Courtesy of Mushy Pony

After 21 years, Holt Renfrew did the unthinkable – they fired the most adored, most appreciated, and most certainly always beaming: Tom Hargitai, the doorman. Growing up an avid Holts shopper with my mother, we knew him best for his double-cheek kisses, his gentle hand on our shoulders, and of course, his radiant smile.

“Maybe I’m too old”, the 57 year-old told the Toronto Star on Saturday, “I’m saddened by it. I loved my job.”

The general consensus seems to be that he targeted a particular demographic, and that the young women in pill-box hats and grey uniforms that now work there attract a younger clientele into the store.

“The pillbox hats must go, and Tom must return,” said Vineca Gray to the Star. “He is much more than a pretty face. Ask the physically challenged customers, the downtown locals, the tourists.” Not to mention the handicapped in need, whom Tom would regularly give from of his own pocket to on cold, snowy days.

As a young clientele myself (well, 25. Make of that what you will.), I can wholeheartedly say that firing the once dubbed “Mayor of Bloor St.”, who makes people of all ages smile no matter what personal crises they’re going through, is a mistake that will soon be painfully regretted. The customers have spoken, hell they’ve been Tweeting about it all weekend – thanks to social media, we now have a voice against such corporate injustice. Let’s just hope someone’s listening.

After all the years Tom has been there for me, brightening my day, greeting my dog “Joe” by name, answering my questions for an H1N1 article, I feel it is my duty as a writer to publicize this wrongdoing as much as possible. Holts won’t be the same anymore, at least not to me. And no amount of McQueen scarves or Marc Jacobs handbags can change that.

– Emma Farquharson.

Courtesy of Ashley Rowe

It’s quite easy to fall in love with Ashley Rowe‘s designs. They’re elegant and feminine, yet casual and comfy – all handmade in Toronto by the designer herself. This fashion-forward filly has been featured in all the top mags, blogs, newspapers etc. and is now launching her latest collection, the SS11 on October 14th. Sitting with her at the Drake Hotel, we learned all about her journey, her inspirations, and her new line – or at least, what she’d give away about it.

Pony: You started Miss Rowe in 2007, why did you re-brand yourself now as Ashley Rowe?

Ashley: I just grew up really. My old line was a little more high-end with various silks and expensive fabrics. Now I’m more into comfort and working with luxury items that work well together – but you’ll see what I mean at the show!

Pony: You work a lot with tie-dye and ink splatters, explain how you went in this direction.

Ashley: I like how each piece is unique – my dad’s been kind enough to lend me his basement for the time being and I’ve been busy making a mess of it with my dyes everywhere! Plus, my pieces are quite basic in both cut and style so I felt they needed that extra element to really make them pop.

Courtesy of Ashley Rowe

Pony: Do you find it important to stick to the trends?

Ashley: I have a particular aesthetic that I like, and obviously I am influenced by what the other designers are doing. But I’ve found that sticking to classic silhouettes, which I then alter based on where I am in life, have worked well for me.

Pony: So after working at FASHION Magazine and Holt Renfrew, did you feel prepared as an emerging designer?

Ashley: Most definitely. Holts is the reason why I started a line – I couldn’t find that luxury basic I was looking for. Plus, my mom is known for making her own clothes – her mentality is “if you can’t find it, then make it!” So I really took that to heart and decided to give it a try. It’s stressful at the beginning, but once you have that first pattern you can go anywhere from there.

Pony: And how much are the pieces, generally?

Ashley: Between $75 and $250. This whole season, for me, is all about nature and the inspirations I’ve gathered from it. I’ll take photos of soup or the tops of onions just to try and steal an exact hue – it’s a huge influence for me. Taking those colours and experimenting with them on different fabrics.

Pony: What’s your advice for someone starting out as a designer in the industry?

Ashley: You have to be creative. It’s important to think differently and constantly push the envelope – that’s what I like to see. People who do something because they really, truly love it, not because they feel they have to or just are trying to follow trends. It’s also important to make your connections before starting a line. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t of interned at all those magazines; because they were the ones who wrote the first articles about me and helped promote me as a brand. At the end of the day, connections are crucial but it’s your skill and passion that carry you through.

Courtesy of Ashley Rowe

For more information, check out AshleyRowe.com for information on the SS11 launch, or follow @AshleyRowe on Twitter!

– Emma Farquharson.

Courtesy of Seven Dollar Pants

When it comes to Toronto fashion blogs, there are many who show us what’s haute and what’s not. But for those of us who can’t afford McQueen just yet, Seven Dollar Pants is here to save you from bargain-hunting your booties off. Founders Julie and Christine scour the city for the best vintage, boutique, and chain-store deals – pairing them together in unique ensembles on their blog. Here’s what the Cowgirls learned today from these savvy-saving sweethearts.

Pony: What are the key components you look out for when determining what’s a good deal?

Julie: Mainly if I can foresee getting a lot of wear out of it. I don’t focus on brand names – never have and probably never will.

Christine: The price! So many pieces will catch my eye regardless, but the deciding factor will be the price tag as to whether or not I will take the next step to the fitting room – be it in Value Village or Holt Renfrew.

Pony: How do you find the deals in Toronto compare to other cities? Are they better here?

Courtesy of Seven Dollar Pants

Julie: I’m used to shopping in Toronto and have figured out where to hit and when. But I must say, small towns have great deals! Every time I go home to Niagara I find the best little gems. I think small towns are good for vintage finds especially because the thrift shops aren’t made to be trendy or cool – they’re simply thrift shops, and therefore don’t mark up their prices as much.

Pony: You say it’s important to know when to shop – buying items early before the season starts. Does this mean you oppose the sales at the end of each season?

Christine: There are key pieces that I will have on my list that I will purchase at the beginning simply because I cannot wait.  I also won’t wait to purchase good basics as they never seem to stay on the racks long enough. But the trendy items I leave towards the end; simply because I don’t mind being a couple of months behind everybody else.

Courtesy of Seven Dollar Pants

Pony: Do you ever disagree with each other on what looks good? How has your style evolved since working together?

Julie: Sometimes we disagree, but it’s rare. We genuinely appreciate each others style. I don’t think mine’s changed that much since we started working together, but we do tend to influence each other here and there when it comes to seasonal trends.

Christine: If anything, I believe we have positively influenced each other. I definitely think that I have been more conscious of what I wear every day since starting the blog. Julie is more of an accessories girl so I’ve learned from her.

Pony: And how would you describe your sense of style?

Julie: My style is a comfortable, unique-chic. I tend to wear stand out pieces; I always accessorize, and I like to look and feel comfortable in all my outfits whether it’s at a party, going to work, traveling, or walking around on the weekends.

Christine: My style changes everyday – I really can’t describe it.  I remember reading in Harper’s Bazaar that your twenties are the time to experiment with personal style and I guess I really took that to heart.

For daily updated tips on deals, Toronto hot-spots, bargain purchases, and living a fabulous life on a budget – head over to Seven Dollar Pants to see what Julie and Christine are wearing today!

Courtesy of Seven Dollar Pants

– Emma Farquharson

Courtesy of Google Images

The Cowgirls love the finer things in life – that much is true. Foley & Corinna, Fendi, Ferragamo… fabulous. But there’s always a breaking point: when you’re showing the saleswomen at Holts photos from your sister’s wedding, you realize it’s time to detox. Our addictive personalities can only handle so much, and yet, there’s always been one substance that we’ve been content in abusing on a daily basis: Halls.

We’ve had this problem for about ten years now. Here’s why:

The Shape: That little dent in the cough drop makes for a perfect resting spot against a molar. It’s not too small that it breaks down and gets eaten within seconds (like a Lifesaver) but not too big that you could choke on it (Werther’s Original).

The Taste: Chewing gum freshens your breath. Halls freshens your brain. The mentho-lyptus clears your sinus even when it’s not congested. It’s a fabulous feeling, one of which we’ve graduated to the Extra Strength variety.

The Packaging: The large bags of Halls save us on both time and money. It’s like a 24-case of beer sitting conveniently in your purse – except the intoxication is disguisable.

It’s turned into more of a lifestyle choice if anything. Becoming a Hall-coholic is not something that happens overnight. When a drug like this is legal and purchasable over the cashier counter like candy, it makes it fairly easy to become an addict. It’s not even clear as to what the long-term effects of daily Halls intake is.

We’re not telling you this so you embrace addiction or anything, we’re just trying to come clean. We’ve heard horror stories about other ponies addicted to Diet Coke, coffee, Tic-Tacs, etc. and they have no intention of seeking help. Got a problem? Need somebody to confide in or cry on? Fill us in @MushyPony :)

– The Cowgirls.