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The Find: a sweatshirt to keep you cozy on those cold, cold winter mornings, afternoons and nights

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

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 90 of the best presents money can buy

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and we’ve tackled the ever-difficult task of narrowing down a list of items that would be perfect for the men, women and children in your life. We find it is always a big to-do finding that special something for the wine snob who likes to aerate his or her wine, but we’ve got it covered, and to spare moms, dads, uncles, aunts and friends from waiting in line for this year’s Tickle Me Elmo, we’ve found some cool options for rug rats that won’t break down and send a greedy child into a tantrum. Check out the 90 presents that make up our 2011 ultimate holiday gift guide in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 17 eye-grabbing offerings for the finest fellas

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

The modern man is more complicated than the slipper-wearing, pipe-smoking, paper-reading image of yesteryear. This year’s gift guide reflects a different breed: instead of slippers, consider a pair of ultra-comfy cashmere socks from Harry Rosen, and while pipes are passé, a Siglo humidor will keep his cigars in pristine condition. But if you feel like embracing the stereotype for a moment, fear not—we still have a bottle-opening wrench for cracking a few brews before the big game. Check out 17 great holiday gifts for the modern man in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 18 yuletide treasures for the best darn gals ever

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

Pay no attention to what the advertisers tell you: there’s no gift “perfect for every woman in your life.” Still, we’re pretty sure discerning females will find a few things on this list to love. As the winter drags on, a Philip Lim muffler is sure to get a lot of use (and envious glares), and for women with a style all their own, we’ll show you where you can mix some custom fragrances. Finally, for that very special lady, we have a diamond necklace that won’t break the bank. Check out 18 gifts that are sure to make any gal smile in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

3 Comments

Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 20 kid-friendly treasures for the little ones on your list

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

Let’s face it: shopping for kids is hard. The fads change every few months, and while we admit some toys today are pretty darn cool, there are plenty we just don’t get. Thankfully, the classics never go out of style. We hand-picked some charming stuffed animals that are sure to be the highlight of any collection, plus an ash toboggan that will encourage your kid to actually go outside, if only to show it off. And while we love a Charlie Brown–esque Christmas, there’s plenty of modern stuff, too, like wall-climbing robots and a hoodie that transforms your precious tyke into a terrifying lizard. Check out the 20 treasures just for the tots in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 19 perfect presents for the jet-setting cosmopolitan

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

We can’t all be glamorous jet-setters and playboys, skipping across the globe to test the slopes of Whistler, Kitzbühel and Les Arcs all in a single week. But for the trips your loved ones can take, they can do it in style with a high-performance pair of electric blue Salomon skis, a quality Olympus E-P3 camera and a sharp—and pocket-friendly—travel toothbrush. We even found some great maps that never crease no matter how much you abuse them (seriously). Check out all 19 of our travel and playtime essentials in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 27 impressive mid-range presents from $100 to $499

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

Sometimes it is hard to stick to a limit, because sometimes the gifts over $100 really are the perfect presents. We’ve found a touchably soft mink fur bear (don’t knock it till you’ve touched it) that will win the heart of any child or, really, human being, as well as a humidor for the lady or gentleman who subscribes to Cigar Aficionado, a pelt rug, an intoxicating men’s fragrance from Eau d’Italie and everything in between. Check out 27 higher-end gifts between $100 and $499 in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Buyer's Market

November 21, 2011 | 5:00 am

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 11 top-tier treats for over $500

Holiday Gift Guide 2011

By Fraser Abe, Karolyne Ellacott, Kevin Naulls and Mark Teo | Photography by Carlo Mendoza

The big-ticket items are what we’re all hoping to get for the holidays, and sometimes we’re special enough to be the recipient of one or two. So in the spirit of giving, we take a look at the high end of giving (no boats or cars to be found): a beautiful handbag for a fashionista, a great shoreman’s jacket for a stylish dude and a synth keyboard for an aspiring (or professional) musician. Check out our selection of 11 gifts that are $500 and more in a gallery after the jump »

The Goods

Shop Talk

November 8, 2011 | 5:29 pm

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Jessica and Ashlee Simpson will appear at The Bay

Jessica and Ashlee Simpson (Image: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage/Getty Images)

Just when you thought the Simpson family no longer existed as Hollywood figures, The Bay reminded us that Jessica Simpson has a fashion line. To celebrate, Jessica and Ashlee will be hitting up the Queen Street location on December 3; no word on who will be invited but, true to form, there will probably be an autograph signing in the afternoon and a splashy Room party in the evening. How very quickly the memories flood back—we thought we’d forgotten all about Ashlee Simpson’s lip-syncing fiasco on S.N.L. or sister Jessica’s public marriage to Nick Lachey, but we’re certain we’ll be chatting to them this December about how far they’ve come. Will the passed hors d’oeuvres be sponsored by Chicken of the Sea, and will Pete Wentz attend? We can’t wait to find out.

The Goods

New in Shops

November 3, 2011 | 11:35 am

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Start your Olympic-garb stockpile early: The Bay launches its complete 2012 Olympic collection

2012 Olympic collection (Images: Adam Levett)

We don’t know what it is exactly about the Olympic Games that sends people into a frenzy, but The Bay realizes that Canadians like them and has once again put out a complete collection of Olympic-themed garb so those athletes in London really know you want them to win gold (or silver). We love the denim jacket with patches ($100), the toques (approximately $20) and the beaver sweater. We’ve taken some of our favourite items and made them into a gallery below.

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The Hype

TIFF Talk

September 11, 2011 | 2:25 pm

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SPOTTED: Every famous person ever (well, almost) at Grey Goose Soho House last night

Apparently, David Cronenberg knows how to throw a party: pretty much every celebrity currently in town for TIFF attended the Canadian director’s party at Grey Goose Soho House last night in honour of his new film, A Dangerous Method (click here to see our photo gallery). The list of bold-faced names included: Cronenberg, George Clooney, Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Bono, Stacy Keibler, Keira Knightley, James Righton, Evan Rachel Wood, Emily Blunt, Kate Mara, Max Minghella, Adam Scott, Richard Kelly, Jonah Hill, Chris Pratt, Anna Faris, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Westfeldt, Justin Long, Scott Porter, Jimmy Kimmel, Guillermo Diaz, Ewan McGregor, Kirsten Dunst, Emile Hirsch, Michelle Monaghan, Gina Gershon, Dave Matthews, Morgan Spurlock and Paz de la Huerta. Also, the Twitter machine provided a running commentary for the evening. Check out the highlights, after the jump.

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The Goods

New in Shops

September 6, 2011 | 12:19 pm

1 Comment

Olympic swag is available at The Bay, 325 days early

When the Olympics officially arrive (a mere 325 days from now), we anticipate it being a big event, with people locked to their televisions while athletes lift weights, wrestle and dive several meters into crystal blue waters. Fortunately, for anyone with a need for dated Olympic garb, the Hudson’s Bay Company has released its 2012 Olympic mittens, and they only cost $10. We think a limited-edition Bay-stripe Speedo or even wrestling singlet might have made more sense, but the swag floodgates have officially opened, and now anyone who needs a reminder of what’s to come (or simply of what year comes after 2011) can look into the palms of their hands.

The Goods

New in Shops

September 1, 2011 | 2:23 pm

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Tommy Hilfiger, Jessica Stam and New York Ranger Brad Richards to attend a party at The Bay

The Bay has come up with the perfect angle to convince every heterosexual male in Toronto to visit its Toronto flagship on Queen West: bring in Tommy Hilfiger (known for preppy New England designs that are perfect for collar popping), Canadian supermodel Jessica Stam and newly signed New York Ranger Brad Richards for a visit. Hilfiger and crew will be at the Queen Street location on September 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. to sign autographs and toast to the 66 shop-in-shops the Hilfiger brand has opened inside various Bay stores recently. Toronto’s Queen Street and Yonge and Bloor locations each house a Tommy Hilfiger, spanning 750 and 500 square feet respectively, but Hilfiger’s goal is to have 90 shops open inside Bay locations by November 2011. This may mark the first time in Toronto fashion party history that more boyfriends of the boring regulars attend than stylists, affected manic pixie dream girls and guys who are almost too gay to function.

(Images: Brad Richards, Benjamin Reed; Jessica Stam, hope; Tommy Hilfiger, denmarkdesignskole)

The Goods

Scene Stealers

August 11, 2011 | 5:33 pm

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The Scene: Topshop launches, to what appears to be mostly hipsters, at The Bay on Queen Street

A novel concept: getting drunk and then shopping (Image: David Pike)

By now, most people know that The Bay is bringing Topshop to Toronto, and last night it held a fete and shopping event to celebrate the British brand’s arrival. DJ Lauren Burns Coady provided the music to an array of young women, including writers Sarah Nicole Prickett and Kiwi Mohamed and photographer Jaclyn Locke—at one point it became a bit difficult to discern one painfully hip young person from the next. The Topman brand didn’t have any presence at this party, but that didn’t stop model Jano Badovinac and artist Nick Fox from showing up to get their photos taken and, as one does at these sorts of things, drink. As some may have guessed, it was a very young crowd, which was likely an effort on The Bay’s part to separate the Room consumer from the younger, cooler Topshop enthusiast. We missed Suzanne Rogers. Check out the scene from last night’s party in a gallery after the jump.

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The Goods

Buyer's Market

July 19, 2011 | 12:43 pm

2 Comments

VIDEO: Hudson’s Bay Company shows off its Topshop range, shoppers wear Ray-Bans

Some people think that a short journey to New York creates memories that couldn’t possibly be shared by Toronto locals (ugh); for a time, buying an overpriced silk-screen T-shirt from Topshop was one of those memories. Now, The Bay—the official seller of the Topshop and Topman brands in Toronto—has slowly begun to uncover their top picks for what will eventually be sold in stores, and most of what’s on offer looks pretty great (although the flip-flops could arguably be purchased from Old Navy for much less). We found this sun-soaked video from Topshop’s pop-up shop earlier this summer and, unsurprisingly, Topshop consumers (at least the ones who attended this event) appear to be young and eager to share New York minutes, wear Ray-Ban sunglasses (likely all the time) and stand around not buying anything for long periods of time.

All stories relating to The Bay

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