Dress shops in Toronto aren't hard to come by - and many retailers have sections dedicated to dressier looks. While the city's horde of department stores have a whole whack of labels to choose from a number of independent stores are worth checking out for more curated or rare finds.

Here are my picks for where to find a dress in Toronto to wear to a fancy party.

Studio Fitzroy
Waltz right into this Dundas West studio sans appointment and snag a dress off the racks for a rental fee starting at $50. Trendy bohemian brands are plentiful here, including For Love and Lemons, Brose, and Elle Zeitoune.

Pearls & Pockets

West Queen West's Pearls & Pockets is filled to the brim with '50s and '60s-inspired dresses. Almost everything is a fringe-covered, hand-beaded dream! All their fanciest stuff sits right around the $275 mark, despite all the extra sparkle. Plus, a small selection in the back is true vintage, for those looking for a unique number.

Madeline's
This Avenue Road store is glitz galore, housing names like Jovani, Monique Lhuillier, and Tadashi Sohi. They've got all the lace, tulle, and embellishments your glamorous heart may desire; if you're lucky, you can get all three in one dress.

Rent Frock Repeat
This place offers a slew of designer dresses for rent at a fraction of the original cost. With brands like David Dixon and Greta Constantine, they make looking like a million bucks simple: you either book a phone consultation or a fitting at their Roncesvalles showroom, wear the dress of your choice to your special event, and bring it back in one piece.

Original
This Queen Street mainstay is just that: original. Often described as the eveningwear boutique on acid, they've got the craziest colours, patterns, and design details on their clothes, shoes, and accessories. I remember catching a massive rainbow tutu in their window once, although subdued hues are also in the mix.

Poor Little Rich Girl
Yonge & Eglinton's Poor Little Rich Girl is stacked with tasteful party dresses from trendy brands like La Femme and One Teaspoon. There are a handful of showstoppers - like red velvet maxis and beaded masterpieces - but most of their stock features simple silhouettes and neutral colours ranging from $100 - $800.

Saks Fifth Avenue
Though Saks Fifth Avenue is hardly a indie boutique, its selection of formalwear is colossal and is worth a gander if none of the highly curated names above suit your taste. Saks carries the highest of high end brands like Marchesa and Oscar de la Renta - perfect if you're attending a red carpet or fancy ball.

Nordstrom
Another upscale department store, Nordstrom has a crazy range of formal dresses for the brand-conscious shopper. You could snag a Nicole Miller at the $275 mark or a Valentino for over $10,000. Plus, complimentary personal shoppers are there to help you navigate it all.

What did I miss? Add more dress shops to the comments.

Photo of Nordstrom by Hector Vasquez.