FlashMode: A Fall Fashion Event in Old Montréal

(Posted on Wordpress on October 3rd, 2014)

For almost a year, the only capacity under which I had been covering local events was for a blog directed at models, in an effort to inform them about local events. While I appreciate the opportunity to not only immerse myself in the Montreal fashion scene but to write about it, no matter the context, I must say that I'm quite happy with my decision to start covering shows for my own blog, as well. It is therefore with seemingly new eyes and an open mind that, on October first, I made my way to FlashMode, at the Darling Foundry, in Old Montreal.

The invite-only event drew attention to a series of our most talented designers and successful clothing stores, all with brick-and-mortar locations in Old Montreal, from Anne de Shalla to Denis Gagnon and from Travis Taddeo to Philippe Dubuc, while providing people with an opportunity to network. The evening started off with a complimentary glass of champagne, beautiful, miniature food and some time to view a fashion photo exhibit that featured some of this season's key designs.

At seven o'clock we all filed into another room, where we were privy to a brief but poignant presentation. A handful of models walked the runway to a two-storey structure made of scaffolding, where they posed for photographs. During this time, the catwalk was dismantled and the room was set up for the next phase of the evening. A lot of people around me expressed surprise at the show's short duration, as many people had arrived a couple of hours prior, in anticipation. That said, I appreciated the layout of the evening and, when I think about how I would like to display my upcoming line, I never see it paraded down a runway in the traditional sense. I see a photo exhibit and cocktails and a very short show or even performance art. I like that FlashMode ventured outside the box or, at least, thought along the same lines as I do and, in keeping with its artistic spirit of it all, I took a few, non-traditional runway shots.

The evening concluded with a projected film featuring some backstage footage of Denis Gagnon, blaring beats and more time to check out some locally designed garments, which were displayed at various vendors' tables.

As I made my way to coat check, I felt my inner aesthete smile. It had been a beautiful evening, I met some great people I look forward to seeing again and I'm excited about the new path this blog is now on. This round-up packed a punch and left the people I spoke to and overheard hungry for more. It was a fabulous way to kick off autumn and get people enthused about the style gems Old Montreal has to offer and I rather look forward to whatever the SDC Vieux-Montréal and the designers they showcased have in store for us next!

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Final Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Office Wardrobe Update

i'm going to lay the whole fall/winter wardrobe challenge to rest today so that i can move on to what i want to put together for spring, as of next week. seeing as i was busy job-hunting, writing up "25 days of etsy christmas", redecorating three rooms in my flat (pictures of that are forthcoming) and working on the new shop, i didn't really give myself time to sew until now. that said, i did scour thrift stores and go through every piece of clothing i own (no small feat, i'll have you know!) and i did put together twelve basic, occasionally interchangeable outfits that are great for the office and that work for fall and winter. i've put together a few collages to give you the gist of these and, although the brands vary from those that i found and own (a lot of my pieces are vintage and i prefer lancome, dior and sometimes mac, when it comes to make-up), you'll get the idea!

i must say that the following h & m trousers were really well priced and are ridiculously comfortable.

i was so happy when i found a similar pencil skirt in this exact shade of purple, in verdun, secondhand, for $5!

my glasses have more of a cat-eye shape and, after buying a pair of cole haan chelsea boots online only to discover that they are too narrow for me, i came across a great pair of baxter boots at last year's swap team exchange. you can see them here.

even though i am a white girl with some arabic blood and probably shouldn't wear yellow, i can't seem to stay completely away. for a more casual work look, i've put together an outfit resembling this one and i like to wear it with a good 'ol fashioned french twist or by styling my hair with a slight, 60's bump at the crown, pinning up the side and letting the rest of it down and slightly curled at the ends. 

although i do my best to jazz up my office wardrobe, i'm usually seen wearing this combo or something quite like it:

a friend of mine bought this betty page clothing dress, never wore it and sold it to me for $20. i wear it with neutral panty hose or stocking and burgundy, suede mary janes that i also got from this friend but at a clothing swap. 

i was also lucky enough to come across a lovely, burgundy, a-line dress with leather pocket trim from lord & taylor. i bought it at my favourite verdun thrift store for $7 but most of their house brand dresses are between $110 and $300 so i'm quite pleased! i won't be able to shoot in natural light until next week-end and i can't find an image of the dress online so it'll have to have its own post, sometime soon!

this is the last time i'll be referring to this particular wardrobe, as i'll be focusing on the spring fashions i want and/or have, as of next week. the timing is great, too, because i go back to working nine-to-five in an office, tomorrow morning. 

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Wardrobe Challenge Update: The Navy Blue Skirt

as previously mentioned, i've challenged myself to upgrade my fall/winter professional wardrobe and i've given myself until the holidays. (i know this may seem like it's late but i live in canada; it stays cold for a long time, over here!). the point is to either find clothing in thrift stores, score them in clothing exchanges or make them myself.  i've been sewing every chance i get and will post an update on that when i feel that i have enough to show. 

in the meantime, i will share one key piece with you. for a long time, i've been seeking the perfect navy blue skirt. i have this great, jones new york top i found at a thrift store, over a year ago and, last week, i finally found its partner. check out the lovely, denver hayes skirt i bought at the friperie renaissance, in verdun, for $5, here with the aforementioned jones new york top.

fitting betsy, this mannequin, is a bit of pain, given how much smaller than me she is and given that she has such a bizarre shape but you can nonetheless see how great this skirt's silhouette is:

bonus number one: this outfit, as you see it here, without a cardigan or blazer, will be perfect in the spring, with a pair of red heels and a matching clutch or with tall, brown boots and a matching handbag. 

bonus number two: it is replacing the only other navy blue skirt i had. i hate having to squeeeeze my size 12 frame into anything, let alone something with a slit in it and a sheen to it. (i'll soon be posting about how i've become a fabric snob without breaking the bank). this guy is going in the pile for the clothing exchange i'm hosting next week-end:

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