If you have an old fur coat, you have such value in your closet. Why let it sit there when Les Fourrures Elextra, a fur magician can transform it into something wearable and beautiful?  Spiros Ladovrechis opened his own fur business in 1972, so he knows how to make patterns from your body and how to be very imaginative with fur. Sure, he can make you a brand new coat out of mink, beaver, Persian lamb or chinchilla; however, give him an old coat and his eyes sparkle with ideas.

It can be your old coat, your Mother’s or an aunt’s coat, and he will take it all apart, re-size it and restyle it, and then put it all back together in a completely different way. You can easily just put it inside a reversible waterproof winter coat, which is snuggly warm and oh so soft inside – and amazing light. If it was a long coat, the bottom can become a hood.

When remodeling your coat, he will make a new pattern himself – this is truly shopping directly at the manufacturer – and then he takes his tools and cuts, carves, shears, grooves and can add inserts with patterns like falling leaves, curves and squiggles, or he can even out fur ruffles. If you would like, the coat can be dyed a different color.

Besides the total re-modeling, he can of course clean your coat, do alterations, store it for you – or sell you a new coat.

Location: 1625 Chabanel W, Suite 960
corner: Jean Pratt
Tel: 514-845-9287
Hours:514-845-9287

Jaf is a family neighbourhood corner store which has deals on men’s clothes, some with well known names – Robert Graham, Jack Victor, Baumler, Tombolini,  Tommy Bahamas, m.e.n.s., Alberto, Victorinox,  S. Cohen, Façonnable,  Nautica.

Helpful salesmen will find you pants (to 50) and shirts (to 2XL) starting at $10, suits (to 56) at $145 – $995, sports jackets $75 & up, sweaters, jackets.  There are also made-to-measure suits and shirts, and suits for athletically built men. Expect free on the spot alterations (not in the liquidation center). Ask about tuxedos and rentals, and if you need them, boys’ suits in sizes 4-20.

Below you will find their holiday sale deals, some for 50% off and suits for an amazing 2/$500.

Locations: Ville St-Laurent, 900 boul. Decarie  (744-0985); 619 boul. Rene-Levesque (514-877-9888); Laval, 3240 boul. St-Martin o. (450-978-9661); Laval  Centre de liquidation (closed Tues): 1880 St-Martin o. (450-688-3636).  Hours: Regular plus Sun 12-4
www.jaf.ca

Maxwell’s Clothiers is a Hong Kong family run business which twice a year (since 1961), in March and October, rents a banquet hall in Ruby Foo’s Hotel and then for another 3 days downtown. I have visited their elegant showroom in Hong Kong to see how the shirts and suits are made.

They make it easy for us to shop as they fly here and bring their expertise to us with a team of tailors who can fit men and women for custom-tailored suits, jackets, pants, overcoats and shirts. For 3 custom-made cotton shirts, it’s only $135 plus tax and shipping (about $25). Suits go for $395 – $595 and orders take about 10 weeks to arrive. A local tailor has been hired to do any little alterations that may be necessary. No appointments are necessary – just show up and bring your friends.

Tel: 23666705, 23666658 Fax: (852) 23699175
e-mail: maxwell@maxwellsclothiers.com
www.maxwellsclothiers.com

Locations and dates: Ruby Foo’s Hotel, 7655 Decarie Blvd.
Tel: 514-731-7701
Dates: Apr 1,2,3
and Le Centre Sheraton, 1201 Boul. Rene-Levesque W.
Tel: 514-878-2000
Dates: Apr 4-8

Q1:  Jeans are now part of the wardrobe of clothing for everyone from a newborn to a senior, though we think this a 20th century word, you have other information.

The singular word “jean” is short for jean fustian term for a strong twilled cotton, first noted in sixteenth century texts. Jean is the newer spelling of Jene from Middle English or Gene from Middle French, which is what they called the Italian city Genoa where the fabric hailed from.

You may already know that the word denim derives from “de Nimes”, the city in France where the fabric was made. As far back as the 17th century it was referred to as serge de Nimes, later shortened to serge denim. Denim has evolved to mean both the fabric that makes the jeans and the jeans themselves.

Q 2:  Right now families are concentrating on buying jeans for back to school, what stores would you send them to for good prices?

Superior Pantalon, 69 Boul. St Laurent est  Phone: 514-842-6969. For  85 years, this has been the best known place for Levis fashion jeans, rinse washed and Red Tab Levis (only $45). Nowadays they’ve added True Religion, Mek, Moto, Foxy, Buffalo, Guess, Jack & Jones, Parasuco, Mavi, Calvin Klein and Point Zero for men (up to 46) and women (24-35) , as well as tops and jackets. The best part, besides the great prices and help in selecting the ones that are right for your body, is that jeans can be cut, tapered and hemmed while you wait – for free!

Jeans, Jeans, Jeans, 5525 de Gaspe. Phone: 514-279-3303. Jeans, jeans and more jeans is what you’ll find, once you’ve ventured down below street level to this outlet where they just love to help you find a pair that fits and that you like. In sizes up to 58, they have all the premium denims in brand names you’ve come to know along with tops and  jackets. If you need them, there are $10 and $25 racks. As a special service, they will hem or alter them on the spot for free. Parking is also free in the #5455 underground lot.

Q3: There are kids that will only wear certain brands and the prices are budget busting, is there any help for these parents?

Surplus, 5168 boul. St-Laurent. Phone: 514-948-5005. If you are a Diesel clothing fan, head right over here for 1,000’s of clearance, seconds, samples (women it’s 28, men 32) and some regular discounted stock. Their jeans are here along with 55DSL, True Religion, Seven, Energie, and Miss Sixty. Even better are the 2 times a year when they have sample sales. Other locations: Les Factoreries St-Sauveur, 105 rue Guindon, (450-240-0555);  5249 de la Savanne (514-384-0055).