Not far from Ottawa, Montreal can seem like a world away.
A little over a week ago, you may recall I took a quick trip to the city to shop, eat and see friends. Here are a few of the highlights…
Upon arrival, my travel mate and I were greeted by a fabulously fashionable valet outside the very swank Hotel St. Paul on McGill St. in Old Montreal. Dressed impeccably in a crisp, fitted grey pinstripe suit accented boldly with a lime green silk tie, the driver wheeled the car around and whisked it off - to where I am still not sure! Once inside, we checked in as the lobby crowd was gathering and the beats were picking up. It was Thursday night, which apparently is “the” night to be out in Montreal. 
Once into our very white room (see above), we dolled up, popped open a wee bottle of champagne, and then headed out on the town with some very chic local ladies. Kicking off with a drink at the trendy Restaurant Le Local, a lively bistro just around the corner, we then returned to the hotel lobby for dinner at posh and popular restaurant/night spot Vauvert. Very friendly and accommodating service combined with stellar food, a hoppin’ DJ, and glamourous company made for quite the fun party and a slightly slow start to shopping the next day.
We browsed through Old Montreal as well as St. Laurent and St. Denis streets in Le Plateau. For more about shopping, check out these stylish guides:
- LouLou Shops: Westmount Exclusive
- Wish Magazine, 100% Canadian Shops
- Lucky Magazine City Guide, Montreal
- Elle Canada Shop Guide, Montreal
- Decor8 International Shop Guide
Friday night was another fine soiree, shared with more friends on their Sherbrooke St. rooftop patio, overlooking the summer skyline. In the big city, it doesn’t get much better than this…
We made Saturday, our last day in Montreal, count – stopping in at Holt Renfrew to check out their summer sale and taking in the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit at The Montreal Museum of Fine Art.
I feel so fortunate to have witnessed this exhibit, and to have experienced the brilliance of Saint Laurent up close. His impact and influence on fashion is considerable, and his contribution undeniable.
“Yves Saint Laurent is famed for revolutionizing the haute-couture tradition and laying the foundations of modern women’s wear. The wardrobe basics that he designed – pantsuit, culotte skirt, pea coat, blazer, safari jacket and tuxedo - shone with his innovative style and became true timeless classics. His designs were equally remarkable, reflecting wide-ranging sources of inspiration. In Saint Laurent’s stylistic vocabulary, music, art, performance, literature and impressions of far-off places were just as important as the new shapes he introduced. ”
-from the Montreal Museum of Fine Art
Saint Laurent’s work took my breath away. It was totally inspiring to see such intense colour and texture take shape, and to see for myself the power and beauty of a truly masterful cut, a careful fit and an artful silhouette. It is almost as though I have come away a better woman; one who at last understands that these elements are not just a projection of personal style, but also of self-love and self-respect. Reflecting on his career following his retirement in 2002, Yves Saint Laurent articulated his mission simply:
“I have believed for a long time that fashion is not there to merely embellish women, but I believe it is also a means to reassure them, to give them confidence, and to enable them to assert themselves. …I wanted to put myself at women’s disposal. That is to serve them, their bodies, their gestures, their attitudes and their life.”
Yves Saint Laurent died June 1, 2008. This is a short tribute to his life and work.
Montreal, as one of my favourite friends likes to say, is ” le monde aesthetique”. It is a fashion-forward, design-conscious, creative city pulsing with energy, optimism and economic success.
I wonder. If style is can empower an individual, can it do the same for a city?
