Situated on Queen West’s main drag, Used House of Vintage is a breath of fresh air for those looking to escape the clutches of far more ubiquitous stores. Dubbing this his side project, main man Craig Doyle — who is also the owner of the T-shirt chain Bang-On — has been collecting vintage since the ‘80s.
With the original Used located in Van City, and another location in Calgary, Doyle notes that the Hogtown version carries more fashion-forward items, with much of it being sourced from the States. Housing pieces for both him and her, the store also offers up plenty of accessories, including shoes, jewellery and belts. Additionally, sets of luggage are available for those who wish to add a dash of romance to their next trip — we imagine it to be by train.
While there are endless garments filling up the space, it doesn’t come across as overstuffed, as vintage boutiques are wont to do. The brisk weather had us drawn to the rack of fur (and faux fur) coats, though our favourite fur piece was discovered elsewhere in the shop: a bright red fur collar — spotted by the front counter — would easily add some pizzazz to a simple black coat ($24). We also found ourselves lusting after an incredible velvet stage outfit from the ‘20s. Snagged from “an old lady in upstate New York,” the floor-sweeping coat comes with an intricately detailed cape, with both pieces being edged in fur ($265).
Other standout finds include a quilted leather Chanel bustier, complete with gold buttons ($3,500). Doyle acquired the iconic piece from a successful ‘80s model (he’s not naming names). We also found a couple of pieces at a slightly lower price point: a green silk blouse from Bob Mackie — with gold and black detailing — had us conjuring up images of Cher ($95), while a lacy jean blouse had us dreaming of spring ($28).
Used House of Vintage, 489 Queen St. W., 647-259-1703