© 2009 Dead Sexy Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
The heat has hit us in Toronto and we’re hitting the patios, but what’s a patio without the sexy people who adorn it? We’ve sought out two local clothing boutiques to outfit your flirty side this summer and using the patios of Lusso and Bymark we’ve set the scene for a couple of hot months.
GABRIELLA wearing Gypsy blouse by Charlotte Eskildsen and black shorts by Dace. DANIEL wearing khaki pants by Minedrd Jeansmaker
You usually don’t think of Yorkville if you’re looking for casual, street-chic duds, but showing a bit of attitude in this high end shopping area is exactly what Uncle Otis means to do. Perched up on Bellair St., the store resembles an art gallery; simple, minimal, and structured solely to show off the clothing. Opened in 1991, Uncle Otis had its roots in streetwear but has since then transformed into a go-to store for casual, but very fashionable menswear. The owner since 2000, Donnell Enns heads to New York for tradeshows and showrooms to fill the racks of the store but is finding that, “Because the young men’s fashion market in Toronto is expanding, the showroom selection in Toronto is also expanding, so I’m finding that buying international brands locally is becoming more of a possibility.” And local is what makes us tick! Uncle Otis delivers classic pieces that work with today’s trends to outfit any man.
[left] JAMES wearing striped shirt by Ben Sherman and black jeans by Surface to Air. ANASTASIA wearing short gold dress by Masacva
Tucked away in an alley of boutiques and empty loft spaces is a gem for ladies who like to keep it original and local. Vocado is located in the developing Liberty Village, which owner Emily Dobbie describes as, “an amazing community with a great energy and vibe.” This is the perfect community for a boutique like Vocado which exudes just that. The store design is both rustic and modern, a look that encompasses the charms of Canadian culture. Emily is proud to support local Canadian designers such as Juma, out of Toronto, DACE hailing from Vancouver and LNE from Montreal. Opening just earlier this year, Vocado is quickly becoming known as “The Canadian Boutique.” When I asked Emily what kind of girl shops at her boutique she answered, “a Vocado woman is a strong, culturally-inspired woman. She is unique and is comfortable in her skin. She loves fashion and a cold glass of white wine.”
Moral of the story, venture outside of Queen West; you never know what you’ll find in the nooks and crannies of this city!
[left] JAMES wearing white T by Surface to Air and checked shorts by Corpus. GABRIELLA wearing white tank by Lily +Jae and yellow Lima skirt by BB Dakota
Models [left to right]
Daniel Ronaghi www.modelmayhem.com/danieljr
Anastasia Shvets www.modelmayhem.com/asmodelndancer
Gabriella Chambers www.modelmayhem.com/gab27c
James Forsythe
Men's clothes provided by UNCLE OTIS www.uncleotis.com
Women's clothes provided by VOCADO www.vocado.ca
[left] DANIEL wearing graphic T by Helmut of the Will and black shorts by YMC. ANASTASIA wearing denim dress by Lily + Jae and tan leather belt by Susana G.
