Click
your heels! It’s time to shop Toronto’s lower Ossington – the strip that has
quickly emerged as the city’s most sought-after destination of exclusive,
designer fashion and stunning boutique gems.
Hidden
within the heart of the West Queen West neighbourhood, the southern edge of Ossington
Avenue boats an impressive, cultured collection of high fashion emporiums,
cultivated art galleries, and fantastic food. Once an ageing, degraded strip,
Ossington has begun to flourish anew with the arrival of young artists and
ambitious entrepreneurs who have flocked deeper west as Toronto’s city centre
continues to grow. Gallery-like designer boutiques now flourish in the area, mirroring
a new culture of high fashion on Toronto’s affluent west end. So where should
you shop to find that one-of-a-kind designer piece?
Au
Petit Paris
Founded
by passionate industry veteran Annie Mesenge, Annie Aime aspires to deliver exactly what the name itself promises
– style that Annie loves. Functional, unique, and creatively designed pieces
are showcased in an atmosphere that sits in parity with art itself – framed by
the whimsy of a vivid, splattered mural over bright, canvas-like walls. Fashion
here is about quality, function, expression, and European inspiration – merging
the decadence of Parisian taste with the wearability of big city practicality.
It is the perfect destination for the on-the-go, creative individual seeking
unique designer looks from celebrated international artists. Notable names
include Majestic Filatures, Crea Concept UAE, Herno, and European Culture. (42
Ossington Avenue).
Old
World, New Man
Nestled into an intimate, rustic space at the corner of
Bruce and Ossington, I Miss You Vintage
Man sits modestly next to its more famous sister store – I Miss You Vintage – which focuses
solely on womenswear. The eclectic boutique is a beautiful and memorable
reflection of the spirit of Ossington – a blend of taste and refinement in a
package that is equally classic and current. Rare, high-end vintage finds are
the norm in this treasure chest of stunning menswear; built to attract those
interested in the details of fashion – from intricately engraved buttons and
rings to exceptionally-designed wool coats from decades long past. It is the
ideal Ossington gem for the tailored individual who values both the history of
iconic design and the necessity of refined urban taste. Notable brands
include vintage Givenchy, Gucci, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. (63 Ossington
Avenue).
From
Runway to Retail
What exists as perhaps the mecca of contemporary fashion
on the Ossington strip is Jonathan+Olivia,
an expansive, airy showroom that houses some of the most famous international
designers of the modern era in an organized, elegant space of understated
super-luxury. Grand ceilings and bare white walls do little to compete with
the massive collection of clothing this famous Toronto boutique has to offer –
direct from the most current runways of Paris, London, Milan and New York. Regardless
of your own personal taste, if you love fashion, your favourite designer is
here. Housing a men’s section as well as an addictive sales area in the
basement, Jonathan+Olivia is an
invitation to ultimate fashion prestige – merging the culture of money with the
culture of art. Notable collections include Isabel Marant, Alexander Wang,
Jacquemus, Opening Ceremony, and Helmut Lang. (49 Ossington Avenue).
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