Max MacDonald Archives

Thomas Sabo shines in black and white
Jul 20 2012 | Last fall Thomas Sabo wanted you to think of Asia and the magic of the Orient. This year the German jewellery company has gone monochrome with black and white pieces. Although the offerings for men were cut back, there are still a few lust-worthy pieces. The standout was a watch with a leather b
Converse gets versatile
Jul 19 2012 | Imagine a high-top that doubles as a boot, or sneakers that let you go from street to club without changing shoes. These versatile numbers, part of the Converse fall/winter 2012 collection, were recently showcased on the second floor of Hotel Ocho on Spadina Ave. Aside from the classic Chucks, which
Get packing!
Jul 14 2012 | Luggage can sometimes be like an old boyfriend: tired, worn out and no longer suited to you. Or it can be like a new one: exciting, flashy and seemingly custom fit. Max MacDonald reviews the latest so you can travel in style this summer. The Hollywood case Gays might recognize this Rimowa
North Star gallops into Magic Pony
Jun 29 2012 | Remember a few weeks ago when I said that North Star is making a comeback? I wasn’t, and they aren’t, kidding around. Only two weeks after the resurrected line’s launch at Yorkville’s Over the Rainbow, North Star has released a limited-edition collection aimed at the artsy an
ProudFM and Joe Boxer rock the Vic Pub
Jun 29 2012 | Church St came alive the evening of Thursday, June 28 with Proud FM’s fifth-anniversary party, sponsored by Joe Boxer. The celebration was held at the Vic Pub, with a corner of the patio converted into a mini runway. The runway was filled with dancers, a live DJ and a surprise performance by K
Café California adds boys and underwear to the menu
Jun 27 2012 | You know it's Pride Week when Café California on Church St holds its annual underwear show. This heavily watched runway extravaganza is held on the restaurant’s patio, where the models stand on pillars to show off their goods. Passing cars, pedestrians and most of the surrounding ar
Prohibition underwear party!
Jun 25 2012 | Vizeau has an online reputation as a premier not-safe-for-work destination. Its underwear images are repeatedly downloaded, copied and masturbated over. In fact, as many people visit the site to drool as they do to shop. Over the years Vizeau has gained an underground following of men who love its s
Harry Rosen unveils their Fall/Winter 12 Preview
Jun 21 2012 | Harry Rosen preview events are always fantastic because they give a gorgeous glimpse into the next season’s vision. Among the strategically placed mannequins and freshly polished shoes on the second floor of the Royal Conservatory of Music, I was expecting to discover a great seasonal find. Sa
Cool stuff pre-Pride: Spa My Blend by Clarins
Jun 14 2012 | In the realm of Toronto’s non-sexual spas there are the usual suspects, like elmspa on Church and the upscale Stillwater in the Park Hyatt. In comes a new and fabulously unusual player, so chic you’ll never want to leave. The Ritz-Carlton, on Wellington, has partnered with Clarins t
Pre-Pride primpin’
Jun 12 2012 | The sight of Super Soakers being dusted off, drag queens in rehearsals, boutiques being raided, personal trainers juggling clients, tanning beds glowing like Easy-Bake Ovens and hairdressers dissolving in tears can mean only one thing: the countdown to Pride. Whether your budget is $5 or $1,0
Cool pre-Pride stuff: Fuzz Wax Bar
Jun 12 2012 | As many gay men begin to get gorgeous for Toronto’s Pride Week festivities, some will be fluffing their fuzz, some will be manicuring it and others will be removing it altogether. From Friday, June 22 until Sunday, July 1, Fuzz Wax Bar on Queen St W is offering 15 percent off any waxing servic
Greg Lauren visits TNT Hazelton Lanes
Jun 05 2012 | When your last name is Lauren, you instantly pique the curiosity of the fashion press. However, when your uncle is legendary sportswear juggernaut Ralph Lauren, the world pays attention. Up-and-coming designer Greg Lauren was in Toronto recently to launch his collection at TNT Boutique in Hazelton L
Cocktails, Darling
Jun 02 2012 | The historical Winchester Kitchen & Bar Tucked in Cabbagetown is the Winchester Kitchen & Bar. Billie Holiday and Al Capone were once patrons, so the history alone is reason to stop by. More recently, Bustle’s Shawn Hewson hosted a Wear White 4 Windfall dinner in the stylish sp
North Star shines again
May 29 2012 | For fab readers who grew up in the '80s, there were three names synonymous with Canadian casual cool: Roots, Beaver Canoe and North Star. As things went in and out of fashion, so did all three names, until only one remained; Roots. Now, almost 20 years later, North Star is being dusted off and m
10 pounds by Pride
May 22 2012 | Attention, men of Toronto: we’re officially eight weeks away from Pride. The weather is heating up, clothes are coming off and many are realizing that strutting along at home to America’s Next Top Model wasn’t the best weight-loss idea. Fear not: if getting fit for Pride is on your
Roger Vivier: Process to Perfection opens
May 09 2012 | For gay men who are self-proclaimed fashion historians, realizing the power vintage couture plays on modern-day style is a given. From the launch of Christian Dior’s New Look in the '40s to the gilded age of fashion during the tux and cocktail gown '50s, Roger Vivier is always synonymo
Hot summer, cool shades
May 04 2012 | Sunglasses are a gay man’s style weapon. Without them we scuttle about like pale gremlins, shrieking, “Bright light! Bright light!” But with the right shades on our faces we can channel new personas, transforming the geek into a hipster or the fashion victim into a trendsetter. The
America’s Next Top Model Live sashays into Toronto
May 04 2012 | Warm up your wind machine, slip into some hot clothes and crank the runway music! America’s Next Top Model Live lands in Toronto this weekend, May 4, 5 and 6! This much-touted event has been blasted all over social media and has been talked about for months by gay boys and glamazon women, who
Human Nature wows
May 03 2012 | Human Nature wows Human Nature by Kallvis Gents blew everyone away at this year’s FAT. Audience expectations were high, and he kicked ass. What Gents does, which few designers do anymore, is build on his previous year’s work to make a strong, tailored statement using the shirt. Th
Brankopopovic’s artsy menswear
May 02 2012 | Can menswear go beyond the traditional? Yes, but you have to be able to wear it. Brankopopovic’s collection at FAT tries to create the harmonious marriage of futuristic design and functional menswear. Unlike other designers, he succeeds. The idea of walking about with pointy shoulders may not

Sites We Like