Inside Ontario’s first Simons, now open at Square One

Fans of the Quebec department store can finally rejoice: after 175 years of operation, Simons has opened in Ontario. The incredibly bright two-storey space in the Mississauga mall was designed in collaboration with Toronto design firm Figure3. It features a giant glass atrium, a set of floating stairs and a 10-foot Chinese vase sculpture from Vancouver-based ceramic artist Brendan Tang. Each section of the store has its own distinct look, like the cozy Ève Café or the playful boys’ section (complete with porta potty–inspired fitting rooms). Here’s a look inside.

From here, it seems like most of the 110,000 square feet is filled with socks.

The girls’ line Twik is full of cute separates like sundae-adorned sweaters and pineapple-printed shorts. The decor here was inspired by a deconstructed loom, which explains all the yarn.

The shop’s Edito boutiques showcase designer collections, including pieces from Balmain, Vivienne Westwood and Toronto’s Unttld.

For spring, the women’s affordably priced Icône line includes chambray miniskirts, striped maxi dresses and high-rise flared jeans.

The entire top floor is devoted to menswear. Djab is the store’s streetwear brand, so this area of the shop uses reclaimed wood and graffiti art for an industrial vibe.

The men’s Edito boutique is a more sophisticated scene.

100 City Centre Dr., 289-777-3631, simons.ca