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Toronto prides itself on having some of the finest shopping in North America. Indeed, most of the world's name boutiques have branches here, especially in the Yorkville area, where you can find such luxury labels as Chanel, Prada, and Cartier. For those a little leaner of wallet, you can join in one of Torontonians' favorite pastimes: bargain hunting. Locals wear discount threads like badges of honor and stretch their dollar at Winners—where overstocked and liquidated designer pieces and last-season fashions are slashed to a fraction of their original retail prices.
Toronto has a large arts-and-crafts community, with numerous art galleries, custom jewelers, clothing designers, and artisans. Sophisticated glass sculpture and Inuit art are ideal as gifts or for your own home. A few record stores are still going strong despite the dominance of digital music. The survivors’ trump card has been focused inventory and knowledgeable staff—head to Rotate This for alterative and indie music or Atelier Grigorian for classical and jazz. Bookstores such as Indigo have lounge areas where you can sip a coffee from the in-store café while perusing books by Canadian authors such as Alice Munro, Ann-Marie MacDonald, and Rohinton Mistry; don’t miss favorite independent Book City.
When it comes to department stores, all roads lead to Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street West, the epicenter of Toronto's designer shopping. A mere block east is the more mid-price department store The Bay. A second Bay can be found across from Eaton Centre, a sprawling shopping complex with multilevel parking in the heart of the city.
MEC (rhymes with "check"), the much-beloved Toronto spot for anyone remotely interested in camping, sells wares for minor and major expeditions. It's also a go-to spot for cycling gear. The vast assortment of backpacks means you can shop here for anything from a schoolbag to something that will accompany you on travels around the world. For C$5, you get lifetime membership to the co-op.
Designed in British Columbia, these jeans and chinos are made for biking, climbing, or even the boardroom. The secret is their breathable, stretchy fabrics with reinforced stitching in the necessary "pain" points along with trendy cuts and colors.
The Canadian yoga brand's massive concept store on Queen West is a must-visit for runners and yogis alike. Along with plenty of athletic and loungewear for men and women, there is a 1,000-square-foot yoga and dance community studio.
Mountain Equipment Co-op's flagship store is as busy as basecamp at Mt. Kilimanjaro. It's an excellent spot to pick up emergency winter gear, water purification tablets, or a camping coffee kit. The merino undershirts are highly coveted as they'll keep you toasty on winter nights.
The first off the mark with the latest sportswear trends, this is the place to get hip, high-end outdoorsy labels like Canada Goose, the North Face, and Moncler—or to snag ski and snowboard gear, and poll the staff for advice on where to use it.
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