I don’t think I’ve ever been more exhausted than after a day of shopping. I really need to stop buying so much clothes… but I can’t help it! I have a talent for finding bargains… but most of the time this costs me filling up my closet with a bunch of stuff I don’t really need (not that I’d ever admit that). But if it’s cheap, and if I’d eventually find some use for it (there’s always yard sales), I’d probably get it.
Orfus Road (off Dufferin Street between Wilson and Lawrence in Toronto), is a bargain hunter’s dream. I was there yesterday for Kitchen Stuff Plus’ tri-annual Sidewalk Sale, and it took everything in me not to purchase more kitchen gadgets. There sidewalk sale is pretty good… but it’s better earlier on in the season, because of more selection. During the April sale, I got a nice wine rack, a stainless steel coffee travel mug, soap dishes, toothbrush holder, shower curtains, coasters, a nice mug stand (that was only missing 2 out of 5 mugs), and some other stuff I don’t remember. :D The trick is to visit near the end of the sale, because they usually sell clear plastic bags for $5 and just tell you to fill it up with whatever you can, just so they can get rid of the stock. If you’re lucky, you’ll find some nice items… some may be missing pieces (like a dish set missing a plate) or scratched, but it’s worth it. On that trip I only spent $20, and I got over $60 worth of items.
As for today, it was purely clothes shopping. Everything at the Stitches outlet is 50% off the lowest price… yeah, yeah, I know they’re reputation (knock-offs like Exco: the poor man’s Ecko/Fubu), but seeing as how I only needed tank tops and summer shirts I had a field day in there. Le Chateau had some nice deals on more dressy summer items, and so did Urban Behavior.
So my total for today? 3 tank tops, 2 corsets (including a really nice emerald-green silk one), 3 tunic baby-doll tops, a retro jumpsuit-style outfit, a silk sleeveless top for mom, a pair of shorts and a skirt all for about $90. Not so bad if I do say so myself. Make sure you plan a trip down to Orfus Road one of these days… you’re bound to find something you’ll like at a great price.
Excuse me while I make room in my closet and look for stuff to give to Goodwill…
Great article! If there’s one place to visit, I think it’ll have to be Le Chateau! Also, a lot more stores have opened up on the street, Refelli Fashion, Perfume Destination, and the Beauty salon on the north side of the street (can’t remember their name)…definitely great deals.
I just wanted to mention..I did have that issue in finding public washrooms, but Kitchen Stuff Plus does have an available washroom.
Good article, If you pay very close attention, Stitches, Suzy, Ardene and Fairweather, Etc. Will have alot of the same clothing, shoes or accessories but different prices. They are all owned and operated by Dylex. They now have Target Apparal. All they have done is change the name of the store and move merchandise from my Name Store to the other.
Alot of my friends and myself use to shop there but the quality is so bad. I would save my money and get better quality stuff. Please you can’t try any of the stuff on in some store and there is no mirror or refund policy.
SUCKS :)