Lucky Charm Shopping Boutique – The it place to go for everything funky, and fashionable in Toronto

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Try this on, see how it looks….”

“Girl, you are going to turn heads tonight!”

Last weekend was one the biggest for fashion: with it being New Year’s Eve, most of us were looking to end the night looking and feeling great. You see, a New Year’s Eve outfit is not your run-of-the-mill outfit; it should be loud, celebratory, and fun — we’re talking: sequins, frills, feathers, classic suits, a party blazer, pants that party, or a shirt that flows.

It was a warmer New Year’s in Toronto this year, so you could get away with throwing on a lighter jacket (leather, faux fur, trench), statement jewellery, and you were ready to party. Whether you were going out for a night out at the best bar, or keeping it intimate with hors d’oeuvre, you needed that outfit to end your old year, and start your New Year fresh.

Back home in St. Vincent, our fashion forward Business Feature used to sell clothes. She grew up in Upper Cane Hall, and she shares with me that people always had something new selling on the block.

“I grew up in an entrepreneurial life. I love making people happy. When people leave my shop they are happy.”

I was introduced to Lucky Charm Shopping Boutique on Instagram in late December 2022. One look at her page explained exactly why her boutique has quickly become the place to go for everything funky, and fashionable in Toronto.

I mean she has everything; feathers, which are really in this season, button down shirt dresses, which are really having a moment this year. She has some velvet outfits, and we see a lot of people turning to velvet during the winter, mostly for its luxurious feel and added layer of warmth.

Even though we are in the dead of winter, ladies, we still want to do our thing when we go out, so it only makes sense to opt for a long-sleeved dress, and Lucky takes it a step further by adding some jewels on the sleeve to give that plain dress an instant upgrade.

I had a chance to slip into Lucky Charm Shopping Boutique, now located at 1744 Jane Street, and met with Ms. Lucky. Walking into her boutique is an experience in itself. There is so much to see, I had to focus on getting in and out without spending money on clothes that I really don’t need.

“I named my business Lucky Charm Shopping Boutique because my last name is Cupid,” Lucky shares with me. “No one says no to me because of my last name. People have always said that I am lucky. It is one of the reasons that I love the colour green so much,” she says giggling.

“I used to order clothing online because I didn’t want to look like people when I go out. I would order, and then people would ask me to order for them. This is how it started out.”

If you go on her Instagram page, you won’t see any photos of her, and for good reason.

“One of my favourite stylists is Victoria Secret. What a lot of people don’t know is that the designer behind the popular lingerie brand is Roy Raymond. He started the company with his wife Gaye in 1977, but no one knew that it was a man behind the magic of Victoria Secret. I believe that you should keep yourself unknown until you are ready to present yourself. This is one of the reasons why I keep myself on the down low.”

Instagram has been a powerful marketing tool for businesses looking to expand their presence and product visibility. Instagram is a highly visual platform, which is what makes it an excellent social media-marketing tool, and why Lucky has been able to showcase trendy, fashionable chic, and beautiful clothing. Industries such as: fashion, food, travel, beauty, home decor, gardening and events enjoy enormous success by adding Instagram engagement to their marketing plans.

“I love fashion, so I started ordering stuff and posting it on my Instagram. People started following it and liking it. This was seven, or eight years ago. I started off really small right out of my basement. I took time to stage it like a boutique; I would use my washroom as my dressing room. Soon people were lining up outside of my house.”

There is something for every fashionista at Lucky Charms: dresses that with each twist and turn will shake the frills to the side. Spaghetti straps that dip into a mild V-neck, cinched waist and miniskirts that flatter your silhouette and give your legs a moment.

Nothing is better than soft, stretchy material that features ruching down the front. She has floor length gowns that are sure to turn heads. Reaching all the way to the ground, her knit fabric outfits will hug your body while contour lines will define your shape even further. Sleek, seductive, and strappy, asymmetric straps, form fitting dresses that hug the body tight with a slight thigh slit that adds a bit of sex appeal. Now you see why it was difficult being in her boutique, it was fashion overload.

Another aspect of fashion that cannot be ignored is the ability that it has to boost low self-esteem and confidence.

“I help to boost them up,” Lucky telIs me, “I use fashion to empower my customers.”

Clothing covers our body, and our body is the centre of our sexual selves. Through the use of different fabrics, shapes and materials an individual may choose to highlight or de-emphasise a certain area of their body. Fashion has become a tool for self-expression, as it facilitates an opportunity to communicate with the world how we feel. So whether it is a low-cut neckline, a figure-hugging garment, or a fine fabric that contours a certain body, Lucky has found a way to promote positive self-esteem with clothing as the medium.

What I was most impressed with was Lucky’s courage to open a storefront in the middle of one of the largest catastrophes of our time. In general, during the pandemic, entrepreneurs with a younger business were more likely than those with an older business to report that potential barriers were a challenge. Accessing start-up and growth financing during COVID-19 conditions was a bigger challenge for entrepreneurs with a new business less than one year old, compared to entrepreneurs with a young or mature business. Do you think this intimidated her at all?

“I finally opened up my boutique in June, 2022. I work Monday to Friday, and then on Saturday and Sunday I do my thing. I have customers in Winnipeg, Montreal, even the States. I get stuff that other people don’t have. I don’t want people twinning in the party, so I drop my stuff closer to the holidays.”

Okay, I have to admit, I did leave the boutique with an outfit. I couldn’t help it. Don’t believe me; go ahead and check her out for yourself.