Shopping

Shop till you drop in Victoria

DestinationVictoria.com is Victoria’s leading luxury shopping site showcasing fashion and lifestyle boutiques. Our aim is to offer visitors to our city distinctive, sought-after local and international brands, specialty stores and services.

Whether shopping for the hottest trends, stylish classics, or designer fashions, Victoria's various shopping districts are a shopper's paradise! Recognized internationally as one of the best shopping destinations, downtown Victoria Government Street is often compared to other acclaimed areas such as Fifth Avenue in New York, Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, and Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Ok, maybe we're exaggerating it a bit here but visitors from around the globe will agree that Victoria does offer a unique shopping experience.

DestinationVictoria will be regularly highlighting the coolest shops with the best gear. Our aim as always will be to highlight businesses that consistently offer excellent products and provide the finest service.

Featured Businesses

Outlooks for Men

Spring 2010

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
-Mark Twain

Ambient lighting, hip subtle music and a prompt hello greeted me at the door. OK, they had me at hello. In an instant there was a wash of ease from the warm reception and acknowledgement of my arrival. It is amazing how little it takes to say hello and how far it can go. The walls come down and together the client and store relationship begins.

Dale Olsen, owner of Outlooks for Men in Victoria B.C., has been a primary source for men’s fashion and style culture for 21 years. This relaxed, casual environment is service driven, pushing fashion not sales. No commission vipers here! Customers are asked direct quick questions that in turn inform the sales rep of your likes and dislikes and get you motivated to try styles on. Dale’s well-informed designer savvy staff will solve all your dressing dilemmas armed with an onsite master tailor as reinforcement.

Mountain Equipment Co-Op

Mountain Equipment Co-Op - The best store for outdoor gear, period.

I have been shopping at MEC for over 25 years and for the life of me, I cannot recall ever having a bad shopping experience there. There was the one time in the late eighties when they politely declined my application for a position in the store. Apparently, camping once a summer with my parents in their tent trailer doesn't qualify me. Who knew?

She She Shoes

All shoe stores are not created equal. Shopping for shoes in Victoria? There are a few shoe stores that catch ones eye when strolling through the city. However, there is one shoe merchant though that is a must see in Victoria. She She Shoes is located in Trounce Alley, just off of Government Street, in the heart of downtown Victoria. It's a bright little jewel of a shop in what can be a rather dark Trounce Alley.

Ooh La La Cupcakes

Oscar & Libby's

Oscar & Libby's has two stores located in downtown Victoria...one located on fabulous Fort St. and the other in historic Market Square. Their stores boasts downtown Victoria's zaniest collection of all that is upbeat & offbeat! Not only will you find a hysterical collection of cards, magnets, books, and novelty items, you will also discover gorgeous jewellery from local designers, hip hats & sunglasses, and stylin' purses & bags.

Sunday's Snowflakes - Essential Items

For as long as I have been shopping, Sunday's Snowflakes has been known as the go to store for excellent quality clothes designed for women to enjoy in their everyday lives. Wendy Graham’s vision has been serving up superior selection and service in the downtown location for 29 years, dressing locals and vacationers in their favorite or soon to be favorite outfit. Her team like her clients has been with her forever; now that speaks volumes! Wendy is also a community minded business woman, whose reputation and contribution for Santa’s Anonymous is commemorating 17 years of fundraising thru sell out fashion shows featuring world famous designer Simon Chang.

Rebel Rebel

For the young and the young at heart.

It seems every time I walk by this store on Low Jo (lower Johnson St) my inner DJ starts spinning David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel you’ve torn your dress, Rebel Rebel your face is a mess”. Yes, you guessed it, the boutiques name is Rebel Rebel and it truly serves its name well. With a killer collection of creative clothing, this youthful driven style team presents a fresh view towards your personal sense of style. The rebel that lives in all of us will come out to play, identifying you as a trend setter amongst your pals.

Bernstein and Gold

Victoria’s Retail Crown Jewel

Through the ages, the notion of luxury has conjured up the idea of something exclusive, rare, an original that reaches far beyond common. In Victoria BC there is such a store with attainable luxury items for all to take pleasure in and experience.

Lee Valley Tools

Mecca of Woodworking and Gardening Stores

I originally discovered Lee Valley, the coolest tool store ever, over 25 years ago from one of my father's best friends who dabbled with weekend woodworking projects. Since that time Lee Valley has expanded on the term "tool porn". Being an avid gardener, I was doubly pleased to discover that they "rock" gardening gadgets as well! Now, with a store in Victoria, I'm willing to bet the gardening gadgets will outsell their traditional woodworking catalogue.

Still Life

The heart of a downtown couple- Still Life Boutique

Directly in the heart of downtown Victoria lives a beautiful boutique well known to all locals as Still Life Boutique. Still, it is not, active, it has always been. Not only did my older sister work there in high school, but I bought my first grown up, going out to party dress off their rack. That was 24years ago Gasp! Oh how the times have changed but Still Life continues to be present in delivering the forward looks in fashion to the hip cool people active within the downtown core and to the LoJo (Lower Johnson) shopper.

The Victoria Girl's Secret: She She Bags

Where are you from? How tall are you? What is the colour of your favourite jacket? These are all questions that Shelagh asks her clients at She She Bags before she leads them to the right one. Shelagh is special. At She She, she doesn’t just run two stores, she connects a diverse community of women to each other in the pursuit of joy and adventure. Where are you going and how are you getting there?, she asked one girl. If you’re going to Europe, you’ll need a big one with a zipper - maybe this versatile navy Buddha Bag from San Francisco. Oh, you bike? Well then, it’s all about the strap.