Valerie Dumaine at Unicorn Boutique!

The lovely Valerie Dumaine will be doing a meet and greet at Unicorn Boutique on Thursday June 3rd!

Her Spring/Summer collection will be 15% off for the evening.

RSVP before June 1st! RSVP info and more on Unicorn's blog.

Guest Blog: On Fashion, architecture and flowerpots...

I'm so excited to have this awesome guest blog from Samantha Etane of Montreal visual blog tam+sam! I couldn't check out the Open Doors Design Montreal event so Sam generously agreed to cover it for my dear readers.

Here we go!

This past week-end Design Montreal organized the 4th edition of 'Portes Ouvertes' Design Montreal; designers of all trades - and calibers - opened the doors of their boutiques, studios and atelier to the public.

I saw so many creations, fell in love with so designers, but had to make a choice...

Helmer.
A Passionate creative force who specialize in delicate & unique embroidered pieces for women, Helmer Joseph welcomed us in his St Laurent's boutique-gallery. The designer gives us plaids, polka-dots, lacework, and precious bling with a classy twist.




Incidentally Helmer worked with my next 'coup de coeur' Philippe Dubuc , a designer who embodies the spirit of Quebec's creativity. He welcomed us in his 'atelier' and chatted about his creative process, his upcoming women line he's preparing for Simons, and the challenge of designing women's garment.






Next stop Cardin, Ramirez & Julien , an architecture firm located on The Main. They specialize in sustainable development, and have recently won Rio Tinto Alcan Competition for the design of our new Planetarium.




Jamais Assez is an interior design heaven. There, you can get colorful and original pieces at very affordable prices. On top of it, made in Quebec.






'Portes Ouvertes' Design Montreal is one of these event that makes you realize how lucky we are to live in a city where the artists and the art are so accessible.

PS: A huge Thanks to Eric, from the Dubuc store, who was rocking the brand like it was nobody's business.

Street Stylin': May Day Moments

May Day has come and gone and it was a blast. General 54's 4th year anniversary, the celebration of Local 23 and the unveiling of the new Local Annex space went down next door to the General this past Saturday. There was a fashion show, drinks, DJs, giveaways and projections.


The theme for the first show was Nautical Garden Party, featuring vintage dresses and new designs by grob, Enfants Sauvages and Jennifer Glasgow, to name a few. The models, hot-to-trot ladies from the hood, did a fantastic job walking the runway and posing en tableau.


Reema, of Cocoa Locale, looked simply splish-splash in this Glasgow dress, hot off the presses from the Spring/Summer collection. She's also sporting the Brazen Design anchor necklace and vintage shoes.

The second show was a little more glam, and the models poured champagne in the General's honour from an oversized cutout bottle.

The crowd was a fashion show in and of itself and many sported our local talent.

Reanna and Emilie were the suave stylists behind the show.

Reanna (left) was representing Australia in her Something Else by Natalie Wood top and denim leggings by Sports Girl.

Emily (right) is wearing a vintage onesie from their vintage collection Caesar Pony, on sale here. Also, check out Reanna's blog at reannatime.blogspot.com

My little sister Monica (left), wearing Noemiah earrings.

Deborah (middle) is the talent behind Deborah Adams recycled bags and belts and the sweat behind a number of local designer sewing machines. She is wearing boots from Sam Adelman purchased at Little Burgundy, an H&M waistcoat scored at the last S.W.A.P. and a pair of Teenflo pants from the 90's.

Aaron (right) is sporting a Viola Blanca ascot, black 514 Levi's also obtained at the S.W.A.P. and Fluevog ankle boots.

Roxy (left) is wearing a blouse from d.e.p.t., and Hoss ankle boots. Michelle, the genius behind Simone's Rose, is wearing a Vanessa Moore necklace, Betsy Johnson purse, Miss 60 shoes, Pants from Paris Pas Cher!, Foxy Jeans by Michelle Maymond sweater and Brazen Design earrings.


Elaine (left), mastermind behind Elaine Ho (aka Roadkill) jewellery and pepito mimumo clothing, is wearing a Les Copains jacket, belted vintage oversized camisole, Groggy leggings, Full Circle coat and vintage boots found at Value Village, and some knotty roadkill bling.

Yana (right), superstar of Supayana, is wearing a thrifted scarft, cardigan, jacket, purse and vintage boots.


Jenn (left), the 'jenn' of Jennifer Glasgow Design, is wearing a mashup of vintage Glasgow pieces.

Elizabeth (right) of Land of Talk, is wearing an Oasis leather jacket, Vexy shirt, Silence + Noise blazer, and jeans and tanktop purchased at "that sample store on St Viateur near Park". The boots are vintage Charles David and were purchased in New York right before playing on Letterman.


Jeremy (left) is wearing Lucky Jeans shirt and pants and sneaks purchased at Gravity Pope (when're we gonna get one of those?!).

Poppy (right) is wearing an H&M top, American Eagle jeans and Kensie shoes.


Reema (middle) is wearing vintage shoes and an altered vintage dress with a hilarious backstory; her and her father were thrifting in Hamilton while her mom was out of town (a habit they shared that mom didn't condone) and Reema hadn't found anything. Her dad, who is actually colourblind - grabbed a hideous muumuu from a rack and said "What about this?". That muumuu is now the dress you see in the picture, with the sleeves and hem shortened, and one of her go-to favourites.


Tamara, the lady behind This Ilk, is wearing This Ilk, an H&M sweater, Norwegian Wood leggings, Derek Durand camisole purchased at Puces Pop and Aldo sandals.


Monica with Tamara after purchasing a This Ilk necklace. The General opened for an hour after the fashion show and Monica ran over to buy this Enfants Sauvages (left) and grob (right) dress worn during the show.

All hail the sale: AU CŒUR DE LA MODE

If you missed the Braderie, here's yet another amazing sale of many local designer labels. AU CŒUR DE LA MODE is a Quebec fashion sale that raises money for the Farha Foundation. The proceeds of AU CŒUR DE LA MODE assists the Farha Foundation to continue to help the more than 20,000 men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in Quebec.

Click here for deets and here for a full list of designers.

Brazen Design at the National Women's Show this weekend

I'll be doing my first big show this weekend - I have a booth in the Place Des Artisans section of the National Women's Show at the Palais des Congres. From what I hear, there'll be a ton of free swag, free makeovers and runway shows.

For my part, I will have the entire Brazen Design collection along with some new pieces, and the much sought-after recycled leather fringe earrings - and if all goes well, my booth will be a custom-built-beauty-of-wood-and-bamboo to behold. I must remember to take pics to post!

So the show is 12$... but I have free tickets to give away!

Email me at info [at] brazen-design.com with the subject line "Tickets" and the first five people will receive two!

And look! I have this 2-for-1 coupon for you to download and print! So you and a ladyfriend can go for 6$ each! Woot!

Springin' Lightly

I think it's safe to say that all Montrealers are yearning for warm breezes, sun and a respite from winter. It's looking like the weekend just may bring us that and so here's my spring fashion roundup. My eyeballs are thirsty for colour, florals and DRESSES. Mmmm.....

All of these goodies are made right here in la belle province by our incredible talent.

Kimono Nudo by Simone's Rose.

Bailey by Valerie Dumaine.

Diana by Jennifer Glasgow.

Carolina Wren by Birds of North America.

Aurore by Jennifer Glasgow.

Tiffany by Simone's Rose.

Rock Wren by Birds of North America.

Fauna by Valerie Dumaine.

Montreal Fashion Week Roundup

My favourite inspired looks from Montreal's Fall/Winter 2010 runway shows. Dresses, dresses, dresses and ankle boots!

Marie Sainte Pierre
Photo Credit : Bureau de la mode de Montréal


Denis Gagnon
Photo Credits: http://pretextes.ca/


Bodybag by J.U.D.E.
Photo Credit : Bureau de la mode de Montréal



Nadya Toto
Photo Credit : Bureau de la mode de Montréal

All hail the studio sale! Jennifer Glasgow this Friday/Saturday

I'm so excited I can hardly write this post: Jennifer Glasgow is having a studio sale to make way for her new Spring/Summer collection. This Friday from 5 - 9pm and Saturday from noon to 5 at

5643 clark #114.

There will be some inventory from the last three seasons, and some samples that have never seen the light of day. Don't miss it!

Facebook link here.

Majolie

For a while now, I have been madly in love with the quebec-knit line, Majolie. Creation of the gorgeous and talented Lysanne Latulippe, Majolie provided us with luscious, unique and devastatingly feminine knitwear. Made in Quebec no less! Alas, this collection is on pause for the time being while Lysanne works with some our other local fashion heroes.


Instead of mourning the loss, take advantage of the sales. I was at General 54 and all the pieces I've featured here are in stock and on sale.



I picked up this tied-at-the-neck herringbone sweater, in white and black. It was 50% off! There's one last one left, in medium so get 'em while you can!

Here's hoping this isn't the last we see of Majolie!

(p.s. the General is just down the street from Jennifer Glasgow's studio - see the previous post about her studio sale and kill two birds with one stone!)