Class Act

Champions of the risqué and kings of the double-take, everyone knows American Apparel is where it's at when it comes to slap-in-the-face advertising.

But the thing you must know about American Apparel is that their basics simply will not die.

If you're in the market for a tshirt to last you til your last breath or a pair of tights that'll look fresh day after day after day, look no further than your local AA. While this may sound like some sort of paid advertising, it is not. It is the gospel of fashion - follow it and be glad.

As if!

"Dionne and I were both named after famous singers of the past, who now do infomercials"

-Cher Horowitz


Those hopelessly clueless and infinitely fabulous California girls have passed these names once more, though this time with a little more flare. Washed-up as the original Cher and Dionne may be, the latest reincarnation at ModCloth goes more along the lines of handwash and treat with care- enter the Clueless skirt, a beautiful flouncy little number with an elasticated waist that comes in blue (Dionne) and pink (duh, Cher!).

Do swing by ModCloth.com, brought to our attention just recently by the effortlessly chic Camille Jovanovic.

Needless to say, you'll be neither "fashion victim" nor "ensemble challenged" in this number.

Pleeeeeeeeease

If you love a good shoe, if you love a great shoe, if you love a better-than-great shoe - look no further than Nicholas Kirkwood. More fittingly described as walking works of art, Kirkwood's shoes are stand-alone outfits. Matched with the simplest of clothing, they will take care of all the statement you're looking to make.

Exhibit A
*droooooooooooooooooooooool*


Care to see more?

Cleanup In Aisle Five...

Saturday morning.  

Known to keeners for its 7am trips to the market.  

Known to normal people as 3pm trips to the grocery store.

But this time all of us slackers are coming out on top because

EVERYTHING IS ON SALE

If you're a Toronto gal and you've got a metro nearby, slip into a pair of loafers and high-tail on over.  Strawberries are flying off the shelves at two boxes for a fiver, Oatmeal Crisp (God's gift to cereal lovers) is down to three bucks a pop, and you can now drink your body weight in Tropicana for a measly four dollars.

Oh, and how could anyone forget?

There are samples on Saturday.

We're talkin' ShaSha's best cookies and all-natural loafs, Lipton teas and Hershey's chocolate (who doesn't know what Hershey's tastes like...?)

In other words, if you're on a budget but would like to remain in the land of the living (i.e. a nourished, sustained individual) rustle up the gang and hit up that supermarket.

Oh.

Don't forget your reusable bag.

Queen of Hearts

When you're making the long trek home from a night on Queen West, more often than not (being the cheerful bunch that you all are) it's your tummy doing most of the grumbling.  So when hunger pangs hit, sink into a comfy-womfy chair or banquette at the ever-so-lovely Queen Mother Café.  Not quite hidden gem status since it's a fairly well-known eatery, but my-oh-my is this place delicious.

Props for... friendly service and cream-of-the-crop ambiance (think candlelight and union jacks, chuchotte-ing customers and tall, tall ceilings)

A little miffed because... no debit!

Yum!  Bumble Berry Crumble Flan (heated up with ice cream)

Café au lait (in a bowl)

Uhh... nahhh: Have yet to try anything not delicious

So much more than produce

Okay, okay, Happy Birthday Barbie.

Sure, Pink Tartan reps Canada well.

Joe Mimran- and your baby, Joe Fresh - we salute you.

LG Fashion Week has swallowed the city whole, with well-dressed yuppies prowling the streets, badges dangling from the lanyards around their lucky necks as designers flaunt their best for Fall/Winter 09.  And who takes the cake?  

Hint:  It's the same place you buy cake.

Attention all recessionistas: the grocery store is the new sample sale.

Trade in your runway for the freezer aisle, because Joe Fresh is where it's at.

If, like so many in the starving student set, you find your piggy bank getting dauntingly empty but just can't give up on the joys of beautiful clothing, it's time to start multi-tasking: slip those retail therapy sessions in next time you're picking up that box of KD- as designer Mimran puts it, "you can sneak it on to the grocery bill".

Yes, please.

You've Got Mail

Who doesn't love a good bit of mail?

And who doesn't love a good deal?

If you answered "Not I!" to either of these questions, check out the very latest in greeting cards, handmade and delivered to you for one measly little dollar.

Bluefish Cards

Props to the Homeland

The Hudson's Bay Company

This continent's oldest commercial corporation, fondly known to Canucks as The Bay is oft-neglected by our generation, used as a portal to the faux-marble hallways swarming with spend-happy youth of our precious malls.  But breeze past no longer, the grandpappy of shopping's still got it going on.  Not only are those high-end cosmetic and perfume counters utterly irresistible on all accounts, but the clothes aren't so bad either.  Skim off the layer of Mom jeans and Grandma sweaters and you're left with some nifty picks from DKNY, Jones New York (iffy, but a gamble's always got it's rewards), Mac & Jac et al.

Check it out, you're Canadian*

*if you're not Canadian, make it a roadtrip.  Rad.