Living in a city like Toronto definitely isn’t cheap, but that shouldn’t stop you from living your best life, and having an Insta-ready wardrobe. Affordable clothing isn’t hard to find if you know where to look. Take a gander at the places and stores below, and you’ll still have enough money left over to pay your bills.

Chinatown on Spadina is a beloved stretch of Toronto with its hodgepodge of clothing shops, markets, and restaurants. Here is where you’ll find great prices on many wardrobe basics like tees, sweatshirts, leggings, and sunglasses. Make sure to take time to sift through the many bargain racks, but take note: you won’t find very many trendy items here — just basics galore. Where else in Toronto can you get five t-shirts for $10?

If secondhand is more your vibe, make sure to check out Toronto’s long list of great vintage stores. Black Market Clothing is one of Toronto’s longest standing vintage clothing shops, specializing in vintages tees and casual clothing. You never know what you’re going to find here, but new or vintage band tees are almost always a guarantee, as well as the $10 price tag — not much is priced higher than that. Another fab option is Mama Loves You Vintage on Queen West which is great for beautiful dresses from years past.

Kensington Market is a well loved pocket of Toronto that’s known for its quirky shops, under-the-radar restaurants, and all around fun vibe. There are a ton of vintage shops, as well as stores selling an array of random basics like tees, harem pants, and sunglasses. But unlike Chinatown, you can definitely find trendy items here, especially vintage denim and jewelry. Next time you’re in Kensington Market take a stroll down Kensington Avenue and hit up stores like Courage My Love, Bubble Gum Fashion, and Sub Rosa Vintage.

In this day and age, it’s so important to try to recycle your unwanted clothing and not just toss it in the trash. Going to or even hosting a clothing swap is a really great way to stop clothing from going into landfills but it’s so true that another persons junk is another’s treasure. Wondering where to find a clothing swap? One quick search on Facebook will put you in the right direction. Happy swapping!

Over here at StyleDemocracy, we are pretty much thrift store obsessed so of course we had to include them in this list. While you have to pack your patience when shopping at your local thrift, you might be surprised at what you can find. Whether you’re after Aritzia-style clothing, plus size fashion, or workout gear, it can all be found at the thrift store for amazing prices.

What did we do before Bunz? Seriously, it might be the best invention since sliced bread and the Internet. For anyone not in the loop, Bunz is a trading app and yes, you need it. You can trade your items for pretty much anything — household items, clothes, bottles of wine, gift cards, the list goes on. And it gets even better because you can earn BTZ (Bunz currency) and there are actual stores where you can spend them.

Along with vintage, Toronto also has a number of consignment stores — whether you’re looking for more affordable secondhand clothing or designer labels. VSP on Dundas, as well as Fashionably Yours and Consign Toronto, both on Queen Street. West, have some of the best prices on second-hand designer clothing. Otherwise, if you’re just looking to strike a deal on lightly used contemporary and vintage items, head over to Common Sort.

Obviously, a list of places to buy affordable clothing in Toronto, wouldn’t be complete without including Winners and Marshalls stores. These off-price retailers specializes in giving you the best deals on labels we all love with many clearance items starting at only $20 or less. What we love most about Winners and Marshalls is the massive selection! Being a department store, there’s always a crazy amount of clothes to choose from whether it’s activewear, denim, jewellery, accessories, or apparel you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for off the runway finds without paying off the runway prices, then fast fashion retailers like Zara, and H&M are your best bet. You can always find the latest fads at these stores for a fraction of the price of their designer inspirations. On the contrary, if you’re in the market for basics and affordable office attire, try Uniqlo or Joe Fresh for budget-friendly button ups, shift dresses, blazers, and dress pants.

Nordstrom Rack is giving other retailers a run for their money, being one of the city’s favourite off-price department store to enter the Canadian market. You can expect to find all the contemporary and designer labels that Nordstrom is known for, but with some hefty markdowns. While you may not be getting the same bargains you’ll find in Chinatown or Kensington Market, the real win here is the affordable price on designer labels.

Whoever had the idea to group a bunch of outlet stores together and create a mall out of them, is our hero. While you’ll find outlet malls a little further out of the city, they’re definitely worth the trek to get to. In Halton Hills there are the Toronto Premium Outlets which include a Gucci outlet, Saks Off 5th, an Aritzia outlet, and even a Restoration Hardware outlet.

If bargain hunting is your thing, you’ll definitely want to do some shopping at upcoming warehouse sales. Make sure you stay tuned to StyleDemocracy so you’re in the loop on any upcoming warehouse sales from brands like Ted Baker, Triluxe, and Bugatti.
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Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Toronto is a beautiful city to explore. Each corner is full of gems worthy of being snapped for the ‘gram!
With the weather warming up, we decided to hit the pavement and check out some of the picture perfect destinations the city has to offer with the new Huawei P30 Pro. Equipped with one of the largest batteries in the industry, we were able to make our way from one end of the city to the next without even having to recharge the phone. And when we did have to charge it, its SuperCharge function got it from zero to 70% in just 30 minutes.
But what makes the Huawei P30 Pro the most different from its predecessors is its new Leica Quad Camera System. Even the most novice of photographers can capture stunning shots. It features a 40MP main camera, a 20MP ultra-wide angle camera, an 8MP telephoto camera, a Time of Flight camera, and a 32MP camera, not to mention, 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom, and 50x digital zoom.
In Layman’s terms, that basically means the phone’s camera is dummy-proof! Say goodbye to grainy zoom, distracting backgrounds, indistinguishable night shots, and having to cut friends or interesting features out of photos because your lens isn’t wide enough
One thing Toronto doesn’t have a shortage of is shopping. No matter what you’re looking for, whether it be outlet shopping, thrift, or on trend pieces, there’s a neighbourhood for it. While we think all neighbourhoods are created equal, each one does have their own unique features. Depending on your shopping end goal you might want to hit up one over the other.

Instagram/@designerfragrancedepot
If you’re looking to maximize your savings and time, Orfus Road is the place to go! The outlet mall area (located north of Lawrence Street and west of Dufferin) has neverending markdowns and is a discount shopping hub for all things wedding-related, home decor, and affordable fashions useful for travellers. While you won’t find high fashion clothing here, it’s clear the Orfus Road as a lot of other things to offer. Your apartment will thank you for it, but you’ll definitely only want to shop here when you have access to a car.

Instagram/ @archerthefrenchie
Ossington is fast becoming one of the most popular shopping destinations in Toronto, maybe even rivalling Queen St. West. The area now boasts a ton of one-of-a-kind retailers with very few stores in Toronto, or that can only be found on the strip. Think Shinola, Peace Collective, Tiger of Sweden, VdeV, The Local, Reigning Champ, and more. Add in the mix of restaurants, coffee shops, vintage stores, and Bellwoods Brewery, and you’ll need almost a full day to get your fill of the Ossington neighbourhood.

Instagram/ @queenstreetwest
Comprised of shops and retailers spanning from Gladstone Avenue to University Avenue, Queen West is a monster. Being ranked “Canada’s Coolest Retail Neighbourhood,” you best believe that the title wasn’t appointed by accident. Hit up trendy spots like Anthropologie, Heel Boy, Oak + Fort, Bite Beauty, and more on the west side, while the east end has mass brands like Zara, Aritzia, H&M and Lululemon. Not to mention you’ll never go hungry because there’s basically a restaurant in between every few stores.

Instagram/ @yongeandeglintonlife
Uptown Yonge often gets overlooked, but this neighbourhood shouldn’t be thrown under the bus since there are a number of shops to be noted. Get grocery shopping and retail therapy in at the same time at Yonge and Eglinton Centre; stores include Metro, Rexall, Sephora, and Urban Outfitters, while the actual strip has popular stores like Winners, Sporting Life, West Elm, and Mendocino. There’s also a Cineplex if you feeling like catching a flick part way through your day!

Instagram/ @thelustforluxe
While Dundas West is known for its thriving nightlife, things have really picked up during the day in the last few years. The street might be home to some of the most unique Toronto-based retailers, having a great assortment of vintage clothing and jewelry stores, as well as many choice restaurants. Top stores include Mejuri, Easy Tiger, VSP Consignment, Stole My Heart, Province Apothecary, Chosen Vintage and more. The variety of different shops makes Dundas West the perfect destination if you’re searching for a chill day where you can take your time window shopping.

Instagram/ @ahatimy1
Kensington Market is one of those shopping destinations that has everything and more! Food and groceries are obviously a big thing here with so much fresh produce, but the plethora of vintage stores, and surplus style offerings also make it one of the best places for thrifting. If you’re dying for a band tee, vintage cut-offs, artisan jewelry, or tye dye harem pants, the market will serve you well. Just make sure you have time to stop for food or a beverage because even five minutes here will make you drool.

Instagram/ @curiosasociety
They say that buzzing urban neighbourhoods have a trickle out effect, and Queen West has definitely been trickling out into Parkdale. Starting at Gladstone Avenue and going west to Roncesvalles, West Queen West has a similar vibe to Dundas with familiar shops popping up like Armed. There are also a number of small Toronto-based clothing retailers, Toronto’s Harry Potter themed store, and vintage gems like Public Butter and Consign Toronto. Way on the far side by Roncesvalles we should mention the Toronto Designer Market too which always features new Toronto brands of all sorts of items.

Instagram/ @ahatimy1
Anything the Eaton Centre backs onto is naturally going to be a massive shopping hub, so it goes without saying that Dundas Square is an awesome retail destination. Along with the constant hustle and bustle which means there’s always something going on in the square, it’s literally surrounded by bix-box shops and restaurants. By the time you finish up at H&M, Forever21, Winners and shops extending up Yonge and across Dundas, you’ll have worked up a major appetite seeing all of your resto options.
Featured image: Instagram/ @kirstistubbs
Everyone who has been to Kensington Market immediately falls in love with its charming stores, funky vibes and old Victorian buildings. We’ve spent a LOT of time in Kensington and wanted to share some of our insider knowledge as there are so many things to do – it can even get overwhelming.
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One of the best things about Kensington Market is the insane amount of vintage and independent shops all in one neighbourhood. We won’t be able to cover everywhere you can shop, but we will highlight our favourites:
Find speciality items like jewellery, home accessories, books, kitchenware and so much more. Shop here if you’re looking for gifts.
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Local handmade items like gift wrap, printed items and birthday cards. Sometimes they even offer screen printing workshops!
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All vintage clothing and accessories – the perfect place if you’re shopping for a Halloween costume.
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One of our favourite places to shop for the most wonderful vintage treasures, vintage cashmere sweaters, $2 rings, and other trinkets. They have tons of beads and stones that allow you to create your own accessories, as well as ready-made pieces.
Shop remade vintage clothing and accessories, as well as new pieces from unique fashion lines. They also have furniture and home decor to peruse.
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The perfect spot to find natural vegan food items and eco-friendly products for your skin.
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Browse through one of a kind jewellery, combined with new and old pieces. They specialize in reworking old treasures and creating custom rings, bracelets, necklaces and more.
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If you’re looking to revamp your cocktail bar – you absolutely have to check out this incredible store. It’s the only store of its kind in Toronto, filled with neon colours and vintage aesthetic. The store sells bitters, glassware, bar carts, coasters, accessories, home decor and lots of other things you didn’t realize you need until you’re inside.
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Selling a variety of high-end brands like Canada Goose, Burberry and more with MAJOR discounts. The store is small but well organized with a great selection of clothing. This is a great place to go if you need some new fur in your life.
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From the Spring to Fall, Kensington Market becomes completely car-free on the last Sunday of every month. These are coined “Pedestrian Sundays” and usually have street vendors, performances, music and more to check out. Kensington also puts on a Winter Solstice parade and festival on December 21 to celebrate the long night of the year.
It’s also good to keep in mind that if you’re visiting on a Monday, many of the smaller stores are closed.
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Kensington Market is one of the oldest and most diverse neighbourhoods in Toronto, stacked with cafes, restaurants, bars, vintage stores, and more. It’s the type of place you can discover new things every time you visit, with their ever-changing shops and graffiti-marked alleys.
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Kensington Market is situated just to the west of downtown Toronto, bordered by Spadina Avenue, Dundas Street, Bathurst Street and College Street. It’s extremely accessible by public transit.
From Bloor-Danforth Line (Line Two): Take the 510 Spadina Streetcar West south, get off at College or one stop further south.
From Yonge/University Subway: Take the College/Dundas Streetcar West, get off at Spadina or the next stop.
From Union Station: Take the Queen’s Quay/Spadina streetcar. Ride along the lake, where it turns north on Spadina and get off at Dundas or the next couple of stops.
Walking is definitely the easiest way to get around if you’re already in the downtown area. Parking is very limited.
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While there are TONS of places to eat and drink in Kensington Market, we’re going to break down our favourites for you. Due to the multicultural vibe of the area, you can find almost any type of cuisine here, you can expect to find any kind of food here from Mexican to Salvadorian and Portuguese. Whether you’re looking for a snack, sit down or takeout meal, we’ve got you covered.
There are a mind-boggling array of places to eat and drink in Kensington Market, whether you’re looking for a quick snack, takeout, or a sit-down meal.
Nu Bügel: If you’re looking for some Montreal-style bagels, this spot is for you.
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Seven Lives: Known as one of the best taco spots in the city, this cash-only taqueria fixes up Baja-style tacos and seafood.
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Otto’s Berlin Döner: Bright counter-serve style with patio serving Berlin-style kebabs & currywurst. It’s greasy and delicious.
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Torteria San Cosme: This casual spot won’t disappoint with the variety of tasty Mexican sandwiches (one of my personal favourites).
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Jumbo Empanadas: An authentic Chilean eatery offering meat and vegetable empanadas, along with corn pies.
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Pizzeria Via Mercanti: A classic small family-operated Italian restaurant offering thin crust pizza, homemade pasta and paninis at lunch.
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Hibiscus: If you’re searching for something lighter, you can enjoy an organic and gluten-free buckwheat crepe (sweet or savoury).
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Pancho’s Bakery: Looking to satisfy your sweet tooth? Indulge in the most mouthwatering churros.
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Wanda’s Pie in the Sky: Known as a historical landmark in the city, the bakery is filled with freshly baked cakes, pies, tarts and lots more you’ll want to devour immediately upon arrival.
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Blackbird Baking Co.: This adorable bakery sells the freshest baguettes, bread loaves, cakes, tarts, buns and more.
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Cheese Magic: This sample-generous cheese shop offers some of the most delicious variety in the city.
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There are obviously lots of other incredible places but these are our go-to spots. Make sure to stop by Moonbeam Coffee Company or FIKA Café, if you want to stop at a cozy cafe to enjoy a warm latte. If you’re looking for an alcoholic beverage, check out the semi-hidden cocktail bar called Cold Tea or grab a craft beer from Kensington Brewery Company.
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This summer, local artists will transform a 1950s grocery store into an otherworldly adventure in Kensington Market. The Fairland Funhouse (241 Augusta Ave.), will be turned into a magical work of art, music and discovery. It will be a two-story multi-sensory adventure themed as an interdimensional hotel. A limited amount of tickets will be available online, so make sure you grab them ASAP. The art maze opens to the public seven days a week starting in August. For now, this will be a temporary pop-up shop.
As an ode to the iconic grocery store’s past, known for hosting rooftop concerts during Pedestrian Sundays, Fairland Funhouse will host a schedule of art events and parties. The inside will be disguised as an underwater ballroom, with the main space able to accommodate over 200 guests and features Toronto’s delicious new pastime – Liquor Donuts.
Universal Music Canada is giving local musicians the opportunity to bring music to life in a unique way by partnering with visual artists, transforming unused space into an artist hub for the public to explore and enjoy. Expect artists like The Beaches, Jazz Cartier, Casey Watson, Bad Child, Lights, Jeff Blackburn and so many more.
“Fairland Funhouse embodies everything that makes Kensington great: diversity, creativity and a melting pot of old with new,” said Jonah Brotman, co-founder, Mondo Forma. “The art maze is a choose-your-own-adventure playground, each room an entirely new and magical world dreamed up by a different team of collaborating local artists. It’s art you can be in!”
For visiting hours and to purchase tickets online, visit fairlandfunhouse.com
Featured Image: Instagram/@fairlandfunhouse
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There’s a marvellous chain of restaurants in the United States that serve up delicious egg sandwiches, heavenly soft boiled eggs and a menu that features eggs throughout. The restaurant Egg Slut has received worldwide accolades and is a destination restaurant for lovers of everything eggs.
It should come as no surprise that someone north or the border would try to harness the popularity of Egg Slut and make it our own. Let us introduce you to the more polite Canadian version dubbed Egg Bae. If you’ve ever been to an Egg Slut, when you see the branding and the offerings from Egg Bae you’ll notice that it could be classified as a homage.
We hope the food at Egg Bae tastes as good as their American competitor because the food at Egg Slut is fantastic. They use a tried and true cooking method that produces the most luxurious silky scrambled eggs. You can watch the video on how they do it below ( and trust us if you want to impress someone you can make them at home)
The new Egg Bea restaurant looks just as amazing and honestly has a softer name for the Canadian market. You can imagine that there were some concerns with the name Egg Slut when it first popped up in the states.
While there has yet to be an official menu, from their Instagram page, it looks like Egg Bae will specialize in egg sandwiches with toppings that include everything from your standard bacon and sausage to smoked salmon to potato chips.
Egg Bae will be popping up in Kensington Market on May 27th and will be located at 189 Augusta Ave.
Toronto’s Kensington Market has a rich and storied history. as A haven for immigrants, hippies/ hipsters, clothing retailers, and food purveyors, Kensington Market has been one of the crown jewels of the city fusing multiculturalism with retail storefronts and community.
To celebrate Kensington’s history, a new Heritage Minute has been created and it’s unlike any of the previous 87 Heritage Minutes that have become a staple for every Canadian. The new Heritage Minutes is different due to the fact that there are no period costumes, the footage doesn’t look like something out of the Road to Avonlea. Instead, the new Heritage Minute shows a beautiful water-colour style animation of a Jewish chicken shop that was replaced by a Portuguese fish market and then transformed into a Jamaican music store – it truly shows the beauty of Toronto’s multicultural history.
Check out this awesome video below narrated by Kensington Markets own Tom Mihalik, who is the current owner of Tom’s Place.
Things are heating up in the city and spring romance is calling!
Whether you’re in a committed relationship or single and ready to mingle, the warmer weather beckons us to break hibernation and explore all the city has to offer. This season, give your wallet a break and say no to bad dates. Take your significant other or potential lover out on the town without breaking the bank by using our list of the best cheap dates in Toronto.
Thank us later.
Most people aren’t aware that The Ballroom offers free bowling on Sunday nights after 5pm. While you still have to pay for shoe rental ($5 per pair), that’s a pretty low price to pay for a night of fun. Oh, and did we mention that bar rails are just $4, and caesars and wine are $5 all day on Sundays? You’re welcome.
Every Thursday from 5-11pm, Gladstone Hotel hosts free adult colouring nights. Set to the tune of hip hop beats, impress your date and get your scribble on with the free adult colouring book-style photos and pencil crayons on hand. Drinks aren’t included, but there are easy-on-the-wallet specials on offer.
Do things a little differently for your next date and give back to the community. National Volunteer Week takes place April 23rd to 29th and there are plenty of opportunities to explore. Show some compassion and give a little piece of your heart to the community (and your date) – it’s the perfect way to really get to know one another! You can find a full list of volunteering opportunities in Toronto here.
Music junkies will love this springtime date idea. The Drake Hotel hosts a number of bands during the week in their lounge, and these shows are totally free to the public! Perk up your weeknights with free live performances from bands like Parkside Drive and The Digs, just make sure you leave room in your budget for a couple of drinks. See The Drake Hotel’s event listings here – they also have other free and equally intriguing events (think pie and coffee, and coffee cocktails) on deck for the season.
Does your date love the Toronto Blue Jays? Take ’em to the Bleeding Blue art exhibit at Steam Whistle Gallery, which is free to the public and open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm until April 30th. The exhibit features Blue Jays themed pieces by Canadian artist Samara Shuter. And if you have some extra dollars to spare, add in a brewery tour, which is only $12 per person – Steam Whistle samples included!
Looking for a guaranteed good time? Yuk Yuk’s hosts Amateur Night every Tuesday which consists of two shows: one at 7:30 pm featuring students from Humber College School of Comedy and one at 9:30 pm featuring Yuk Yuk’s regular amateurs. Tickets are only $4 and will get you access to both shows. Our tip for the most cost effective evening? Opt to share a bottle of Chardonnay ($29) instead of ordering individual drinks, which can add up pretty quickly.
Get cultured and celebrate the 21st annual Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, the world’s largest photography event of its kind. From May 1-31st, a range of Canadian artists will be showcased in free public installations and open exhibitions scattered throughout the Toronto. We suggest making a day of it, creating your own walking tour with stops across the city. Learn more about the festival here.
This year, High Park’s Nature Centre is predicting peak bloom to be sometime between May 3rd and 10th. Of course, this all depends on Mother Nature, but when it happens, we definitely suggest checking it out. Start your date off by grabbing a coffee or cheap bite on Roncesvalles (this guide will help you out!), and then stroll over to High Park and sneak a kiss under the blossoms. You’re sure to score some major romance points, and probably an Instagram photo or two, too. Oh, and if the date’s going well, prolong it and mosey on over to High Park Zoo.
Take your date for a film under the stars and check out Hot Docs’ Docs at Dusk series. The first screening takes place on Thursday, May 4th at Innis Courtyard (weather permitting), premiering Give Me Future, a documentary about how Major Lazer became the first American performer to put on a show in Cuba. The event starts at 8pm and there will also be live music. Best part yet, it’s 100% free. Just remember to bring your own snacks and arrive early to ensure you get spots. Get full details about the event here.
Make your date an all day event and head to Kensington Market on Pedestrian Sundays where cars are given the boot and pedestrians are given free range. The streets of Toronto’s most colourful neighbourhood will be flooded with food, performers, dancers, music and vendors. Best of all, it’s mostly free! You’ll just need a couple of bucks on hands for any extra noshing. Pedestrian Sundays return to Kensington Market on May 28th, and happen every Sunday onward from 12-7pm.
Featured Image: The Digs via TheDrake.ca
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