Shop Talk: new stores and shopping websites from May 2013

Opened
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The new discount spinoff from Holt Renfrew has not one packed rack of last season’s rejects. Instead, you’ll find 25,000 square feet of current-season merch from upscale brands and designer’s diffusion lines. Learn more »
1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Vaughan, 905-886-2427, holtrenfrew.com
Leatherfoot
The Yorkville shop has some truly beautiful handcrafted shoes for men from designers like Saint Crispin’s, Carmina and Gaziano & Girling. Shoes can be made to order, and leather accessories are also available. Learn more »
24 Bellair St. Unit 7, 416-967-3668, leatherfoot.com
Blue Button Shop
Dundas West is home to Toronto’s first store dedicated to the “Otona” (or “adult”) style out of Japan. Think stripes, muted colours, natural fabrics and quirky details. Almost everything is unisex. Learn more »
1499 Dundas St. W., 647-606-3270, bluebuttonshop.com
North Standard Trading Post
A newly opened Parkdale shop carries home goods, accessories and apparel with a Canadiana theme equal parts heritage and urban. Learn more »
1662 Queen St. W., 647-348-7060, northstandard.com
Drake General Store
The Drake General store moved its Rosedale location 27 blocks north to roomier digs at Yonge and Eglinton. Expect the usual Drake mix of apparel, jewellery, housewares and tchotchkes. Learn more »
2607 Yonge St., drakegeneralstore.ca, 416-966-0553
Kate Spade New York
Kate Spade’s multilevel Yorkville location, which opened last week, is the brand’s new Canadian flagship.
138 Cumberland St., katespade.com
Loft
The affordable American womenswear brand opened a second Toronto location at the Eaton Centre on Friday. Stores at Markville Shopping Centre and Square One Shopping Centre are in the works for August and October, respectively.
The Eaton Center, 220 Yonge St., loft.ca
J.Crew
The American prepster haven opened its fourth store GTA store at the Markville Shopping Centre. The new outpost has apparel for both men and women and also offers personal stylist services.
5000 Ontario 7, Markham, 905-470-6646, jcrew.com
John Fluevog
The Vancouver-based shoe designer became the latest upmarket boutique to land in the Distillery District, opening a second Toronto location on Trinity Street. Learn more »
John Fluevog Shoes, 4 Trinity Street, fluevog.com, 416-583-1970
Gotstyle
Six months after launching a swanky Distillery District location, Toronto boutique Gotstyle launched a men’s e-commerce site. Brands include Ted Baker London, Tiger of Sweden, John Varvatos, and Matteo Massimo.
62 Bathurst St., and 21 Trinity St., 416-260-9696, gotstyle.ca
Rinascimento
This Italian fast fashion retailer opened two GTA locations—the Promenade and Sherway Gardens—on May 1. The stock includes trendy women’s clothing by Gil Santucci, Imperial and Northland, as well as Rinascimento’s own line. Learn more »
1 Promenade Circle, Thornhill, 905-764-0020, rinascimento.com
Joker’s Closet
This Toronto-based shoe website lets shoppers choose from a small collection of seasonal designs and then pick the type of leather and colour for every part of the shoe. The custom footwear is handmade and takes about four weeks to arrive. Learn more »
647-225-2424, jokerscloset.com
Far and Wide Collective
This Toronto-based fair trade shopping site sells handmade, artisanal home goods, and women’s accessories and apparel made by artisans in developing countries. From ikat throw pillows to cute floral bangles, the products are selected with an eye to current trends.
1 647-405-9522, farandwidecollective.com
Zadig and Voltaire and H Project at Holt Renfrew
Some new offerings at the Bloor Street Holt Renfrew: Zadig and Voltaire’s complete line of rock’n’roll-chic apparel, accessories and footwear, and the H Project, a shop-in-shop with a curated selection of artisanal accessories, clothing, beauty products and home decor items from around the world. Learn more »
Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., 416-922-2333, holtrenfrew.com
Announced
• A huge outlet mall is opening in Halton Hills on August 1. Toronto Premium Outlets will be home to the first Hudson’s Bay outlet store as well as the first Canadian discount locations of several big-name brands, including Kate Spade New York and Restoration Hardware. Learn More»
• Paul Smith is opening its first Canadian boutique this summer, a shop-in-shop in Holt Renfrew’s Yorkdale location. Learn more »
• Mulberry’s first Canadian store in Yorkdale Mall is still months from opening, but the brand is already planning second location on Bloor West, in Lacoste’s former space. Learn more »