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.

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.

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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.

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?

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!

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)