A Girl's Bestfriend is Always a Winner

Ahh Winners... the place I go for a little R&R at the end of a long day. It is there I forget my worries and my head just drifts away as I stroll aimlessly done the aisles. It offers me things I never thought I needed. Like the rubber bands you are suppose to use during a workout, or the anti-age serum from Russia, oh and that hairdryer that looks like a brush. I have yet to use these products and I won’t lie the anti-age serum from Russia does freak me out a little. But, just knowing there is a place you can go to find this stuff and have no one hound you in the process, is absolute bliss.

To most women Winners is seen as a daunting task, full of racks of shit and no help in site. Many times it can feel you are on the front lines in battle, when you pick up a pair of Michael Kors boots in a size seven and some bitch won’t stop following you around (I don’t do that, I swear).  Here’s the thing, Winners can be your best friend when you have nothing to buy and your frienemy when you do. So here is my solution, a quick and easy guide for all you Winner-naysayers.  Though I am a firm believer in not going to Winners to find something specific, I will share my list of favourite Toronto locations that will cater to your particular shopping needs.

First on the list is the College Park location and probably my favourite Winners. It was recently renovated to accommodate the massive amounts of people who shop there. If you are new to the Winners way of shopping (or have been living under a rock) you may find this store to be a little overwhelming. My suggestion to you... pop a couple of percs and get on with your life.

This Winners location has one, if not the best Runway collection.  I once found a Pucci trench for $450 dollars. Steep? I think not, considering the actual price for a Pucci trench is an average of $1500. Many of the top designers can be found here at half the price. I have found designers such as Pink Tartan, Tara Jarmon, Versace, Valentino, and D&G just to name a few. If you are patient, you can hit a jackpot of great designer clothing that was sold six months ago in some of the upscale department stores.

This location is also decent for brand name handbags and skin/ hair products. One thing I do not like about this location is the bathroom. It is one of the grossest bathrooms I have ever used and there is never any soap!

The next location on the list is the Front St. East location. This Winners is best known for its beauty and hair products. You can pretty much find anything in this section. I love how clean and organized it is and many of the products stay intact (unlike other locations). This store is rarely overcrowded and come winter season there is a massive selection of boots and leather gloves. This location also has a large home section, where you will find many of the same products as you would in Homesense. Above all I like the location itself, the building is beautiful and has so much character.

I constantly struggle between the College Park Winners and the Bloor street location. I find they have the best selection, but offer it at different times. One great thing about the Bloor location is it has a Starbucks underneath. This may not seem like a big deal, but if you are planning on spending a vast amount of time shopping then you best have a latte. I love this location for the shoes! I have found so many fabulous finds with regards to shoes that it brings a tear to my eye.

 Mind you I don’t wear half of them but that is beside the point. I once found a pair of the Kate Spade polka dot kitten heels! Oh how it took my breath away when I turned them over to find a price tag of $150. I have found many designer shoes at this location, and when they go on clearance the prices cannot be beat. The selection of handbags is also excellent as well as the jewellery, but the shoes are by far the best part of this location. Not to mention, if you find yourself out of shopping luck you have Escada, Prada, and Chanel all within a five minute walk.

I avoid Scotia Bank Plaza like the plague; actually I think the Scotia Bank Winners is the plague. I have only found one thing from that Winners and it is a pair of Beyond Vintage boots. Though I do cherish these boots as they look friggin’ adorable with a pair of skinny jeans, I also curse every time I wear them. They are really not my size and I pretty much have to bind my feet like they did to wealthy Chinese girls in the 17^th Century.  Who said you cannot learn from a fashion blogger?

This is the most boring Winners location and I do not recommend you waste your time by going. One time I just fell asleep while shopping and everyone thought I fainted (true story). Anyway, the only people that shop there are women who wear green v-neck sweaters and grey pants. Boooooooring!

Well there you have it ladies my top three Winners locations, and the Scotia Bank dud. I hope I offered a little insight into what each has to offer. I wish you all the best of luck in your shopping endeavours, and may the fashion fairy sprinkle a little wholesale dust your way.