The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by vansky

great, but let's not compare ourselves with calgary...the only people who will go to HR in calgary are people from else where, calgarians dont really care about no — about fashion. I find it hard to think about fashion when you are -30 degrees below zero, almost like a forzen potato.

Oh, Calgary has obscene well to do circles, with entire subdivisions of over 1000 people where the average income does not fall below $600,000.

There are some "fashionable" people in the city, for sure! I've seen 'em with my own eyes!

Now, don't take this the wrong way, Calgary has less Asian people, and they are generally the more fashionable, "put together" people. The girls, anyways!

[SpongeG]

there aren't many holt renfrew stores anyway - so I guess they could call them all flagships

[vansky]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Oh, Calgary has obscene well to do circles, with entire subdivisions of over 1000 people where the average income does not fall below $600,000.

There are some "fashionable" people in the city, for sure! I've seen 'em with my own eyes!

Now, don't take this the wrong way, Calgary has less Asian people, and they are generally the more fashionable, "put together" people. The girls, anyways!

some, not a lot. i've been there, seen it, and lived with it. the city is like a place in the north pole, nobody wants to dress up like u r in new york. it's calgary, so people want to dress up for calgary. of course, some still live else where mentally. the people who moved for their work, relocated, say from toronto, it's a little different.

[Yume-sama]

Well, I think most Canadians are pretty homely looking, to be painfully honest. Though, that's no different than flyover Country in the USA.

I attribute Vancouver and Toronto being more "fashionable" to the fact that almost nobody was born in Vancouver or Toronto and came from all over the World

[SpongeG]

my sister went to school in edmonton and than moved down here - she said and I notcied it too that people dressed up more in edmonton than they did down here - people were much more trendy and fashion forward, more on track with fashion than vancouver people were - that was the 80's though so I don't know how it compares now

[Yume-sama]

Take a stroll through West Edmonton Mall. You will never see more socks and sandals in your life. TOGETHER!

Though, the Edmonton Holt Renfrew has a more "normal people" selection of clothing. You don't have to be a flamboyant Korean rockstar to pull most things off, like in Vancouver.

And I actually found a good pair of jeans there, something I haven't been able to in Vancouver

[vansky]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

my sister went to school in edmonton and than moved down here - she said and I notcied it too that people dressed up more in edmonton than they did down here - people were much more trendy and fashion forward, more on track with fashion than vancouver people were - that was the 80's though so I don't know how it compares now

yes, i noticed that even in the early 2000s...especially women

it's weird because in architecture, design or anything, vancouver is upward, and then when it comes to clothing, the whole culture never developed.

in contrast to japan, everyone there is into it. i wonder if it has to do with the difference in development in fashion media, fashion magazines and stuff. our media sphere is weak too.

[SpongeG]

i attribute it to that they try harder? Vancouver has always been more laid back though in recent years its better - as my friend and I always say Vancouver is the place where trends come to die and we hold onto them for years - such as ugg boots - omg they are dead dead dead please stop wearing them and yoga pants enough already

[Yume-sama]

Ugg boots are still popular-ish, Las Vegas had a whole bunch of them at Macy's and Nordstroms, and Saks... though they don't exactly have the right climate. As for yoga pants, in the home of Lululemon, they won't be going anywhere. There's enough in this one city to pay for the owners $25 million Coal Harbour penthouse

[vansky]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i attribute it to that they try harder? Vancouver has always been more laid back though in recent years its better - as my friend and I always say Vancouver is the place where trends come to die and we hold onto them for years - such as ugg boots - omg they are dead dead dead please stop wearing them and yoga pants enough already

i dont really see anywhere else that has yoga pants all over the street.

vancouver has developed something like a semi-fashion concious

[Yume-sama]

I always assumed people may wear yoga pants in downtown Vancouver because there are actually public parks and places where one could... do yoga.

There are also a lot of yoga studios. Especially in Yuppiet... erm, Yaletown.

[ryanmaccdn]

Originally Posted by vansky

great, but let's not compare ourselves with calgary...the only people who will go to HR in calgary are people from else where, calgarians dont really care about no — about fashion. I find it hard to think about fashion when you are -30 degrees below zero, almost like a forzen potato.

If I remember correctly..... Alberta has some of the highest disposable incomes in Canada (recent blip in the economy aside).

Thus why big names in the retail were starving to get into the market 2004-2007.... I think the retail market availability was 0% in terms of mall spaces.

Alberta will soon play host to not only Canada's largest mall in Edmonton but Canada's most landmark/high end mall with the Core opening in a few years.... if you get a chance to see the renders on that one it makes Metrotown/Pacific Center look like Wal-mart.

HR in Calgary is the biggest in Canada for a simple reason.... they know something you don't.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

HR in Calgary is the biggest in Canada for a simple reason.... they know something you don't.

They were probably given quite good terms on leasing that property.

Ron.

[deagleman]

Originally Posted by vansky

yes, i noticed that even in the early 2000s...especially women

it's weird because in architecture, design or anything, vancouver is upward, and then when it comes to clothing, the whole culture never developed.

in contrast to japan, everyone there is into it. i wonder if it has to do with the difference in development in fashion media, fashion magazines and stuff. our media sphere is weak too.

In my opinion, Vancouver is full of brand monkeys. It's never about being fashionable but all about wearing the latest "IN" brand. This extends to pretty much everything else though, from what we buy to where we shop and eat.

I also noticed that places that have fashionable people usually tends to have large fashion districts of local entrepreneurs that follow trends and sell cheap clothing. You can't really follow trends when your wardrobe is only full of expensive brand name clothing now can you?

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

Alberta will soon play host to not only Canada's largest mall in Edmonton but Canada's most landmark/high end mall with the Core opening in a few years.... if you get a chance to see the renders on that one it makes Metrotown/Pacific Center look like Wal-mart.

I would take Pacific Center or Metrotown over CORE any day of the week

but what ever you are smoking please do share!

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

HR in Calgary is the biggest in Canada for a simple reason.... they know something you don't.

It appears they know something you dont... that Calagary does not have the high end retail Vancouver does so it is all put in this one Holt Renfrew. Unlike Calgary Vancouver has had many of the small boutiques which comprise most of the space in HR for years in stand alone locations.

Also I dont really understand why the CORE will make Pacific Centre look like Wal-Mart. They are both owned by the same owner, have the same stores and are undergoing major renovations. The only difference is that CORE is about 1/2 the size.

I think it is time you shuffle back to the Calgary local forum...

[Yume-sama]

Pacific Centre is being renovated?? I thought it was pretty nice. Aside from the big ugly Sears on top

[duener]

I always imagined the difference between North America and Europe in terms of fashion came down to connections with the aristocracy. I figure over the last 500 years the common people in Europe had the aristocrats to set the standard fashion-wise. Once someone rose in social standing and had money, they would emulate the gentry.

But North America was founded by puritan settlers whose culture rejected such ostentatious displays of wealth. This culture made North America rich, but even the upper classes were employed or wanted to be seen to be (e.g. industrialists). Hence the hiking boots and fleece outfits that Canadian chicks wear.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by vansky

i dont really see anywhere else that has yoga pants all over the street.

vancouver has developed something like a semi-fashion concious

Are you sure you don't mean semi-conscious fashion?

[nova9]

as someone who tries to look good everyday, i have to say that a lot of us get it but am finding it an uphill struggle against the people from the birkenstock belt and the yoga-ratti.

my only wish is that more people would look eastward to NYC/Montreal/Toronto for fashion cues rather than sounthward to LA. Perhaps if we did, then we'd see less Affliction, Ed Hardy, and Juicy. Yuck.

But let's be real people, the biggest point is that we're not SETTING the terms of fashion aside from yoga pants. Until we do...well...