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Yonge Street’s poshest stretch, from Ramsden Park up to the Summerhill LCBO, has two strong suits: food and decor. Locals from the tree-lined side streets keep the shops going during the week, while the weekend brings floods of shoppers from further afield. Here, our list of 23 essential restaurants, food shops, furniture stores, clothing boutiques and beauty parlours along tony Toronto’s main drag.
Enter Sarah Houston's boudoir (Image: Lia Parsley)
The place: What used to be a mutual fund trading office on Hazelton Avenue is now the latest Yorkville bridal salon. The main floor is open and airy, with a bright showroom of sophisticated dresses, while the second floor “boudoir” houses fuller, more formal gowns. We loved our journey upstairs, where we tested out a birch runway, equipped for sashaying, twirling and hand-on-hip posing. The private (read: no moms allowed) dressing room is fit for Marie Antoinette, but, alas, there is no cake
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One of a Kind Show visitor sees something she likes (Image: mistagregory)
Attention shoppers, potters, crafters and hobbyists: the One of a Kind Show and Sale is returning to the Direct Energy Centre from March 30–April 3. The kitschy finds and one-offs we’ve grown to love will all be on offer, but to ensure the need for granola bars, sedatives and sensible footwear, there are a staggering 118 new vendors (450 total) this spring.
West Edmonton's Thomas Sabo location (Image: Supplied by Thomas Sabo)
Yorkdale continues its pursuit to become the luxury haven no one asked for. To recap: over the last year, the mall brought in big names like Burberry and Victoria’s Secret, and in January, it announced yet another multimillion-dollar expansion. We thought they might be onto something—that is, until this news reminded us how Yorkdale is the Vegas strip of malls: a Thomas Sabo flagship store is on its way.
Every craft room in North America has witnessed the creation of some derivation of kitschy jewellery, so it’s refreshing to see Corrine Anestopoulos’s Biko refine the practice by focusing on edited designs with minute, quirky elements. The designer takes found objects—vintage optics, magnifying glasses, kaleidoscopes—and transforms them into functional pendant jewellery. We stumbled upon this working kaleidoscope necklace at Love of Mine, which we liked for the Logan’s Run colour blast and the reminder of a birthday party loot bag. The kaleidoscope necklace is available with a classic rolo-style chain that accommodates extra doodads, baubles and charms. No assembly required. $159.
Love of Mine, 781 Queen St W, 416-368-4999, loveofmineboutique.com.
Mercer and Prince brings chic home accessories to Yonge and Eglinton
The place: Named after the hip Soho intersection, this Yonge and Eglinton shop offers home accessories similar to what you might find at Restoration Hardware or Teatro Verde for significantly lower prices. Having opened just in time for the Christmas rush last year, the store is offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on many items as it restocks for 2011.
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For Luxury Labels
Venture a few blocks north of Yorkville to Haute Classics for immaculate second-hand pieces sourced from very tony closets. Chanel, Chloé, Dior and Christian Louboutin (patent sapphire pumps for $270 instead of $700-plus) are priced in the hundreds, rather than the thousands.
946 Yonge St., 416-922-7900.
For Menswear Read the rest of this entry »
Parkdale’s House of Vintage has outstanding men’s garb—a rarity on the old-is-new circuit. Dudes can put together a Michael Caine Alfie look with ankle boots ($60) and a Pierre Cardin blazer ($50).
1239 Queen St. W., 416-535-2142.
Forget Santa flicks. The dramatic, sexy and unsettling Black Swan was our favourite film of the holiday season, thanks in no small part to the brilliant costume design by Rodarte. You can get a little piece of the Black Swan wardrobe for yourself at Accessity in Yorkville. Mila Kunis’ character sported the grey version of this super-soft tree-print cashmere scarf by Tilo in the movie; it’s available in an array of colours for $190.
Accessity, 136 Cumberland St., 416-972-1855.
BEAN SPROUT
All winter clothing and outerwear is 30 per cent off at this kids’ clothing shop. 565 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-932-3727, beansprout.ca.
CABARET
The vintage shop is offering 50 per cent off dresses, men’s suits and jewellery. 672 Queen St. W., 416-504-7126.
DANDI MAESTRE Read the rest of this entry »
Accessory designer Dandi Maestre has a knack for bold, statement-making jewellery (antler necklace, anyone?). While she sells on-line, we’re heading to this pre-holiday pop-up shop to ogle the goods in person. From $40. Until Dec. 22. 386 Huron St., dandimaestre.com.
BECKERMAN AND ANDREA BRUECKNER SAMPLE SALE
We hear the Beckerman clothing at this sample will be going for less than wholesale prices. Also on offer are handbags from Andrea Brueckner. A kick-off party on December 3 is open to all. Dec. 3 4:30–10:30, Dec 4 12–6. 174 Spadina Ave., Unit 103, beckermans.com.
DANDI MAESTRE
Accessory designer Dandi Maestre has a knack for bold, statement-making jewellery (antler necklace, anyone?). While she sells on-line, we’re heading to this pre-holiday pop-up shop to ogle the goods in person. From $40. Until Dec. 22. 386 Huron St., dandimaestre.com.
JESSICA JENSEN Read the rest of this entry »
The handbag and leather goods designer is opening a temporary shop for the holiday season with up to 70 per cent off her accessories. Until Dec. 12. 972 Queen St. W., shopjessicajensen.com.
The popularity of Blair Waldorf-esque headbands has gone the same direction as Gossip Girl: down. This year, fascinators have made a comeback. And while there are plenty of girlish feather and bowed versions, we prefer a more grown-up look. These chic miniature berets from Toronto designer Danielle Suppa are easily held in place with a couple of bobby pins. Her fall collection comes in creams and soft grey prints that make this accessory far from ostentatious. Find them at one of our favourite new boutiques, Tabula Rasa.
Le Petit Beret fascinator, $50–$60. Tabula Rasa, 745 Broadview Ave., 416-465-4450, tabularasaclothing.com.
Previously the Paisley Shop, 77 Yorkville is now Pink Tartan's flagship store
The place: Pink Tartan has opened its first stand-alone store in one of the city’s oldest buildings, at Yorkville and Bellair. Built in 1837, the townhouse was once home to the Village of Yorkville’s sheriff (and a jail cell), but today, with fresh flowers, sand-coloured hardwood and wallpaper that looks like grey muslin, the two-floor space is less Alcatraz and more Alsace—the boutique feels like a sunny atelier somewhere in France.
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Sure, we already gave you 100 present ideas in our annual holiday gift guide, but we know you want more. So we’ve found this clever aquatic sushi set from Italy’s Alessi. The design house is known for its quirky home accessories, evident here in the lily pad soy dish, a lily plate, a fish chopstick rest and bird soy boat. Find it at Rolo, in store or on-line, for $136.95. We suggest throwing in a sushi recipe book to complete the gift.
Rolo, 24 Bellair St., 416-920-0100, rolostore.com.
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