So What If Saks Fifth Avenue is in Canada Now?

Saks Fifth Avenue Eaton Centre
Saks Fifth Avenue Eaton Centre at Queen and Yonge St, Toronto

Saks Fifth Avenue opened its first store in Canada last week at the Toronto Eaton Centre and opened its second Toronto store today at Sherway Gardens.

So what?

Well, if you’re a shopper like myself, you follow these openings with interest for the simple reason that having more places to shop is a good thing!

While I could talk about the department store and its future (not very promising according to some experts), I’m not going to because I happen to love department stores and want them to be around forever.  An excellent article on The Business of Fashion website talks about the challenges and changes coming for department stores.

Instead, I want to talk about why I think Saks Fifth Avenue has arrived in Toronto at just the right time for both the retailer and the consumer.

Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue Eaton Centre

Firstly, can we talk about our Canadian Dollar and the fact that it’s trading around 70 cents US for the first time in the past 13 years?  What’s more upsetting is that the currencies were at par only 3 years ago.  Now all I hear is my family and friends outside Canada wanting to come shop here because ‘it’s such a good deal’.  Of course it is at that exchange rate.  I’m expecting Canada to be packed with visitors this year!

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Mini Love Crossbody Purse from Rebecca Minkoff

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Love Crossbody
Mini Love Crossbody in Latte by Rebecca Minkoff

Mini purses are an interesting fashion item.  Every time I see one, I ask myself: how practical is this bag?  Even though I think the answer is that it’s not practical most of the time, I do think that there’s a time and a place for a mini purse.

The purse in this post is from Rebecca Minkoff, an American designer that makes clothing, handbags, shoes, and jewelry.  According to a September 2015  article in Glow magazine, her company has 12 deliveries a year, meaning there’s always something new to consider.

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Love Crossbody
Rebecca Minkoff Mini Love Crossbody

This ‘Mini Love Crossbody’ bag is the ‘mini’ version of the larger Love Crossbody bag.  It’s a classic looking, leather, quilted front-flap bag with a turn-lock closure.  The chain and leather strap can be worn long, making the purse a cross-body.  Or, it can be shortened and worn as a shoulder bag.  What I like most about this bag is the Chanel-inspired look.

Admittedly, this mini purse can pose a challenge because of its limited use.  It’s really more practical for an evening out, a quick trip to run errands, or on occasions when you don’t want a huge bag like an afternoon at the movies or a neighborhood walk.  In other words, it’s not your everyday purse.  Instead, think of it as a purse for lots of different special occasions.  For example, it’s a great purse to take on a trip if you need a dressier evening bag and you are limited for space. Also, it can be a perfect purse to take to work because it is not bulky and can be easily carried along with a laptop/briefcase. Continue reading

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Here’s Why I’m Okay With Valentine’s Day!

IMG_3682It’s Valentine’s Day this weekend!  Lots of people have lots of different views about Valentine’s Day.  Some people think it’s a huge commercial grab and don’t want to get caught up in it. Others don’t like that they’re told to show their love on a specific date.  Still, others don’t like the pressure that comes with this day like the expectation of chocolates, flowers, dinners, etc. And then there are those who love everything about the holiday and how ‘sweet’ it is.

Just so you know where I stand, let me tell you that I don’t expect a lot for Valentine’s Day in terms of gifts or dinner or anything like that.  In that sense, I’m pretty easy to be around on Valentine’s Day, and we celebrate in a rather low-key way.

Maybe that’s why I can come up with three reasons why I’m okay with Valentine’s Day:

FullSizeRender-10Reason Number 1:
The reminder of love!
It’s okay for us to have a special day in the year to tell our loved ones that we care.  It’s that simple.  If we celebrate our birthdays, anniversaries, mother’s day and father’s day once a year, then what’s wrong with having one day where we mindfully tell one another that we care about each other?  You don’t have to succumb to all of the commercial pressures of flowers, perfume, and dinners.  Buy or make a card,  spend an hour having coffee with your partner, or play a game with your child.  That’s it.  This is not a public holiday.  Think of Valentine’s Day as a love ‘reminder’ day. Continue reading

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A Winter Dress With Details

Marc Cain Dress
Marc Cain Dress with Details

For those of you who know me well, you know I don’t wear a lot of dresses. There’s a simple reason: when I got my first job and wore skirts, I would rip the pantyhose on the bottom of my desk and I was always buying new ones. Another reason is that I just feel more comfortable in pants. When I shop, though, I take a quick look at dresses and sometimes I even buy one!

In one of my summer posts I was wearing a dress but here I want to show you one that I bought for cooler weather.

This dress is from Marc Cain, one of my favorite European designers.  Based in Germany, Marc Cain has a reputation for stylish and on-trend clothing that is made of quality fabrics. In particular, most of their t-shirts and jersey cardigans are made of 94% cotton and 6% elastane. This finely woven cotton fabric washes and wears well.  Marc Cain makes their clothes to last and look good for years.

When I first saw this in the window, I noticed the cotton top for which Marc Cain is famous. Even though the cotton/polyester bottom of the dress has an A-line silhouette, it still manages to be slim-like and figure-hugging.  Marc Cain also added pleather patent accents on the skirt to make it look like there are pockets.  And, there’s top-stitching along the hem and front of the dress that make this plain dress look more tailored.  It’s these little touches that Marc Cain does really well.

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