By: Tracy Nesdoly

“Buy locally” is such a genius idea when it comes to food – turns out, fruit that traveled across the meadow tastes a lot better than that jetted in from Peru.

But when it comes to fashion, the stylish tend to think the best is in a different pasture altogether – the fashion capitals and their boutiques seem to have the panache of insider knowledge and edgy design.

Not so fast, little traveler. There’s great stuff at home, too, and what may be even better news, our own designers tend to design and have stuff in their stores that is actually for the current season rather than the six months ahead that is the fashion cycle for those “outsiders”. So, rather than finding bikinis in January you might actually find something warm to wear. Imagine!

Whether you do it for strictly economic reasons – who can fight the Euro anymore, really? Or out of some sense of patriotic loyalty, you’ll find local talent is often as strong in design and workmanship as the international label you’re coveting.

Don’t believe us? Well, let’s do the taste-test:

If you love Prada, try EWANIKA

Trish Ewanika, in business in Toronto for the past decade-plus, has perfected a sort of understated, retro-inspired, sexy secretary or Italian movie star vibe that echoes the essence of Prada’s glamorous-nerdy intellectualism. If that’s too esoteric, then simply drop in to the shop for perfect pants, jackets and pencil skirts that will hug the good bits and skim the rest. We love her toppers and coats as well, and the accessories are pitch-perfect.

Visit the shop: 1083 Bathurst Street, (just south of Dupont Street) Toronto, 416.927.9699

www.ewanika.ca

If you love Marni, try COMRAGS

Designers Joyce Gunhouse and Judy Cornish (to be completely honest, we’re never perfectly confident about which one is which) have been fast friends and business partners for more than 25 years, and have developed an insouciant girly-but-strong aesthetic. They create the sort of clothes you’d imagine artists or maybe Virginia Woolf wearing. This season they’re calling their look “our lovely mess” – true to their roots they’ve mixed “masculine and feminine, pretty and grunge, diamonds and woolly scarves for a season that highlights the beauty in chaos.”

Visit their shop:
654 Queen Street West
Toronto. 416.360.7249

www.comrags.com

If you like Rick Owens, try RAD HOURANI

You’ll thank us for this one. Rad (and we mean “rad” when we say it) is dark and goth much like Rick Owens but has his own riffs, including sequins and shine this season. Women’s Wear Daily calls his fall collection “devilishly chic” and the devil is in the details – lots of slashing and seams and precise embellishments managed perfectly. These are clothes for the edgy urban dweller rather than the demure girly-girl. Rad received raves for his spring 2010 collection, show during New York’s fashion week, and according to the New York Post “hands down the most covetable pieces in Hourani’s city-slicker wardrobe are his trousers — skinny black stovepipe pants with chains laced horizontally up and down the front.” You heard it here first.

Find Rad Hourani in Montreal: Reborn, 231 Rue Saint Paul O. Suite 100, Montreal, QC
www.radhourani.com/

If you like Valentino, try WAYNE CLARK

Revered among the country’s socialites and fashionistas, Wayne knows how to make even the lowliest Cinderella the belle of the ball. His dresses are elegant, sophisticated and simply beautiful. He says he has always been influenced by the icons of the glory days of Hollywood, and it shows in the glamour of the dresses he creates — known for his use of fabric, the cut, the draping, his bias cut gowns have become a trademark

Visit his shop in Toronto:
401 Logan Avenue, Suite 208. 416.599.9515.
www.wayneclarkdesign.com/

If you love Alexander Wang, try COMPLEX GEOMETRIES

Alexander Wang is an award-winning fashionista’s darling, definitely someone to watch and collect if that’s your bent. He’s beloved for his somewhat masculine, edgy look, and Complex Geometries has that nailed. Complex is the key word – or perhaps think “Japanese” in terms of re-thinking shapes and mixing textures. The urban warrior, the strong woman, the aesthetic maverick – this is your uniform.

Find Complex Geometries in Toronto: Fawn Boutique, 967 Queen St. W., 647.344.4703
Find Complex Geometries in Montreal: Reborn, 231 Rue Saint Paul O. Suite 100
www.complexgeometries.com/

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