Eighteen years after embarking on a mission to perfect the blazer, Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe have opened the first standalone retail space for their Toronto-based women’s wear label Smythe. This is the first to bring Ashley Botten’s distinctive sensibilities to the world of fashion.

Located on Yonge Street in the heart of the city’s Summerhill neighbourhood, the store offers a home for Smythe’s signature aesthetic to flourish.  It’s really exciting for Lenczner to present the collection in the way that they always envisioned it to be seen and shopped.

The space was designed by interior designers Ashley Botten and Smythe’s brother, Tommy Smythe, and the results are a reflection of the Smythe design philosophy. Andrea and Smythe are inspired by vintage and nostalgic pieces but they always try to have that modern interpretation, a modern wink or a push forward. They did the same thing with the store. It’s very clean and minimal but there are nostalgic references, pointing to the store’s terracotta flooring as an example.

The design of Smythe Shop is primary scheme derives from a shared love for wood and is expanded on with a curated selection of natural materials that have been oxidized, smoked, or blackened. An unexpected beauty is found in the terracotta brick flooring that infuses an old-world classic with a contemporary vibe. Wall-size feature boxes in the foyer, each with a single hook for displaying a solitary garment or styled outfit, create stop-and-look moments that are visible from the street.