Dresses under $150 in Toronto

If you're still on the PROM dress hunt (or you likely have an upcoming wedding or shower), you can find an amazing, original-looking dress at a vintage shop in Toronto for under $150. If you insist on new, you may have to head to the mall (but risk the chance of wearing the same dress as someone else).

However, the surefire places to find a dress for under $150 (Canadian companies in the mall):
(Biggest malls: Eaton Centre, Yorkdale, Scarborough Town Centre, Fairview Mall)

Le Chateau
Although they've bumped up their prices in the past five years or so (so, cheap clothes that cost more), you can still find some really stylish items from shoes to earrings, to hats to coats. Canadian company Le Chateau is worth the visit and have a great selection of prom dresses - and while you're there you can find shoes, tights and accessories too.


Fairweather
I don't shop here - anymore (not even to buy cheapy tank tops), but if it's an inexpensive dress you're after, you should stop in. Prices are super affordable.

Winners
I love Winners, but sometimes you have to search through racks and racks and multiple stores to find what you're looking for. The selection varies from great priced designer finds to mass produced youth labels - all previous seasons' overstock. There are Winners locations throughout the city - and for the most part, they are all different. Happy hunting!


Sears
Yes, it's true. Sears is a great option if it's inexpensive dresses you're after. I found these three ideal dresses among many online - perfect shells to accessorize around!

Local Frills

Local fashion designer and dressmaker Samantha Stoncius graduated from LaSalle's fashion program last year and has been busy getting her name on the T.O. scene by participating in charity fashion events and most recently, the Clothing Show.

Since this is the season of frilly dresses (prom, weddings, showers, etc...) it's a wonderful time to show photos of Samantha's recent runway presentation at the Clothing Show.

Her dresses are available online at Etsy or in the city at The Rage (2 Kensington) and Nathalie-Roze & Co. (1015 Queen St. E). However, if you have something else in mind, she can design something for you from scratch - a great idea for bridesmaids >>

PROM: Dresses (list in progress)

Fashion Crimes
http://fashioncrimes.ca/
Perhaps one of the most coveted dress boutiques in the city, Fashion Crimes has the potential to hook you up, if you're willing to spend a few bucks. Designer and owner Pam Chorley has been in her Queen Street West store for 25 years and has since racked up tons of great press and her dresses have been in numerous magazines. For a beautiful dress or at least a lot of inspiration, stop in here. 322 Queen Street West (east of Spadina).

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Build Your Own Dress @ Peach Berserk (ready in 2 weeks or less)
www.peachberserk.com

With its "Dress Design' software, you can go to the Peach Berserk website and click and drag to build an offbeat printed dress of your dreams. There are over 200 Peach Berserk prints to choose from, from fabulously funky to delightfully demure. $395

- 15 different bodices
- 9 different skirts (each in 3 lengths)
- 6 different sleeve types
- 45 different silk fabric colours
- and a whole bunch of cute accessories such as flounce, crinoline, rosettes, buttons and bows.

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The Little Black Dress Shop Online
http://littleblackdressshop.com/catalog/
Mostly classic styles, black or 'light' black, designer and Canadian designer.

PROM: Vintage Shops for Dresses (Toronto)

These images, taken from our 2006 Prom shoot, feature the gals in 69 Vintage dresses - still completely fashionable for 2009!

If you want an original-looking, usually well-made and special dress for prom that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars, consider going vintage.

Vintage shops take the pain out of 'thrifting' and pickers are well-seasoned at choosing top items to sell in their shops. It can be the difference of hitting up every store in the mall, or simply picking a dress off a rack!

I tried asking my pro-vintage friends about their 'favorite' shops in the city, but I should've know - that's like asking people to divulge their most private secrets. And I have to agree - SO, instead of taking the fun out of discovering your own favorite vintage shops by listing them, I'll instead just lead the way:

Kensington Market
Kensington Market, a few blocks slightly north of the Spadina/Dundas area is probably the area with the most concentrated number of vintage shops in the city. That's not to say they're all top quality, however, you can hit them all in a few hours without stepping foot indoors at a mall! And the prices are great.

Fav's for dresses include Flashback, 33 Kensington Avenue and Dancing Days, 17 Kensington Avenue.
Then stop in Courage My Love, 14 Kensington Avenue or a number of other shops on the street to find some great accessories.

Ossington Avenue
Over the past few years a short strip in the Ossington/Dundas area has been struggling to snazz up its artsy turf with quaint shops opening and closing. However, a few great finds do remain among cafes and galleries including Silver Falls, 15 Ossington and I Miss You, 63 Ossington (at Queen).

Queen Street West
Undisputably Toronto's best/easiest 'shopping' street that runs from west of University Avenue all the way to WEST Queen West beyond Ossington. Furthest west, we like 69 Vintage, 1100 Queen St., then east of Bathurst there are many higher-end shops like Cabaret, 672 Queen St., Brava, 553 Queen St., and House of Vintage, 571 Queen St. Really there are too many for me to mention - but if you start your search at Spadina Avenue and walk west, I would think you'd be sure to find a great dress!


Toronto Midtown - High End
Head north of Bloor to find high-end designer focused vintage shops like Act 2, 596 Mount Pleasant Road, The Cat's Meow, 180 Avenue Road and The Paper Bag Princess, 287 Davenport Road.


Other
There are vintage dress shops throughout the entire city - on Roncesvalles Avenue, Queen Street East, Dundas Street and Bloor Street (visit Irene at 69 Buy the Pound, 1234 Bloor Street) - even in Yorkville.

If you do consider buying a fabulous vintage dress for prom (or any occassion), take out the frustration of thrifting and go to a specialized vintage shop, where staff can truly help make it a great experience!