Hannah Yakobi is an award-winning journalist and communications specialist. Throughout her career, she has written for the National Post, OK! Magazine, the Ottawa Citizen, Canwest newspaper network and dozens of publications around the world. Currently, she is the Editor-in-Chief of FAJO Magazine, a Canadian publication with staff in Canada, U.S. and U.K.
The busiest time of the year is upon us.
I was having a conversation recently with a friend about how no matter what age people are, they still have the “back to school” mentality – for some reason, everything always “restarts” in September.
However, whether you are 15 or 50, if you are fashionable, September is also a great month for shopping. This is when the fashion week season kicks off around the world, TIFF is in full swing and Toronto gears up for its own Fashion Week in October. And since in most people’s minds this is the time when the year begins, it is a great time to refresh your wardrobe.
So what are the shopping options?
This September is extra special – we have Canada’s first Fashion’s Night Out, which takes place on September 6 (coinciding with TIFF’s kick-off) and is held on the same day as the FNOs around the world, joining the likes of London and New York. FNO is, basically, one big shopping party. You’ll get to join celebrities, models, designers and fashion editors across the city as they flood stores for fashion’s most iconic extravaganza. There will be champagne at some venues, balloons at others and plenty of stylish folks everywhere. Last year’s FNO bash featured events in 18 countries, with special limited-edition products, celebrity appearances and performances. For some participating stores, take a look at FNO’s website.
Apart from FNO, bear in mind that most stores are wrapping up their final summer sales, so this is also a great time to get your hands on some great outfits for next year.
There are also some new stores opening up, including Massimo Dutti that officially opened its doors last night at the Eaton Centre. Having spent many years with my grandparents in Spain, I would personally recommend this brand to anybody. When the company announced their big opening plans for Canada, I was beyond excited. Not to mention that this is their first North American location, so it’s great news for Canada.
Another great opening scheduled for later this fall is Ann Taylor. I was at their official launch party a few weeks ago and their fall and holiday collections looked fabulous, colourful and exceptionally classic. The company has scheduled to open several stores in Toronto between October and January – food for thought if you are already planning the holiday shopping. If you’d like to see some photos from the event, take a look at this direct link to my Twitter feed.
And if you are more interested in shopping online, MOON apparel is launching its online boutique this month. A brainchild of Tamara and Jordin Mimran, this is a brand that is trendy and sexy. The sibling duo has produced some fabulous pieces – here are a few photos from their summer 2012 collection.
Lastly, don’t forget to bring some friends along (even if you are doing some e-shopping, do it together). Nothing makes retail therapy more enjoyable!
Photo courtesy of Massimo Dutti
