The CF Shops at Don Mills Shopping Guide
I started my day early shopping at CF Shops at Don Mills. I was on a mission to find a few outfits for summer functions and date nights. With $1000 in Cadillac Fairview gift cards in my purse, I was ready to check out all the unique boutiques and brand name stores at Shops at Don Mills.
Murale was my first stop. The specialty beauty boutique has been at the mall for over seven years and stocks high-end beauty brands like Chanel, Bobbi Brown, Tata Harper and Nars. The best part about Murale at Shops at Don Mills is that it’s operated by Shoppers Drug Mart so you can both collect and spend those Optimum Points! Murale has an esthetician on site for facials and brow waxing, which makes it a great all-in- one destination to get beautiful.
One item on my beauty wishlist has been a tube of one of Nars’ Audacious lipsticks in the shade “Natalie.” Even though it’s my namesake, it’s the perfect shade of coral pink for summer.
Next up, I visited Frank & Oak, a menswear store based in Montreal that carries a chic and affordable house brand. The rustic industrial store design has such a cool vibe, and is the perfect backdrop for their contemporary, laidback men’s fashion. A coffee bar at the back offers customers a java fix, and the store even has a barber, where your guy can get a haircut or hot shave before dinner or in between shopping. In addition to grooming products, the store sells unique accessories. I ended up picking up a copper money clip for my boyfriend and a couple linen shirts for summer, that I’m hoping he will wear to date night next week!
Across the street from Frank & Oak, I popped in to Mendocino to pick out a few pieces to wear this summer. The Toronto-based boutique has been around for 25 years, and is known for their selection of up-and- coming contemporary brands with an eclectic selection. They also carry Canadian brands, including leather jackets and bags by Mackage, purses from Toronto-based ela, and an exclusive collaboration with Peace Collective. The brand is infamous for their “Toronto vs Everybody” tees, and I picked up a limited-edition Mendocino x Peace Collective “Home is Toronto” tank. The best part about the brand is that they donate a week’s worth of meals to a school breakfast program in the country, which makes giving back feel super stylish. I can’t wait to rep my city this summer, layered under denim jackets or with cute shorts.
The boho vibes of the store matched perfectly with the gorgeous sunny day outside. I ended up picking three beautiful dresses that can be dressed up for a night out with a pair of heels or worn casually with a pair of espadrille flats.
Of course, a new outfit wouldn’t be complete without shoes! I stepped into the Nine West Shoe Studio and felt like I found shoe nirvana. Most of their pieces were on sale, but completely on-trend! I found a cute pair of espadrilles featuring edgy studs, a pair of floral print pumps, and nude mules with gold metal detailing. I couldn’t believe I scored all these shoes for under $150!
Next up, I needed to find some accessories to complete the look. I went to a couple stores looking for large, stone earrings to match my bohemian-inspired dresses. I found a great pair at Aldo, that were only $20. I also picked up a cute flamingo-pink purse from Aldo to add a colourful punch to my outfit.
To cap off my shopping day, I went for a quick browse around Anthropologie. First, I got sucked into their candle and home selection, and envisioned the perfect airy bedding setup. A couple other dresses caught my eye, but as I started to get hungry, I decided to come back another time.
To cap off my shopping spree, I ate lunch at Linda Modern Thai. I ordered a traditional Thai milk tea to cool off, while I ordered chicken sausages for an appetizer and Jungle Chicken as a main. My friend had the classic Panang Curry with shrimp that also looked delicious. Linda Shops at Don Mills is the first restaurant in Canada to have received the Thai Select Premium designation from the Thai government. We loved the chic ambience inside the restaurant, as well as the intricate decor. It was nice to relax and refuel after a long morning of shopping!
Here’s the outfit I put together from my shopping spree. I’m wearing an off-the shoulder dress from Mendocino ($149), espadrilles from Nine West ($45), a bag ($50) and earrings ($20) from Aldo.
Check out Natalie’s day here:
Natalie Ast is a law student and Toronto blogger.
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