Fashionwear has always been a fashion service which holds events in the Ruby Foo’s Hotel 4 times during the Fall and again in the Spring. Stock of about 2 dozen lines of female trendy clothes  are shown each time.

As you try on outfits, you are aided by one of the consultants, who helps you coordinate a wardrobe. Remembering what you bought last time (they keep a computer list), they try to update your look based on what you already have at home. You can find out the dates of sales by getting on their e-mail list.

Location:  Ruby Foos Hotel (free parking), 7655 Decarie Blvd.   (look for sign in lobby or ask at front desk for their suite)
Corner: Pare
Phone: 514-731-7701
Dates and Times of sale: Tues & Wed, Sept 28 and 29: 10-8

If you are unable to make it,you can visit their permanent shop for clothes and giftware:
Fashionwear Shop: Exit 26 off 40 West, 3100 Rte. Harwood,  Centre d’Achats Hudson
Phone: 450-218-1955 cell: 514-234-4707
Hours: Tues & Wed 10-8, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat & Sun 10-5
www.fashionwearcanada.com

Q1: You have suggested that you’d like to address the delicate subject of ladies undergarments.

Like everything else which is built, the infrastructure that supports it all makes the difference. If you have on a bra that fits correctly, your clothes will fit better and you will feel better. I think we have to give credit to Oprah here for waking women up to this idea. What most women need is a good bra makeover, because they tend to choose fashion over support

Q:2  Where can you find a place for a bra makeover?

It is important when you are looking for a bra that you go to a shop where they know how to fit you. Women tend to stay brain-stuck in the size they were at 18 years old, and for the rest of their lives think they wear a 34B – or whatever. Girls – as you get older, your body changes in all sorts of ways, and so does your bust.

Q3: How would a woman know if their bra doesn’t fit correctly?

– Does your band run parallel to the ground all the way around or does the back ride up?
– Does the center piece lie flat against your rib cage or does it dig in, rub or poke out?
– Are the straps vertical in the front and back?
– Is there any bulging under your arm?

Q4: How do you find businesses where they know how to fit you?

Since I’ve been writing my Smart Shopping Montreal book, I’ve been  heartbroken that the corsetieres of this world had mostly died off. I thought the next generation would never be able to know the pleasure of a proper fitting bra. The good news I have found a few new  businesses doing this and we still have a couple of oldies left.

Jeunique International has been around since 1959. Their bras ($110-$150), instead of having the weight of the breasts supported by shoulder straps, have a “banderin” that acts like a shelf to help support delicate breast tissue from underneath and around the sides. This means no underwires. The free custom-fit sessions by these bra consultants can help anyone from 26A to 46KK (beige, white, black) look better.  514-695-1818 x235 Hours by appointment.

Phone: 514-695-1818 x235
www.jeuniquecanada.com

Vestiny is a bra manufacturing company here in Montreal. They’ve say that 4 out of every 5 women are wearing the wrong size bra.? Even though you are shopping wholesale, they will fit you ($50) and help you figure out the right style for your body shape. You can buy bras here wholesale ($40) in sizes 32C-40H in about 6 or 7 styles in 6 colors.

Phone: 514-788-1404
www.vestiny.net

Q5: Are there any regular stores, where you don’t need an appointment where women can be fitted properly?

Discovering someone who knows how to fit bras is hard, so it’s great to note that at J. Hauerstock, a 47-year-old service-oriented family business has been fitting them for years, and discounts too. All you need in slips, nightgowns (Diamond Tea, Nanso), camisoles, underwear and bras (to 44I) by Triumph, Hanna, Fantasie, Grenier, Champion, Anita, Chantelle, Empreinte and Padded Attractions, etc., are here at prices at least 20% off, and usually much more. There are even pretty things for teens, and full figured ladies (Wacoal minimizers and you can order Edith Lances), body shapers and nursing bras as well. Now you can get your bathing suits here: Christina, Baltex, Tyr, Pointe Zero, Gottex, Nygard and Sunflair (bra sized).

Location:  6900 boul. Decarie, Carre Decarie
corner: Vezina
Phone: 514-738-4186
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-6, Fri 9-3, Sun 12-5

Q1: Dental work is expensive, it’s one excuse that many people use to put it off ( besides the pain part of course!).

One way to keep costs down is to use the residents’ clinic at our teaching hospitals. Prices will be 10%-30% off regular dental costs. You do need to sign up first and be accepted.

Q2: What does resident’s clinic mean? Do they know what they are doing?

Graduating students who have been trained and need more experience before they go out and hang up a shingle, work in this clinic. Their professors are following their every move to make sure all is done correctly. They are all making sure their work is quite good and their conduct professional – remember, they’re trying to get good mark.

Q3: What kind of dental work can they do?

Check ups, fillings, bridges, crowns, gum problems and even orthodontic work.

Q4: Where are they located?

Jewish General Hospital – For less expensive dental care, you can use the residents’ clinic at this hospital. They do all types of dentistry, and you only have to wait about a month or two for an appointment. Prices vary between 10% – 30% off (exam $50-$90, cleaning $100, fillings approx. $65 for single surface to $215 for 5).

Location: 5750 Cote des Neiges, room A024
corner: Cote Ste-Catherine
Tel: 514-340-7910
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-12 and 1-4:15

Montreal General Hospital/McGill Teaching Clinic Affiliated with McGill University has both emergency dental care (514-934-8063) for temporary fillings or abscesses and a residents’ clinic (514-934-8063) for dental care, as well as bridges, crowns and gum problems. There is also a separate, unassociated clinic (McGill University Undergraduate Teaching Clinic, 514-934-8021), which offers about 40% off the QDSA fee guide on dentistry and minor orthodontic work. The treatment is provided by students who are supervised by McGill’s Faculty of Dentistry, and patients are screened by application (514-934-8042) and evaluation.

Location: 1650 Cedar Ave.

Royal Victoria Hospital Dental is affiliated with McGill University. This clinic is referred to by Quebec dentists for medically compromised patients (coumadine, HIV, mulitple medications). Make an appointment for a screening (Tuesday 8:30-4 or Fri morn) to assess your problems. The graduates can do bridges and dental surgery too, at their residents’ clinic (514-843-1609).

Location: 687 Pine ouest, room E3.18
corner: University
Tel: 514-843-1680
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-4 (closed lunch 12-1)

Universite de Montreal  The Faculty of Dental Medicine has dental students offering a full range of  treatments. You must fill in an application to get into the program, and there is at least an 8-12 month wait. An Orthodontic clinic is available at 514-343-6056.

Location: 2900 Edouard Montpetit
corner: Louis-Colin
Tel: 514-343-6750
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-12 and 1:30-4:30 (closed summer)
http://www.medent.umontreal.ca/en/dental

Queen Elizabeth Dental Services is affiliated with the McGill Dental Residency Program. You can come here for a bit of a price break for dental work. All prices are 25% less than a dentist except for implants. A cleaning, for the first time with panorax x-ray is $160, but next time with regular  x-rays it’s $125. A regular consultation (exam) is $23. They also do cosmetic work, implants, laser and emergency service.

Location: 2100 Marlowe suite #244
corner: Sherbrooke
Tel: 514-369-1999
Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 8:30-5:30, Wed 8:30-7

Q4 What about periodic teeth cleaning, can you get that done at these places?

Halfway through their dental hygiene program at John Abbott College Dental Hygiene Clinic, students are ready to see patients. About 30 a day can be seen for a $25 fee ($10 for kids 4-15), which includes exam, cleaning and x-rays (if you need them). Teeth can be filled for $15 or $20 by a dentist, sealants are $5 a tooth and sport guards $15. Expect to spend at least 2 1/2 hours here, perhaps coming even twice, since the students go slowly and carefully while being supervised by a dentist.

Location: 21275 Lakeshore, Stewart East Ste-Anne de Bellevue
corner: ch. Ste-Marie
Tel: 514-457-5010
Hours: Sept-Dec Mon-Wed 8:30-4:30 (changes in Spring)

Q1: The summer plays havoc with our skin since we’re outdoors a lot, so now it’s time to do some maintenance. Where can we go in the city to find someone that can help in this area?

In the past, we used to have to wander through the first floor of a department store from counter to counter trying to figure out what might be best for us. Each brand had salespeople vying for our loyalty so it was uncomfortable and sometimes difficult leaving one to go to another.  There are now stores that have taken that whole floor, turned it into a specialized store for skin care and cosmetics.

Q2: Who are they?

First we had Sephora, the world-wide chain show up at Fairview. Then Kiehl’s the famous NYC shop settled itself down on Ste-Catherine St near McGill College and lastly we have our homegrown Murale which is an offshoot of Pharmaprix in Place Ville Marie.

Q3: How are they different than the department stores?

The concept is to take all the possible brands of makeup, skin care products and perfume and put them all together in one store, so you can compare them side by side. Salespeople are trained for a month in ALL of the brands. You can mix it up and buy one brand of moisturizer, another of shadow and still another one’s lipstick.

Q4: Okay walk us through the 3 of them and tell us the differences.

Sephora‘s brands are endless:  Philosophy, Bliss, Makeup Forever, Bare Escentuals, Too Faced, Du Wop, Hourglass, B Kammins, Smashbox and on and on and on… Make up applications are free with appointments.

Locations: Fairview Pointe-Claire, 6815 Transcanadienne at boul. St-Jean  (514-630-6100); Carrefour Laval (450-688-8886); Promenades St-Bruno (450-441-3400).
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
www.sephora.com

Since 1851, Kiehl’s has been a venerable NYC purveyor of fine quality skin and hair care preparations. With simple packaging and repeat results, it has continued to have loyal fans. The Creme de Corps, a custard-like body lotion, is a perennial favourite.

New products come out in response to customer demands and after rigorous testing. One, the Blue Herbal (appeared in 1964) gel cleanser, magically zaps pimples, and the lip balm has SPF4.

Men too can shop here, and try the mint or lavender shaving cream as well as cleansers. There’s 8 shower scents, like coriander or acai, and even baby has a line too. In a salute to the owner, each store has a motorbike to oogle. Curb service and mail order are available.

Location: 760 Ste-Catherine ouest
corner: McGill College
Phone: 514-788-4226
Hours: Regular plus Sun 12-5
www.kiehls.com

Pharmaprix has spun off its beauty department into Murale for makeup and skin care. The overwhelming whiteness is a canvas for about 200 prestige brands of cosmetics, creams, lotions and makeup. Some brands are only here, like June Jacob, and there’s Organic by Stella McCartney, Skin by Monica, Smash Box, Mommy, Skin Lab Series, Chanel and Barcelona’s Natura Bisee. For makeup there’s Bare Escentuals, Bobbi Brown and the Danish line GOSH.

You can try out the Free high-tech skin analysis computer called “Beauty Metrix” to find out about your: hydration, sebum, wrinkles, pores and hyperpigmentation, in order to get a list of recommended products. There’s a brow bar for shaping ($19) and private rooms for treatments.

Location: 1 Place Ville Marie
corner: Rene-Levesque
Phone: 514-875-1593
Hours: Mon-Wed 9:30-7, Thurs & Fri 9:30-9, Sat 9:30-5
www.murale.ca

Q1: Today you wanted to tell us that we can make our own wine from grapes, right here in Montreal…

Making your own wine is part of the tradition of many families, and has become an addictive hobby for others. The best part of this hobby is that you get to enjoy drinking the results, and you can stock up on perfect and incredibly inexpensive ($2-$3 a bottle!) gifts for holidays or for an anytime house gift.

Q2: Did you ever make your own wine?

Once, while I lived in Greece, I was taken to their annual wine-making festival. After you paid an admittance at the gate of a park, you were given a crude hand-made ceramic mug. This was a lush park, not unlike Mont Royal, and as you strolled through the thick trees and pathways, you eventually would come upon large square cement shallow basins (like huge baby pools) where each grape grower had dumped his stock, and people would be stomping around in the basin mashing the grapes with their feet.

You were encouraged to stomp along with the others, and were given free samples of wine at each stop. If you didn’t like that particular one, you just poured it out into the woods and trundled on to the next one you could find. The U.S. Navy sailors I was with just adored this outing – the mucking around was great fun and it was also a really cheap way to get drunk. I never realized at the time that I was participating in culinary history.

Q3: Well I don’t think many of us are going to crush grapes with our feet, so getting back to Montreal, how do you do it here?

Grapes come into town from now until mid-November from California, Ontario and Europe. You can buy them at the public markets or at Bacchus, the first store mentioned below. It is possible to make a fast young wine in as little as forty days, but waiting ninety days til Christmas would yield a much finer tasting wine.

If you want to skip the first process of grape crushing, then during the rest of the year you can buy the grape in concentrates, and go from there. All of the stores will offer you any guidance you need in order to come up with a fine wine. Cheers!

The reason for the huge space that the store Bacchus Le Seigneur du Vin takes up is revealed now, in September. At this time, crates full of grapes are ordered for customers, and all the machinery you could need to crush them in order to make your wine for the year can be rented here and done on the spot.

There are daily deliveries of grapes, about twenty-five varieties in all. You must order a minimum of six cases (approximately $26 a case) in order to use the crushing service, which costs $25 for 6-10 cases and $2.50 per case above that.

The rest of the year you can buy your fresh Village Vintner juice concentrates (about 24 reds or whites), bottles, labels, corks, rubber stoppers and even 54L containers.

Location: 1820 Dollard Ave, Lasalle
corner: at Newman Blvd..
Phone: 514- 366-8000
Hours:  now to about end of October: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5  p.m.,
(rest of year) Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Q4: What about other shops that might be able to help us with this delicious project?

For under $100 to start with, at, you can ferment your own wine (for $2 – $3 a bottle) in about 4 weeks’ time. If you have no room at home, you can make and bottle your own wine at the premises of PurVin-Paul Bourget for $3 – $ 4 per bottle. Helpful advice is given by this 37-year-old business, along with the glass aging jars, hydrometers, bottles, gallon jugs, corks, and labels needed to make Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay. From Italy, California, France, Australia, Chile and Spain there are about 75 vineyard quality varieties of wine juices.

Location: 1265 O’brien Blvd, Ville St-Laurent
corner: at Rochon St.
Phone: 514-747-3533
Hours: Tues-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5
www.purvincanada.com

Mosti Mondiale 2000 has been located in a busy wine-making community for the past 14 years and is well equipped. You can buy or rent equipment – press, crushers. Then you would need  new or re-cycled bottles, labels, barley, malt, hops and concentrates by Sterile or fresh juice. There are lots of beer possibilities: Irish, Australian, Mexican, Scottish, Dutch and ales too, with beer kits starting at $10.

Location: 5187 Jean-Talon est,  St-Leonard
corner: Viau
Phone: 514-728-6831
Hours:  Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5 (Sept-Nov Sun 9-5)

If you or your kids have a song in your heart and would like to learn to play an instrument, why not take a look at the West Island West Island Music Academy?

Barbara Ovadia has devoted her career to the field of Music Education over the past 35 years.  She has worked as a Music Specialist at several local elementary schools. Besides that she founded and directed Broadway Theater, a local children’s theater group for 10 years.

Joel Ovadia. the Musical Director has spent the past 10 years teaching guitar, piano, bass and drums to students of all ages. He graduated from Vanier College and Concordia University with degrees in Music. Joel also worked for several summers at McGill University’s Garage Band Camp, taking the groups on tour throughout Quebec and has appeared on several independent releases as a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer, producer and engineer.

So between the two of them, they have covered the gamut from rock band to show tunes and can teach you the kind of music that you might want to learn.

Location: 61 Place Frontenac, Pointe-Claire
Tel: 514-505-6606 Fax: 514-375-1054
info@westislandmusicacademy.com
www.westislandmusicacademy.com

Q1: You wouldn’t think about it with today’s temperature, but  with the Fall season around the corner, women are going to need to refresh their wardrobes.

Yes if they shop at outlet stores or liquidation stores, they can get the brand names they know, that fit them well, for a lot less.

Q2: What is the difference between an outlet store and a liquidation store?

An outlet store is often a store where the same brand is sold for less but it may not be the same items as in their regular retail stores. Not all items sold at an outlet are found at their regular stores – perhaps the weight of the cotton is less or the logo is stenciled on instead of embroidered or it was bought just to be sold here. Some outlet shops mix these different items, some recalls from regular stores and some regular priced items.

A liquidation store is clearances from the regular stores from last season or overstocks from this season.

Q3: If they don’t have time to run all over the city for these, are they clustered anywhere?

Centre Riocan in Kirkland is large, has 4 strips of shops around a parking lot and there are perhaps two dozen stores in this outdoor “mall”. If you keep going west on the TCan to Exit 26, you will bump into a teeny weeny strip of 4 shops at Promenades Hudson. Both of these have some “single” brand ladies upscale clothing.

Q4: Okay we’ve made it to those malls, now, where to we shop?

Liz Claiborne Outlet is about to close on October 13. Liz lovers will be thrilled to be able to buy some of her lines discounted here – Liz & Co, Liz Golf, Liz Clairborne in sizes 4-22. The store is a mix of regular products like you’d find in a regular-priced boutique and clothes made just for outlet stores. You need to know the difference – or ask.

Location:  3264 Jean Yves, Centre Riocan, Kirkland
corner: Transcanadienne
Phone: 514-426-1549
Hours: Regular plus Sun 12-5
www.lizclaiborneinc.com

Jones New York Magasin Entrepot offers up Jones for less here in this white, airy spot. Beyond Jones (Sport, Signature Collection, Joneswear), though, you could buy Anne Klein New York, AK Sport, Evan Picone, Kasper, Bandalino or Nine West in a large size range from 2-16, 14W-24W and petites too.

Location: 3280 rue Jean-Yves, Centre Riocan, Kirkland
corner: Transcanadienne
Phone: 514-695-8385
Hours: Regular plus Sun 11-5
Other locations: Promenades Hudson (450-455-9009); St-Sauveur (450-227-8711).

Promenades Hudson:

Jones NY (450-455-9009) – famous designer’s lines (2-16), (Sport, Signature Collection, Joneswear), Anne Klein New York, AK Sport, Evan Picone, Kasper, Bandalino or Nine West sizes 4-18, 14W-24W, petites
Lace (450-455-5552) – ladies’ fashions sizes 6-18
Olsen (450-424-5224 – ladies (34 – 46 European size = 2 – 16 Canadian size) regular, samples, clearances

Location: Boul. Harwood, Exit 26 on the Trans Canada Highway
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
Tel: 514-694-2371