Fashion & Style
It's a Snuggie! No, Wait, It's a Hudson Bay Blanket with Sleeves
The Bay was packed with Canadiana on Tuesday night as the city's fashion crowd bumped up against canoes and sucked on fresh maple candy while checking out 10 one-of-a-kind snuggies coats crafted from the iconic Bay blankets.
Todd Lynn, Erdem, Pink Tartan, Smythe, Jeremy Laing, Comrags, Klaxon Howl, Harricana par Mariouche, Krane, and Lida Baday all sliced apart a wooly Hudsons Bay blanket or two and put them back together to make jackets that kept the warm fuzziness of the famous throw but added some fashionable flair.
The pieces were promoting the other fun new high-end items available at the Bay in the coming months, including vintage-looking hockey jerseys, engraved flasks, organic tees, reindeer-patterned scarves, and even a Bay-striped ax.
Comrags and Harricana par Mariouche created the most theatrical pieces, with Comrags' coat sporting a huge bustle and a Victorian silhouette that was inspired by our trader heritage, according to designer Joyce Gunhouse. The red curves of the gown were both contrasted and complemented by a sleek beaver-hat (or, in common parlance, top-hat) that was masculine and lady-sexy at the same time.
(I also love that Gunhouse wanted to use the crimson Bay blanket because the red would stick out--too many Torontonians spend such a huge chunk of the year wearing boring, boring, boring black. Bring on the red!)
Smythe went with the most recognizable pattern--the cream with the rainbow of stripes--and made the most wearable (and, frankly, lovely) piece with their chic short swing-coat, fastened with a chunky "Smythe-like" toggle and topped with an oversized hood.
"We thought of how people were originally wrapped in the blankets," said co-designer Christie Smythe, " So we wanted to do a more swingy, wrapped style." When I said I wished I could buy the coat, the designers agreed and said that they would've loved to have been able to keep the piece, too!
Other than Todd Lynn's sleek equestrian number and Krane's men's take, the other favourite was the aforementioned Harricana par Mariouche showpiece, which looked Native-inspired with exposed stitching, fringed hem, and miles of fur-trim.
Sometimes it's nice to go back to our roots. Especially when there's maple candy.
Photos by Adam Moco.
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Does anyone know where I can get a Snuggie instore? Walmart, Crappy Tire, Zellers?
how could you NOT love that print!
Walmart and Bed Bath and Beyond are selling Snuggies in their as seen on TV displays. You can buy Slap Chops there too!
It's so Canadian. : )
Steph,
Honest Eds and Canadian Tire both stock Snuggies.
I want that HBC canoe!!!
gross.. you should take some pics on the street if people actually wear these things.. it's an embarrassment to our country
How is this an embarrassment to our country? This is a huge part of our history, most of the original "Canada" wouldn't have been explored or founded without the Hudson Bay Company and other traders.
Those colors should appease those in GLAAD.
And their first nations guides!!
They dont like to be referred to as "first nations".
Prefer Indians and/or Eskimoes.
are the buttons on that blanket-coat made out of cross sections of (deer)antlers? because if so that's fucking awesome!
this post made me feel so warm and fuzzy about my heritage, thanks!
I seriously want that Smythe coat. So gorgeous and so Canadian!!
check out www.soggycheerio.com for a pretty cool toronto based blog
Ah, so that'll be why the Signature/Heritage/Whateveritscalled section of The Bay was closed for four hours on a Tuesday afternoon before Christmas. Helpfully they don't stock those products elsewhere instore either. Yes, this is just a whinge.
You do all realize that HBC was taken over by an American firm recently, right? meaning all of these beloved prints and coats are tarnished and a fraud. They own our oldest company HBC, they own Harper, and soon probally a province or two...
Hudson Bay coats and jackets have been around for decades. I am scratching my head at the "novelty" of this concept.
There is as "Seen on TV" store at Promenade Mall. Bathurst Street and Clarke, in Vaughan. They have all styles in store.
Happy Shopping
G
Has anyone had a chance to check out Holt Renfrew's pop-up shop on 560 King West? I was there this morning and I have some exclusives from Barbara Atkin (VP Fashion Direction) and Jackie Charest (Marketing Director).
Come check it out
http://bit.ly/5UXWZo
Is that faux fox fur? The eyes and nose look comical.
OMG!! i love the coat...wait so theres only 10 coats with this style?
=/ I want it. does anyone know how much it is?
The Bay has made coats, sweaters, and all sorts of other apparel with this pattern.... the blanket is just the repeat staple each year.
garbage!
There were lots of neat blanket coats like this made in the 40s through 70s. Check ebay, there are always a few dozen in the vintage clothing section.
There were dead animals?
Nice.
Not.
Now that IS embarrassing...