For many years Yorkville has been considered the place to acquire luxury garments with staples such as Holt Renfrew and Harry Rosen residing within the neighbourhood’s perimeters. Although recently, the area has seen a massive influx of luxury boutiques with many iconic names on the door that it has become somewhat an embarrassment of riches. Here are our picks for the top 11 places in this historic neighbourhood for luxury and trendy threads.
1. Versace
The luxury brand’s two-storey, 3000 square foot flagship recently opened on Yorkville Avenue and is filled with looks celebrated by celebrities and other prominent figures in media alike. The interior was imagined by Japanese interior designer Gwenael Nicholas and is as glam as it sounds. The marble flooring, gold accents and ceiling are almost entirely covered by a 3-D brass grid. The interior matches the luxe of the goods within the store and will provide an exceptional shopping experience. 106 Yorkville Ave., (647) 954-1800, versace.com
2. Chanel
The one brand you would expect to find on this list has their flagship directly in the heart of this fashionable neighbourhood. They opened their new Toronto flagship location on Yorkville at the end of 2017 in the historic yellow brick building that was once the original location for Mount Sinai Hospital. Peter Marino transformed this location into a luxury boutique. It is today and in the process of preserving the exterior, but transporting you to a chic Parisian apartment once you walk through the doors. Shoppers will find everything synonymous with the Chanel brand; handbags, jewels, classic pumps, and of course, the label’s signature tweed suits. Space also includes a limestone fireplace that was flown in from Paris and an eight-meter tall sculpture of a pearl necklace that pays homage to the brand’s founder. 98 Yorkville Ave., (416) 925-2577, chanel.com
3. Mani Jassal
This is a self-titled brand by the designer, who is a local designer and a Ryerson grad. She has become known for making stunning gowns inspired by her Indian heritage and has had her showroom since 2018. She sells seven different collections at her Yorkville village space, including formal bridal gowns and more casual everyday looks. She has become a popular pick among celebrities, and even recently, one of her dresses was worn by Rupi Kaur to the CAFA awards in Toronto. Though her designs draw on her background, her pieces aren’t culturally specific and can be worn anywhere. Yorkville Village, 55 Avenue Rd., (647) 898 – 7737, manijassal.com
4. Over the Rainbow
This Toronto staple has been around since 1975 and has been family-run from the very beginning. It was one of the first stores to make jeans fashionable in the city and continues that tradition by having over 170 styles in the store. After more than three decades of in the same space on Yorkville Avenue, Joel Carman has decided to upgrade and move into a 6,500 square foot space inside the Manulife centre’s new expansion. It still has the famous denim wall, although now there is plenty of room for other clothing and accessory items. As with any high-class establishment, this store also offers in-store tailoring and still has the repurposed rainbow sign from the old shop. Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St. W., (416) 967-7448, rainbowjeans.com
5. Hermès
After months of staring at a giant classic Hermès scarf box, this magnificent flagship location was revealed at the beginning of 2018. Space was designed by the French architecture firm RDAI which the brand uses for all of its sites. It features warm wood accents, marble flooring, leather details, and a very instagrammable swirling staircase. The celebrated brand’s location gives shoppers access to plenty of their signature accessories such as their scarves, leather cuffs, and embellished clutches. You will need plenty of luck and a lot of spare change to snag one of their coveted Birkin Bags, which are a favourite among celebrities. 100 Bloor St. W., (416) 968-8626, hermes.com
6. Off-White
This is the first location of the brand by Virgil Abloh, the creative director for Kanye West and Louis Vuitton’s menswear collections’ artistic director. The store was opened on Yorkville Avenue in 2017 and featured a unique look, different for each of his stores. This one is inspired by overgrown nature, with tufts of yellow grasses lining the store’s perimeter. As for the clothing, the selection is geared towards a street style audience and has a relaxed and conceptual approach. 83 Yorkville Ave., (416) 546-4384, off-white.com
7. Christian Louboutin
This iconic brand, which is synonymous with their red-bottomed shoes, arrived in Yorkville in 2016. The label took over a two-storey Victorian on Yorkville Avenue and is located across Chanel’s street. They kept the classic look outside but transformed the interior by painting it a bold crimson red and transforming the interiors into an idyllic atmosphere inspired by an enchanted forest. The middle of the main floor features a “shoe tree,” with heels hanging from brass branches. Although this luxury brand is famous for its sky-high stilettos, shoppers will also find a range of other shoe styles from funky sneakers to men’s loafers, and carry a collection of handbags. 99 Yorkville Ave., (647) 694-1394, christianlouboutin.com
8. Zegna
This menswear label has been a favourite among classy and sophisticated men in Toronto for years. Its flagship location in Yorkville was open in the summer of last year in the two storey granite building formerly occupied by Pottery Barn and is directly next to Hermès. It’s part of a partnership with Harry Rosen and has everything men need to be appropriately suited up, and includes private on-site appointments and a made to measure suite. The shop carries that label’s many lines, from cotton sweatshirts to classic and fashion-forward runway looks from their couture collection. 100 Bloor St. W., (647) 730-9530, zegna.ca
9. Aritzia
This Vancouver-based brand has become a staple in the country. When their label started to gain traction and opened stores in the United States, Aritzia decided to redo and expand its flagship store. This location has doubled in size and includes an instore cafe where they can refuel and snack on treats from Tori’s bakeshop. The brand has gained quite a few celebrity clients like Hailey Bieber and sells their popular brands such as Wilfred and Babaton. The store boasts a range in styles from casual to sophisticated and put together for a reasonable price. Holt Renfrew Centre, 50 Bloor St. W., (416) 934-0935, aritzia.com
10. Maison Birks
This Montreal based Jeweller recently unveiled its redesigned flagship location in the new Manulife centre. This open-concept space is now spread out over one level and boasts a sleek, contemporary look designed to appeal to Millennial brides. The bridle bar in the back was created for couples to try exquisite diamonds in a more casual environment. Celebrity clients include Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, who sported a pair of their opal stud earrings. Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St. W., (416) 922-2266, maisonbirks.com
11. APM Monaco
This Jewelry brand has been making pieces inspired by the South of France since the 1980s. Their first Canadian location opened in 2017 in Yorkville and carried upscale, playful works of art like rainbow drop earrings and glittering galaxy-inspired bracelets. While still maintaining an affordable price point, the brand is continuously coming out with new styles and sending out four collections per month. They have a customizable collection as well, where you can emboss bold lettering on their pieces, which make great gifts. 89 Bloor St. W., (416) 353-0861, apm.mc
If you decide to stay with us in one of our Yorkville locations, you will be surrounded by one of the fantastic shopping destinations our city offers.
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