address: 1-1440 Wellington St. West, Ottawa
telephone: 613.724.4874
hours of operation: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 7pm/Sat 10a.m. to 5p.m./Sun 12 to 5p.m.
payment methods: Cash, debit, MasterCard, Visa
directions: Transit service to the Westboro area is very good. Your best bet is the #2 Bayshore from downtown, which typically runs every 15 minutes. You can take it practically to the Hush doorstep as there’s a stop right outside.

HUSH co-owner Alison Hughes sums it up perfectly: “[It’s] your closet’s best kept secret.” I really can’t help but believe her. HUSH is the fashion-conscious working woman’s answer to finding reasonably priced, good-quality clothing and accessories that are suitable for both business and pleasure. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind gem with a more than reasonable price tag, thanks to the boutique’s consignment approach.

Between February and August each year, this trendy little shop in Ottawa’s Wellington Village accepts gently used (and brand new) clothing from local fashionistas looking to make some room in their closets. Clothes that make it on the racks are no more than two years old, and they are all in line with current trends. New stock arrives on the sales floor on an almost daily basis, and you won’t see pieces on the racks for longer than three months.

“Our approach is to make fashion more accessible”, Alison says. “By shopping at HUSH, people are able to buy things they might not be able to afford elsewhere.” The boutique carries a well-rounded collection of brand names including the high-enders like Coach, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada; work staples like Mexx, Banana Republic, Tristan and America and Club Monaco; and local and little-known brands. They have a denim collection with all the big names like Seven for all Mankind, Citizens of Humanity and Rock and Republic, but the prices are much more reasonable than you would see in a department store. A pair of Sevens goes for about $95 at HUSH, versus the $250+ dollars you would have to shell out for a brand new pair. Sizes typically range from 0 to 18, and XXS to XL.

If you’re looking for a cluttered vintage shop where you’re expecting to dig through endless piles in search of the perfect 1950s housedress, HUSH is not the place for you. This store is clean, well organized, and ultra-modern. In fact, it’s the first consignment store I’ve ever come across with an online inventory and database. And, if you fill your boots and still want more, you can always check their new boutique next door–HUSH Little Baby—for maternity and baby clothing.
profile and photography by Tracie LeBlanc