Where to source great vintage appropriate clothing in Canada

If you've been following this blog for any amount of time, chances are you already know that I'm devoted fan of vintage appropriate fashions. The term “vintage appropriate” is one that I coined (though, it's entirely possible others used it before I did) a few years ago, and first really dove into explaining in this post, to describe those examples of modern fashions that while not necessarily intentionally designed to replicate yesteryear styles (aka, they're not specifically vintage reproductions), have such a classic or vintage inspired look to them that they're typically easy to weave into a period based outfit.

In December 2012 I wrote a very detailed and wonderfully handy beginner’s guide to buying and wearing vintage appropriate clothes, which if you haven't taken a peak at before, I highly recommend checking out. In that post I listed numerous terrific sources for vintage appropriate garments and accessories, the bulk of which US based.

Much like myself, not everyone in North America lives in the States however, and today, as per a request from a lovely reader named Kim in the comment section of this vintage outfit post back in January of this year, I'm going to share some of my favourite sources for Canadian vintage appropriate fashions.

Kim's query specifically touched on Canadian sources that were/are good bargains, which by default, most of the retail settings I shop in are. Would I love to pop into Holt Renrew with an American Express Centurion Card and head straight to the Dior, Channel and Dolce & Gabbana racks to see if they've got any high end vintage appropriate pieces in their lines this season? Sure, what red blooded vintage fashionista wouldn't?

That however, is not the life I - or most of us, for that matter - live and in the real world, my bargain loving soul is more than content to find the best deals that I can at a multiple of stores that this fine nation has to offer.

Like many of us, my wardrobe is a blend of genuine vintage, vintage reproduction, 1980s does 1940s and 50s, and vintage appropriate pieces, all of which work in splendid harmony to help create the forties and fifties looks that I hold so wonderfully dear to my heart.

Regardless (honestly, flat out regardless - whether you're mad for all things Edwardian or flip for the swinging sixties, or anything in between - of your favourite decades) there are vintage appropriate pieces in stores across Canada right now that will work well for the timeframe that your closest is currently (or perpetually, as the case may be) focused on.

Very few stores, especially in Canada, however push their pieces that are vintage appropriate in any kind of a way that would indicate that they are in fact just that. The majority of modern retail shops, especially those on the discount, outlet, and mall end of the spectrum are extremely trend focused and introduce vintage appropriate pieces as par the course for the styles that are "in" this season, not because they're smashingly old-fashioned or perpetually classic looking.

Never let that point deter you, no matter where in the world you may reside or find yourself shopping. As outlined in the beginner’s guide to buying and wearing vintage appropriate clothes, there are scores of timeless garments and accessories that you can keep your eyes peeled for when doing the rounds of your favourite shops and which can very easily help pad out your existing wardrobe and give you even more styling choices when getting dressed in the morning.

I've been buying and wearing vintage appropriate fashions for as long as, if not longer come to think of it (as I always gravitated towards anything 1940s or 50s looking in my closet when I was a little girl), as I've been wearing genuine vintage items (which has been for about half my life now at this point), and in that time I've lived in various cities and towns alike across three different Canadian provinces (in addition, in my younger days, to working fashion retail for a while, which gave me a very good insider's view into the world of mass produced modern clothing).

Though, as in many countries (especially larger ones), there are certain chains that are not to be found from coast to shining coast here in Canada, the bulk of the stores listed below are found in numerous provinces and/or have an online shop that allows Canadians (and in some cases, international buyers as well) to purchase items from their offerings wherever they may reside in our extensively vast nation.

It should be noted that some of the Canadian sources of vintage appropriate fashions listed herein are US based in the sense that their respective chains started south of the 49th and were mentioned in the beginner's guide as well. We do not have a massive number of purely Canadian clothing chains here, and it would be shortchanging my fellow canucks to leave the Canadian outposts of US retailers off this list. They are, after all, on Canadian soil and may, sometimes, even have offerings that can't be found at their sister stores in America (though, unfortunately, as most Canadians know, far more often, the opposite is true and its our US friends who have scads more options at the very same chains than we have here in Canada).

With Canada Day precisely one week away on July 1st, now seemed like a fantastic time to share with you a selection of many of my favourite Canadian sources of vintage appropriate fashions, each of which I've accompanied with a current item from their offerings that falls into this important fashion category.

-Addition-Elle: One of, sadly, given how many gorgeous ladies fall into this size camp that there are in today's world, only a teeny, tiny handful of Canadian plus size ladies wear chain, Addition Elle and its sister store Penningtons (where the cute polka dot top pictured above hails from) which tends be geared more towards a younger crowd, can be a good place to turn to for piece with a bit of a rock and roll or rockabilly vibe to them sometimes, as well as boho and various modern styles that can sometimes be worn into your yesteryear centered wardrobe. Worth noting is the fact that Penningtons and Addition-Elle both offer $7.50 flat rate shipping, plus free returns, across Canada.




-American Eagle Outfitters: Chalked full of young, modern pieces that sometimes have a bit of a classic (think vaguely Tommy Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren) vibe to them, this US chain has been a mall mainstay across Canada for many years now and can be a great place to find, in particular plaid and solid coloured striped tops, as well as sporty shoes (including Keds Original Sneakers) and plenty, most 21st century style, denim.




-Anthropologie: A wildly popular US chain that has set up shop in select larger Canadian cities across the country, Anthro (as it often lovingly referred to be devoted fans) is a mid-priced source for beautiful, dreamily romantic hispter meets vintage inspired meets trendy fashions (and home decor) that frequently work well for a wide range of vintage eras (including in from time-to-time, the 1920s and 30s).



-Ardene: Source of the bulk of my hair flowers, solid coloured tights, and several other accessories in my wardrobe (from bracelets to headbands), this popular Canadian chain, though teaming with no shortage of teenage flash-in-the-pan trendy pieces, is a fantastic source of budget friendly fashion and hair accessories, handbags, jewelry, shoes, clothing, and even makeup (including nail polish), that is frequently added to each season. Lacking an Ardene location here in Penticton, I make sure to hit up the one in Kelowna at least a couple of times a year to pick up a basket full of affordable hair accessories, costume jewelry, and hosiery.



-Banana Republic: Well known, and much adored, across North America for its smartly tailored modern meets classic pieces, Banana Republic (who offers a petite range that's perfect for those like myself who are on the short side of the height spectrum) is a great place to turn if you're look for dressier, office appropriate vintage inspired pieces, as well as items that can easily pull stylish double off the clock as well. In particular, some of their cardigans, thin knits, sheath dresses and skirts can work wonderfully for those who really enjoy a 1950s/early 60s aestetic.




-Claire's: Widespread and much adored by most youngsters and plenty of us who are still young at heart, Claire's offers up a tantalizing array of fashion and hair accessories, as well as beauty products, small gifts and bedroom decor pieces, as well an ear piercing service (the first and second of my four sets of holes in each ear came from Claire's when I was a teenager), all of which are usually fairly reasonably priced. As one of only a tiny handful of mainstream sources of nickel-free earrings in Canada, I've purchased many pairs that I could safely wear there over the years, in addition to numerous hair accessories and other products.





-Cleo: Serving up well-rounded mix of modern classic fashions (including jewelry, purses and other accessories), Cleo has become one of the first places (in part because we actually have a location here in Penticton) I turn to for vintage appropriate thin knits and cardigans over the past couple of years (especially because some of their offerings are available in petite sizes).





-Dress 911: The ever-increasingly popular online shop of a much beloved London, Ontario retailer who prides themselves, and rightfully so, on having "Canada's Cutest Dresses", this charming site is a dress lover's paradise and, unlike almost all the other entries on this list, specifically carries certain vintage reproduction, vintage appropriate and rockabilly styles and brands (such as Hell Bunny). I've been eyeing Dress 911's offering for quite some time now and really hope that 2014 will be the year I'm finally able to add one (or more) of them to my wardrobe.

-Eddie Bauer: Rightfully famous for their longstanding history of selling rugged outdoor wear, Eddie Bauer can also be a surprisingly good source for classically tailored crisp button downs, plaid shirts, classic knits, boots, moccasins, leather belts, quilted jackets, and capri pants.




-Fairweather: An other routine must-visit for me at least a couple of times a year when we're in Kelowna or another city that houses one, Fairweather has long been one of my top modern go-to sources for cardigans, knit shrugs, cute tops, tank tops and camisoles, and less frequently pants, skirts and outerwear. At present, they do not however have an online shop, so instead I'll share a photo (from this post last year) of me sporting one of my many thin knits, in this case a zesty red shrug, from this chain's offerings.




-Forever 21: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Forever 21 gets a bum rap. Yes, I know, it's swarming with countless "uber of the moment" pieces geared towards the under 25 crowd, and sometimes the quality of their garments does leave something to be desired, but with a bit of patience and plenty of trying on (if shopping in person) one can typically find multiple vintage appropriate garments (and sometimes accessories, too) at this massively popular chain. I really miss living anywhere near one of their locations (the closest is over four hours away) and am glad that some their offerings can be purchased from their Canadian website for when I need my XXI Forever fix.




-H&M: Vastly popular the world over, this trend driven chain (who often partners with well known designers to launch much totted capsule collections) which originated in Sweden all the way back in 1947 (at the time it was known as Hennes), can offer up a selection of classic pieces, many of which won't break the bank, such a button front shirts, Peter Pan collar and pussy bow blouses, shirtwaist dresses (which occasionally hit below the knee), hosiery, scarves, and shoes that can be woven into various vintage looks.




-Jacob: A go-to source for many Canadian career gals, this chain, which launched in Quebec a few decades ago, offers shoppers pieces that are fittingly, often professional, smart, and fairly classic looking.



-Joe Fresh: Initially available only at select grocery stores (run by Loblaw Companies Limited, such as Real Canadian Superstore) across the country, Joe Fresh has emerged in recent years as a runaway hit of a clothing line and even expanded into stand alone stores in both Canada and the US, as well as an online shop (which offers free shipping within Canada on orders over $50.00). Their pieces are often modern, but many do have a fun, classic feel to them as well, and I've sourced numerous shirts, spaghetti strap camisole tanks, and skinny belts in particular from this often well priced line over the years.




-Laura: Boasting offerings for petite and plus sized ladies (including plus size petites), in addition to their average sized range, Laura's mid-priced offerings (by Canadian mall standards at least) are typically elegant, feminine, business world appropriate, well made and beautiful. I have both a skirt and cardigan from them that I purchased nearly five years ago now and they're each still in tip-top shape after many wears.




-Le Chateau: Long seen as one of having some of the hippest and most covetable offerings from amongst those of Canada's various fashion retailers, Le Chateau's range is rarely bargain basement inexpensive, but it's ability to deliver on trends and classic, sometimes vintage appropriate pieces alike (such as the charming little brown purse I wore here) makes it well worth scooping out at least once a season.




-Melanie Lyne: Ripe with immensely elegant fashions for those who want to look especially polished on the job or off, Melanie Lyne is where I would shop is I was quite well to do and didn't wear vintage. That isn't to say, of course, that one can't find vintage appropriate fashions amongst their stock, because you usually can, I just mean that I adore their general aesthetic so much that I'd happily wear their fashions all the time if I didn't adore vintage clothing so very much. Surprisingly, given the fact that I suspect one would do very well, Melanine Lyne does not yet have an online shop, but their site does show a few of their current offerings, some of which appear in the photo I've posted here today.


-Nine West: One of the country's most popular shoe store chains (others include, but are not limited to Aldo, Browns, Clarks, and Little Burgundy), Nine West has been known to deliver some surprisingly classic looking shoes, amongst the trendier options, over the years and is worth scooping out if you're after some new footwear.




-Old Navy: A fabulously popular chain that needs little to no introduction, Old Navy is loved by shoppers all across North America and is a great place to find (typically) wallet-friendly prices on pieces that run the gauntlet from intentionally retro to blazingly modern and everything in between. Much like Forever 21, this is another shop I sincerely miss living anywhere nearby and which I've found numerous great vintage appropriate pieces (especially cardigans and button front shirts) at over the years.




-Payless: For the past several years, I've purchased more pairs of new (as opposed to thrifted) shoes from Payless than from any other Canadian footwear retailer. From classic pumps to oxfords to sling back summer sandals, it's rare that I can't find at least one classic/vintage appropriate pair that takes my breath away and/or fills a gap in my shoe wardrobe each time I visit (which I'm especially fond of doing during their BOGO sales). Unlike in the State, Payless Canada does not yet have an online shop unfortunately, so the image above comes by way of the US one. As I bought these exact shoes in Kelowna earlier this year however, I know that they are indeed available in Canada.




-Reitmans: One of Canada's best known and most popular ladies wear chains from coast to coast, Reitman's has long made it onto my personal top ten list of mall fashion sources. Mixing off-the-moment pieces with others that are more classic and vintage appropriate (fitted blazers, thin knits, pencil skirts, trouser socks, etc), Reitmans' range, which includes garments for petites, plus sizes, petite plus sizes and average sized women is an affordable, reliable source of lovely offerings the whole year through.




-Ricki's: Especially popular amongst young business professionals, Ricki's fresh, yet often classic, offerings also find favour with stylish ladies from all walks of life across the country. I quite like Ricki's for their fitted button front shirts (such as the charming polka dot example above) in particular.




-RW & Co.: Known for its understatedly elegant ladies and mens fashions, RW & Co. isn't the least expensive store in the mall, but their elegant offerings, which often channel a classic, preppy, or polished hipster vibe, can be a great place to turn for blouses, skirts, sweaters, and fashion jewelry in particular which you may be able to integrate into various vintage looks.




-Sears: One of North America's longest continually operation and most popular department store chains, Sears has been providing customers with a wide range of affordable fashions, as well as countless other items, for generations now. They're well stock clothing and accessories departments as well as their online and catalog offerings, are a fantastic place to check for all manner of vintage appropriate items, including undergarments (Sears stocks plenty of so-called "Granny" style bras, panties, and shapewear items that can work wonders in a modern vintage loving lady's wardrobe), sweaters, cardigans, skirts, scarves, leather gloves, hosiery, shoes, handbags, and winter coats.




-Simons: Another of Canada's oldest department store chains, Simon's began life in Quebec in the 19th century where it has flourished for decades, and has just started to spread out to other parts of the country with recent opening of their first Edmonton location. I've not yet had the pleasure of shopping at one of their stores myself, but their reasonably priced online offering can be shipped nationwide, so I may become a customer via that route one of these days.




-Smart Set: Widespread at malls from coast to coast, Smart Set's stylish, youthful, appealing offerings aren't overly retro most of the time, but every now and then a great vintage appropriate piece can be sourced from this popular Canadian chain.

-Suzy Shier: In my top five favourite mall fashion choices ever since I was a young teenager, and the only one of the shops mentioned in today's post aside from Claire's that we actually have here in Penticton, Suzy Shier's racks burst forth with feminine pieces that can range from subtly retro to cutting edge. Typically good quality, figure flattering, and well priced, I turn to this shop time and time again for all manner of cute, classic cardigans, tops, and blouses in particular.

-The Bay: By far Canada's most famous department store, thanks to its rich history as one of the nation's earliest and most successful fur trading companies (The Hudson Bay Company), these days The Bay is a thriving nationwide department store chain that, much like Sears, offers up wide spectrum of fashions that can sometimes include numerous classic and/or vintage appropriate pieces, such as sweaters, skirts, coats, shoes, lingerie, hosiery, sleepwear, purses, and jewelry.





-The Gap: The last of the three to round out the trio of massively successful stores all owned by the same parent company that is Banana Republic, Old Navy and The Gap, this is another entry that all but speaks for itself thanks to its phenomenal success. Beloved for its denim, causal classics, and cool-without-trying-too-hard vibe, The Gap (much as its two sister chains) can sometimes produce vintage appropriate pieces, especially knits, that are typically well made and easy to partner with a range of different looks.


-Winners: This popular chain of off-price departments, which is akin to T.J. Maxx in the States and does not at present have an online store (so hence the lack of fashion photo for this entry), adds fresh inventory to its shelves and racks every day, and though the prices aren't always as rock bottom as the advertising might have your believe (at least not, IMO, when it comes to clothing, shoes and accessories), Winners can be a great place to check in on often if you're hunting for vintage appropriate wardrobe basics like button front shirts, cardigans, pencil skirts, and pumps (court shoes) to help fill out or further top up your closet.




-Zellers: Though unable to make this list in the same respect as the other shops included herein, it just doesn't feel right to me to not mention Zellers, a longstanding and once highly popular Canadian department store chain that, sadly, folded in the last couple of years across the country. For much of my life, Zellers' offerings had been a wallet-friendly go to for me, and I'd purchased numerous tops, cardigans and shoes there in particular that had been very vintage appropriate. Though one can no longer shop from Zellers' stores, you can still easily find pieces from this once mighty retailer, which has been a branch of the Hudson Bay Company family of stores, in thrift and consignment shops across the country.



{All images shown throughout this list come by way of the respective website of the chain that they appear above. Please click on an image to be taken to its original source and product listing.}

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Wow, eh?! I don't know about you, but after taking a gander through the inventories of all these fabulous Canadian shops, most of which are, generally speaking, fairly budget friendly (especially if you wait to shop while sales are underway - something that is an absolute given with any of today’s entries at least a couple of times a year), it's all I can do to refrain from running to check the couch cushions for any loonies and twoonies that may have gotten wedged in between and go a wee bit of a shopping spree - all in the name of Canada day and supporting Canadian economy, of course. :)

Tempting as that may be, with my birthday just a couple of weeks away, I'll hold off for now to see what comes my way as I turn 30 years old before investing in my wardrobe further this year.

With just a small handful of exceptions, I have purchased at least one (and often many) items from the sources listed above over the years. Generally speaking, I've found the quality of those pieces to be in the fair to excellent range, with most lasting for at least a couple of years or longer. Case in point, I have a lovely summer top from Suzy Shier that I've had since I was 18 and it still looks as a great as the day I brought it home. On the flip side though, I've had a couple of cardigans and tops from H&M and The Gap both bite the dust after just a year or two of being worn on a relatively frequent basis.

Most of us understand and accept that this kind of spectrum is an inevitable likelihood when purchasing mass produced bargain and mid-range fashions (be they clothing, shoes, jewelry, or other kinds of accessories) and typically factor this point in when we budget for them. Speaking of which, if, like myself, you keep a close watch on every fashion dollar that you spend, then it's wise to keep in mind that it often makes more sense to invest in quality, very well made vintage pieces that will likely last you for years or even decades (such as a skillfully tailored vintage skirt suits and winter coats) and spend a bit less on those that may only see you through a few seasons.

That said, typically in life, you get what you pay for, so there are times when investing in a higher end vintage appropriate piece may pay off handsomely when it comes to durability and cost per wear in the long run. As well, if you live in area (such as I do) that is devoid of mid-century vintage clothing shops and you either have to buy everything online and/or shop for vintage appropriate offerings locally, you may naturally find that you spend a bigger chunk of your budget on vintage appropriate pieces than someone who lives in, for example, a vintage fashion filled city like Portland, LA, or London, England.

It should be noted that this post intentionally focused on vintage appropriate, not vintage reproduction, heavily vintage inspired, or rockabilly clothing resources (such as Blame Betty and Glam Retro) of which, despite Canada's population of nearly 35 million, there are surprisingly few online (and only a handful more off line) in this country. That said, there are indeed some and I plan to shine the spotlight on them in a post of their own down the road.

One thing to keep in mind when it comes to all of the stores listed here is that, in most cases, the stock that's available online is no where near as extensive as that which you'll encounter in store. Frequently, I see many more vintage appropriate pieces in stores such as Old Navy, Smart Set, H&M, Banana Republic, Suzy Shier, Ardene, Claire's, and The Bay, to name but a few, than what one will find online, so be sure to check both the web and real world versions of your favourite Canadian clothing retails while on the prowl for vintage style fashions.

Remember, too, that in addition to the sources listed above, there are still other Canadian and US chains (such as Walmart - I've gotten a couple of really charming knit shrugs and numerous vintage inspired accessories from Walmart in recent years) that have set up shop here, as well as independent retailers, boutiques, and pop up shops across the country, all of which are potential sources of great vintage appropriate pieces. Much, it should be mentioned, as are just about all thrift and consignment stores. In fact, living in a town with a mall that's about the size of a matchbox, I get most of my vintage appropriate pieces from second hand stores these days - a point that typically makes both my wallet and I very happy Canadian campers.

I hope that this post helps give you some new ideas for where to source vintage appropriate fashions, my dear fellow Canadians, whether you're out on the sunny Pacific coast side of the country like me, enjoying the refreshing breeze blowing off the Atlantic in Newfoundland, gearing up for the the midnight sun in the Yukon this summer or anywhere else in between in this gorgeous country of ours.

Remember, regardless of if you live in Canada or not, no matter where you go, if a store or vendor sells clothing, there's always the potential that your yesteryear looking piece is just waiting, amongst all the "off the moment" items, for you to come along and give it the awesome vintage loving home that is deserves. So keep your eyes peeled, fashion radar flicked on, and keen sense of observation about you at all times. You truly never know where the net vintage appropriate treasure is waiting for you!