Category — Boutique Bistro

Beginning Boutique is an Australian based online boutique that stocks budget friendly (and trendy) clothing & accessories from various Australian designers including: Anu, Karen Walker, Bec and Bridge and many more. The boutique has recently launched their latest lookbook entitled “Indian Summer” and it is sure to leave your yearning for the spring and summer months to hurry and arrive.

P.S. – Beginning Boutique is also currently running a Facebook contest for one lucky fan and one of their friends for a $250 voucher to shop your heart away at the boutique! Sweet. Good luck! Click here for the link to their Facebook page for your chance to win!

Closet Shark is a website designed to marry the fashion desires of women with their need to save or make money. The site gives woman the option to swap, buy or sell gently used formal wear for any occasion – from formal dates, to anniversaries to weddings. Today, women are bombarded with one formal event after another. From high school prom and sorority formals to weddings and charity galas, the hunt for the perfect dress for each occasion can be exhausting. Then, before you know it you add that dress to the rack of other once-worn formal wear, taking up valuable space in your closet. Closet Shark was created to not only help women find the perfect dress for any occasion, but to also help women clean out their closets, by selling their dresses, while making a little money back in the process. I’m already on it to sell my prom dress (eek!) and a few formal dresses that are just clogging up my closet. To begin selling your own pieces from your wardrobe, visit the official Closet Shark website and sign up!

This summer I had a chance to interview the masterminds behind Toronto’s hidden gem fashion boutiques located in the upscale Bloor&Yorkville area of Toronto,Ontario, Canada; Rac Boutique owners Glenna Weedle and Faith Orfus. This boutique takes a unique approach to fashion which includes carrying one of a kind fashion pieces, and using their store blog to immerse shoppers into the Toronto culture. This boutique in my opinion should be what up and coming boutique owners should strive to achieve; relatability. Rac Boutique offers an unprecedented shopping experience all while being ever so conscious, of the ever changing culture of the home we call Toronto.

For all you Americans and our worldwide readers who want to get your hands on these exclusive  designer duds, don’t fret – they deliver worldwide! Don’t forget to check out racboutique.com  for exclusive boutique events, sales,  great Toronto eatery, and much more. So if you’re ever in Toronto be sure to check out  Rac Boutique on 124 Cumberland Street.

Who is Glenna Weddle and Faith Orfus?

Faith Orfus (in relation to Rac)

I am a lover of fashion and beauty and I get a thrill from helping women feel and look their best. I have an eye for the aesthetic and see fashion as art.

Glenna Weddle (in relation to Rac)

I am motivated by the art of curating.  There is nothing more satisfying to me than being able to put a room full of things I love together, sharing it, and getting a positive reaction.  I also get a thrill from the challenge of owning a retail business.

What is your inspiration behind Rac Boutique?

We are huge fans of boutiques like Colette in Paris, Opening Ceremony and Jeffry’s. Many things have inspired both Glenna and I, Rac is a manifestation of all our years in fashion and traveling the world.

If you had 3 words to describe Rac Boutique what would they be?

Visionary, Quality, and Service

Take a walk-through with me of an outfit of a real Rac fashionista?

 This is a difficult question for me to answer, as I’m not quite sure she exists in that manner. If I had to describe our customers it would be someone who is open minded and excited about fashion. We are about the individual and feeling unique when you wear our garments. Most importantly we believe fashion should be approachable and accessible to all.

What sets Rac Boutique apart from the many other boutiques located in the upscale Bloor/Yorkville area?

We curate a roster of international, emerging & undiscovered designers bringing together unique women’s ready to wear.  The result is unparalleled shopping and a modern boutique experience.

Describe the style of Rac Boutique. Is it for the working girl, the party girl, the fashionista, etc…?

At Rac we don’t limit our vision to any particular type of style. We believe style comes in many forms. We try to choose pieces that are ageless, seasonless, and speak to all kinds of different women. We believe in quality and above all helping women feel good about fashion and themselves.

What inspired you to include international designer duds for your boutique as opposed to sticking to the brands that are familiar and already have that notoriety with the public?

It was very important for us to do something different, there are a lot of great stores in Toronto carrying a lot of great lines, we wanted to put our energy into something new. Fashion is about both freshness and growth and we want to showcase designers that aren’t already here. We would love to nurture new designers and give them a platform they might not already have.

What brands do you carry? Do you have any particular brands that are exclusive to Rac Boutique?

We carry many lines Mara Hoffman, Lover the label, Sass & Bide, Carin Wester, Rodebjer, Won Hundred, Preen Line, Boyy, Fallon, Kora, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Bodkin, Ashley Rowe, Rita Liefhebber, Ksubi, A Peace Treaty etc. Exclusively we carry Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Willow, We are Handsome, Toga Pulla, Mandy Coon, Eternal Child, All For The Mountain

Do you see yourselves opening up another boutique in Toronto or anywhere else?

We do have lots of big plans for RAC in the future.  But at this point we’d rather keep those close to us.  There’s something to be said about surprises.  But one thing’s for sure… this is just the beginning for RAC, we believe in evolution and growth.

I ’ve visited your site a few times and I absolutely love your blog included on the site, what brought that on because I have noticed that you guys feature chic happenings in the city as well, just not Rac Boutique events and happenings.

Both Glenna and I love blogging, it was important for us to create one that was not just about selling our clothes and brand but seeing it within a larger context. We want the blog to be culturally relevant beyond fashion. We are constantly being inspired by cool photos, stories, food, cities and people and thought the blog would be a perfect medium to share our inspirations with others.

- Thanks again Rac Boutique for letting us here at Fashion For Breakfast get an inside look at your chic and trendy boutique.

AMERICAN ARCHIVE. EBAY VINTAGE STORE.

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Half Moon Clutch — $34.39 // ASOS

Color Block Tube Dress — $48.00 // Need Supply