Five statement-worthy fall styles you need to add to your look book.
As the leaves start to paint the town in their vibrant reds and oranges—and pumpkin spice everything makes a triumphant comeback—we can all agree on one thing: fall is back. But this season, let’s also agree to leave our tired neutral palettes at the door and dive fearlessly into a world of colour. With that in mind, SOREL is on a mission to help fashion lovers on their colour-confidence journey through the launch of its vibrant new Fall 2023 Caribou X collection™.
This unique collection takes cues from the iconic Caribou boot—embracing the spirit of the Caribou with bold new silhouettes made for lasting style and wearability. Introducing five show-stopping styles that will elevate your fall wardrobe, the collection features radiant oranges and greens as well as grounding creams and beiges, for an overall palette that is bold and vibrant yet still approachable and perfect for everyday looks. In line with the brand’s overarching mission, these boots are designed with both fashion and function in mind. They’re made with durable materials to withstand the season’s unpredictable climate and designed to seamlessly and stylishly transition from day to night. All five styles are also lightweight, offering utilitarian comfort and a perfect blend of street style and all-weather function.
To celebrate the launch of this new collection, SOREL teamed up with Hudson’s Bay to create three exclusive pop-up shops in Yorkdale Mall, Downtown Montreal, and Downtown Vancouver. These shops will showcase the new SOREL Fall 2023 collection in a bold way by creating a special experience for their customers. The SOREL shop in Yorkdale Mall in Toronto will be hosting an event on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will music and light refreshments, and guests will be able to discover the new Caribou X collection and shop the range of footwear from SOREL, plus receive a complimentary gift and customization from a local artist. They are also invited to see the custom art installation by Toronto artist, Briony Douglas
To help showcase these bold footwear designs, FASHION teamed up with five Toronto-based creatives and dressed them in eye-catching fall looks styled around the Caribou X Collection. Meet our friends below.
Dorian Who, Designer and founder of the Dorian Who fashion brand.
Dorian Who is an Iranian-Canadian fashion designer based in Toronto, who has always loved to push the envelope with her bold looks. In 2019, she decided to express her originality on a whole new level by launching her own avant-garde street-style brand, Dorian Who.
“I’ve always tried to stand out with my clothes, even as a kid when I was growing up in a country where that wasn’t the norm,” says Who, who was born and raised in Tehran. “I was always confident; I didn’t care what other people thought. I love to express myself through fashion, and that’s how my clothing line was born.”
The designer shared that this collaboration with SOREL is especially meaningful because when she first moved to Canada in 2015, she participated in a competitive photo shoot for the veteran footwear brand and got to model and keep a pair of their boots, which she still wears today.
For her vibrant fall look, we styled Who in the Caribou Royal Boot featuring the seasonal colour from SOREL, Optimized Orange and teamed it with a vibrant teal lace-up top; and a black and white cropped blazer and white wide-leg cargo pant from her very own Bloom collection.
Briony Douglas, visual artist, photographer, director and illustrator
Briony Douglas is an award-winning Toronto-based artist who does everything from painting to directing to building 20-foot-tall sculptures. “I essentially took arts and crafts to a professional level,” she jokes. Douglas recently added the SOREL Polar Bear to her portfolio, a one-of-a-kind piece she designed exclusively for the Hudson’s Bay Yorkdale location SOREL shop which is made with recycled plastic straws to create the illusion of the iconic Polar Bear’s fur.
When it comes to her personal style, Douglas shapeshifts between formal and street-style looks but always loves making a statement. For footwear, she prefers sneakers and leans toward comfort while still playing with bright hues and patterns, which is why SOREL’s new collection from SOREL appeals to her.
“I love that they’re being bold and using so many bright colours,” she says. “Colour is so important in my work because I want to evoke feelings of happiness. I love that they’re prioritizing the same thing.”
Keeping colour front of mind, we styled Douglas in the Caribou X Chelsea boots in Canoe, Tippet and paired them with an edgy blue denim dress and white turtleneck top.
Hannah Arsovski is a Toronto-based model with an eye for fashion. She has dabbled in designing and sewing pieces herself, and dreams of delving deeper into that creative space in the future. Ninety-eight per cent of her closet is either thrifted, vintage, gifted or made from scratch. For footwear, she usually leans toward a statement boot.
“I love that all these SOREL boots have a chunky sole and an overall different look and feel. They’re always on trend,” says Arsovski. “I really like making a statement with my shoes, so incorporating these pairs into outfits is going to be amazing.”
We styled Arsovski in a flirty leopard-print mock-neck dress and paired it with an oversized brown blazer and a vibrant pair of Caribou X Lace boots in Ceramic, Optimized Orange.
Kiki + Lola Zhao, twins, media planners, models and content creators
Kiki and Lola Zhao are talented twins who work as media planners, models and content creators and also manage a Yorkville clothing boutique on the side. Their love for fashion and using their clothing as a form of expression strings these different roles together. While both sisters always aim for comfort above everything in their looks (including footwear), Kiki gravitates toward street style, while Lola loves crafting more formal, retro looks.
“It’s great that SOREL is leaning more toward the bold and fun side with their designs this season. There are a ton of different colours and fun elements going on,” says Kiki, adding that she’s excited to incorporate these stylish boots to her personal collection.
We styled Kiki and Lola in matching royal blue monochromatic looks. Kiki’s rocking the optimized orange Caribou Clog paired with patchy wide-leg jeans, a vibrant blue denim shacket and a lime green crop top, while Lola is wearing the bleached ceramic, gum Caribou X Shoe with a bright blue denim skirt and blue faux leather jacket.
Shop the full SOREL Caribou X Collection available now in-store and online at Hudson’s Bay.
Photography by Lawrence Cortez
Videography by Charles Vary