Store Guide: Parloque, a new Queen West boutique stocked with hard-to-find international labels
Store Guide: Parloque, a new Queen West boutique stocked with hard-to-find international labels
By Jean Grant | June 3, 2014
By Jean Grant | 06/03/2014
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
Name: Parloque
Sells: Designer labels and street wear for men and women
Contact Info: 1093 Queen St. W., 647-341-5540, parloque.com
Hours: M-F 12-9, Sa 11-8, Su 11-5
Parloque may be the most directional new fashion boutique in Toronto. The studio-like space at Queen and Dovercourt is a treasure trove of international cult labels, most of which are impossible to find elsewhere in the city. (For example, it’s the only boutique in Toronto to stock New Zealand menswear brand I Love Ugly ). Owner Amrita Gill, who holds a fashion marketing degree from Parsons in New York, says she wanted to fill a gap in Toronto’s shopping scene by peddling exciting styles from places like Copenhagen and Seoul while also promoting up-and-coming local labels, like nearby store Untitled and Co.
The space showcases a mix of pricey high-fashion pieces alongside more affordable street wear, which means shoppers might find $40 cropped tees from Toronto upstart Daily News Project hanging alongside $500 jackets from Parisian label Valentine Gauthier. And while most items resemble the kind of thing you’d see on a London catwalk—like South Korean line S=Yz’s wildly futuristic looks—there are also pretty pieces that Amrita describes as “stuff you’d see at Anthropologie” for shoppers who aren’t inclined to grab themselves rainbow-hued muumuus or translucent ponchos. Our favourite looks are a pair of two-piece designs: a leaf-print structured moto jacket ($380) and matching mini ($210) from South Korean designer label Arche, and for guys, a paint-splattered shirt ($130) and trousers ($160) combo from Copenhagen street wear brand Rascals.
See inside »
277148 <strong>Parloque</strong> is located at 1093 Queen West (at Dovercourt) (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-34-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-34.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-34.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-34/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-34 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277123 The space showcases a mix of pricey high-fashion pieces alongside more affordable street wear (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-09/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-09 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277133 These Toronto-centric caps are from local upstart <b>Daily News Project</b> (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-19.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-19/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-19 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277134 South Korean designer label <b>Arche</b> makes these moto jackets ($380) and matching mini skirts ($210) (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-20.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-20/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-20 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277136 This is one of South Korean label <b>S=Yz’s</b> statement dresses, which would look equally great at a formal event or a casual barbecue. $295 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-22.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-22/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-22 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277137 For guys, we love this outfit from Copenhagen streetwear brand <b>Rascals. </b>Shirt $130, trousers $160 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-23-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-23.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-23.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-23/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-23 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277139 Apparently, this tank top from edgy label <b>Unif</b> (short for “Ur Not In Fashion”) is a best-seller. $65 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-25-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-25.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-25.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-25/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-25 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277141 These men’s shirts from contemporary Parisian label <b>Eleven Paris</b> are dotted with miniature ice cream cones, donuts and hamburgers. $95 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-27-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-27.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-27.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-27/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-27 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277138 <b>Unif</b> also makes this colourful cover-up, perfect for a summery day at the beach. $138 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-24.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-24/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-24 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277146 <b>Soulland</b> is a Copenhagen menswear label that focuses on traditional Scandinavian design. We love this playful shirt. $205 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-32-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-32.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-32.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-32/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-32 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277135 The shop also carries men's and women's footwear. We liked these shimmery sandals from <b>Miista.</b> $230 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-21.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-21/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-21 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277142 These speckled men’s leather shoes are also made by <b>Soulland.</b> $245 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-28-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-28.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-28.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-28/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-28 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
277143 Jewellery from Toronto accessories label <b>Vitaly </b>is well-priced for its great quality. These pieces range from $50—$60 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Parloque https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-29-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-29.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/parloque-toronto-store-guide-29.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/store-guide-parloque/slide/parloque-toronto-store-guide-29/ parloque-toronto-store-guide-29 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
Awesome place – but a little bit too on the pricey side for me! :P $500+ for an outfit is way too much for me lol
But really amazing looks! Definitely check it out! Was there a couple of days ago.
I love this store! The men’s section is unreal. Definitely a store you need to check out if your in Toronto.