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.c om

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.deborahadamsbagsandbel ts.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.c om • 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.deborahadamsbagsandbel ts.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

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Buy Local in Montreal

by BrazenDesign on Sep 17, 2009

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Buy Local in Montreal — Presentation Transcript