Events in toronto: The top 25 stores for warm winter clothing in Toronto

winter clothing toronto Warm winter clothing in Toronto is a necessity, no matter how little snow we get compared to our neighbours of the north. Question is, where exactly are the best places for all the types of clothing we Canadians need? It's no doubt that specialty outdoor stores and chains stock a variety of warm items, but luckily for us, Toronto also has some home-grown talent in the keeping warm department.

Here are my picks for the top places to buy warm winter clothing in Toronto.

SCARVES

Scout

This quaint gift boutique on Roncesvalles stocks a lot of fun winter items, including headbands, Cokluch leather mittens, and most importantly, warm knit wool scarves and cowls. The store carries Westlake Knits, handmade in Toronto and definitely a 10/10 on the cozy factor.

Blue Button Shop

Blue Button Shop's 'Made In Japan' appeal is strong if you're looking for patchwork silk scarves and Banshu-woven textiles to up your winter apparel game. Their cashmere cowls for women offer the option of covering up both your shoulders and your neck, making it easy to layer on extra scarves and sweaters over top, if necessary. There are also simple knitted neck warmers for men.

Oliver Spencer

This U.K. brand may be intended for the dapper gentleman, but their selection of scarves are easily unisex. The shop sells thick, knitted scarves in neutral colours (with hats to match!) amidst a stock of modern men's clothing and accessories.

Lost & Found

Lost & Found boasts a special talent in finding unique pieces for any time of year. As far as winter's concerned, the Ossington shop carries a number of scarves from New York, with fabrics sourced from Japan. They carry plaid and printed scarves from The Hill-side in natural cotton twill tape.

LONG UNDERWEAR

Camp Connection

Not only does Camp Connection stock their shelves with the necessary base layers for outdoor enthusiasts, including Hot Chillys and Truro's own Stanfields underwear, they also stock onesies (which are technically not underwear, but deserve our appreciation nonetheless).

Honest Ed's

As usual, Honest Ed's pulls through on the odd items you can't always be guaranteed to find just anywhere. For long underwear, Honest Ed's go-to stockpiles of new clothing that seemed to have been packaged years ago supply to any thermal underwear need - and for low, low prices!

AAA Army Surplus

Long underwear is a staple for any army surplus store, but Kensington's resident surplus location stocks a variety of thermal base layer choices in all sizes. Their woolen long johns with zippers along the legs are a great pick for adjustable leg coverage.

Mark's Work Wearhouse

Printed long underwear is where Mark's Work Wearhouse really counts, since most base layers tend to be restricted to plain, patternless colours. At Mark's, both are available for men and women. Brands include T Max Heat, Helly Hansen, and Driwear.

SOCKS

Floorplay Socks

Floorplay Socks, Toronto's only independent sockwear boutique, is obviously a must in this category. If you don't leave with a pair of cozy, bulky winter wears, you'll definitely end up with a colourful pair of socks that are sure to warm an otherwise suffering winter spirit.

Bass Pro Shops

As any good outdoor supply store should, Bass Pro Shop has a fine selection of socks. Whether you're looking for double-layer wool socks, sport socks, hiking socks for those long Toronto winter walks, socks with lifetime warranties, or toe socks, Bass Pro has got you covered (at least from the knee down).

The Great Canadian Sox Co. Factory Outlet

The Great Canadian Sox Co. makes the best Merino wool socks of them all. Their winter sock selection is not limited to outdoor sports and regular foot coverage: it also includes socks made for extreme cold situations in varying negative degrees (starting at -30 below).

Al Flaherty's

You can find the classic red-striped grey wool sock in abundance at Al Flaherty's, along with a generous selection of Duray wool socks for work and play. They're the kind of socks that you want in bulk, and they come packaged that way - three pairs of charcoal grey ultimate thermal winter socks? Yes, please.

KNITS AND FLEECE

Patagonia

That Patagonia has a category in their store titled 'Insulation' should sum up their reliability in the area of warm winter pretty well. The store stocks pullovers, repurposed wool jackets, parkas, fleece, vests, and down apparel in light and breathable fabrics. While prices are a little steep (starting at $120 for a fleece sweater), they're investment pieces worthy of any winter closet.

Working Title

Working Title on Davenport has a great stock of unisex mohair and wool knitwear in pullovers and cardigans, each heavy enough to forgo a proper winter jacket in favour of a light fall coat. They also have a ton of plain sweatshirts and hoodies for a more casual option, while their turtlenecks and printed sweatshirts offer a little more style personality.

Winners

Let's face it: Winners can do no wrong when it comes to stocking up on new clothes for every season and occasion. Between designer goods and odd one-offs, the best Winners locations almost always pull through in on the winter front with a huge selection of sweaters.

The North Face

The North Face's sweater game is akin to that of Patagonia's: reliable clothing available in a number of colours with lasting quality. These pieces can be layered and matched or worn solo and come in heavyweight knits, wool-blends, fleece, and sturdy cottons.

HATS

North Standard Trading Post

North Standard Trading Post stocks this year's favourite hat, Tuck Shop Trading Co.'s neighbourhood toques. The Parkdale shop's cozy Canadian vibe is worth checking out while you make your purchase - you'll probably find a few more layers.

Goorin Brothers

Queen West's Goorin Brothers location isn't just for fedoras and finely-crafted cloches - they also sell an assortment of knit hats and toques in fitted sizes and loose-fitting knits for the crown of your head. They're acrylic, which means these pieces are also affordable for your changing winter preferences.

Tilley Endurables

With a location in North York, Tilley Endurables is a Canadian brand with lasting hat designs. You won't find any casual headgear here since their cold weather hats are more structured pieces, like duckbills, cadets, and wide-brimmed hats for both men and women.

Brimz

Another Queen West hat store gem is Brimz, a shop that's well known for being having attentive customer service and rotating stock on hats of all kinds. Their winter beanies come in chunky knits, long slouch styles, and some in Raptors designs (since they're Toronto-made, of course).

Drake General Store

Canadiana seems to be Drake General Store's specialty, something they haven't forgotten when stocking this year's winter hat selection. You'll find Arborist's popular provincial toques on sale at the Queen West, Yonge and Eglinton, and Bay pop-up locations, so Ontarians and other province dwellers can show off their home pride in unison.

GLOVES AND MITTENS

Mountain Equipment Co-op

They have nearly everything you need to guarantee a warm winter outing, but one place Mountain Equipment Co-op stands out is in their protective gear for your hands. Heavy-duty mitts for sports activities and lighter gloves for everyday wear are easily found in a store stocked with their own clothing line as well as Castelli cycling gloves, Auclair woolen gloves, and Black Diamond apparel.

Europe Bound

Europe Bound's stock of gloves and mitts easily matches that of MEC, where shoppers are able to find a selection of products for whatever winter activity they choose. Slim, lightweight fleece gloves are accompanied by waterproof mitts with tied or tapered wrists to ensure no dreaded snow touches you.

Running Room

Insulated gloves and mitts aren't just important when you're a runner. For those of us who trekked through long walks and being outdoors in general during last year's polar vortex, we know better than to go through winter without keeping our hands toasty throughout it. Running Room carries shell mitts for harsh winds, lighter gloves, and insulated gloves for a perfect pairing of mobility and protection.

The Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co.

The Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co.'s mitten and glove offerings are for those who enjoy outdoor winter activities but also need to use their hands without the bulk of shell fabrics. Their super warm woolpower mitts come both fingerless and covered. The store also sells genuine moose and deer hide mitts which are naturally water repellant and the coziest all-natural mitts on the market.

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite spots to shop for warm winter wear in Toronto.

Photo via North Standard Trading Post.