Originally opened in 1959 as Oakridge Centre, the mall was developed by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) on a then-undeveloped 32-acre forested site at West 41st Avenue and Cambie Street. Built with a construction budget of $25 million, the open-air shopping centre became Vancouver’s first major mall, anchored by the Woodward’s department store and surrounded by 2,500 surface parking spaces.

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Walking through the front doors of the new Oakridge Park reveals just how much Vancouver has evolved over the decades — from a quiet forestry town into a global city preparing to host FIFA and attract visitors from around the world.

Offering a luxury shopping experience

The all-new Oakridge Park is centred entirely around luxury retail. There are no fast-fashion outlets here. Instead, shoppers stroll along expansive granite floors lined with brands ranging from local favourites such as Lululemon and Aritzia to prestigious European fashion houses including Louis Vuitton, Brunello Cucinelli, and Bvlgari.

Surprisingly, several luxury boutiques, including Dior, were still not open despite the redevelopment having been underway for more than a decade. Most remaining tenants are expected to be operational by the fall.

Inside the mall, suspended glass art installations hang overhead, including a small indoor amphitheatre with church-style wooden pews that provides space for live performances and cultural programming.

Time Out Market

Located above the shopping centre is the new Time Out Market, the internationally recognized food hall concept founded in Lisbon with locations around the world. My most recent visit to a Time Out Market was in Barcelona last year, and stepping into the Vancouver location immediately brought back memories of enjoying authentic Spanish paella.

The food hall promises an elevated culinary and cultural experience, featuring cuisine from some of the city’s top chefs. Visitors can choose from 18 kitchens, three bars, a coffee shop, and a main stage dedicated to arts and cultural events.

Dining here, however, comes at a premium. The Le Croc burger from Feenie’s starts at $27.99, add foie gras, port wine jus and truffle fries, and your tab climbs to $72.96, not including tip and tax.

Most seating consists of large communal bench-style tables accommodating up to 1,000 guests. During the summer months, visitors can also dine outdoors on the rooftop patio while enjoying some of Vancouver’s best people-watching.

Luxury fashion and dining converges at Oakridge Park

Oakridge Park’s upscale retail tenant mix targets affluent shoppers and has historically posted the highest sales per square metre among malls across Canada.

Strategically located between downtown Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport, with access to the Skytrain, Oakridge Park appears well-positioned for long-term success despite a recent slowdown in global luxury goods spending.

Beneath the mall are 2,000 underground parking spaces, including 200 electric vehicle charging stations. Valet parking is available on the P1 level at both the north and south atriums, while the first two levels of underground parking remain free for up to three hours.

The Oakridge Park redevelopment was approved by the City of Vancouver in 2014 as a then-$1.5-billion project. Since then, it has expanded into a $5-billion development that includes five luxury condominium towers nearing occupancy, future office towers, and a proposed street-style shopping district still awaiting a construction timeline.

From luxury fashion to contemporary streetwear, Oakridge Park aims to bring together some of the world’s most established and innovative names in fashion. Vancouver has certainly grown since its beginnings. 

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If you have visited any luxury hotels or resorts, you’ve surely noticed that wealthy women never carry large handbags. Take a close look at the handbag collections of Dior, Chanel or Hermes and you’ll note that many of their bags are small and unobtrusive. The ultra-rich rarely need to carry anything themselves.

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Unlike many consumers, with fashion, the ultra-rich shy away from designer logos and conspicuous consumption. It’s like attending the Pebble Beach Concours automobile show at which the spectators wear all the car logos while the owners’ dress is understated and logo-free. If you owned a million-dollar classic Rolls-Royce, would you wear a Rolls-Royce logo jacket? Probably not as you’d have nothing to prove.

For many super-rich individuals, quality is more important than any given fashion trend. By investing in high-quality, understated clothing, they can ensure that their wardrobe lasts longer and looks good for years to come. Further, super-rich people often have a high public profile and may want to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to themselves. Showing restraint in their clothing choices can help them blend in with the crowd and avoid being recognized or photographed.

While flashy clothing can be a way of displaying wealth, many wealthy individuals prefer a more subtle approach. By wearing expensive, well-made, and unassuming clothing, they can still demonstrate their wealth and status to those who are in the know, while avoiding the negative attention that can come with ostentatious displays.

In some cultures, displaying wealth openly can be seen as distasteful or inappropriate. By dressing in a more understated manner, wealthy individuals can avoid giving the impression that they are flaunting their wealth or acting in a socially inappropriate way.

Quiet luxury fashions

Fashion is a powerful communication tool that even the ultra-rich use to communicate messages about themselves. For the very rich, style is all about luxurious fabrics, classic silhouettes, good fit and tasteful color palettes. Think Max Mara, Dries van Noten, Brunello Cucinelli, and Loro Piana. Think great lines, perfect tailoring, and exceptional craftsmanship. And the next time you are invited to a party hosted by a billionaire, leave the designer sweats at home, ditch the giant logo belt bag, and reach for something classic, gorgeous, and well made. You’ll blend right in!

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