Download - Buy Local in Montreal
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