Oh, Alex Mill is nice but unfortunately all international sales are final, no returns.

Ugh . Another unfriendly resource . I like Alex Mill too . And this is why my wardrobe is so unimaginative and full of the same few labels .

Have you tried Poetry, Lisa?

https://www.poetryfashion.com/.....weater.htm

Not Lisa but I’m following this thread with the invested interest.

Irina is right. And I hate always moaning about the prices of good clothes, but it's a reality for many of us in Canada operating with a conservative budget. We pay at least 25% more than Americans do for the same goods, and often pay for shipping and returns too - even to the US. What you see as a $180 beautiful sweater from , say, Everlane, will end up being well over $250 to Canadians. I recently reached out to a friend who works at a high-er end women's boutique here in Wpg (they sell Tibi, Dorothee Schumacher, etc) if she had any work trousers for under $300 and she laughed. Not AT me, but ruefully.

As an example, a perfect lilac sweater on Poetry's site for 99pounds, is actually $175 Cdn dollars. Then add on 20pounds shipping (33 Cdn dollars) and you have a sweater coming in at over $200 - that you can't see anywhere or try on first. Then if it doesn't work - you pay that $33 AGAIN to return it. Plus it takes almost 2 weeks to get here . It's not worth the chance you have to take.

I feel that the great divide between the chain store/dept store labels and the "better" stuff from even Club Monaco is growing wider and at a faster rate than ever. Try finding a good pair of boots here now for under $300 . Or trousers for less than $250. It's probably the main reason I shop less than ever now.

Lisa, the issue you speak of also affects us in Australia and New Zealand and the situation seems to be worsening as stores like Karen Millen, and Jigsaw have closed up their Australian stores. Shoes are particularly expensive here.

It can be frustrating all right - and I agree that the "middle" is changing and some mid range retailers are definitely moving up in price too. The prices you mention are what we pay - sometimes you can get a sale buy and I can sometimes get something at a cheaper retailer here that I am happy with.

I am relieved I don't think I need boots this winter - going to make do with what I have this year.

LJP, my impression is that there are a lot of really cool Canadian labels; but many of them are small/highly local (I'm always impressed by how many small boutique designers Montreal is able to sustain), so it might take some digging to find the right things. We are spoiled in the US and it's not necessarily a good thing, considering the dire levels of overconsumption and waste...

Anyway, I think someone already mentioned Kotn; I haven't had luck with the fits of the pieces I've tried, but the quality is super. A few more ideas below too.

Kotn: https://kotn.com/products/wome.....38;size=xs

Frank & Oak: https://www.frankandoak.com/co.....130211-057

Eve Gravel (love this line): https://evegravel.com/en-us/co.....3198248153

Bare Knitwear: https://www.bareknitwear.ca/co.....pullover-1

Thanks La Ped ! I have had pieces from Eve Gravel in last years ( love the prints ) . Bare Knitwear is lovely but a little rustic for me . Thanks for the reminder to check Frank & Oak - I don’t always think of them

As a budget fashionista and a fussy pants - I feel your pain! I’ve returned every garment purchased via online sources (kept shoes ordered direct from Naturaliser and Converse) and what I’ve kept I found at B&M. (Eddie Bauer, Winners). I have access to fewer shops than you (Winners, Marks Work Wear House, and Walmart (which I try to avoid), plus a handful of Indy boutiques and thrift/consignment shops. The nearest mall is an hour drive!

It's true that we pay more and have fewer choices in Canada. As in Australia and NZ. Of course, the US dollar is stronger than ours, too. Which makes it confusing. I mean, are we really paying more, or are we actually only paying the equivalent $$ amount. Well, of course we are paying more because we pay more in taxes, duties, and shipping. Which adds up to a significant amount! But the cost of the item is often similar or even (gasp!) occasionally a bit cheaper, if you do the exchange math.

Regardless, we end up with fewer options. And a bigger drain on the pocketbook.

Jules did a great thread last year on Canadian brands to check out. I haven't begun to dig too deeply but there may be some leads here. The prices on these will also (typically) be a lot higher, alas, but at least we know they are locally and/or ethically produced and we may or may not have to pay additional shipping and returns fees, depending...

This is a bit of a threadjack, but Carla, I'm always kind of astonished at how well you and Irina manage to do at Uniglo. TBH, I have only ever had a good shopping experience there once, and that was when I was in NYC, where years ago I picked up some great linen shirts.

My own forays in Toronto always left me feeling kind of depressed, except when it came to undies like the Heattech. I didn't much like the colours (many of which seemed flat or muddied, to my eye), or the fits, (I think I am between sizes in Uniglo, which is not their fault but which definitely affects whether a retailer will work for a person) and I was not impressed either by the quality of most of the garments.

Yet I do see that you and Irina come up with fantastic stuff. I think perhaps their collaborations result in some really good things but you. have to be there on the spot on the instant to get in on it -- they never have my size or my preferred colours in stock by the time I am there (or look online).

Note, I'm not saying their stuff is bad...I have loved the items and outfits you and Irina have created! I especially loved that Marimekko collab, and there have been others, too. Aproprio found that fab puffer vest there a while back...I mean, I see stuff I would love to try, but I can't try it with no store nearby and no immediate access. And then if I do try it, the fits don't seem to work on me.

Suz I have the same feeling about Uniqlo . I was in a Toronto store years ago but that’s the nearest one to me . Nothing on their website is remotely appealing to me and is out of stock half the time anyways .

Suz, with the regards to Uniqlo, once I started shopping there, I found my way. Yes, I mostly shop for collabs and Heattech but also bought other stuff. Since the list of brands I buy from is extremely short, I spend more time on them, checking frequently. Paying $9 for online returns is OK for me. If I can’t get to a store on time, I order a bunch of sizes and all “maybes” online since I know that popular things will be sold out fast. Uniqlo is not the most shopper friendly store but it’s worth it. They have great basic items, I buy now it for DH as well.

PSA. The next collaboration is with JW Anderson and will be released on April 6th. I’m interested in pants and blazers, maybe short sleeve shirts. Like the knits but not exactly my style. Will try to make it to a store. Check it out.

Seconding what Irina wrote. IMO, Uniqlo has jigged their fits since I first started shopping there, when they opened in TO around 2016 or 2017. A little more North American body friendly? However, better fits for petites/short people vs taller folk.

ETA: LOL! I don’t even do the heat tech stuff that is so popular here!

I appreciate how some are willing to spend time online searching and saving and comparing . I , however , am not that person . If it’s not right in front of me ……

I too have never owned a piece of Heattech in my life I guess I have to hand in my Canadian card .

(To continue the derailment...), Suz, it's funny, I'd say I'm about as successful with Uniqlo as you are with J Crew, while almost everything I've tried from J Crew in the past decade has been awful on me. And this despite the fact that on paper we probably have very similar measurements!

I'm amazed at Canadians with no Heattech! Are there other go-to brands for thermals that I don't know about, or are you all sturdy enough to not need baselayers at all?

Thanks, Irina. Maybe I need to get on their mailing list and then I will see when things drop. Could be useful, over time.

LaPed, I do wear light Heattech but it’s not warm enough for me during our January-February freeze. I have a couple thin, tight fitted merino t-shirts from COS. They make them every year ans sell as tops but for me they are under garments. They are costly, I’m going to try warmer Heattech next winter.

I only wear long underwear things when I’m cross country skiing or out tobogganing with kids - and I haven’t done either of those things in at least a decade . I have never understood the concept of wearing base layers just for regular indoor wear . How cold are you keeping your homes ? Maybe my extra body fat keeps me warm enough ? Lol. Anyways ……..back on track here

Lisa, why indoors? I’m outdoors every day in the winter either for a daily walk, work or other activities. I would freeze in about 2 minutes without a base layer. It’s life without a car

This thread was a journey :)! Lisa, I can see how these barriers to shopping efficiently and effectively could be so frustrating! We are so, so lucky in the US. I hope some of the Canadian leads people have shared work out.

I know what you mean about all of the base layers talk! Of course I layer when I go outside in the winter (I live near Canada in the Great Lakes region of the US) but I can't imagine wearing a base layer once I'm inside! Essentially, most of my time is spent in the same indoor temperature range year round, so I don't really wear more layers indoors during the colder months. I would feel suffocated.

Have you checked Simons? Did a quick search for Linen Sweaters and 46 options came up (some men's) - but easy returns with Simons so you can order a few to try.

I have , Neelie , thanks !

eta: they just added some new organic linen pieces so I've ordered a cap sleeve sweater in a midnight blue .

Not much I can really add here, but can relate to many of the challenges and frustrations and have found this a very engaging read.

As to the discussions about underlayers, I agree with Lisa. Only use them if I am going to be doing an outdoor-only activity. Otherwise it's too much once I am indoors. I rely on outer layering for extra warmth. I've even gone so far as to pull on another pair of pants over the pants that will be my indoor outfit to keep me warmer during the commute. I add sweaters and scarves that I remove once I am indoors!

I'm with you about the base layers! It's easier to layer a heavy coat on top for outside than to take off too hot base layers inside.

Eta- this one looked nice https://bananarepublic.gap.com.....ge-content