Q1: With Valentine’s Day coming up next week, what ideas do you have for us this year?
Well sexy underwear is one of those concepts that seem to mate with Valentines Day. So I’d like to help guide you around the city to some unique shops that sell garments of that ilk.
Q2: Well lots of men and women are uncomfortable walking into sex shops, are you talking about going into those?
No, you can buy some pretty raunchy men’s and ladies thingies in other shops as well. A lingerie shop on St. Hubert St., Bas-tique/ Il Bolero, might look like a clothing store, but if you look hither and yon you will find lots of fantasy stockings, stay-ups, body stockings and regular stockings by Philippe, Matigan, Voila and Trasparenze.
They sell lingerie in sizes 32A – 52K and they can sell or alter merry widows. Men can scoop up boxers and co-ordinated tanks and T’s by Gregg, Roche, Punto Blanco and even some fantasy thongs. Oh yes, you can scoop up some fetsishwear, PVC wear and bondage wear were and buy corsets or make custom corsets (Victorian ones with stays and laces too).
Location: 6848 St- Hubert
corner: Belanger
Phone: 514-270-6065
Hours: Regular plus Sun 12:30-5
www.bastiquelingerie.com
Q3: Okay, you mentioned men there, we’re always talking about females and sexy underthings, what about us guys?
Calecons vos Gouts is a chain, which has caught onto the trend in men’s underwear and sells it all – boxers, boxer briefs, sport briefs, thongs and ones made out of bamboo. Look for bathing suits, pj’s and loungewear.
Locations: Place Montreal Trust (514-849-3382); Carrefour Laval (450-688-9480); Fairview Pointe Claire (514-426-1829); Place Rosemere (450-430-1698); Les Galeries d’Anjou (514-356-0335); Complexe Desjardins (514-288-8380); Mail Champlain (450-465-1440); 705 Ste-Catherine o., Eaton Centre (514-843-6555).
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
www.shopcvg.com
Q4: A lot of the designs we see are shown with Barbie doll sized bodies, what if your lady is a bit more full-figured?
At M’Lady Lingerie, the owner offers so much warmth and humor that you just want to buy here. Yes, you can find size 3X thongs and lacy risque baby dolls by Escante, and teddies and merry widows to 3X as well. There’s lingerie, pajamas and undies by Lepel, Hertex, Papillon Blanc, Linda, Cerie and Belamy.
If you want them, there’s plus size bra cups like Panache cups up to 38G (some with panty sets) or Tete a Tete up to 46G. You can also find handbags and shoes here.
Location: 5520 rue Sherbrooke ouest
corner: Girourd
Phone: 514-487-1015
Hours: Mon-Wed 12-6, Thurs & Fri 12-9, Sat 11-5
Q5: Any secret places for deals on these kinds of underclothes?
Out of the way, in a Chabanel building, you can really score well ($5 or $2 racks) in the Zebra Lingerie Outlet Store. This neat liquidation store for negligees, slips, baby doll pj’s, bras up to 46DDD (only $5-$10 and some red, purple, black), sports bras, undies (6/$10) and nighties in names you might know: Lily of France, Vassarette, Lou, Fully, Bestform, Curvation. Tons of cool boy shorts and thongs – leopard and zebra (of course) prints, There are decent try-on rooms too.
Location: 9500 Meilleur, lobby
corner: Louvain
Phone: 514-858-9254
Hours: Tues- Wed 9:30-2, Thurs-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-2
Or you might try Change of Scandinavia, a Denmark based chain, where the saleshelp have had training in fitting bras and learn how a bra should fit around the breasts, back and neck, how to choose a cup and model for you and the anatomy of the bra itself. Since this is a bra and lingerie shop, Valenine’s Day offerings will abound.
There are 3 main lines (sizes 28A-40J): Change, Chic for the younger body with extra padding, and Charade which is lacy and a bit pricier. It’s nice that there are great prices for larger sizes which is hard to find.You can also shop for bathing suits, sweats, lingerie, t’s, and bra accessories like silicone enhancers, clear straps, strap extenders and bra clips.
Locations: Rockland Shopping Center, Carrefour Angrignon (514-789-6486), Carrefour Richelieu
www.change.com
