Let’s talk about something that’s dear to my heart. It’s about supporting local. There’s been a huge wave of Canadian brands shutting their doors to consumers in the recent economical slump. It’s difficult to see local talent disappear and for foreign ones to take their place. Not that I don’t appreciate designers from around the world, but I get a little bit sentimental when local brands that I grew up with disappear into thin air.
I remember browsing through the racks of dresses at Le Chateau when I was about 10 years old, looking for the perfect dress for my Grade 5 graduation. I wasn’t ready to commit to something ridiculously exorbitant (okay who am I lying, my parents gave me a limit), nor was I ready to pick out a shoddy dress from all of the other “age appropriate” selection of stores. Large flower appliqués on each of my shoulders were not exactly my thing.
With the release of their Fall/Winter 2015 collection, Le Chateau launched a campaign paying homage to its birth home, Montreal, Quebec. With a history tracing back to 1959, Le Chateau is synonymous with Montreal, and what I picture the fashionable ladies of the city to be wearing. I can remember my school trips to Montreal and walking across the fabulous Le Chateau window displays in awe of the manequins adorned in beautiful clothing.
The Le Chateau of Montréal campaign is no short of representing the impeccable designs which grace the mannequins now as they did before. A series of 8 campaign posters carefully designed to feature bold, white, french words emblazoned overtop of a photo embody the feeling of the moment.
The collection itself features some staple Canadian pieces such as structured jackets (to fend off the cold winter snow of course) and boots that will get you through any depth of snow. If the 90’s were this summer’s trend, then the fall/winter season is definitely seeing a massive resurgence of the 70’s. A variety of textures such as suede and felt, alongside bold prints are reminiscent of an era of fashionable expression and captures the spontaneity Montréal.
I mean just one look at the video and without a doubt you’ll want every single outfit that’s featured in it – there was no way that I couldn’t love it all. Or it could just be the fact that I identify with the runaway dog since I just recently got a little pup of my own!
Of all the posters though, I have to say that BEAUTÉ is my absolute favourite purely because of my obsession with grid-print anything (and you can expect me to show up with a pair of the slacks in the near future). I’d love to hear which one speaks to you and which pieces from their new FW15 collection catch your eye! Their collection is already available online so you basically have no reason not to browse.
