Ladies and gentlemen, start your holiday shopping engines. I may have just discovered the store of the century.
Gals, if bling is your joie de vivre, you’ll want to lavish your holiday and post-holiday self with stylish baubles from this shop.
And gentlemen, if you’d rather have pins stuck through your eyes than set foot in a jewellery boutique, thinks of it this way, your gal will love you if you put a little something in her stocking from Lavishy.
It’s not like nary a gent has darkened the door to this Junction boutique. Owner Leo Wang tells me 30 percent of his clients are men.
There’s a reason: Lavishy is one of those jewellery and accessory shops you want to go in to and stay in. It’s approachable, the designs are fun and affordable, and there’s truly something for girls aged five to 50+.
Plus Wang makes the gift-buying process easy. Simply download a wish list from his website, fill it out and give it to your loved one for a no-stress shopping bling fling.
Wang has been designing jewellery for 15 years and wholesaling for five, though Lavishy the boutique has been open for just over a year. Wang’s official mantra, evident in his cheery colourful creations:” All for fun, Fun for all.”
Creating six to seven collections a year, all inspired by different cultures, Wang tells me people who celebrate life love his product.
I can see why. The Lava line, his most popular and made of lead-free pewter, features hand-painted enamel in bright turquoise, pink and green. The designs are inspired by nature, with images of birds, deer and hummingbirds plated in silver over enamel.
The Lava pendants, $20, are reversible, so if you’re not sure what her fave colour is you can double your chances of getting it right with one of these. The rings, a mere $9, are also a guys dream: they’re adjustable, as are many of Wang’s designs in the shop, so you needn’t worry too much about getting the size wrong.
Manager Shirley, who moved from the south of France to work at Lavishy, is wearing a Lava necklace pendant and a ring. I make her model a good part of the ring collection on her fingers. She wears them well.
As I salivate over a tray of big statement rings made of resin that look like shells, $15 each ad also adjustable, Leo and I chat about the luxury market. You don’t need to spend your salary on the next “it” piece to be happy, he philosophizes – you can find it here for $10-20.
Ring-a –bling bling to that. I find happiness for give bucks, in a handmade glass ring. It looks like an ice cube that’s similar to one I lusted after years ago for $50. Murana glass rings I’ve seen in other stores for big bucks are $10 here.
Resisting the urge to buy a glass ring for every gal I know, I move on to look at some of the other collections Wang has designed. There are glittery Swarovski and Austrian crystal earrings, crystal three-stand necklaces, and handmade mesh metal pieces with semi-precious stones.
You’ll find many of Wang’s creations in other stores – he wholesales world-wide to specialty boutiques and larger chains and also sells online – but you won’t find the prices you do in store.
Large filigree gold and silver-plated brass earrings and necklaces pendants from the Funkii collection are $10 each. These literally are big lacy metal earrings you’re seeing in the fashion pages, ladies.
Wang’s high-end collection, Rouge, can’t be found anywhere else but his shop. Santa Baby, I want that honking cocktail ring with a huge red cubic zirconia that looks like garnet. It’s sterling but coated in white gold and the design is simple sophisticated.
It’s only $45. Forget it. Santa, I’ll buy it now.
Also in the Rouge collection, a gorgeous 3-D snowflake pendant is $35.99, and matching ring, with tiny green peridots in their centres.
Though I’m pleased as punch with my cocktail ring, I can’t leave with just one piece. I also pick up a silver plated floral necklace for $20 that looks like a $200 statement piece.
There are other designs here by international jewellery makers, like the 18K gold plated pieces handmade by a Brazilian artist. They’re under $50 here and are worn by the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Wang tells me – though clearly Wang isn’t a huge fan of celeb culture. The bulk of the people who come into the store are artsy types, he says – rather fitting considering Wang’s outlook on life.
Wang’s recently branched into accessory design, and the results are whimsical chic. Wallets, cardholders, messenger bags, clutches and more fall under his Mani line of accessories, all made of recycled imitation leather.
The motifs on these pieces are similar to those on his Lava collection: sweet love birds, hummingbirds, dragonflies and animals. Wang is out to spread joy. Integral to his vision, he says, is not compromising people or nature. Totes are $50-55, wallets $14-16, and cardholders $15.
Gift buyers, take note: if you spend $20 you’ll get a free greeting card, also designed by Wang. Gifts also come with a gift tag and can be wrapped for free.
Happy shopping, ladies and gents.

3095 Dundas St. West, 416-767-7472
www.lavishy.com or lavishy.biz
Read this article at www.towncrieronline.ca