Yorkville is the city’s ritziest shopping area, and Bloor Street West, dubbed Mink Mile, is home to Chanel and to Gucci, as well as to
Harry Rosen (416-972-0556,
www.harryrosen.com), Canada’s most popular men’s store.
Denzel Washington, Eric McCormack, and hockey star Martin Brodeur flock here for the suits, sportswear, and shoes from Hugo Boss, Brioni, Versace, Armani, and Ermenegildo Zegna.
Constantine (416-929-1177) is a sophisticated home-furnishings shop in swanky Rosedale (north of Yorkville). Owner Rita Tsantis handpicks all of the pieces, which include velvet pillows from
India, brightly colored lacquered tables, etched crystal glassware, embroidered tapestries from
Morocco, and the shop’s specialty — Fortuny hand-painted silk lamps based on nineteenth-century designs.
On College Street in Little Italy is
Mink (416-929-9214), a jewel-box boutique decorated with pink walls, green velvet chairs, and glittery chandeliers. Toronto-born owner Christine Papadakos makes trips to
France and New York in search of vintage-inspired jewelry, including Swarovski crystal chandelier earrings, multilayered necklaces, and beaded-and-glass cocktail rings.
Queen Street West is chock-full of eclectic, independent businesses like
Preloved (416-504-8704,
www.preloved.ca), a reconstructed vintage boutique founded by former model Julia Grieve. Scoop up cropped denim jackets, button-front sweatshirt vests, off-the-shoulder T-shirts, and zip-front wool cardigans.
Kate Hudson,
Jessica Alba, and Canadian superstars Shania Twain and Alanis Morissette shop here.
Mouthwatering confections such as hand-dipped, chocolate-covered fruits, toffee, and sinfully rich truffles (maple-walnut, raspberry, hazelnut crunch, lavender, lemon-thyme) can be found at Dupont Street’s
JS Bonbons (416-920-0274,
www.jsbonbons.com), owned by chocolatier Jenn Stone, who also offers chocolate-making classes (there’s a second shop on Queen Street West).