Ottawa’s Fabulous Vintage Clothing Scene

Flowers & Vintage is a lovely vintage boutique that doubles as a flower shop in the heart of Centretown. Idyllic and whimsical, it’s a place to go not only to shop but to be inspired.

Housewife Vintage is responsible for the truly fabulous collection of vintage and second-hand clothing, shoes and accessories. No stranger to Ottawa’s vintage clothing scene, owner Jaime McLeod was the woman behind Aunt Olive’s, a former favorite of the city’s style mavens.

Her experience in the business and expert eye is evident by the wonderful curation of items. Flowers & Vintage is a great example of quality over quantity. Definitely not a large shop and carrying only a fraction of the inventory of previously reviewed vintage and second-hand locales, you are somehow just as likely to leave with something you adore.

McLeod frequents other vintage and second-hand shops in the city, as well as travels to fashion hot spots New York and Los Angeles, for the store’s inventory. She also turns to estate sales and visits to small towns in Ontario, such as Belleville and Cornwall, for pieces matching the vintage aesthetic of the store.

Despite the much smaller offering of clothing, Flowers & Vintage has exquisite choices for women of all sizes. Their racks hold highly covetable tops, cardigans and sweaters, dresses, skirts and jackets. A visit here is a real exercise in self-control, as you stop yourself from picking out every item of clothing in your size and marching it directly to the cash register. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised at the prices, which are similar to those seen at mid-range clothing stores.

Ensure you peruse the rack at the front which holds more extravagant, costume-oriented pieces that will delight any style enthusiast. A showstopper in recent inventory was a ballet-inspired dress, complete with gold details and tulle skirt that looked like it belonged to a high-fashion Disney princess.

Their jewelry and accessories assemblage is also modest but oh-so-quirky, pretty and feminine. Statement necklaces and cocktail rings exuding strong 1920s vibes sit alongside longer chain necklaces, detailed with delicate pendants and dainty charms. If your jewelry box is looking a little dull, a stop at Flowers & Vintage will quickly fix that and add personality to your bling.

A wonderful complement to your shopping experience is the presence of Sparrow Floral Design, a very Pinterest-worthy flower store run by Vanessa Madely that shares the boutique with Housewife Vintage. Flowers and herbs hung to dry from the ceiling, elegant terrarium vignettes and rustic plant holders are deserving distractions from your perusing and just the thing to set this vintage store apart from the rest.