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

General 54's Fall/Winter line-up

I stopped in at General 54 recently, one of my favourite Montreal boutiques carrying Canadian-made goodies. They had painted and redecorated and it looked so great in there, I had to snap some pics of some of the great fall fashions they have in stock.


Like this ski-meets-tailored fashion top from co-owner Jennifer Glasgow's line:

Or this gorgeous grey top, also from Glasgow.


This Ramonalisa top is both slouchy and fitted in all the right places.

This gorgeous silkcreened linen dress is from the very-last-ever Nokomis collection.


This sumptuous sweater is brought to you by Anastasia Lomonova.

A gorgeous up-cycled creation from the one-and-only Supayana.

Nothing screams fall more than this red tartan blouse from Grob.


There was also much Birds of North America that I have been drooling over - but photos didn't turn out :(.

Featured Designer: Jennifer Glasgow

Jennifer Glasgow's line has been a staple in Montreal wardrobes for the last decade. She's a wonderful, warm and funny person... and one of the brains behind mile-end institutions Local 23 & General 54. Last week, I had the privilege of getting a sneak peak at Jennifer Glasgow's studio and Fall/Winter 09. collection. Exciting stuff!


Above, Jenn is wearing the Tamarac dress from the new collection - like everything Glasgow, it has pockets (yay!) and we love her for it.

Below, Jenn is modelling the new Elderberry shirt. I love the scoop neck in back, and that she's taken the pouffy sleeve farther down off the shoulder. The skirt is the Greta, from her Spring/Summer 09 line... and on sale for 59$ here!

I love Glasgow's shirts - the tailoring is so unique and she has a real feel for noble and eco-friendly fabrics such as bamboo, linen and lyocell (a cellulose fiber made from wood pulp! how amazing is that?)

I am really looking forward to rocking some of these wool blend sweaters with swooping birds when the cold weather hits...

Check out the entire Fall/Winter 09 collection here!

The Ultimate Winter Coat: Canada Goose

There is one item in particular that I am keeping my eyes peeled for as retailers start bringing in their spring lines and reducing their winter inventory: The Canada Goose Kensington Parka.

Canada Goose coats go for $400 - $700 but nothing will keep you warmer and they seem to last forever. This particular model is a new addition, and happens to be an exact replica of the Triple 5 Soul coat that revolutionized winter coat fashion five years ago.

Though it has probably been too cold a winter to get a good deal on one, I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Winter Flowers

When done right, I love floral, especially at this time of year when it gets so depressingly grey and everyone is in black and brown and blue.
Floral can be devastating, but if it’s simple, oversized and in large blocks of colour, it can be just about the best. Cause who doesn’t love flowers?

Furry Shoes?

Well, no not really.

Here’s an addendum to my blog from yesterday, that my friend Sarah sent my way back when there was still snow on the ground.

What would optimize the winter outfit?

This:
Annie Deschêsnes Recycled Fur Belt Bag, available at: Delano Design, 70 St-Paul Street West, Montreal. $220

Also, if you are in Montreal this weekend, check out “I HAVE A LOT OF SHOES”.

Some friends of mine are having their “first shoe installation and sale” at their gallery/studio.
Details below.

I HAVE A LOT OF SHOES

vernissage Friday the 11th January 2007
7 pm - don't know when
also open on Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th from noon till 5pm

CTRLLAB
3634 St. Laurent Blvd

And speaking of shoes... I want these so bad. Ok, wait, maybe I should take that back. I want a beautiful pair of above the knee, patent leather boots. But flat. So if these were flat, I would want them. Here's hoping this trend doesn't disappear too soon, or that if it does, there are enough leftovers on the sales racks. I still have fantasies about the brown leather, wedge-heel thigh-highs that BCBC came out with in Fall 2006. I would have put a photo of those up, but no where to be found... and I am too lazy to scan them from my catalogue.

(I will leave that catalogue for another post, for I could go on and on about how that BCBG Fall 2006 epitomizes class and style and if Max Azria only made them in sizes that fit real women's bodies and wallets, I would never need to purchase another piece of clothing EVER.)

Winter Outfitting

I don’t know about you guys, but I find winter so hard. Maybe it’s my East Indian Blood, but sweating and humidity make me happy. Snow is pretty, but couldn’t I jump around in it wearing shorts? Please?

Being a Torontonian by birth, I made my way through my first three Montreal winters wearing only my vintage motorcycle jacket and a variety of flats/sneakers/PayLess boots.
I have finally become a real Montrealer in Winter: giant heavy sorels on my feet keep me warm and dry, my fur-trimmed hooded down coat makes me look twice as big as I am and no one recognizes me cause all you can see are my frosted-over glasses.

But it’s January 10 and it has been misting and 10 degrees for a week. I know it is freaky and scary and global warming and all that, but to be honest, my skin is loving the mild moisture. Also, it means I can pull out my Toronto Winter Look: a waist-length bell-sleeved red peacoat with giant black double-breasted buttons, and my knee-high, flat, Italian brown leather boots. To top it off, my friend gave me a gorgeous chunky knit scarf from Kate Spade, whose red matches my coat perfectly. (And it’s acrylic so no itchy).

Only six months left til summer!

Winter Shorts?

I’ve decided I’m okay with the whole shorts-over-leggings-in-the-winter look. On 3 conditions:

1. The shorts can either be short-shorts or boy-shorts (to the knees) BUT they have to made of some kind of winter-appropriate fabric, i.e. twill, knit, tweed. NOT cotton or spandex or jeans. Same goes for the leggings. Knit stockings = good, spandex or nylons = bad.

2. The shoes make a big difference. My shoe of choice to top (bottom?) off the outfit? Tall-as-possible leather boots. Over the knee? Hell yeah. Heel? Take it or leave it.

3. Colour. Please, stick to the tried-and-true winter colours. Natural twills and tweeds, and grey, brown, black leggings. No stripes! I saw a striped short, striped legging combo and I had to turn away.