Something About May

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Easy style hack: next time you’re adding a suit jacket to your blazer rotation, go for a double-breasted one. They’re the ones with a wide, overlapping front panel and two columns of buttons. They usually fit a bit longer and wider, which gives the illusion of length and stature. To me, they’re the fancy version of a bomber - an easy way to upgrade a standard dress shirt and pants for work, or a shirt and jeans dinner look. It’s also perfect for spring since you won’t need an extra jacket on top. 10/10 recommend.

Three pairs of shoes you need this spring: dark brown leather loafers, light colour suede loafers, and white sneakers with small colour detail.

It was announced last week that Simons is opening a new location in downtown Vancouver by the fall of 2027. This will be its 20th Canadian store, after opening two new locations in Toronto over the past year. At a time when former department stores are sitting vacant or facing demolition, Simons seems to be flourishing. They’re a great mid-priced option for business casual pieces for men. They carry an in-house brand called Le31 as well as designer brands like BOSS.

I almost always take my clients shopping at Sherway Gardens - preferred discounts, change rooms, better customer service, etc. - but last week, I ventured up to Mississauga to Square One. And besides a much busier weeknight shopping experience, it’s well worth it for access to Simons, COS, and Du/er, in addition to all the regulars, from Holts to RW&Co. I’ll be adding Square One to my roster of locations this summer. Reach out when you’re ready to chat about upgrading your wardrobe.

Take me back to the UK because their menswear is unmatched. I recently learned about the brand, GLORYDAYS - every piece is made-to-order and manufactured in England (with international shipping). This perfect spring jacket is pricey, at $418, for what is essentially a windbreaker. But hey, this one has a lifetime guarantee for a reason.

I love indulging in a designer piece from time to time, but when you find a really good dupe, it’s hard to justify spending the extra money. In this side-by-side photo, the designer jacket is $300, while the dupe is less than $100. So you tell me, is this dupe good enough? Which one is which?

Todd Snyder’s sale section is elite. But “on sale” for this brand can still be pretty pricey. Currently loving these oversized pants and this waffle cashmere sweater.

Suits at RW&Co. are up to $100 off. They’re already a great value, with good colour options and a range of fits. Worth a look.

Banana Republic makes one of the best chinos, especially if you have athletic legs. Check out pants up to 40% off.

“What should I wear if I have a wide (plus size) body type?”

The rule of thumb for any body type is balance. If you have a wider or plus-size build, the goal is to create more length and clean lines.

Lean into natural vertical lines by layering jackets or open button-down shirts. Choose vertical stripes or smaller patterns over large graphics or bold horizontal stripes. Avoid pieces that visually cut you in half. Untucked shirts with a bit of length usually work better than cropped fits. For pants, stick to straight-leg fits rather than anything too slim or tapered at the ankle.

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