagination, but thanks in part to Club Monaco and A Continuous Lean, this city is soon going to be rolling in Japanese selvage and military tarp–lined, um, everything

The Goods

From the Print Edition

November 1, 2010 | 1:00 pm

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The Bay vs. Holts: the Bay’s scheme to steal the fashion crown from Holts

The sensible shoes and twin–sets are gone, replaced by stilettos and crystal-encrusted gowns. There’s valet parking and personal shoppers, and they’re serving champagne up on three. It’s all part of the Bay’s scheme to win the loyalty of society shopaholics—and steal the fashion crown from Holts By Leah McLaren

(Image: George Pimentel)

One evening last March, Toronto’s stylish set put on their best frocks and headed to a retail baptism. Sarah Jessica Parker, celebrity high priestess of fashion, was in town to launch the Halston Heritage label at The Bay. The party, which reportedly cost over $200,000, was meant to establish Canada’s oldest department store as a major player in high-end womenswear. If retailers can be born again, this was The Bay’s moment to lean back and dip its head into the holy water.

Fashion media and socialites were ushered into the Queen Street flagship store and up the escalator to sip champagne on the third floor. That’s where The Room is located. The upscale designer dress salon was renovated a year ago for approximately $4.4 million in a high modernist style by the designers Yabu Pushelberg. The result is a treasure trove of conversation piece baubles, heels, flirty cocktail dresses and gowns by some of the most prestigious designers in the business. It’s the beating heart of the new Bay.

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New in Shops

August 16, 2010 | 3:46 pm

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The Bay vs. Joe Fresh: Saul Mimran’s Moon line aims at budget shoppers

The Moon section at the Yonge and Queen Bay

Sibling rivalry is alive and well with Moon, The Bay’s new collaboration with a fashionable Mimran. Not Joe Mimran, of Joe Fresh, or his wife Kimberley Newport-Mimran, of Pink Tartan; this mass-market women’s line is by Joe’s older brother Saul, president of the Mimran Group. Despite the brotherly connection, Moon didn’t debut with the same cachet that Joe Fresh has built up—at the launch party in a Liberty Village loft space on Thursday, the crowd was subdued and sparse, unlike the typical Joe Fresh show.

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The Goods

Shop Talk

February 18, 2010 | 11:54 am

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Joe Fresh founder Joe Mimran gets a promotion at Loblaw

Joe Fresh puts on one of the best-attended fashion week shows (Photo by Jenna Marie Wakani)

Club Monaco founder and Joe Fresh Style tycoon Joe Mimran has been appointed head of general merchandise at Loblaw, meaning he’ll be overseeing the non-food items, such as books, electronics, home decor and furniture, toys, home furnishings, electronics, sporting goods, books, toys and hardware. The announcement comes after Loblaw’s fourth-quarter profits were down $190 million from a year ago, owing largely to weak food sales.

While it’s a big promotion for Mimran, who also founded the dearly missed home decor chain Caban, it’s not a surprising one. He’s managed to turn Loblaws stores into a cheap and chic clothing destination, drawing suburban families and urban fashion types alike. Joe Fresh has become the second-largest clothing line in the country and last year added makeup and body products to its repertoire. The company is hoping Mimran can work the same magic on other non-grocery items.

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The Goods

The Find

December 21, 2009 | 9:00 am

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Snake charming: Daniel Espinosa cobra cocktail ring

Cobraring Reptiles have always creeped us out, but we’re reconsidering our aversion after finding this cobra ring ($565), part of the Myths and Fantasies collection from Daniel Espinosa. The stones, hand-set cubic zirconia fused with different metals to achieve the rich colours, sit on a base of sterling silver (both regular and oxidized, for a black finish) and 24-karat gold. Serpentine jewellery is all the rage right now, from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s line for British luxury goods retailer Asprey to the more affordable rings at Club Monaco. Snake handling has never been more glamorous.

Daniel Espinosa at the Four Seasons Hotel, 21 Avenue Rd., 416-323-9127, danielespinosa.com.

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The Goods

Toronto Fashion Week

October 21, 2009 | 10:00 am

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Jason Meyers’ show much better than Project Runway effort

A look from Jason Meyers' collection (Photo by Jenna Marie Wakani)

No question, Jason Meyers presented a much tighter collection than the one shown last season as his Project Runway debut, which could kindly be described as embarrassing. Last night, however, Meyers showed more promise, straddling an odd line between Club Monaco basics (a collared white shirt dress embodied this look in particular) and party-girl staples, like mini-dresses and large ruffles. We liked his slim-cut pants, especially a pair that sat quite high on the waist. The collection was in no way flawless: the garish orange-purple-lime-splattered silk could have been left out, and finishing details were an issue—a rear slit in a skirt gaped in an unseemly way, and one strapless number slipped down to reveal the model’s nipple.

See all the looks from the collection below.

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The Goods

Good Stuff Cheap

September 29, 2009 | 4:24 pm

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Sales roundup: Nuit Blanche sales, denim trunk show at Lileo, Jeremy Laing sample sale

FASHION AND BEAUTY

AXI SPA
In Yorkville, Nuit Blanche means late-night shopping (and a little bit of art). Save on products (until midnight) and services (until 10 p.m.), get a hand massage and enjoy wine, cocktails and food in the courtyard. October 3. 162 Cumberland St., 416-923-4772.

CAPEZIO
The shoe retailer is offering 10 per cent off all store products for Nuit Blanche. October 3. 70 Bloor St. W., 416-920-1006, capezioshoes.ca.

CLUB MONACO
Men who try on an item from the store’s new suit collection, will receive 15 per cent off any menswear purchase. Until September 30. Various locations, clubmonaco.com.

ELEVEN
One of the neighbourhood’s splashiest new boutiques is extending its hours and offering 20 per cent off all merchandise for Nuit Blanche. Pick up womenswear by Linda Lundström, Joeffer Caoc and Brandon Dwyer, and check out art installation The Crystal Conversation, a coat that Lundström designed with over 15,000 crystals. October 3. 7 p.m.–midnight. 116 Cumberland St., 416-966-3935.

FIORIO
Ready for a new look this fall? Head to Fiorio during Nuit Blanche for a free cut and colour consultation and 20 per cent off some hair products. October 3. 416-964-5737, fiorio.com.

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Best Dressed

June 10, 2009 | 1:45 am

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Toronto’s Best Dressed: Laya Bail and Hayley French

Pulling off the trends du jour can be a slippery slope (just ask this crazy lady), but long-time BFFs Laya Bail and Hayley French are up to the challenge. Granted, they’re also barely out of their teens and look like they walked off the set of Gossip Girl. (We’re not sure if we want to date them or be them.) This best-dressed duo, spotted at the Power Ball, explain why fashion is forever, but miniskirts have an expiration date.

Laya Bail (left) and Hayley French (Photo by Courtney Shea)

Do you guys always dress alike?
HF: No, but it does happen a lot. In high school, we’d show up at parties in the same dress. It’s because we spend a lot of time together.

You’re obviously both loving this season’s must-have boyfriend blazer. Where are yours from?
HF: Mine’s from Club Monaco.
LB: I found this at Value Village. I think it was the jacket of a little boy’s tuxedo.

Is there a recent mega-trend that you’re not so fond of?
HF: I have to say, I really don’t understand the whole drop-crotch harem pants thing.
LB: Hey, I have harem pants. I like to wear them with a hot corset. I think there are ways to pull off almost anything as long as you mix louder pieces with more basic stuff.
HF: I love people who can do that. Just toss a bunch of different things together and look really unique. I’m not good at it. My style is less daring, more classic.

How old is too old to wear lace leggings and miniskirts?
HF: I don’t know. I think as you get older, the hemlines come down and the necklines should go up. I won’t be wearing this outfit 10 years from now.
LB: I try to be appropriate. Tonight is fun. It’s an art party, so I can wear something a little wild, but you won’t see me wearing lace leggings at dinner with my parents.

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