Store Guide: Blue Button Shop brings sophisticated Japanese clothing and accessories to Dundas West
Name: Blue Button Shop
Sells: Men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, grooming products and home goods
Contact info: 1499 Dundas St. W., 647-606-3270, bluebuttonshop.com
Hours: Mon–Sa 12–7, Sun 12–5
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Canadian- and Italian-themed boutiques have both already been done, but Blue Button Shop, on Dundas and Dufferin, is Toronto’s first store dedicated to the “Otona” (or “adult”) style out of Japan. Here, the refined aesthetic translates into lots of stripes, muted colours, natural fabrics and quirky details like pockets shaped like birds or stitched-in hidden messages. Like in similar boutiques in Japan, nearly all of the wares are unisex.
The almost entirely Japanese slate of brands includes several with cult followings, such as Evam Eva, Rulezpeeps and Is-ness. To complement the breezy clothing, owner Brian Cheuk also carries a range of tough canvas totes and messenger bags ($250—$489), trendy, vintage-inspired eyewear by .efiLevol and Verynerd ($289—$379) and socks by Digawel and Superior Labor that, though made in Japan, look equipped for Canadian winters.
216001 Soap and scented oils from<strong> Yuan Soap Workshop,</strong> $9–$21 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-11/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-11 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
215999 <strong>.efiLevol x Effector </strong>glasses, $379 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-09/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-09 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
215998 This <strong>Evam Eva</strong> wrap made of washi fabric can be worn as a jacket or dress ($309). Crepe cotton scarf, $179 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-08.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-08/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-08 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
215997 <strong>Natal </strong>denim sweats, $220 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-07.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-07/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-07 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
215996 <strong>Natal Design </strong> work jacket, $245, and <strong>Superior Labor</strong> striped shirt, $115 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-06.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-06/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-06 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
215995 <strong>Minotaur </strong>reversible deck jacket printed with a satellite photo, $319 (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-05.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-05/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-05 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
216000 Magazines like <em>2nd, Free & Easy, Popeye </em>and <em>Go Out</em> capture the aesthetic of the store and provide inspiration for Cheuk (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-10/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-10 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
215994 Also available: <strong>Prospector Co. </strong>grooming products for both men and women, as well as bags by <strong>Superior Labor </strong>($300) and <strong>Southern Field Industries </strong>($250—$489) (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-04/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-04 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
215993 The shop carries unisex accessories, including handcrafted leather wallets by <strong>Ginkawaten</strong> ($100—$300) and iphone cases by illustrator <strong>Shinzi Katoh </strong>($32) (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-03/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-03 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
215992 Indigo dye and natural materials like cotton and paper feature prominently (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-02/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-02 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
216002 Owner Brian Cheuk carries apparel from popular, small-shop Japanese designers like <strong>Superior Labor, Haversack </strong>and <strong>Is-ness </strong> (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-intro/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-intro 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)
215991 Blue Button Shop, a store specializing in “otona” style, is at Dundas West and Dufferin (Image: Kayla Rocca) Store Guide: Blue Button Shop Store Guide: Blue Button Shop https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/torontostore-guide-blue-button-shop/slide/store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-01/ store-guide-blue-button-shop-toronto-01 0 0
(Image: Kayla Rocca)