Supra Skytops
December 23, 2008 by Logan Steele · 1 Comment
Supra Skytops–I love these kicks. If I didn’t already have a bevy of sneakers that I hardly ever wear, I would certainly add them to my pile. There is no way you won’t get noticed in these. Supra Skytops are available in Silver, Gold, Black, and Red: Approx. $225.
You can find Supra’s Sneakers in Toronto at:
Adrift
G2 – 116 Spadina Ave.
416-515-0550
Hours: Mon. – Sat. 12 – 8, Sun. 12 – 6
Toronto’s Top 10 Shoe Stores
December 22, 2008 by Logan Steele · Leave a Comment
10. Sydney’s – I know, I know, this store barely carries any shoes. But, men take notice. This little boutique may not have a huge shoe selection, but what they do carry is unbelievable. From Rokin, F-Troupe to Opening Ceremony, Sydney’s has taken the time to make sure every shoe that hits its floor is worthy of its clientele. When it’s time to complete that outfit, fellows, consider yourself informed.
- 795 Queen St. W. (at Manning Ave.)
- 416-603-3369
- Hours: Mon. – Wed. 12 – 7, Thurs. – Fri. 12 – 8, Sat. 12 – 7, Sun. 12 – 6
9. Get Outside – This spot is seen by many in the city’s core as the go-to, all-purpose shoe store. This veteran retailer literally has something for every taste. Clark’s, Vans, Tretorn, Hunter, Ked’s… It’s all here and at some of the best prices in town. The staff are very well informed and will help you suit up for any occasion. The store’s doors seem to never close; it feels like it’s always there when you need it. Pay them a visit.
- 437 Queen St. W.
- 416-593-559
8. Balisi – This is great example of a store that has achieved both success and recognition, yet has not stopped providing its customers with what gained it popularity in the first place: just some really cool ass merchandise, and great shoes for both men and women. The price points are decent, nothing too outrageous. It is about what you’d expect to pay. I recommend a drop in.
- 668 College St.
- 416-532-1074
- Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 10 – 9, Fri. – Sat. 10 – 10, Sun. 11 – 7
- 711 Queen St. W.
- 416-203-2388
- Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 11 – 9, Fri. – Sat. 10 – 9, Sun. 11 – 7
7. Heelboy- I fell in love with this little store about four years ago. Besides their having an amazing buying eye and great women’s shoes and accessories, what impressed me most about Heelboy was that, even though their men’s section is considerably smaller than the women’s, I still found the selection varied and concise. At the time, I didn’t think there was a single pair of shoes in stock that I would not have worn. Great store with a lot of great product.
- 682 Queen St. W. (at Euclid Ave.)
- 416-362-4335
- Hours: Mon. – Wed. 10 – 8, Thurs. – Fri. 10 – 9, Sat. 10 – 7, Sun. 12 – 6
6. Speechio – A tiny store with some big names. This thousand foot space harbours some of the most exciting and edge driven labels for a woman’s wardrobe. An amazing and daring buying eye has propelled this boutique into the spotlight; it definitely deserves a visit. Always very cool to see what they have in store. By the way: check out a label there by the name of Steven. I think you might like it.
- 1240 Bay St. ( at Cumberland)
- 416-961-7989
- Hours: Mon. – Wed. 10:30 – 6:30, Thurs. – Fri. 10:30 – 8, Sat. 10 – 6, Sun. 12 – 6
5. Brown’s / B2 – Now, depending on which of the many city-wide locations you go to, you can see everything from Puma and Lacoste to Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. And this is the exact reason they make my Top 10 List. Brown’s seems to always be re-inventing itself, choosing each store’s stock based on the store’s location. For example: the Queen West store may not carry all the high-end labels seen at its Hazelton Lanes counterpart; its product line is a lot edgier and better suited to its urban environment. However, just because a particular shoe is not at your location of choice does not mean they won’t have it shipped over. An amazing franchise that never disappoints.
www.brownsshoes.com – For a location near you.
4. David’s – This is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, shoe stores in the city. For over 55 years David’s has provided Torontonians with undeniable foot fashion. And its present-day line-up is no exception–David’s is still at the top of its game. You can find all the top designers on its sale floor: Christian Louis Batton, Paul Smith and Chie Mihara, among others. The sales staff aren’t always the most accommadating, but their product demands attention nevertheless. This is the store for those who have a little more to spend.
- 66 Bloor St W
- 920-1000
- Hours: Mon. – Wed. 9:30 – 7, Thurs. – Fri. 9:30 – 8, Sat. 9:30 – 7, Sun. 12 -6
3. Holt Renfrew – What can I say, it’s Holt Renfrew! Every possible designer label you can think of–plus some you may not have known existed. Its all here. Now, I know you’re thinking “this is not exactly within everyone’s price bracket,” and you’re completely correct. However, no one can deny how amazingly well-stocked they always seem to be. This is where you go to buy footwear for a real special occasion. The kind of occasion where you want to leave a lasting impression. And, for those of you lucky enough (financially speaking) to be able to shop there at will, more power to you. But everyone should find themselves inside at least once or twice in their lifetime. Live a little!
- Bloor St.
- 50 Bloor St. W.
- 416-922-2333
- Hours: Mon. – Wed. 10 – 6, Thurs. – Fri. 10 – 8, Sat. 10 – 7, Sun. 12 – 6
2. Goodfoot – This is without a doubt a store for the collectors. Those of you out there who are not merely satisfied with the run-of-the-mill selection available to the average “Joe Shmoe” buyer. The die hard sneaker-head that houses their shoes in their original box and returns them to said place after each and every wear. The ones whose heart-rates quicken at the words “dead stock” and won’t rest until their shoes of choice are laced tightly to their feet. This is the spot for you. Get on the Goodfoot.
- 431 Richmond St. W. (Location 1)
- 416-364-0734
- Hours: Mon. -Sat. 11-7, Sun. 12 – 6
- 1200 Bay St (Location 2)
- (647) 430-58
- Hours: Mon. -Sat. 11 -7, Sun./Hol. 12 -6
1. C Squared – Whether your tastes are boots, pumps, sneakers or all things in between, this is the place with it all. Very cool and fashion-forward selection, their shoe inventory seems almost endless, for both men and women. It is usually rare to find a spot that both sexes can find themselves lost in and this is the reason C Squared appears at the top of my list.
- 365 Queen St. W. (at Peter St.)
- 416-595-5606
- Hours: Mon. – Wed. 10 – 8, Thurs. – Fri. 10 – 9, Sat. 10 – 8, Sun. 10 – 7
Honourable Mentions
This city has such a vast variety of diverse retailers that I didn’t feel it was fair to merely name ten of them. So here are ten other great stores that carry some amazing shoes that I think you should also check out:
Stolen Riches
- 734 Queen St. W. ( at Niagra St.)
- 647-428-7497
- Hours: Mon. – Sat. 11 – 7, Sun. 12 – 6
Next Door
- 433 Queen St. W. (at Spadina)
- 416-593-6267
- Hours: Mon. – Wed. 11 – 7, Thurs. – Fri. 11 – 8, Sat. 11 – 7, Sun. 12 – 6
Lavish & Squalor
- 253 Queen St. W.
- 416-599-4779
- Hours: Mon. – Fri. 11:30 – 8:30, Sat. 11 – 8:30, Sun. 11 – 8
Livestock
- G1 – 116 Spadina Ave.
- 416-360-5483
- Hours: Mon. – Sat. 11 – 8, Sun. 12 – 6
Got Style
- 489 King St. W. (at Brant St.)
- 416-260-9696
- Hours: Mon. -Wed. 11 – 7, Thurs. – Fri. 11 – 9, Sat. 11 – 7, Sun. 12 – 5
Plum Shoes
- 29 Bellair St., Suite 107
- 416-964-6404
Capsule
- 69 Yorkville Ave. #104
- 416.926.1845
TNT
- 87 Avenue Rd., Hazelton Lanes
- 416-975-1810
- Hours: Mon. -Wed. 10-6, Thurs. 10 – 7, Fri. – Sat. 10 – 6, Sun. 12 – 5
TNT Blu
- 87 Avenue Rd., Hazelton Lanes
- 416-972-1593
- Hours: Mon. – Wed. 10 – 6, Thurs. 10 – 7, Fri. -Sa t. 10 – 6, Sun. 12 – 5
Zola Shoes
- 1726 Avenue Rd.
- 416-783-8688
- Hours: Mon. – Wed. 10 – 6, Thurs. 10 – 8, Fri. – Sat. 10 – 6, Sun. 12 – 5
eBay’s Sneaker Craze
December 9, 2008 by Logan Steele · Leave a Comment
Never in the history of consumerism has there been a forum better suited to the avid collector as eBay. Whether your passion is for sports memorabilia, vinyl records or potato chips shaped like the Messiah, eBay has got you covered.
I personally am a huge shoe fanatic with a soft spot for unique, rare and dead stock sneakers. Unfortunately, I don’t have the money to travel the globe hunting for those one of a kind finds, so eBay serves as a perfect substitute. It has gotten to the point that my wife hates to leave me alone with a computer; she never knows what new clothing item will show up at our doorstep within 7 to 15 business days.
I have taken this time to share with you some of the amazing kicks currently available on the site. Just please don’t tell my wife–she’d kill me if she knew how much time I’ve spent searching!
“Sneaker Heads“: you’re welcome!
Retro Nike Sneakers
[AffomaticEbay]Mens Retro Nike Sneakers[/AffomaticEbay]
Toronto’s Best High Top Shops
December 9, 2008 by Logan Steele · Leave a Comment
In the early 90s a whole new class of collector was born. A group dedicated to acquiring sneakers both dead stock and rare. A group that would multiply globally into the millions and give birth to a now multi-billion dollar industry. This group would come to be known as the “Sneaker Heads.”
Arguably, the catalyst shoe for this movement was the Nike “Air Jordan” originally released in 1987. And, with the rebirth of the B-boy movement in ’92, “old school kicks” found a newer and younger audience. By the early 2000s shoe collectors would go beyond merely collecting hard-to-come-by vintage runners. They would graduate to custom-decorated, special-issue footwear by the graphic art and graffiti world’s newest and most promising artists. These artists would use sneakers, such as Nike’s “Air Force One,” as canvases for their creations and release them in limited numbers to the masses.
Shoes now went for upwards of $300 to as high as $3000 a pop, making them one of the most coveted accessories for rap stars, rock artists, athletes and young celebrities. The trend of collectors purchasing multiple pairs of the same sneaker also took off, a practice that used to be only reserved for the very wealthy, as a means of not “wearing out” a favoured pair of shoes. Sneaker madness had arrived.
As a part of the global market, Toronto certainly has not been excluded from this craze. As a matter of fact, we house some of the more exciting shoe retailers that Canada has to offer. So if you would like to see first-hand what “Shoe Culture” is all about, I recommend a visit to the following stores:
Note: I’ve come across a brand new shoe store that has opened up on Queen St. East in the Beaches. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten the full scoop on it yet. But stay tuned, I will.
- Good Foot: 431 Richmond St. W. (at Spadina Ave.) 416-364-0734
- Capsule: 69 Yorkville Ave. #104 416-926-1845
- North Trooper: 69 Yorkville Ave. #102 416-922-1777
- Stolen Riches: 734 Queen St. W. ( at Niagra St.) 647-428-7497
- Cartel: 498 Queen St West 416-362-0220
- Da Zone: 468 Queen Street West 416-868-9663
- Adrift: G2 – 116 Spadina Ave. 416-515-0550
- Livestock: G1 – 116 Spadina Ave. 416-360-5483
And if you are a real shoe fanatic you must swing by the bata shoe museum.
My Puma’s Are House Broken
November 13, 2008 by Logan Steele · Leave a Comment
1948 brought in the birth of Puma to the athletic apparel market. Founder, Rudolf Dassler had decided to depart from his brother and partner, Adi Dassler and the little company they created called Adidas. Based out of its headquarters in Herzogenaurach, West Germany, Puma started manufacturing. This gave way to the inception of one of its first successes, the Puma “Atom”. The company began to gain momentum also introducing the “Formstripe” to the market the same year. This same shoe would also achieve recognition almost ten years later and be the first of many exciting athletic shoe innovations from Puma. Shoes such as the “King” and the “Suede”, also known as the “Clyde” would dawn the feet of World Cup and Olympic Athletes and further project its place as a household name.
Now history of Puma aside, I remember these sneakers from the 1980’s. To me it will forever be the official sneaker of Beat Street, “Somebody say Ramone!” I remember being about 8 years old and asking my Mom for a pair of white high-top “First Rounds” with the red stripe, for Christmas. I was convinced that they would single handily, improve my “popping”, “locking” and “body waves”, without any doubt in my mind. I ended up getting a pair of navy blue suede North Stars with the velcro straps but, luckily my “top rock” did not suffer. The old school sneaker made a resurgence in the early 90’s and next to a pair of High top Adidas “Shelltows”, second on my list were a pair of Puma “King”. The puma sneaker has been with us in the forefront ever since and has managed to re-invent itself season after season and gaining further recognition with such visionaries as Alexander McQueen backing the famous feline. Its apparel line is one of the most worn in the world and from my many trips across the pond, its all about the Dassler brothers in Europe. Evidently, I did finally get that pair of “First Rounds”.
Puma on Bloor | 151 Bloor Street West | 416-962-7862
Hours: S/S Mon–Wed 10–7, Thurs – Fri 10–8, Sat 10–6, Sun 11–6
F/W Mon –Fri 10–7, Sat 10–6, Sun 11–6
Puma on Yonge | 2532 Yonge St | (416) 486-7862
Hours: S/S Mon – Wed 10-7, Thurs – Fri 10-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-6
F/W Mon – Fri 10-7, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5:30
Puma Toronto
October 19, 2008 by Logan Steele · Leave a Comment
I love Puma, we all love Puma! 
Need a Puma fix…? In Toronto…?
Two Locations:
- Puma on Yonge: (416) 486-7862, 2532 Yonge Street Toronto, ON M4P 2H7, Canada
- Puma on Bloor: 416-962-7862, 151 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON, M5S1S4, Canada
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