How to Look Good and Buy Local

Montreal Geek Girl Dinners: The September Issue

A teeny bit about me

• lover of fashion / hater of fashion industry

• BFA in Textiles

• Jewellery School Drop Out

• Launched Brazen Design in June 2007

• Launched Things That Go Bling in September 2007

Why Buy Local?

• keeps your carbon footprint to a minimum

• supports emerging designers

• gives you access to unique, limited edition and one-of-a-kind pieces

• supports many local industries: textile designers and manufacturers, pattern makers, designers, seamstresses, shoemakers, leatherworkers, jewellers, retailers, artisans, craftspersons and trades people

• custom-made and bespoke work made just for you

• higher quality

• good karma

Clothing

my favourite independent fashion designers: style, fabrics and a peek at their current collections

Jennifer Glasgow

• eco-friendly textiles

• casual

• pockets

• high waist

• unique tailoring

• co-owner General 54 & Local 23

• www.jenniferglasgowdesign.co

Valerie Dumaine

• graphic tailoring

• more formal

• classy meets sexy

• structured shapes

• www.valeriedumaine.com

Eve Gravel

• formal

• sleek tailoring

• sexy librarian

• incredible fabrics

• great detailing

• www.evegravel.com

Anastasia Lomonova

• feminine

• whimsical

• often uses eco-friendly fabrics

• young - launched her line in 2006 at the age of 22

• interned with Valerie Dumaine

• www.anastasialomonova.com

MEG Couture

• extremely high quality tailoring

• custom orders

• feminine, soft edges

• curvy girls

• www.megcouture.ca

BodyBag by J.U.D.E.

• feminine

• jeans

• winter coats

• www.jude.qc.ca

Birds of North America

• created in 2007 by Hayley Gibson

• all pieces designed and named after birds

• young, sexy uniform aesthetic

• www.shopbirdsofnorthamerica.com

Denim

made in montreal with love

Second Clothing

• made-in-montreal denim

• yoga jean: highest industry shape retention, lifting/smoothing and comfortable

• large variety of fits: skinny, trouser, boot, shorts, capris

• innovative, attention to quality

• good for curvy figures

• www.secondclothing.com

Guido & Mary

• made-in-montreal denim

• women & men’s

• variety of cuts: jumpers, high waisted trousers, pencil/cigarette pants

• variety of colours: grey, white, red, black

• thinner, tomboy frame (emphasis on making flat bums looks good)

• www.guidoandmary.com

Accessories

bling, belts and bags - oh my!

Roadkill

• multi-talented

• jewellery, leather bags, belts and clothing

• urban aesthetic

• www.roadkillroadkill.com

Deborah Adams

• recycled leather belts and bags

• seamstress for Lustre Boutique

• past owner of Body Con on St Laurent

• www.deborahadamsbagsandbelts.blogspot.com

• available at Lustre Boutique and La Gaillarde

Norwegian Wood

• multi-talented

• leggings, fringe necklaces and earrings, elastic harnesses

• often uses vintage materials and hardware

• i repeat: handmade leggings!

• co-owner, Headquarters Boutique

• www.iheartnorwegianwood.etsy.com

Where to buy

A selection of my favourite boutiques

General 54

• 54 St Viateur

• www.general54blogspot.com

• Sister store to Local 23

• Made in Canada (mostly Montreal) designers: clothes, jewellery, housewares

• vintage selection

• Owners and workers involved in Montreal Fashion scene

Lustre Boutique

• 4429 Boulevard Saint Laurent

• www.lustreboutique.com

• Clothing collection from owner Yasmine Wasfy: feminine, retro, curvy girls

• Recycled leather bags and belts from Lustre seamstress Deborah Adams

• Montreal made hats, bags and jewellery

Unicorn Boutique

• 5135 St Laurent

• www.boutiqueunicorn.com

• New (1 yr old)

• Montreal, US and Swedish brands

• Small but select vintage section

• UniCollective workshops

L’Arterie

• 176 Bernard West

• www.arterieboutique.blogspot.com

• housewares, vintage, new independent fashion designers, jewellery

• large selection of vegan shoe brands

• former woman-run artist gallery El Corazon

Le Marche MTL

• 24 Des Pins E.

• www.lemarchemtl.com

• Montreal, US and Asia

• teeny-tiny

• edgy fashion (not conservative)

• great vintage shoe selection

Headquarters

• 1649 Amherst

• www.hqgalerieboutique.com

• The Village

• also an art gallery

• art, clothing, jewellery, bags made in montreal, canada, us, asia

Perfide

• 4207 Notre Dame

• www.vachemorte.com

• Saint Henri

• emphasis on Quebecois designers

• Owner’s line SweetMeat available in store: all handmade

Fairs!

• Puces Pop (3 x a year)

• St Laurent Street Fair, at Galerie La Centrale

• souk@sat (xmas)

• Salon des Metiers D’Art (xmas)

• STYLIST’S OWN (2 x a year)

• Indyish

*photo from mynta * solange on facebook

Online

• Mudshark Streetwear (based in Toronto)

• Chiccane.com (based in MTL)

• Etsy (use the Shop Local feature)

• Green Is Black (dot ca)

• Greenloop

Top 10 Wardrobe Must-Haves

1. The Dress Shirt

• crisp collar

• any colour, but preferably white, black, red, grey or navy blue

• comfortable fit, not too tight

• combine with trousers, norwegian wood harness and colourful heels

• recommended: Frederique blouse from Valerie Dumaine

2. The Trouser

• higher waist (bellybutton)

• comfortable, breathable fabric like cotton or linen

• wear with open-toe wedges

• recommended: Jennifer Glasgow’s Loni High Waisted Trouser on sale for $49 at jenniferglasgowboutique.com, Valerie Dumaine’s Alexa Pant on sale for $109 at mudsharkstreetwear.com

3. The Dress

• structured tailoring

• full skirt

• knee-length

• pleating

• belted

• recommended:Camilla & Karma dress from Deux FM (made in NS with eco-friendly fabric and

4.The Cardigan

• find a length that works for you: long, cropped or to the waist

• pockets

• buttoned (no zips!)

• silk, bamboo and/or wool content

• recommended: Kitchen Orange Swilla cardigan or Valerie Dumaine’s Simone cardigan (on sale for $89)

5. The Jacket

• tailored

• buttoned

• structured

• hip-length

• medium weight fabric

• recommended: Eve Gravel Scissor Hands Jacket

6. The Boot

• ankle, knee or halfway between

• real leather

• wedge, flat or chunky heel

• look for interesting detailing

• invest $ for quality

• recommended: Fluevog, 3857 St Denis, www.fluevog.com

• Tip: sign up for Chatte Bottee’s mailing list for vintage shoe sale news!

7. The Belt

• preferably one skinny, one wide

• leather

• simple metal buckle - no sliders, rhinestones or flasks

• recommended: Deborah Adams recycled leather pucker button belt, available from Lustre Boutique

• www.deborahadamsbagsandbelts.blogspot.com/

8. The Bling

• one item you can wear everyday, that has significance to you and says something about who you are

• precious stones and metal [no plastic! no made in china!] can be vintage, family heirloom, made in montreal, reclaimed, gold, silver, wood, leather, stone, glass

• recommended: Vintage gold-plated leaves on vintage ribbon from LaRaffinerie.etsy.com

9. The Bag

• medium sized

• leather (no canvas, nylon, vinyl or textile)

• look for soft vs stiff leather, as it will wear better and stay good looking even with scratches and stains

• recommended: Deborah Adams recycled leather bags available at Lustre Boutique (~$200)

10. The Scarf/Shawl

• choose different fabrics for different seasons

• great way of incorporating colour and pattern into your outfit

• easy and functional accessory

• look for silk, wool, cashmere, cotton

• worthwhile $ investment

• recommended: Mobius scarf, Born To Knit by Colette Van Haaren, available at Katrin Leblond

Fall Picks

• dark nailpolish

• red lips

• structured leather and denim

• gingham

• tall boots

• high, belted and full skirts

Faux Pas

• Don’t overdo prints.

• Don’t overdo shiny.

• Don’t dress ironically.

• Don’t buy stuff just cuz it’s on sale.

• Don’t wear really tight or really baggy clothing

• Don’t just wear what everyone else is wearing. (i.e. Uggs)

• Don’t wear Uggs.

• Don’t wear leggings as pants.

• Don’t take it too seriously.

• Don’t let your friends tell you how to dress.

But please do...

• have fun with fashion

• wear what feels good

• try to support local designers when you can

• upcycle, swap and repair your old clothes, shoes, bags and belts

Want more?

• Blogs

• Things That Go Bling

• A la mode Montreal (FR)

• Boutique blogs

• City Guides

• Conscious Consumption Map

• IdStyle Montreal Spotlight

• Publications

• Puces Pop Designer Handbook

• Worn Journal

• Orgs

• Lab Creatif