Original
Original, a fixture of Toronto's Queen West community, celebrates 15 years at its current location on Queen Street West this year.
Dynamic duo Donna Saslove and Simon Lugassy opened their legendary Queen Street boutique in 2009 after running a series of shops called F/X in Miami, LA, and Toronto.
Walking up to the rainbow-striped storefront and through the tall glass front doors, I felt as if I was entering a portal into Saslove and Lugassy's candy-coloured world. Behind an enclosure of lime green barricades, I waited to be let into the shop.
Don't let the "velvet ropes" fool you, Original aims to have something for every customer.
"We have every size from 000 to 32. I think that's important because everyone should feel [included]," says Saslove.
"You can buy a wedding dress here for $300 or $20,000. It depends. Everyone has different needs," she adds.
The Original staff seeks to create a tailor-made shopping experience for each customer.
"Some people you can tell just want to look. Then there's people that want to be in and out of here in 20 minutes and they tell us exactly what they're looking for," explains Saslove.
Shopkeepers will pull items from the store's extensive stock based on the customer's preferences and occasion they're shopping for. "You really just need a [tour] guide," jokes Saslove.
She's not wrong. The shop's racks and displays are so jam-packed with eye-catching eccentricities that it could take hours to go through them all on your own.
"It's often the first thing we show them that they end up going with," says Saslove. "If they need a whole look, then we can style anybody anytime they want, and we offer all those [services] for free."
"A lot of people get confused about our store being vintage or used. It’s not, it’s all designer," Saslove clarifies.
Designer labels are as abundant in Original as construction is on Queen Street. Within the first few minutes of entering the store, Vivienne Westwood, Norma Kamali, Valentino, Betsey Johnson and Ganni, can be easily spotted.
“We have thousands of brands. Wherever I can, I go to shows to see designers. A lot of their one-of-a-kinds are more what I’m interested in,” says Saslove.
Saslove has managed to curate Original's unique, eponymous merchandise through her close personal relationships with the shop's favoured designers.
The store's unparalleled collection cannot be contained to just one floor. Upstairs, behind a red velvet rope and up a floral-clad staircase, was a veritable fashion archive.
The storage room housed an array of incredible designer finds, many brand-new with the tags still on them.
Original has everything from rare Vivienne Westwood corsets to elegant gowns to flirty party dresses to one-of-a-kind hats. These lay at the ready to form perfect sartorial matches between clothing and customer.
This past winter, the sales team helped me pick out a mod-looking, black-and-white Norma Kamali dress ($220) that was a perfect fit for a special event I was about to attend. They inquired about the nature of the event, my personal style, and how much I was willing to spend.
"It's not about the money anymore. We love what we do," says Lugassy. Saslove echoes this, "I like helping people get what they need and more."
"When it comes to fashion and Queen St, we love it. We've been here the longest," reiterates Lugassy.
Some more spirited individuals with eclectic senses of style—the kind who would rock a rainbow corset or cartwheel down a runway like Betsey Johnson—would be able to find something suitable for everyday in the shop.
For most, Original is a place to splurge on a super versatile item or outfit for a special occasion, as designer names naturally mean higher price points.
Next time you're shopping for an event that you want to look extra-special for, Original is your go-to spot—where special treatment and a distinctive look are guaranteed. 
Original is located at 515 Queen St. West.
Fareen Karim
