Dlovely 202 Augusta, 416-593-9095 Rating: NNNNN
With a line of silkscreened T-shirts complete and ready to debut, designer Diana Kraus was thinking bigger. Well, bigger as in small boutique – an intimate, centrally located setting for her wares plus killer styles from trendster labels like Penguin, Criminal, Ben Sherman and many others.
So when Kraus came across a newly renovated space at the Market’s epi-centre – the intersection of Augusta and Baldwin – you could say it was destiny calling. She whipped out a Post-it and left a note. They called back. The price was right. Her business partner, Adam Grainger , joined up. And since July 2003, Dlovely’s been providing Kensington Market shoppers of all ages with a retail respite from vintage clothing and/or groceries.
From easy-spend items such as tights and earrings to triple-digit designer jeans, the shop has a well-balanced stock of urbanwear essentials that, interestingly enough, do their neighbourly duty and mix well with the key vintage pieces scored down the street.
Dlovely’s picks: Cotton sundresses by Sweet Chemise , $140 Kenzie Girl coloured halter tops, $29 hand-decorated silk kurtas, $80 semi-precious gemstone earrings by Toronto jewellery designer Jill Schwartzentruber , from $25 and men’s “Browster Chino” jeans by Gas .
Look for : An e-commerce website launching this fall glass bead necklaces by Schwartzentruber the super-foxy “Roxy” jean by Gas Brazilian bikinis and consignment racks for local designers.
Hours : Monday to Friday 11 am to 6 pm, Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday noon to 5 pm.
