Note 35 - The Toronto Postcard
Blazer and trousers - By Malene Birger / Bag - Loewe / Ballet flats / Aeyde
Happy Sunday from beautiful Toronto!
Last weekend, I met up with my friend Martine, who’s visiting from England, and Toronto was our first stop before heading back to my hometown of Montreal. For me, it was also my final visit before moving abroad, so it felt especially meaningful to give the city a proper farewell.
We were lucky enough to get some sunshine and spent the weekend revisiting a few favourite spots while also discovering some new ones.
If you’re planning a trip to Toronto, be sure to check out my ultimate Toronto guide. Otherwise, put the kettle on, grab a cup of tea, and enjoy this little recap of the weekend. I’ll see you next week for a look at everything we got up to in Montreal!
Martine was also vlogging over the weekend, so that should be up on her YouTube channel soon if you want to have a watch!
What I Wore This Week
Blazer and trousers - By Malene Birger / Top - Doên / Bag - Loewe / Ballet flats / Aeyde
Jacket - Vintage / Trousers - By Malene Birger / Bag - Loewe / Ballet flats / Aeyde
On Saturday in Toronto, I wore a navy base with my By Malene Birger cropped trousers and a Doên tank top, layered with an oversized cream blazer. I love the contrast of a more fitted outfit paired with more volume on top. I finished the look with my classic Aeyde ballet flats and my blue Loewe Hammock bag, which has such an interesting shape and finishes the outfit.
The outfit also turned out to be the perfect base for a vintage blue suede jacket I found in a secondhand shop on Queen Street West. I’m not usually very good at uncovering vintage treasures from decades past, but this one was exactly the right shade of blue and simply too good to leave behind.
Everyday Delights
Library Coffee
VSP Consignment
Vintage store
It was honestly impossible to narrow this week down to just three delights, so I thought I’d share a few more photos and highlights from the weekend here instead. Martine arrived quite late on Friday night, which gave me a quiet afternoon to catch up on some personal work. I spent a few hours at Mast Coffee, a lovely little café in the East End that was both calm and cozy.
Saturday was a full day of exploring Toronto. We started with brunch at Alder inside the Ace Hotel before wandering through all the lovely shops along Queen St. W. From there, we made our way up to Dundas for a little browse around VSP Consignment. You never quite know what you’re going to find there, which is part of the fun, and since I had store credit from selling a few pieces, I ended up leaving with a very flattering pair of jeans.
On Sunday morning, I started the day at Pilatika in Yorkville. Their Montreal studio is already one of my favourites, but the Toronto location is absolutely stunning with the muted tones of the reformers and the brick walls. I walked there from downtown early in the morning, and it felt so lovely to soak up the sunshine while the city was still quiet.
Afterwards, we headed to breakfast at Peter Pan Bistro and discovered Flying Books next door. It’s easily one of the coziest bookshops I’ve visited in a long time. There’s a large communal table in the middle for book clubs and gatherings, and they also serve coffee during the day and wine in the evenings, so perfect for book clubs.
Later that afternoon, we explored Summerhill, which was filled with beautiful little shops. I especially loved VERT, a boutique I’d followed online for years but had never visited in person. Their edit of Scandinavian brands was so thoughtfully curated, with pieces from Lié Studio, Totême, Rodebjer, Cecilie Bahnsen and more.
Mast Coffee
Pilatika Yorkville
Flying Books
Toronto city center
Tulips are out!
Manita Ossington
Vert Store
This Week’s Edit
I read this on the train to Toronto. It’s a coming-of-age love story between two teenage boys at an English boarding school. I really loved the evocative, atmospheric writing, and can we talk about that stunning cover?
I fell in love with these heels. The wavy strap detail and block heel make them feel sculptural yet easy to wear. From the Canadian brand Maguire, they add a sexy touch to a simple jeans outfit, and would look just as good styled for an event.
One of my favourite discoveries from a boutique in Summerhill. This fragrance from female-founded Liis completely won me over. It smells like a misty coastal forest retreat: smoky woods, resinous incense and soft vanilla.
Happy Hour and Good Girk from Flying Books
While visiting Flying Books, I realized they’re also the publishing house behind two books I’ve read and loved: Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados, a charming ingénue-in-the-city story, and Good Girl by Anna Fitzpatrick, another sharp coming-of-age novel. Highly recommend both if you’re looking for fresh voices and want to support independent publishing.
Love, S.
