Monday To Saturday 11a.m. to 6p.m.
Italian luxury you can afford
Next season’s impeccable McQueen suit. Those unbelievable Chanel bag. The buttery Roberto Cavali shirt that fits like a glove. These are the clothes that dreams are made of. But because big-name Italian designs command impossibly high prices, most people can only afford to dream, not buy.
Unless they know Le Firme. Owner John De Laurentiis have made it his mission to offer sophisticated Torontonians the best in Italian fashion at reasonable, attainable prices. Their three GTA locations, plus his LF Clearence store carry all the top Italian lines at up to 80% less than downtown boutiques.
It’s a remarkable deal, and Le Firme has developed a loyal clientele that gladly makes the trip to the outskirts of town. Plus, they’ve been featured in the NY Times Fall Fashion Magazine, Toronto Star, Toronto Life Fashion and Toronto Life’s annual “Where to Get Good Stuff Cheap” guide for their huge assortment of Italian designer fashions and accessories for men and women.
Price-conscious fashionistas take note: driving a few km out of the downtown core gets you the hottest looks from the runways of Milan for a fraction of the price most people pay. DeLaurentiis goes on buying trips to Italy up to five times a year, and using carefully developed connections with small manufacturers of luxury brands, he snap up over-runs and cancelled orders. It’s an approach he likes to call “guerilla retailing,” and it allows him to buy items meant for the Italian market, and bring them to Canada up to two years ahead of everyone else.
Le Firme also offers private label suits that are comparable in quality and style to the big names, but retail for a lot less. On his trips to Italy, DeLaurentiis buys cloth used in the manufacture of luxury brands, then have the suits made by tailors at the same factories that produce Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. The suits start at an unbelievable $795.00.
The store also has great sales, but the only way you can find out about them is to be on their mailing list. To get on it, you can send them an email at lefirme@aol.ca, but if you want to get the full fashion experience, drop by one of their three stores when you have some time to sip a free espresso and browse. The knowledgeable staff will really take care of you – they’ll help you with colour, cut and style, and work with you to find just the right items for your build and personality.
“You’ll get excellent service, great selection and free alterations, all in a warmer, friendlier atmosphere than Holt’s or any of the Bloor St. boutiques – but with the same high-quality merchandise.” says DeLaurentiis. “Why pay more for made-in-Italy fashions when you don’t have to?”
Le Firme locations:
Richmond Hill: 95 East Beaver Creek Road, Unit #3, 905 707 8727
North Toronto: 2700 Dufferin St., Unit #64, 416 780 9950
Mississauga: 3100 Ridgeway Dr., Unit #31 905 608 1998
www.lefirme.com
Monday To Saturday 11a.m. to 6p.m.