Footwear

Canada > Archive by tag 'Footwear'

Hot Shopping: Footwear from Generic Surplus

The Wellington sneaker by Generic Surplus

Summer’s just around the corner, so it’s time to invest in a pair of cool kicks for the warm weather. Generic Surplus, a Los Angeles–based brand, designs GQ-approved footwear for the modern man. Vibrant colours elevate stonewashed canvas, net mesh and linen to the perfect summer accessory that transitions easily from brunch to the beach. Styles range from the standard sneaker (including the Wellington, pictured) to posh brogues to taller deck shoes. Pick them up at The Block or Livestock.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Shopping: Flip-Flops by Claudia Alan

AYA flip-flop by Claudia Alan

Summer days aren’t too far away. Give your tootsies a treat with a pair of AYA flip-flops by Claudia Alan. The Canadian company adorned its comfy rubber-soled sandals with frog and raven motifs by local First Nations artist Corrine Hunt, who designed the medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Now that’s what we call a winning combination. Available at www.claudiaalanstore.com. —Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dates: Army and Navy Shoe Sale

Shoe photo ©Loutocky/Fotolia.com

April 25 to May 6

High-heeled mavens and sneaker devotees duke it out over massive discounts at Army & Navy’s legendary shoe sale. This 12-day event sees big-brand footwear, including Steve Madden, Diesel and Marc Fisher, knocked down to wallet-friendly prices.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Shopping: Ugg Puts its Best Foot Forward in Yorkville

photo by Oscar Mach

It’s the time of year when every other pair of feet you see is likely to be sporting a pair of calf-length caramel-coloured sheepskin boots. Although such footwear is synonymous with UGG Australia, the brand produces many other styles, too. Tony Yorkville is home to the company’s first concept shop here in Canada (a second is now open in Vancouver), where a curved zebra-striped ceiling and frosted glass walls serve as a backdrop for the brand’s entire collection of men’s and ladies boots, slippers, sneakers and accessories such as hats and handbags. Open daily. 23 St. Thomas St., 647-799-0300.

Hot Shopping: Runway Ready

The Room at The Bay

Prabal Gurung, Jason Wu, Roland Mouret, Charlotte Olympia and Azzedine Alaïa. If the mere mention of these five designer labels leaves you feeling faint, then The Room at The Bay is the place for you. This 2,100-sq-m (23,000-sq-ft) store-within-a-store carries covetable clothing, jewellery and footwear, all prominently displayed in a pristine, super-chic setting. Another reason to stop by: Erdem’s nine-piece collection, exclusive to The Bay—be still my beating heart.—Jennifer Patterson

More information:

THE BAY Canada’s oldest department store features fashions for the home and family, as well as Canadian gift items and everyday essentials. High-fashion area The Room features pieces by Armani, Erdem and others. The heritage department stocks the iconic point blankets, outerwear and collectibles. 674 Granville St. at Georgia. 604-681-6211. www.thebay.com

Hot Shopping: Sweet Kicks

Super-comfy Native Shoes

Cool kids, hipsters and heck, even President Obama’s children have been spotted sportin’ a pair of Native Shoes. This collection of light-as-air footwear keeps shoe-a-holics on their toes with styles that range from the classic Jefferson slip-on to the sweetly named Paddington rain boot to the 2011 Red Dot Design Award–winning Fitzimmons hiking boot ($90, pictured). Find your ideal shoe in a multitude of colours at Gravity Pope, Pacific Boarder and Walrus.—Jennifer Patterson

More information:

Gravity Pope, 2205 W. 4th Ave. 604-731-7673.

www.gravitypope.com

Pacific Boarder, 1793 W. 4th Ave. 604-734-7245.

www.pacificboarder.com

Walrus, 3408 Cambie St. 604-874-9770.

www.walrushome.com

Hot Shopping: Fancy Footwork

Trendy yet classic TOMS shoes, designed by the Olsen twins

The days as Michelle Tanner on Full House are just distant memories for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Now they’re focused on their passion for fashion. Items fly off the shelves from their casual Elizabeth & James line and from their luxe label The Row. Recently they lent their star power to a good cause: designing a line of cashmere and wool shoes for TOMS (pictured), a company that for every pair of shoes purchased donates a pair to a child in need. Head to Holt Renfrew to buy items from all three projects, or purchase your pair of slip-ons at www.toms.com.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Shopping: Walk This Way

Dayton Boots

Way back in 1946, Charlie Wohlford started Dayton Boots to make tough boots for tough men (think loggers, fireman, oil workers and police officers). In the early ’60s, Dayton kicked it up a notch and began producing badass boots for cowboys and bikers. Today the standards and techniques remain the same, with each locally produced boot made by hand. This local brand has amassed a large cult following that includes celebs such as Johnny Depp, Cindy Crawford and Angelina Jolie. Stop by the new shop on Granville Island to purchase a pair.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Art: Bata’s “Roaring” New Show

Andre Perugia designs on display at the Bata Shoe Museum

ON NOW One of the more prosperous and progressive decades of the early 20th century was, unsurprisingly, one of the most fashionable, too. The Bata Shoe Museum turns back the clock with its exhibition The Roaring Twenties: Heels, Hemlines and High Spirits, which uses footwear to examine everything from women’s suffrage to the rise of world travel, the popularity of jazz music to the peak of art deco style. This age of post-World War I exuberance produced numerous fine shoes, including fanciful Icarus-inspired bathing shoes and glamorous heels by French designer Andre Perugia that remain strikingly stylish almost 100 years later.

Hot Dates: Fit for the Races

June 12

Red Bull Racing shoes at Geox

Start your engines! The Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada races into Montreal for a day of hot competition. Get a headstart on looking like a driver here in Vancouver. Geox, along with the Red Bull Racing Team, designed footwear inspired by the shoes worn by the pros.—Jennifer Patterson