CELEBRITY STYLIST BRAD GORESKI IN TORONTO

Brad Goreski in Toronto - February 2012

The Pride of Port Perry himself, Brad Goreski returned home to Canada - even if just briefly - to lend his support for a Friend. And it would happen that the Friend in question is none other than Vancouver-raised "It" Designer Jason Wu, who introduced his Jason Wu for Target Collection at a one-day-only Pop-Up Shop at 363 King Street West.  It is said that up to 3,000 pieces were made available, none more than $45, resulting in a turnout so substantial that original plans to open 12 to 6 PM had to be curtailed.  All sales proceeds will be going to the United Way, a perfectly good excuse to look charitable.

Brad Goreski & Mr. Will-W.

Other than always looking impeccable, the handsome Stylist to the likes of Kim Kardashian, Shay Mitchell, Jessica Alba, Shay Michell, Demi Moore and more, has been busy working on his own Bravo Reality TV Show, It's a Brad Brad World (set to premiere this Fall in Canada), in addition to a new Book titled Born to be Brad, out March 6, 2012.

Goreski flew back to Los Angeles tonight to gear-up for an exciting weekend at the Oscars, for which he'll be styling a few high-profile Starlets, although he is unable to reveal whom exactly.

Donning one of his signature Bow Ties, Goreski was wonderful to stop and say "hello" - coincidentally both of us holding Starbucks.  And as I cabbed-off to work, unintentionally trailing his Town Car, he was fantastically gracious to Tweet the below to me:

See Goreski's appearance on Global Television's The Morning Show - a first for him - earlier today here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

JASON WU TARGET COLLECTION TO BE SOLD AT ONE-DAY ONLY POP-UP SHOP IN TORONTO

Jason Wu's Milu the Cat, seen in his Target Collection

If you're as excited for Target's Canadian launch as I am, you'll be pleased to know that an exclusive Pop-up Shop will be opening in Toronto for one day only next week, showcasing the limited-edition Jason Wu Collection. Pieces will be priced between the $10 and $45 mark with the Shop operating between the hours of 12 to 6 PM. Up to 3,000 pieces will be sold and Vancouver-raised/Taiwanese-born Wu himself is slated to make an appearance.  Canadian Fashion Guru Brad Goreski also might be making an appearance. All proceeds will go to the United Way!

The Pop-Up Shop will be located at 363 King St. West (at John St.) on February 23, 2012.

To browse some of the pieces from his ultra-cute and affordable Collection, click here.

In addition to this, it was just announced this week that Starbucks will be partnering together with Target Canada stores also!  More reasons to loiter.  Hurry up, 2013!

(Photo credit: Jason Wu)

TARGET ANNOUNCES FIRST ONTARIO STORES

Target Logo

Target Corp. announced earlier today its first 24 stores to open in Ontario and they are as follows:

• London/Westmount, Westmount Shopping Centre
• Kawartha Lakes, Lindsay Square Mall
• Newmarket, Upper Canada Mall
• Milton, Milton Mall Shopping Centre
• Cambridge, Cambridge Centre
• Toronto, Centrepoint Mall
• Mississauga, Square One Shopping Centre
• Ajax, Durham Centre
• Orillia, Orillia Square Mall
• Brampton, Shoppers World Brampton
• London, Masonville Place
• Windsor, Devonshire Mall
• Toronto, Cloverdale Mall
• Toronto, Shoppers World Danforth
• Burlington, Burlington Mall
• Toronto, East York Town Centre
• Aurora, Aurora Shopping Centre
• Fergus, Gates of Fergus

LADY GAGA ENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH TARGET

Lady Gaga in Toronto - March 2011

It was announced earlier today that Lady Gaga and Target have ended their deal to offer Fans a Special Edition of her upcoming Disc Born this Way via the Retailer. It is said that donations from Target have been traced to a Charity named MN Forward which supported Tom Emmer, a Minnesota Politician known for his anti-Gay sentiments.

Gaga in an interview with Billboard Magazine, spoke on her "intense" discussions with Target revealing: "Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past.". It appears that Target was not willing to "make amends" for these "mistakes", hence the ending of their partnership.

Kudos to Gaga.  And while we're on the topic of Lady Gaga and Social Justice, how about no kudos to her aggressive Handler who assaulted me last week?  Would be lovely to see her take a stance on that!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

TARGET STRIKES $1.8 BILLION DEAL TO BRING STORES TO CANADA

Target - Niagara Falls, USA

Great news, Canadians! It was announced earlier today that U.S. discount retailer Target has snapped-up most of Canada's Zellers locations from the Hudson Bay Company for $1.8 billion.

Target plans to launch between 100 to 150 stores in Canada between 2013 and 2014.... I can hardly wait! For those Zellers stores which are not part of the deal, leases will be auctioned off and several major U.S. chains like Kohl's and J.C. Penney have expressed interest to branch into the Canadian market.  It is expected that the ailing retailer Zellers which has failed to compete with Wal-Mart, will be disappearing from the retail landscape altogether domestically.

For a more detailed look at what The Globe & Mail calls a "complex deal", click here.

For those of you who have never been inside a Target, I'd compare it v. much to Wal-Mart, but their selection of products lean more to a trendier demographic.  Their line of health-conscious foods, Archer's Farms, are a refreshing new option for Canadian consumers.  With an array of tasteful products sold which range from Fashions to Electronics and Home Furnishings, I am confident the Retailer will thrive in our market. 

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE TO DEBUT WILLIAM RAST FASHION LINE AT TARGET

Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala's William Rast fashion line is about to get affordable for those of you with an H&M budget.  It has just been announced that discount chain retailer Target will be distributing affordable pieces custom-designed for a limited edition collection this December.  To get an idea of what William Rast is all about, visit their official website here.

Timberlake seems to be focusing on everything but Music of late, but will be seen in David Fincher's The Social Network (aka The Facebook Movie) in theatres October 1, 2010.

Yes, it's still looking like Target is on-target to launch in Canada in 2013 as announced previously.  Cannot wait for that discounted goodness!  Yayyy!

BUFFALO, NY VERSUS TORONTO, ON - A RETAIL SHOWDOWN

On a whim, I decided today to visit Buffalo, the second most populated city in New York state.  Known mostly to those of us in Toronto for its Cross-Border Shopping, Buffalo's economy is very much driven by the retail industry.  Depending on how quickly you drive, it would normally be a two hour trip each way and although I haven't visited in quite some time, today's visit turned out to be well worth it.

At the Fashion Outlets on Military Road, I found a Burberry Dress Shirt for $60 US, which is almost unheard of since higher-end fashion retailers like Holt Renfrew and Burberry's actual Flagship Store in Toronto charge well over $200-$300 per shirt alone.  I am ecstatic about this find and also found myself a tie in a classic Burberry print, which happened to be lost under a pile, for just $40 US. The tie would normally retail at around $150 US.  Amazing.

I was completely unaware that the Fashion Outlets also had a Brooks Brothers store. The American retailer has the distinction of being the longest surviving men's clothier in existence, specializing in high-end classic looks.  You'll find many tailored cut dress shirts and wool pieces here.  Although I found a couple fantastic ties,  I am most in love with my Purple/Orange Bow Tie which the staff there kindly gave me a tutorial on how to assemble. For $22 US, this was literally a steal as similar quality Bow Ties in this city can retail for about $100 CAN.   The shop has many neat items like guides on how to properly toast at a party and books on Etiquette, which peaked my interest. I definitely need some lessons in that!

I am perpetually obsessed with foods from my childhood which I would see on American television, but nowhere to be found on Canadian shelves.  Two items I've always wanted to try are Mrs. Butterworth's Table Syrup and Smucker's Goober Grape.  I  remember seeing television ads of the former, where the bottle would come to life and an endearing Mrs. Butterworth would talk to receptive children.  As an adult I've been spoiled by the taste of Organic Maple Syrup, but I am still curious to see what this really tastes like.  The latter is a combination of Concord Grape Jelly and Peanut Butter intertwined in one product.  I can now die happy with my two jars in the cupboard.  Cannot wait to open it!

PRODUCT WATCH: TOPSHOP/TOPMAN AND TARGET'S CANADIAN INVASION

Following its dismal performance of late, American retailer Target has announced its plans to expand to Mexico and Canada as early as 2013.  Target is the second largest discount retailer in America behind only Walmart which has performed successfully in Canada since its arrival in 1994.  It's about bloody time, I say.  The only problem for City Boys like me is that to get to an actual Walmart, which I love despite its vilified perception, one has to commute a bit out to the suburbs.  Foreseeably, this would be the case also with Target seeing that rent is much more affordable outside the downtown core.

In addition to this, British fashion retailer Topshop is also in talks with Canada's premiere department store The Bay to strike a distribution deal.  The deal has not yet been finalized, but this is very exciting news to anyone who has ever shopped abroad at Topshop or Topman (its menswear branch).  For those of you who don't know of the retailer, think H&M but better quality and cutting.  The quality does come at a premium though. And seeing that H&M has done so well in Canada in turning a profit even in the current economic climate, Topshop should have no difficulty surviving in the Canadian market with a proper business plan.  This possible partnership is one of several ventures The Bay is planning to amp-up its brand to compete with upper-echelon retailers like Holt Renfrew (Canada's equivalent to Saks Fifth Avenue or Selfridges).  Who's excited? Me!