Our dream bathroom would be white, bright and minimal, with sleek mirror cabinets stacked with a cornucopia of cosmetics.

The next best thing is a visit to new beauty boîte, Jacob & Sebastian. With packaging as luxurious as the products themselves, this place belongs in the pages of Living Etc.

Find Paul and Joe blushes, Malin + Goetz shampoos and old fashioned shaving kits from Baxter of California.

Our picks are Portland General Store’s tobacco scented bath scrub ($17.99) and Zents concrete encased solid perfumes ($39.99).

Now, what to do about the avocado tiles in our bathroom?

Jacob and Sebastian, 622 Queen St. W., Toronto, 647-405-8930, www.jacobandsebastian.com

From Generation X to Generation A, Douglas Coupland’s latest project is a collection of Canadian souvenirs for a new generation.

In collaboration with Roots, the Vancouver artist-author has designed a limited edition line of clothing and accessories that digitize the down-home, from a test pattern t-shirt dress for ladies ($68) to motherboard print leggings for babies ($14.95). There’s also laptop sleeves, passport wallets and backpacks emblazoned with Coupland’s idea of a Canadian crest, complete with moose, igloo and satellite dish.

And that a pop culture man like Coupland should get his own Queen Street pop-up shop to house his colour-popping collection is only fitting.

Roots x Douglas Coupland pop-up store, 680 Queen St. W., Toronto, www.roots.com/douglascoupland

Chapstick, phone, keys, cash, Visa, and I.D.


These are the essentials to carry for summer, not the 25lb baby we’ve been lugging around. In fact, since we spotted this cross-body number in ultra-soft leather, we’re determined to downsize. Even the buttery brown shade feels lighter than our signature black.

After all, on a sunny day your handbag should say, “laissez-faire,” not “I belong on an an episode of Hoarders.”

The Shasta, $98, at Heel Boy opening the doors to its new location today: 773 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-362-4335, www.heelboy.com

April 2009: Topshop opens its flagship store in Soho.

March 2010: Topshop begins shipping online orders to Canada.
One more sleep: Topshop arrives in Toronto.

Yes, tomorrow Toronto gets Topshop access in the flesh thanks to Ossington favourite, Jonathan + Olivia. J+O is expanding to carry a range of lines from the high street retailer including Topshop Unique, Boutique and even select pairs of shoes. As for La Moss’ latest collection, look for it in-store this fall. 

No word yet on pricing but if the supply is limited, get your elbows ready—we predict a riot at the racks.

Topshop in store at Jonathan + Olivia from June 19, 2010, 49 Ossington Ave., Toronto, 416-849-5956, http://jonathanandolivia.com

It used to be frowned upon as a symbol of bad luck, but today good knives are one of the most coveted wedding gifts for couples who love to cook.

At Knife, you’ll find a stunning selection of Japanese knives (most are handmade) plus water stones to keep them breathtakingly sharp. Owner Eugene (a one-time chef) is on hand to talk you through the various types, and will also sharpen blades, if you bring them in.

Never a dull moment!

Knife, 658 Queen St. W., Toronto, 647-996-8609, www.knifetoronto.com

After a long and faithful friendship, beginning in high school and spanning, well, until last week, it’s time to say "bye bye, burrito."

Now that we’ve discovered the griddled tastiness that is an arepa, we want nothing to do with you again.

Arepa Café serves up delicious cornmeal pockets stuffed with chunky chicken, avocado, red onions, coriander and cheddar cheese ($8). Pair it with a beet-parsley salad ($4) or a fresh watercress salad with plump tomatoes and pickled onions ($3.75).

The space is hip and airy with punches of bright colour. Service is swift and amiable.

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Arepa Cafe, 490 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-362-4111, http://arepacafe.blogspot.com/

Like so many little girls, we dreamed of following in Margot Fonteyn’s footsteps. But these days we’ve ditched our pink satin pointes for ballerinas in every colour.

Chocolate Shoes in the Burroughes Building carries ballet flats ($45) in black patent, violet suede and tangerine lace, to name a few. You can even add a pompom, bow or corsage ($6) if you like.

So, if you see someone pirouetting down Queen Street, do stop and say hello.

Chocolate Shoes, 2nd Floor, 639 Queen St., Toronto, 647-558-3947, http://chocolateshoes-toronto.blogspot.com/

Candles aren’t the most original hostess gift, but the right scent should guarantee a return invitation.

New York-based candle company Joya creates coveted fragrances encased in striking porcelain vessels ($64). Our picks are Himalayan Goji Berry and Quince and Heliotrope Petals—the perfect home décor gift with a burn time of 75 hours.

Chat wittily and offer to help with dishes and you're in for good.

At Love of Mine, 781 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-368-4999, www.loveofmineboutique.com

The city has coffee bars and tea lounges aplenty, but where to go for an energy boosting shot of yerba mate?

Look no further than El Almacen, Toronto’s first yerba mate café. Made from the leaves of a tree that’s in the same family as holly, Argentina’s national drink tastes a bit like green tea and is loaded with anti-oxidants.

At Almacen, your mate is served in a traditional cured gourd with a bombilla (a filter-tipped metal straw) to sip it from.

Mate can be drunk at any time of the day, but the most important part of the tradition is that it’s drunk en masse.

Get your Gaucho and head on over.

El Almacen, 1078 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-516-2898.

What’s a stitch 'n bitch without a little yarn envy?

Turn up to your next shindig with bundles of Americo Original's beautiful yarns and you’ll certainly give the girls something to bitch about.

A Queen Street gem, the shop carries unique, handspun yarns (alpaca, wool, cotton) in piles of colours. You can also find custom knitwear patterns and accessories as well as customized leather couches, handbags, and boots all crafted with the finest Argentine leather.

Just make sure someone doesn’t swap their acrylic tat for your good stuff, or needles will fly.

Americo Original, 456 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-777-9747, www.americo.ca