All Hands on Dex

Y'all heard of the Canadian brand Dex? It's a street-style line from Montreal catering to (just discovered from the website) the 18 - 24 demographic. Strange how I own many of their things... In truth, they have a transition line called Nylon which caters to the aging segment of our population (those from 24 - 40), but I've never actually come across it.

At any rate, Dex has one store (that I've been able to find), on St. Laurent north of Sherbrooke, in a block with zillions of appealing shops like Space FB and Lola and Emilie and U&I. (There's also quite a lot of crap on this lively block, for what it's worth. Oh, and Schwartz's Deli. I hate smoked meat but if you're into it, apparently there's nothing like it anywhere else in the world. Not even NY... I've never walked past that place in 20 year's worth of visits without seeing a lineup out the door.)

I always stop into the Dex store in search of a well-priced gem of the "unwrinkleable at the bottom of the handbag" variety. It's a discount location of sorts, meaning that everything seems always to be on sale for 50% off the tag price (at least every time I've been there it has been).

Here's a great little dress I got for $40.00 (originally $80.00):



Isn't the drop-waist cute? Don't you like the creamy, off-white shade (so much easier to wear than stark white)? And who doesn't love a zip front dress?? (Talk about ease-of-access!) Yesterday I wore this with a yellow cardi and the red gladiators and I felt so modern, so street. Of course, I'm a woman who italicizes the word street, so perhaps you oughta take it with a grain of salt...

I Wanna Live Here Too...

Here are some candid shots of the Gault. Check out the outrageous, beautiful design. If only it didn't look like a tornado had hit, I'd have taken a couple of photos of the room before we left. (Note to self: In future, take photos of room before the child enters.)

We Interrupt Theme Week For This Public Service Message...

Meet my new role model:


Look, I'm know you've seen this. I'm sure Access Hollywood has it on high-rotation. (And with good cause.) Even those Fug Yourself women couldn't come up with anything bitchy to say...


Holy crap this woman kicks ass. I want to look like her right now, never mind when I'm sixty-fucking-three years old. (Bet you didn't think I had the wherewithal to curse so many times in such a short space.)

Please corroborate my opinion...

The Face of Genius

There's no more accurate way to describe M. St. Laurent. The man was a visionary.

I was struck with melancholy-tinged pleasure as I wandered from piece to amazing piece (the Mondrians, the Picassos, the Russian collection, Nan Kempner's burgundy wool jumpsuit in size minus 2, extra tall). As other bloggers have mentioned, it's not a vast show. But there's not an inch of wasted space.

My daughter particularly enjoyed an embellished, beaded wedding garment with the writing "Say You'll Love Me Forever".

I got two photos before the security person advised that it was "illegal" to snap shots. Fair enough. Here they are for your viewing pleasure.*



*Honestly, they don't do justice to the detail up close...

Strange How it Doesn't Look Like It's Pouring...

Here's my daughter enjoying a sculpture outside the Musee de Beaux Arts:

This was taken just before we went inside to see the YSL exhibit...

Hanging at HQ

So, let's start at the beginnning (sort of) with our fabulous walk to Headquarters Galerie+Boutique, through old Montreal, over to St. Catherine (which they close a massive part of for the summer to encourage street traffic!) and then up Amherst. This unassuming storefront contains some lovely treasures - and delightful people!

Meet Judy and Amanda, graphic and fashion designers respectively (by day) and sales associates extraordinaire on the occasional weekend whilst their friends Angie and Tyson, co-owners of HQ, are busy out of the store:

HQ is a gallery (downstairs) and a boutique (upstairs) with an emphasis on local talent (Angie's own line is called Norwegian Wood) and eclectic vintage accessories. It's also the place where I got these shoes lo those many weeks ago!

Check them out, along with my gorgeous new painted brass shell necklace ($15.00) and my new Tshirt ($46.00). I realize that's pricey but it has cool flowers stencilled on it!

And, in the spirit of posting photos of myself that really aren't shit-hot, in the interests of showing off the clothes like, right this minute, here's a shot of my new, linen paper bag skirt (Haiku, $90.00), the delicate lines of which are not adequately conveyed, I fear. Don't worry, you'll be seeing this one (when I have a chance to pair it with the right shirt etc.) many times again. I love buying brands I haven't seen before, esp. when they are the grassroots creative output of Canadian designers!

43 Hours in Montreal

I freakin' love this town!

So, I may have been there for all of 43 hours, but not a moment was wasted.

Coming later today - and continuing on and on and on - is K Went Shopping in Montreal theme week.

Stay tuned for pics and details on the following highlights:

• My experience at Headquarters Galerie and Boutique (in a word, awesome!)
• Walking and cabbing and metro-ing through rain and shine. And the rain was torrential...
• Going to the YSL exhibit at the Musee de Beaux Arts
• Shopping on St. Denis and St. Laurent and St. Catherine and de la Montagne and the list goes on. The purchases are sooooo fun!
• Seeing Wall-e at the AMC (formerly the Montreal Forum, now a movie complex?!). In brief, DO NOT TAKE YOUR KID to see this. Total trauma will ensue. 3 hours of crying. Cartoon is not for children. Or adults with any issues about the state of the world.
• My awesome hotel, the Gault, where everyone should stay at least once because it is so beautiful and luxurious, it will thrill you.
• Yummy food.