Introducing: J.Crew, the prepster Mecca and Yorkdale’s latest hip retail space

The place: The preppy Cape Cod vacationer in all of us is overjoyed by J. Crew’s first international outpost, which has opened in Toronto. Just over 5,000 square feet of womenswear (sorry dudes, we feel your pain, but nothing for you just yet) is the newest addition to Yorkdale’s ever-growing stable of hip retail spaces. With beachy tones, like white walls and ceramic coral pieces dotting the sandy wood shelves, the space is fresh and clean (if nothing new)—a perfect backdrop for the technicolour pieces that abound. Find out what we liked and see a gallery of the J.Crew store after the jump.

The stuff: Row upon row of cashmere basics, like cardigans ($194–$230), V-neck sweaters ($194) and oversized scarves ($58) in a panoply of colours, like fuchsia, royal blue, burnt orange, mint, kelly green and cream. The back of the store hosts a sizeable shoe collection with pumps, motorcycle boots that mimic the classic Frye boots ($289) and East Village hipster–approved Minnetonka Moccasins. The plaid button-up shirts ($84) look more like something you’d see at Abercrombie and Fitch (just not on The Situation).

The shoppers: Fashion editor types with a Blair Waldorf–like fashion sense, but really, being that this is Canada’s first J. Crew, pretty much every woman who’s ever made a trip to Buffalo to go shopping.

Our favourite things: The pink floral pants ($156) are National Post style columnist Nathalie Atkinson–approved, while the tangerine Minnie cigarette pants ($92) evoke Jil Sander (at about a tenth of the price), and the pillowy cashmere is timeless (and a bargain at under $230). As with H&M offerings, expect to see your outfit on a few other girls at the next cocktail party.

See inside Toronto’s J.Crew »