Those in the know have been going up to Papillon Blanc at a certain time of a certain day to scoop up their deals. Nowadays they are announcing sales so another Fall sample sale is on. Women who like made-in-Canada Pucci-like print and slinky tops and dresses, this is the moment to grab them as prices will be up to 70% off.

Location: 7250 Mile End, suite 502
Phone: 514-276-3763
Dates: Nov 10-13
Time: Wed-Fri 10-8, Sat 9-5
http://papillonblanc.com

This is the 3rd sale of the year for Arianne and it will last 10 days, from Nov 11-20th.  A homegrown company,, Arianne still produces the majority of their lingerie, tops, dresses, camisoles, sleepwear and loungewear at their facilities in Montreal. The sales are the only time that their doors are open to the public.

A nicely organized event, all of the items are organized by size and price so you can easily find what you’re looking for.  The merchandise is hung up and items that are on tables, are well marked.  Fitting rooms with mirrors are provided.

Location: 1655 Louvain ouest
corner: Marche Centrale
Dates:  Nov 11-20
Times: Mon-Wed: 10-5
Thurs & Fri: 10-9 pmSat & Sun: 10-5
www.ariannelingerie.com

Diamancel products are made with diamond dust and are as hard as diamonds so they are very strong, sharp, washable and never need replacing. They make, right here in Quebec,  diamond nail files, foot buffers and rasps (and also foot cream but I doubt they have diamonds in them!).  The files come in fine, medium, coarse, extra coarse and the callous rasp comes in medium and coarse.

I use their nail file and like it so much I buy them as gifts. They are having a 3-day warehouse clearance sale this week.

Location: 4345 Poirier Blvd, Ville St-Laurent
corner: Thimens Blvd West
Phone: 514-856-9711
Dates and times : Nov 11: 11-7, Nov 12: 10-7, Nov13: 9-5

On Saturday,  Nov 6th,  my husband, Stan Posner and I will be on the radio with Beta Wayne on CINQ-FM Radio Centreville Consumer. We will be discussing all kinds of fun things to do if you decide to drive South for a bit of warmth or if you will be planning a March Break holiday and want some ideas.

All of the information is from our bestselling book,  Drive I-95:Exit by Exit Info Maps, History and Trivia (www.drivei95.com). The show will be podcast and available for a week on their website.

Location: 102.3 FM
Date and time: Saturday Nov 6: 12:30-1 pm
www.radiocentreville.com

The Farha Foundation, in memory of Ron Farha, raises about $150,000 a year for those with HIV and AIDS. Twice a year they have fabulous fashion events where for a $5 entrance fee, you get to score great deals (50% to 90% off) on thousands of family fashion items which are sold by 70 different clothing companies and designers.

Last time these were some of the famous names found there: 69 jeans, Anastasia Lomonova, Bod & Christensen, Ca va de soi, Dalcci, Des Hauts et des bas, Dinh Ba Design, Envers par Yves Jean Lacasse, Franco Negretti, Gloria Gaudette, Guido & Mary, Hörst, Jack & Jones, Judy Design, Kärv, Ladydutch / TXT, Lily Rose Bijoux, Lollipops, Louben, Lucky 7, Luxyria, Lydia Lukidis, Melow, Mens, Micalla, Miss Sixty & Energie, Only, Pedro Sport, Philippe Dubuc, Rudsak, Rüfen, Second

Location: Palais des Congres. 201 Viger Ave West
Tel: 514-270-4900
Date: Nov 6 & 7
Hours: 10-5
www.farha.qc.ca

Mimi and Coco produce luxury knitwear in timeless styles that last more than one season. This weekend they are having a sample sale intheir Little Italy location. Their knits are made in Italy on tubular machines which hug the body comfortable and avoid seams.  Their attention to detail in buttons, stitching and trim make them pretty.
Expect to find  cardigans, dresses, tops, tees and some things for men and the kids too.

Location: 6717 boul. St-Laurent
corner: St-Zotique
Phone: 514-274-6262
Dates: Nov 4:11-8, NOv 5:10-8, Nov 6:10-6, Nov 7:11-5
www.mimicoco.com

It’s not often that Parasuco jeans opens it’s doors to a warehouse sale, so when it happens, it’s good to take advantage of it. Men and women can buy one-of-a-kind samples and more. Prices run as follows: tops are $15 and up, jeans $25 and up and jackets $35 and up.

Location: 105 Deslauriers, Ville St-Laurent
corner: Benjamin Hudon
Tel: 514-334-7980 X 318
Dates and Times: Thurs & Fri Nov 4&5: 9-9, Sat Nov 6: 9-5; Sun Nov 7: 10-5
www.parasuco.com

The Farha Foundation, in memory of Ron Farha, raises about $150,000 a year for those with HIV and AIDS. Twice a year they have fabulous fashion events where for a $5 entrance fee, you get to score great deals (50% to 90% off) on thousands of family fashion items which are sold by 70 different clothing companies and designers, which could be:

69 jeans, Anastasia Lomonova, Bod & Christensen, Ca va de soi, Dalcci, Des Hauts et des bas, Dinh Ba Design, Envers par Yves Jean Lacasse, Franco Negretti, Gloria Gaudette, Guido & Mary, Hörst, Jack & Jones, Judy Design, Kärv, Ladydutch / TXT, Lily Rose Bijoux, Lollipops, Louben, Lucky 7, Luxyria, Lydia Lukidis, Melow, Mens, Micalla, Miss Sixty & Energie, Only, Pedro Sport, Philippe Dubuc, Rudsak, Rüfen, Second

This year for their 26th edition, you can pre-register online to become a VIP member for $5. Then you can be eligible for the following:

– A chance to win a Samsung digital camera ($200 value)

– A chance to win an espresso machine and coffee set ($350 value)

– $50 Gift Certificate for Studio Adonnics

– Meet Au Coeur spokesperson, Valérie Simard (Saturday only)

– A chance to win a pair of tickets to the Farha Foundation’s One Life Benefit Concert held on December 1,2010 at the National ($50 value / 10 draws)

– Light breakfast, compliments of Java-U

– Avoid the crowd with early bird access to the event starting at 9 am

– Be eligible to win a $250 gift certificate for the next edition of AU COEUR DE LA MODE . Increase your odds to win a $250 shopping spree for the next edition of AU CŒUR DE LA MODE: Join the Farha Foundation’s Facebook Event

Location: Palais des Congres. 201 Viger Ave West
Tel: 514-270-4900
Date: Nov 6 &7
Hours: 10-5
www.aucoeur.ca or www.farha.qc.ca

Q1:  We haven’t talked for awhile about clothing, probably the area where we spend the most time shopping. What would you like to point out to us this week?

We are lucky in Montreal to have some worldwide chains that bring us fashion quickly and inexpensively. Yes the clothing is mostly for women, but there’s some also for men and a couple have children’s too. New fashions come in weekly.

Q2: Which ones are you referring to?

Zara, Mango, H&M, and the newest one here, Forever 21

Q3: Could you point out some differences amongst them?

Two of them, H&M and Mango, sometimes have famous fashion designers or movie stars design collections for them – for affordable prices. This fall H&M’s next designer collaboration will be with Lanvin; Their artistic director Alber Elbaz, and menswear designer Lucas Ossendrijver, will have a collection going on sale November 23 in about 200 H&M stores worldwide. The collection of both womenswear and menswear will be revealed November 20 in NA. Past designers for them have been: Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garçons and Sonia Rykiel

At H&M, families worldwide have been flocking to this knock-off queen of the hottest new styles. North American companies lag, as they only do a few buying trips a year, but at this chain the hot styles reach here faster – and they’re very affordable.

Locations: Centre Fairview (514-630-4800); Centre d’Achats Rockland (514-340-7763); Les Galeries d’Anjou (514-352-8150); Carrefour Laval (450-682-8220); Mail Champlain (450-766-1371): 450 Ste-Catherine o (514-788-9535); 1100 Ste-Catherine o.  (514-788-4590); Quartiers Dix30 (450-676-2924).  www.hm.com

At Mango this Fall Scarlett Johansson has a limited edition line with a Mulholland Drive, California look. Colors are heather and taupey in sweaters and tweedy knits. Shakira did a line for them too. The well priced fashion forward chain for the ladies and some for men hailed originally from Spain. Their lines are sorted by casual sportswear or casual suitwear.

Locations: 2305 ch. Rockland,  Centre d’Achats Rockland (514-342-0202); 1000 Ste-Catherine o. (514-397-2323); Carrefour Laval (450-682-9649).  www.mango.com

Montreal was the first city in Canada to host Zara, the Spanish boutique chain known in Europe for up-to-the-minute fashions, including coats, shoes and gowns within a budget price range. Looks I saw there were military, trench and duffle coats, short blazers, jacquard sweaters and checked shirts.

It only takes this company about 4 ot 5 weeks to get a new design into stores as compared to 6 months which is usual in the fashion industry. With this method they are able to launch around 11,000 new fashions yearly. Another difference is that  75% of the clothing is made in Europe.

Upstairs at the Ste-Catherine store it’s mostly for women and you can head down the stairs for the men and children. The open airy expanse gives the feeling of an expensive boutique.

Locations: 1500 McGill College, Place Montreal Trust (514-281-2001); Carrefour Laval (450-902-0190); Mail Champlain (450-672-4460); Centre Rockland (514-904-0777); Fairview Pointe Claire (514-459-0129).   www.zara.com

The newest chain in Montreal, Forever 21 is finally here after landing all over the US and in the Orient. Style savvy people who want to wear affordable cute fashion love paying the under $30 price tags. The first price is the right price – you don’t have to wait for sales. The look right now is a gypsy style with long skirts, prints and ethnic jewelry. You can shop for your entire wardrobe – jeans, skirts, tops, purses, sweaters, dresses outerwear, shoes in their brands: Heritage1981, TwelvebyTwelve, 21 Men, HTG 81, ForLove 21, Faith 21, Love 21 and Forever21 or XXI Forever. There is a small section for men.

The chain, originally known as Fashion 21, was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1984 by South Korean Dong-Won Chang and his wife, Jin Sook.

Locations:  677 Ste-Catherine o., Complexe Les Ailes (514-849-6363); Champlain Mall  (450-671-6666).  http://canada.forever21.com

Q4:  Is there anywhere we can get to see them all in one place?
Centre d’Achats Rockland: H&M, Mango, Zara
Carrefour Laval: H&M, Mango, Zara
Mail Champlain: H&M, Zara and Forever 21
For kids: H&M and Zara     More youthful: H&M and Forever 21

Refurbishing giant, J. Sonic is holding a sale of electronics.  The enormous warehouse is full of such things as: 50″ plasma TV ($688.99), 42″ plasma TV ($488.99); 60″ plasma TV ($988.99), home theater system $218.99, 47″ LCD TV ($988.99); 52″ LCD TV (988.99), Sony 46″ TV ($688.99), Dyson vacuum $348.99) or a blu-ray player (88.99).

Location: 300 Montee de Liesse
Corner: Cote de liesse
Dates: Nov 5-7
Hours:  Fri 3-9, Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4
www.refurbished.ca