SPARKLING
Langa Hermanos Reyes De Aragón 2007 Brut Reserva Cava $13.95
This classic Spanish cava, with a complex nose of almond, green olive, cedar and chalk minerality, is priced to make cork-popping a daily habit.
Vintages. LCBO 194803

(Image: John Burgoyne)

How to kick that case-a-week San Pellegrino habit

Since fizzy water is little more than H2O and air, the smartest decision you’ll ever make is to stop paying so damn much for it. Buy an Isi Soda Siphon ($89) instead, tally the savings over time (it comes with a charger that makes 32 ounces of sparkling water; 10 refills are $12), and marvel at your custom creations. Whip up boozy spritzers and serve the kids less-sugary soda. Then there’s your near-empty blue box, a reason to lord eco-snobbery over your neighbours.

The Cook’s Place, 501 Danforth Ave., 416-461-5211.

(Image: John Burgoyne)

Mirrors as tall as people are leaning chicly on every kind of wall (traditional, contemporary, lofty, you name it), bouncing light where windows are scarce. The oversized Beverly is a beauty, measures 30 by 70 inches, and hails from the hugest of all big box stores. It’s just the thing for an entranceway or bedroom and, at $135, fabulously priced; some home decor shops charge as much for delivery alone.

The Home Depot, 101 Wicksteed Ave., 416-467-2300, plus several other GTA locations.

A few bucks won’t fulfill your caviar dreams—if it does, you need to dream bigger—but it’s possible to taste the best of the city’s food for next to nothing

Inventively flavoured macaroons are perfectly pillowy treats worthy of a patisserie in Saint-Germain-des-Près. $2.10 each. Nadege, 780 Queen St. W., 416-368-2009.

(Image: My Yen Trung)

Maureen Peng and her partner, Tim Johnstone, both 30, jumped into home ownership in 2008 when they bought a down-at-the-heels, six-bedroom rooming house in Corktown, vowing to fix it up—way up. They were suited to the task. Johnstone is a visual thinker (he’s a 3-D animation instructor at Humber College) and a weekend tool master. Peng is a project manager for an interior-design firm and a master at co-ordinating make-overs. Consummate party people, their priority was this front room—a venue for entertaining—distinguished with oversized crown mouldings and a ceiling medallion. Peng calls this the “clear-liquids-only” room.

Decorator Jane Lockhart, Peng’s boss at Jane Lockhart Interior Design, mapped out a floor plan and created the dramatic charcoal-and-plum colour scheme, working out the kinks of an elongated space. The paint is basic Benjamin Moore: Kendall Charcoal on the walls, Dark Basalt on the ceiling and Cloud White for trim. From $40 to $69 a gallon at Pro Glo (1162 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-256-2600, plus two other GTA locations).

The chandelier, just $300 from Union Lighting (1491 Castlefield Ave., 416-652‑2200), has teardrop crystals set in a modern drum shade.

The Roman fountain prints were $1 each from the St. Lawrence Sunday Antique Market (92 Front St. E., 416-350-8865). They’re in $13 Ribba frames from IKEA (IKEA.ca).

The couple found a vintage mantel ($700) at Habitat for Humanity ReStore (29 Bermondsey Rd., 416-755-8023). The electric fireplace insert was $300 from Rona (rona.ca).

Johnstone’s family hand-me-down armchairs, sofa and mid-century swivel chairs were recovered in pearly new Robert Allen fabrics, which Lockhart sourced at a designer’s discount. For mere mortals, bargain prices can be found at Designer Fabrics (1360 Queen St. W., 416-531-2810). The upholsterer is one of those secret industry finds nobody wants to share—except us. Rudy’s Custom Upholstery and Draperies (501 Passmore Ave., 416-282-0437) charged a decent $3,000 in labour for the sofa and four chairs.

A low-pile wool berber carpet was an off-cut and only $100 at Speers Road Broadloom (400 Speers Rd., Oakville, 905-844-0712).

IKEA tub chairs ($199 each) fill out the bay window seating nook.

Like the upholstery, the drapes (about $1,200 for labour at Drapes and More, 278 Wildcat Rd., 416-663‑3886) use Robert Allen fabric—and look like they were double the cost.

(Images: Michael Graydon )

Rabbit-fur hat, $49
Danier, 218 Yonge St., 416-598-1159.

Leopard-print leggings, $45
Durumi Apparel, 639 Queen St. W., 416‑939-2580.

Sherpa shoes, $60
Chocolate Shoes, 639 Queen St. W., 647‑588-3947.

(Images: John Burgoyne)

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
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.

For LITTLE KIDS
Bumbleberry Kids in the Beach is as well curated as a downtown boutique but as cheap as a suburban outlet. Sizes run from newborn to 6, and everything—one-piece snowsuits ($20–$50), boots (Uggs are $6) and precious little peacoats ($30)—is in top condition.
1908 Queen St. E., 416-691-5556.

For Accessories
Of Ossington’s thrift shops, I Miss You is the best for belts, bags, baubles and shoes. The glam (but not costumey) array includes pumps that could’ve walked off the feet of Rita Hayworth (around $30), fur stoles from the pre–paint protest days ($100 and up) and Hermès scarves for $235.
63 Ossington Ave., 416-916-7021.

For Reconstructed Duds
Among the old-school gems at chic Tabula Rasa: Katharine Hepburn-esque silken blouses ($40) and high-waisted pencil skirts ($35–$45); also, grandpa cardigans ($35–$50) and mini-berets ($50–$60) made of reworked old fabrics.
745 Broadview Ave., 416-465-4450.

(Image: John Burgoyne)

We challenged two style bloggers, Ryan Michael Cheung (of four1sixfive1four.tumblr.com) and Afiya Francisco (of thestylehouse.ca), to put together a party outfit for $200. They did it, shoes and all

(Image: John Cullen)

(Image: Lorne Bridgman)

HAIRCUT
Blood and Bandages, $22
This two-chair shop is a dude sanctuary with nary a Vogue to be found (reading material tends to be of The World’s Most Powerful Handguns and Rifles variety). Owner Roger Janes snips lids by moving between clippers and scissors—he’s never done a full clipper cut, saying, “It’s kind of a lazy way to cut hair.” Fellas get inspiration from the wall of old-timey hair-model portraits or just straight-up ask for the Don Draper style that’s ubiquitous these days.
932 College St., 416-357-9178.

MANICURE
Truefitt and Hill, $22
Head to this bastion of butch, complete with antique barber chairs and mahogany floors, for a male mani. Staff buff your nails and then use a fragrance-free Gehwol cream for a hand and forearm massage. No flowery scents, and the only polish here is for shoes. But hey, it’s 2011—being well groomed isn’t a crime.
40 King St. W., 416-214-4646, plus one other location.

SHAVE
Joseph Hairstyle, $18
A luxuriant straight-razor shave is yours for less than the price of
a pack of high-tech razors. After 51 years in the same Summerhill location, even with the same chairs, the eponymous Joseph and his brothers offer shaves your grandfather had—steamy towel, hot foam and a pleasant barbershop chat about real estate prices included.
1204 Yonge St., 416-967-3998.

(Images: Jeremy Laing by Thomas Kletecka/Collective Edit; high heel courtesy of Alexander McQueen; bow tie courtesy of Band of Outsiders; jeans courtesy of Nudie Jeans Co.; zip-up courtesy of Puma; kids’ boot courtesy of Geox; )

For Straight-from-SoHo Fashion
Crowds huddled in Ossing­ton’s doorways are a familiar sight, but nothing compares to the sidewalk jams that form when Jonathan and Olivia owner Jackie O’Brien holds her biannual sales (starting on Boxing Day and again in June or July). Cool kids, designers, ad execs and artsy-leaning scions flock here for deconstructed hipster wear from Manhattan, Sweden and the U.K., by the likes of Alexander Wang, Rag and Bone, Band of Outsiders, Engineered Garments, and Wings and Horns. All up to 50 per cent off. E-mail info@jonathanandolivia.com to get on the list.

FOR Big European Labels
Toronto retail veteran Elsa Reia was hosting sample sales long before they were in vogue, which explains her all-star roster of designer brands: apparel, accessories and footwear from Alexander McQueen, Rick Owens, Dries Van Noten, Miu Miu, Martin Margiela, Lanvin, Isabel Marant and more. The blowout runs over two days in April and October. Expect a variety of sizes and inventory, from recent and past seasons, marked down by 70 per cent or more. E-mail info@reiastudio.com to sign up.

FOR High-End Jeans
Ideal for anyone who goes into sticker shock at the price of designer denim, the Sixty Canada sale features a mixed bag of it brands: Miss Sixty, Acne, Filippa K, Energie, Killah and Nudie Jeans, all 50 per cent off retail prices. Held twice yearly at the end of April and in October, the two-day event also includes clothing, footwear and accessories, plus some one-of-a-kind pieces not found in stores. Includes kids’ sizes 2 to 6. E-mail “Toronto sample sale” to info@sixtycanada.com.

FOR Designer Sporty Stuff
The Web outfit Style Democracy organizes and aggregates promotions as often as four times a week. Sign up and receive e-mails for a range of weekend sales across the city. Great for loads of active wear—generally at 50 to 80 per cent off—from a select group of household names, including Puma, Lacoste, Esprit, Fred Perry, Converse and Sporting Life. One constant: an endless sea of merch, sometimes up to 50,000 pieces per sale. Get on the list at styledemocracy.com.

FOR Kids’ Shoes
Every spring, and in late October or so, a mysterious outfit called Keno Sales draws hordes of BMW-driving parents to a low-rent Etobicoke plaza to stock up on several seasons’ worth of kiddie footwear by Geox, the Italian brand famous for its breathable Respira line. The deals are incredible: from $30 for ultra-durable and chic Euro schoolkid leather shoes and booties, compared to about $90 retail. No strollers, no food, no drink and no whining are allowed. There’s a kill or be killed mentality at play here, so elbow your way aggressively. Lots of $60 Geox loafers for men and women, too. Shoppers get on the e-mail list only by going to the sale itself. Scan redflagdeals.com starting in late March for details on the next one.

FOR Inspired Local Design
Only a Jeremy Laing end-of-season sale could draw the city’s most fashionable people to a hard-to-find studio on Queen near Jameson—not to mention get them to strip in a communal change room. For one day only, in the spring and before the fall (the last one was at the end of August), the boy-wonder designer’s thoughtful and multi-layered ensembles (alas, mostly in sizes 2 and 4) are priced at less than $400—a steal considering they run up to $1,000 retail. No list, and the sale is under-publicized. Doggedly bug the Jeremy Laing studio at 416-530-1976.

Anyone who thinks gadget prices are bonkers will be delighted to upgrade their old iPod Touch to a quasi-iPhone with the Yosion Apple Peel 520 (about $89, with free shipping). The device slips over the Touch and adds phone and text messaging capabilities (via a SIM card slot) and an additional battery. It’s like souping up a Mazda with a Porsche engine. peel520.net.