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Propaganda picks
Propaganda‘s (686 Yonge, 416-961-0555, www.propaganda.bz) Regina Sheung is swooning for jewellery designer Lydia Lukidis‘s collection of nature-inspired necklaces (www.lydialukidis.com). The Montrealer beads together her earthy baubles with sterling silver, crystals and semi-precious stones. Sheung’s favourites are a three-strand coral choker ($350) and a 14-karat gold butterfly-embellished tree branch pendant ($250).
Distill this
Distill‘s (55 Mill, building #56, 416-304-0033, www.distillgallery.com) Allison Skinner has two favourite newcomers for the upcoming season. Amy Belanger patchworks recycled wool to create one-of-a-kind stoles that will cozy bare necks once the temperature drops. And designer Ryoko Wada uses bold-coloured kimono silks to create clutches and change purses that punch up dark, neutral looks. Belanger’s stoles are $160, and Wada’s bags are priced between $30 and $80.
Fischer’s price
Nathalie-Roze Fischer has an army of new talents stocking her two-month-old Nathalie-Roze & Co. boutique (1015 Queen East, 416-792-1699, www.nathalie-roze.com), and one of her faves is Thimble and its Button of the Month club. Thimble.ca is a local craftster blog where you can shop for printed fabric clutches, shoulder bags and knitting needle envelopes. Button of the Month club members pay $10 for a three-month subscription. A mini manila envelope arrives every four weeks with three micro-sized plastic buttons inside. Past themes have included pirates, mushrooms and retro fabric swatches.
All the Rage
Sarah Campbell at the Rage (13 Kensington, 416-588-5177) scores the city’s freshest fashion talents, and her customers have already spent a season scooping up designer Rachel Cole‘s silkscreened tops ($45). Cole uses raw-edged cotton lycra to create off-the-shoulder shirts that are printed with hand-drawn houseflies. The silhouette carries over perfectly into fall’s slouchier style.