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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.
This buzzy Queen West mainstay stocks style for men and women including Hunter wellies, Frye boots, Birkenstock sandals, Sperry Top-Siders, Converse and Vans sneakers, and a great selection of Laurentian Chief and Minnetonka street moccasins and mukluks.
A tried-and-true spot for cool and cute footwear for any gender, Heel Boy stocks unique styles by well-known brands like Hunter, Alohas, Vagabond, Sam Edelman, Saucony, G.H Bass, as well as on-trend bags and accessories.
Fluevog's funky shoes are perfectly displayed in this roughly converted high-ceilinged industrial space. The building was once the distillery boiler house, which explains the three-story brick oven that takes up a third of the floor space, and the safety ladder leading to an overhead catwalk. Take a seat on the stunning embossed leather couch when trying on the fun, quirky merchandise.
High-end footwear without the inflated price tag is the promise at this chic, woman-led boutique. Founded by sisters determined to bring transparency and fair pricing to fashion, the brand offers stylish shoes that are handmade in ethical factories across Europe. The airy, minimalist store invites you to browse like it’s your own closet—no pressure, just rows of sleek boots, bold sandals, and leather flats, both trendy and classic (and in eye-catching colors). Thanks to a direct-to-consumer model, you’ll find standout design and craftsmanship at fair prices.
These French-made walking shoes have been around since the 1960s and are constructed entirely from natural materials. Passionate walkers swear by them and claim they never, ever wear out—even on cross-Europe treks. Styles, which include options for men and women, run the gamut from smart ankle boots to minimalist slides.
