4 out-of-the-way boutique clothing stores that are worth the trip
When you’re wearing a new outfit or accessory and people ask you where you bought it, you know you’ve been shopping in the right places.
Metro Vancouver is home to mega malls, department stores, and much-of-the-same chain stores, and they’re all great. But sometimes you want to find something different, and that often means visiting a boutique that’s a little out of the way.
You get to enjoy a whole other shopping experience where you can chat with the store owner and discover the stories behind some of the items on sale — something you can’t really get in a mall.
Since fashion and shopping local help connect you with your city, we’ve teamed up with the city car that does the same thing, the Chevrolet Spark. With that in mind, here are four out-of-the-way clothing boutiques worth visiting.
Mintage
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Founded in 2005, Mintage is one of the best places you’ll find vintage clothing in East Vancouver. The store is home to a selection of curated new vintage-inspired pieces, clothing, and accessories. The store has an amazing vintage denim collection and leather jackets that will have you turning heads. Plus, Mintage recently opened another location on Broadway!
Address: 1714 Commercial Drive
Instagram: @mintage
El Kartel
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Located in the heart of Chinatown, EL Kartel is a locally-owned lifrstyle shop where you can find a curated selection of brands sourced from all over the world. The space also doubles up as an art gallery where you’ll often hear in-house DJs spinning. Keep an eye out for El Kartel, as it’s easy to miss among the bustle of the area. If you’re looking for a really stand-out piece of clothing, you’ll find it here.
Address: 104 East Pender Street
Instagram: @elkartelshop
Kiss and Makeup
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Kiss and Makeup is deeply West Coast-inspired and the store stocks brands like Ichi, Rains, Star Mela & Brunette The Label. This boutique has two locations outside the city: One on Marine Drive and another in Olympic Village, both of which are worth visiting. Kiss and Makeup also carry a wide range of jewelry, gifts, makeup, and even rain boots (which might come in handy this season).
Address: 1545 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
Instagram: @shopkissandmakeup
Gemini Rising Vintage
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If you’re looking for something different with a vintage flair, take a trip out to New West and visit Gemini Rising Vintage. This boutique is situated in the heart of the historic city and stocks both men and women’s vintage pieces. They also carry newer high-end designer labels, like Jean Paul Gaultier, Gucci, Prada, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Yves Saint Laurent, so you never know what gems you’ll find when you visit!
Address: 49 Sixth Street, New Westminster
Instagram: @geminirisingvintage
Woo To See You
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If you live outside Vancouver, chances are you rarely visit Main Street to go shopping. And we can tell you that Woo To See You is one great reason to visit. The minimal boutique is home to exclusive brands and all clothing is developed based on style over specific designers. They constantly have new pieces coming in and they also have another store tucked away on Mainland Street in Yaletown. If chic, contemporary shapes are your thing, this is your store.
Address: 3671 Main Street
Instagram: @wootoseeyou
The best part about shopping in your city is the chance to connect with new people and experiences. So it makes sense to have a fuel-efficient city car that helps you stay connected and get from one location to another. The Chevrolet Spark does this by giving you all the tech you need on the go.
The Chevrolet Spark/Chevrolet
This includes advanced phone integration such as Apple CarPlay, MyLink with a 7” capacitive touch screen available 4G LTE WiFi, a rearview camera, and 10 airbags.
If you choose the automatic transmission, you’ll save money on gas as it offers a highway fuel consumption rating of just 6.2 L/100 km, leaving you with more money to spend on shopping.
Find out how the fuel-efficient car could work for your lifestyle here.
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