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The 25 hottest shops north of Bloor

Our guide to the cutting-edge women’s boutiques, menswear shops and vintage stores bringing Queen Street cool uptown

Canopy Blue

Our guide to the cutting-edge women’s boutiques, menswear shops and vintage stores bringing Queen Street cool uptown

Act Two
565 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-487-2486
Opened in 1995 and known as a haunt of visiting vintage-hound celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Act Two can be relied on to stock pre-loved Prada, Armani and YSL.Opened in 1995 and known as a haunt of visiting vintage-hound celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Act Two can be relied on to stock pre-loved Prada, Armani and YSL.

B-Spoke
2901 Bayview Ave.
B-Spoke describes their menswear collection as classic styles with modern aesthetics, aiming to please the trend-setting gentleman. Opened just this past May, the Bayview Village store carries exclusive brands including Pal Zileri, Tagliatore, Tombolini, T-Concept and more. An on-site tailor ensures all purchases are a perfect fit.

Basia
161 Dupont St., 416-977-7031
After designing interiors for a decade or so, Basia Polowska traded in her role for that of a jewellery designer and opened a midtown shop to showcase it. Threading her work with architectural and sculptural influences, Polowska’s striking pieces command attention.

Bogart Menswear
1560 Yonge St., 416-961-6924
Founded in 1977 by Pepe Appugliese, Bogart is one of the few independent men’s boutiques left in the city. Having a reputation of dressing professional athletes, politicians, artists and Toronto's elite class, its imported pieces are highly coveted.

Canopy Blue
2582 Yonge St., 416-483-2583
Outfitting their North Toronto shop with clippings of fashion-forward celebs, owners of Canopy Blue, Nicole Bitove and Candice Ilton, stock their shelves weekly to ensure their clients are always ahead of the pack.

Carbon
2581 Yonge St., 416-487-0795
Opened in 2009, Yonge Street landmark Carbon is home to a diverse collection of trendsetting pieces for both men and women from brand names such as Ted Baker,
J. Lindeberg and Alternative Apparel.

Davids Footwear
2901 Bayview Ave., 416-512-9009
Founded in 1951 by the Markowitz family, Davids has become a staple in the city, bringing the world's leading luxury footwear designers, such as Christian Louboutin and Giuseppe Zanotti, to fashion-forward Torontonians.

Déjà Vu Boutique
228-5990 16th Ave., 905-472-9566
Downtown shoppers don’t have the exclusive edge on elegance anymore. Déjà Vu Boutique, the brainchild of Markham’s Teresa Lobraico, opened in 1993 to cover the 905’s needs for high-end designer resale — everything from denim to evening gowns.

Divine Decadence Originals
128 Cumberland St., 416-324-9759
Divine Decadence is the name and the game at this luxurious Yorkville vintage couture boutique specializing in impeccably crafted items in mint condition. Owner Carmelita Blondet has been using her savvy eye to source its stock since buying the store in 1987.

Ewanika
1083 Bathurst St., 416-927-9699
Trish Ewanika’s eponymous midtown boutique showcases upscale accessories in addition to her own clothing label. Antonello handbags feature handwoven fabric; jewellery by Erin Considine is crafted from recycled metals; and handmade footwear from Hope and Dieppa Restrepo exudes luxury.

Honey
21 Promenade Cir., 905-882-0060
With more than 30 years in the biz, Honey Chadwick opened her first boutique back in 2003. A go-to for fashion-forward 905ers, Honey is known for premium denim brands, such as 7 For All Mankind and Rich & Skinny, and also stocks Ella Moss and Nicole Miller.

In Style Shoes
1758 Avenue Rd., 416-783-0239
A dizzying selection at this Avenue & Lawrence shop includes labels such as Coach, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein, in addition to lesser-known names. Fall finds include low-heeled booties in a bevy of hues — ideal for running around town — and leopard-print flats make a basic outfit pop.

Isaac Ely
485 Champagne Dr., 416-440-8989
Issac Ely specializes in handmade shirts and suits incorporating his personal touch and exquisite details. Cultivating close relationships with clients of his North York men’s store, he ensures that each suit is made to fit the exact needs and wants of each customer.

LAB Consignment
1956 Avenue Rd., 647-345-4020
Opened in 2009, this gem is no longer so hidden after a move from a backroom in an Ossington vintage store to its own uptown address. Here you’ll find a thoroughly modern mix of designer resale such as Proenza Schouler and Mark Fast.

Lavender Lilly Boutique
5-302 John St., 416-347-1686
This lavish Thornhill boutique is a one-stop shop for local ladies in the market for handcrafted accessories, jewellery and purses. Owner Vicki Kesian stocks unique pieces by local designers and international favourites.

Le Firmé
3-95 East Beaver Creek Rd., 905-707-8727
John De Laurentiis travels to Europe every 15 weeks to visit some of the best factories and warehouses in Italy. As founder and store owner, he ensures Le Firmé only carries the best Italian designs. Delivering significant savings, the shop allows customers to be suited in world-class garments without leaving the country.

Leigh & Harlow
4 Karl Fraser Rd., 647-341-6091
Packed with designer goods for both him and her, this Don Mills boutique makes one-stop shopping a breeze. Gents can scoop up H&A skinny ties, and ladies’ sweaters in a troop of bright shades help make the transition to fall painless.

Madison Shoes & Accessories
3 Karl Fraser Rd., 416-384-0801
Madison Shoes & Accessories carries the latest styles and brand names for some serious shoe therapy. Put your best foot forward in heels by Nine West, Enzo Angiolini and Circa Joan & David from this beloved Don Mills shop.

Mimi & Sheryl’s Boutique
1734 Avenue Rd., 416-782-0002
North York boutique owners Sheryl Edberg and Mimi Kypreos have an honesty policy when it comes to what works on someone — and what doesn’t. So they stock their shelves with labels including Rebecca Taylor and Yoana Baraschi that are aimed at women who don’t want to look like they’ve raided their daughter’s closet but still wish to appear trend-savvy.

Pink Tartan
77 Yorkville Ave., 416-967-7700
Serving up crisp sportswear, Pink Tartan’s flagship store has been responsible for dressing Yorkville’s fashion doyennes for just under two years. Kimberley Newport-Mimran’s effortlessly chic garments are fit for a modern-day Holly Golightly.

Rac Boutique
124 Cumberland St., 647-352-4433
Owners Glenna Weddle and Faith Orfus are major players in the city’s style scene, having most recently helped organize Fashion’s Night Out. Known individually for a unique style sense, the duo’s Yorkville boîte is mothership to many sartorialists’ expanding wardrobes.

The Cat’s Meow Couture
180 Avenue Rd., 647-435-5875
The Cat’s Meow is a mecca for all things ladylike. Easily identifiable due to their tradition of placing an eye-catching vintage cocktail dress on the roof, the boutique features the cream of the vintage couture crop. It is common to discover gems from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s here, including Pucci, YSL, Hermes and Oleg Cassini.

The Narwhal
8 Price St., Ste. 101, 647-351-5011
Matching international lines with local picks, Sydney Wills and Marisa Buchowsky offer up a tightly edited collection of highly covetable goods at their Rosedale shop. Look for Rag & Bone pistol boots and printed maxi dresses from Chloé comme Parris.

Uncle Otis
26 Bellair St., 416-920-2281
With twenty-plus years in business, Uncle Otis' sophisticated racks are constantly evolving. From casual vintage brands such as Levi's to trendy Rag & Bone essentials, the store’s stock has a place in every well-dressed man's closet. Crisp white walls and wooden shelves make this Yorkville haunt an attractive shopping experience.

Want Boutique
9301 Bathurst st., 905-883-9268
A go-to destination for special-occassion frocks and unique costume jewellery, Want boutique is also well-loved for its expertly curated collection of weekend wear from labels such as homegrown Line Knitwear and contemporary international brands including Free People and Hale Bob.

This article appears in the October 2012 issue of Post City Magazines