Seems we've got a touch of the Bollywood fever—suddenly, crazy-patterned sari shorts look good enough to make us stop wearing cut-offs. (Welllll, almost.)

New on the shelves at Holt Renfrew, these brill silk shorts are made in collaboration with the reworked-vintage boutique Preloved. They're miles away from patchworked khaki, though, and thank the gods for that. Sourced from local clothing recyclers in the GTA, the variegated and multi-ethnic prints (think ikat, think paisley) differ from short to short and store to store. Depending on your body/style, wear them at the natural waist or lower, to emphasize hips in—let's just celebrate stereotypes here—a belly-dancing kinda way. —Sarah Nicole Prickett

$175 at Holt Renfrew, 55 Bloor St. W., Toronto, and locations across Canada; www.holtrenfrew.com

Her collection of vintage frocks and baubles attracts Toronto's top stylists and designers and her window displays are known to stop traffic. It’s no surprise then that The Cat's Meow Louise Cooper’s blog is an attention-grabber too.

With tips, trends and the latest additions to her store, this vintage portal is a fun place to escape to while dining al desko. Have a look at me wearing full-length vintage Valentino skirt in Cooper’s Out and About section.

We’re lusting after these ridiculously showy Chanel sunnies ($895, pictured) and who could say no to a fanny pack ($595) to match? —Athena Tsavliris

www.thecatsmeowcouture.com/blog

Tin letters that light up, whimsical circus cutouts and a table-full of tarnished silver trophy cups— Blackbird Vintage Finds is a mini marché aux puces in the heart of the Distillery District.

Owner Paula DiRenzo hunts far and wide for unique treasures like the handmade ferris wheel ($325) we couldn’t resist snapping up. Also on our wish list are some pressed glass goblets, ($12.95) ideal for two or three dollops of ice cream.

A smattering of candles, cards and pretty jeweled accessories make this a perfect little gift shop for the hostess, soon-to-be-marrieds, or indeed, you. —AT

Blackbird Vintage Finds, 55 Mill St., Building 57, Toronto, 416-681-0558, www.blackbirdvintage.com

It's an easy, breezy, seventies-y summer. For the maxi to match, swing over to primo vintage e-boutique Shrimpton Couture.

Cherie, the beauty and brains behind Shrimpton, loves all things '70s best—and the best is all she stocks. There are Christian Dior caftans and op-art Lanvins and signature-printed Puccis. To spend less, seek out-of-print cult labels: a rose-and-porcelain John Kloss dress (intended as a slip, but whatever) is $350, while a gorgeous geisha-print Paganne is $425.

Just add wooden platforms and an overblown silk flower in your hair. —SNP

www.shrimptoncouture.com

One of our favourite vintage shops has expanded—all the way into your living room.

When you next go a-window shopping along Queen West, linger a little longer at No. 1080, now the home of Silver Falls Antiques. A cool big sis to Silver Falls Vintage on Ossington, the recently-opened shop shares space with Katharine Mulherin's Art History and has the same recondite vibe. Its specialty: unexpected “objects of interest” from Victorian days to just-the-other-days. You can find a book on Picasso's cubism next to your Aunt Fran's punch bowl and a vintage beauty ad atop a Mennonite workshop unit ($395).

Pick up a spool of antique deadstock ribbon ($20), a female nude paint-by-number ($85), or any number of odd things you suddenly need. One of co-owner and curator (plus, artist) Jay Isaac's favourites this week? A black wooden flower display ($325), apparently snatched from a funeral home. We agree: it deserved life. —SNP

Silver Falls Antiques, 1080 Queen W., Toronto, 416-588-3500. Check out their galerie d'objets at www.theironchic.blogspot.com

At Magwood, “vintage” is returned to, well, its vintage definition.

Once upon a time, vintage clothes were at least thirty years old, a whole generation; belonging to your mother's prime, or her mother's. Lately, “vintage” has come to mean any old thing. Your sister's turn-of-the-millennium low-rise flares? Sure.

Not so at Sarah Magwood's parlour-like new shop. Pieces range from the late 1800s to the late '80s, and she makes exceptions only for brilliant '90s pieces, like a highly beaded Karl Lagerfeld corset ($950) or a Versace safety-pin belt. A black, beribboned 1950s dress is very Oscar de la Renta, but inexpensive by compariaon ($450). Loose silk blouses ($40) and deadstock Ray-Bans ($100) are easy, sun-happy buys. —SNP

Magwood, 1418 Dundas St. W., Toronto, 416-818-3975; shop online and read Sarah's blog at magwood.ca

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

At online flee market The Arthur, you’ll find a nifty vintage juicer ($45), plus plenty of other original pieces to add colour and whimsy to your world. How about an antique tin spice set ($75) or a cookie jar ($20) covered in poppies?

The Arthur founder Liz Ikiriki has a knack for unearthing dusty gems from hidden piles at granny thrift shops. She is constantly scouring thrift shops, estate sales and auctions around Ontario, so check in regularly for new items.

Maybe she’ll find us a large vintage pitcher for our punch?

www.thearthur.co

Ever since The Star named Bathurst and Dupont the city’s latest ‘style mecca,’ curious shoppers have arrived in droves. Truth is, the intersection has been flourishing for some time with harbingers like Ewanika, Rapido and Bluebird Handmade leading the way.

Our newest find is the fabulous Burnett, a little gallery/boutique devoted to giving vintage furniture a fresh, modern spin.

It was a Tiffany blue desk in the window that caught our eye, but we could happily snap up most pieces in the store. A mid-century rosewood coffee table ($450) would look super underneath a fishbowl of fleurs and the latest issue of Living Etc. and we simply adore the pattern on this wingback chair ($1,250, pictured).

Off to the Annex we go.

Burnett Style, 1052 Bathurst St., Toronto, 647-347-9344, http://burnettstyle.com/

It used to be that Liberty prints were for angel haired schoolgirls. Today, everyone from Turner-prize winner Grayson Perry to Barney’s creative director, Simon Doonan, is a fan.

Here in Toronto, designer Andrea Dixon of Pomp and Ceremony fashions the most charming accessories from a mix of vintage and current Liberty fabrics. For the lads there are pochettes and bow ties and for the ladies there are headbands, necklaces and fascinators.

The lavender sachets make perfect stocking stuffers, and these berets will look darling atop a mound of angel hair.

Available at Model Citizen, 279 Augusta Ave., Toronto, 416-553-6632.

In our quest to be fashion forward, sometimes it helps to look back.

Online vintage boutique Kings of Past carries over 30,000 pairs of never worn sunnies from the '70s, '80s and '90s like these fabulous oversized shades from Laura Biagiotti ($349). Surf the site or visit Toronto’s new shop-in-shop boutique at Gafas Optical.

We swooned over gold 1984 Christian Diors ($429) and luxurious Run DMC-style Cazal Deluxe specs ($3,800) in sassy snakeskin (there are only 20 in the world!)

Now bring on the rays.

Kings of Past at Gafas Optical Shop, 561 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-601-4786, www.gafas.ca and online at www.kingsofpast.com
For photos of Toronto contributor Marianne Wisenthal's shop visit (and plenty more sunnies), visit our Editors' Diary.