It might be one of Yaletown’s best-kept secrets, but it’s gaining a reputation as a must-visit boutique with a streamlined collection of clothes and accessories for the stylish minimalist.
Woo To See You bills itself as “East meets West with a heart in Vancouver” as Korean-born owner Hans Woo brings her contemporary sensibility to her quaint shop that carries a stunning array of accessories (most are local), along with clothes from Europe and Asia, all at an accessible price point.
Standouts include Rosefield watches – sleek unisex timepieces with leather straps and broad faces that come with a two-year warranty and cost $130.
“It’s nice because they work well for women and men because the faces are a little bit larger; so it's good for a man’s wrist – it’s not too small or dainty,” sales associate Kandyce Pizzolon says about Rosefield’s creations. The company is originally from Amsterdam but now based in New York.
Pizzolon walks me through the many local jewelry lines they carry, which includes Kara Yoo pointed neck cuffs. The delicate gold and silver handmade cuffs are hammered, creating a dented look.
Covet and Keep is a Victoria line that incorporates various sayings – sometimes sassy, sometimes introspective – in tactile braille.
One of my faves is a pair of chunky gold hoops with the cheeky phrase “touch my butt and buy me pizza.” Who knew we were even thinking that, but lay that down in braille and it’s hidden poetry.
Woo to See You also carries Tofino jewelry line Highwaters, a collection of delicate bracelets and necklaces that are physical mementos with ingrained crushed shells and sand from the island.
The clothes are another draw to the Mainland Street boutique, with a price point that ranges from $30 to $150.
“[Hans Woo] does such a good job of pulling pieces and putting stuff together,” Pizzolon says.
Most of the cool-toned pieces are made with quality cottons and linens and are available in “free size,” meaning they have a looser fit and look different depending on the body type.
“I find it really interesting that anyone can come in with any different style and they can find something that works for them, which is really cool,” Pizzolon explains. “It’s also neat because you get to see the piece that is one size on multiple different body types and multiple different people and they always look different.”
Woo To See You – like a lot of Vancouver boutiques – carries a minimal number of pieces, which means it’s less likely that a woman will bump into someone wearing the same outfit.
“A lot of people are coming in and are liking getting something that is theirs and theirs alone,” Pizzolon says about Woo’s limited collection.
Get in and check out Woo before the secret really gets out on this local gem.
Woo to See You
1062 Mainland, 604-559-1062
