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Scenes from a Mall
Last night, TOist was privy to a sneak preview of the new wing at Yorkdale Mall during the “Flaunt It” opening party, complete with champagne flutes, body-painted human mannequins and gleaming plate glass and stainless steel just begging for fingerprints. Workers were still scurrying around fixing tiles and adjusting the rectangular grass-filled planters until the moment guests arrived. Among the 40 new stores, there’s isn’t much you can’t –yawn—already find at Eaton Centre or Sherway Gardens. But TOist loves the airy design. Take a memo, dark and dreary Vaughan Mills, there’s gonna be a quiz. Imagine BCE Place’s dramatic vaulted glass cathedral ceiling (taken down a few notches to a mere 60 feet), a streetscape lined with faux-façade storefronts, and a polished Jerusalem limestone floor, and you get the picture. It’s like shopping a street market, indoors. TOist just might become a mall rat again.
Here’s what else to expect from the $61-mil facelift:
The first Mango store, the sassy Spanish import opening 5 stores a year in Canada for the next 5 years (the Eaton Centre location opens next week). It will give Le Chateau, Zara and H&M some competition, but not based on what TOist saw last night, sneaking in past the staffers guarding the door. Merchandise was still being uncrated: a pair of rose leather pumps with lazer-cutting that looked like eyelet, a city-safari jacket and a cheapie version of Ella Moss’s colourful rugby-striped jersey dresses were all super-cute, but TOist couldn’t tell you if they’re good value: all the price tags are still in Euros.
Apple: Paging all Mac-heads: get back in the Star Wars line-up, because the Apple store is not scheduled to open until next month. Something about Steve Jobs being busy launching a new operating system?
Urban Behavior: Lofty sightlines and disposable junior sportswear (read: short skirts) that’s stuck in 80sville, with lime fishnets and layered cotton jersey Flashdance necklines, yadda yadda; but you can’t beat their chunky necklaces and accessories, or the fantastic multi-strand bugle-bead belts that double as lariats, in about a dozen colour combinations, for just ten bucks.
Lululemon: Wood panelled 1970s San Fernando Valley rec room meets well-heeled yoganista retreat; contortionists with glittered face makeup swinging from the ceiling and a ringmaster in a top hat, sure, but it’s still just overpriced stretch gear.
Marciano: Guess?’s Upper East Side sister is all Etro-esque georgette paisley tunics and embellished mesh boleros (about $400). Pricey, but very pretty.
Sephora: At 5700 square feet, larger than the Eaton Centre store, with the Canadian exclusive on Hair Art’s $250 ionic ceramic, tourmaline-charged hair dryers and flat irons (if you like that sort of thing). More glitter, more false eyelashes, more lip plumpers, more more more.
The Body Shop: The original against-animal-testing bath and body emporium has been in Canada for 20 years, and its grandly re-opened store is showcasing a new contemporary space with hemp panelling and bamboo dividers. Currently the prototype in Hong Kong and Paris, it’s the first such concept store in North America. Look for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it refreshed brand identity (darker green) and logotype (the ‘pod’ is now incorporated into the Body’s O). But highlights include an open-stock, Sephora-style wall of makeup in sleek, not mumsy, packaging, and the soft non-animal cosmetic brushes that had TOist mumbling ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Synthetic.’ A new body range made with pure organic olive oil débuts on Monday.
And, oh yeah, Billabong, Geox Shoes, Magi Jewellery, Old Navy (maternity! woo hoo!), Québecois mall staple L’Officiel, BCBG, United Colors of Benetton, David’s, Sugar, Punky Fish and Tous Jewellers.
Good luck finding parking.