Vintage Crawl Toronto returned to Toronto's west-end vintage shops this week, letting vintage hoarders of all era allegiances have a blast shopping, drinking, and snacking (instead of doing it at home on Etsy, like on a typical Thursday night). Forty or so retailers scattered from Kensington Market to Parkdale signed on to take part in the spring 2014 edition of the event. Stores stayed open from 7pm until midnight, offering discounts, drinks, and more than one plate of homemade cookies.
A fellow shopper likened the evening to a sort of fashion Halloween - you traipse from door to door (hopefully wearing the outlandish clothes you only yank out of your closet once a year), picking up killer vintage scores and couple of free beers instead of those SweetTarts and Fizz candies nobody ever wants to eat. (I say it's even closer to fashion's Nuit Blanche, only the streets aren't totally clogged, and everybody's in bed by 1am. Magic.)
I stuck to Dundas West, Ossington and Parkdale this time (five hours goes surprisingly quickly when you're up to your elbows in awesome clothes), trawling through a dozen stores for the craziest statement pieces and best time-honoured basics the past has to offer. The nature of vintage, of course, means I can't guarantee any of these are still in stock. In fact, I might have bought a couple of them already (sorry) (no I'm not).
Here are 40 of my favourite finds from the spring 2014 Vintage Crawl Toronto.
Lead photo: Leopard pony hair pumps, Chosen Vintage, $62.
'60s Pucci dress, VSP Consignment, $398
'90s Calvin Klein boots, Chosen Vintage, $82
Beaded minidress, Bright Brown pop-up at the Henhouse, $35
Eye bracelet and rings, Chief Salvage Co., $18/$12
'40s sequined bolero (made in France), Emporium by I Miss You, $40
Evan Picone slingbacks, Penny Arcade Vintage, $32
'70s Lanvin dress, Life of Manek, $199
Pink leather skirt, Silver Falls Vintage, $45
Cutout boots, 69 Vintage, $90
Heart-patch acid-wash-and-lace jeans, Chosen Vintage, $52
Wool military cropped jacket, 69 Vintage, $65
Tooled leather bag, Emporium by I Miss You, $39
Boots, House of Vintage, $80
Floral bomber jacket, Soop Soop, $45
Lace-up leather boots, Penny Arcade Vintage, $125
'50s day dress, House of Vintage, $145
Crochet crop top, Silver Falls Vintage, $32
Red leather shorts, House of Vintage, $65
Cutout boots, Penny Arcade Vintage, $40
'70s Saint Laurent jumpsuit, VSP Consignment, $398
'90s heels, Silver Falls Vintage, $52
'80s Levi's acid-wash jacket, Life of Manek, $29
'90s beaded linen minidress, Penny Arcade Vintage, $80
Toronto-made leather jacket, Penny Arcade Vintage, $90
Brocade boots, Emporium by I Miss You, $65
'60s beaded cocktail dress, Life of Manek. $179
Thigh-high boots, 69 Vintage, $120
Striped cropped tank, House of Vintage, $30
Blue canvas trench, Life of Manek, $79
Brocade skirt, Bridge and Bardot, $45
Suede rhinestone-studded heels, Chosen Vintage, $65
Zebra-patterned sequin top, 69 Vintage, $60
Sequined dress, Bridge and Bardot, $100
Handmade beaded dress, 69 Vintage, $170
Moto-zip denim dress, Public Butter, $20
Fringed jacket, 69 Vintage, $375
'60s change purses, Life of Manek, $20
Flower brooch, Public Butter, $20
Silver Ziggy Stardust boots, House of Vintage, "display only" (sigh)
Coin purse photo courtesy Life of Manek.