Who to buy, What they make, Where to buy it.
Plus, Rachel's Top 10 Wardrobe Must Haves and Faux Pas, Picks for Fall.
Presentation for Montreal Geek Girl Dinners, Sept 16, 2009
By Rachel Dhawan of Brazen Design, Things That Go Bling
1. How to Look Good and Buy Local
Montreal Geek Girl Dinners: The September Issue
2. 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
3. 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
7. Eve Gravel
• formal
• sleek tailoring
• sexy librarian
• incredible fabrics
• great detailing
• www.evegravel.com
8. 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
9. MEG Couture
• extremely high quality tailoring
• custom orders
• feminine, soft edges
• curvy girls
• www.megcouture.ca
11. 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
13. 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
14. 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
17. 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
18. 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
20. 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
21. 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
22. Unicorn Boutique
• 5135 St Laurent
• www.boutiqueunicorn.com
• New (1 yr old)
• Montreal, US and Swedish
brands
• Small but select vintage section
• UniCollective workshops
23. 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
24. Le Marche MTL
• 24 Des Pins E.
• www.lemarchemtl.com
• Montreal, US and Asia
• teeny-tiny
• edgy fashion (not conservative)
• great vintage shoe selection
25. Headquarters
• 1649 Amherst
• www.hqgalerieboutique.com
• The Village
• also an art gallery
• art, clothing, jewellery, bags
made in montreal, canada, us,
asia
26. Perfide
• 4207 Notre Dame
• www.vachemorte.com
• Saint Henri
• emphasis on Quebecois
designers
• Owner’s line SweetMeat
available in store: all handmade
27. 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
28. Online
• Mudshark Streetwear (based in
Toronto)
• Chiccane.com (based in MTL)
• Etsy (use the Shop Local
feature)
• Green Is Black (dot ca)
• Greenloop
30. 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
31. 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
32. 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
33. 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)
34. 5. The Jacket
• tailored
• buttoned
• structured
• hip-length
• medium weight fabric
• recommended: Eve Gravel
Scissor Hands Jacket
35. 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!
36. 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/
37. 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
38. 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)
39. 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
40. Fall Picks
• dark nailpolish
• red lips
• structured leather and denim
• gingham
• tall boots
• high, belted and full skirts
41. 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.
42. 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
43. 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