The Best Vintage Clothing Stores in Toronto
Fast fashion is on seemingly every streetcorner now, luring in burgeoning fashion fiends with their easy, affordable, one-season wares. Sure, it's cheap, but it creates legions of pseudo-style-bots clad in boilerplate, fall-apart fashion. Barf! Fashion originals usually have some vintage in the mix. Here in Toronto, we're lucky enough to have some of the best vintage clothing stores around that are (mostly) snob-free, and filled with built-to-last, one-of-a-kind items (and sans that thrift-store stench).
A recent haul from some of the city's best shops yielded me a seventies white cashmere sweater, a red Bakelite anchor necklace from the thirties, a sixties sequined sleeveless top, and a black belt covered in snakeskin and chains, straight out of the eighties. Those things might not strike your fancy, but that's the point: Toronto's vintage clothing stores have a unique, timeless treasure for everyone, no matter how classic or outrageous your style may be.
Courage My Love
This Kensington Market staple has been slinging vintage since the seventies. The back of the store is well-stocked with super-affordable vintage pieces. Try on a pale green silk sheath with white beading ($24), or a salmon-coloured velvet cocktail dress ($60). Men's blazers can be had for $20 to $30, and a pair of dress pants for $25. More...
Bungalow
This neat-and-tidy lifestyle shop also stocks vintage teak furniture and retro accessories?a nice backdrop for the well-organized rows of seventies frocks ($25-$40), used denim ($15-$25), skirts ($15-$25), and a rainbow of women's cashmere sweaters for as little as $40. The menfolk can pick out one of the many black leather jackets available, which start at $40. More...
Cabaret
Dita von Teese and Andre 3000 number among those who have visited this high-end boite, complete with black-and-white checkered floor and fifties pin-ups on the wall. It's the perfect backdrop for gowns (averaging between $125 and $650 a pop), men's suits, and costume jewelry that mostly hail from the forties to the sixties. More...
69 Vintage
The cowboy boots here are to die for, whether it's a mid-calf style in pink, or a snakeskin men's pair (the latter would go well with any of the many military blazers or cowboy shirts on offer). Explore the loft-like space for statement pieces, such as a sparkly gold and black floor-length gown or a full-skirted, tropical-print frock ($45). More...
The Public Butter
The newest vintage venture from Black Market Vintage sorts everything by size and has standardized pricing, including $39 dresses, $20 tees, and $40 bags. The outerwear is fabulous here, whether it be a bright orange plaid cape ($50), a teal anorak ($39), or a red wool trapeze coat with a big fur collar ($60). More...
Gadabout
Glamour is the name of the game at Queen East's jam-packed treasure trove. The beautiful fifties frocks (including an ivory shift covered with watercolour-like black and blue blooms, $90) are helpfully arranged by waist size and can be topped off by one of the many beautiful cashmere sweaters ($45-$95) or cocktail rings ($15-$100) up for grabs. More...
I Miss You
Part of the trendy Ossington strip, I Miss You carries a well-edited collection of designer and custom-made vintage in enviable condition. Connoisseurs can snap up pieces from Yves St. Laurent and Christian Dior, along with Canadian classics like a sixties pink tweed Holt Renfrew jacket trimmed with pink fur ($295). More...
Preloved
Preloved may have been one of the victims of the Queen Street fire this winter, but its new space is an even nicer backdrop to the store's Handcut by Preloved line, constructed from old clothes. Standouts include a cap-sleeved, cowl-necked dress with a full skirt made from three pairs of More...
Stella Luna
Owner Crispian Underwood's motto of "just because it's old, doesn't mean it's good" shows in this Parkdale store's on-trend and budget-friendly vintage offerings, like a cherry-red jumpsuit ($32), a colour-blocked pleated mini ($26), and a full-skirted cream-coloured dress with a deep v-neck ($30). Plus, the jewelry case - bursting with long gold necklaces and flashy studs - is always worth a look. More...
Thrill of the Find
This store keeps pieces like a peach Nicole Miller shantung silk shift ($110) and a black linen frock with a bow at the neck ($105) up front, but ask owner Mireille Watson for a peek in the back at the big names like Chanel, Thierry Mugler, Courrages, Bill Blass, Marni, and Prada for a real thrill. More...
The Paper Bag Princess
Arguably the fanciest vintage shop in the city, Paper Bag has a Parisian boutique vibe. Jimmy Choo and Prada heels can be had for a couple hundred bucks, but there are plenty of investment pieces to be had - try on a vintage Christian Lacroix brocade skirt suit ($895) or a black-and-white Chanel jacket featured on Sex and the City ($2295). More...
Foxy Boutique
This funky Cabbagetown shop has a wide variety of mostly seventies and eighties items crammed in higgledy-piggledy. Go fancy with an emerald-green chiffon blouse ($30) or a blue linen sleeveless top dripping in crystal beads ($40), or stay casual via a one-shouldered navy, red, and white-striped sack dress ($17) or a fun-patterned cowboy shirt ($20-$25). More...
Badlands Vintage
Ali Rideout opened her tiny store last year to free up room in her own closet, offering up lots of outlandish vintage under $20, like a black-and-white striped crop-top ($18), a yellow silk ruffled blouse ($17), and plenty of colourful shorts (plus purple cowboy boots for $35). Peep the excellent selection of men's leather jackets, shoes, and sweaters, too. More...
Black Market Vintage
Frequent sales and rock-bottom prices make these Queen Street vintage spots a must-see. There's a full range of leather jackets ($79-$200) in maroon, orange, beige, gray, blue, and pink, and the store's signature supply of vintage tees are three for $10. Other crazy deals include $20 purses and $40 blazers for guys - and that's before any sales. More...
Vintage Mix 1
Fun day dresses and synthetic eighties frocks with surprisingly beautiful patterns rule the day at this popular Ossington Avenue shop. Men dig the vintage tees and long-sleeved tops, while the clientele keeps coming back to plunder the store's extensive and ever-changing collection of shoes, More...
Comments (26)
I really need to take the plunge and go out to the west end ... the long streetcar ride always puts me off.
nicely done
check out my blog
with posts on my favourite Toronto vintage spots
TEXTSTYLES
http://torontotextstyles.blogspot.com/
A lot of these stores are fantastic, but even better theres this new "by Appointment Only" vintage clothing place. I forget what its called, but I called to make an appointment and they had the best stuff at amazing prices. It runs out of this chicks condo. I think the number is 416-830-9223.
Just something that peeves me, can we get clarification on which of these stores stock clothes for both sexes. I don't wanna make the trek somewhere to discover that there's only ladies clothes.
Also where are the best places for vintage men's suits? I have to admit that Value Village has some awesome ones if you have the patience to look through hundreds. Picked up a few last week for $10 and now i'm stylin' at work rocking the waistcoats.
Stella Luna is good, but right across the street is ...? (rats! I just can't think of the name)
I've been in Stella Luna many times, but I've bought more stuff across the street.
Either way: 501 streetcar and a ttc day pass will get you all the vintage love you can handle.
Eclectisaurus has great clothing, accessories, and for Mary - Vintage Hats ! Also very friendly service & good prices.
http://www.eclectisaurus.com
I've got some great vintage spring silk dresses that I'm selling on Craiglist soon. Check them out.
HI, I work for the clothing show here in Toronto & I Love Vintage but I'm having a hard time finding good, true vintage dealer to come to the Clothing show. If Anyone out there knows of Any great vintage hot spots, please e-mail me I have a show coming up May 1st to 3rd & would like more good vintage.
P.S. I may have some extra tix's to give out for promo!!;)
i have an amazing old london fog grey wool 3/4 overcoat that is in graet condition that i got from my gramps. its a size 40 so its to big for me :(.
what is the protocal for selling this to one of these shops?
any suggestions would be appreciated.
thx
I'm looking for a shop that would have 50s Pin-Up Girl type dresses, if anyone could recommend any places it would be most appreciated.
How much I'm willing to spend is anywhere from $10-$200
Location: anywhere in Toronto, Mississauga, Peel Region.
Gadabout carries a large selection of menswear - suits, jackets, shoes, sweaters, tuxedos, top coats, etcetera. Ask to see the new mens room upstairs.
Visiting Toronto next month. Not really looking for vintage, but contemporary resale. Any suggestions?
Where do these vintage places get their stock? Walking around the shops in Kensington, I've noticed that a lot of their stuff is really similar. The ones I've asked have all told me they don't buy from customers at all.
Hey! Does anyone know any good stores to find nice cocktail dresses at an inexpensive price in Toronto area.
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