Toronto Uncovered

Posts Tagged ‘Red Tea Box’

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!