A few weeks ago, I received an invitation from the Oshawa Centre to check out their newest fashions for Fall 2013.
Cue the confusion. Oshawa Centre? Fashion? Now don’t get me wrong, but I’ve actually never equated the OC with style. After all, we’re talking about a mall whose anchor store, Sears, bares a decrepit, previous-generation logo that is normally seen flashed across liquidation centres, not fashion malls. However, since the Oshawa Centre is just steps away from my in-laws, and as a shopaholic, I am an equal-opportunity fashionista, I accepted the invitation to visit the centre and check out what’s in store for Fall.
First good sign: I looked past the King Street/Sears entrance. The main entrance to the mall is actually very well designed; welcoming, architecturally interesting and in keeping with their newly refurbished look. I entered the mall with an adjusted attitude….
… and immediately, I realized that my prejudices were completely unfounded. Inside – the Oshawa Centre is chic, contemporary and frankly, quite gorgeous.
A brief history of the mall:
“Oshawa Centre opened in 1956. It began as an open-air shopping centre and in the early days included only 28 stores in its directory – just one sixth of the size that it is today. The 10 million dollar project was coined ‘Canada’s Most Beautiful Shopping Centre’ and housed the historic Eaton’s of Canada as its major anchor store. The centre undertook a major renovation into a completely indoor mall complex in 1968, renovated again in 1994, and redesigned the south end in 2009 to include H&M, Sport Chek, and Shoppers Drug Mart. Today, Oshawa Centre has grown into a 1,219,962 square foot super-regional shopping centre serving as Durham’s fashion, service, and entertainment hub.”
With fashion-forward retailers such as H&M, Melanie Lyne, Danier Leather, Aldo Shoes, Guess and Rockport – to name a few – it’s pretty clear that Oshawa Centre is a prime contender for one-stop shopping, including affordable and trendy fashion options. Colour me impressed! And, for shoppers in Durham Region, it’s a great alternative to braving the traffic flowing into the city.
Back to the purpose of the invitation – myself, along with four (4) other fashion bloggers, were invited to come and take photos of our favourite fall fashion finds (say that 10 times fast). We perused the retailers, found the trends that spoke to us, and snapped away! And, a compilation of our photos has been published on the Oshawa Centre Style Approved Pinterest Board!
Simply re-pin or “like” your favourite trendy picks for Fall 2013. Then head on over to Facebook, where you can enter the Oshawa Centre Style Approved Contest for a chance to win one of three $500 Fall Shopping Sprees!
I’ll be returning to the mall this week for another go at finding on-trend, covet-worthy pieces. In the meantime, be sure to check out all the Style Approved photos, and good luck!
Great finds at the OC Lena. I live in Ajax but usually frequent Pickering Mall instead but OC centre, I believe, is a lot trendier.
I definitely think it’s time to get your trendy self to the OC, Tricha!
Colour you impressed? Colour ME impressed! I live in Pickering but have never visited Oshawa Centre because I thought it was nothing more than a glorified strip mall. Guess I was wrong! Will have to visit. Thanks Lena!
Do pop in for a visit Alexandra, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
I’ve grown up with the Oshawa Centre and you wouldn’t believe the facelift its had. You’re prejudices were not way off if you had visited the mall pre/2005. They’ve made a lot of upgrades and now have decent stores. It’s a good mall, happy to see it in the spotlight for a change.
p.s. Where can I find that leopard print handbag?
Good to know Jolee, thanks so much for sharing your feedback! And you can find the handbag at Dynamite!
Good to know about Dynamite – I NEED that bag – great finds Lena!
I am going back today and TOTALLY buying it!!!
Lena, Great finds. Having grown up with the OC as my “close Mall” I have come to frequented it. However when I moved North it was years before I walked in the doors. Recently I found myself checking it out and yes I was surprised. They did some major upgrades over the last 3 years and I was surprised just how in style the OC was. Glad you style approved it, Oshawa could use some love.
Thanks so much Tammy! It’s great to hear that you’ve witnessed the style revolution first hand. I’m loving so many of the blogger picks!
I’ve never been there how sad am I, it’s not as if I have never been to Oshawa as my brother and his family live there. Now I need to win this so I have to go there!
Oh and I pinned http://pinterest.com/pin/284712007666340827/
Thanks for pinning Debbie, and you definitely must visit!
Great finds! A little too far for me to drive to check out but it looks like a nice mall.
LOL, I realize that this review is more relevant to those in the GTA, but at least you know it’s an awesome mall to visit if you’re ever in town!
The mall looks great! It has all my favourite stores with their trendy merchandise. Although I don’t live in the area, I have close friends who live in Oshawa so will definitely stop by on a shopping spree. Thanks Lena!
Love to hear that Marissa! You’ll have to let me know what you pick up on your spree!
Looks like a fantastic shopping mecca!
It’s definitely one of the better malls east of Toronto, Anne!
I used to go to the OC a lot before I moved out of the area. There were always interesting cart vendors there as well as a plethora of fabulous stores. It certainly is a super gift shopping place, I don’t think I even discovered half of the stores in there since its overhaul in 2009.
Apparently they had a HUGE overhaul in 2009. It’s funny, because when I first met my husband in 2005, I remember visited the mall, and it looked SO MUCH BETTER when I returned last week. Definitely lots of fashion going on!
No chance I’ll be making a trip to this mall but I must say I love that animal print bag!
The good news? It’s from Dynamite, so you likely have one near you!
I frequented OC years ago and absolutely hated it. It had a bad “rep” you could say…frequent drug dealing, unruly teens in the back alleys, etc…plus it looked so dull and run down. But now it has improved its image somewhat…they do need to open up some better stores but I think what they have so far is a great start!
Oh no! See, it’s important to hear feedback like that so we can see just how far they’ve come. With stores like lululemon, Sephora, Danier, Rockport, Ben Moss Jewelers and more, they’re definitely headed in the right direction.
Haha, I was totally going to ask you about the handbag, but I didn’t even have to after I scrolled through the comments!
:) It’s a popular bag! I’m glad I took a picture of it, LOL!