The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is just around the corner, which means a hotbed of Hollywood celebrities will be descending on Canadian soil to celebrate the best in film.
It’s only a matter of days before it won’t be wildly surprising to run into the likes of Julianne Moore on the street. Or better yet, you could be browsing through a rack of clothes at your favourite boutique and you and the Oscar winner gravitate towards the same little black dress. The gracious star then relinquishes the dress to you and from that day forward, you have a story to annoy your children and grandchildren with until your dying day.
So how does one increase your chances of an A-list celebrity interaction? Know where the stars will be perusing for the latest Rag & Bone and J.W. Anderson. These 10 Toronto shopping spots are pretty good starting points.
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Canada's Top 10 Luxury Shopping Areas
Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street, 50 Bloor St. W.
The most obvious retailer celebrities flock to during TIFF is Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street or “Mink Mile” as some like to call it. The one-stop shop for the rich and famous carries every designer imaginable, along with accessories, makeup, beauty and even high-end housewares and food. Jude Law, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johannsen and Jennifer Aniston are amongst the stars who have been spotted leaving the store during TIFF festivities.
TNT in Hazelton Lanes, 87 Avenue Rd.
Before they pop into Whole Foods for a cold pressed juice, you might catch celebrities browsing for the latest contemporary finds at TNT (The New Trend) located inside Hazelton Lanes. The trendy retailer carries celebrity favourites like A.L.C, Gareth Pugh, Helmut Lang and Opening Ceremony.
Intermix, 130 Bloor St. W.
Young starlets who prefer edgier designers to classics love to peruse the clean and carefully curated racks at Intermix. The Bloor Street location is sure to be buzzing with the younger generation of emerging stars who are looking for TIFF afte-party outfits. You’ll find labels like Creatures of Comfort, Yigal Azrouel and Jonathan Simkhai amongst well known designers like Missoni and Chloe.
The Room At Hudson's Bay, 176 Yonge St.
The Room, located inside of Hudson’s Bay, carries some of the most exclusive designer pieces inside its pristine white walls. Kate Winslet was spotted shopping there during TIFF 2013 and we can only imagine the number of stars that have managed to quietly slip in and out without notice.
Archives, 1275 Bay St.
Celebrities staying at the Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville might notice a new gem in the vicinity. Archives features a beautifully curated collection of eye-popping jewels and accessories from the likes of Linda Farrow, radj Moini, Delfina Delettrez, Noor Fares and Ileana Makri. The pieces are incredibly unique, setting itself apart from the usual high-end jewellery destinations in the Yorkville area.
EXILE In Kensington Market, 22 Kensington Ave.
Sometimes unique finds don’t come at a high price. You simply have to know where to look. Believe it or not, celebrities have been known to hunt for interesting vintage items in Toronto’s Kensington Market. We’re going to bet Ryan Gosling has put in a good word for Kensington with his celebrity friends. He’s been spotted shopping in the neighbourhood, likely at EXILE, a vintage shop known for its impressive stock of retro pieces from the '50s, '60s and '70s.
I Miss You Vintage, 63 Ossington Ave.
As Torontonians start to recognize the up-and-coming enclave of Dundas and Ossington as a trendy hood, celebrities visiting the city are following suit. I Miss You Vintage has already seen two big names come through their doors, namely Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus.
Hugo Boss, 83 Bloor St. W.
Hugo Boss and GQ teamed up to host a memorable party in celebration of the premiere of “The Riot Club” at Toronto’s Colette restaurant last year. The German brand, known for their impeccable suiting typically hosts a hot ticket party. That being said, we really wouldn’t be surprised if they were also outfitting a number of Hollywood’s leading men for TIFF 2015. Pop into the store and you might just run into Benedict Cumberbatch or Jake Gyllenhaal deciding on a notch versus peak lapel for their premiere.
Gravity Pope, 1010 Queen St. W.
As the west end of downtown Toronto grows in popularity, we hear of more and more celebrities migrating to the city’s West Queen West area for their shopping and dining needs. Gravity Pope, a trendy two-level boutique in the area, is sure to be on the radar of visiting celebrities during TIFF. The store stocks most of the typical Hollywood must-have brands including, Rag & Bone, Band of Outsiders, a.p.c. and Isabel Marant.
Chanel, 131 Bloor St. W.
Celebrities love Karl Lagerfeld and Karl Lagerfeld is Chanel. It’s a no-brainer that the beloved brand’s Bloor Street location brand will host a celebrity shopping excursion or two during TIFF 2015.