Ben Sherman

While I was in Toronto, I called into London to talk to Mark Maidment, Creative Director of Ben Sherman, to discuss the brand, Savile Row, and the company's debut in the Canadian marketplace, with the opening of their first stand-alone store along Queen Street in Toronto. He was a really laid-back and great man to interview, easily one of the most comfortable and casual interviews that I have ever conducted. You could tell that the he was very passionate about the brand that he heads, which is evident in the company's new direction and product offerings! Featured in the September issue of SHARP magazine, you can read a small preview inside the issue (out on stands now!), or read the interview in its entirety below! Enjoy :)

OBSESSED: Coats

At this point, i'm thinking "Obsessed" or "Obsession" would be a more appropriate name for my blog, since all I seem to do is find more things to add onto my already massive list of sartorial desires. Sigh, plight of a fashion addict. I'm sure many of you can relate. It's quite a love/hate relationship, no?

Ironically, right in the middle of the hottest summer i've ever experienced (sidebar: My friend knows someone who lives in Toronto and went on a trip to India recently. She said the climate is comparable. WORST!!!), i've had this odd and completely inappropriate obsession for winter coats. Perhaps it is my yearning for summer to end and for fall to begin. Like a bear prepares its body for hibernation, I prepare my wardrobe for fall fashion. In my opinion, it is the best time of the year to go hunting for clothes, as the sheer amount of possibilities for dressing oneself are endless! Maybe i'm biased because I grew up in the Rockies of Alberta, where a weeks' worth of +15C to +20C would be considered a great summer success, but I am so over this heat. My body is not conditioned to it, and as result, leaves me in a constant state of abnormal perspiration. Which of course, is super attractive.