Is the fashion world for everyone?

This may seem like a silly question, but it's one that I ask myself a lot.  Let me explain why.  I am a 29 year old man that has worked in retail and fashion in one way or another for the better part of the last 12 years.  I like to think that I am somewhat knowledgeable about the goings on in the business, but of course there are things that I miss.

Over the last few years my own personal style has evolved (or devolved depending on how you look at it.)  At one point I was only wearing collared shirts, dress pants and stylish shoes.  Over time, and with a change in the industry I was working in, my style shifted to that of the action sports industry.  Hoodies, slacks and skateboards became my norm, and I am sure you could count the number of times I wore a collared shirt on two hands, including the several weddings I attended last year.

Now I work in the Tennis industry.  It's a fantastic industry to work in, but it is not a stylish one.  My daily wardrobe has devolved to track pants and tee's, and I struggle to find my footing back in the industry I love.  I go to events, or take a walk in Yorkdale Mall, and I don't think I fit in with what is stylish.  Could it have passed me by?  

I feel like I have aged a lot in the last two years.  I get called "sir" a lot... A LOT, and I get funny looks from sales associates when they see me looking at something that I am sure they think I am too old for.  29 years old isn't over the hill is it?  At some point I will need to decide on what I am going to do regarding my plans for the future and my dream of owning my own retail operation.  I hope I won't be completely out of touch by then.

Uniqlo is Coming to Toronto

This week Japanese retailer Uniqlo confirmed what many in the Canadian retail scene had been speculating over the last few years, that they were indeed moving into the Canadian market.  Uniqlo plans on opening two massive stores, a flagship store at Toronto's Eaton's Centre, and another at Toronto's Sherway Gardens.  Uniqlo offers fashions for men, women and children, and has gained notoriety for their stylish fashions at affordable prices.

Target to Pull Out of Canada

American retailer Target will be pulling out of Canada just two years after joining the ranks of Canadian retailers.  Target spent millions of dollars refurbishing and building spaces for their 133 Canadian stores, but the retailer had suffered from a lack of overall sales and supply chain issues from day one, causing the company to hemorrhage money.  Rather than stick it out in the market and try to adapt, Target has decided to pull out all together.  They will begin to liquidate their Canadian assets soon.  It is believed that Target officials incorrectly believed that they could just the Canadian market without proper research or competitive stocking and pricing to their American based stores.

American Eagle Outfitters Holiday Lookbook

Maybe it's the fact that I used to work for American Eagle Outfitters, but I have always held a soft spot in my heart for their take on American Prep Style.  The youthful aesthetic, and modern styling come together for some pretty great stuff, and not to mention good quality and price point for a mass produced line such as theirs.  Here are a few shots of their online blog, and if you're quick AE is offering 40% off everything on their website, plus free shipping, over the Thanksgiving weekend.  Check it out online at ae.com.

Highsnobiety's "Best Retail Concepts of 2014"

As someone with experience in the retail field, it has been my dream to open up my own retail space.  Highsnobiety recently put together a list of the top retail concepts of 2014, and let me tell you it truly is a unique and accomplished list of retailers.  As I have been working on my own business plan, it is interesting to see the way that these different businesses have worked in order to create unique and interesting ways of presenting their product to the consumer, all while creating atmosphere and aesthetic that is unique, individual, and interactive in many ways.  Take a look at the full list on highsnobiety.com.

A Fresh Start

I started this blog as a first step in my plan to open up my own Men's Wear shop, as well as to develop my own brand in the retail and fashion world.  It's a big world after all, and with the Internet populated with thousands of others trying to do what I want to do, it is hard to stand out.

The start of 2014 brought with it some significant change in my life professionally.  I moved on from my former Retail Management job and into a new career in the Tennis industry.  While still performing retail duties, I moved into the technical side of the industry, working directly with players to help find the right equipment for them, and to maintain that equipment.  It is a rewarding job, and has given me a new perspective on customer service, high end retail, and working as part of a team in a sport based environment.

One drawback has been that my dream I set out towards had been put on the back burner for quite some time.  Those who have looked at my blog in the past would know that I would post frequently, but come March my focus had trailed off.  It was not intentional.  Having so much on my plate that I had to learn on the fly began to take precedence, and my thoughts moved away from my future plans to my current career.

I have made a conscious decision to go for my dream once again.  I feel like there is no better time than now to make a move back into blogging, and to truly start my business plan in order to see my dream move towards reality.  I hope you will come along for this journey, or at least stop by from time to time.  I don't pretend to know everything about the industry, or to be as hip as some of the other blogger's out there, but I will shine a light on the people, places, stores, brands, and icons I respect and love.  I hope you will walk in style with me.

-Mike

The Future of Retail WE-Commerce by: Douglas Brundage, Highsnobiety

I recently came across this informative and interesting article on Highsnobiety regarding a shift in the future to online-only retailing.  As a retailer myself with ambitions to work independently and start my own business, the online only concept is interesting to me.  I've thought for some time that it would be possible to work in an online capacity as a small business retailer, however the idea of not having any type of physical storefront would be the total opposite of why I want my own business.  Check out the full article on Highsnobiety and let me know what you think.  The Future of Retail

Paris Fashion - Blck Caviar

Online retailer Blck Caviar is a fantastic spot to find high end brands like Givenchy, Kenzo, Gucci, Lanvin, Saint Laurent, and Alexander McQueen, among others.  Their selection is fantastic and their presentation is very well done. Check them out online at http://www.blckcaviar.co.uk/#!landing-page/csdx

Workwear/Streetwear for F/W13

This fall, the idea of functional, authentic workwear has permeated itself within the designs of many fashion lines.  From heavy knit sweaters and thick canvas bags, to Denim shirts and utility jackets, this fall the functionality of workwear is really coming out in many interesting way.  Brands like Lifetime Collective, Vans, Element, and Us Verses Them have all come out with some wicked takes on the workwear theme. Check out a few of the pieces we really like here

http://www.usversusthem.com/store/

http://www.lifetimecollective.com/Mens-Collection-p-1-c-3513.html

Toronto Premium Outlets - Great deals of major letdown?

On August 1, 2013 the Toronto Premium Outlets opened up in Halton Hills.  The high end outlet located just off Highway 401 at Trafalgar Road and Steeles, offers customers in the greater Toronto area an opportunity to shop for high end products and bare bottom prices, or at least that is the image being put forth.  While it is true that there are many deals to be found, many customers have returned from their shopping trips disappointed that they could not find a good deal, or that the stores they went to were so low in product they could not shop.

One Halton Hills business reported to me that despite their concern for traffic dropping off in their store once the outlet opened in August, they have actually seen almost a 10% increase on last years numbers in consumer traffic.  With big names such as Coach, Michael Kors, J Crew, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and more, it's no surprise that customers would flock to the Premium Outlets, but long term sustainability will require access to the centre through public transit.  Currently, there is not municipal public transit in Halton Hills, making the Premium Outlets entirely a "destination" based shopping experience, unable to rely on the person passing by and wandering in to supplement their sales.

Their location which is right by the highway, is not accessible to people without cars, and in a lot of cases that is teenagers.  Teens are the quickest to make impulse purchases, and in many cases are part of the target demographic for a lot of these retailers.  Until teens can access the shops easily, it may be hard for some of these stores to survive once the luster of the new shopping centre wears off.  Check out the Toronto Premium Outlets full range of offerings on their website http://www.torontopremiumoutlets.ca/