Featured Purchase: The "Loni" from Jennifer Glasgow

I have found the perfect clothing item for this 7-degrees-below-average-weather that we have been having: Jennifer Glagow's "Loni" High Waisted Pant from the Spring/Summer 09 collection.
They are beautifully tailored trousers made with a soft lightweight cotton denim. With an invisible side zip instead of a fly, these pants cover your legs in the chilly mornings while keeping you breezy when summer peeks its head out of the clouds in the afternoons.

I love the retro aesthetic of these pants - the not-that-high waistline is reminiscent of your mom's trousers (which were a really flattering height and it's a shame we don't see more of it), the shape of the pockets and belt loops, the wooden buttons, and the colours in the stitching and lining are all vintage-inspired classic.

They are perfectly paired with spring blouses, and they work great with a belt. I wore them to Puces Pop day #1 and got tons of compliments: proof that they work on short curvy girls like me and not just the tall & lanky set!

Locally designed and made (of course!). Get 'em while you can at General 54 or at Jennifer Glasgow's online store.

(Hint: They are more affordable at the store.)

Jeans Jeans Jeans!

Alright. I have a confession. I had never been to Jeans Jeans Jeans before Saturday. When asked my opinion about this crazy denim outlet in the basement in the heart of the textile district, I always had to spew out second hand information: "I hear it's a good deal" or "I hear they're really helpful" which always illicited a "You haven't been?! But you...you've shopped every store in this city!"

Thanks to my friend Nancy's need for jeans, I had the perfect excuse to check it out on a beautiful spring-is-in-the-air-Saturday. Which apparently was the thought everyone else had in mind, though I think it is safe to assume that Saturday afternoons are always chaos and confusion at Jeans Jeans Jeans.

Let me tell ya, nothing prepared me for the experience. Not even running into friends who had gone in and left due to sheer overwhelm. As we descended into the denim abyss and were confronted by the 30-person change room line up, Nancy began to panic and suggested it'd be better to return another day. I thankfully had my shopping wits about me. "We're already here", I insisted. "And I bet the line up is shorter at the changeroom in the back". It was. (Smart Shopper Tip: Use the most remote changeroom in a store to avoid a lineup) And we did. And here's what I think...

Customer Service. 5 stars
We squeezed into the tiny aisles with everyone else and headed for our favourite brands. Everytime we grabbed at a pair of jeans and started to find our size, a friendly girl would pop her head in and ask "What size you need?" and get it for us, even if her arms were full and other salesgirls were calling her name. "I'm busy!", she'd yell across the floor in the direction of her name. "Find me a Parasuco skinny in a 29 with diamond bling back pocket!" Some floor girls even took the time to explain the colour codes for sizes, though I couldn't ever find the navy blue hangers and ended up looking at tags anyhow.

The staff at the changerooms are even more helpful, if that is possible. If they can't flag down a floor girl for your bling pocket whatchamacallits in whichever size, they'll go get it themselves. And they will not hesitate to tell you when a pair of pants is perfect for you - their method for assessing this is to tell you to turn around so they can see how your bum looks while the line-up looks on.

When I noticed that I was still holding a pair of ill-fitting jeans with some seriously bad backpocket bling instead of my perfect fit Second Yoga Jeans, (I had accidentally dumped the wrong pair on the reject pile) my changeroom girl disappeared for ten whole minutes and didn't return until they were located. That is customer service.

Doesn't end there: they also offer on the spot tailoring, 20 - 30 minutes wait time! She does it right in front of you, squeezed between racks of denim. Even the guy who cashed us out was a stand up comedian and somehow got Nancy to offer to take me for coffee at Olympico! What a prince.

Staff Knowledge: 5 Stars
Though I like to stay on top of which brands design for which body types (don't worry I'll write about that soon enough) there is no need to go in there with any idea of what jeans you want/like/need/fit - they are experts on what brands and fits suit flat bums/booty/small calves/big calves/hips/bellies and on. They can also tell you if something will shrink/stain/retain/loosen and soften. I was informed that my Second Yoga jeans have a four way stretch. Fascinating.

Selection: 5 Stars
Obviously, Jeans Jeans Jeans is reknowned for its selection. But my biggest doubt about Jeans Jeans Jeans was whether they would have a conscious consumption selection. Would it all be made in China brands? Oh my, were my fears put to rest! Not only do they carry our homegrown Guido and Mary (yup, made right here in Montreal!), I found other brands, like the pair of Seconds I purchased, that were made in Canada as well!

Price: 4 Stars
I should probably give them 5 Stars, but I still haven't come to terms with the exorbitant price of denim today. Seeing as most of the jeans are under $80 when they're $120 everywhere else, perhaps my 4 Stars is harsh. I don't know how much the tailoring cost but I imagine the convenience is worth whatever they think is reasonable to charge. They also have a bunch of sales racks (I got a pair of skinny green jeans off of those for $30) and some good Buy One Get Second Half Price deals.

Hours: 5 Stars.
Open from 9 - 4 on Saturday, it is a good idea to get there early! Jeans Jeans Jeans is closed on Sundays, which might inconvenience a lot of people, but they are open 9 - 9 on Thursdays so if you can, go then!

Honestly, I don't know if I'll ever buy my jeans anywhere else unless they are a special fit, or from a local designer. Jeans Jeans Jeans I say!

Jeans Jeans Jeans is located at 5575 Casgrain.

Spring Fashion Forward

Maybe it's pre-emptive but I'm starting to smell spring and it smells good. The thought of ditching my down-filled coat excites and inspires me... And so I turn to Chanel in order to "chanel" (ooh, bad word pun... sorry!) that energy into awesome outfit.

First a word about Chanel. Coco Chanel was one damn rad dame. She hipped us to short hair, the mini-skirt, the powersuit and pants when women's fashion was still in the dark ages. A lot of people have a real hate-on for the fashion industry, justifiably so, but I just want to remind y'all that at the heart of it, Haute Couture is about Art and Craft. Artists envision and design the wearable works of art that are then brought to life by highly skilled and trained artisans like embroiderers, beaders, seamstresses, etc. Though the final product tends to be unwearable and unaffordable, its essence trickles down to become mainstream fashion. I think we could benefit by returning to the idea of custom-made clothes made by local artisans, but I'll say more about that later and over and over.

Karl Lagerfeld, who aside from being damn hilarious, is the head of the Chanel House, is making sure that Coco's legacy lives on - and The Spring/Summer line is no exception.

Let's break it down:

Skinny Pants. This doesn't mean low-rider jeans that simultaneously give you plumber butt and muffin top. We're talkin' well-tailored trim pants, not just jeans. They can bunch the tiniest bit at the ankle for a more casual look.

Cropped Jacket. Finally, I can pull out my boleros from the summer of 2005 and not get funny looks from the fashion unconscious. Careful not to wear it over a pouffy dress - make sure there is space between the bottom hem of the jacket and where your dress or skirt starts to 'pouf', about the length of the black band in the photo. Otherwise, the look will be round and not tidy-tailored.

Belt Band. A fabric belt or belly warmer worn around your natural waistline, with your top tucked in but not tightly so you have fabric hanging over the top edge of the band.

Headgear. I don't expect the Montreal ladies to be sporting large floral and bird-themed headpieces this spring, but we can borrow Chanel's essence here: when we shed those toques this spring, tuck a brooch, flower or dollar-store bird in your tresses. Tresses. I can't believe I just used Cosmo slang instead of saying "hair".

Blousy Tops. What happened to shirts with little capped sleeves, thick hems and room to breathe? Hopefully this signals their return. This look is also great for dresses - look for a thicker band of fabric around the waist that the top will hang over.

Cautionary Tale. Maybe try to stay away from wearing all these items at once. Unless you're getting married - which seems to be the new youthful hipster trend these days - in which case you have my permission to wear whatever the hell you feel like.

Faux Pas: Spandex Leggings

It's bad enough that three years ago, it become perfectly acceptable to wear tights as pants. But seriously, people, what is up with the shiny spandex version that tweens are wearing like gang colours?! I took a flight over the holidays, and there were SEVEN girls who were all wearing the shiny black spandex leggings from the infamous AA. So far, I haven't seen anyone wearing these fantastically ugly ones but when I do (or you do) I will make sure to share.



Ugh....shivers.

The High-Waisted Pant Trend: take advantage!

The high waisted pant is back after a very long hiatus. It won't last forever, and I suggest you go out and get yourself a pair while you can. Go high quality and Made in Canada if you can (Guido and Mary, anyone?) with a sailor pant front.

Whether wide-legged or skinny all the way down, the high waist is a classic fit that compliments so many body types. Although I personally love the low-waist pants of today, there is no denying that the high waist is more comfortable, classy and winter-friendly.

Don't go cheap - I can't tell you how many $40 pairs I have tried on that haven't made it an inch past my thighs, let alone my hips (what is up with sizing these days?), and DO go vintage if you can - I have a pair of vintage wool sailor pants in navy blue that I have had since high school and I wouldn't trade them for anything.

(i grabbed this image from http://www.voulezvous.jp/autumn%20winter%202007/bj%20pants%20sailor%20front%20o%
20copy%20.gif)

An old friend of mine showed up the other day wearing a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans from Bedo - just gorgeous. I walked by a Bedo the very next day and looked for a pair, but they were ALL GONE. However, I recall getting an e-flyer last week from the Montreal Designer Market (Pins and St Dominique, Montreal) advertising their newly arrived High Waisted Skinny Jean. Guess what I'm doing on my lunch break tomorrow?