If it seems like the storefronts on Queen West are in constant rotation, they are, and Smoke + Ash is no exception. Opening this past March, Smoke + Ash is a new iteration of Sauvage, a cult-favourite boutique amongst some of Toronto’s chicest fashion bloggers like Gracie Carroll and Jetset Justine.
Image: CJ Baek
But don’t panic — think of it as a spring makeover. Owner Jaya Kahlon has carried over many of the same labels as Sauvage, including Australian footwear brand Senso. Other members of the all-star line-up on the racks include Kastor and Pollux, BLQ, The Fifth, Jeffrey Campbell and Cheap Monday, makers of everyone’s favourite Swedish skinny jeans. Mixing Canadian labels with international brands, Kahlon has refined an aesthetic that easily transitions from an afternoon of lying on a blanket in Trinity Bellwoods Park to drinks on the rooftop patio at the Drake Hotel. It’s all very West Queen West, but isn’t this supposed to be the second most stylish ’hood in the world?
Image: CJ Baek
With the opening of Smoke + Ash, Kahlon has also expanded beyond clothing and accessories to include lifestyle pieces worthy of, well, a West Queen West lifestyle. Smoke + Ash’s apothecary shelves are full of gorgeous, all-natural lip balms, candles and more by Toronto’s Wildcraft and Vancouver’s Woodlot. Think of all the cool things you see in a curated Instagram post—indie magazines, jars of white candles, succulents, etc.
“We stock items that become part of our clientele's daily routine, not just their closet,” says Kahlon. “We seek out merchandise that our clients can get excited and feel good about integrating into their lives. Our independent magazines, for instance, reflect the subjects that our team and our customers are interested in outside of fashion, such as food and travel.”
Image: CJ Baek
Style wise, if you’re loving this season’s ’90s revival but actually remember when Drew Barrymore was a Letterman-flashing wild child, Smoke + Ash presents a sophisticated take on the trend. It’s still fun, like animal-print pants and flowing maxi skirts, but not too literal. And before you leave, polish it all off with a pair of statement-making sunglasses by Australia’s Quay. “These super fun frames have an eye-catching, fashion-forward aesthetic,” says Kahlon.
Caitlin’s Pick: A stacking ring (or five) by Toronto jewellery designer Kara Yoo (from $28).
Smoke + Ash, 644 Queen St West, 647-770-0443
Caitlin is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in FASHION Magazine, Reader's Digest Canada, Glow and more. For more of her fashion, beauty and health writing, follow her on Twitter @caitlinagnew and Instagram @caitlinagnew or visit caitlinagnew.com.
