Summer in Montreal means one thing: festivals. Serious festivals. Every week I feel like there’s a new festival going on somewhere in the city and Montrealers flock from one exciting event to the next, from the hundreds of shows at Jazz Fest and Just for Laughs to the concerts and plays at Osheaga and the Montreal Fringe.

One event that I’m particularly interested in attending is part of the (what else?) Festival of Mode & Design 2010. From June 10 to October 29, Galerie Place Ville Marie presents “Montreal and Fashion: So Many Years, So Much to Show,”  an historical retrospective on the Montreal fashion industry and its artisans from the 1850s to the present day. The exhibition recounts the development of the fashion industry and the history of Montreal’s garment manufacturers, retailers and designers, as well as its educational institutions, models and photographers. Count on vintage collections, photos, videos, artifacts and profiles of Montreal designers such as Andy The-Ahn, Denis Gagnon and more. If, like me, you love to pretty much inhale any and all historical information about the Canadian and international fashion industry and try to read as many fashion non-fiction books and articles as you can get your hands on, this exhibition is right up our boutique-lined alley. So, if you’re in Montreal at all this summer, be sure to check it out. It’s most definitely being added to my list of Montreal Summer Things To Do (I honestly do have this list, is that nerdy?)!

Montreal and Fashion: So Many Years, So Much to Show
From June 10 to October 29 – free admission
Monday to Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday and Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: noon to 5 p.m.

www.placevillemarie.com
From Montreal,

Lindsay

Any time my friends come to Montreal for a visit, they always, without fail, say the following words to me: “I want to go to Simons.” I don’t blame them – of course they do and I want to go with them. Simons is THE one-stop, two-floor shop for all your everyday needs, from clothes, bathing suits and pyjamas to hats, scarves and gloves. The department store’s house brand, Twik (psst…originally modeled after Twiggy’s signature style), has great casual and affordable pieces that are perfect for mixing with your higher-end items. On the second floor is where you’ll find names like Sonia Rykiel, Armani Exchange and Kenso for dressier options. And as for accessories, you’ll be overwhelmed by all the bags, belts, glasses, jewelry, hats, scarves and stockings you can find.

From Montreal,

Lindsay

Going to be in Montreal over the next week or so? Get thee to the Seven Days of Vintage event, happening in the city from June 17th to the 23rd.

For this one week in June, Off InterArts Studio will be turned into a delightful playground of vintage treasures. This boutique will feature men’s and women’s vintage clothing, shoes and accessories from the ’60’s, ’70’s, ’80’s and ’90’s and will be open daily from 11am - 7pm. CAN’T WAIT to browse through the many racks of unique, hand-selected pieces in the collection. And try everything on, obviously.

There’s also an opening event to kick-off the week on June 18th at 7pm where you can shop ’til you drop, have a drink or few and get your dance on to music by DJ Mitz and DJ Aaron Nathaniel Standen.

See you there?

5143 St. Laurent Blvd, June 17th - June 23rd, 11am - 7pm. http://sevendaysofvintage.blogspot.com

From Montreal,

Lindsay

Something a bit different this week; I recently discovered this news and just had to share it with ya’ll, it’s so exciting. So, a let’s take a quick break from shopping while I rave about this little piece of awesome that’s coming to Montreal. Check it:

Get out your calenders - in summer of 2011 (sadly not this one) the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts will be presenting “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Street to the Stars,” a retrospective of the designer’s couture from his 35 years as one of the world’s most highly respected fashion designers. The exhibit will showcase his work ranging from 1976 up to the present day.

Says the website:

“Known as the enfant terrible of fashion, Jean Paul Gaultier is undoubtedly one of the most important designers of recent decades. His avant-garde style soon reflected the concerns of today’s society. The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Street to the Stars is the first ever retrospective of the couturier who launched his first prêt-à-porter collection in 1976 and established his own haute couture house in 1997.

Interested in all cultures and counter-culture, he boldly captures the mood of the times, offering a humanistic multicultural aesthetic: through his diversions, transgressions, metamorphoses, reinterpretations and cross-breedings, he blurs the boundaries and demands the right to be different, inventing a new way of creating and wearing couture. In honour of Jean Paul Gaultier’s thirty-five years in fashion, this truly mind-blowing multimedia exhibition will take a fresh look at the way this generous creator, who has shed all his hang-ups, uses his ties to the pop/rock-and-roll music scene, film and dance, and will shed light on the eclectic and impertinent sources of his inspiration, from the street to the stars.”

I can’t wait. I know it’s awhile yet, but I couldn’t wait a year to write about this! So, mark it on your calenders: if you happen to find yourself in Montreal next summer, this is definitely a must-see. Plus, it’s a nice indoor activity for when you need a break from shopping in the heat (which, let me tell you, is intense). Also, did I mention that it’s free?

Back to regularly scheduled shopping next time!

From Montreal,

Lindsay

http://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/expositions/exposition_153.html

Let’s step off the Main for a moment - just for a moment - and stroll (stylishly) over to Avenue Laurier for a peek at this particular shopping avenue’s fashion mecca, Billie Boutique.

Opened in September of 2005, Billie is the perfect embodiment of what a boutique should be; small and intimate; offering labels and garments meticulously chosen to both reflect the shop’s image and create sophisticated looks for their clientele; knowledgeable and attentive staff; and, a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes shoppers want to stay prrreeeetty much all day.

A large front window looks out upon the tree-lined Laurier and, against this backdrop, one can peruse the multitude of carefully selected labels on offer, covering feminine fashion from classic to trendy. Rifle through tees and tanks by Velvet, James Perse and Repeat neatly folded in the center dresser; choose a pair of J Brand, Hudson or Rich and Skinny jeans stacked on the side shelf; and, slip into summer and cocktail dresses by Designers Remix Collection, Graham & Spencer and Snob hanging on the side racks. Don’t forget to accessorize with jewelery by previously-mentioned Montreal designer, Claudia and shoes by Bloch (ballet flat experts), Dolce Vita and Ted Baker. Nor does it stop there - other brands and designers include Anna Sui, Filippa K, K by Karl Lagerfeld, Qi Cashmere, Tara Jarmon, Tracey Reese, Margit Brandt and Loeffler Randall. Sooo, yeah. No big deal or anything.

Such a lovely, refined space it is too. The soft colours, the beige wood, the rosy champagne satin and warm lighting in the dressing rooms that bathe you in a nice, little glow - SUCH a contrast from the usual heinous, yellow-florescent glare in most store change rooms - plus, the way in which the clothes are displayed, it’s basically like a gorgeous walk-in closet. One that I want installed in my bedroom. Immediately.

Billie is located at 141 Laurier St. W, t: 514. 270. 5415. Check out their amazing website to shop online and follow their blog at www.billieboutique.com

I love Preloved. I love everything about it. I love how their clothes are all one of a kind creations, made from restored vintage fabrics; I love how their focus is on sustainability in their pieces; and, I love that they still recognize the importance of fit, comfort and style with every garment they create. Environmentally-conscious fashion that’s gorgeous to boot - what’s not to love about Preloved?

The store itself is cozy and welcoming; warm, golden-brown wood and red brick covers floor to ceiling and racks of clothes in beautifully rich colours and strong fabrics line the walls. I wanted to curl up in an armchair with a steaming cup of tea, wrapped in one of their handmade vintage quilts and pretend that I was at the cottage for the weekend. However, as the kind shopgirls would probably think that a bit weird after a few hours, I tried on one of their hugely popular Fefe dresses instead. Strapless, cut just above the knee and reconstructed from a curtain and two trench coats, this dress is perfect for the upcoming summer weather and can oh so easily be dressed up for evening on the town. My favorite was done in a deep, bold pink fabric on top and a silvery grey on the bottom, but the dress comes in a multitude of colour combinations; blues and yellows, purples and pinks, reds and navys…basically, all kinds of pretty from which you can choose.

On top of everything else that’s great about Preloved, what I think I love most about it is that every garment has a story behind it; the item you purchase, when you buy something from this shop, has a history. Each piece came from somewhere and was something else (one might even say that each piece is, um, pre…loved, yes?) before being reconstructed into that special cocktail dress or knit sweater and I think that’s pretty neat. Someone I know once found a pillow there that was covered in the exact same fabric and pattern as her old baby blanket! Seriously, I can’t imagine a more special find.

Preloved is located at 4832 St. Laurent (t: 514.499.9898), but, if you’re unable to visit the Montreal location, there just happens to be one in Toronto, as well as an online boutique and plenty of retail locations throughout the globe. See the website, www.preloved.ca for the deets.

What’s that, you say? Lola and Emily, second edition?? Mais, oui - cue the drumroll - after dressing up Montreal’s Mile End and Plateau fashionistas on St. Laurent, Lola and Emily has opened a second boutique across the city, in Westmount!! Ladies, dreams really do come true.

The Westmount location still has has that intimate and pretty feel to it for which the original location is known, though it is slightly more elegant, with a more open, minimalist concept behind it. It’s as if the girls moved out of their downtown, two bedroom apartment and into an uptown, spacious, grey-and-white-walled, purple-accented, gorgeous loft. It’s Lola and Emily, grown up.

Labels are mostly the same at both stores, with the ever-loved, cult-status-like Nudie Jeans and Ca Va De Soi tops lining the racks, but the shop’s owners, Marnie Blanshay and Amanda Eaman, like to keep the stock different at each store. So, if a certain Designers Remix Collection summer dress isn’t exactly to your taste at one store (though I dare you to try to convince me that’s possible), head over to the other location to check out the different styles or colours it might be carrying! So, you ask, you’re saying that I have more choice of sartorial treasures with which to perfect the signature Lola and Emily look? That is EXACTLY what I’m saying. How amazing is that?

The Westmount location, however, does have a few new, captivating items. Check out the line of Lollia candles, bath products and body lotions, a brand that is completely new for the boutique. Delicious-smelling candles, decorated with prints of flowers and vintage birdcages, bubble bath stored in wine bottles and lotions with names such as Relax, Wish and Imagine are sure to be a lovely accent to your home (they’re definitely on my list!) As for des vetements, the 100% silk dresses and flowing tops by Yumi Kim are gorgeous, comfortable and will absolutely have your girlfriends gasping, “Where did you get that??” and rushing off to buy their own piece (also on my list - my list is getting rather long, actually).

The new boutique is located at 4920 Sherbrooke W. t: 514.483.4040, www.lolaandemily.com

From Montreal,

Lindsay

After a good Saturday afternoon shopping slash wandering session, wouldn’t it be nice to have somewhere to go to drop your bags, rest your weary feet and re-energize (read: discuss and compare your purchases)? Um…YA-HUH, you say and I most certainly agree. Enter Rouge Nail Bar, a gorgeous, relaxing little haven of a salon, where you can do just that and get your nails done at the same time. Amazing.

Get comfortable and sink into Rouge’s living room couches as expert hands treat your feet to a soak, shape, massage (best. ever.) and a pretty paint. Enjoy a cafe au lait and a cheese and fruit plate while you gab with your girls, or just relax and watch an episode of Sex and the City as your feet get the royal treatment. I also noticed a selection of movies prepared for rotation, including Dirty Dancing and a few classic Audrey Hepburn flicks!

After the talented staff are finished with your toes, why not pull up a chair at the bar and have a manicure as well? The Classic Rouge mani-pedi goes for $55.00 (psssst…$45.00 if you go before 2pm during the week) and you can choose from a selection of O.P.I. colours. However, in case that wasn’t temptation enough, the salon offers various other packages from which to choose. Check it: The Barefoot is a regular mani-pedi, just as The Classic, but done with yummy-smelling, natural Barefoot Venus products; Madame La France is the ever-chic, classic French manicure; or, seriously spoil yourself and have The Essential, which uses Escents, a line of natural aromatherapy products, created with 100% pure essential oils. Mmmmm…how lovely does that sound? Seriously.

And, since Rouge is located on none other than The Main itself (where else??), it’s the perfect place to go when you need a break from all that shopping you’re doing!

Rouge Nail Bar: 3790 St. Laurent, t: 514.840.3003, http://rougenailbar.com
From Montreal,

Lindsay

If I may, I’d like to keep us on St. Laurent just a little while longer…mind? Not after you visit this delight of a shop, you won’t. Ladies, please allow me to direct your attention to Unicorn. Welcome. Set aside a few hours for a good Saturday afternoon browse; you’ll want to stay awhile, I promise.

With a look and feel to it that says part art gallery cool, part designer showroom chic, Unicorn is certainly the go-to boutique for an impressive selection of items from international, national and local brands. You’ll find (and immediately covet) gorgeous pieces such as recycled leather bags and wallets from New York’s Ashley Watson, cute n’ classy dresses from British Columbia’s Dace and elegant, feminine looks from Montreal’s own Betina Lou, Eve Gravel and Melissa Nepton. Not to mention a myriad of other labels on the roster to tempt you with their sartorial delights. The boutique also features environmentally conscious labels and occasional vintage gems from mysterious sources to add to the mix. And, um…did I mention that they’re all about the colour black at Unicorn? Perfect if you’re searching for a classic LBD or generally any kind of article of clothing that pretty much goes with anything and everything. All kinds of fabulous, in this girl’s opinion!

Since it IS currently Montreal Fashion Week and all, now in it’s 18th year and happening from March 1st to the 4th, drop by Unicorn and celebrate la mode de Montreal by picking up something from the local design darlings mentioned above. An LBD from Betina Lou, perhaps, or a lace-embroidered, loose-fitted summer tank from Eve Gravel to pair with jeans and dressy sandals…sigh…if I must!

Boutique Unicorn: 5135 St. Laurent (north of Laurier), t: 514.544.2828

From Montreal,

Lindsay

Just a high-heel clad step away from Lola and Emily on Blvd St. Laurent is another clothing mecca that has recently made its way onto my Montreal Favorites List (which grows ever longer each time I step a thick winter-boot encased foot out my door - the heels will come soon, or so I keep telling myself - May? June, maybe?). Hip, stylish Boutique U&I is highly touted by Montreal insiders for its selection of original pieces that focus, as its website says, “on the intellectual and conceptual side of modern style.” A bare yet elegant, wood-paneled space, against which the clothes are placed, U&I lays emphasis on the garments themselves, not the decor; in doing so, it creates an atmosphere that fuses ideas of individuality and creativity through fashion.

Don’t be intimidated, however, by all this intellectual and concept talk. For all the shop’s forward-thinking, the clothes are incredibly wearable and ever so nonchalantly cool; perfect for that effortless, casual chic vibe we’re looking to embody this spring/summer (April, even? Sigh).

The list of designers? To name but a few:

The Montreal designers in-store include the re-inventor of the winter coat, Mackage, as well as Yso and local style icon, Denis Gagnon; if that isn’t enough to have you licking the windows, U&I has lines from Opening Ceremony, 3.1 Philip Lim, Rag&Bone, Acne and Ernest Sewn; and, if THAT isn’t enough, perhaps the pieces from Comme des Garcons, Vivienne Westwood and Parisian darling, Vanessa Bruno might tempt you. As well as the array of clothes, U&I also carries a fantastic collection of bags and shoes, like the Denis Gagnon/Fullum&Holt Bag collection and shoes by Dolce Vita, Sperry Topsiders and Chie Mihara. I don’t know about you, but they had me at…well, being a clothing boutique, really, but Rag&Bone and Vanessa Bruno? Um, yes, puh-lease.

You can find Boutique U&I at 3650 St. Laurent Blvd, literally steps away from Lola and Emily. How convenient, no?

t: 514.844.8788, www.boutiqueuandi.com

From Montreal,

Lindsay