Jul
28

Tap Dogs is Australian Dein Perry’s gritty and inventive dance show set on the scaffolding of a construction sight.  It is dangerous and exciting and full of fast footed surprises!  We LOVED dressing the Tap Dogs beautiful Stage Manager Sadie Wannamaker in a stunning pink Katrin Leblond Athena dress and some jazzy Elizabeth Johnston earrings.  Everyone knows the stage manager makes everything run smoothy, managing the cues, the talent, the drama and the action.  So we are so glad Sadie treated herself with a dress that was clearly made for her.  See you at the show!

show times:

Check them out this week, July 27-31st:

Tuesday,  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 8pm

Saturday 4pm, 8pm

at Places des Arts

Jul
28

Aya and Kat designed a dress in one mornig for Aya’s “Bal en Blanc”  (that means the white ball) for Aya’s graduation from Daycare Ceremony.

She was soooo proud of herself.

She asked me if I cried when I watched her do her Song and dance with the rest of the kids in her group.

I did.

Lovin’ the cowgirl style!

Here’s a new goddess dress that Kat designed for high summer August weddings and parties.

It has a layer of ivory silk chiffon over a soft jersey lining.  The embellishments are all silk and beadwork and lace.

And of course some Bridal bibis…we love headpieces!

Summer heat is still here.

Now you are tanned.

This is the time to wear white and ivory and feel like a fairy queen.

Jul
27

Cute, sexy and all textiles!

I found these amazing photos while surfing the net.

I dedicate these to all the indie-rock hipsters of mile-end who do not like ruffles and flowers.

If you ever want to express your feminine, gypsy self, I’ll be there for you.

Until then…enjoy being your “indie-rock hipster of mile end” self, enjoy your perfect body, enjoy working part time and enjoy being able to party all night.

Those are just temporary benefits of being 20….

I can guarantee though…

It just gets better!

Jul
25

What we are doing is real.  It really impacts the community and sometimes that community is my husband (owner and chef of Restaurant Aux Vivres) and sometimes it’s my little brother Nick (artist, photographer and co-owner of Big Dog Screen printing).  As an entrepreneur I feel more politically empowered than I ever did as a feminist, activist, or animal rights worker (yes, I have done all of those things).  I have the decision making power of every cent I spend.  I choose to buy locally made fabric.  I choose to buy organic locally made fabric.  I choose locally made thread, zippers and buttons too.  Yes, it is more expensive than imported equivalents, but I can guarantee it is better quality and it comes with soul. When I switched to local thread, all of my machines started running better and needed to be re-threaded less often.  The amount of people that those decisions affect are a ripple of local workers, salespeople and small businesses.

Oh, and I also only do business with people I like!

Let the good vibes flow.

Here is a little peek into the screen printing studio of my little brother Nick.   Studio Big Dog printed the patches for my scout costumes at Circus Smirkus.  His partner Carlos illustrated them.

This is not a unique Montreal story.  Many of the artists and designers we have in the boutique are living from their art with the help of local shop-owners.  We are a city of creative people.

My little brother is celebrating his birthday today.  I love you Nick.

Studio Big Dog
5333 Casgrain, #416
Montreal, QC
Canada H2T 1X3,
Tel: 514 358 7007

contact@studiobigdog.com

http://www.studiobigdog.com

Jul
22

Hand made in Montreal, Laura Fafard Bags.

Made from vintage recycled ties in eco friendly high fashion style.

Store your most precious valuables and tote them around town wherever you go.  These bags are so hip in their deconstructed shaping. Crafty high art!  I love the vintage button details.

I love the sentimentality of vintage prints.  This bag is so sweet.  I like it’s sweet femininity.  It would fit so nicely into a warm toned late summer, early fall,  wardrobe.  Carry it with you for a walk up the mountain or a trip out of town to pick some apples.

This one is bright and cheery and needs to go with you to a breakfast brunch “resto rendez vous” on the weekend.

Bags are my favorite accessories these days.  You get lots of bang for your accessory money when you buy a bag.  It takes up lots more space than some of the other finishing touches  we reach for when completing our looks.  Bags really impact your overall look and fashion expression when you are walking down the street.

Plus you can carry stuff in it.  Bonus!

Jul
21

The dressing room.

We share so much with the ladies in our change rooms.  It is an intimate thing to get undressed with someone nearby.  Me, on the other side of the curtain coaxing and encouraging this game of exploration and play: Come and play dress up with me!

It really takes a leap of faith to try on clothes.  To get down to your nickers and your skin and put something new on.  For me, on the boutique-side of the curtain, it is especially fun to imagine what would look nice and and what would fit you, the lady in the dressing room.  Sometimes I’ll bring a handful of hangers to the change room.  Sometimes you’ll find something you would never have tried on and you’ll love it.

I am often deeply touched by the confidences that we share.  The things we say to each other.  The tears are real.  The love is real.

I love colour and I enjoy converting black and grey clad Montrealers to my palettes of purple and red, teal and green.  

Mothers and Daughters are an especially fun duo to have in change rooms side by side.  Finding outfits across generations and across sizes (xs all the way to XL).  We can do it.  We can dress you both and make sure you both feel totally self expressed in the clothing you choose.

How about it?

How about coming to play dress up?

Opening Hours (or call for a custom styling appointment 514-678-9616)

M-T-W 10-6

Th-F 10-9

Saturday 10-7

Sunday 11-6

Jul
20

I am blown away!  I am in awe.  I feel humbled by the dresses, the background and the props.  The scene that has been created is just incredible.

Jul
19

Nature will never fail you.  When you are sad, angry, happy, rageful…Nature is a place you can take every emotion you have and She will welcome you.  Especially great is really exerting yourself in nature.  Getting sweaty and dirty and hot.  Chopping wood, lifting rocks, shovelling earth.  These activities may not be good for your back, but ladies they are good for the soul!

Last week I saw a mama deer and a baby deer drinking water by the lake.  The baby was jumpy, like a little puppy, hopping around in the mud.

I am a rock collector.  Not shells and not pressed leaves.  Rocks and sometimes they get quite large.  When I am travelling my pockets inevitably fill with stones…and a few of them always make it home with me.

Arts and crafts are another place where I can be myself.  Uninhibited craft therapy.  Remember your tools in your emotional toolkit.  You learned what makes you happy a long time ago.  Playing in piles of leaves and painting with your fingers.  Remember?  Try it again.  See how it feels.

Jul
17

Sylvie Trembley, owner and guider of the yoga center on Saint Denis worked with me (Erin) on a beautiful Styling project to decorate her yoga studio with photographs.

The challenge was to express the way yoga becomes part of the self,  part of your life, and to express that in a way that honored the beauty of the people at the center through photography.  I think we succeeded.  Thank you Noan for expressing love through your camera, thank you Sylvie for bringing us together and challenging us all to be ourselves, Thank you to the whole yoga Sangha team, thank you to all the designers that created the clothes.

Thankyou for your beautiful,generous spirit Sylvie.  I am honored to know you.

Visit the lager than life versions of these photos at the studio at 3437 rue St Denis, Montreal.

Hand knit shawl available in a rainbow of colours at Boutique Katrin Leblond for $44 each.  Long Cloud skirt by Melissa Bolduc sold out but still available through special  order  at boutique Katrin Leblond.  Cream cami with open back created with love especially for this photo shoot by Jamie Brock available by special order at boutique Katrin Leblond.

Jul
16

The rain is pouring down!

Celebrate it.

Don’t scurry for cover.  Don’t let yourself worry about getting wet.  Let it be delicious.  Run.  Dance.  Spin.  Allow yourself to stop and have a” better than any spa could ever be” experience.  Let the rain pour over you and allow yourself to thoroughly enjoy it.

Enjoy the best shower life will ever serve  you.

Visit the Boutique!

Katrin Leblond Design 4647 Blvd. St-Laurent Montréal, Québec, H2T 1R2 CANADA

Visit the Official Site!