MFW Day 1 - Things aren’t looking good
Day 1 of Montreal Fashion Week is over.
I am exhausted. I was stuck at the same venue for nearly 11hours. I came home with two goodie bags, one containing a pair of crocs (no, not the ugly crocs thankfully), Eye Candy The Volumes magazine, chips and pamphlets. I missed out on getting an M0851 goodie bag which had small leather items like keychains and a wallet.
I made a couple of new friends, 2 buyers from Massachussetts and another girl from a local independent publication called “La Belle Epoque”. Talking to them certainly helped passed the time, although I wish I had met them earlier during the 3 hour break inbetween the first show and the cocktail hour. I read my book for a solid 2hrs perched on a stool downstairs at the snack bar. Paid $12.50 for a ham sandwich, pasta salad and small chocolate cake.
Befriending these new people was fascinating and exciting. I got to ask questions I’ve always wanted to ask to buyers and the journalist knew all the dirt on the inner workings of what the Chabanel industry is like. Chabanel is the garment district in northern Montreal where buyers can buy directly from the showrooms and don’t have to assist all the fashion show shenanigans in the Old Port. I’ll talk about that tomorrow.
Enough of my social antics. I can’t reveal much about the shows, but I’d have to say for today, Muse by Christian Chenail was the best show. This shocks even myself since I really didn’t care for his last 2 collections at all, but this season he really pushed the envelope and I was amazed that he could produce such a great collection.
The worst show was Envers by Yves Jean Lacasse.
Ok.
What is up with this guy? People are clamoring to see his shows, but his collections are terrible!! He’s like a bad Jean-Paul Gaultier wannabe, at least Gaultier still knows how to make clothes. I think the only notable talent Mr. Lacasse has is creating these nice tailored jackets in embroidered fabric for men. But he does that for EVERY collection. Ugh. Enough. I’m never going to his shows again. I’m not the only one to think so, the expression on people’s faces were priceless. One guy was just squinting his eyes, his jaw dropped open as the male models passed by, trying to figure out what in the world was going on.
Marie Saint Pierre? At first I was impressed with her, but not anymore. It’s always the same thing, you can see it on people’s faces, they start yawning, they get bored. And does she even try to venture out onto different fabrics? I don’t think so.
More juicy gossip.
March Fashion Show Madness
Like many of you, I get excited about fashion shows, they’re exciting, glamorous, and way too brief. For the 20-somethings out there who don’t mind hanging out in loud clubs and douse themselves in martinis late at night, here’s the bulk of the fashion shows being held this month.
Be forewarned that fashion shows have a tendency to start late. Show up early at your own risk!
Karv Fashion Show @ Club 1234
March 7th, 2008 at 10PM
Tickets are available (10$) price at the door will be (15$).
For Tickets & Table Reservations Call : 707-3333
Cause: Promotional
Click here for the Facebook Event
CASA Cares Fashion Show @ Olympia Theatre
March 13th, 2008 at 8:30PM
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at 1500 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Room GM 218-4.
Cause: Donation to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation
Designers: Dom Rebel, Aqua di Lara, Bodybag by Judith Desjardins, Dinh Bà and more.
Ethni-cité fashion-show & Party @ Time Supper Club
March 13th, 2008 at 11:30PM
Pre-sale tickets are $15. Price at the door will be $20.
Cause: Promotion of cultural diversity among local and international students
Click here for the Facebook Event
The Official “WALK” Fashion Show @ House Nightclub
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:30PM
Tickets are $40. Groups of 10 or more get a $10 discount per person.
Contact Megan Clark: thats.crazy.babyyy@hotmail.com
Tel: (514) 525-8567
Cause: Donations for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation
Click here for the Facebook Event
Armure Urbaine @ Marche Bonsecours for Montreal Fashion Week
March 27th, 2008 at 9:30PM
Tickets are $30. Can be purchased at Admission.com.
Cause: Donations for YWCA.
Designers: Body Bag by Jude, Dinh Bà, Denis Gagnon, Envers by Yves Jean-Lacasse, Helmer, Collection Iris, Marie Saint Pierre, Muse by Christian Chenail, M Siamo, Mylene B.
Path of Destruction Fashion Show - Location TBD
April 5th, 2008 - Time TBD
Tickets are $25. Price at the door will be $30.
Cause: Promotional, free stuff
Click here for the Facebook Event
OR you can just join the Montreal Fashion Group on Facebook and make your life easier.
And as a final announcement, which isn’t fashion show related, I found out that Marie Saint Pierre will be opening a new boutique at the Rockland Centre soon.
Forget Me Not Stores
Sometimes a forgetful self can lead to missing opportunities to seek and explore stores around the city. This happens to me quite often but luckily I frequent these quarters enough to jot them down in my memories for future trekkings.
Here’s the list of targets I want to check out:
Boul. St-Laurent
U&I
Vivienne Westwood, Ksubi jeans, 3.1 Philip Lam. It’s a higher end casual store tha always looks so somber on the inside, but the brands attract me enough to at least check them out.
Blank
Often referenced as the Quebec version of American Apparel. 100% made in Montreal and a good deal cheaper. Just don’t expect ads and posters of scantily clad women and men in their basic undies around the store.
Rue St-Denis
OLAM
Once reported as a featured store on Musique Plus, there is another one on St-Catherine as well. I passed by the one on St-Denis and saw that they carry a mix of Quebec designers and some high end imports like Miss Sixty.
Philippe Dubuc
Although I long though he had closed down due to money troubles, he still maintains a modest 2 story boutique. He’s been touted as a designer with a great eye for design and tailoring, but I really want to see with my own two eyes.
Muse
I just noticed yesterday that Muse is only two doors away from Philippe Dubuc’s store! Very small boutique from what I could see, only one window? I saw a sale sign, maybe I could find something there.
