Street Style: 19 looks at the women of Rosedale
Welcome to The Goods’ brand spankin’ new street style segment, where we ditch hackneyed questions like “How would you describe your style?” and infuriatingly meaningless answers like “rockabilly-meets-schoolmarm-meets-zoologist-chic.” Instead, every second Friday, we’ll be deconstructing the stereotypes that have come to characterize a Toronto neighbourhood, shooting subjects in the urban wild to determine whether the prevailing style myths are actually bona fide truths. This week, we look at the women of Rosedale, who have traditionally been viewed as the Dowager Countesses of Toronto—complete with entitled, upturned chins, Whole Foods status totes, “it” handbags, tennis skirts and a variety of Ugg-like footwear (when they just can’t bear to wear their Louboutins). But is the Rosedale woman the status-hungry, label-wearing matron she’s presumed to be? The truth is so much more interesting than that.
Among the cherry blossom trees in Ramsden Park—donated to the community by Mitsubishi in 1985—we encountered a comfortably dressed activist carrying a scarlet cross-body bag (to hold her posters advocating park beautification). It’s a getting-your-hands-dirty uniform we certainly didn’t expect for a neighbourhood that houses some of Toronto’s wealthiest families (she herself has been an active member of the community for many years). Just off Macpherson Avenue, near theatre director Stephen Katz’s former residence (a pig-farm-cum-apartment, if you can believe it), we encountered model-esque shop girls and prep school teens who seem to have doffed their off-duty Birkenstocks and woolen socks for something more refined (or they channelled the style code of a Queen West wanderer). But some habits die hard, because not everyone wants to play the eccentric artist, or the “not-your-average Rosedale mom.” Some still committed to the casual-meets-sophisticated uniform of a classic trench, running shoes and a collection of organic groceries. One wealthy man remarked that “rip-off road,” or the stretch of Yonge just off Price Street, featuring grocer Harvest Wagon and butcher Oliffe, is where the typical Rosedale nouveau-riche is most often spotted, but we were hard-pressed to find more than a handful of examples of the well-worn archetype. Perhaps our subject is out batting balls at the members-only Toronto Lawn Tennis Club between private shopping trips—but we’re convinced she’s less thorny than the city sometimes imagines, and less showy than the wannabes who wander the streets, drinking their lattes, aspiring to live this largely imagined life.
Click here to see 19 women of Rosedale »
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. But is the Rosedale woman the status-hungry, label-wearing matron she’s presumed to be? The truth is so much more interesting than that.
Among the cherry blossom trees in Ramsden Park—donated to the community by Mitsubishi in 1985—we encountered a comfortably dressed activist carrying a scarlet cross-body bag (to hold her posters advocating park beautification). It’s a getting-your-hands-dirty uniform we certainly didn’t expect for a neighbourhood that houses some of Toronto’s wealthiest families (she herself has been an active member of the community for many years). Just off Macpherson Avenue, near theatre director Stephen Katz’s former residence (a pig-farm-cum-apartment, if you can believe it), we encountered model-esque shop girls and prep school teens who seem to have doffed their off-duty Birkenstocks and woolen socks for something more refined (or they channelled the style code of a Queen West wanderer). But some habits die hard, because not everyone wants to play the eccentric artist, or the “not-your-average Rosedale mom.” Some still committed to the casual-meets-sophisticated uniform of a classic trench, running shoes and a collection of organic groceries. One wealthy man remarked that “rip-off road,” or the stretch of Yonge just off Price Street, featuring grocer Harvest Wagon and butcher Oliffe, is where the typical Rosedale nouveau-riche is most often spotted, but we were hard-pressed to find more than a handful of examples of the well-worn archetype. Perhaps our subject is out batting balls at the members-only Toronto Lawn Tennis Club between private shopping trips—but we’re convinced she’s less thorny than the city sometimes imagines, and less showy than the wannabes who wander the streets, drinking their lattes, aspiring to live this largely imagined life.
Click here to see 19 women of Rosedale »
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All the Asians (filipinos) in this set, minus the first girl, I think are the nannies.
Hey! Why don’t we have a street style thing like the Toronto Standard does? Let’s get on that!
Re: Archibald’s Rosedale ‘nannies’ comment
Even if the Asians were the nannies, it’s still a commentary on the style in the area.
o dear
Don’t be afraid to spend more time on the street! Stereotypes about neighbourhoods are silly, but the only way to get to the truth is to get the streets to talk to you.
More like “Street Style: 19 looks at the women of Rosedale Subway Station”. Most of these pictures are taken on Yonge Street close to the station, this has little to do with whatever style the women living in Rosedale may have.
I agree with Chalbe. It looks like the editor of this article specifically looked out for the most grungy looks – the opposite of the stereotype.
What a useless article, how is this interesting?
Beat me to the punch. Didn’t know Ramsden Park and Yonge Street comprise “Rosedale”. And what’s so stylish?
You could see these “looks” anywhere in Toronto. They are hardly the upscale, manicured looks that you see while walking your dog in Ramsden, though they do capture “trends” seen throughout the city.
Rosedale is Rosedale, don’t try to hip-it-up. It is what it is…
Agree with “beach”, this is article is useless.
What a ridiculous exercise in inanity. Why is titled “Women of Rosedale,” when it should be called “Women in Rosedale?”
Most of the women pictured here are clearly under 25, which means they’re most likely not even homeowners, let alone “dowager countesses.” Just because random people walk around the Rosedale area in frumpy clothing doesn’t mean that stereotypes about people who live in Rosedale are untrue.
BEYOND BORING.
Not sure how many of you have actually BEEN to Rosedale but amidst the million dollar homes there are rental apartments where the average working Torontonian reside. I’m a young professional under 30 and the rent I pay is less than the Front/Spadina condos. We’re not all homeowners, “dowager countesses”, or poor little rich girls.
And if you think the Filipinos featured here look like nannies, you clearly have never been to Rosedale. Check out the nanny traffic at Rosedale station during rush hour–way older, sporting running shoes and AE hoodies.
Love it!
The first girl is a babe