Clothing shopping in Canada
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A
Chabanel Warehouses
Bargain-sniffers from far and wide flock to the Chabanel, an eight-block expanse of old factory buildings in northern Montréal west of Blvd St-Laurent. Inside are hundreds of ‘suites’ or warehouse storage rooms stuffed with locally made and imported items. From Buffalo jeans to Monte Calvo coats to Indian skirts, the choice is so huge it’s almost paralyzing. Just start on a top floor (the buildings have up to nine floors) and work your way down. Bring cash and be prepared to bargain. The shops open their doors on Saturday morning only, when something of a funfair atmosphere prevails. A few buildings are open normal hours during the week.
reviewed
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B
Deluxe Junk
A treasure trove of antique glories, from flapper dresses to sparkly evening shoes and even the occasional old-school wedding outfit, this is one of the city’s best vintage clothing stores. Mostly serving discerning females, there are also essential outfits for passing blokes, including cummerbunds and Hawaiian shirts (not usually worn together). Check out the vintage cigarette holders – perfect for that 1940s dinner party you’re time traveling back to.
reviewed
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C
Ht Naturals
Specializing in sustainable clothing that’s affordable rather than priced for the rich, HT sells men’s and women’s T-shirts, hoodies, pants and tops (expect to pay from $20 to $60) of the classic, everyday variety. Items are often made from soy, hemp or organic cotton blended with bamboo. The hot item is the Beunostyle ladies’ underwear range printed with the phrase ‘Eat Organic.’
reviewed
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D
Eugene Choo
Behind the double-fronted, blue-painted exterior of this local favorite beats the heart of a store that pioneered the emergence of Main St as Vancouver’s hip clothing capital. Once a grungy vintage-clothing shop, it’s now a hotbed of local designer duds for the city’s slim-fit set. Handmade shoes and tailored suits are recommended here, and this is one of the only stores in town that has stocked Freitag messenger bags.
reviewed
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E
Mintage
Kitsilano’s most popular vintage store has a great selection covering all the bases, including a good array of shoes, tops, jeans and that oh-so-perfect old-school summer dress. Prices can be a bit on the steep side for some items – worn T-shirts shouldn’t be over $30, no matter which cool band they’re proclaiming – but there are still some finds to be had and a couple of sale racks that are always worth perusing.
reviewed
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F
Lynn Steven Boutique
An austere-looking white interior enlivened by a tower of paperbacks fashioned into a changing room, this excellent women’s boutique is popular with under-30s coolsters looking for classic casual togs that will stand the test of time. Tops and jeans from designers in Toronto, New York and LA (including McGinn) dominate, but expect to also be tempted by the vegan bags from Montréal. Friendly service.
reviewed
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Ray Rickburn
Proving that not all of Vancouver’s independent clothing stores cater only to women, this excellent men’s apparel shop is the ideal haunt for blokes who want to reinvent their look. Patronized by under-30s with an eye on style, you’ll find sweaters, skinny jeans and rakishly appealing jackets from the likes of Ted Baker, Fred Perry and Paul Smith. That’s right: it costs to look this good.
reviewed
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H
Smoking Lily
Quirky art-school cool rules here, with skirts, belts and halter-tops whimsically accented with prints of ants, skulls or the periodic table. Men’s clothing is slowly creeping into the mix, with fish, skull and tractor T-shirts and ties. It’s hard to imagine a better souvenir than the silk tea cozy printed with a Pierre Trudeau likeness. It’s a fun spot to browse and staff are friendly.
reviewed
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I
Highend Organics
Carrying tons of hemp, recycled and organic fiber clothing, this counterculture favorite is also one of the only places in the city where you can buy the sought-after Blackspot sneakers produced by Adbusters magazine. Alongside the hoodies, Ts and pants, there’s a head-spinning array of bongs, which should please the customs officers when they find one in your suitcase.
reviewed
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J
Taxi
This is a funky little store devoted to men’s underwear and lots of it. The T-shirts and briefs are colorful and cutting-edge. Well, as cutting- edge as men’s cotton underwear can be without raising eyebrows. The company is based in the village of Ste-Anne-de-la-Pérade, about 1½ hours southwest of Québec City. Taxi underwear is 100% Canadian made.
reviewed
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Obakki
Making excellent use of its brick-lined heritage space location, this handsome unisex clothing boutique looks more like an art gallery inside with its polished concrete floors and spruce wood-block tables. It pitches itself as elegant yet casual. Unleash your credit cards for a full menu of highly contemporary made-in-North-America designs with a hint of mod-Asian influence.
reviewed
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Cherry Bomb
Printing ironic, often retro designs onto American Apparel T-shirts is the main activity at this hipster hangout. If you’re not cool enough for a Mr T or old-school AC/DC graphic, head to the back of the store and check out the museum-like array of vintage clothing and accessories. Where else are you going to find that replica Evel Knievel jumpsuit you’ve always wanted?
reviewed
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Twigg & Hottie
Just across from Smoking Lily and named after owners Glencora Twigg and Christine Hotton, this wood-floored nook showcases distinctive garments (plus idiosyncratic jewelry) for women from Canadian designers: it’s the place to find something that nobody else is wearing back home. If you’re in a budgeting mood, peruse the Steals and Deals rack at the back.
reviewed
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N
Pacific Centre
If rain curtails your street shopping activities, duck inside this handily located central mall. You’ll find all the usual chain and department store suspects, plus highlights like H&M, Purdy’s Chocolates and Harry Rosen. You can also check your email for free at the Apple Store. There’s a large food court if you need a pit stop from all that retail therapy.
reviewed
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O
Preloved
Preloved is all about reusing and recycling, but this is no thrift store: you can find Preloved designs on the runway. Reclaimed vintage fabrics are reassembled to create all-new, one-of-a-kind clothing. Women’s items are the main focus, but kids and men will find kicky outfits as well. Items are reassuringly expensive, but not so much as to break the bank.
reviewed
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Brooklyn Clothing
Proving that Yaletown men are just as aesthetically focused as women, this hipster menswear boutique is the perfect spot to upgrade your style from that New Romantic look you’ve been sporting since 1983. Local designers are well represented – check out the achingly cool T-shirts – and there are dozens of jeans styles so you can finally nail that perfect fit.
reviewed
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Kanuk
When people in Québec say ‘Kanuk’ they mean the winter coats that last a lifetime, and although they’re available throughout the province, this flagship store has the best selection, and seasonal sales. Most jackets stay toasty in temperatures dipping to -30ºC. Kanuk also carries raincoats, swimsuits, backpacks and hiking gear.
reviewed
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Basquiat
A minimalist but pricey unisex clothing joint where you’ll need all your credit cards to buy an outfit. Despite the price tags, the service is excellent and the carefully chosen selection of international labels is top-notch: look out for Ian, Dondop, Montesano and beyond. Since fashion is followed closely here, the end-of-season sales are truly excellent.
reviewed
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S
Goon Pack
This fantastically eclectic gallery and clothing store offers regular art shows where you can meet the local hipsters. It also showcases some of the city’s best, under-the-radar designers on its racks. Look out for duds by Evolt and Paper Bird and check out the unique hoodies and graphic T-shirts that will make everyone back home eternally jealous.
reviewed
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Holt Renfrew
Vancouver’s swankiest clothing and accessories department store; high-end label lovers flock here to peruse the artfully presented D&G, Armani and Issey Miyake togs and accoutrements arrayed over several floors. Service is personal and particular from staffers often better dressed than their customers. The awesome end-of-season sales are recommended.
reviewed
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Lululemon Athletica
The flagship downtown store of the Vancouver-based chain that made ass-hugging yoga wear a mainstream fashion, this is the shop for that archetypal West Coast look. Sporty tops and pants for ladies are the collection’s backbone, but menswear is also part of the mix – at least that can be your excuse as you head in here to meet attractive local women.
reviewed
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V
Roots
Basically a maple leaf–emblazoned version of the Gap, Roots designs athletic streetwear that’s unmistakably Canadian; its retro-styled jogging pants, hoodies and toques (if you don’t know what that is, this is the place to find out) are ever-popular. If you can’t find this store, there are additional outlets – usually in malls – throughout the city.
reviewed
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Excalibur Québec
Devoted to all things medieval, this Québec company sells clothes, jewelry and accessories. It also manufactures about 80% of its merchandise. Some of the outfits are pretty spectacular – and pricey. But plenty of items have been dialed down a notch and are actually wearable in public. This is one of many such stores around the province.
reviewed
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Roots
Its reputation is now soooo big worldwide that customers may forget Canada’s own Roots started off as a humble shoemaker in the ’70s. Now its range includes Roots for kids, Roots athletics, leather and home accessories. Tastes are easily accessible and geared to teens and 20-somethings, fashionable and at times even innovative.
reviewed
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Oliver + Lilly’s
This small, white-walled women’s clothing boutique just around the corner from the South Granville hubbub is an oasis of great designer duds. You’ll find stylish but casual jeans and halter tops from the likes of Heidi Merrick, Ali Ro and Eze Sur Mer, as well as that must-have Madison Marcus Zeal dress that will knock ’em all out back home.
reviewed
