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Courage My Love
Categories: Shopping Fashion Used, Vintage & Consignment Shopping Jewellery Used, Vintage & Consignment, Jewellery [Edit]
14 Kensington AveToronto, ON M5T 2J7
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
(416) 979-1992
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
18 reviews for Courage My Love
Review Highlights
18 reviews in English
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Review from Victoria J.
Vancouver, BC
1/13/2012
I love this place! You will find so many funky things in this store. Some of the things in here are pretty expensive, but it's because most of the things in here are hand-made. When I was there recently, I bought a bottle cap necklace that had an image transfer of a fancy skull in the middle of the back and the edge was painted. A big plus is that all of their earrings are sterling silver. It's hard to find fashionable sterling silver earrings, but Courage My Love is an excellent option.
Courage My Love is a store you absolutely must visit if you're in the Kensington Market area. -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
2/6/2012
4.5 STARS
How can you not LOVE Courage My Love?!
This place has been a mainstay of the Kensington and Toronto vintage scene for over 30 years.
VIBE
Vintage. Well, those mannequins on top of the bright blue roof give it away non? I love the racks outside with cool leather jackets and old suitcases.
THE GOODS
They have tons of beads here so you can make your own jewelry. I have found some fabulous purses here as well.
In addition to some wicked vintage clothes, there's a plethora of other cool stuff: incense, fascinators (yes, we're still using this word even though Kate married Wills last year), pretty frocks and shoes.
OBLIGATORY
I love it so much I heart it.
Definitely worth a visit.Listed in: Non-Food 30 Day Challenge, Clothes, Kensington Market, Vintage
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Review from Juliana H.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2011
Actual rating 4.5
YES!!! A must do in Kensington. I bought vintage pantyhose still in their original package in this crazy colour called "endive" for $1. And I was sorely tempted buy the $8 fancy ladies gloves, such colour selection! Jewelry? How about $1.50 for a wicked gold tie clip? Can't beat that!
And then there's the playful selection of Day of the Dead figurines everywhere smiling their bony grimace at me while I check out a basket of pastel cummerbunds. Fantastic! YES!!! -
Review from Samantha R.
Corbyville, ON
2/27/2012
One of my all time favorite stores for all your hippie needs..
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Review from Olivia O.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2012
Nice place to check out for your special find!!! Cute jewelry ~
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Review from Lisa C.
Toronto, ON
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is just PACKED with fun finds.
I shopped Kensington this past weekend for Hallowe'en and found my costume here. They have a couple of racks of costume ideas in which they have put together items from around the store, a big help for those of us who lack time or inspiration!
I'm definitely coming back to check out the heaps of unique jewellery, buttons, and non-costume attire. -
Review from S D.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2012
This is, without a doubt, the best store in Kensington Market. If you have time to go to only one store, make it this one! It's full of eclectic, vintage jewellery, clothing, perfume, accessories, beads, and more. I find myself consistently disappointed with the majority of Kensington Stores that pass themselves off as vintage, but are really crammed full of stuff "Made in China," but this place always has something special.
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Review from Ayesha A.
6/4/2011
Great little shop that has been around for ages, but you can find some really great trinkets, kitschy things, random pieces and jewelery. It's not cheap cheap, but it's decent, although the prices keep rising along with its popularity.
What an enormous and awesome selection of beads and buttons!! For those who like to make jewelery this is a definite must, and for those who prefer the 'ready-made' it's worth checking out too.
There are some real gems to be found here but you often have to look. A lot of cool vintagey stuff although the staff isn't incredibly friendly in my experience over the...10 or so years that I've been a customer.
However it's definitely worth not being smiled at or being spoken to in a bit of a rude tone to find that clutch that matches perfectly with your vintage dress....cool beans, -
Review from Mochi M.
9/9/2011
This is one of the better consignment shops in Kensington market. Not to be rude, but there are some in the area that are total duds -- filled with goods from China that are sort of cheap looking and not at all vintage or stylish in the least.
I also don't like the ones that only sell tie-dyed items or shapeless dresses and harem pants. I am not into that kind of style, and I am looking for rare things that are vintage, retro.. but classic enough to stand the test of time.
I want to wear this stuff when I am well into my 80s.
So for other reasons, I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. this store.
CASHMERE SWEATERS FOR CHEAP. OMG. $35 for a cashmere sweater! I only wish they stocked smalls or extra-smalls, because the mediums were swimming on my Size 4 figure.
I also wish they had cashmere WRAP cardigans, not just the button up, turtleneck or pullover kinds. Alas.. cannot be choosy in such an amazing store that sells REAL CASHMERE for $35. Look for the 2-ply cashmere, it's the most luxurious.
They also sell some jewellery and other cute things, but I am not a fan of beaded jewellery that looks too hippy if you know what I mean.
The other amazing thing about the store is their selection of obi belts. They run anywhere from $60 - $100, but are SO worth it. Beautiful, beautiful pieces. I think I want to buy 2-3 more just to hang them on my wall.
They also sell lovely kimonos and other such beautiful gems, and I purchased the most beautiful kimono there for quite a steal of a price (around $250, it was the most expensive one, as they had cheaper ones as well, but not as pretty in my opinion).
Must. Visit.
Oh and did I mention just how awesome the owner is? Love her. -
Review from Carrie G.
Toronto, ON
12/23/2011
I'm going to get their name tattooed on my face.
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Review from Sahara A.
East York, ON
7/3/2011
It's like a thrift store... but only the good stuff.
But because someone else bought it before you did, it's way more.
My favourite part is the "treasure chest" where you can browse through little trinkets for 15c/piece. -
Review from Kari S.
7/20/2009
Courage, My Love? Courage My Love? Courage My, Love? We stood facing the storefront trying to decide how to best pronounce the store's name, whether an added comma or other punctuation mark would make it more or less appealing. The bright, sky blue exterior, flanked by naked mannequins had already swayed me but my friend required more convincing. So, we settled on Courage My, Love and entered.
As it turns out, very little courage was required! This place is a gem. The store has an astounding selection of dresses, jewelry, and accoutrement, all at smart prices. We got to act out Madonna's Like a Virgin video by trying on vintagey prom dresses and lace gloves and rolling around in only a vaguely inappropriate manner. Love it!
Although it is fairly dust free, we couldn't dally long as the patchouli incense (sorry - hippie stank) was tickling my nose and the hint of cat dander bothering my friend's eyes. However, I left victorious having snagged some swank hair barrettes. I would have picked up a pair of adorable, delicate earrings in addition if my own metal allergies didn't make me wary of jewelry of unknown origins.
I will be back again to peruse and purchase, if perhaps only for brief intervals. For although no courage is required to shop here, the customer does leave fortified by both courage and love (as well as goodies). -
Review from Shawn R.
6/18/2009
If you're in Toronto and really, really need an ascot this may be the place for you.
It did the trick for me. -
Review from Kat F.
4/4/2009
I remember going to Courage My Love in the 90s to buy secondhand dresses, scarves and sunglasses and to buy materials for necklace-making. I marvelled at the fact that Liz from Degrassi (who is now one of Toronto's top yoga instructors) worked there and I used to go during my Kensington pitsop every single weekend .
They still sell all of the same things, including a junkload of beads and bead-related accessories. Everything is very delicate and unique and you'll want to ask for help picking things out. The owners are super friendly and helpful and will regale you with a story or two if you engage them in a conversation. -
Review from Julianna B.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2009
You need to acquire one (or all) of the following:
a) a prom dress
b) silver barrettes
c) a dress for your burlesque class
d) a 100-yr old carpet from Samarkand
e) beads
f) lace gloves
g) a ruffled 70s shirt, mauve
I have some one-stop shopping for you, duckies. It's called Courage My Love. It smells of incense, it's in Kensington, and it is the Mother of them All.
May I add that any (except one) of the above could be acquired for under $20, or even under $10, most of the time? I should also add that me and mine have bought all except one of those items at Courage - the ruffled shirt, if you're interested. My prom dress was a fiercely flattering handmade fire-red sheath which cost about $16. Go, my children, go. -
Review from Allison T.
Toronto, ON
2/22/2009
Courage My Love is a vintage store in Kensington Market that has a wee bit of everything for both ladies & gentlemen. Jewelry, ties, beads, belly-dance accoutrement, buttons, vintage gloves...
It is a really fun store to browse if you're not quite sure what you're looking for as they sell items from practically every price range.
Also, home to a cat that has a tendency to stay very still until you're standing right next to it - so be warned if you are deathly allergic. -
Review from eune y.
Toronto, ON
3/26/2009
I just checked my closet and realised that a good third of my favourite clothing since highschool is from Courage My Love as well as pretty much all my costume jewelery. What's awesome is that the shop is organized nicely so finding stuff isn't a dusty dig through, which for this allergy sufferer is much appreciated. Their prices are still great despite the recently inflated ego of Kensington Market . Case in point, ultrasuede cowgirl dress in mint condition $12 dollah!!! If I had found that in NY lower east it would have been $200. And the buyer is great 'cause everytime I go, I manage to find something pretty unique which is so hard these days 'cause vintage and second hand stuff has just been picked through and dried up. And I recommend getting into a conversation with the owner, (He's the bearded dude in the hippy top) Great stories and a total hoot!
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Review from Victoria S.
Toronto, ON
1/19/2011
love it. the owner of the store and i spoke about gemstones and where he found a lot of his pieces. if he isn't busy i would recommend talking with him as he is a great story teller and knowledgeable about his products. they have an interesting selection of vintage clothing and new eclectic shirts and dresses. an interesting array of vintage and new sunglasses. i bought a cameo ring for $40 but it is glass unlike the usual shell cameos. they also have a wide selection of leather and beads if you like to make your own.
