Essential Toronto Magazine 2016 | Page 43

Redefining the Ultimate Retail Experience Toronto’s hottest new destinations for luxury shopping might surprise you. By Nicole KeeN T i F FA N y & c o . o N B l o o R S T R e e T; c F S H e RWAy G A R D e N S ( B e l oW ) F or decades, yorkville in downtown Toronto has been synonymous with luxury shopping, and it’s easy to see why. on a walkable strip of Bloor Street, aptly nicknamed “Mink Mile,” shoppers are tempted by the well-appointed windows of designer boutiques like chanel, Prada, louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Tiffany & co., to name a few. Another highlight is Holt Renfrew’s 180,000-square-foot flagship (and their impressive menswear boutique two blocks west). “We are uniquely canadian,” says Alison Simpson, senior vice president of marketing and customer experience at Holt Renfrew. “We were the first to bring fashion designers like [christian] Dior to canada and offer luxury experiences found nowhere else.” Holt’s, as its fondly known by locals, and its instantly recognizable magenta banners has held court on Bloor Street West since 1978, and while there’s no doubt this landmark location will continue to draw customers from far and wide, the retailer is seriously expanding its presence in Toronto-area malls. our neighbours to the south are no strangers to luxurious shopping centres like l.A.’s The Grove and Florida’s Bal Harbour Shops, but Toronto’s malls have always lagged slightly behind. Until now. essential toronto 2016-2017 // where.ca 43