THE WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER TELLS US WHERE TO GO
As told to Odessa Paloma Parker
Photos by Jen Squires
Sarah Donofrio designs her collection of charming, contemporary clothing from the heart of the city at her lofty Annex apartment – but for everything from books to bourbon, she thinks outside the box.
PARKS & REC
I have a lot of friends who were lucky enough to find apartments with backyards or great outdoor patios, so when I need an escape from my patio-less apartment, that’s where you’ll find me. Otherwise, I’m at High Park. No matter how crowded it is, I can always find a place to be alone.
SATURDAYS
I’m a west end girl, but The Comrade at Queen and Broadview has a great atmosphere and an insane bourbon list! Definitely worth the over-the-bridge trip. And on the opposite part of the city, Margret is a great bar in the Junction that has a large vinyl collection that spans every genre and era. The dj’s who are there on weekends are definitely playing from the crates. They have a great last Saturday called Taiza I would highly recommend. Oh, and plenty of dark make out corners.
FOOD
I work a lot, but I would drive myself crazy if I didn’t absolutely allow myself time for brunching out a few times a week. Starving Artist goes with out saying, because to me, waffles are a food that should be involved in all meals. I love the waffles they have that are smothered in beans and hotdogs – not just for after school anymore! Outhouse is probably my favourite place for weekend brunch. I’m a meat lover, so I am known to order the Butch Burger, a semi-healthy breakfast slider.
FASHION
Fitzroy Boutique is an amazing pop-up shop that is opening for their holiday season on December 2nd inside BYOB on Queen. My label is one of the lines they carry, but that doesn’t mean I’m biased. The other collections they carry in their store are unique and very reasonably priced. I can’t leave there without at least two pieces, and it doesn’t help when you are getting encouraged by the super stylish owners, Angela and Julie.
UPC Boutique in Yorkville is another one of my frequent destinations, even if it is to just look. The edgy designs and labels they carry are at the very least inspiring, so I will take a stroll through the store often, like I’m in a fashion gallery. And anyone who understands fit and fabrics knows the prices are worth it!
BOOKS
Balfour Books has never failed to disappoint in their vast art book collection, and I have also found some rare pattern drafting books and general fashion nerdery in there, so it’s where I tend to go when I need any sort of reading material. I also love their paperback classic section; if it’s not there, it was never written. Generally, I’m a magazine reader, so any Maison de la Presse Internationale is a good daily destination, and I find the one on College at Grace to be always fully stocked.
MUSIC
I have been collecting records since I was 13, so naturally I’ve been all around this city looking for the best record store and I always go back to Sonic Boom! On the rare occasion that I can’t find what I’m looking for, I at least leave with a nostalgic CD I regretfully sold along the way. Anytime I go to Soundscapes, I always leave with a song I’ve never heard stuck in my head. And their music magazine rack is the best in the city.
As for music venues, to me it’s about what’s on as opposed to where it is (though there are definitely music venues I don’t like). The Horseshoe Tavern is guaranteed to have a great band playing at least once a week, and being on Queen Street, just a short trip will make for a perfect night out.
ART
Being an artist myself, one thing I really enjoy about other mediums of art is interactivity. I like seeing the creative process so places like Smash, which is a salvage gallery/design studio, are always very exciting to me. They are constantly finding antique greatness as well as providing unique pieces from local artists.
The most interesting part of my job is definitely selecting fabrics, as I’m a huge textile fan, so I usually put aside one day a month to go to the Textile Museum. We don’t realize the vast history and complexities that go into our everyday things. Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time to go to galleries, so I look for mini-art shows in my every day routine; when I go to get my morning latte at Hula Girl Espresso, I always enjoy what they have on the walls.
