FASHION Magazine

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While London Fashion Week just ended and the shows in Milan started this morning, we’re going back to revisit the fourth and final day of Montreal Fashion Week. This year Groupe Sensation Mode launched a new event, Exhibit 22, that showcased up-and-coming designers. Most of the invitees were from Montreal, including Betina Lou by Marie-Ève Émond. New discoveries included knitwear designer Maude Nibelungen and accessories line Aime by W. by Bertrand W. Delancourt. I’ve also been personally following fellow local ladies Evelyne Fay from White Label and Hayley Gibson from Birds of North America, but I must send out a special shout-out to B.C.-boy Earl Luigi from LLUI—we’re both from the Philippines and I love how he incorporates Filipino textiles into his work.

Betina Lou’s cute clothes are secretary-chic, and we can’t get enough. Created by Montreal designer Marie-Eve Emond, the collection is full of high waists, decorative buttons, fur collars, and subtle details, resulting in classic, almost vintage-looking pieces that are simple enough to wear every day. It’s easy to imagine girls scooping up these threads and pretending to live their lives in a François Truffaut film.

The lineup for the outdoor extravaganza Festival Mode & Design Montreal, starting today and running through August 6th, is sure to be a circus of amazing events. And while tonight’s big fashion buzz surrounds Jean Paul Gaultier‘s ready-to-wear show, I’m also in a tizzy over all the local talent.

To really discover the backbone of Montreal street style, here are my five must-see shows that highlight local talent.

1. Montreal Fashion Week highlights
August 3 at 9 p.m.

In case you missed Semaine de la Mode last February, you can see all the fall and winter 2011/12 looks on one stage–and then go shop their looks, which should all be in-store by now. The models are some of Quebec’s most beloved stars, including Francisco Randez, who is the face of JPG’s fragrance, Le Male. Look for my coups de coeur: the sexy femme style of Barilà, avant-garde Denis Gagnon, glittery baubles by Micalla, and Mulcair’s tailored tomboy chic. Also part of the show is the dress by Kwantlen University student Earl Mabaquiao that won the Télio contest. I had the honour of wearing his dress to a posh event this past spring. (Thank you, Earl!)

See more of our festival picks! »

Last weekend saw the first-ever Smart Design Mart (smartdesignmart.com) unfold in a building on Casgrain Street in Mile End. The fashion, art and design event “was put together in one month,” says Angie Johnson who, along with her B.F. and business partner, Tyson Bodnarchuk–they are the duo behind Headquarters Galerie + Boutique–hooked up with five like-minded pals to organize a gathering of 50-plus exhibitors. Said Johnson, “Nobody needed another arts and crafts fair. Our idea was to put together a mini-boutique.”

Read a round-up of our favourite finds after the jump.