It’s been quite the year of fashion trends in Toronto and beyond. From blokecore to balletcore, we’ve seen it all — and worn it all. There have also been so many great new shops opening in the city, amazing secondhand markets and exciting new innovations from local designers. This year, our top five list shows that Torontonians want only the best when it comes to fashion. Here are the top five style stories that caught your eye in 2023.

5. The best thrift stores in Toronto

Here in Toronto, we’re big on thrifting — so it’s no surprise that this post made the top five. Featuring the classics including Goodwill and Value Village along with a few sleeper hits such as Market by the Pound and Double Take, this story is the go-to guide for thrifting in Toronto. And with prices going up in every industry, even vintage shopping is pricey these days, so it’s clear thrifting became even more of a trend in 2023.

4. Casey Bannerman’s Raptors-inspired designs

It turns out that in Toronto, we don’t just like fashion — we like fashion about Toronto! Designer Casey Bannerman has been going viral for his sports-focused designs, drawing inspiration from Raptors jerseys and even from specific NBA stars. When we profiled him in November, everyone wanted to know more about this designer and his unconventional designs — including the knit, retro logo-inspired Raptors jersey you’ve probably seen on your Instagram scroll. 

3. The best clothing stores in Toronto

So readers not only wanted to know the best thrift stores in Toronto, they also wanted to know all the best clothing stores too! This post, part of our Best Of Toronto 2023 series, detailed our top 30 choices for the best clothing stores in the GTA, with a winner (or two) in every category — from the best New York-style department store to our favourite streetwear boutique.

2. The best sunglasses in Toronto

Was it particularly sunny in Toronto this year? Our post on the trendiest places to buy sunglasses in Toronto almost topped the list this year. We did have some gems on it — including Vijan Vision, a brand which you might recognize from their work on custom Cartier sunglasses worn by your favourite Toronto rapper.

1. The other Drakes

Is it a top five list without a bit of Drake influence? Readers were fascinated to find out exactly who the other Drake(s) is, and they would have been anything but disappointed reading this story. Designer Drakes’ namesake label, worn by the likes of Sean Paul, has created some show-stopping pieces, including a middle finger vest and a hoodie engineered to be so warm Torontonians could wear it as a single layer in the winter.