4/2/12

Well, Shawn and I are now back from the New York shows, with plenty of purchases for fall 2012 and some food for thought. One thought is how many Canadians, both manufacturers and store buyers, were at the Market and Project exhibitions. Funny how we can never seem to keep a fashion trade show going up here in our own country and yet, without Canadian participation, I doubt the New York shows would stay in business for long. Another thought is how very strong the retail market is in Canada, especially compared to the flatness in the United States. There are signs, however, that things might be picking up for our neighbours. I'll keep my fingers crossed for them . . .
Still thinking about the fall shows, here's a preliminary checklist of what to expect next autumn: Prepare yourself for lots of sport jackets and blazers with soft shoulders, light construction, and lightweight yet weather-appropriate material (amazing what they can do with fabric these days). Casual knits - cardigans, vee-necks and sweater vests in particular - are trending very strong, as is their solid colour palette and bold pattern selection. And we saw large groupings of cotton-poly performance tees ideal for layering under other knits tops. As for dress tailoring, to judge from the style magazines as well as the show exhibits, you'd be certain that in eight months' time we'll all be awash in double-breasted suits - but I'll give you two reasons why we won't. Number one, according to many of the representatives we spoke with, they're showing double-breasteds but they're just not selling them. Number two, and likely the real reason for number one, the high hipster hemming on today's jackets might work for single-breasted cuts (only barely, in my humble opinion) but look absolutely ridiculous on the doubles. Cutting the hem too short throws the rest of the suit's balance so out of whack that it looks plain 'wack,' to use today's vernacular . . .
Back to this spring's things, we've had a big bunch of new arrivals at 569 DANFORTH AVENUE, just west of Pape. They include beautiful, high-quality Eton dress shirts, more suits and sport jackets from Hugo Boss, Canali and Coppley, and some great knits and dress-casual tops from Boss and Paul & Shark. We've even replenished our Canada Goose collection at KORRY'S, for those who can't get enough of it, including their brand-new Aviator hat and Constable jacket.
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