The retail cred of Liberty Village got a huge boost with the opening of the womenswear shop Vocado in March. The petite boutique stocks a healthy number of Canadian labels (Nada, Mackage and Juma, to name a few) along with harder-to-find international brands. Ex-accountant Emily Dobbie is the brains behind the biz. “Everyone has the same stuff,” she says. “I was looking for something different from Club Monaco and Banana Republic.” As luck would have it, so were we. Here, Dobbie shares her list of Vocado essentials.
BB Dakota skirt, $55 <br />To Dobbie, this skirt screams spring, which is probably why it hangs in her own closet. The pattern makes it easy to pair with other colours; brown, purple and yellow are good options.
Alternative Apparel tank, $38 <br />This top has a definite ’80s vibe (Hypercolor, anyone?) and is fairly baggy, so Dobbie recommends pairing it with leggings and lots of layers.
Toodlebunny necklace, $105 <br />“Natural shapes are in for jewellery, as are long hanging pendants,” Dobbie advises. This handmade piece scores on both counts.
Destineau bikini, $220 <br />Toronto’s Destineau is the only swimwear Dobbie carries: “It’s by an up-and-coming designer who’s different and fresh.” Each print was inspired by a location—this one is designer Cristin Lazier’s take on Miami extravagance.
Mackage jacket, $190 <br />The scrunched style—made of nylon—is ideal for packing into a suitcase and far more chic than a crumpled cotton jacket. Bonus: a nifty hood tucks inside the collar.
Juma knit vest, $130 <br />Of all the brands in her store, this Toronto label is Dobbie’s favourite. “Juma’s pieces are basic, so you can add your own style, and you can tell from the details that the wearer knows fashion.”
Mogil clutch, $149 <br />“It’s really not practical, but I love it,” says Dobbie of this fabulously oversized leather clutch (one of several versions in the store) from Australia.
Designers Remix pants, $220 <br />“When I saw this line, I had to have it,” says Dobbie, who proclaims these casual, versatile cotton pants the perfect pair for summer.