If your bloke’s got swagger, there may be a few bow ties hanging in his closet already.

Up the ante on his collection with a stunning York Wu bow tie handmade with couture grade leather, silk or chiffon.

York, an interdisciplinary designer who spends his time between New York and Toronto, told the New York Times style magazine recently that he wants his Noeud Papillon ties to be the equivalent of a Lanvin dress,  “structured and strong on the inside, elegant and effortless on the outside.”

This is one gift you’ll want to steal.

Price upon request: www.wuyork.com

You don’t have to be Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love to pull off bohemian chic.

Start with an ethnic inspired bag ($325) like the gorgeous ones from Elliot Mann. Their uniqueness lies in the artful mismatch of vintage embroidered fabrics from all over the globe. All are gorgeously colourful and roomy enough for all your daytime essentials.

Finish the look with a simple jersey dress and plenty of bangles.

Javier, optional.

At Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., Toronto, 416-922-2333, www.holtrenfrew.com

As much as we love our summer staples – shorts, espadrilles and a tattered Panama – our fall fashion radar is most certainly on.

With her artful prints and feminine details, it’s hard to resist Calla Haynes’ collection for fall. An Olivier Theyskens graduate, (she worked with the Belgian designer at Rochas and then Nina Ricci), Toronto-born Haynes received her first major accolades at Paris Fashion Week.

This next collection is darker and edgier than her spring debut, but a smattering of thigh high hemlines, flirty ruffles and sheer fabrics keep things ultra-feminine and alluring.

We’ll trade in summer shorts for printed silk pants any day. 

Calla is available at The Room, The Bay, 176 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-861-9111, www.thebay.com

We’ve long had a love affair with the leather bags and bow clutches by Hoakon loves Helga, but now we’re having a summer fling with the line’s newest beach totes and bike bags.

Made from fabric and deconstructed vintage leather jackets, the bags are all handmade in Calgary. The upcycled, fully lined, textured black leather bike bag with a zipper closure and vintage belt straps for attaching to your handlebars (US$65) is the perfect cruiser bike accessory while the Ikat print beach tote (US$65, pictured) even has a pocket for your summer read.

Summer loving happens so fast.

At Hoakon loves Helga’s Etsy Shop.

From Vawk’s dramatic fur detailing to Preloved’s preppy plaids, there was plenty to love at this season’s crop of fashion shows. We asked a few of the city’s fashion bloggers to pick a highlight:

Danielle Meder, Final Fashion
Evan Biddell
“For imagining his collection from a different point of view - the side - and sending down the most adventurous, gutsy, and fun looks of the week.”

Stefania Yarhi, Textstyles
Rita Liefhebber
“Choosing to park a truck on the side of Dundas West to preview her F/W collection was as inspired as the clothes.”

Briony Smith, blogTO
IZMA
“The glamour and luxe loveliness of Canadian wild fur met wild shapes and super-sexy styling in this debut. High-fashion and hot as hell.”

Anita Clarke, I want - I got
Mikhael Kale
“The fall 2010 collection is beautiful, inventive, rich in detail and well constructed."

We’ve never been shy about going back for seconds.

And when it comes to shopping, our philosophy’s the same.

If you were one of the lucky gals who snagged the Stella McCartney snow leopard dress, tutu or Miller jacket for your tots at GapKids last season, lucky you.

And for the other 99 per cent of us who didn’t get there in time, we now have another go.

McCartney’s second collection for GapKids looks to be just as whimsical and fashion forward as the first, with polka-dot espadrilles, anchor tunics, and a Western theme for the lads.

Quick now, or you’ll be shopping for it on eBay like last time.

Collection lands Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at these GapKids:
Calgary - Chinook Centre
Montreal - Eaton Centre
Toronto - Bloor Street, Eaton Centre, Yorkdale, and Sherway Gardens

Monday, April 5, 2010 at Vancouver - Robson Street
www.gap.com

A big part of shopping for vintage is the thrill of the hunt. Call us lazy, but these days, we’d rather leave the scavenging to the pros.

Enter Shrimpton Couture, an online boudoir of clean, re-conditioned and carefully curated vintage.

From Biba to Balmain to the amazing Geoffrey Beene, the site is brimming with an ever-rotating roster of big name designers—and big name shoppers like Courtney Love and Rachel Zoe. Our wish list is as long as the Nile, but there’s a red Chanel Jacket ($1,625) that belongs on our back.

Find bags, belts, scarves and baubles – such as the eclectic pieces from London based textile designer http://www.anitaquansah.com/ Anita Quansah.

Talk about thrill of the find.

www.shrimptoncouture.com
Read our interview with Shrimpton Couture founder, Cherie Federau, on our forum.

We took an scent census around the office and came up with six lovely pairs of perfumes for him and her. Herewith, our staff picks.

Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor, English edition
Couples who spray together, stay together. When we’re not stealing spritzs of our man’s woody Grey Vetivert by Tom Ford ($100), he’s dipping into our bottle of Private Blend Italian Cypress (from $210). Both at Holt Renfrew.

Tara Parker Tait, Publisher
Opposites attract with Parisian cult favourite Annick Goutal's Petite  Chérie (finally, she divulges her secret scent!) for her ($110 at the Bay) and the luxe Hermès Poivre Samarcande ($250 at Hermès) for him.

Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor
For a date night, spritz  Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb ($120 at Holt Renfrew), a bouquet of sweet, fruity florals. If the boy shows up smelling of John Varvatos’ Artisan ($70 at Sephora), this relationship may have serious potentional.

Malwina Gudowska, Calgary editor
French girl meets American boy: YSL’s Parisienne ($65) is a match with the masculine John Varvatos Classic ($78). Both at Sephora.

Tonya Albulet, Western Sales Manager
Lalique's Amethyst ($110), with top notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, comes in a bold purple bottle worthy of your nightstand. If your BF wears Lacoste Pour Homme Grey ($75), it's meant to be. Both at Holt Renfrew.

Elsa Vecchi, Montreal editor, French edition
A spritz for you, a dab for him. A summery scent that is fresh and classic, Vétiver by Guerlain is made for a man, but also smells lovely on a lady. $95 at Holt Renfrew.

Who doesn’t love snooping around other people’s homes – especially ones filled with bold lighting, artwork and unusual curiosities.

At Alex Jowett’s place you can snoop all you like, and if you fancy something, hey, why not buy it? Most of the contents is for sale at Atelier 668, and unlike a typical design store, buyers get to experience the pieces within a real home environment.

Several pieces at this studio-gallery-store are up-cycled, such as the vintage kayak chandelier and birdcage lanterns. There’s a 12-foot maple dining table by Brad Denton (the designer behind The Harbord Room, Le Petit Castor and Czehoski), a Brothers Dressler bench, spiral nest chandeliers by Zak Ridgely and work by OCAD photographer Darren Rigo.

There are a few things Jowett (a photographer, writer, surfer) won’t part with, like his vintage cameras, and a Michael Greenwood Walnut table. “I think I’d like to buy that for myself,” he says.

Atelier 688, 688 Richmond St. W, #201, Toronto, 416-671-2537, http://atelier688.tumblr.com

Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. or by appointment.

The contents of your handbag says a lot about you. We asked Sarah Shell, designer of the Toronto-based handbag label 442 McAdam, to reveal what’s in her purse:

A wallet that is eight times the size it should be.


A case for my business cards.


An HTC Snap, my first data phone. It’s been difficult to ignore the email and text notifications when I’m in the car, but I’m being a law-abiding citizen and keeping it tucked away in my purse when I’m driving.

My laptop (most 442 McAdam bags are large and durable enough for this purpose). I have a hard time being separated from him. He’s a MacBook. I call him my Silver Stud.

A pair of glasses. My aunt and uncle used to own an optical store and so I have built a collection of uber-chic and vintage glasses. My favorite pairs are never-worn vintage Christian Dior, and a new Jackie O-style Roberto Cavalli.

Lipstick: L’Oreal’s Classic Wine is in my purse right now.

www.442mcadam.com