If the sprawling suburban malls just don’t suit your unique style, or if your motivation is sustainable fashion, or you just want to support local Toronto designer, there are a ton of boutiques around the city that offer the style and originality that you’ll just never find in cookie-cutter stores. In a city as big and diverse as ours, there are hundreds of local boutiques that sell made-in-Toronto fashions, but today we bring you a few of our faves from the west end.
Coal Miner’s Daughter
http://www.coalminersdaughter.ca/
CMD has three boutiques in west Toronto that specialize in providing mainly Canadian and Toronto designer collections. They are committed to their stock being no less than 80% Canadian. Cute dresses and skirts, polka dots, stripes, plaid, black basics and modern jewellery make up their versatile collection.
For The Girls
A boutique for the girls and women of Toronto. While the store doesn’t sell exclusively Canadian and Toronto collections, they have a great selection, basic and sexy. More importantly, they carry the Toronto-based lingerie line Fortnigh, which, as you may or may not know, is incredible (comfy, pretty and super hot)! The staff are knowledgeable and will provide a proper fitting. Treat yourself (and your partner) and get some Fortnight lingerie. It might just spice up your whole year of 2016.
Lowon Pope
If you don’t know Lowon Pope’s dresses, then stepping into her shop might make you believe you’ve died and gone to heaven. Pope’s is a must for brides looking for unconventional (and non-pouffe), but princess-worthy gowns. The dresses are designed and manufactured in Toronto, and are described as having an “elegant vintage flavour.” While the photos on their website are beautiful, they don’t do justice to the elegance and beauty of the designs.
Muttonhead
http://www.muttonheadstore.com/
A boutique that maintains a philosophy of slow fashion, which is based on sustainability and classic casual styles. Their collections are trendy, but maintain classic cuts and palettes. If you dig sustainable fashion, locally manufactured in TO, without sacrificing classic styles and trends, this place is definitely worth checking out. While their clothing is unisex and definitely not feminine, it is a destination for men’s and women’s casual styles. Think Roots Canada but with a more independent Toronto vibe.
Cabaret
http://www.cabaretvintage.com/
Looking for a vintage or vintage-inspired dress or tuxedo? Get to Cabaret. Their collections range from 1920s-1970s. From long evening gowns, to cocktail dresses, to flapper styles, to dinner jackets, Cabaret’s selection is pretty much guaranteed to have something that will make you stand out at your next fancy event or party. For brides-to-be looking for wedding dress options that are below the $1,000 price tag, this boutique is a must.