FASHION Magazine

See inside Miu Miu’s Toronto Holt Renfrew location

We’ve been chomping at the bit since news of Toronto’s first Miu Miu location was announced last year and have finally got our piece—the leather and accessories shop-in-shop has finally opened inside Holt Renfrew Bloor Street!

From these first photos, the Miu Miu shop fits in perfectly on Toronto’s Mink Mile. Its shimmering display cases, damask curtains and matte gold counters (not to mention enviable purse selection) are just a few reasons why. Designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, the shop’s warm colour palette offsets the brand’s signature colour pops, all the while whetting our shop-till-you drop appetites. No word on the brand’s ready-to-wear collection making it into store, but we’re hoping this is one step closer.

Hot on the heels of Yorkdale Shopping Centre’s recent expansion, Vaughan Mills mall will reportedly undergo an $87-million redevelopment and expansion project later this year. The project is expected to add approximately 50 new retailers and 150,000 sq ft in floor area to accommodate them. This will result in a total of 250 stores and 1.1 million sq ft of shopping madness.

This is exciting news for the Vaughan Mills Mall, which continues to grow as a major shopping destination. Known for housing popular outlets such as Holt Renfrew Last Call and the Michael Kors Outlet, the mall has also recently added stores like Calvin Klein, J Crew Factory, and the UGG Australia Outlet. A list of the new stores that will come as a result of this expansion is not yet available, but further details will likely be announced in the spring or summer.

Continuing on with our look back at the best and worst moments of 2012, we’re counting down 10 of our most popular posts, as clicked by you. While there may be a few familiar friends making the rounds within these greatest hits, you’ll find some surprises as well. So sit back, relax, and take a fashionable trip back through your memory while checking out our top 10 posts of 2012 as clicked by you.

See the top 10 posts of 2012 »

See what you can win in our contest »
Visit our Contests Page to enter* »

Tis the season to give and to get, and because we are selfless (and attempting to ensure that we’re on Santa’s Nice List), we’ve brought back our annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways contest to celebrate the holiday season. The premise of the countdown is simple. For twelve weekdays we’ll be giving away prizes starting with 12, then 11, then 10 and so on.

Kicking off on December 6, we’ll be giving away 12 copies of the first season of everybody’s favourite show Girls, and counting down towards the ultimate prize pack on December 21 with one very full swag bag from Holt Renfrew including a 3.1 Phillip Lim purse, goodies from Jo Malone, Nars and more.

Check back every day at 12:01 a.m. to enter the daily contest and cross your fashionable fingers! Have a fierce holiday season and good luck from us at FASHION.

Check out holiday window displays from around the world»

Or jump to: HOLT RENFREW, TORONTO | THE BAY, TORONTO | BARNEY’S, NEW YORK | HENRI BENDEL, NEW YORK | | BERGDORF GOODMAN, NEW YORK | BLOOMINGDALE’S, NEW YORK | SELFRIDGES, LONDON | PRINTEMPS, PARIS

In theory, winter-time window-shopping might be unappealing—cold temperatures, snow banks and people running towards warm spaces adds up to a treacherous adventure. But, when combined with lavish holiday displays, suddenly window-shopping feels less like a chore and more like a Christmas treat.

Last year, our window poll caused a voting frenzy so we’re doing it again and taking a virtual stroll through New York, London, Paris and Toronto to see which of the department stores comes out on top in 2012.

Go inside the new Yorkdale Shopping Centre »

“My mom went to Yorkdale and all she got me was olive oil.” That’s what my twenty-month old son might say, if he could talk. But jokes aside, the $185 million expansion to Yorkdale Shopping Centre, complete with heavy hitter nation-wide firsts, is enough to cause serious shopper anxiety: Too much choice.

New to Canada, and Yorkdale, are Kate Spade, Loft, Microsoft, Ted Baker and Tesla Motors (yes, THE car dealer). More familiar retailers sharing the 145,000 square foot addition include Diesel, Ann Taylor, Hugo Boss and Wilfred to name a very few. Holt Renfrew will unveil its new digs in the new year.

See our Grey Cup-Inspired fashion shoot »

There have been 99 years of touchdowns, tackles, and blitzes in the Canadian Football league, and this Sunday will make it 100. The 100-year anniversary of the Grey Cup will be heading to Toronto to host the final game of the CFL’s season and hometown team, the Toronto Argonauts, will be facing the Calgary Stampeders. While the two cities mayors may be placing bets on the winning team, we’re thinking about what to wear when watching.

See all the Christmas gifts
for kids »

Christmas is the time when the younger ones in our lives declare what they want to see under the tree. And if you’re sick of hearing “puppy!” year after year it’s time to take back the reigns from Santa and plan creative gift ideas for kids all by yourself. While our selection of holiday gift ideas represents a wide range of ages from tiny toddlers to teenagers, they are all products that will make them look forward to your gifts for years to come.

If you want to head down the clothing route for girls, step away from the cutesy pink dresses and choose a studded and totally trendy Topshop headband—which is sure to make the other girls in class envious. And leave it to Marc Jacobs to create a high fashion version of the swappable and coveted Silly Bandz that all spell out his name—a fun and new take of the popular rubber accessory. And when you’re young, the $16 price tag means nothing, but the designer name says it all.

See the photos and buy now »

Margherita Missoni could teach lessons in cool. The eldest grandchild (and heiress) of the family behind Italian luxury house Missoni clashes prints like a pro, pulls off turbans with panache and finds the sexy in floor-grazing skirts. When she arrives at the luxe event space at the Bowery Hotel on New York’s Lower East Side, she is relaxed, polite and somewhat quiet, though her presence seems to fill the large room. Dressed in a white T-shirt, pastel Missoni knit trousers, heeled boots and a quirky mix of jewellery—gold drop earrings in the shape of fish (she’s a Pisces), a Louis Vuitton collar necklace and several bracelets, ranging from antique diamonds to traditional Indian beads—the 29-year-old accessories designer admits she has only one prized possession: “My wedding ring.”

Two weeks before our interview for her Holt Renfrew collaboration, Missoni married 27-year-old Italian race-car driver Eugenio Amos in Brunello, Italy. Her dress, a heavenly cloud of organza, embroidery and floral appliqués, was made by “the women who saw me growing up,” she tweeted after the media incorrectly ID’d it as Missoni. Her friend Giambattista Valli provided “couture counselling.” In true cool-girl style, she swapped her tiara and white gown for a gypsy-inspired daisy chain and a blush-coloured version of her wedding dress for the countryside reception. In lieu of gifts, she asked guests to make a donation to OrphanAid Africa, a non-profit organization that helps children and their families through education, health care, family support and basic infrastructure programs. The newly minted Mr. and Mrs. generated over $80,000 in donations.

Whether you’re browsing, buying or simply beholding, there are plenty of fashion and shopping events this weekend. Montreal showcases some mysterious dark horses, Toronto opens a Big exhibit and Christmas shoppers across Canada are revving their engines at Holt Renfrew. Buckle up!

The post The Weekend To-Do: We’re hitting the ROM’s new Big exhibit, shopping Holt Renfrew’s holiday shopping event, meeting Montreal’s upcoming designers and more appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Move over Nordstrom, as it looks as though Holt Renfrew is beating you to the budget-friendly punch.

Holt Renfrew announced today that they would launch a new chain early next year called hr2, which will offer discounted designer clothing that will likely draw younger consumers into its stores. The Canadian retailer has an edge on their American counterparts, as these projected stores are set to open before Nordstrom comes into Canada in 2014. The store’s budget-conscious line, Nordstrom Rack will also be arriving in our country and will likely be big competition for hr2.

See the Holt Renfrew showcase photos »

The post Video: Watch the Holt Renfrew designer showcase in motion (and drool over Stella, Prada, Dolce and more!) appeared first on FASHION Magazine.