Vancouver’s Hottest New Boutiques

These fabulous new Vancouver boutiques will provide you with every reason you need to shop locally

CICINO, 848 West Hastings Street

With a background in finance, and her heart in fashion, Min Kuang opened Cicino, a luxury fashion boutique. The gilded birdcage dressing rooms and never-ending skylights set the stage for one of the most luxurious shopping experiences in town. Find labels like Oscar de la Renta, Matthew Williamson, and French designer Pascal Millet, who flew in to host a private fashion show to celebrate the store. There may be another exciting new brand coming soon: one designed in-house.

Middle Sister, 2137 West 4th Avenue

Want to give your wardrobe a little Seoul? Look no further than Middle Sister boutique, bringing Vancouver some of the most cutting-edge Korean designers who work with interesting details like colourful patchwork, fur sleeves, and fuzzy sweatshirts. Middle Sister is currently the only Canadian boutique that carries LIE, an up-and-coming brand worn by celebs like Lady Gaga and Beyonce. ‘Cause c’mon, who doesn’t want to look like Queen Bey?

Karma, Oakridge Centre

What comes around goes around, right? Having left the retail scene some years ago, Karma, a made-in-Vancouver ‘athleisure’ brand, is back with a boutique. The first thing you’ll see inside the store is a boxing ring complete with punching bag, as well as a treadmill, spin bike, and even a ballet barre to test out your shopping options. The styles are super fashion forward, featuring intricately designed straps, mesh seams, and cutout backs. Now that Karma’s come back around, we sure hope it’s here to stay.

Hey Jude, 315 Abbott Street

If you’re not into buying new all the time, try Hey Jude, a hand-picked and altered vintage boutique. Stylists Lauren Clark and Lyndsey Chow carefully choose from preloved pieces and rework them to create on-trend vintage clothing for men and women. Their signature style consists of a clean palette, neutral shades, and architectural, yet simple, silhouettes. If they didn’t mention that their clothing was vintage, you likely never would have guessed it. Yes, their collections are that awesome.

Platform, 430 Homer Street

The newest kid on the block in Yaletown is Platform, a concept store specializing in edgy active fashions. Clothing designer and entrepreneur Dave Briker says, “Platform was conceived and designed in the spirit of dreamlike inspiration.” The result is a store that’s part sci-fi film and part parallel universe that it feels like you’ve entered into a subversive surrealist art piece. Literally walk into the crystal-shaped change rooms paneled with mirrors to enter another dimension. Notable brands include Some Product, Briker’s own line of raw streetwear.

Truvelle, 235 Cambie Street

Truvelle is the name all brides-to-be need to know. It’s an organic and romantic bridal brand that releases a collection of only eight new dress designs each year. The 23-year-old founder, Gaby Bayona, has dressed numerous brides in the fashion industry. This comes as no surprise as the brand is known for crafting the unexpected: sequined bustiers, dip-dye ombre skirts, and colour blocking. If you’re looking for something non-traditional, effortless, yet refined, give this Gastown boutique a visit.

LBV Lifestyle, 206 Carrall Street

Your first step inside LBV Lifestyle is like stepping into a perfectly styled photo: tabletop fashion books are neatly stacked, a curated wall of prints are off to one side, and a furry white pouf that looks so precious, the last thing you’d want to do is sit on it. This Kelowna-based lifestyle boutique also offers a plethora of chic brands, including Anine Bing, Karl Lagerfeld Candles, and Mezzi (tech-savvy leather bags). Interior and design stores should feel this picture-perfect, no?