Posts from ‘Fall Collection’
This year browns and blues are strong for Fall.
Just forget about black.
Ignore it.
Look below and you will see why.
These Ivko sweaters and hoodies are both $199 at Boutique Katrin Leblond
The crop sweater is for all you ladies who want to show off your waist. Your true waist. It brings the eye up and away from the tummy and the hips and low and … drumroll please … behold we see the waist. Curvaliscious as you are, it is great to draw attention to your best parts. Throw it over a cute dress, or wear with a pair of jeans, the crop sweater is worth a try.
Ivko bolero $189
Picolinos shoes on sale $178
Black cerise dress with red dots $199
I have been working on this raincoat design for over a year.
It has a huge hood that can be rushed in two directions: around the face and down the centre back. This allows you to adjust for pouring rain, romantic strolls or pull it all the way back into a ruffle collar.
It has two buttons and a belt that ties around the waist. The coat is embellished in the centre back with appliqué and ribbons.
I made it in blue, green and black. There is a black denim version of the same coat for fall that is not waterproof. The coat is both feminine and functional. I promise it will protect you from the rain. It has a full skirt that give it a bit of a timeless vintage feel. I call it the Fairytale raincoat.
All colours $380 S-XL
available at the boutique or on etsy
Gypsy skirt 100% American made cotton, $189
This is one of my favourite costumes from last year’s Smirkus production. We stitched all the veins of each leaf mixing silk leaves that we made in the studio with fake maple leaves that i found. It took a few days of appliquee work.
One that note, the Fall collection is starting to arrive in the store. Come take a look!
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!
Say goodbye to cold cheeks. Say goodbye to cold noses and cold chins. Say goodbye to messy hair and bad hat head. Say goodbye to winter whining. Snuggle up in a KAZAK hood.
Let the wind blow.
I have to warn you once you have worn one of Genevieve Paquette’s hoods you may not wear your hat again. Fashionably warm yourself in recycled hipness. Genevieve Paquette brings us her winter collection for 2010-2011. As always she is consistent about offering winter warming wear that bridges Fairytale Romanticism from urban to country. The hippie goddess in you will be as warm as the urban hipster and both of your playful sides can comfortably face the Montreal elements with a mischievous smile.
Be bold. Be mysterious. Be rebellious. Be sweet. Stay toasty warm while being cooler than cool. Cast a love spell. Carry a poem in your pocket and transform every jacket and coat in your wardrobe by topping it with these gracious hoods.
Genevieve’s hoods are available with recycled fur for $88 or in a non fur version for $58. Come pick up the warmest head gear Montreal has to offer you this winter.
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
I love the pleated pockets. This jacket is for wrapping the soul Poetic. This is Romantic fashion with a capital R. A jacket for trotting around town in. A Jacket for skating in Park La Fontaine under the Christmas lights. A jacket for being happy and thoughtful and dreamy in.
Your life is your most powerful art. See you at the boutique.
erin
The rain is pouring down and time seems like it is slowing down.
Grey days are the perfect time to give yourself a bit of T.L.C. Some tenderness, some love, some care….Come by the store and have a tea with Cassandra or Anna or me, Erin.
It’s a great time of year to just love yourself. See yourself for who you are. Beautiful. See your self where you want to be. Doing what you want to do. The talented women in the shop are great sounding boards for your visions for yourself in the world and what you want to say. We are here to help you find a way to express the part of your self that clothing can.
So much can be said, shared…communicated in the way we dress. Be generous with yourself. Be generous with the world. Clothing can be an opportunity to share some positivity.
I have to say it. I covet this jacket. The artistically styled and tailored to perfection ode to Coco is available in several envy inspiring colour ways. I had to hold myself back from buying two. The fall collection is truly incredible. Katrin has stepped it up again. This seasons fashions are candy indulgence for the coordinates crowd. Not only are the items in the store beautiful singles on their own but they have multiple pairing options available that combine into powerful, playful, flattering ensembles. Yes! there are skirts to match this stunner. This jacket also looks great with the Cerise dress that Katrin released for late summer and has re released for fall just so you can have a last chance to co ordinate the outfit fit of my dreams. Classy and Artistic can be fabulously combined. The red jacket with Kaffe Fassette designed cotton button band and pocket embellishments is available in store for $248.
This dress is the perfect companion to the Coco Jacket. We also have beautiful, practical and playful knee length skirt in the same fabric. Perfect for work or play.
There are so many colours in this print it is easy to mix and match loads of surprising and down right fabulous combinations.
The Coco Jacket comes in several different colour combinations with different price points depending on materials and exclusivity.
This classy poka dot and check combo is a steal at $ 148 pictured below. It is so easy to combine the black ,ivory, and grays into your wardrobe basics.
- Stylish. Professional. HOT.
There are a gluttony of styles that make my mouth water in the store right now. Come save me from some. I am having a really hard time not buying them all up myself.
Your life is your most powerful art. See you at the boutique.
erin
Photos in this post by Kat
It seems to me that everyone in my family is an artist. This is the garden of my uncle Paul Leblond. It is a very magical garden with plants and colours everywhere.
As a designer who does a lot of leaf-inspired embellishments, I am especially stunned by this section of the garden. The shapes of the leaves and the two toned colour combinations are unique and inspiring.
Cleomes. Always loved them. They make the most delightful seed pods that spring open if they are touched, releasing a cascade of little black seeds into your hand.
This is the view from the back porch on a rainy day.
All photos in this post by Kat
I wanted to take the chance to let you all in on my world. I want to share with you, my loyal and beautiful friends, a part of who I am, and what I love.
So follow me on the journey of how a skirt becomes the embellished wonder that you, and I, all love…
We start with a Basic A-line skirt. We call it the “Art Skirt”, because I am always embellishing it in new ways with new appliquées and top stitching. All stitching is done in studio on the sewing machine, but it is what we call “freestyle”. It is not a computer image being embroidered, so each line is improvised as we sew.
This was in the fall collection fashion show as a sheer skirt with a nude thong underneath. As the world is not a runway show, we needed to make the skirt more suitable for everyday use.
First, I draw an image and translate it into stencils that we can use to cut the same shapes out of fabric
The first layer of stitching is really just to tack the cut out shaped to the skirt.
Top stitching details and buttons are added.
Then, we make a top to match, of course.
The racks full of clothing in the palette Black, Grey, Pink, Coral waiting for their new coordinating skirt and top to fill out the whole look.
Now you can get the skirt, the top, the pants, the jacket, the…………
It can all come together or you can always wildly mix and match in unexpected ways from other racks of differing colour palettes all over the store.
See you at the boutique.
erin
Krysten
Kat
all photos in this post by Kat except the beautiful fall leaf colours was offered by Krysten. This post was written for Kat by Krysten.
Weddings are the perfect place for fanciful dress-up, parading around in your finest and, best of all: a chance to see what everyone else is wearing. This ogling of others attire is something I fondly refer to as “wardrobe scrutiny”. Rather than going down the path of criticism I love to scan for the wardrobe statements I admire most. It is like going on a visual treasure hunt and the reward is stunning fashion.
It was at the wedding of a cherished friend, that I saw a guest wearing a dress adorned with colorful and beautiful hand embroidered bugs. I stopped the woman and asked if I could take a picture of her dress. I could not pass up the opportunity to photograph them. Thankfully she agreed.
It is truly sad to know that long gone are the days where it was very common to see embroidery on clothing. It is always a pleasure to see someone who appreciates the craftsmanship and the love put into each stitch.
The wonderful thing about hand embroidered pieces is that no two are the exact same, each have their own personality. These little critters are no exception…
This little dragonfly is the perfect example of the time and consideration put into embroidery. The colors are bright and the details are exquisite.
This little bee was done perfectly, and with so much detail. The shading of his body is an added bonus which adds realism to the piece. This little guy’s personality definitely shines. The colors are more neutral, his colors may not be as bright as the dragonflies’, but that does not make him any less beautiful. He is quite a regal being.
This little guy may be small, but he is just as perfect as the others.
Here is the front of the dress just below the bust. Individually, these little bugs are immaculate, but together, they form a rich tapestry of fall colors and life. It was an honor be be granted permission to photograph this dress.
The embroidery is perfect for fall. The colors used definitely take into consideration the sights you might see while walking through the woods on a crisp fall day. With the leaves a vibrant red, green, golden and rich browns, mother nature is definitely an inspiration for these little works of art.
_________________________~~___________________________
I found some more lovely embroidery being done today, courtesy of the internet. One may think that birds and insects are better suited to spring than to the upcoming fall season, but done correctly; using neutrals, earth tones and sharp black lines, you cannot go wrong incorporating them into your wardrobe, accessories and home.
A simplistic design, but beautiful. The use of black lines makes for a wonderfully delicate piece. The birds may be flying south for the winter, but this one will stay behind as a reminder of the beauty and life that can be.
The monarch design is more complex and elaborate. So perfect and realistically done, it is almost ready to pop off the material and fly away. A very true to life piece of work.
Happy Labour Day
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
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
Here are some front row seats 
… too bad they cut out all the acrobatics! Nonetheless here is what is in store (literally) this fall at the KL Boutique…
Enjoy!
xox
The more I look at some of the beautiful and amazing velvet pieces that are currently in the KL boutique, the more I keep thinking of how perfect they all are for the weather we have been having lately… Warm enough for lighter jackets, multiple layers, brighter prints and colors to reflect the springtime sunshine We are at the perfect middle transition where we still need protection from the elements but lust for the skirts and tank tops of summer… why not pair them all together for the perfect “right now” look?
This is the most refreshing alternative to a black wool jacket…
Did you know that purple is considered a royal color because of it’s rarity dating back to ancient Greece!? Nobility as well as Kings and Queens were the only ones who could afford the dye due to the intense labor involved with both fishing and extracting the limited amount of ink from the sea snail that naturally produces it. It is said that to obtain 1.4 grams of Tyrian Purple you would need approximately twelve thousand snails… and that would allow you to color the trim alone of your garment. Isn’t that insane? I listened in fashion history class… :p
Indulge in your love for mini skirts with leggings that provide both comfort and practicality (not to mention warmth in the colder months) with the leaf applique skirt! Two for one! Pair these with knee high colorful socks and round toe heels for chillier days and opt for strappy sandals in the summer What is a great piece of clothing if it isn’t versatile and magical all at once?
Maybe this weekend is your weekend to drop by the Boutique and add some rich velvety vibes to your wardrobe (… just sayin’…)
Happy slow beginning of Spring!
(Hey… we’ve got to celebrate every ounce of sunshine we get!)
xox
Katrin Leblond Design
4647 Blvd. St-Laurent
Montréal, Québec,
CANADA
Or for a very VIP appointment… 514-678-9616
The lovely, mega talented Zina Comics encapsulated the theatrical KL show via cartoon! I seriously cannot get over this… every time I come back to these images I trip out!!! Not only are they perfectly visually accurate but the emotion and mood of the show were captured immaculately. Amongst all the amazing press the show has gotten ( Eva Friede of the Gazette, Noo Montreal, Maddy K Events, and the National Post) to have a visual non photograph recollection is simply divine!
From ladies of the front row to the beautiful models and KL creations, Zina’s artwork brings out some of the shows many vibrant highlights!
The little lady!!! A crowd favorite for her fairytale appeal as well as honest and brave approach to the catwalk, I am so happy to see this already character-like persona exemplified into an immortal finished sketch!
I’m really not quite sure you could ever even begin to understand how I reacted when I first saw the cartoon version of myself… I literally screamed and jumped up and down while waiting with my boyfriend in a line (yes… in a public place)! I am truly amazed at the dress details (my bag!!!), and everything perfected down to the color of my eyes. Truly amazing.
Oh… and for the record… I had no idea this dress was going to be in the show! I picked it up one fine day while visiting the boutique – couldn’t say no to the red of those poppies (and the fact that I am addicted to tunics of every shape and size)! Must have looked pretty impressive from an outsiders point of view when there I am sitting in the front row and my dress walks right past me…. LOL… truly too funny… still think I’m some crazy VIP?!? Hahaha… cat’s outta the bag!
And here are the beautiful Arveen, Line and Zina (the TELEGRAPHE team) apparently in a sea of tall monster fashionistas… sorry if I added to that group 
Thank you SO MUCH Zina – this seriously made the KL teams day (or month)!
xox
So last night at the Bonsecours Market Katrin blew us all away with a smashing show filled with color, vivid patterns, contortionists, acrobats and positive vibes of acceptance and love! One of the only Montreal designers this year to showcase both a fall/winter collection as well as Cruise! The world of Katrin Leblond saw many new additions – bikinis, customized shoes, handbags and an incredible avant garde art statement piece. What about those manslaves?! Two of them holding up the acrobatic vixen… just proves further the power of feminine energy induced into the performance
Look who it is! Anna, one of the girls from the Boutique walked the Sensation Mode runways in full fabulous character… embodying the style and confidence that epitomises the KL brand. If you liked what you saw, be sure to drop by the Boutique and let her know!
Now the bikinis I flat out loved. Super flattering, super textured and a super refreshing escape from all the somber black, grays and neutrals we’ve been seeing all week in the fall/winter collections! I could picture myself wearing one of these in the South of France or Spain with a picnik and glass of red wine tucked away in my beach basket… *sigh*
This turquoise Grecian dress was a crowd pleaser… so many people tweeted it as their favorite and pointed it out to me in conversation. It is one of those effortlessly wearable summer/vacation items that we all need in our closets… color, detailing and not too tight! This piece will most definitely sell out as soon as it hits the KL racks.
Now this lady was something special. Contorting her body every which way (in heels might I add), she actually did a couple of back flips mid runway and proceeded to walk down the catwalk on all fours upside down (I know… crazy right?!?). She really caught people off guard as she blended seamlessly into the show as a model before starting her elegant displays of bendable talent and strength for the world to see. She was, to put it simply and to the point – incredibly amazing. The thing I loved most about incorporating all the circus elements into the show was that it is not a theme for Katrin. These are the people who her designs cater to (and quite a large portion might I add). Performers, comedians, actresses and singers flock to her boutique every DAY for ensembles that will capture their personalities and deem their acts unforgettable. The rest of Kat’s clientele are REAL women. Women with curves, women who want clothing to flatter and function their lifestyles. Strong and intelligent characters who want to shine every single day and be noticed. Women with flair. The models in the show really represented that to me. The eighty year old lady who came out at one point looking like the fairy godmother, the plus size woman who looked ravishing in the long skirt and hooded jacket… and of course all the beautiful size sixes and eights that graced the runway! Any trend or style can be pulled off when you are 5′ 10″ and a size 2… dressing different body shapes yields a completely different challenge. I think Kat really continues to ace that test and “keep it real” in the most creatively unreal way… lol!
Flirtation will get you everywhere!
And the statement piece!!! A caged bodice with makeshift fleurette pasties of sorts and ankle length sheer skirt… you don’t see the back in this picture but the caged frame was laced up like a bustier with ribbon… oh the extravagance! Glad to see some fashion that was purely for the dreamers
So congrats to Katrin on the show being a grand success and also to the audience who brought an amazing energy to the Marche Bonsecours!
We were thrilled to have and meet you all!
xox
P.S. A big thank you to the Lab Creatif for posting these pictures… stay tuned… a more detailed review of the KL show to come
Just in time for a little itty bitty extra sneak peek into the KL Fashion Show preparation universe I give you three more of these divine custom shoes! A few facts you should know about tonight’s show…
Katrin searched high and low for size six and eight models! Seeing as none of the Montreal Agencies had enough girls that size, she hired individually from nearly every modeling agency in town…
…one of our models we are particularly excited to have as well (but we won’t blow her cover… surprises are best left anticipated).
Also, because the Katrin Leblond morale is all about feeling good in your own skin (and shoes), every custom pair of shoes you see here are the models own! Kat asked everyone to bring in an old pair of heels that they felt comfortable struttin’ their stuff in that she could transform into artistic masterpieces. All I can say is that those lucky models are going home with the first ever pairs of KL footwear! Does that not make you want to dig deep into your closet and recreate an old favorite (or at least wish Kat would continue her shoe adorning talents)?!
Can’t wait to see you all at the show tonight at six (please get there closer to five thirty to allow seating to run smoothly)! More details about time and location on the Facebook Event Wall
Boy we are all in for a treat!
I’m so excited… just can’t wait…
xox
P.S. Thank you to all who mentioned the slow loading pictures of the previous shoe post – I will be fixing that shortly and compressing the pictures from now on for maximum upload speed! Bear with me
Attention! Attention! This just in… an exclusive KL sneak peek at just a few of the custom made shoes to be seen in the fashion show this Wednesday at Marche Bonsecours (more details and how to RSVP on the Facebook Event Page). Gorgeous shots taken from Kat’s studio… I swear when I opened my e-mail and saw these for the first time my jaw dropped! How is it that every time I check out the boutique or take a glimpse inside of the KL teams mind I am glorified each time more than the last?!? Truly inspiring to witness a fountain of never ending creativity and youthful design!
All I’m sayin’ is that I hope these footwear creations don’t end at Fashion Week… imagine a whole line of custom KL shoes to match your perfectly crafted ensemble…
Happy Monday world and Happy official first day of the 18th Edition of Montreal Fashion Week!
xox
I don’t know about you, but I am getting rather antsy and super excited for next weeks fashion week. There is a great lineup of designers whose collections I am DYING to see and experience for myself. At the top of my list is of course the Fall collection from Katrin Leblond! Inspired by goddesses, vixens and witches I can’t help but think of it as a sexually charged magical dream state. I haven’t seen any of the collection yet (I will see it when you do!) but a little birdie DID tell me of a possible Cruise insert in the making… I won’t elaborate and blow any covers, but if you are excited to see some summer fashion you will not be disappointed. I would LOVE to see more of the gemtones Kat is already using and more of the luxurious velvets and heavier fabrics from the current collection… *keeping fingers crossed*
In case you were one of the unfortunate souls who missed the last Katrin Leblond fashion show from Montreal Fashion Week, I have enclosed three videos covering the ENTIRE collection… oh yes you lucky things! Note the live HUGE snake on former Manager Nadine’s neck!!! There is always a surprise waiting when you are part of a KL event… I wonder what we will be “wowed” with this year… any guesses?
We would LOVE to have you at the show, and really it’s as easy as 1 2 3… just RSVP asap to
katrin@katrinleblond.com
The show will take place on Wednesday the 3rd of March at 6pm (you can run from work!) at Marche Bonsecours in the Old Port…
350 Rue Saint-Paul Est, Vieux Port
Hope to see you there – not an event you will want to miss!
Visit the Official Site!
