Complex x Marcus Troy Present Canada's Most Stylish Stores

As an extension to our August/September 2010 Fashion Feature, we're bringing exclusive collaborations with our six featured bloggers. Today, we're getting up with lifestyle blogger and style curator Marcus Troy. Born and raised in Canada, Troy knows exactly where to go to cop the hottest trends. Don't be fooled by the freezing weather and dubious tagline of "land of the maple tree"—this North American country has style that goes far beyond powder blue Roots sweatshirts. You just have to know where to search. We present Troy's rundown on the go-to shops to keep you dipped in the latest looks of the season. Complex x Marcus Troy Present Canada's Most Stylish Stores...

STORE: Alibi

HOME BASE: Montreal, Quebec

SINCE: 2010

OWNER/BUYER(S): Olivier & Jean-Marc and Toddy Flores

BRANDS CARRIED: Vans, Sebago, Levi's, HUF, Marshall Artist, Crooks & Castles, Brixton, Studio Decks, Converse, Converse SB.

IDEAL OUTFIT: Marshall Artist Jacket, Sebago boat shoes, and a pair of Levi's. A very casual and comfortable look.

WHY WE CO-SIGN: Alibi houses one of Canada's only sneaker consignment shops, Gotsole. This shop-in-shop was started by well-known sneaker collector and footwear aficionado Toddy Flores. He has one of the best collections in North America and has it out on display for purchase. You can even bring in your kicks and set a price. Alibi is half streetwear boutique and half skate shop; kids roll through every day to set up their boards and pick up a fresh T. The guys are really cool and are super down with the culture.

STORE: Appartement Deux

LOCATION: Montreal, Quebec

OWNER/BUYER: Jules

BRANDS CARRIED: RAF SIMONS for Fred Perry, Public School, Wood Wood, Acne, Fred Perry, Schmoove, Swear

IDEAL OUTFIT: A pair of Levi's khakis with a Wood Wood T-shirt, Fred Perry jacket, and duffel bag with a pair of Schmoove shoes.

WHY WE CO-SIGN: Whenever I have friends coming to Montreal who request to see cool shops with different product selections, I always end up at Appartement Deux. Jules, the owner, always has an interesting perspective on the market and the fashion industry. He always has time to talk it up about the things he loves and is passionate about. He travels the globe to find interesting and unique brands for his shop that are not yet available to other retailers. I usually hit them up for a good pair of pants or denim that I know I won't find anywhere else. Make sure you tell Jules that I sent you and you might get lucky and save on your next purchase!

STORE: Haven

HOME BASE: Vancouver, Canada

SINCE: 2006

OWNER/BUYER(S): Arthur & Daniel Chmielewski

BRANDS CARRIED: Stussy Deluxe, Maiden Noir, Headporter, Acronym, Clot, Dr. Romanelli, Futura Laboratories, Penfield, Perks & Mini, just to name a few.

IDEAL OUTFIT: A few pieces from PAM, a jacket from Penfield, some Vans Syndicates and a scarf from Wings & Horns.

WHY WE CO-SIGN: What I love about shopping at Haven is the humbleness of the brothers and owners. The first time I walked into their Edmonton store they treated me like I was a cousin. The store itself is beautiful, the aesthetic is minimalistic and the product selection is well curated. There's something to say for shop owners who man their stores, it heightens the level of customer service. Their flagship is located in Edmonton but they've recently opened up a Vancouver location. The exposed brick and high ceilings makes the space feel stylish and modern.

STORE: Interim: The Art of Reuse

LOCATION: Toronto

OWNER/BUYER(S): Terrence Carvalho

BRANDS CARRIED: Vintage & Thrift.

IDEAL OUTFIT: Vintage YSL Belt, Denim Jacket, Hunter hat, leather wallet and some trousers.

WHY WE CO-SIGN: This initiative by Interim is re-inventing thrift shopping and it's amazing! The concept is a new kind of thrift space that caters to both the fashion conscious and frugal consumer alike. It's such a Mecca for handpicked, one-of-a-kind goods; with an upscale aesthetic that still keeps true to its frugal principals. They're also releasing a self titled magazine this fall with a second pop-up store opening late September.

STORE: Jonathan and Olivia

LOCATION: Toronto

SINCE: 2008

OWNER/BUYER(S): Jackie

BRANDS CARRIED: Malin + Goetz, Band of Outsiders, Acne, Bass, Engineered Garments, rag & bone, Surface to Air, Wings + Horns, Comme des Garcons parfum, and Robert Geller.

IDEAL OUTFIT: A pair of oxblood Bass shoes with a pair of Rag & Bone handmade Khakis, Comme des Garcons cologne, and a denim Engineered Garment shirt.


WHY WE CO-SIGN:I stumbled upon this store during one of my recent visits to Toronto. I was surprised to see such an array of brands that I loved all in one space. The store is sizable but you don't feel overwhelmed by the space. The customer service was amazing and the staff was very knowledgeable and on point. They have a pretty impressive cologne selection, I could have spent all day going trough their colognes. I like when a shop can offer essentials for men like colognes and creams, it saves a trip to the pharmacy.

A few notable services that they offer:

Free hemming (on regular priced items), phone and email orders (they ship worldwide), private shopping appointments (in and outside of the boutique), layaway, J+O gift cards (available in any denomination), and fashion stylist services.

STORE Michel Brisson


LOCATION: Montreal


OWNER/BUYER(S): Michel Brisson


BRANDS CARRIED: James Perse, Nudie Jeans, Tiger of Sweden, Yohji Yamamoto, Filippa K, Costume National


IDEAL OUTFIT: A vintage pair of Nudie Jeans with sneakers from Costume National and a T-shirt from James Perse, and a wool cardigan jacket from Tiger of Sweden.


WHY WE CO-SIGN: Old Montreal is really the place to be in the summertime because of the neighborhood and the scenery. The other amazing thing about Old Montreal, specifically St. Paul street is the Michel Brisson boutique. The store design has won the boutique awards and accolades, the shop and the experience is pretty amazing and the product selection doesn't fall short of that. I've spent quite some time in the changing room and a lot more time at the cash register.

STORE: Rooney


LOCATION: Montreal


OWNER/BUYER(S): Alex Danino


BRANDS CARRIED: Billy Reid, Florsheim, Gitman Vintage, Naked & Famous, Quoddy, Red Wing Shoes, Rogues Gallery, Woolrich, YMC


IDEAL OUTFIT: Moscot glasses, a shirt from Gitman Vintage, Mark McNairy camo pants, and boots by Red Wing.


WHY WE CO-SIGN: Rooney's just a cool shop! I've had countless conversations with Alex over the years about where the industry was going and how things were evolving in the marketplace. When Rooney first started, the shop was primarily streetwear but Alex wanted the shop to reflect his tastes more and the direction slowly started shifting to menswear and classic everyday clothing. Rooney is situated in the heart of Old Montreal, right near the water. The shop is surrounded by trendy restaurants and hotels and is frequented by tourists from all around the world.

STORE: Serpentine


LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario


SINCE: 2009


OWNER/BUYER(S): Steve & Paul


BRANDS CARRIED: Atelier Ruby, Damir Doma, Diet Butcher Slim Skin, Juma, N.D.C Made by hand, Odyn Vovk, PRPS, Wolverine


IDEAL OUTFIT: PRPS denim with a pair of the Wolverine boots, a Diet Butcher Slim cape, an Atelier Ruby helmet, and all that would be missing is the bike.


WHY WE CO-SIGN: I had the chance to spend some time with Steve, the owner of Serpentine, and he gave me the breakdown of the inspiration behind the shop. The store is inspired by the things he loves and cherishes: motorbike culture, tattoos, rock, and goth fashion. Think boots & bikes! They have one of the biggest male jewelry collections in Canada and a stunning array of motorbike accessories and helmets. The people who shop and appreciate Serpentine have a particular taste and I'm sure they're relieved to finally have a shop that caters to their needs.

STORE: Stockroom by Inventory


LOCATION:
Vancouver, BC


SINCE: 2009


OWNER/BUYER(S): Ryan


BRANDS CARRIED: Nigel Cabourn, Beams Plus, Engineered Garments, S.N.S Herning, Arcteryx Veilance, Levi's Vintage clothing, and their own eponymous in-house brand


IDEAL OUTFIT: A pair of Marc McNairy bucks, Real McCoy army hat, Arcteryx Veilance long coat, Inventory shirt and EG trousers.


WHY WE CO-SIGN: It's amazing to see an online magazine transform into a physical magazine, and then to a brick-and-mortar shop. The store is very minimalist and curated to a T. It houses all of the collaborative efforts between Inventory and selected brands and you can also find some amazing items from some of your other favorites. This is menswear at its finest. The chalk board sign outside always piques my curiosity—you never know what they'll be announcing next.

STORE: Sydney's

LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario

BRANDS CARRIED: Jil Sanders, Rick Owens, Dries Van Noten, Julius, and their in-house brand Kin

IDEAL OUTFIT: Rick Owen kicks, a Dries shirt, and some Rick Owens Drkshdw pants to complete the outfit.

WHY WE CO-SIGN: Sydney's is described as a "modern menswear boutique in the middle of Toronto's busiest shopping area." They carry some of the more high-end brands and cater to a unique clientele looking for hard-to-find items. I really love the product selection, it's classic and minimalistic. Their in-house label Kin has a pretty refreshing design which is rare for most house brands. You can even buy made in Toronto tailored shirts which is a great plus.

STORE: The United Front Building

LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario

SINCE: 2004

OWNER/BUYER(S) Matt George


BRANDS CARRIED: Ransom, Stussy, Supreme, A.P.C, NDG, Filson, Visvim, Barber


IDEAL OUTFIT: Ransom chambray shirt, A.P.C. denim, Filson duffel bag, Common Projects boots, and a Nom De Guerre jacket.


WHY WE CO-SIGN: The United Front building is like no other; it's a one-stop shop on Richmond street in downtown Toronto. It's got you covered for all your high-fashion and streetwear needs. This building houses Stussy's Canadian Flagship, the headquarters of Ransom Clothing, the menswear boutique Nomad, and the recently added, invite-only bar called Goodnight.