SOME LIKE IT HOLT

Holt Renfrew has just opened a location at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga. It is mind-blowing -- 130,000 square feet of fabulousness with grey graphite stone walls and custom-made marble flooring designed by the New-York based architecture and interior design firm Janson Goldstein LLP.

I went to the media preview shopping night last Thursday and sucked up champagne while oohing and awing over all the stuff I couldn’t afford. Look for other locations renovated with the same fabulous designer footprint.

Among the celeb guests: the dynamic designing Smythe duo of Andrea Lenczner (left) and Christie Smythe. Christie is wearing a coat from their highly-coveted pre-fall line. I am totally obsessed with a khaki military coat from that line but I would be happy to make this one a good home.

Me with a floral Gucci bag that just calls my name. However, since it costs over $3,000, I would have to live in it.

A lifetime supply of nail polish spilling over a bar on display in the men’s section.

This dapper dude was one of the best dressed. His shirt and coordinating pants are by Roberto Cavalli and his jewelry by early John Hardy.

The personal shopper area upstairs complete with fireplace, plush couches suitable for sleeping and attendant washrooms is dubbed “the apartment” for good reason. I could happily live there. Just forward my mail.

This lovely young thing is channeling Rihanna. She works in the mall but is not a Holt staffer, though easily could be.

Love these cool Tin Man brogues. Only downside, you would have to beware of wearing skirts lest you give them a free show.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Far be it from me to be churlish, but it isn’t even back-to-school time and they are trotting out the fall/holiday offerings for previewing. Can Christmas carols at Canadian Thanksgiving be far behind?

Hard to concentrate on faux furs when you are wilting in 35 degree humidity but I gamely checked out merch from everyone from Tom's to Tissot and I was pleasantly surprised. For example, who knew that Tilley’s, purveyor of durables for the dowdy traveler, made a respectable felt fedora? Would I lie to you?

This cool sweater/bomber, with lips on the front and lipstick on the back, is brought to you courtesy of Guess, the same label associated with Brigitte Bardot lookalikes – hello Claudia Schiffer -- in skimpy shredded jean shorts and revealing my-cup-runneth over tops. They have rebranded with whimsical and wearable pieces like this.

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Tissot Swiss watches has become the official timekeeper of the NBA (National Basketball Association) with the team colours on the watchband and the logo on the caseback. Here is the Chicago Bulls edition. I like it just because you can’t have enough bovine product.

 

These Tanya Heath booties are so Sergeant Pepper I want to dust off my old album and play it on my even dustier turntable. Note the brand’s trademark and ingenious detachable and interchangeable heels. These babies are on my Christmas list.

CARRIE BRADSHAW FOR RENT

It is wedding season. You can tell by the proliferation of wedding movies, most of them inevitably starring Anna Kendrick.  Hello Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Table 19.
 

So instead of going out and blowing serious cash on a dress you will never wear again, why not rent one or two or three? See, this is a full-service blog. You can even get dresses that could have conceivably come out of Carrie Bradshaw’s closet.

Read on McDuff.

C’mon, can’t you see Sarah Jessica Parker wearing this number? It is one of the pieces available at Fitzroy Boutique (98 Ossington Ave.) that offers everything from a basic LBD to feathers and serious frou-frou. And it will only set you back as little as $50 for four days including dry cleaning.

Think of how that could simplify your wardrobe for TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) parties. Call 647-520-7907 for more info. You’re welcome.

Fitzroy Boutique also has merch for sale, like this cool satin bomber jacket that could have come out of Drake’s closet if he were prone to wearing shrunken clothing.

I am all about lighting. Friends claim that my place looks like the showroom for Lighting Unlimited. I have run out of outlets and surfaces. But what’s not to love about this monkey lamp available at V de V at 120 Ossington Ave.?

Quel fromage? Why is it that the skinny girls are the prime feeders at a cheese buffet? They were all over the goodies at a recent re-branding cocktailer for Toronto Premium Outlets held at Faulhaber Communications headquarters.

A ringer for young activist Angela Davis, on the subway. Google her if you don’t believe me.

I told you the heart sculpture at the Distillery was a romance magnet. A wedding party preps for a photo op.

Beer and water chaser at Betty’s pub in Corktown. It was formerly called The Betty Ford Clinic but I inadvertently got them busted when I interviewed actor Steven Ford for his private investigator role on The Young and the Restless soap. I asked something inane like “was he going to have a drink at his mother’s namesake pub” and he was clearly stirred and shaken. Turns out the Fords didn’t have a sense of humour or irony about it and issued the pub a cease and desist order so it became Betty’s. But not before I scored a T-shirt and ball cap with the Betty Ford Clinic emblazoned on them. Wearing a Betty Ford Clinic piece of apparel while consuming vast quantities of alcohol raises more than a few eyebrows, I can assure you. I even have a great Michael Caine story about that.

Killer rabbit plaque at Blackbird Vintage Finds in the Distillery district, my go-to for goth ephemera.

A vintage truck in an alleyway in the Distillery District. It was probably used in the film Cinderella Man, shot at the Distillery starring Russell Crowe and Renée Zellweger way back when she still had her original face.

Insomnia and Amnesia, two restaurants that are kitty-corner at Bathurst and Bloor. “I’m always tired, but I can’t remember why.”