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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.
The Toronto location of this internationally renowned luxury jeweler caters to the city's elite. The glass cases feature a good selection of the jewelry designer's classic creations, including the triple-gold-band Trinity Ring and the striking nail-shape Juste Un Clou collection.
Most of the reasonably priced jewelry at this Distillery District shop is Canadian-designed, and all of it is unique and handmade. Pieces range from inexpensive glass-and-silver pendants to Swiss-made stainless steel rings and pricier pieces set with pearls and other semiprecious stones.
Feminine, Korean-inspired styles such as slip dresses, wide-leg trousers, blouse-y tops, and delicate jewelry are sold at Durumi.
Young local designer Lisa Gozlan makes modern and fashionable jewelry that feels special but that you can wear every day. This bright showroom in Yorkville carries her signature rings, necklaces, hoops, and bracelets, all meant to be stacked and layered. The whimsical happy faces, "evil eyes," pearls, hearts, and gold and silver pieces often show up on the Instagram feeds of celebrities and influencers.
With a reputation as one of Toronto's most luxurious jewelers, Royal De Versailles stocks some of the most striking and elegant pieces in town. Watch aficionados will be particularly impressed by their huge collection of high-end timepieces (they have one of the largest Rolex selections in Canada).
Good things come in little blue boxes, and this two-floor Tiffany location is filled with them—namely, rows and rows of classic, wearable fine jewelry designs. As at other Tiffany locations, the sales staff has a reputation for being patient, helpful, and friendly.
This sleek accessory boutique is the place for trendy offbeat pieces like handbags by local designers Spicy Princess and Opelle, Le Specs sunglasses, stunning handmade jewelry from Canadian indie designers like Jenny Bird and Biko, and Larson & Jennings watches.
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