Posts from ‘Boutique’
Katrin Leblond’s new spring season was inspired by a wish.
Well, actually, three wishes.
A rack-full of new spring wear!
When it came time to draw up themes for this new collection, Kat was ready to try something new. She sat down her whole creative team, and asked them to write down their three wishes for humanity.
She collected these three wishes, some in English and some in French, and read through them. There were many overlaps – wishes for the health of the oceans, for endangered animals like elephants and monkeys, wishes for clean and safe foods, wishes for the forests. There were wishes for the emancipation of children, for the heart of humanity to be wide open, and for all people to enjoy the warmth of the sun.
“I wanted these wishes to be the inspiration behind the collection,” Kat explained to me, “but I also wanted to make sure that my intent was clear.” She wanted to tap into not just her visual impression of these wishes, but that of the collective consciousness. In today’s world, that means paying a trip to Google.
Kat sat down at her computer and entered every wish, word-for-word, into google-image. She leafed through the images, and absorbed.
Google-image was able to make free associations that no single designer would have been able to make on her own. The wealth of inspiration was overwhelming.
The pattern from a dress inspired by native women
“Images kept coming up of spiritual leaders,” Kat told me, “that I never would have associated with some of these wishes, but there they were. We were talking about using the colour grey, and I had no ideas for that, but then I typed in ‘elephants’ and all this grey imagery came up!”
Little by little, groups of this new collection will appear at the Boutique. One group has already been released, which is inspired by First Nations women and is rich with earth tones and sandy hues.
earth tones abound in the first group of springwear
Other treats we have to look forward to are a Garden Vegetable Skirt, a Planet Earth Skirt, and lots of elephant motifs, leaf appliqués and ocean imagery.
And we’re keeping it close to the source. “The wish that inspired the piece will be tagged on the hanger of each garment, so that people can know what it means,” Kat tells me. “I want to think of each garment as a magic spell that we’re putting out into the world for humanity.”
A magic spell wished for by the women who made these garments with their own hands, no doubt weaving their intentions into each fold of fabric.
It should indeed be a magical spring at Boutique Katrin Leblond.
Express your beauty as you are. Dance in your kitchen and sing to the stars.
Sarah Pearson
Colette van Haaren is a quiet woman with lots of power. The best way she finds to share that power? Through her fingers.
Colette is a yarn artist who’s been knitting and crocheting since childhood. Today, she produces some of the Boutique’s fastest-selling items. From stunning wool ponchos and cardigans to neck warmers and scarves to playful wool jewelry, Colette is an integral part of the Boutique Katrin Leblond Collection.
Having learned the basics of yarn crafts as a young girl, Colette got “hooked” (pun intended!) on the craft in her twenties, when she designed and marketed her own line of knitwear.
Then she stopped. She became a mother. She got busier. “Life got in the way,” she says, and her knitting work went on hiatus.
As any artist who’s ever been on hiatus knows, your art always comes back. In recent years, Colette has returned to her needles and knit machines, and is producing more clothing, accessories, and jewelry than ever before. And Boutique clients clearly can’t get enough of her work.
Many artists and spiritual seekers talk about their way “in” – the thing that connects them to the source. The way Colette describes knitting, it is so clear that this is her way in. “Simple shapes and mindless knitting allow me to get into a meditative state,” she writes. “I get to relax and have lap throws, pillows, hats, shawls, and headbands … to show for it.”
She is not alone in her love for the craft. Thousands of men and women discover the transcendental powers of yarn-art every year. There has been no doubt a knitting revival in the last decade, particularly among young women. “Stitch ‘n Bitch” groups have become increasingly popular, along with other traditionally “grandmotherly” crafts. Canning, bread-making, gardening and crochet are all on the list of reclaimed feminine-domestic arts.
Some theorists say this revival has to do with third-wave feminism. Maybe it also has to do with people wanting to slow down in a world that’s getting faster and faster.
Slowing down is part of the draw for Colette. In her personal statement, she writes:
“yarn crafts, when done by hand, progress slowly. Just doing it can get you to relax or into a meditative state. Practicing these ancient techniques connects me to all the people who have worked these crafts out of necessity, duty, pleasure, and love.”
She continues the tradition this Wednesday night, at Boutique Katrin Leblond, where she will share her line of knitwear through a very special evening of tango. This is not to be missed. Come be a part of the knitting legacy.
Express your beauty as you are. Dance in your kitchen and sing to the stars.
Sarah Pearson
I’m not the kind of gal that ever dreamed of my future wedding dress. I never “played wedding” as a kid, or drew pictures of my ideal gown. It’s only now, as more and more friends walk down the isle dressed in white, that I’m actually thinking about my own future wedding, should I get married.
Or rather, I’m thinking about how differently I would like to do it myself.
Katrin Leblond has designed many a bridal gown – some in white, some in chartreuse, some (for example, her own) in deep magenta. At the heart of her bridal designs is the same philosophy at the heart of all of our styles and designs: wear what feels like you.
Below is a photo from Katrin’s cousins’ wedding. Emilie opted for an ivory strapless dress with chiffon and beading at the bust (that is hidden by the pink mohair shawl she is wearing). Of course you can see the tradition of wearing purple at Leblond functions showcased by many in the clan. I would also like to draw you attention to the fabulous KL handbag in fuchsia on the lap of her Aunt Lucie (front right).
The history of the white wedding dress is actually quite recent. It was Queen Victoria who popularized the white dress in 1840, having built her nuptial getup around some special lace she wanted to show off. Her wedding was widely photographed, and other brides then copied her style. Since then, the white dress has come to represent the bride’s virginity as she prepares to enter matrimony. (Is it not ironic that this fashion should develop in this era, which probably has the lowest bridal-virginity rate in Western history?)
Big white ballgowns look natural on some brides. On others there is nothing better than colour. Shouldn’t it be up to each bride to decide for herself: colour or no?
- Queen Victoria’s White Wedding Dress, circa 1840.
Before the 1800s, it was customary for European brides to wear rich colours and fabrics, to show off the wealth of the family they were marrying from (even if they were poor). In the East, red is the traditional colour for many Indian and Chinese bridal dresses.
A Japanese couple on their wedding day
Traditional Chinese wedding garb
White is a traditional choice for some women – even for those who have been living with their partners for many years, or who already have kids. The tradition of white as representing virginity is fading but the importance of the it’s symbol has not. Personally, if I have the opportunity to dump hundreds or thousands of dollars on a dress I’ll wear once, I want it to be a colour that resonates with me personally, that flatters my skin tone and sends an intimate message about me and my partner.
The plaid wedding dress: a neat take on tradition
That’s just me. On the other hand, I can completely understand the power behind a white wedding dress. It is the archetype of “Bride” in today’s culture. When crafting a meaningful ceremony, having that cultural symbol behind you is powerful.
To all brides-to-be out there: I share this message with you. Wear what you want to wear on your wedding day. If your heart says white, listen to your heart. If swatches of pinks or emerald, yellows or royal blue are pulling at your sleeve, don’t be afraid to explore that magical world of colour either. Bottom line is always the same:
Wear what feels like you.
A bridal headpiece by Katrin Leblond
Express your beauty as you are. Dance in your kitchen and sing to the stars.
Sarah Pearson
This is the second post of a new thread on this blog called The Goddess Series, profiling goddesses from all different cultures and finding a little place for them at our Boutique.
This week’s Goddess: Diana the Huntress.
Diana, Goddess of the Hunt
Diana: Who is she?
Diana is the Roman Goddess of the Hunt. Clothed in animal skins and dwelling deep in forests of oak, she represents creation, motherhood, and all earthly survival instincts. Diana is a huntress, which means she is ever-moving. She elusive and evading, keeping company with the sacred forests, and evading the grasp of those who might want to claim her for their own.
Her solitary, mysterious nature has led her also to be associated with chastity and virginity. She is also a lunar goddess in many cultures.
Introverted and elusive, Diana prefers the deep forests to the company of others
What Does Diana teach us?
Diana is the wild-woman spirit within each of us. She is present when we feel intuitive connections to land, or when we feel deep survival instincts towards ourselves or our kin. She is the power behind pregnancy and women’s physical mysteries. Diana teaches us to trust our wild side, follow our instincts, and delve into the shadows of our psychic lives.
Where Diana Lives at Boutique Katrin Leblond
Diana can be found in the earth tones of Katrin Leblond’s new spring collection, wearing prints that celebrate the health of our planet. She can be found in the knitted shawls, scarves and ponchos that envelop women in warmth and give us a touch of mystery. She can be found in the hearts of every woman that leaves the dressing room, feeling like they’ve just unleashed a hidden side of themselves with the new garments they’ve found.
A print from our new spring collection, celebrating native women
Earth tones abound in our new spring collection
Knitwear evokes feelings of both earthiness and mystery
Express your beauty as you are. Dance in your kitchen and sing to the stars.
Sarah Pearson
Aux Vivres is hands-down one of my favorites places to eat in Montreal. The unique, creative and absurdly-delicious food it serves up is made even yummier by its clean, open ambiance, local wall-art, and inviting staff. It makes an equally great spot for a business lunch, a quick takeout, an anniversary date or a birthday dinner. This famously beautiful restaurant is not only 100% vegan – it’s deliciously affordable.
love by the bowlful at Aux Vivres
Boutique Katrin Leblond loves Aux Vivres. Not only are they our beloved next-door neighbour, but Mike, the chef and co-owner, just happens to be Katrin’s husband.
Everything there is delicious. The chickpea curry is yummy and authentic, while the huge salads are the stuff that dreams are made of (mmmm….just thinking about the seaweed and kraut toppings with ginger dressing in the Living Salad makes me salivate). It’s one of the few places that a giant sandwich will leave you feeling full and nourished. Do not underestimate the power of their hot-from-the-oven cornbread, smothered with vegan butter. Washed down with a glass of fresh-pressed apple-ginger juice, you’re bound finish your meal feeling alive and refreshed.
tofu scramble, vegan bacon, sweet potato homefries and cornbread? Brunch doesn't get better than this.
Perhaps the most legendary of all beasts on the Aux Vivres menu is the BLT sandwich. Stuffed with chips of smoked, slightly sweetened coconut, mounds of fresh lettuce and tomato, and drizzled with vegan mayo, this is a sandwich that knows no match. It may just be the yummiest thing you can eat in Montreal.
The legendary Vegan BLT.
So go check out Aux Vivres. Stop by for a chocolate smoothie, then pop into Boutique Katrin Leblond to find some special treasures, and then go back to Aux Vivres again and reward yourself with a splendid dinner. The ladies at Katrin Leblond will dress you with as much love as the good folks at Aux Vivres will feed you. You’re bound to leave the ‘hood radiant and renewed.
AUX VIVRES 4631 blvd. St-Laurent, Montreal, QC, H2T 1R2
www.auxvivres.com
Express your beauty as you are. Dance in your kitchen, and sing to the stars.
Sarah Pearson
Isn’t she fabulous? Just look at this lady…stylish, multitalented and totally self-made star. I met Robyn in 2008 when she worked as an intern in my studio. She did sewing, cutting and helped to grow the business in it’s early years. She invested a lot of heart in all that she did. Within a year she was also the most beloved big sister/baby sitter/best friend to my manager’s daughter Aya, taking her horseback riding and swimming. Where do you find an intern like that, I ask you?
This is Robyn today. I think she looks stunning. I might add that she has always looked this good. She used to be the only one in the studio with full make-up and heels. The rest of us were barefoot and wearing our cozies. I was still living in my studio at the time and often showed up for work in the most unglamorous outfit of all: my pijamas. Robyn once told me that she brought her headshots to modeling agencies and they all turned her away, telling her to loose 15 pounds first. Well, that was not an option for Robyn. If you read her blog, you will come to learn that she loves food about as much as she loves fashion. So, Robyn marched away from the modeling agencies horrified that the industry is still that narrow minded and started taking pictures of herself. Thus her blog was born: Fashionista514.com
Robyn is also the reason our blog was born. She started it, bought the domain name, set up WordPress and wrote the first 100 posts. Thank you Robyn. It wouldn’t have happened without you. You are an amazing manifester! You are a star!
Above are pictures taken by Barrie Macleod at out photo booth party last year in the store. Robyn did the make-up for over 60 women who were all undressing and getting dolled up for the camera. These team shots were taken at the end of a long night.
I love this picture. It was taken the day before my fashion show last year. I was dropping by fashion week to deliver my press packs and I saw Robyn in the lounge. Italian Vague (am I remembering this correctly Robyn?) had a photographer there who took a picture of her (without me) just because she looked that good. This week she is celebrating her 1 year anniversary as the founder and star and writer of Fashionista514. Congratulations! We love you!
Meet Claude, a local Montreal legend. Sometimes you can find him, sometimes you can’t. He can freestyle amazing script and perfectly copies fonts. He’s great at what he does. He works in oil paints and most people hire him for permanent window text, but I hired him to do my Christmas window. It took two days and he smoked many many cigarettes (not in the store!). He stood back to measure and look at his work. I wanted it to happen faster, but perfection was his vice and so he took his time and made it great.
Here you can see the big bows that he painted above each window. These were inspired from old art deco posters. I wanted to make the windows look like gifts and everything in the store is in the box with a big bow on top.
After he was done with the window, I asked him to make me a new sandwich board. He hummed and hawed. He needs the work, but grumbles a bit along the way. I think he did a spectacular job on the sandwich board. I love it so much!
This is the window display at Johnny Ruth in St-John’s Newfoundland.
Kim Winsor, the owner and buyer for boutique Johnny Ruth, has been an inspiration and mentor to me for many years. She has great fashion sense. She is a powerful and compassionate entrepreneur. She is the reason women in St-John’s, Newfoundland look so good!
If you happen to be in St-John’s over the holidays, why not stop by:
Johnny Ruth, 166 Water Street
I was very excited last month when I got a preliminary phone call inviting me a to be apart of this years WAWA (an acronym for: We Are Women Artists). I got to dress the femme fatale herself…drumroll please…Amanda Mabro! The contact was made when Krin, my fashion show artistic director and circus star in her own right, was invited to hostess the event. We did the press photos at the store and tickets will be available at boutique Katrin Leblond soon.
This is one of my all time favouritqe costumes. I made this for Krin’s wheel act and it is made with entirely designer silks including 10cm of Dior.
Here are the digs on WAWA:
Amanda Mabro, The WAWA Show
February 26, 8 p.m., $25, Gesù — Centre de créativité
Fresh off the heels of her outstanding performances at the 2008 and 2010 Montreal Jazz Festival and OSHEAGA music festival, musical visionary & vocalist Amanda Mabro brings you “The WAWA Show!” An acronym for “We Are Women Artists”, Mabro’s main inspiration for the event is fostering community among female artists internationally. Now in its 6th edition, WAWA is pleased to be part of the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE festival delighting the ears, eyes, hearts and minds of festival goers; witness the powerful pipes and soul-pop sounds of Amanda Mabro herself, the soaring gypsy voice of Cirque de Soleil singer Mirjana Milovanovic, the achingly beautiful harmonies of 2010 Juno winners The Goodlovelies, the colorful and classy couture of Katrin Leblond, the amazing concert photography of Andree Anne Handfield, and the incredibly entertaining hosts & circus artists Krin Haglund and Andreane Leclerc.
The new Ruffle jacket is in.
It is warm and fancy and feminine with pockets hidden in the pleats.
I have made them in Red with Navy scalloped stitch finish and in blue (both shown above).
We have other colours available at the boutique, like the classic version in black with light grey stitched trim and a generously proportioned abalone sea shell button.
But my favourite one is light green with white snowflakes (sorry you have to come to the store to see it).
It is totally ski chalet sitting by the fireplace!
Because ideas don’t emerge from a vacuum. We create in a community.
The artist expresses a distilled idea culled from the pulsing, flowing, churning well of our collective experience and reflections.
Our shared experiences lead the artists of our communities to reflect on common themes in a kaleidoscope of variations providing interesting parallels.
I find it so much more interesting to dress in many artists than to simply build my whole out fit from one designer. That is why I choose to offer over 75 different designers in the store. Sure its more work, but its worth it.
I try and find artist who communicate an interesting dialogue with their own work and that of Katrin’s. I love finding great outfits among the offerings of so many different artists. I love how each outfit created can belong entirely to the person who is wearing it in part because the combination they have selected is theirs alone.
When you buy from within your community you are already part of the art at its inception. The art belongs in part to you and you are part of art, the artist, and the community. The reach of the communal net begins at home and extends out around the wold.
At boutique Katrin Leblond that means beginning with Kat’s creations and then looking at what is creatively being generated in her immediate neighborhood: The Plateau, and then looking at the context of that in the greater Montreal area, and then further out in Quebec, and then in Ontario, and the Maritimes, and then the rest of Canada, and then further still, till you are culling a bit from the USA, and a bit from Serbia, or Mexico, or Thailand,or… . It’s like a fashion rock being thrown into a pond of design ideas. The biggest splash is at the center and the ripples get lighter and lighter as they move away from the center but they still travel out quieter and quieter as they go across the whole lake.
It’s about dressing yourself while answering the question “What are you part of?”
Don’t forget…..
Your life is your most powerful art. See you at the boutique.
erin
The store is committed to local. What does that mean for the store. How Boutique Katrin Leblond expresses local.
It’s cool to know that there is an artist half way around the world sharing an interest in similar visual themes to a collection that Kat is working on here in Montreal. There is all these great Montreal artists of course we are going to sell their stuff.
Super soft and lovingly made, these belts are built with leather remnants that Genevieve recycles into the magical and practical accessories. These belts do a great job of holding up your pants or cinching in the waist on that dress you love. Use them to jazz up the sweater or coat that you want to wear everyday in as many ways as possible.
Your life is your most powerful art. See you at the boutique.
erin
The Montreal native is back in his hometown for a one week tour, which includes a one day only party and preview presentation of his hand crafted jewelry collection. Come see some of the most spectacular high quality handcrafted sterling silver and gold pieces.
Alex will be hosting his close friends as well as offering an open invitation to everyone(that means you!) at the boutique on Wednesday November 03. The party begins at 4:00 pm and goes until 9:00 pm.
Alex swirls elemental, organic, and glamorous, qualities into beautiful jewelry that provides a balance of bold and subtle.
This rose quartz pendant is stunning.
In Montreal, Alex is perhaps best know for his juicy “cherries” ; double stemmed earrings that sometimes look so much like the real thing that you want to eat them. They are playful and fun. The details in Alex’s work extend to all aspects of his jewelry. I love Alex’s ear hooks. These often overlooked components have extra long hook tails so that when you wear them in your ears they are way less likely to slip out and you don’t need backings .
I love the organic quality and subtly that hammered by hand brings to his work.
It was a beautiful pair of Alex Lyons earrings that brought me back to earrings after fifteen years of not wearing any.
And Alex puts heart in it all…..
And here is one more pair from Alex’s heart straight to yours…
Your life is your most powerful art. See you at the boutique.
erin
You have already decided which one or ones you love the most months ago. This is it! We are finally welcoming back the beautifully intricate IVKO sweaters! If you have not experienced these sweaters face to face you are truly missing out. Detailed knitwear in exotic colors bring a colorful dash of culture and ethnic abstracts to the table… making gorgeous statement pieces to add to your wardrobe. Based out of Serbia, I love the feel of far away lands and folklore this brand consistently gives off!
Did I mention that the Katrin Leblond Boutique will be the only store in Canada to carry this exclusive line? See you soon in the store!
Boutique Katrin Leblond
4647 Boul. St. Laurent
Montreal, QC
H2T 1R2
For an amazing personalized dress-up consultation (got an event, wedding, performance?), book an appointment today!
514 678 9616
Your life is your most powerful art. See you at the boutique
erin
These beautiful hats have just arrived in store. Local Montreal artists and Mile end mama of many, Allison Astridge from For whom the cap fits and Fiber Alley, created these by hand working the felt fibers into these feminine and practical winter head warmers. Natural fibers breath well keep you warm and love you lots. Include some wool in your wardrobe. Lots of sheep were loved to make these hats.
These hats are available in a variety of cuddly colours for $88 each at the boutique.
Your life is your most powerful art. See you at the boutique.
erin
All photos in this post by Kat
Yes, this is my mother wearing a big pile of scarfettes on her head as a wig.
I think this is absolutely hilarious.
She just turned 70 this year and look at how much fun we still have together.
I will cherish these photos forever.
These prints are like whipped cream and strawberries.
Yummy!
They are vintage and oh so French.
The first one definitely has and Art Deco feel, but the rest are decidedly Victorian.
KL tote travel bag. Each one of these is unique and you should see the lining!
Rich red will always be strong and I will make sure to have a good red in every collection.
I cannot have these prints and I cannot put them into my Fall collection, but the colour palettes and combinations are an excellent reflection of Fashion trends right now. Soft natural nudes and creams and tans are making a raging comeback for Fall 2010.
KL Cerise Dress $245 with Colette Van Haaren mobius shaal $48
The camel and gold tones will be nice to complement last years brown. I know that Montreal is a black and grey clad city, but try to imagine these colours around the face with skinny black pants. It is gentle will especially complement blond and sandy brown hair.
KL Upsidedown cardigan, Gloria Gaudette ivory cardigan, Maillagogo Ivory knit cardigan and handprinted 100% cotton scarves
KL Mystery Jacket $126 with nude Donna Beth cami $25
It is so good to have close friends who always have your back and want the best for you. It is so good to be living surrounded by the real truth that we are never alone, that we are strong in connection with others.
It is good to just know deep down to our toes that what we have that really has value is our friends, our family, the world around us that we love. Go ahead take away the car, the house, the long list of material possessions. Go ahead! What I want is to feel safe and loved and be able to share that with my daughter and the world.
Friends make us strong. They offer us the best embrace to fall into when life gets tough. There for you when things go wrong. They empower us to take more risks and listen to our selves more.
Thanks to all my good friends that I have had over the years that made me feel stronger about myself. It wasn’t always easy but I am who I am today in part because of you and you will always be with me in everything I do. And even if you’re far away you are still my heart.
There you are. You know me. I know you. I am me and you are you. You are part of me. When I grow more into myself you are happy for me. When you grow more into yourself I am happy for you. I love how you change and how you stay the same. I am lucky to know you. Thank you for sharing everything you do.
Thanks for all the fun we have together!
See you at the boutique.
Erin.
Welcome home Colette. It is great to have you back.
Come check out Colette’s knit vests and ponchos in custom colours as well as her unique knit necklaces (shown above). These necklaces are made with one continuous knit piece. They are a stylish addition to any wardrobe ( I know I have one in my own). They are especially great for new or expecting moms as the one piece nature of the necklace makes for a safer neck adornment for concerned mothers who don’t want their child potentially chewing off some hazardous beads while nuzzling your neck. They are also great statement jewelry for sensitive souls who can’t tolerate any metals.
See you at the boutique.
Erin
Nature has always been my greatest inspiration. Flowers in the summer and leaves in the Fall. It is so simplistic, but it returns to me every season and I never tire of these basic earthy themes. Here is a sampling of some land art I find beautiful (all done by a man named Nils) and some of the leaf embroidery we are working on for the current Fall 2010 collection.
These leaves will be appearing on our Fall pencil skirt. It is my new favorite skirt and I am super excited to introduce this cut as a recurring staple to the store.
The black and white feather appliqué is a perfect t-shirt for the graphically bold. The feathers are delicately placed at the neckline of the v-neck. (this photo is on it’s side)
The new Mystery jacket ($126) with tumbling red tulle leaves (pictured below).
Nature in red glory marching to the water. I don’t really know what this photo is about I just like the walking red flowers.
Frost on the leaves is coming sooner than some of us would like to think.
The doorway to Fall.
The collection in store offers some fashionable ways to get ready before it gets cold out!
Kat
In my opinion these are the most amazing prints ever. They are 100% cotton, designed and printed in the US and I have always loved them. I coveted them so much, that I decided to design and make my bedding collection just because I needed a reason to purchase these fabrics.
They have recently become such a hit (since they were featured in M magazine of la Presse) that we have increased our production of the decorative pillows we make from these glorious prints. They are washable, won’t fade, wont shrink…they are perfection.
all photos by erin except love sculpture is by tom brosnahan
I made these shirts because YES it is this simple and it has been said before: the law is LOVE! I have built my small business around this simple word. If we make it with love … women will love it… and it will sell. The surprise was how much men love it too. They love the store. They love the colours. They get it. They like to see their ladies dressing up and feeling pretty. The attraction is natural. The girlier I make the clothing, the more men love it. Hurray for LOVE!
This is the love sculpture by pop artist Robert Indiana
We have one in the old port now and there are many around the world. Everyone gets it.
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 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!
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
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.
It’s the launch of the KL swimwear line today in the store.
We will officially be hosting a ladies only swimwear party at the store today from 4:00 to 8:00 today.
Come drink cocktails and try on the summer swim wear and dream of the sand and water and sun.
Come check out the new styles.
Katrin’s designs are hands down the most original fashion statements in pret a porter swimwear I have seen yet. I am soooo excited to try these all on.
Howl the call of the cottage in confidence.
Get ready for a high summer of pool side enjoyment and trips to the beach in style.
Yes to feeling good in a bathing suit! Yes to your body just the way it is! Yes to hot days!
The beautiful Tiffany’s stained glass exposition just ended at the Musee des Beaux Arts downtown early on this month. The beautiful work of Mr. Louis C. Tiffany in the form of lamps, window fixtures, mosaics and fire screens were all on display for the public to see and fall in absolute love with.
While I didn’t get the opportunity to visit while this exhibit was on, I did get a chance to admire the beautiful stained glass fixture in the KL boutique…
… done by Kat’s dad Pierre Leblond!
So no need to be sad for missing out on the fun… the boutiques beautiful stained glass display is always open (and the best part – no admission!) 
xox
These beautiful Lily Bordelik pieces are a great addition to any wardrobe and are in store right now for $69! Each and every one of them handmade by Montreal cellist Elisabeth Giroux! Be sure to check her out every Sunday during the month of May performing with her trio L’Ensemble TrioSphere at Club Jazz Diese Onze from 6pm-8pm.
Here Elisabeth poses with her cello at the KL ladies dress-up event wearing
- Mini Bibi party hat created by Katrin ($45)
- KL Katharina top
- KL party skirt and leggings
- KL Crinoline ($140 – available in every color under the rainbow)
- Lily Bordelik necklace ($69)
Elisabeth’s necklaces go perfectly with the KL Katharina dress, which this season’s print is inspired by the colorful paintings of Chagall
This showstopping piece was originally created for awards shows, special events and weddings… a beautiful explosion ($198)!
Here the Bordelik necklace is paired with an Advika by Jamie Brock pink tube top (an amazingly eco-friendly line composed of organic cotton, soy, hemp and bamboo) and a Colette Van Haren knitted vest ($78).
Needless to say, there is much beauty to be checked out in-store!
We’ll be expecting you!
xox
Happy Birthday to Erin (whose birthday is not over until this month officially ends)! This beautiful, loving lady is an amazing stylist and manager for the Katrin Leblond Boutique and mama to a very special little girl (who can often be found hiding underneath beds and putting fleurettes and silk roses in her hair). Here are a few candid shots of the little celebration held in Erin’s honor at the KL boutique… isn’t the cake just gorgeous?!?
Erin and Anna dressed head to toe in KL goodness! When you see the glow radiating from the two of them it makes Katrin’s philosophy on beauty being a reflection of the love you have inside a reality. The KL team truly live and breathe the practice it preaches
And there is the little lady herself… Miss Aya!
Strawberry cheers of course!
Some of the fabulous guests…
Happy Birthday Month Erin! We love and cherish you!
If you happen to be in the St. Laurent/Mont-Royal area be sure to drop by the boutique to send your birthday love before the month is through… why limit celebrating an awesome person to one day??? Birthday Months for all!!!
xox
Visit the Official Site!
Boutique Katrin Leblond Makes Sure You Carry Your Stuff In Style
Starting from $8 and ranging all the way up to $390 (item not pictured here) Katrin Leblond Boutique’s bags and totes are colorful fun for your wardrobe. Come by and find the one that is right for you. We also have eco bags for $3.
Your life is your most powerful art. See you at the boutique.
erin