Boudoir 1861

Recently, the Bouquet of Frocks girls attended the official launch of the brand new Boudoir 1861 boutique. We already loved the original 1861 boutique and it only seemed natural that they would expand and open a sister store that was specialized in all your bridal fashion necessities. The wedding gowns themselves are so lovely and romantic and more importantly, affordable to the average Montreal girl. They have all the necessary bridal accessories you could think of and even some selections for bridal parties. In keeping with the image of the 1861 brand, the boutique has that perfectly vintage and romantic decor which is so undeniably charming. The event also featured the usual array of tasty hors d'oeuvres but most memorable was the live music provided by Shy Shy Schullie, a local musician who specializes in burlesque style retro tunes that just warm your heart. Definitely a great evening. 

Boudoir 1861 is located at:

3668 Saint-Laurent Blvd

http://1861.ca/collections/bride

Shy Shy Schullie

http://www.shyshyschullie.com/

Marc Cain: The New Man in Town

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the Marc Cain showroom, a repurposed industrial space now housing the brands head-office and latest collections. A quick look around and the first thing you notice is the pristine, white appearance of the space, a theme that is consistent within the brand's image worldwide. Just to present a little background, Marc Cain is an upscale German women's fashion brand that has recently entered the Canadian market. They recently opened a free standing store at our very own Carrefour Laval and I'm sure we will see more shops popping up in the near future. The price point is of course a little higher (think JCrew) but the quality and high end fabrics reflect this also.

Now, about the collection...GORGEOUS. On showcase was the brand's Spring/Summer 2016 collection which features everything from sporty casual apparel to trendy formalwear. We saw everything from floral prints to fish prints to denim to fringe and finally, a lil white romantic crochet (my favourite) for good measure. The collection is so immense that it covered many of what you might call our favourite fashion themes: Nautical, Boho, Lightweight Romantic, Sneaker Chic, they had it all. 

Just check out this showroom. A vast collection and a feast for the eyes.

This next section is perhaps one of my favourites. Those lightweight romantic gowns at the front with such elegant beading, very beautiful indeed. And then the perfect little clutch to go with...

And here, you get a glimpse (on the right) of my other favourite theme, that's right: The Citrus Fruit Print! The print and these colours conjure up fantasies of lemonade drinking somewhere in Hawaii... Amirite?

THIS DRESS: nuff said. 

Okay next, just a quick example of the brand's Sport collection, some trendy fitted joggers with yes, those are indeed tiny palm trees *sigh*

And finally, throwing in a few examples of footwear. Again, showcasing the collection's breadth, a sexy strappy sandal and a floral slip-on sneaker. The sneaker chic trend definitely lives on.

All in all, the collection was lovely and really in tune with the BOF aesthetic.

Can't wait to see what they come up with next!

You can visit their online shop here: https://www.marc-cain.com

The New Club Monaco!

This week, Bouquet of Frocks attended a special private event to celebrate the grand opening of the new Club Monaco store in Montreal. The store, previously located a block away, has undergone a major facelift. The space, the apparel and the merchandising was absolutely stunning. If you haven't visited the new location yet, it's definitely worth checking out! 

French Connection SS15

Last week, Bouquet of Frocks was invited for a preview of the French Connection Spring Summer 2015 collection. I think it' safe to say we were utterly dazzled by the collection. There were so many amazing stand-alone pieces, it was difficult to pick our favourites.   

The common themes we saw among the collection were dresses with a lot of movement, bright colors and some great mixed animal prints. We also loved the trend of white-on-white and mixed fabrics. So many great white pieces with lace detailing, transparent fabrics and even some organza...it was a feast for the eyes! 

Debbie getting a closer look at that lovely organza overlay.

We know how much Jackie loves a good mid-calf skirt and this piece was right on point.

This maxi dress was Jackie's final pick for favourite piece. I mean look at it... The dress contains two layers, the slip underneath which hugs the body with a less fitted lace floral layer on top creating movement. 

These pieces were part of the 70s hippie section. Gotta love that fringe and that beadwork.

Not surprisingly, this white dress stole my heart. That little flair effect at the bottom makes it really special.

Special thanks to the lovely Charmain Emerson at French Connection for organizing this special preview for us.