Harry Rosen and son Larry at the grand opening of their new store location. All photos by Erin Simkin
As I waited to interview Larry Rosen (son of menswear mammoth Harry) I can’t help but marvel at the sheer size of the new Harry Rosen location in the Eaton Centre. Located on the second floor, overlooking Queen West, the blindingly white space is 18,000 sq.ft and filled to the top with everything from t-shirts to three-piece tuxedos. With 15 locations across Canada, Harry Rosen has been the premium stop for Canada’s best dressed men for over fifty-five years. Since I so rarely get to sit down with experts on menswear, I tried to assail Rosen with as many questions as possible in my alotted fifteen minutes.
What are some of the trends you’re seeing right now in menswear?
“There are so many great things happening right now. Everyone knows that the slim suit is still the look. Men want their clothing to look trim and neat. They don’t want wide expression in their shoulders. The other key trend is the new soft casual jacket. Etro has a great one now that you can wear with a pair of jeans and look business casual but can also be used as a piece of outerwear. It’s a fresh new approach to dressing that men are starting to relate to.”
What kind of man does Harry Rosen design for?
“Because we specialize in men we have all ages. Our biggest growth in the last few years has been in men 18 to 30. We’re very successful with that demographic because they love fashion and modern expression. We’ve been around for 58 years and really, we specialize in clothing Canada’s leaders, people who want quality and want to express themselves. That’s what we do. We’re really advisors; our people are well trained in the ins and outs of menswear and helping our customers get the most out of their wardrobe. Every man has a different personality and a different way they want to look. We try to understand each man and help him put together those pieces that will help him achieve what he wants.”
What happened to make 18 to 30-year-old men decide to shape up their wardrobes?
“The younger people aren’t afraid to spoil themselves by buying something nice. They like quality. It’s a new generation, they have different attitudes, perceptions and influences. We find this generation will invest in quality. They’d rather buy one great suit than have three crappy suits. Since we’re the ones who sell those great suits, we benifit from that trend. They have a discerning eye and want to look professional. It’s a different attitude of course, they’ll wear an open neck shirt without a tie but they have a sense of purpose when they dress and I find it very exciting.”
What is missing from modern men’s wardrobes?
“Men really understand how to dress up for a formal occasion with a suit and they understand how to dress for the weekend. I think what’s missing from their wardrobe are the middle pieces, the ones that are dressy casual. The pieces that are appropriate for daytime but also going out in the evening. They don’t get that middle wardrobe right whether it’s shoes, jackets….the middle ground is where men have the most trouble.”
Who would you say has iconic menswear style?
“Firstly my father, the greatest man of style in the country. Even at the age of 81 he’s an inspiration to us all. He’s a young thinking, cool guy with great vision. He lets me run the ship these days but he’s an extraordinary thinker. Otherwise, I’d have to say George Clooney, he always looks so great. James Bond is 50 this year and is still a fashion icon.”
What is the most important accessory every man should own?
“It’s changed. For younger men, the messenger bag is a very cool accessory. Having that bag with all your stuff in it slung over your shoulder makes you look so professional. For younger men….not the old guys.”
What would you recommend for an understated guy to wear?
“A navy blazer is a great item paired with a nice pair of trousers and a cool shirt. It’s elegant but not in your face. A dark, dressy two-piece suit is a smart choice that always works. If you’re unsure, just wear it with a white or striped shirt and an open neck.”
Do you have a favourite piece in the store?
“I like the red pants from Citizens of Humanity. I have one pair already but we have the new fall version. Pair it with a navy blazer and go out to dinner. This colour trouser is a huge trend right now.”
What is the message behind Harry Rosen?
“We are Canada’s menswear clothing experts. For fifty-eight years we know men, we understand men and we’ve made generations of Canada’s leaders look like leaders. We intend on doing it for another 300 years. We’re very proud of that tradition and we’re very proud of who we are. We don’t want to do anything else. We want to grow and continue to be a leading expert in helping men express themselves.”
Why move the store and double the size?
“I’m from Toronto and nothing reflects this city like the Eaton Centre, it’s truly the urban centre. When we were given the opportunity to express ourselves with a position in a prominent corner of the mall overlooking Queen Street, we really took it seriously and got our store designer to give us a design that really suits urban Toronto: it’s light, it’s airy and it’s fashionably modern. We’re so proud of being Canadian, we wanted something really unique.”
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Bianca Teixeira writes about style for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at @BeeLauraTee.
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