Toronto Uncovered

Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category

I don’t make it out to the Distillery District as much as I’d like to. I know there are tons of cool shops, restaurants and galleries to explore, but being a  West end girl I usually only travel to the East side for a reason. A couple months I went to support the relaunch of Hoi Bo, a clothing boutique my friend works at. The show was great, and the clothes totally gorgeous. I even made away with a super cool hand painted gold t-shirt. But the best part of the night was the discovery, trial, and error of this “ride”.  If you have ever wondered what it would be like to ride a real life conveyor belt, wonder no longer! Unfortunately for the rider (my fearless boyfriend), the security guard wasn’t nearly as inspired or impressed as the rest of us. Luckily we got a video of it – pretty hilarious.

In recent years, the faux-vintage indie scene appears to have taken our city by storm.  I cite the replacement of many funky Queen Street shops, specifically between Spadina and University, with chain stores like H&M and Urban Outfitters as my evidence. Don’t get me wrong, I like both those stores but I miss the authentic vintage ambiance of “Old Queen”. Yard sales and flea markets are rare in urban cities, which is a shame because in a world where we’ve become so tech and trend obsessed sometimes a little nostalgic taste of the past can be good for the soul.

Fortunately, St. Lawrence Market is our metropolis’s retro oasis and its located right downtown at Front and Jarvis. It’s all too easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of contemporary city life and take for granted many of life’s simple pleasures. Get back down to earth by visiting St. Lawrence as soon as you can and might I specifically suggest you do so on the weekend. After an eventful Friday and Saturday a friend and I spent our lazy Sunday browsing the St. Lawrence indoor and outdoor flea market (Sunday Antique Market).  We came upon many marvels such as antique furniture, funky glassware, rare vinyl, retro albeit fully functional turntables, vintage clothes, watches and jewelry and so much more.


Personally, I was delighted upon the discovery of a box of plush toys that took me right back to my childhood. Finding Care Bears was amazing but I was blown away to stumble upon a My Pet Monster with the cuffs intact. Another great benefit about the flea market is that the vendors are informative without being pushy. They’re also incredibly friendly and funny people to talk to so it’s a great place to go especially if you’re a social butterfly and/or new to the city.

Keep an eye out for celebrity sightings such as Colonel Sanders and Aunt Jemima. Alright, so actually they were just a couple of quirky figurines that we noticed were for sale and as tacky as they were it was still delightfully amusing to discover them amongst the sea of memorabilia.

The flea market will appeal to those of you looking for a bargain or a treasure hunt and, with some vendors selling old stamps and coins, it’s also a collector’s paradise.

Every spring I do a big shop for my summer basics: plain tees, tank tops, beach shorts, sandals and summer shoes. I’m not picky, the clothes need to last at least one season and be reasonably priced, that way if something happens to them, it really doesn’t matter. Year after year I find myself in the same stores that meet this criteria:

H&M: Say what you will about H&M, but their tanks, tees and shorts are perfect for getting you through the summer. You can load up on all the basics you need, walk away with tons of clothes, and only spend 100 bucks. If something happens to the top you spent $5.95 on, so what? I always stock up at H&M.

American Apparel: A little pricier than H&M, yes, but American Apparel has provided me with countless tees, tanks, belts and light summer dresses, all in fun and bright colours (which I LOVE). The brighter the better! And you can shop online!

Jacob: I have been shopping at Jacob since I was 15 years old. Their clothes always fit me really well, last a few seasons and never cost an arm and a leg. Their clothes have a bit more style and form than H&M or American Apparel and definitely last longer.

For footwear, I usually buy some new white sneakers and a few pairs of ballet slippers. My trip to Brazil last year left me rich in Havianas, but otherwise I would pick up a pair of those as well. Some stores that I frequent are Little Burgundy (Queen Street West and Eaton Centre locations), Get Outside (Queen Street West) and Payless (mainly for their ballet slippers).

Where do you go for your summer basics?

I know I’m not alone when I say I love shoes. I love love love love love them. No matter how many pairs you have, it seems you never have quite enough and you can ALWAYS use more. When my boyfriend presented me with a gift certificate to Shoes of Prey, a website where I could design my own shoes and then have them shipped to me, I knew he was a keeper. I was amazed!



The website is pretty awesome. You get to select the shape and style of your shoes, and test different heals, fabric, colours, and decorations (bows etc.). After playing with a ton of different variations I realized how daunting the task really was. The pressure was on to design the most perfect shoe for myself to sport this summer, and design I did.  I went through a number of different designs before finally settling on the ones I named Red Red Wine. I submitted my order along with my feet size and a picture of my feet to help them with sizing,  just in case I had any weird extra toes. I received a personalized email  letting me know that they had received the order and that I could expect my shoes in 6 weeks. The countdown was on.

Due to the high volume and recent popularity of the site, my shoes of prey actually took closer to 8 weeks to arrive, but I got a $10.00 credit along with an actual picture of them to make up for it.  When they did finally make it to my door step, the wait was well worth it. The shoes were beautiful, exactly as I had hoped and they fit perfectly. Shoes of Prey even sent me insoles and a personal, handwritten note about my shoes which was an unexpected but appreciated touch.

Girls: If you’re looking for a pair of shoes that are really YOU, there’s no better way than to design them yourself.

Guys: Honestly, this was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. You’ll score big points with this gift idea.

Best Boyfriend In The World: THANK YOU!

Hello boys and girls, hope you’re all safe and sound! I will be sharing some thoughts about Toronto’s fashion and style on a regular basis. I’ll do my best to introduce you to the newest trends, stores, designers and sales.

North York is the heart of the Canadian retail/fashion industry, with many international brands represented by different distributors. This is a great opportunity to come and check out the area and the various fashion showrooms to stock up on what you’ll need for the coming seasons.  I would suggest making use of this Seasonal Wardrobe Checklist to catalog your current wardrobe and help you identify items from your closet that you might be missing. This is just a bare-bones boy version, but you can definitely add to it. Girls – you’ll have to make some changes and work a little harder, but I know you’re used to it.

Some showrooms to make sure you cross off your list include the following:

Triluxe: Men’s suits, shirts, golf ware, denim and more. Tons of great stuff for ladies as well. Brands include JLindeberg, Sand, Pringle of Scotland and more!

C2 Apparel: Cheap Monday, Ksubi/Ksubi Eyewear, Roques Gallery and more!

Agency One : Buddhist Punk, Relgion, House of Gods, Ringspun and lots more.

Triangle Impact : Nolita, Ra-re, Parajupers, Belstaff, Marlboro Classic and more!

All of these showrooms are having sample sales within the next month or so – amazing discounts on high end labels.

One of my favourite games to play in November is: “Movember moustache or every day?” Sometimes, it really is hard to tell. I honestly believe you guys dress up the m0ustache throughout the month, matching your clothing with your ever evolving facial hair. If you’re sporting a Tom Selleck that day, maybe you throw on a blazer with your jeans. If its a little more of a Burt Reynolds stache, maybe you go a little cowboy. Either way, its a hilarious month, filled with giggles, double takes and maybe even the odd quick pic when you’re not looking. Now that November has come to a close, leaving your razor blades dull and upper lips smooth, Ive compiled some pictures that I thought you would appreciate… Enjoy! If you have some classic shots you want added to the real email them to me at hmorrison@torontouncovered.com.

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I have always believed that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Since the time I was young, I would join my mom in garage sale hunting and spend hours pouring over other peoples unwanted goods. From these trips, I learned to negotiate, haggle with vendors, sniff out deals, and find diamonds in any ruff. Garage sales, yard sales and flea markets still excite me to this day, which is why on many Sundays I can be found wandering around the Sunday Antique Market at the St. Lawrence Market.

The SAM, open from 5am to 5pm,  is housed in the North building at Front St. and Jarvis St. During the warmer months there are  vendors along the sidewalks and also in the smaller fountain area just West of Jarvis.  I usually spend most of my time visiting with the outdoor vendors. They sell beautiful silks, jewellery, vintage designer items, and even some new designer items (like the Dior shades I got this weekend for half the” in-store” price).  The vendors are very friendly and love to chat with their customers, but don’t let that fool you, they are also fantastic sales people.

Aside from clothing and jewellery, you will also find an endless supply of household items: shelving units, antique glassware, fondue sets, pottery, and  collectibles like comic books, stamps and coins. There is no shortage of selection or diversity. Whatever you might be looking for, you will find some variation of it here – guaranteed!

All of the vendors are local to Toronto and the surrounding area, and many own shops around town as well. Most have a story to tell and will engage you as long as you are willing to listen. This is definitely one of my favourite Sunday morning or afternoon pastimes and I rarely leave empty handed.

Labour Day weekend blessed us with some of the most beautiful weather of the summer.  I spent most of the weekend outside, either at a pool, the beach, or on a patio. When Monday rolled around, bringing with it another spectacularly sunny, warm day, I took to the streets on my bike. I was in search of somewhere to wander and shop while I killed time – Kensington Market was calling.

My favourite area of Kensington is Baldwin St to Spadina and Kensington Avenue to Dundas. I feel like this L-Block embodies the real Kensington vibe: ridiculous costumes; great vintage finds; cowboy boots and sunglasses galore; and all the trinkets, jewellery and buttons you could ever ask for.

Baldwin provides necessary nourishment before you hit the shops on Kensington Avenue. Any street that has a chocolate shop (Chocolate Addict), cheese store (Cheese Magic) and bakery (Cobs Bread)  within a 50 foot radius of each other is good in my books.

Vintage Depot is at the top of Kenington Avenue, filled with racks and racks of clothing from all different eras and fashions. Whether you’re looking for tassels or jump suits you’re sure to find it here. Just South of Vintage Depot sits Exile. This store seems small from the outside, but is actually endlessly long. The best part of this store is that everything is somewhat organized: Glitter, Wigs, Printed Tees, Boas, Glamour and so on. For any homemade costume or themed outfit Exile is a great place to start – it really has everything. As you continue South down Kensington you’ll find Butterfly and Ego which are also great for those rare vintage clothing and jewellery finds. Clic Klak Fashion Studio is filled mainly with accessories – bracelets, leggings, hats, etc.  This vintage wonderland continues South until just before Dundas. By this point, if you have any room left in your hands to carry more items, you weren’t looking hard enough.

What are your favourite shops to hit in Kensington Market?

Queen Street West is well known for its diverse  collection of unique stores and shops.  No matter how familiar you are with the strip, there is always a new discovery to be made.  A few weeks ago a I was introduced to the owner of Insider Shopping Toronto Ltd, Barbara Captijn. Barbara organizes exclusive shopping excursions in and around Toronto. She took a fellow blogger , Betty-Ann Heggie, and I along Queen Street between Bathurst and Ossington in search of stores that cater all styles and all budgets.

Our first stop was Balisi at 711 Queen St. West. Although there are clothes and purses lining the walls, shoes are definitely the main attraction.  The owners make a few trips to L.A. and Europe each year, returning with their favourite finds. They only bring back a few of each item, eliminating the possibility of an embarrassing, “crap, she’s wearing the same shoes as me” moment. The styles are really fun, funky, and unique.  Most shoes were under $200 dollars, most ranging around $120.

Our next stop was Spectacle at 752 Queen West. The glasses here are trendy and ultra hip, with bright colours, different shapes, and attention-getting frames. We spent a long time modeling pair after pair. If you’re looking for glasses or prescription sunglasses Spectacle will not disappoint.

Preloved at 881 Queen West was one of my favourite stops. It embodies an eco-conscious, green-fashion philosophy. All clothes and housewares are manufactured in Canada entirely from recycled fabric such as  sheets, drapes, men’s dress tops, and other unused material. The designs are almost hippy chic and completely original. You won’t find anything like Preloved anywhere else!

As we waited for our next store to open (many shops don’t open until 11 or 12 on Queen Street) we ducked into the Red Tea Box.  This tea and dessert spot has a huge section of cakes and other baked goods. They looked so good  that you almost felt bad for eating them, almost.  We didn’t have enough time to indulge, but I will go back the next chance I have.

Pho Pa at 698 Queen West was my last stop that day. Pho Pa carries a number of different lines, all from Canadian designers. I ended up buying a beautiful leather belt for about $150. Other items ranged from about 100.00 to 300.00. Most of the clothes were really funky, painted in bright colours and embodying the class and daring attitude of a runway show. The sales people were really helpful and explained each piece and designer to us as we tried them on. I am big on supporting Canadians in all industries and recommend it for anyone looking for a great outfit without spending a fortune.

All in all a great day – if you are looking for a different way to spend a birthday or plan for an event with friends or colleagues Barbara can work with you to figure out which areas of Toronto you want to incorporate, and how best to get there. I know Ill be giving her a call for my next planned event!

One of the things I love most about Toronto is the possibility that you might to stumble upon a hidden gem at any given moment. The city is filled with surprise findings of people, places, and things, that once discovered, you question how you ever lived without.

A few weeks ago, as I wandered up Ossington, a sign in a store window caught my eye – it was a big, bold SALE sign, and it had 3 friends just like it.  As a clothing lover, I couldn’t resist the temptation and went inside. The owner/designer, Deborah Korosec, explained that she was making room for her Spring collection by selling off all Fall and Winter pieces for a mere $25-$40. Clearly, I had no choice but to adopt some of her soon-to-be orphaned clothes. I ended up with a couple of skirts, both skilfully made with high quality fabric and design.

Last week I went back to get a glimpse of her newly unveiled Spring line.  I have to admit, I fell in love with every piece I tried on. She really has something for everyone, no matter what style, body type, or age.  All of her designs are hand crafted and unique. Because she only makes a few of each design, you’ll never be caught in the same outfit as someone next to you. Most of her full priced items range between $60-$250 depending on the detail and fabric – totally comparable to any mass produced brand store, and much more deserving of your hard earned dollars.

Deborah is super down to earth and friendly, often helping you find just the right pattern, colour, and cut to accentuate your body. Studio Gang is hands down one of my favourite hidden gems. What are some of yours?

(also check out this photo of Studio Gang store from BlogTO)