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Shop Gastown

By Vancouver Magazine /

MOONCRUISE

Berlin-based indie designer Esther Perbandt creates elegant but edgy basics, like this cotton Work Dress ($350)—we also love her draping, cowl-neck hoodie. 235 Cambie St., 604-685-9575

 

RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED

 

ALIFE

Classic Chuck Taylors will never go out of style, but sneaker geeks go nuts for Alife; its eccentric designs make this one of the most sought-after collections of limited-edition sneakers. 350 Water St., 604-685-6400

FLUEVOG

Fluevog took over the stunning space vacated by Richard Kidd—all the better to showcase its new line
of handbags ($239). 65 Water St., 604-688-6228

KOOLHAUS

Find this Global Views Flame Mirror ($750) at the spacious new brick-and-beam Koolhaus location at
1 Water St., 604-875-9004

NOUVELLE NOUVELLE

Amy Renee York and Mishel Savinkoff’s Nouvelle Nouvelle stocks vintage boots, recycled leather bags, and these
Aztec-inspired tops ($99) by Like Sunday, made from ultra-soft pure bamboo. 209 Abbott St., 604-639-9888

PROVIDE

Find these luminous glass bowls by Mexico City–based Nouvel Studio (starting at $22), plus pillows by Judy Ross Textile and candlesticks by Roost, at Provide, 529 Beatty St., 604-632-0095

RODEN GRAY

Comme des Garçons cologne ($108), Filson’s stylish cotton twill duffel bags ($238), and local label Wings+Horns are just some of the exclusive goods available at the new menswear boutique Roden Gray. 231 Cambie St., 604-689-7302

TANNIS HEGAN

Local designer Tannis Hegan sells her gorgeous, silk-lined, and wood-handled leather purses ($420) at Mooncruise, 235 Cambie St., 604-685-9575; and Lark, 2315 Main St., 604-879-5275

TWO OF A FEW

Knits by local label Kersh, super-soft tees by American Vintage, adorable dresses by Isabelle Dunlop, and this ladylike number by Lover ($249) are at Two of a Few, 356 Water St.,604-605-0630

YOU AND WHOSE ARMY?

Illustrative graphics on Ningnong T-shirts make reference to iconic Vancouver symbols, like the Woodward’s W in the rain. At You and Whose Army?, 385 Water St., 604-684-9292

 

AND PREVIOUSLY…

 

ALIFE

NYC-based Alife carries Everybody High Everybody Low tees, hats and shoes and ANYthing’s collection of men’s fleece, shirts and sweaters. It’s hard to diss their street cred when Raekwon from Wu Tang Clan has been known to shop and play there. 350 Water St., 604-685-6400

THE BLOCK

The Block has long been a customary stop on a girl’s tour through Gastown, and their men’s range of casual wear will have bored boyfriends rejoicing. Labels like Adidas and Lacoste will now amuse the lads while the girls flip through racks filled with Heather Martin’s line Mono, Built by Wendy and Jenny Hellström and Isabelle Dunlop, The Block’s in-house line. Their shipment of Loeffler Randall shoes and boots (yes, the ones that Cameron Diaz has) are beauties. Come fall, they’ll even boast the debut of the clothing line. Guys can take a peek at the Rogue’s Gallery necklaces and tees while their gals purr over the treats. 350 W. Cordova St., 604-685-8885

DUTIL

With over 50 lines, and sizes ranging from 23 to 34 for women, and 27 to 40 for men, Dutil is THE stop for denim. All the buys are heavily edited to include only the best line and fit from each brand. Summer’s jean? Grab a pair of coloured denim. Selection is your friend with Small Town ($288) featuring red, electric blue and purple, and Cassette ($268) with teal, yellow and white. All the Euro kids are wearing them. 303 W. Cordova St., 604-688-8892

CHINCILLA

Avoid factory-produced garb at all costs: that was the mandate owners Jessica and Amy had in mind when they scoured the world for unique one-offs —the store carries exclusive international imports like Israel’s Anna K, whose pre-loved tops are a cross between Charles Dickens and prima donna Goth. Their in-house line, named after the store, features light cotton motorcycle jackets and beautiful handcrafted lace tops that promise buyers an inimitable look for any event. 330 W. Cordova St., 604-687-8809

DELUXE JUNK

Deluxe Junk is the crème of local vintage selection. A well-edited collection of delovely gowns from the ’20s, ’40s, ’50s awaits: a particular white crepe floor-length dress is reminiscent of the pink Chanel Nicole Kidman donned for the 2005 Oscars. 310 W. Cordova St., 604-685-4871

DREAM APPAREL

Over the past few seasons bikinis have been making a bigger comeback than Demi Moore (and she made hers in one). Local designer Eden Rausch of Cuchè offers 10 new styles for the season—all hipster cut to glorify any body shape. The collection even includes a generously cut short-short for the retro gal, and two Riviera-worthy one-piece numbers. 311 W. Cordova St., 604-683-7326

DUTIL

With over 50 lines, and sizes ranging from 23 to 34 for women, and 27 to 40 for men, Dutil is THE stop for denim. All the buys are heavily edited to include only the best line and fit from each brand. Summer’s jean? Grab a pair of coloured denim. Selection is your friend with Small Town ($288) featuring red, electric blue and purple, and Cassette ($268) with teal, yellow and white. All the Euro kids are wearing them. 303 W. Cordova St., 604-688-8892

FARFALLA

Farfalla is Italian for butterfly—fitting, considering the eclectic selection on display. A mother-daughter-run store with a cosy feel, Farfalla offers a broad range of gifts for the hard-to-shop-for and infuriatingly stylish friend (we hope our friends are taking notes). Choose from Italian table linens, Belgian table runners, Czech crystal, monogrammed silk pillows exclusive Santa Maria Novella bath and body products from Florence and Il Papiro archival-quality scrapbooks. 57 E. Cordova St., 604-215-8707

GOODFOOT

For an array of sneaks unlike anything you’ve seen, stroll over to Goodfoot. (We’re willing to bet on it since Goodfoot ranks among the top 10 in sneaker stores in North America.) Proof is in the limited run of $3,000 leather and crocodile Nikes they carry. Only 100 pairs available worldwide. (If they don’t have your size you could always try Colette in Paris.) 36 Powell St., 604-806-3613

GOON PACK

Carrying designs by locals Paper Bird, Evolt, and Main and Hastings, Goon Pack’s inventory is painstakingly crafted and handpicked for the trying-without-trying Vancouver hipster. Graphic tees for boys and hoodies by local label Sodom & Gomorrah are all one-of-a-kind. 109 W. Cordova St., 604-602-8119

HUNT & GATHER

Local designer Natalie Purschwitz sews her vibrantly coloured, nouveau-mod pieces right in the store, which doubles as her atelier. We loved her cropped wool jacket with kid leather trim ($200) and vest ($165) with side snap closure, both in a saturated shade of peacock blue. New pieces added almost daily. 225 Carrall St., 604-633-9559

IE (Illustrated Example)

Guys won’t miss out on any of the action in this ’hood. ie ensures the fellas get coverage. The Nooka watches ($175) come in a range of colours from orange to yellow, purple, army green, grey and white. They carry coveted lines Y3 and Uppercut and also feature Japan’s cult status Porter bag by the Yoshida Company ($75-$530). 227 Carrall St., 604-685-1435

INFORM INTERIORS

Shopping here is like strolling through the modernist movement’s greatest hits (in fact, many of the pieces sit in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York). Our favourites: Hans Wegner’s elegant Shell and Wishbone chairs (from $2932and $779, respectively), Eero Saarinen’s Womb Chair ($2,924), and Warren Platner’s steel-wire coffee table ($1,846). Future classics by local designers hold their own. Brent Comber’s popular alder wood tables ($1,160-2,770) pair beautifully with owner Niels Bendtsen’s own furniture collection. Good taste and deep pockets recommended. 50 Water St., Gastown, 604-682-3868

KERMODI LIVING ART

Kermodi’s “living art” (modern plant décor designed for small spaces) is now available at their first storefront location. Gravity: A new looks at hanging plants, is the first of many gallery installations. 1889 Powell St., 604-630-3759

KOMAKINO

You could book your summer shopping trip to Rome to find it. You know, boot it on over to Piazza di Spagna in July for the 50-percent-off saldi. Or, maybe a shorter trek over to Komakino will do just fine. It’s all for the super skinny black gabardine one-button suit ($1,997) you see in fashion mags. This one is the original, by Raf Simons, who’s been refining the cut for the past 10 years. Visit Komakino’s website for their newest guerrilla location (Komakino.ca). 604-618-1344

MODERN KID

Shop for crib linen sets by Dwell, the sleek Ooba Nest bassinet, baby cutlery by Kay Bojesen (pioneer of modern Danish design), Kingsley rocker t-shirts, the coolest selection of adult wear for kids by Parisian designer Finger in the Nose. And really, having a little tyke around makes the one-stop shop all that more necessary. Breastfeeding chair? Try the Monte Luca Glider ($945 with custom colours available). Toys that won’t clash with your living room décor? Classic Brio Blocks re-visited in new lacquered colours (pink, white, black, red, cyan). Sunday best? Lucky Wang’s wrap kimono shirts. 45 Water St., Gastown, 604-662-3181

OBAKKI

A pretty bag without functionality is about as useful as Paris Hilton on community service. Enter Obakki’s little number. Long straps mean it goes from shoulder to hand exactly the way Coco herself wanted it, and the cell phone and iPod pockets mean no digging. (Added value: the lining is a muted soft green so you won’t lose anything in the black abyss.) 44 Water St., 604-669-9727

OBSESSIONS

A little whimsy can go a long way when you’re wearing a business suit. While some men enjoy the yuks of a novelty tie, we highly discourage such a sad fashion faux pas. For the aspiring securities grifter, Simon Carter has cornered the market with his crystal dollar and pound sign cuff links, all the better to keep your eyes on the prize. 102B-375 Water St., 602-622-7494. Other locations: 101–595 Howe St., Downtown, 604-684-0748; 289 Davie St., Yaletown, 604-683-0188; 1124 Denman St., West End, 604-605-8890

OCCUPIED

For the perfect postworkout or preworkout outfit, shop here. The tees and sweatshirts designed by owner Miss Jenelle are adorable and practical. Full of the cutest toys, with a large selection coming from Japan. Check out the sprinkled doughnut with smiley faces toy ($16) or the tampon doll ($12). 221 Abbott St., 604-605-3322

ONE OF A FEW

Love to find that special piece that no one else has? It’s done for you at One of a Few where the premise is obvious, no doubt. Check out their in-house line, Nine, a collaboration between Dace Moore (of Dace) and owner Michelle Rizzardo. Balloon button-up dresses, tuck-in blouses for high-waisted pants and high-waisted bubble skirts. All in limited runs made of all-natural fabrics. 354 Water St., 604-605-0685

PEKING LOUNGE

Vancouverites Michael Bennette and Daniel Poulin have seen to it that their store, Peking Lounge, is an accurate tribute to Chinese history, art and culture. They’ve also learned to accurately depict Vancouver style, mixing contemporary ideas with the Asian aesthetic they came to appreciate while travelling in the East for years. Look for the Mandarin Orange line of jewelry, handmade lanterns and stunning elm armoires. 83 E. Pender St., Gastown, 604-844-1559

RICHARD KIDD

Richard Kidd is a veritable cathedral of minimalism (someone is loathe to clutter the two tiers and the amazing views with actual merchandise). You’ll find kicky couture numbers from Balenciaga, Tsumori Chisato, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen. The casual men’s line Aesthetic Industrie has a sharp edge that tailors to most tastes. While there might not be much on display, what there is is mighty impressive. 65 Water St., 604-677-1880

SMALL MEDIUM LARGE

What does a low-slung coffee table, a tea set and a dog’s dish have in common? If they display forward thinking design and are made locally, they make the cut at this modernist design boutique. 334 W. Cordova St., Gastown, 604-696-5211