Ever found an online Etsy store selling vintage and wished you could just rifle though all the retro goodies by hand?

A Touch of Vintage just happens to be one of those shopping places where you can have your cake and eat it too, so to speak.

If you’re an online addict, shop away as co-owners Diane Coatsworth and Victoria Adilman-Chan post uber precise measurements for the vintage dresses they sell.

If you’re a Torontonian and prefer a good retail dig, email atouchofvintage@gmail.com to make a personal appointment in their Riverdale studio.

The gals stock vintage dresses from the 1950s to 70s for reasonable prices – ranging from $22-$50 or so, with a few extra special frocks going for about $65-$85 each.

There’s also some fab purses, scarves and accessories – the 1980s red leather purse shaped like a pair of lips for around $22 caught the attention of SheShops.

You can also find vintage housewares, everything from 196os highball glasses to retro clocks and glassware.

SheShops had a clock just like this one when she was growing up in the 1970s!

The girls also tie-dye retro full and half slips in funkadelic colours, and recently have transformed white slips into gorgeous pastel-hued creations.

Visit atouchofvintage.etsy.com to preview items, for sale in USD. If you pick up locally you save on the shipping!

Check out their Facebook for regular updates.

Bloor West Village’s hipster quotient has gone up a couple notches with the opening of Periwinkle, just east of Runnymede subway station.

In between Runnymede and High Park, the shop isn’t on the bustling part of the Bloor West strip, but one look at the charming building and betcha you’ll be as enchanted as SheShops was when she first saw it.

Owner Cindy Yong launched her concept in November 2009 and to date houses the creations of about 50 local – ie: mostly Toronto – artisans.

Paintings, mosaic wall hangings, clothing and accessories, jewellery galore and other gifty items can be had, all at incredibly reasonable prices.

Many of the artisans represented here don’t have a retail presence save from online Etsy shops, which means you can unearth gems you won’t find anywhere else, very likely by up-and-coming designers.

SheShopsTO’s faves: brass jewellery by Toronto’s Skarce. The “Steam Punk/Vintage” brass vintage chain with Tiger Eye pendant spied at the store on a recent visit for just over $50 has a lovely vintage-y yet rough-around-the-edges look.

The watches by May28th have a Swatch-like vibe to them with a dash more whimsy; the artist, another Toronto local, designs one-of-a-kind clock faces and uses chiffon (as pictured here, $59 for the watch) or colourful elastic bands as wrist bands ($39).

Sushi bunny heads, stained glass, children’s clothing, reworked vintage furniture, candles and soaps, pillows, and lamps round out the roster of available items.

There are also some imported products by local entrepreneurs – they’re not as special as the other creations but they’re different and still worthy of our shopping attention, like the one-off fashions out of Asia for under $50 each.

2137 Bloor St. West

416-551-2553

www.periwinkleonbloor.com

If you never thought there was a good reason to hit the edge of the Beach shopping district on Queen Street East just west of Victoria Park, stand corrected because that reason is Mira’s Vintage Boutique.

SheShopsTO expected Mira’s to be some tiny consignment shop.The outside looks so quaint, and that darling awning hanging over the sidewalk, with the words “One of a Kind Consignment Store” printed on it, is just the biggest invitation for deal divas to waltz right in….

But the inside  is surprisingly large and jam packed with all kinds of fashion goodies. Presided over by owner Mira Staples, the shop carries ladies’ clothing and accessories on a consignment basis, both contemporary and vintage.

There’s also some new end-of-the-line fashions by the likes of Costa Blanca, Guess? and other fashiony labels, plus new costume jewellery, shoes, handbags and sunglasses at reasonable prices.

A whole wall is dedicated to vintage fabric and $20 a yard, and if you’re so inclined Mira can whip them up into a set of drapes for you. She also does custom work, mainly in the costume biz, for sports teams, skaters and those in need of uniforms, though she has done dresses too. If you’re lucky you may find the odd Mira original hanging from the racks.

You can bag a retro Simon Chang or Holt Renfrew blazer for under $50 or so, while the odd vintage wool dress can be had for $40. Make sure you take a peep in the glass counter as there’s a hoard of vintage brooches and rings for good prices. SheShops almost bought an antique gold-tone and jade pin for $40, but it didn’t fit into her life.

There’s also second-hand hats, blazers and skirts. Sizes appear to vary; this is one of the few consignment and vintage shops this shopper has seen where size 20 is not just an anomaly.

SheShops found took home an Art Deco enamel pin for $15; a Save the Queen top for $30; and a darling dress made in Italy for $20. Definitely worth a peep and regular visits. And if you’re there near close hit the nearby Vi Vetha Bistro at 2485 Queen Street East for a fab inexpensive dinner – you may be able to get a table without reservations.

2238 Queen Street East

416-699-4005

If you’re the type to walk along the street and never look up, you could be missing out on one of the neatest antique shops in east Toronto.

Correction: ascend the half staircase to the Danforth Village Antique Market, Finders Keepers for short, and you won’t find a shop per se. The Danforth and Pape Aves. antique abode truly has the look and feel of an antiques market.

Owner and antiques dealer Ali Medina has been plying his trade for over 30 years, between his European adventures and partaking in several antique downtown market ventures before opening his own on the Danforth.

No matter that what started as an antique market with 13 or so dealers about three years ago has shrunk to just Ali himself as a dealer. Don’t think for a second that that means the breadth of goods or knowledge is any the lesser.

In fact SheShops dares you to find an era or category that ISN’T represented at Finders Keepers:

Rare 18th century Minton china (pictured here; the platter is going for $245 and dinner plates are $125 each); retro glassware; antique lighters; lamps and chandeliers of various eras; enough vintage jewellery to sink a ship.

There’s more. Carved wood pieces; perfume bottles; clocks and watches; religious artifacts, artwork; pottery, dolls, crystal and brass.

On a recent visit there were books full of first-issue stamps (and postcards explaining their relevance) from Canada and the USA, with prices averaging $10 per envelope.

From the kitschy to the creepy, the elegant to the austere, this shop has it all.  And if it doesn’t, let’s just say it’s Ali’s personal mission to find it for you.

He’s got a hoard of pickers finding stuff for him, and he’s pretty up on what things are selling for and what’s out there as a good portion of his biz is from online selling.

Prices aren’t bargain basement but they’re fair. And with an ongoing (at least for the last 6 months) 50 percent off jewellery sale, there’s extra incentive for bling lovers to loiter over the jewellery counters a wee bit longer than usual.

SheShops fell in love with an Art Deco brass and green cut glass choker, signed “Regina”, for $150 with the 50 percent off.

Other cool items: collectible handmade Canadian dolls by the Marina Guild of Handicapped Artisans, around $95-$110 each.

Definitely a shopping feat for the peepers. Hope you find some keepers like SheShops did.

715 Danforth Ave.

416-599-7072

www.findersantiques.info

They’re not just gabbing on the phone here, oh no.  Joyce Lo and Carlo Colacci, managers of The Drake Hotel General Store, are checking to see if the courtesy phone connecting the new Rosedale shop to the Queen West reservation desk is in fact working.

Yes, Queen West hipness has moved to the swanky Yonge Street strip in Rosedale, in this, the second location of the popular downtown emporium of kitsch.

It does seem like an unlikely location given the surrounding shops are more swish than hip – as the smattering of high-end antique and decor establishments on the street will attest.

But the shop has some higher-end exclusive merch that’ll appeal to the Rosedale set, like the Pendleton wool blankets from the Chief Joseph collection. This bronze-coated piggy bank, $320, was from the mould of an actual piggy corpse. But that semi-creepy, semi-cool factor is part of the tude that’s made the General Store such a success.

Novelty items in store range from locally made skincare products for men and one-off retro elements (like the Charlie’s Angels board game, for one) to Mattel’s Barbie version of Alfred Hitchcock’s heroine in The Birds – there’s that creepy-coolness again.

The interior has that general store feel crossed with a Canadiana cabin vibe, thanks the salvaged wood flooring and fixturing.

SheShops just loves the little tchotckas in the cubby holes.

And if you really like shopping local and want a different hostess gift or something fun to do at the next dinner party, be sure to pick up Gravitas, the game developed by Summerhill resident Alan Gratias.

1011 Yonge St., 416-966-0553 http://www.thedrakehotel.ca

If you’re a lover of the industrial-chic-meets-French country decor aesthetic cultivated by Stephan Howard of Flik and Company in Leslieville, be sure to pop into his new co-operative just down the street from his Queen Street East shop.

Pied-a-Terre opened in the fall of 2009 and is located under Almost Antiques, in the basement. The shop carries furniture and decor, some antiques that have been refurbished, and some new items, by four different dealers, including Flik.

The vibe is French country with some industrial elements thrown in. Do you like that chair to the far right? It was featured in the January 2010 edition of Canadian House & Home, in the home of Joyce Lo of the Drake Hotel General Store and her partner, industrial designer Matt Carr.

There’s a mix of pretty and gritty here. French-style chairs that have been reupholstered and refinished sit next to a worn wood harvest table with an old typewriter in it. An old green metal filing cabinet, about $1200, could be a funky storage unit or even a wine rack.

The handmade driftwood chandeliers, about $400-$700 each depending on their size, are a major steal, and the wood is salvaged from the shores of Lake Ontario.

What SheShops bought: retro blue velvet chair with the arms and legs stripped and distressed, $100.

1114 Queen Street East, lower level, 647-348-6025

www.flikandcompany.com

SMASH, Post & Beam Reclamation, and Forever Interiors in the Junction have helped solidify the hipster reputation of this up-and-coming western ‘hood, and now World Headquarters is following in the footsteps of these architectural salvage and reclamation trailblazers.

Mark Taaffe presides in this part architectural salvage, part junkster, part post-industrial second-hand hangout, where literally anything goes and the aesthetic seems to rotate according to Taaffe’s whim.

A visit almost a year ago yielded more artsy-crafty granny-inspired finds, like an authentic Victorian luck wreath framed in a shadow box, and a wool shawl from around the same period that Taaffe said he found in a box marked “Granny’s things.” (SheShops had to take that shawl home, for $20).

A more recent visit unearthed a batch of old typewriters, a few aged projectors, and an entire bookshelf of old skate blades. One woman came in asking for an old card punch holder – believe it or not, Taaffee had two, $40 apiece.

Taaffe’s quirky and individualistic and genuine, and therefore a SheShop’s fave. He’ll often go out of his way to give you a deal (there are no pricetags on items), and if there’s a history behind something he’ll likely know it.

Perhaps his history weaving comes from being an auctioneer, a role he used to occupy more regularly in the past but still exercises with quarterly auctions in store – to clear things out. These are normally advertised by a bright hand-written sign in the window – and the deals are even better than what you’re likely to find in store.

On a recent visit Taaffe said he’s let go of an Edwardian corner cupboard that had been refinished – or in his charming turn of phrase, the subject of an ‘interventionist’ makeover – for a mere $160.

We weren’t sure if this 1960s Pepsi machine actually worked, but it would make a retro cabinet or bookcase if it doesn’t.

SheShops lusted after a Persian carpet Taaffe said he’s let go of for 50 bucks – alas, it was already on hold. Next time.

2885 Dundas St. West, 416-333-8078

Seasoned thrifters out there know that having a thrift store in your neighborhood can be a wardrobe and decor godsend.

SheShops  knows it too: she regularly pops into Stretch Thrift in Pape Village, and or she finds great stuff.

Thrift shopping isn’t for every one. There’s that thrift store smell, for one. But Stretch has these cool dispensers on the wall that shoot out stuff into the air to neutralize the funky second-hand scent.

Stretch has clothing for men, women (including a plus size rack), kids and babies, all sorted into sections. There’s a wall of textiles like bedspreads and such at the back, and the special stuff is either in the window, behind the counter or under glass.

In the basement there’s books, VHS videos, magazines, electronics, furniture and decorative items.

Prices are good, probably on par with Salvation Army Thrift Stores or less. SheShops found a yellow Bill Blass 1980s swing coat for $14.99; multiple leather and suede Made in Italy boots for under $20 each; and decent designer jeans for about $4.99-$10.99 – way cheaper than Value Village.

Selection may not be as up-to-date or current as Value Village as the store relies solely on donations (and donates a portion of its proceeds to the East General hospital), but there’s usually some gem to be dug up if you really look.

SheShops has also found wonderful furniture (solid wood retro table for $29.99), decorative accessories (German crystal lamp for the same price), and fashion accessories (retro jewellery and designer purses for a couple bucks). There’s even the odd vintage piece to be had.

874 Pape Ave.,416-425-0024

The Junction on Dundas St. West just west of Keele is becoming known for its hip organic eateries and food produce shops, and for its architectural salvage and decor-ish stores.

The area is still semi-derelict, a little rough around the edges, but that’s part of its charm. Forever Interiors plays on that dichotomy nicely.

Owner Martin Scott has literally carved out a niche for himself in reclaimed and recycled wood. He and his pickers scrounge for wood from old churches, bowling lanes, and wherever they can get it.

Then Scott and his woodworking crew transform the pieces in gorgeous harvest tables, coffee tables, bookshelves, cabinets and TV consoles.

There are samples in the retail space and showroom, but most of the work is custom – like this bookshelf made from salvaged wood and the frame of an old window (any one who grew up with storm windows will likely recognize those three holes).

Prices are decent. The dark harvest table above comes with a solid steel frame Scott designed and made – and the whole thing is $1700, a far cry from what some of the more swish shops in the design district would sell something like this for.

As far as SheShops can tell, there aren’t too many people in the city specializing in custom salvaged wood furniture they make themselves.

There’s the odd architectural salvaged piece in store, like the column above. Scott has recently enlarged his work space and cut down on the retail showroom space, meaning many of the decorative pieces and tchochkes  have gone.

A wire bird cage or skeleton of a lampshade also remain – and old wire milk crates find their way into the design of side tables that sell for around $300 each.

Definitely worth a look-see, especially if you’re in the market for an original wood piece of furniture, and to save a tree. Scott can do rustic to sleek in terms of style, and he’ll design according to your specs.

2903 Dundas St. West 416-291-2001

http://foreverinteriors.blogspot.com/

Head to the charming Mount Pleasant Road for croissants and coffee at one of the French cafes there, and after that have a leisurely saunter through the many antique shops there. Whatever you do, don’t go home without stopping into Boj Decor.

Owner Lucy Kokalov has an eye for style and a funky-chic decor aesthetic all her own. Her shop is a mix of old and new furniture and accessories and pieces she’s reworked herself. The chair, above, falls into the latter category.

Decor junkies, think Elle Decor magazine and you’ll have a sense of Lucy’s glam instinct.

Lucy’s got heart and spirit and guts. The shop is named after her late daughter, Boj, and she honours her memory in beautiful ways: these necklaces were handmade by a local artist recovering from addiction and Lucy doesn’t keep a penny of commission.

You can buy art, books, French soaps and candles, really unique jewellery, and of course uber one-of-a-kind vintage and antique furniture pieces,  like the curvy two-seater pictured here.

The shop is a showcase for Lucy’s obvious talent for interior design and decor, a talent many a Rosedale home has benefited from. SheShops is in love what she did with this chair.

Prices for furniture and art aren’t bargain basement but they’re worth if you dig quality one-offs with heaps of style. But you can still find a gorgeous decorative pillow for $40; a lovely paisley wool throw for $100; and soaps and candles for decent prices.

685 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-545-0088