Something I’ve noticed recently while shopping for clothes in Toronto is that our styles tend to be about two seasons behind. Not exactly breaking news, but it becomes very obvious when you’re constantly in stores. I’m not hating, just observing, and sharing the good news: some of the trends I’ve been talking about for the last few weeks - butter yellow, pleated pants, spring bombers - are finally showing up in Toronto stores. And if they’re not, I’ve included a few American and international links below so you don’t have to wait.
— Jacqueline, JGYL Styling Founder and Head Stylist
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Google searches for “rodeo outfits” are up 80% week over week, which must mean festival season is getting close: Osheaga, Veld, Boots and Hearts, and Coachella are all coming up. Wherever you're headed, you need an outfit. You can’t go wrong with a flowy button-down shirt, shorts, and a tank top - opt for a tank in crochet or knit. The star of your outfit will be the accessories: baseball caps, colourful tinted sunglasses, jewellery, and bandanas. You can find bandanas at Zara and tinted sunglasses at Simons. And don’t forget a cross-body bag to carry all your stuff.
After several recent collaboration hits (Katseye, Béis, etc.), the Gap has locked in Awake NY as their latest collab. The styles channel the energy of ‘90s New York through bold graphics, oversized fits, and lots of denim. Awake NY is a cult-favourite NYC-based streetwear brand founded in 2012 by former Supreme Brand Director Angelo Baque. The collaboration reimagines everyday streetwear staples with pops of colour, polka dots, and colourful plaids. The collection is not available everywhere, and some pieces on the Awake website are already sold out. Keep an eye out for a restock. Based on this video, some styles have yet to drop.
Speaking of collabs, Zara launched a new collection with Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria - formerly Senior VP of Design at Calvin Klein, and now with his own line. Chavarria is known for blending high fashion with working-class style through oversized fits and luxury streetwear. This is my favourite piece from the collection.
Also known as salmon or light pink, dusty pink is one of the biggest fashion colours this spring. Unlike basic pink (which can be hard to match), dusty pink has a grey undertone, making it easy to match with most earth tones. I’d stick with browns and creams and stay away from green. An easy way to introduce this colour into your wardrobe is through a dusty pink jacket (blazer or coat) over a white shirt or a dusty pink sweater with brown pants. Pro tip: a dusty pink matching suit would make a great spring wedding guest outfit.
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And since we’re talking about dusty pink, let’s talk about this soft pink Reiss jacket. It’s pricey, at $820, but it’s 100% suede and a perfect pink that can match easily with jeans, creams, and all the shades of black in your closet. Plus, it’s light enough for spring but warm enough for fall. One thing to note: Reiss ships from the U.K. It looks like they’ve updated their pricing to include duties, but I’ve had a client get hit with an unexpected bill, so it’s worth double-checking at checkout just to be safe.
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RW&Co’s summer collection is out in stores and online as of yesterday. It feels so early considering it just started getting warm outside, but sure, let’s take a look.
I’ll say that I’m never super impressed by RW’s seasonal drops, but they always come through for my clients looking for reasonably priced business casual outfits. This summer, you’ll see vests back on shelves - wear this a size up; spring stripes are here to stay - wear this tucked into straight leg jeans with a belt and loafers; lots of polo colours to choose from - opt for a johnny collar to avoid the golf-dad look. Wear this under a blazer; and the perfect butter yellow shirt is finally available. Love everything about this combo.
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Banana Republic’s 40% off sale is on until tomorrow (April 1) at midnight. I’d grab this grey merino johnny collar polo and this leather belt in dark brown or black.
Some of my clients swear by True Classic t-shirts. They’re having a sitewide 20% off sale until the end of this week, so here’s your chance to give them a try. FYI, they ship from the U.S., so double-check shipping and duties.
Celebrity-favourite brand Cuts is having a spring sale, up to 30% off sitewide. Lots of nice johnny collar polo colours and textured tees, like this.
Ask Me Anything 🙋🏻♀️
“How do I pair anything with anything?”
This question came from a female reader, but it perfectly applies to everyone. The one rule to remember is that you’re always looking for balance.
Fitted and flowy: you don’t want any outfit that’s all tight or all baggy. If you’re going to wear baggy jeans, pair it with a more fitted top, and vice versa, like this.
Statement pieces: this could be a patterned shirt or a bright coloured jacket. If you have a special statement piece you love, everything else you pair it with should (generally) be solid, earth-tone colours, like this.
Rule of three colours: which means keeping your whole outfit to three colours, like this. It doesn’t always apply if you’re going for more creative combinations, but it’s a good rule if you like to keep things simple most of the time.
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