CJAD 800AM at 8:40am: Worldwide Fashion Chains Here
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