It’s hard to believe, but it’s already prom season in Toronto. Sure, the actual prom might be months away, but for anyone who has a teenager or has ever been a teenager, you know that the planning starts early. That’s especially the case for finding a prom dress — many students scour shops in every corner of Toronto (and beyond!) once the new year begins looking for the perfect one. If you’re someone who’s looking for a more unique — and considerably more sustainable — look, shopping secondhand is the way to go! Toronto is home to a few different stores, from vintage to consignment to dress rentals, that offer up one-of-a-kind secondhand finds.
The Fitzroy
Since opening in 2016, The Fitzroy has been the go-to place for party goers who don’t feel like shelling out hundreds of dollars for one night of fun. The store offers a dress rental service for all kinds of formal events, including prom, weddings, red carpet events and even options for brides. Pricing depends on how many days you want to keep the dress (you can rent for four days or eight days) and range from $110 to $150 for most prom dresses. You’ll find designer dresses in all sizes and styles, including this draped satin look from Sau Lee, this Mac Duggal floral gown and even this shimmery jumpsuit by Gemy Maalouf.
Tribal Rhythm Vintage
For the true vintage lovers, there are a few vintage spots in Toronto that offer up a curated selection of prom-ready dresses. Tribal Rhythm is one of them; both their locations on Queen West and in Kensington Market offer a selection of dresses from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and beyond that might have even been worn to an actual prom back in the day! Visit in store to browse the full selection; they recently featured a goth true ’90s velvet dress on their Instagram along with these coordinating ruffled ’80s finds.
VSP Consignment
Willing to shell out a bit more cash for an investment designer piece that will last you a lifetime? VSP Consignment has a great selection of designer dresses (we’re talking Norma Kamali and Alexander Wang) that would really make a statement on prom night. Their online collection shows prices ranging from $125 to over $1,000 for the more high end runway looks, so there’s something for almost every budget. This orange ruched $125 Norma Kamali dress would stand out even in the most darkly-lit prom crowd. Same goes for this $295 Rotate dress with a short hemline and stunning puffed sleeves. This $395 Alexander Wang dress is ideal for a more classic all-black look. And if you’ve got the budget for it, this $795 Zimmerman gradient dress will never go out of style.
Mama Loves You Vintage
Mama Loves You is a favourite vintage shop in Toronto for a reason — the shop sources pieces from as far back as the 1880s and all the way to the 1990s so that customers can shop every style and every era. You’ll find a large dress section at the back of the shop, and many of them would be an ideal prom statement piece for those with a penchant for vintage looks. Since these are true vintage pieces and often in pristine condition, expect to pay a bit more for what you find (though often still less than the average prom dress these days). Grab this 1950s party dress on sale for $196 or this floor-length 1940s black gown for $316 and be the belle of the prom.
Siberia Vintage
Bloor Street’s Siberia Vintage is also known for their extensive vintage collection covering a wide range of decades, and their dress selection and pretty amazing. We spotted a few Sixteen Candles-style pink ’80s dresses on the rack, along with some more classic gowns, such as this stunning 1950s yellow dress for $110 or this super cool vintage Holt Renfrew dress from the ’80s for $90.
