Still evolving
For 17 years Anthonys Fashion has been a mainstay for men’s fashion in Saskatoon. During that time the store has evolved to meet the changing needs of its clientele.
In 2015, owner Anthony Graham-Cutts made the decision to expand the store from selling just menswear to add fashions for women. Since then, he’s continued to gauge interest and feedback from customers on specific brands and price points.
“I think we’re seeing a progression as far as labels go,” says Graham-Cutts. “With every season you get a different colour palette and different design ideas… We’re always looking for new innovative lines that are interesting and little bit different.”
Just like on the men’s side, the store not only carries clothing for women, but shoes, jewellery, and other accessories – everything you need for building a fashion forward wardrobe.
The store has added some new women’s labels such as Only, M Made in Italy, Jacqueline de Yong, B. Young and Kaffe. The goal is to find pieces that are youthful, fashion-oriented, and high quality.
“If you’re investing some dollars in it, you want something that’s going to last,” he adds.
Anthonys Fashion has lots of choices for men and women this spring. In shoes, suede and nubuck are everywhere. Suede tends to be harder to maintain in the fall, but thanks to the drier prairie spring, Saskatonians can indulge in lots of strappy sandals and spring-time footwear in a softer look of nubuck or suede.
“Suedes and nubuck add a little bit of texture and are a little bit airier for spring,” says Graham-Cutts.
For men’s suiting this spring, Graham-Cutts and his team are seeing lighter shades of blue. “I know in the last few seasons we’ve seen that hot bright blue was really popular,” he notes. “We’re seeing a bit of a dusty blue come through (this year) as an alternative. More of a grey blue. Just as a nice fresh take.”
Another big colour for men is a smoky plum. It’s a softer tone that might be popular for men who want colour without a lot of flash. There are dress shirts and t-shirts which can add a little spring into your wardrobe or full suit coats in this mauve-plum.
On the women’s side there’s a variety of colours to be found. Accents of corals, raspberries and shades of green reflect warmer weather and natural colours. GrahamCutts looks for opportunities to form entire outfits without using black or grey, a difficult feat for some women who might find their wardrobe stuck in the darker tones of winter.
“You can go into a store and see black-white-grey everywhere,” says Graham-Cutts. “We’re conscious of that fact, so we’re trying to offer an alternative. Especially for core pieces that we know women have got in their wardrobe and they’re looking for something a little different.”
There are also a lot of blues in the store this spring, which Graham-Cutts notes is flattering on a lot of people. “Blues tend to be softer on fairer skin tones, so they’re not as harsh as a black would be.”
The printed sleeveless blouse is also making a splash for the ladies. This versatile piece can be a nice addition to a great pair of jeans or a great pop of colour and patterns under a jacket or suit.
On the men’s side, the focus is on grad and weddings so formalwear is all the rage, along with all the accoutrements that go with it. Suspenders, belts, pocket squares, and bowties are just some of the additions men can add to make their next occasion truly special.
These accessories are especially great for guys who don’t want a special occasion to look like just another day at work.
No matter your fashion sense, Graham-Cutts and his team can help you add some spring to your closet this season. Anthonys Fashion is located at 234 First Avenue South.