6 Menswear shops in Toronto
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Delusional optimists might purport that you can do anything in Hamilton, but one thing guys can’t do is build a solid wardrobe. While there are a smattering of menswear stores scattered throughout the area, they all either cater to stuffy businessmen with taste as boring as their jobs, or white people who wear bow-ties with casual buttondowns and who #use #hashtags #to #show #how #classy #and #stylish #they #are.
Luckily, Toronto is not far away and boasts a huge array of independent stores and boutiques for those looking to follow the formula of “buy less, buy better” and accrue a few solid investment pieces rather than a lot of corny fast fashion.
Use the map below to browse and locate the stores below.
1. Nomad (yellow)
Brands to look for: APC x Kanye West, Barena Venezia, SNS Hearning, Reigning Champ, Robert Geller, Common Projects
Ex-hypebeasts will know about Nomad, who used to carry revered skate brand Supreme. While there are no more box logos to be found on their shelves, there is still ample reason to pop by the shop’s new digs. Since moving from their old Richmond Street location, which was known to be one of Abel Tesfaye’s favourite haunts, owner Zeb Munir has further established his store’s prestige. They have something for just about everyone, and with rumours going around that they might bring in Comme’s Ganyru line, A$AP Rocky’s prediction that “clothes getting weirder” will prove true.
2. Gravity Pope (green)
Brands to look for: Band of Outsiders, Commes Des Garcons PLAY, Maison Kitsune, Rag & Bone
Gravity Pope has expanded quite a bit since its inception in Vancouver and their Toronto location reflects their nouveau riche status with its vastness. Cast as more of a traditional boutique with opulent chandeliers dangling from the ceiling, the space is a tad sterile, but the nice selection of playful brands that they have to offer like Band of Outsiders and Commes Des Garcons PLAY warm the ambiance up. You might as well cop your girl a gift from the amply stocked women’s section while you’re there.
3. Lost & Found (orange)
Brands to look for: Alden, Arpenteur, Gitman Vintage, Dana Lee, New Balance, Unis
It’s hard not to love Lost & Found, a menswear shop borne out of the idea that coffee and clothes literally go hand in hand, with most shoppers seen nursing caffeinated beverages while looking for new jawnz. For that reason, owners Jonathan Elias and Justin Veiga will both brew you a cup of coffee and nerd out with you over the brands that they carry. Stocked with primarily North American-made goods, the shop is full of classics like Unis chinos or Gitman Vintage oxfords. They’re also one of the few Canadian retailers to carry Alden, a Massachusetts shoe company worshipped by the menswear set for their handmade oxfords, loafers, boots, and bluchers.
4. Jonathan + Olivia (brown)
Brands to look for: Acne, Alexander Wang, AMI, Norse Projects, Hood By Air
Located right across from Lost & Found, popping into J+O is a no brainer. Their designer selection is extremely tasteful, but J+O is not a great place to look for colour as they stock almost exclusively black pieces. That said, there’s no better place to get your fashion goth on.
5. Haven (red)
Brands to look for: Cypress, White Mountaineering, Nanamica, Needles Junya Watanabe MAN, nonative
When Jian Deleon of Complex magazine visited the store this past summer, he joked in an Instagram caption that he was witnessing “the internet IRL.” His assessment is perfect. Amidst the crazy KAWS statues that litter the loft-like space, the clothing racks are full of Japanese streetwear brands that you’d normally dream of being able to afford while browsing Tumblr. That said, you’ll probably still have to wait for end of season sales until you get a decent job. Those in the business of looking for deals or abiding by a strict formulaic uniform won’t be pleased by the eccentric offerings, but those in the know who have a passion for craftsmanship and inventive designs have a new home, or haven, in Corktown.
6. Working Title (blue)
Brands to look for: A.P.C., Engineered Garments, Gosha Rubchinskiy, MHL by Margaret Howell, Our Legacy, Patrik Ervell
Located a short walk up from the bougie hell that is Bloor Street, Working Title is a welcome respite from the logo-embossed wares hawked by the likes of Holt Renfrew to status obsessed Torontonians. Filled with natural light and not much else besides carefully placed clothing racks, the store is a minimalist’s dream. It makes sense that the brands curated by owners, Paul Shkordoff and Michael Fong, are cohesive in tone as the space’s basement serves as an art gallery. The quiet elegance of brands like Engineered Garments, MHL, Our Legacy, and Patrik Ervell all compliment the store brilliantly, as they would your wardrobe. Stop by for the clothes and good conversation, stay for the brilliant Instagram opportunities at sunset.
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