IN Toronto magazine

IN SPOT:

More boutique than bargain-basement free-for-all, Used raises the bar for peddlers of previously-worn clothing

In a city downright infested with vintage shops, Used is raising the bar for peddlers of previously-worn clothing. More boutique than bargain-basement free-for-all, the first Used opened in Vancouver a decade ago (known there as Used House of Vintage). The chain landed in Toronto the fall of 2011.

Located on Queen Street just west of Spadina, Used finds itself on a block already home to two other secondhand stores. The shop ups its game through its buying team’s meticulous picking. “From the beginning when there’s a huge pile of stuff, until it gets here, everything is hand-picked and edited a number of times,” says store manager Marcel Rocheleau. “Because it’s brought from Vancouver, we’re not picking from the same rag yards as every other store in Toronto. We have access to different stuff.”

In order to find that one vintage gem, head picker Melo Anfield often has to wade through warehouses filled to the brim with used clothing. “There are huge bales,” she says. “Bigger than your readers are imagining.”

Helping her focus as she’s digging, Anfield pictures herself outfitting imaginary customers. “There is a preppy couple, a gypsy girl, a mod, a Fujian boy who loves pastel, a big transexual Asian boy and a wannabe lumberjack,” she says. “People always want to stand out and look unique. If you can’t afford couture you look for vintage.”

Combining Anfield’s veteran picking skills with owner Craig Doyle’s impressive collection from estate sales and auctions, Used offers more than the typical vintage staples like plaid shirts, military jackets and vintage Ts (but those are all there too). Eye-catching finds and store-made exclusives include a bondage mask made from an old Louis Vuitton handbag and a rare 1980s Chanel bucket bag.

And speaking of the ’80s, Used bucks the typical brick-walled, dingy-carpeted decor of most vintage shops, opting for a more polished look. The store’s white marble floor and sheer, pink fitting-room curtains make you think you just walked into a Pat Benatar music video. And who doesn’t want to feel like a glam rock star while they’re trying on a vintage Dior suit?

USED 489 Queen St W. usedhouseofvintage.com.