Fashion and West Queen West go together like peanut butter and jelly. The urban neighbourhood and chic trendsetters are so intertwined, you just can’t mention one without the other. These fashion-forward indie clothing boutiques represent WQW better than anything else in style, personality and uniqueness.
This store deals entirely in denim. From the metal-tough exterior to the stacks and stacks of folded denim inside, you know that these folks mean serious business. How serious? Well, everything you’ll find in here is raw denim. It’s like a sort of blank slate for jeans where you decide when the first wash will be and the kind of character your pants will develop.
The ‘20s was one of the best decades for women’s fashion, with flowy dresses whose straight-cut lines hinted at the feminine figure underneath. Although you can’t go back in time, Cabaret offers the next best thing by stocking clothes from that era. They also carry men’s clothing, including tuxedos, smoking jackets, blazers, cufflinks and accessories, but the focus is primarily on women’s clothing. As a bonus, they also carry wedding dresses – and for much less than just about anywhere else.
Their reputation was built on having one of the best footwear collections in Toronto, but gravitypope has branched out into men’s and women’s clothing, as well. Everything you look at, whether it’s a pair of men’s Varvatos jeans or women’s Forte Forte shirts, is of super high quality and designed to last. Once you’ve assembled your outfit, it’d be a serious fashion sin to miss looking at the extensive selection of shoes with names usually found in the highest-end stores.
Europe is consistently the best place to look for fashion trends, especially for men who’re a little unsure about where to start. This store specializes exclusively in men’s fashions, carrying lines that complement the in-house brand, Kin. What you’ll find is racks and shelves filled with stylish, high-quality clothing that dress men in contemporary – but not trendy – fashions. You don’t even need fashion smarts to shop here; just one afternoon will have you feeling like a male model.
Excellent wardrobe staples should be able to perform double-duty for both casual and semi-formal wear, with only accessories needed to make an outfit go in either direction. And, to be really fashion forward, it’s important to wear pieces that almost nobody else owns. HUH achieves both of these things in spades, carrying seasonal, eclectic merchandise and only three “copies” of each item. It’s as close to custom-made clothing as you’ll find in any boutique.
One of the best parts about shopping at an independent clothing boutique is knowing that all of the items are handpicked to reflect seasonal trends and community desires. This is especially true here, with the Girl Friday line complemented by other local designers and treasures. The clothes are cute yet cool, making women look trendy without being too in the moment. There are no pressure tactics here either, just laidback staff ready to offer advice if asked.