The clothes outlets in Toronto are fantastic. This comes as a bit of surprise to fashionistas who tend to think in terms of London, Paris and New York when it comes to snapping up the latest fashion trends and tips. While it is true that Toronto is not one of the big names in fashion week, it still has a solid enough offering of unique boutiques, cheap and cheerful one-offs and designer outlets that even the most discerning shopper will be able to find some excellent garments – and often for much less than would be available in fashion capitals!
Does Canada Have Any Designers to Watch?
Yes! While Erdem is one Canadian designer on everyone’s watchlist thanks to his colourful florals, flattering designs and sheer elegance, there are some homegrown designers content – for now – to supply the home market.
One of these is Greta Constantine (the label actually established by two men who used family names to create the name). Their designs are sleek and structured, designed to show off the female physique to great effect. Snap some up now before they go global!
Sid Neigum moves away from the celebration of ‘normal’ embracing sharp geometric designs that flatter and disguise body shapes, celebrating non-binary androgyny with unique combinations such as lace and angular design – and doing so particularly effectively.
Markoo are also a pair to watch, producing bold separates that can be teamed up for a sharply tailored look, or worn with more casual garments to create a softer, yet still striking look.
Where to find the best clothes?
If you do not want to play a game of chance (better save that for sites such as Comeon Canada and others) by trying bespoke clothing, especially at designer prices, there are any number of malls, most of which offer excellent bargains on clothing that ranges from ridiculously cheap to Armani’s ready to wear range, all of which will make you feel like a million dollars no matter the price you paid for it!
Once you have restocked your wardrobe you will not have to travel far to find any number of eateries to try out. Toronto is surprisingly cosmopolitan, offering world cuisines from every continent so you can choose to enjoy an Indian, tuck into a Chinese, experiment with some fusion foods, or try going dairy-, gluten- or meat-free just to see what it is like. Or, if you are a visitor to Canada, you can try those Canadian dishes that you have always heard about but not yet tried: poutine, Canadian bacon, a beaver tail (do not panic, it is not an actual beaver’s tail! It is a sweet cake, rather like a flat doughnut with no hole, roughly in the shape of a beaver’s tail!). Whether you are from away or a local, everyone must try butter tarts, a sweet tart with a delicious eggy filling. Your only problem will be stopping yourself from eating them all!
As a final souvenir from Canada, if you have a generous amount of money to spend, you can invest in a Canadian diamond. Canada is a prolific producer of diamonds, making multiple billions per year from the diamond trade, and the good news is that these diamonds are guaranteed conflict free. Shopping in Toronto can be as exciting as in any of the shopping capitals of the world – all the products without all the crowds!
