What went down at the Future of Business and Style event with Harry Rosen

On Wednesday, April 23, a crowd of well-dressed guests gathered for an evening of conversation on the future of menswear and business at Harry Rosen in First Canadian Place on the corner of Bay and King, home to some of Canada’s most reputable companies. Canadian Business and Toronto Life hosted the event in partnership with the Canadian luxury menswear icon.

Glasses of crémant in hand, guests walked past a Zoltar machine at the entrance. The fortune teller is an ode to the night’s theme of what the future has in store for workwear fashion. To kick things off, Larry Rosen, CEO of Harry Rosen, introduced The Wealthy Barber author David Chilton for a keynote address. The former Dragon’s Den judge humoured guests with anecdotes from his time on the show and life after television. “We wore the same clothes every day on Dragon’s Den,” said Chilton. “And so Harry Rosen outfitted me with two suits and I would rotate the suits every second day.” A wonderful nod to smart investing, and investing in key wardrobe pieces that last.

Next, Toronto Life editor-in-chief Malcolm Johnston, moderated a panel on the evolution of menswear and tips for how to elevate your business style for the post-pandemic workplace. After several years of wearing dressy tops with sweatpants hiding below for video calls, our return to work and office life demands a fashion reset.

“Dressing in a suit, shirt and a tie is a little bit of a uniform and you advocate for it because there’s nothing sharper than a man in a suit, shirt and tie,” said Shannon Stewart, EVP, chief merchandising officer at Harry Rosen. “However, the reality of the business world dictates that there are a lot of other options that are just as appropriate.”

Trends come and go, but it’s the classic workwear pieces that will help you stay current.  Adam Gallo, senior divisional merchandise leader at Harry Rosen, says to build your work wardrobe with timeless staples: a well-tailored suit for an important meeting or special occasion; a sharp blazer or sport jacket; a casual, unconstructed version of a sport jacket or overshirt; and a classic wool coat. “ The versatility just increases from there,” said Gallo. “You can throw on much sportier bottoms; footwear options become endless.”

Gallo recommends opting for a second layer for a comfortable yet polished look suitable for a power lunch or meeting with colleagues. This can look like adding an unconstructed jacket made from a soft jersey material or a fine-knit sweater to your workwear wardrobe, he said.

Slight variations can also make a big difference: Roll your chinos or jeans to the top of your shoe (or even better, get them altered to you!), swap the dress shirt for a  polo or throw a cardigan over your shoulder for an “easy-going look,” said Gallo.

As we swap out our heavy-duty coats and refresh our office wardrobes for warmer weather, Jack Gurevitch, account executive at Samuelsohn, encourages people to try new things. Combine different fabrics, knits, blends or colours with tailored clothing for a professional look that still gives you room to experiment, defining your personal style.

The panelists agreed that dressing for success boils down to comfort and consistency.

“You need to feel comfortable in your clothes,” said Stewart. “You need to figure out what your style is, and that comfort will turn into confidence. I love somebody who figures out how to express their own sense of style in a very consistent, simple way.”

Throughout the evening, guests sipped cocktails and wines and nibbled on canapés, like ricotta and spring pea crostini and beef tartare, courtesy of Elle Cuisine. Harry Rosen tapped Toronto-based artist Jenny Zhang to illustrate guests throughout the night. Attendees picked up their portraits towards the end of the event, delighted to see themselves reflected in a fashion illustration. Walking past racks of suits from Canali and Canadian-made Samuelsohn in classic office hues of grey, navy, and black, a bartender served guests pours of The Macallan’s signature single malts.

Before parting for the night, attendees were sent home with gift bags, each containing a Samuelsohn pocket square, Harry Rosen’s anniversary magazine, the latest edition of Toronto Life and a trial Tom Ford fragrance. Menswear has evolved from stiff, formal wear to business casual over the years. While a fortune-telling machine can’t tell us what the next menswear trend will be, one thing is certain: decades of superior craftsmanship and fit excellence are embedded into every Harry Rosen garment you choose for your work wardrobe, helping you make a lasting impression at every business setting.