A Tour of Toronto Style-Makers

Toronto reigns as Canada's undisputed cultural cauldron, exemplifying how the Great White North is in a unique transept of style. It may be impossible for Canucks to avoid basking in U.S. imports, but a good, stiff breeze from Europe (a Commonwealth nation, Canada looks more often to London than New York) keeps things interesting.

But if you think Canada merely summons the image of bushy-bearded lumbersexuals hewing cords of wood, flannels flying, think again.

Anything Goes

Style mavens will recognize the name John Allan - ironically, a Yankee - from his salons in New York and Los Angeles, but when he set his sights on a Toronto location, he made sure his staff wasn't aping the States.

"Trends for men in Toronto are the clean tight fade, with the shaved side part, a modern 'Mad Men' look," observes Kelly Lovelock, Club Director of the chic John Allan's in Toronto's Hudson Bay section.

Conversely, she also notes, "But a percentage of our clients love the floppy Johnny Depp/River Phoenix type hair. Our clients look for versatile styles."

Shannon McIntyre, manager and barber at Mankind and Nancy Haddad, a barber/stylist at The Original Grooming Experts, also acknowledges fades, but add that Toronto's anything-goes attitude and diversity act as a permanent font of change, and keeps them busy.

"Toronto style is 'want what you want,'" says McIntyre.

"Every one has their own style, people aren't afraid to be open in their style," Haddad adds, predicting the fade will itself fade for a look hiding the scalp.

But whether it is the now or the next, "Guys like quick, professional, service, especially in the financial district where we are located," Lovelock tells EDGE, beaming how she and her staff can get a man ship-shape in under 30 minutes (although "The Full Signature Service," which includes shampoo and scalp massaging conditioning treatment, hot towel and shoulder massage, hair cut, manicure, drink and shoe shine may take a little longer).

Once thought to be a dying breed, the art of the barber (as opposed to "stylist") is going through a renaissance among Toronto's men. Albeit updated and modern, to walk into Mankind or John Allen's is to walk through a time warp back to the days when a spinning barber's pole meant an experience beyond a simple hair-cut, but done in a one-stop shot.

Conquering the Coif and Beyond

And Torontonians take their all-in-ones seriously.

"We do try to be more about style versus trends, which more guys need help with," notes style-maker Melissa Austria, whose GOTSTYLE space covers hair, dress, shoes, and accessories all in one destination. Once the coif is conquered, customers can choose from packaging ranging from dressed up jogging pants (that you can wear in public) to bold floral prints for the fashionista and double-breasted blazers for a night on the town.

Austria operates on a theme hinted at by Lovelock, that Canadian men want the maximum punch in minimum time; GOTSTYLE covers formal, casual, and even hair and grooming all in one destination, and Austria prides herself on seeing the underlying strengths, and weaknesses, of each season's looks.

Says McIntyre, "Everybody was doing the comb-over, but I think it is starting to change out."

"We educate our clients as much as we can," adds Lovelock, "getting their timing down and knowing what is always in fashion."

There is a saying about being an educated consumer, because Haddad adds a final, fearless trait among Torontonians: "They see it, they want it, they do it."

Toronto's Queer West Film Festival runs August 7-9. Style accordingly.