Shoe Shine
Dr. Martens made the utility boot a ‘90s staple, and brought it back for a victory lap in 2010. With stores popping up all over the country, score a slick pair of these already-classic boots with metallic-finished leather uppers in five fine finishes. ($120, drmartens.com)
Rugged Wear
Get ready to haul your old Chucks to the back of the closet. Why you ask? These beauties speak for themselves, highlighting a key trend on the fall runways for both men and women: leather everything. With leather and rubber vulcanized uppers, canvas lining, and lugged outsole, these boots are made for walking a Canadian winter. Sold? We knew it. ($90, converse.com)
‘60s Redux
If there’s a trend to watch for summer 2011, it’s tie-dye hands down. So no wonder we’re bag over heels for the Genevieve clutch from Yorkville boutique Augustina. Not only is it too cool for school, but the dyed soft leather makes it a trend come true. ($395, augustinaboutiques.com)
Conscious Cool
When it comes to sustainable accessorizing, Toronto-based Nella Bella is ahead of the curve. This brilliant bag, from the London collection, is made from Japanese paper, a cotton-based fabric that is treated to give it that amazing texture. Better yet, the brand uses all vegan leather and scraps from the cutting floor so you can feel good about gifting the activist on your list. ($89, nella-bella.com)
Classic Couture
What may be “de rigeur” today may be gone tomorrow. Luckily, you can always count on some things remaining timeless, like this Hermès ostrich leather bag. Simple, sexy and luxurious – could that special lady on your list ask for anything more? But don’t worry if you can’t quite foot the bill just yet; look for it in a top-end consignment shop – in about 50 years. ($13,000, hermes.com)
Colour Theory
Always loved the Chanel-esque chain handles littering the streets right now? Get your own piece of heaven with this Peter Kent hobo bag. Available in almost every Skittles colour imaginable, these bags blend form and function so you can pack up the office to go and hit the town for a cocktail. ($695, peterkenthandbags.com)
