Wednesday, October 06, 2010

What's Your Retrospective?

When we think fashion, we think latest trends. But what happens when the trends always re-appear? Strip back to basics with vintage finds! Put on your frugal fashionista hat and take a day trip around Toronto as the city's top vintage shops awaits to dress you.

Courage My Love (14 Kensington Avenue)

Kensington Market boasts Toronto's most quirky vintage finds. Along this street, Courage My Love's budget friendly merchandise is the most versitile. You're greeted with an array of cow boy boots along the front steps and then bump into their latest reconstructed pieces of the season - currently crochet wrap cardigans. With a colour coordinated rack of cashmere sweaters, an abundance of retro dresses from the 70's and 80's, an endless supply of loose beads and an eight feet glass counter of jewelry, you're bound to find something eye catching that'll give you a bang for your buck.

Badland's Vintage Clothing (104 Ossington Avenue)

This tiny two-floor store along this quiet Ossington street leaves nothing to the imagination. Everything from pattern knitted sweaters to pencil skirts, mod jackets to sophisticated fricks, you will find a one of a kind piece at a steal with budget friendly prices. Speaking of price tag, you'll have the last laugh as each tag has a handwritten message along the lines of "What an acid trip! (acid wash that is)" for an acid wash denim skirt or "I'm mod for you" a mod style suede jacket. Whatever you find, it will surely be the talk of the talk.

I Miss You (63 Ossington Avenue)

I Miss You is Ossington Avenue's most treasured gem. For the designer savvy fashionistas, this store is for you. With the look of a boutique, it doesn't feel like a vintage shop. This store carries designer pieces from Valentino, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Moschino and the late Alexander McQueen. Their small collection of shoes includes Fendi, Chanel and Prada and not to mention handbags! But what truly set's this store apart are the bits of knowledge you gain while browsing through the racks. Every tag is carefully written stating the year, designer and fabric used for each garment. With a higher price tag indeed, I Miss You's designer selection might just give you a run for your money.

69 Vintage (1100 Queen St. West)

Toronto's staple vintage shop is 69 Vintage, hands down. Offering everything from shorts, trousers, dresses, undergarments, hats and fur coats, you won't miss a thing rummaging through the racks of clothing - take in a whole back rack of fur coats. From black lace-velvet gowns to European fur coats to Western cow boys boots, this store touches base with whatever style you are going for. A reasonable price won't hurt your pocket book as well.

Preloved (881 Queen St. West)

This boutque gives you a whole new spin on vintage clothing. Every piece is "consciously created from reclaimed fabric" as stated on the price tag. That in mind, not only are you wearing a uniquely tailored garment, you're saving a piece of garment from turning up in a landfill. Taking a step further with this philosophy, Preloved now has a children's line made with left over vintage threads of their fall 2010 collection. With clothing on the pricier end of the spectrum, you will definitely get quality and do your part saving perfectly fine fabric.

So take a step back in time and into some of Toronto's best vintage stores the next time you're out and about. You never know what you can find.

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