The hipster shopping scene has migrated to midtown.

With the recent opening of two sequel shops on the Yonge Street strip, whose original locations hail from distinctly hip or artsy shopping climes, I’m left wondering: can these stores successfully adapt to the swankier uptown market?

Overwhelming yes where Lavishy is concerned.

I wrote about The Junction-based shop a year ago and was blown away by its chicky baubles. Owner Leo Wang designs and manufactures fab jewellery, wallets and purses. Open Elle, Lou Lou, Wish or any fashion or shopping magazine and you’re bound to find his fashion jewellery creations adorning the models.

The Yonge Street shop opened at the end of October and has a different vibe than its western counterpart. What flies in the Junction is more artsy and less trend-driven than Yonge and Eg, he tells me, and he’s changed his merchandise accordingly.

When I visit in early December, the front display is decked out in blingy on-trend pieces, like the faux jewel-encrusted bib style necklace for around $85. One sparkly champagne-hued pendant necklace, $29.97, was recently featured in Elle Canada.

Though many of the collections are designed here and made in China, Leo and his fellow designers are handmaking more designs in house at this location. These pieces feature semi-precious stones and vintage brooches, and while they may be pricier than their costume counterparts there’s enough selection to please the most varied of shoppers.

The new Flare collection for spring is adorable. One of my faves: a large multi-coloured Geisha girl pendant, named “Masami” after one of the store’s Japanese designers, for under $40.

The day I pop in the real Masami is modeling one of her latest creations, a necklace whose ends are attached to each ear in the form of a fish hook earring. I dig that punk fashion-forward nod.

Pretty vintage clip-on earrings, $29.97 a pair and other baubles Leo has picked up in New York flea markets, have been lovingly curated atop old floral teacups and saucers. The effect is charming and I get the warm fuzzies all over again as I peruse a shelf filled with limited edition jewellery an associate recently picked up in Paris.

I’m crushing on the vintage-inspired necklaces in gold or silver tones featuring multi-charms like cameos and keys, around $30 each.

This place is now bling central for gifts and moi, of course.

2525 Yonge St.
www.lavishy.biz
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