I did some shopping there over the holidays handpick up some items from some my favorite brands. The store is on Crescent street surprisingly. Check them out and tell them Marcus Troy sent you.

“Tozzi is an upscale menswear boutique for those who are looking to build their perfect wardrobe. Opened fall 2010 by Joey Tozzi, a fashion buyer with over a decade of experience, Boutique Tozzi is Montréal’s premier destination for those on the hunt for the latest and most tasteful in menswear. Located in the heart of Crescent Street, the boutique is surrounded by magnificent architecture, lively cafés and some of Montréal’s most exciting clubs. The minimalist all-wood Zen décor compliments the extensive selection of today’s best labels and top designers offered at this unique spot. Our customers will enjoy a relaxing shopping experience in a peaceful environment, while sampling a selection of the trendiest brands of men’s clothing and accessories.”

Converse’s SoHo Store to Offer the Largest Converse
Footwear Collection in the World

Special Men’s & Women’s Product Offering Including
the Launch of an Exclusive Apparel and Accessories Collection
and One-Of-A-Kind Customization

Unique Design Elements Create a Truly Original Shopping Experience

Converse Inc. announced the opening of its first specialty retail store in Manhattan, opening just weeks after the company’s launch of their first-ever specialty retail store in the Newbury Street neighborhood of Boston, Mass. The new SoHo store located at 560 Broadway and Prince Streets will open Friday, November 26. The heart of Manhattan’s vibrant SoHo shopping district provides an ideal backdrop to showcase Converse’s independent spirit and diverse product offering, including one-of-a-kind footwear, a brand new collection of women’s and men’s apparel and accessories and unique product customization capabilities.

“The Converse brand was first in sports and first in rock ‘n roll so we’re extremely excited to bring our fans the first Converse New York City specialty retail store,” said Michael Spillane, Converse Chief Executive Officer. “Converse has deep roots in New York City culture from basketball to the influential underground music scenes of the 80s and 90s. The newest Converse store will allow visitors to immerse themselves in a unique Converse experience. The varied product assortment will amaze and delight consumers looking for new and exclusive ways to engage with our brand.”

The SoHo store will offer the largest offering of Converse footwear in the world, showcasing the breadth of the brand’s collections including Chuck Taylor All Star, Jack Purcell, Star Chevron, One Star and Converse by John Varvatos, as well as other premium footwear collaborations. Additionally, a new line of men’s and women’s apparel and accessories grounded in the company’s American heritage of sports and rock ‘n roll will give consumers a true head-to-toe innovative shopping experience. The Converse apparel collection includes a range of graphic t-shirts, denim and outerwear. New York exclusive merchandise, including over 20 exclusive footwear styles and limited edition “I Star Chevron” graphic tees featuring New York City’s iconic boroughs and neighborhoods will be sold exclusively at the SoHo store. All of New York City’s boroughs are represented plus key neighborhoods such as SoHo, L.E.S., Williamsburg, Coney Island and Hell’s Kitchen, to name a few.

The store’s design features speak directly to Converse’s distinct sport and rock ‘n roll heritage. Converse worked with New York based architecture firm Jennifer Carpenter Architect to preserve as much of the original details of the 110 year old building as possible. The single floor retail space is approximately 7,000 square feet using several reclaimed and natural elements to create a vintage inspired feel. From old gymnasium bleachers and recycled wood flooring to re-used Brooklyn factory parts and iconic New York City imagery, all in-store elements blend to create authentic design details. Tying back to the brand’s 102 year old American heritage, a 13-foot by 35-foot American flag made from 648 pairs of red, white and blue Chuck Taylor All Star shoes will welcome visitors and can be seen through the storefront window.

Taking center stage of the space and the first of its kind is a 40-foot wall featuring an expansive Chuck Taylor All Star footwear collection. White tiled walls throughout the space pay homage to the New York City subway, creating a unique backdrop for the new denim collection, which features 24 styles for women and men.

Another key feature of the New York City store experience will be Converse’s unique customization capabilities for both apparel and footwear available in-store. Converse customization will allow customers to select exclusive product including shoes, t-shirts and bags, along with graphics and colors, to create their very own masterpiece of personal expression. Customization Maestros will be on hand to provide one-on-one assistance with two state-of-the-art printers that will offer over 200 graphic options that will be updated monthly, with plans of inclusion of limited edition selections from collaborations with well-known artists. Customers will be able to create and leave the store with their creations same day with the final product presented in its own special package, taking customization to new heights touching an individual’s inner artist.

The grand opening of the Converse SoHo store will be on Friday, November 26, 2010, opening at 8 am. The store’s normal operating hours will be Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm, and Sunday, 11 am to 7 pm.

Converse ∙ 560 Broadway ∙ New York, NY, 10012 ∙ 212-966-1099

A couple weeks ago I was invited to the media launch of the new Dr. Martens (aka Doc Martens) shop on Queen street in Toronto. I accepted the invitation without hesitation, I was kind of excited to see what the iconic brand was up to since it turned 50. They gathered some of Toronto’s elite taste-makers, bloggers and media to attend this exclusive launch event  at the new store.

Growing up Dr.Martens were definitely the pair of boots to have especially in my high school, they were mostly worn by the “Rockers”  and “Skinheads” but my friends quickly appropriated them after a few R&B groups started wearing them in their videos. The Iconic brand recently celebrated its 50th year anniversary so the store comes at perfect timing for this milestone.

The shop has a very personal ambiance and everything seems so transparent, it feels like you are in someones home. The stockroom is visible trough a Plexiglas so you can see the staff as they are picking your shoes. I was also really impressed with the cash register which  is  a fully functional piano,  how cool is that? The store houses the biggest Dr. Martens selection and limited edition pieces you would ever want, which is great for those hard to find collaborations.  They have a wall dedicated to the 50th anniversary  MADE IN ENGLAND products which is really cool.

I was fortunate enough to get the full tour of the store and a very important history lesson about the brand and the privately owned Dr. Martens company. The Dr. Martens brand has such a rich history that I would love to share it with you guys in another post.

Everyone who attended was gifted a pair of Dr. Martens and if you were lucky you got yourself a special Dr. Martens USB KEY.

If you are ever in the Toronto area make sure you check out the shop and I am sure you will find something that you’ll love.

Thank you Dr. Martens

Dr. Martens
391 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario

This new Levi’s Vintage Clothing Shop in Tokyo looks beautiful. I hope to see it next year when I am in Japan. Something about retail really speaks to my heart, I love the merchandising, the product and the layout, all of these elements add to the shopping experience.

They carry the Levi’s xx collection which I spoke a bit about a couple months ago.

“XX” is an abbreviation for “extra extra strong”, an industry reference to the exceptional quality denim used by Levi Strauss & Co. when they created the world’s first pair of jeans in 1873.

Levi’s®XX is home to a team with a passion for simple, authentic and quality products.

* Update I reported earlier that this shop was called the Levi’s xx concept shop but my friends over at Levi’s informed me that the shop is actually called Levi’s vintage clothing.

Store Name: Klaxon Howl

Web site: http://www.klaxonhowl.com/

Address:
694B Queen St. West Toronto, Ontario                                                                                                                                                                    M6J 1E7
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 12-7 & Sunday 12-6

Store owner/Notable buyer: Matt Robinson

Brands carried/in-house line: Vintage & Klaxon Howl

My ideal outfit from this store: Vintage Canadian Army Jacket, Combat Boots and a Naval hat.

I like the design and vision behind of The Klaxon Howl brand and I feel that the retail space is just a great extension of that. You feel as though you are entering a military bunker They specialize in hard to find vintage army coats and unique workwear items. The store is located in an hidden alley which makes the hunting even better. This is truly a men’s store and you’ll feel great spending some time shopping in there, your girlfriend might be the one waiting for you this time. If ever you get the chance to meet the owner Matt, he is also a great guy.

Photo Credit: Jason Tavares.

Comlex

Store Name: Haven

Web site:  http://www.havenshop.ca/

Address:
7 Gaoler’s Mews, Blood Alley
Vancouver, Canada.V6B 4K7 Tel.: 1.604.488.9398
vancouver@havenshop.ca

Store owners/Notable buyer: Arthur & Daniel Chmielewski

Brands carried/in-house line: Stussy Delux, Maiden Noir, Headporter, Acronym, Clot, Dr. Romanelli, Futura Laboratories, Penfield, Perks & Mini just to name a few.

My ideal outfit from this store: This was 1 of the first stores in Canada I saw with a P.AM collection so I would have to pick up a few pieces from PAM, a jacket from Penfield, some Vans Syndicates and a scarf from Wings & Horns.

What I love about shopping at Haven is the humbleness of the brothers and owners. The first time I walked into their Edmonton store they treated me like I was a cousin. The store itself is beautiful, the aesthetic is very minimalistic and the product selection is very well curated. There is something to say about shop owners manning their own stores, it heightens the level of customer service. Their flagship store is located in Edmonton but they’ve recently opened up their Vancouver location.  The exposed brick and high ceilings makes the space very stylish modern.

Photo Credit: Haven Shop.

Complex

Here you have some images from this cool little boutique in London Town called Trunk Clothier. I saw this on HB today and I thought the store looked really good so I’m sharing it with you all. I hope I get  a chance to visit the shop when I make my way out to London.

The shop carries some of my favorite brands like W+H, Common Projects, Woolrich Woolen Mills. If any of you have seen the shop in person please share your thoughts.

Location

8 Chiltern street London

Occupying a two floor space in a quiet London district notable for its specialist outfitters, UK retailer Trunk Clothiers is a first stop for anyone with a taste for the finer garments in men’s fashion. Carefully curated by owner Mats Klingberg, the shop houses a range of international brands, catering to those “looking for intelligently designed clothes”. Offering everything from suits to swimwear Mats Klingberg stocks some of the top labels from Japan, Italy, Sweden, US, Canada and France, even has a special collaboration with premium Japanese labels Tabio and Porter. Trunk Clothiers should become a destination for anyone seeking finely crafted menswear.

I recently collaborated with Complex Magazine to bring you guys a small feature about some of Canada’s most stylish stores and retail locations. Check out the full feature here: Complex x Marcus Troy presents Canada’s most stylish stores

From Complex

“As an extension to our August/September 2010 Fashion Feature, we’re bringing exclusive collaborations with our six featured bloggers. Today, we’re getting up with lifestyle blogger and style curator Marcus Troy. Born and raised in Canada, Troy knows exactly where to go to cop the hottest trends. Don’t be fooled by the freezing weather and dubious tagline of “land of the maple tree”—this North American country has style that goes far beyond powder blue Roots sweatshirts. You just have to know where to search. We present Troy’s rundown on the go-to shops to keep you dipped in the latest looks of the season. Complex x Marcus Troy Present Canada’s Most Stylish Stores…”

Red Wing Shoes opened its first official store in the Netherlands on July 22nd. Together with denim boutique Tenue de Nîmes the American brand set up shop in the distinctive Reestraat, carrying a substantial assortment of Red Wing shoes as well as various accessories.

The Red Wing store in the “9 streets” area pays tribute to the rich history of the brand, which was launched in 1905 by Charles Beckman, having spotted a growing demand for sturdy work boots. The shoes are displayed on top of steel and antique glass show cases, which are filled with coal. The dark, concrete walls have been decorated with workman’s tools that date back to the days when Red Wing was a fledgling company. One wooden wall, which itself was made from materials from an old Amish water tower, is used to exhibit most of the accessories on offer. Everything between these walls reminds you of the history of Red Wing, but in a contemporary setting. The store’s design is the result of a collaboration between a number of exceptional designers: Joachim Baan, Pim van Lingen, Kenneth Jaworski, Roeland interieurbouw and the gentlemen from Tenue de Nîmes.

The Red Wing store’s collection will consist of a wide range of Red Wing shoes, shoe maintenance items, belts, gloves, as well as other accessories. Some of the brands that represent this part of the overall assortment include American Optical, Duluth Pack, Heritage Leather Company, Royal Republiq, Tanner Goods and The Hill-Side. Aside from all the beautiful leather goods, the store also provides shoe maintenance itself, a service for the true shoe fanatic: next to the entrance is a special chair, reserved for customers looking for a special treatment for his or her shoes.

The next time you are in Los Angeles make sure you check out the Ralph Lauren RRL store on Melrose. The store is fantastic and the merchandising is incredible. They built the store in a old car garage and it is one of the best I’ve seen esthetically. I was not able to take a lot of pics but I wanted to show you guys my favorite wall. The store is situated right across from Fred Segal if you need a landmark.

You can find all the dope RRL pieces and also a lot of Vintage pieces that are from other brands, apparently a lot of the vintage pieces come from Ralph’s personal collection.

RRL
8150 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.944.0301