This sale is perfect timing for ladies and men who need a new bathing suit.  High fashion, trendy 2014 season bathing suits are clearing at discounts starting at 60% off the original retail prices. Come early for the great selection of one-pieces, bikinis, tankinis, swimdresses, cover-ups, sandals and accesssories.

Famous brands you love will all be there: Christina, Baltex, Body Glove, Seafolly, Sunseeker, O’Neill, Captiva, Skye, Pia Rossini, Point Zero, Smash and more…

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

This show aired on April 14, 2010

Q1: With wedding and prom season upon us, 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. It is not dissimilar to when you are getting dressed. There are so many different kinds of undergarments these days – all types of body shapers and bras – you almost need a whole wardrobe of them so that you look right in what you are wearing.

Q:2 What would you say is the most important thing to look for?

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.

Q:3 How do you find shops where they know how to fit you?

As the corsetieres of this world die off, it has become almost impossible to find these places. The good news is we still have a couple of oldies and unbelievably, one newbie to fit the bill.

J. Haverstock is a second-generation business and after 47 years, still very service oriented. 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, 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

The saleshelp at Change of Scandinavia, a Denmark based chain, 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. 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

Q4: What if you still can’t find a bra that fits or is comfortable for you, what can you do?

As with all other kinds of clothing, you may not be a perfect size in a bra or a cup. They are hard to find, but there are still a few bra-makers in this town

Victoriann Bra Bodies,  No more searching through stores and spending hours in the dressing room trying to replace your favorite bra. For about $150, this talented lady can clone it, alter a bra, or create one from scratch for very large breasted or small breasted women or anyone in-between. Once you have a bra made (shallow, regular, deep, wireless, etc.), she can design a bathing suit (about $250). She also gives courses on how you can make your own. Her newest project was to develop a softly padded bra without wires for amply endowed women, offering more support with less jiggle and bobbing.

Phone: 514-694-2567.
Hours: by appointment.

It’s been 45 years now that Boutique Anne Marie has been open. Now in its new home, it offers a large selection of girdles, body suits and bras in sizes 32A to 50G. Prosthesis orders even have at least a 20% discount (only $240). They’re lucky to still have a woman who can make bras or girdles to measure, or she can adjust ready made ones too. The designer/owner has developed support belts to help you if you have back problems and magic belts that take you down a dress size, and she can make corset costumes for shows and can fit transvestites

Location: 7002 St. Hubert St.
Corner: t Belanger St.
Phone: 514-273-5503.
Hours:  Mon-Wed 10 – 5,  Thurs & Fri 10 – 6, Sat 10 – 5,  (Sun noon – 5 pm, but not every week – call first)..

Well it’s curtains for Christmas, everyone. Now we get to focus on New Year’s Eve. With our more casual society, it has become so rare these days for women (and men, too) to have the opportunity to get really dressed up. New Year’s Eve is the exception. It is the time of year when stores actually stock cocktail and evening dresses, going so far as to even display them in the shop windows.

Along with the perfect dress come the perfect accessories, so today I am concentrating on the leg wear that goes along with that snazzy clothing. The huge shift in this area has been away from sheer stockings towards all kinds of black textures and semi-opaque or full opaque stockings – and I’m talking with those dressy dresses now. Women are even wearing tights with their elegant clothing, tucking them into formal shoes and boots. The one exception is that fishnet stockings are going gangbusters these days.

For more casual parties, you might want to wear leggings under a tunic or a skirt. You can buy them with a bit of lace at the bottom and in different lengths. For that New Year’s Eve party, you can buy the ones with lurex threads going through in gold or silver.

Sox Box Accessoires, 1357 Greene Ave. at Sherbrooke St. Phone: 514-931-4980. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Only open Sundays September to December). If you are searching for just the right type or colour of stockings, pantyhose or socks, this is the place for you. For women (mostly), men and children, there is an entire store full of patterns, opaques and sheers. The domestic and imported (Italy, France, England, Switzerland, Germany, U.S.) high and low end hosiery will complete any outfit you may have. Downstairs, you can shop for exercise clothing, sports bras and undies.

Pieds Nus, 705 Ste-Catherine Ouest in the Centre Eaton at McGill College Ave. Phone: 514-845-6508. Hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Now owned by Sox Box (see above), this show has been around for twenty-one years. Women who work downtown have been happy to buy their sox (women 4/$10) and stockings (Dim, Mondor, Suncee, Wonderbra, Filodoro, San Pellegrino, Cocot, Hue, Silks) here. Ask for their frequent buyer card to get $5 off your next purchase after you’ve made ten purchases – and – a chance in a drawing.

Underworld, in Place Ville Marie at University St. Phone: 514-874-0811. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Also Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the month of December). This is a small but convenient downtown location for stockings (including seamed nylons) by Filodoro, Wonderbra, San Pelegrino, Sarah Borghi, Jockey, Silks, Mondor, Hanes and Dim. For body revealing dresses, Hidden Assets is a line of plastic bra straps, nipple covers and, adhesive bras for strapless tops, and the Ubra is a new Australian line of push-up bras. Check out the wall of camisoles (Arianne Papillon Blanc, Donna) to go under all those filmy tops. You can add some undies by Le Jaby, Change, Volage, Chantelle, Triumph, Passionnata, Jockey, Elita and Wonderbra. Danskin workout wear is here as well as swimwear by Nygard, Christine and Baltex.

Coin des Bas, 807 Mont Royal Ave. East at St. Hubert St. Phone: 514-521-1631. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This long narrow store is perfect to showcase the wall of socks and stockings by: Dolci Calze, Hue, Maya, Mondor, Suncee, Bleu Foret, Filodoro, Dim, Viola and more. The rest of the store, open 31 years, offers you garter belts, dance leggings, some bras and accessories like hats and gloves.