One of Toronto’s biggest weekends for vintage shopping is returning to Exhibition Place later this month, and this fall’s edition comes with a ton of pieces you won’t find at the mall.
The Toronto Vintage Show returns to the Queen Elizabeth Building on Sept. 26 and 27 with 125 hand-picked vendors selling everything from designer fashion and streetwear to decades-old Toronto Maple Leafs gear and even a piece or two of Hollywood history.
One of the show’s standout finds is a pinstripe suit worn by actor George E. Stone in the 1959 Marilyn Monroe classic Some Like It Hot. Stone played mobster Toothpick Charlie in the film, and the original jacket and trousers (which have since been tailored to fit a woman) still bear the actor’s name inside the garment!
The show will feature clothing and accessories dating mainly from the 1950s through the early 2000s, along with a handful of pieces that stretch all the way back to the early 20th century.
If you’re a Toronto sports fan, make a beeline for The Jungle’s booth: it’ll have a collection of more than 50 vintage Maple Leafs pieces from the 1980s through the 2000s.
Among the finds is a rare Felix Potvin “The Mask” series hat that still has its original tags attached (the limited-run series featured goalie mask designs by Canadian mask maker Greg Harrison). Shoppers will also find a 1992 Bulletin Athletic all-over-print Leafs T-shirt and a Shain of Canada bomber jacket from the 1980s.
The designer racks will be packed, too. Vintage pieces and accessories from fashion houses including Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Miu Miu and Yves Saint Laurent are expected at the show (pop culture collectors can also look out for a Dolce & Gabbana “Like a Virgin” Madonna T-shirt from the 2000s!)
Visitors can also turn their own outfits into part of the show! Second Soul Vintage will have a classic Volkswagen Bus photo booth on site, so you can take tons of vintage-style Insta snaps.
If you’re looking for something really vintage, some of the oldest fashion on display goes back more than a century. Antique Wardrobe will bring an Edwardian-era handmade Irish crochet coat with floral detailing and bell sleeves, along with a handmade Battenberg lace dress dating to the early 1900s.
Vendors will also fill the space with small furnishings, glassware, art, kitchenware and other home décor.
Some of the more unusual pieces include 1970s Maurice Chalvignac swag lamps, a vintage English drinks cart and a complete 24-piece Lenox Spice Village set, which has become a very sought-after collectible in recent years. Also look out for vintage items by Richard Moorhouse and Samantha Howard.
The Toronto Vintage Show runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place, 180 Princes’ Blvd. Single-day admission is $17, with a discounted admission option available online ahead of the show.
Follow @Torontovintageshow for updates.