shopping in Toronto?

L'Abeille

I just found out, I will be flying back to Ontario for this upcoming weekend: Fly into Pearson Friday and leave Monday, taking a rental car to drive to visit my folks in Woodstock. Purpose of the visit is to spend time with family. But I hope I can carve out an hour or two to hit some stores we just don't see back East (seriously, a big shopping trip here means going to Bangor, Maine! And we don't even have the Bay any more.)

Any recommendations on where to stop, not too far from the airport and not too overwhelming? My style is I think modern classic. I'm not looking to spend big bucks, or go to Holt Renfrew, but well, girls just wanna have fun, right?

9 years ago

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9 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Jules

Veteran

Hmmm, near the airport you are probably looking at a mall, which are always somewhat overwhelming to me until I know my way around! Yorkdale, Sherway Gardens and Missisauaga Square One are the closest I guess. Yorkdale has Holt's, Tory Burch, Kate Spade and other high-end stores for looking but also LOFT and other mid/lower-end stores for buying. I also find the scale and layout manageable but then, I know it a bit. I don't know the other two. I'd consider your route to Woodstock and find something convenient as traffic around the airport (and Yorkdale) can be a huge pain of course.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'd try the Sherway Gardens or Square One for close to the airport. Yorkdale is on the Eastern end of the city so you have to cross Toronto on the 401. Better to avoid that if possible! These may be a bit overwhelming so you might want to figure out which stores you'd like to visit in advance.

9 years ago

Laurinda

Veteran

No advice on shopping, but a caution to leave yourself a good chunk of time if you need to clear US passport check & customs at YYZ. I was through there a couple days ago and the semi-automated rodeo of kiosks + waiting for your name on a board to get to yet another check was an inefficient tangle.
/end mini rant

Hope you have a fun trip!

9 years ago

missvee

Veteran

Sherway is better than Square One, but Yorkdale is better yet. It has a JCrew store I think, and Ted Baker, a big Zara, as well as all of the usual mall stores.
It's not too far along the 401 ( near Dufferin).
Have fun!

9 years ago

L'Abeille

Veteran

Thank you all for your input. I googled the ones Suz mentioned (it's been a very long time since I last drove in TO!) and Google maps tells me that Sherway Gardens is 10 minutes from the airport and Square One 15-20. Ha. Ha. Ha. Agreed that Yorkdale is unnecessarily in the other direction; I couldn't ever do all of it in a day, and that was 2 expansions ago...

Is Sherway better? Why? I have warm fuzzy feelings for it because I spent my very first paycheque as an adult on an outfit there...

Looking at the malls online to see what stores they have: both have Jacob and Ann Taylor, which are not available here, as well as BCBGMaxAzria, Michael Kors, and Melanie Lyne, which I'm pretty sure are too high-end for what is essentially going to be impulse shopping. (My wardrobe is black, white, grey, and navy, so anything I find will fit in easily, but I don't need anything.) Square One has WHBM (I'm intrigued by the concept) and Loft; Sherway has Forever 21 (MDAL?), Talbot's, and The Bay, which was usually a letdown when I did have access to one.

Also, which of these stores would I be sized out of? (F21, I'm looking at you) As a tall IT tending toward apple, I need the largest sizes (14 to 18 depending on vanity!) but Plus or W sizes are too wide. Maybe Talbot's is calling my name...

And last note, chiefly a question for Sveta I think: are there any shoe shops that I shouldn't miss checking out (as an 11W)?

9 years ago

Jules

Veteran

I find F21 completely overwhelming, mostly with stuff that is too youthful/skimpy for me at 40 and size 12/14. But I'm not actually sure about sizing as I've never made it to the dressing room. I don't know that location but I never find shopping at the Bay to be fun even at the well-stocked downtown location, they don't have things displayed well and the atmosphere is lacking. I have yet to check out WHBM, but I enjoy LOFT.

9 years ago

kerry

Veteran

Sherway is my local mall. I live less than 10 minutes away. It's great. I was just at Square One today and it's great too. You've checked out the store directory so see which one appeals most. Sherway is VERY easy to get to from the airport but Square One is just off the 403 so easy too.

9 years ago

kerry

Veteran

If you like outlet shopping there's Toronto Premier Outlets in Halton Hills right off the 401.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Do either of them have Long Tall Sally? That would have shoes in your size. Otherwise, a quick phone call to Browns or Town shoes might be in order to see if they stock your size. I think online ordering is pretty much IT for larger sizes. This is one big reason why Sveta does NAS.

The Bay will be much better in either Sherway or Square One. It's not the flagship, but the Toronto branches are all about 5,000 times better than my local one.

9 years ago

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