As Queen Street hip pushes further west, Amy Burstyn explores the shopping scene in one of Toronto's hottest neighborhoods.
By Amy Burstyn
Jacflash
1036 Queen Street W., 416-516-8766, jacflash.net.
With “Fashion, Music, Glamour” inscribed on the window and a name that alludes to a certain Rolling Stones song, Jacflash promises the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.
Owners, Jaclyn Genovese and her father, Geoffrey, acquire sequins-and-paparazzi labels like Alice + Olivia, Transit and H. Fredriksson from New York, L.A. and Europe and slot them in amongst edgy design accents – a tin-tiled ceiling, antique mirrors and large decorative lamps. A comfier glam is found in jersey from Young, Fabulous & Broke and cashmere-blend Mynk jeans, but mirrored purse from Ira Salles maintains the glitz.
Those also on the hunt for a new sound are free to relax on the white leather sofas in the listening lounge, where customers can check out more than 20 independent music artists.
Photography by Angie Martin.
Common Cloth
1233 Queen Street, W., 416203-7710, commoncloth.com.
Sisters Melanie Talbot and Kristina Bozzo, the design team behind Common Cloth, have been creating their line for more than four years, but they’re relatively new to retail, opening their storefront in 2006. As Talbot puts it, “Retail is an eye-opener: you get to see right off the bat what people like–and what they don’t like.”
The shop’s aesthetic is clean, contemporary and comfortable. The sisters collect modern and reclaimed furniture and a similar eye for quality and simplicity of design can be found in Common Cloth’s well-made wares. Chic dresses, blouses and skirts, and staples like a racer-back tank top, easily go from day to night.
While Talbot and Bozzo have certainly dressed celebrities (Nelly Furtado and MTV’s Jessi Cruikshank come to mind), service doesn’t stop at the glitterati. “I think we’re different from large stores because we are very service oriented,” says Talbot. “It’s not just about coming in and buying, we’ll tailor the outfit to you, do the alterations. We want to make long-lasting relationships.”
Shown: Common Cloth. Photography by Amy Burstyn.
Boutique Le Trou
940 Queen Street W., 416-516-7122.
The artistically adorned judies in Boutique Le Trou’s window may be the first thing to catch your eye, but word of mouth is what has made this shop a cornerstone for Canadian fashion.
With its clean white walls and wood floors, the boutique feels more like a gallery than a retail outlet. “Everyone says we curate fashion,” says owner Marlene Schiff, who decorates the walls with select art pieces, also for sale.
Arty homegrown labels, such as Zoran Dobric, Nada, and Project Runway’s Lucian Matis, mix with European imports like Penny Black and Sarah Pacini. Check out the house line, Trou Love, a collaborative effort by Schiff and her staff. A selection of vintage accessories provides finishing touches. Though conservative dressers will have no trouble at Le Trou, Schiff says that her shop is “definitely edgy, definitely fashion forward. It’s not for the faint of heart.”
Photography by Angie Martin.
Made You Look Jewellery Studio and Gallery
1338 Queen Street W., 416-463-2136 ; Accessories, 1273 Queen Street W., 416-516-9595, madeyoulook.ca.
The combined forces of Made You Look are all about adornment. Opened in 2001, the first store was such a success that last November, Sarah Hamel opened Made You Look Accessories across the street from its big sister.
At the original shop you’ll find classic and conservative looks, wedding and engagement rings, and delicate custom-made pieces. The artist’s studio at the back of the store, where jewellery is handmade by local artisans, was modelled after the workspace at Hamel’s alma mater, George Brown College. Across Queen, the emphasis is on conversation-starter pieces, including Susie Love’s colourful Lucite cuffs and necklaces, Buttercup Days’ vintage-inspired earrings and charm bracelets, and Sticks and Stones, featuring raw materials from High Park.
Hamel is passionate about her work, the artists she strives to promote, and increasing the value of the customer shopping experience. “It’s about educating the public and saying; when you’ve got $100 dollars to spend, don’t buy junk. Buy a piece of jewellery that’s going to nourish your soul.”
Photography by Amy Burstyn.
ShopGirls Gallery Boutique
1342 Queen Street W., 416-534-7467, shopgirls.ca.
ShopGirls, an art/fashion collective, had opened just days before my interview with owner Michelle Germain: The sign wasn’t even up and the space was already generating buzz.
Germain renovated a former hardware store into an huge gallery space with displays that hint at the building’s past life: clothing hung on old plumbing pipes, jewellery displayed on wire shutters. Standout merch includes Mirjana Scepanovic’s bold leather bags, and the recycled-fabric purses from Mined Recreations, which donates a portion of their profits to fund the university education of a handful of women in South Africa.
The shop is a group effort and some of the artists work in the store, interacting directly with customers. “They’re buying the artist as much as they’re buying the piece. People want to know the story.” And Germain has made it her job to tell it. “It’s really amazing to see how many people get it,” she says. “It doesn’t take a lot of convincing.”
Shown: Common Cloth. Photography by Amy Burstyn.