So Flock Boutique is this cute little shop in my 'hood that sells cool indie Canadian brands and…read morealso Canadian brands that have made it big(ger). They have clothes by Jennifer Glasgow and Miik. They have soaps and body care by Purple Urchin. They also have jewelery by local designers and weird knick knacks like hand puppets of Canadian prime ministers, lol. So funky and weird! This store is more neat, clean and upscale-ish, a la "Yorkville" (Toronto reference) and not like Adorit in the Byward Market (that also carries local and Canadian designs, and some of the same brands, like Miik) which is more, a la "Kensington Market" (sorry, another Toronto reference), but meaning more bohemian and smelling of patchouli. Prices are high, but your getting good quality and supporting the Canadian market.

I will definitely be going back to this trendy boutique soon. I have been looking for a wedding…read moredress (something trendy and artistic and untraditional!) and I found several options here. The great thing about Flock Boutique is that the clothes are made by Canadian designers, the majority of which are women! They try to bring in lots of fashions from Ottawa and Montreal also, to be local. The accessories here are amazing! They have lots of colourful pins and earrings and some great bags! I really had to control myself, or I would have had an empty wallet when I came out. I did see several dress options, but was tight on time, so I couldn't try anything on. One of the girls working in the store patiently showed me several dresses and answered all my questions about the designers and the store. The people who work here clearly know what they are talking about. It is also great that so many of the designs are by Canadian women! For someone who wants to dress artistically, this is the perfect spot to shop.

Beautiful new store in the heart of Preston Village. Popped in due to the beautiful window display…read moreand found a new retail shop full of clothes, accessories and jewellery. It was uber cold so I picked up a pair of mackage gloves where I can text and use my phone. So helpful! Great staff, and the mirror and dressing room reminds me of a tailor or a seamtress's with the multi dimensional mirrors. Feels cozy and friendly.

Vincent is an amazing store located in Little Italy. Angie and Amanda welcome customers into the…read morestore like it was their home. I couldn't help but admire all of the interior decor and wished I could make my house look as good as the store! Last year Angie and Amanda were so helpful in helping me special order a very limited and unique jewellery piece. I get compliments on it all of the time. Without their outstanding service, I would not have gotten it! I loved their store so much I wanted to write a blog post on them! Read more here: http://www.tobakiss.ca/vincent-a-womens-fashion-boutique-on-preston/

Nice selection of thrift store clothing that is in good shape. I think they are selective about…read morewhat they accept. I find the quality and prices very good AND it's a registered charity; part of the Big Sisters/Brothers organization so proceeds are going to an excellent cause. They now have a small housewares section but don't have room for big items like furniture. I do make sure this place is on my list when I'm on the hunt for something. Ample free parking and close to other shopping on Merivale.

Thrive Select Thrift Store is a thrift store that sells clothing and accessories, and 100% of their…read moreprofits go to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ottawa. I like that the impacts of donations and purchases stay local. And organizations that help kids always have my support. The clothing at Thrive appears to be geared towards youth and so skews on the younger side, in my opinion. The racks are filled with brands like Old Navy, Garage, and Ardene. Prices are cheaper than places like Value Village. They had some new items like Funko Pops and Squishmallows, while I was there, but I guess these depend on donations, perhaps these were from a business (?) They also had some used video games and controllers. They also have (new) Big Brothers and Big Sisters merchandise. Staff are friendly. I believe that many of them are volunteers. They are located in the Emerald Plaza. Lots of free parking in the plaza.

Joanne's is owned by the same people who own Marianne's in the same mall. Like Marianne's, they…read moresell a lot of Canadian designers and made in Canada pieces. Unlike Marianne's, they don't sell lingerie. Regular prices are not cheap (I'd say about $150+ for dresses, $50+ for tops, $75+ for pants/skirts). However, they often have 50%-80% off sales (and that's when you'll see me in the store, lol). Admittedly, many of their items are frumpy (at least in my opinion), but they have some cool pieces, you just have to look for them. Staff are friendly and nice and their change rooms are beautiful (looks a little like a boudoir). Joanne's is in the Westgate Shopping Centre. Lots of free parking.

Schad and Schad Blu are 2 stores that carry some of the better fashions and threads in this city…read morefor men and women. I'm glad Ottawa has some clothing stores with styles outside the GAP, AE, Old Navy, etc. Not that there's anything wrong with those stores but they're pretty boring. Schad carries a nice balance of North American and European brands. The unfortunate thing about some of the North American brands is that they've been run into the ground since the Jersey Shore phenomenon! Brands like Ed Hardy and Affliction are carried here and unfortunately Dom Rebel (based out of Montreal) has been styling a lot of shirts like them recently. Some of the other brands that I'm glad they have include Diesel, Energie, Sand and J Lindeberg. It's not for everyone but I do get complimented regularly. I believe there is a slight mark up on these brands compared to some of the other stores I've been in that carry these lines in Toronto and Montreal but it's not that much and the store owner and the staff are super friendly and super helpful. To get an idea, Chantel (the store owner) once tried on a dress for me that I was purchasing for a friend to give me an idea of what it would look like while being worn! That's pretty damn awesome!

This is a very upscale boutique with unique high end brands. The staff is always very friendly and…read morekind. They have a cute kids table at the back for colouring, which I thought was very considerate and welcoming for families. Expect high prices here. I am always disappointed when boutiques have so many small sizes. Larger people like nice things and have money too ;) (just sayin')

Impeccable service here! I was on the hunt for a special pair of cuff links for my special guy's…read morebirthday, and a Yelp search revealed this spot not far from my 'hood. I decided to pop in on a whim and see what they had. I noticed a sign on the door that said they had a "work dog" inside, which immediately made me joyous. I was even happier that she (I think her name was Jazz!), was the sweetest, most calm dog ever and hung out with me while I shopped. The staff member (who I believe was the owner), was great at keeping her close by, but I made it clear that I welcomed her furry little presence! I was asked right away if I needed help and was led to their fantastic selection of cuff links. Thy source them out of the UK and I believe Texas. Their selection is plentiful - classy and quirky and tailored to all personality types. They have sports one and occupations and I ended up selecting an awesome pair of silver Lego pieces. I mentioned my boyfriend was an MMA trainer and he offered to order in some boxing glove cuff links for us - wonderful customer service! I also picked up a gorgeous Nautica tie (at half off!) and some super cool dinosaur socks for the birthday boy. They have an amazing selection of men's grooming products including beard grooming supplies, European razors and a whole wall of other goodies. They also carry a ton of fun and colourful socks and an insane amount of men's underwear (the second staff member is your go to guy for men's underwear. He admits to owning hundreds of pairs!). They also sell shirts and other accessories. If you're on the hunt for a guy who loves quality and individual gifts, stop by. The products were great but the staff were even better. Can't wait for an excuse to return!

Nice selection of men's clothing and accessories. Wanted a new tie for work and they had lots…read more Thank you very much !

I was searching for a beaded bracelet for my mother and found the perfect one at East Wind. The…read morestore is unique and has a variety of products. It is a great place to find the perfect gift. Since finding the bracelet I have been back several times and always find what I am looking for. The owners and staff are very pleasant and helpful. The service is exceptional. If you are around the area it is well worth dropping in. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.

This is a pleasant and reasonably priced store that offers Asian decorative products. They have…read moreclothing, dishes, sushi sets, chopsticks, many books on Asia's culture, beautiful silks, Feng Shui products, art, cards, and calligraphy and painting supplies. There aren't many stores like this in the surrounding area, so if you're nearby and looking for anything I just mentioned, it's worth taking a look. I've always received exceptional service when I've come here. I think one of their best products is their tableware.

My experience has always been that it's like sisters closet getting all fresh brands and great…read morestylish or comfy clothing for great price new and used I appreciate the opportunity to get clothings sold and given to such great staff and store . All best !

offered me an insultingly low amount of money for my items one-of which had never been used -I'll…read moregive it to charity instead-don't deserve one star

I would say that Jason D's review of this store is spot on. They have clothes which are on the…read morepricey end, but in unique styles. They carry a huge selection of Sympli pieces in lots of styles and colours (I personally am not a huge fan of this brand, but I do see the appeal of pieces that pack well (i.e. don't wrinkle and fold down to nearly nothing) and you can mix and match). Their clothing aesthetic I find very similar to Marianne's in Westgate and Shepherd's at Trainyards. So, yes, perhaps catering to let's just say women who would subscribe to magazines like More, or Zoomer. Their kitschy items are fun and cute. They have fridge magnets that say things like "a clean house is a sign of a wasted life," or "housecleaning never killed anyone, but why take the chance?" I hate household chores, so I can relate to these sentiments, haha. They have luggage tags shaped like fashionable shoes, by Fluff. They have quirky handbags shaped like unusual items, like one by Betsey Johnson shaped like an ice cream cone. I love kitsch and I love quirky, so I like looking at the accessories here. They also have a lot of things (greeting cards, magnets, napkins, books, etc.) that divorcees would find funny. They also carry costume jewelry. Lots of statement pieces. A great place to pick up something for that wild eccentric aunt you have, lol.

I have to admit that the name of the store really hooked me. Three Wild Women Living Sublime. Hmm,…read morejust what the heck was this place about? I have listed it under women's fashion because the back half of the store is devoted to very glamourous and fabulous women's (not girl's) clothes. The front half is a collection of kitschy items targeted to women who are more "mature" and may or may not be divorced. There were fridge magnets, greeting cards, aprons and oven mitts sporting saucy and witty slogans. There were also novelty luggage tags, divorce guides and books offering advice for those over 40 and 50. They even had tables with high-heeled legs! It was a hoot to hang out there for a while, but it is definitely aimed at a specific demographic of which I am not really a member.

Delilah is an independently owned small business in The Glebe. They sell clothing and footwear for…read morewomen. Their prices are quite high (for my budget anyway). Expect to spend at least $100 for a piece here. No bargain basement deals here. Many of their clothes are made in Europe, organic, and/or sustainable, so you pay for these attributes. I like to poke around and see what they have, but truth be told, most of their clothes are not my style, they are too loose fitting bohemian flower child for my tastes, but one of these days I may find something I love, lol. They have cool brands, like Fly London and Taos for footwear. And staff are nice. The store is reminiscent of other small boutiques in tony parts of town (of which The Glebe definitely is, lol), like in Westboro and Wellington West.

Delilah is a lovely boutique with sustainable upscale brands. I was able to grab a beautiful sage…read moregreen modal cardigan from Yara at 50% off. The staff were very helpful and offered to set the cardigan aside for me while I thought about it. I felt very safe shopping during the pandemic.