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 Canada's oldest department store |
585 Ste-Catherine Street West (At Union) Montreal, QC H3B 3Y5 Canada +1 514 281 4422 http://www.hbc.com/ |
Packed into a beautiful Victorian building in the heart of downtown is Canada's oldest department store; its oldest company, in fact. The men's and women's departments feature all the major designer labels in addition to house brands, while the kitchen and bath departments are especially strong. The store also features a beauty salon, optician, travel agency, watch repair, hearing aids, wigs and gift registry; in short, things you will not find many other places under one roof. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Lloyd Gross |
 Photo: jfolkmann |
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Urban chic |
4228 St-Denis Street (Near Rachel) Montreal, QC H2J 2K8 Canada +1 514 847 0323 http://www.bedo.ca/ |
Offering sleek, hip and colourful urban wear for men and women, this Canadian designer is perfectly at home on the trendiest stretch of St-Denis Street. The women's collection features slinky tops, jackets and vests accented with fake fur, and plaid skirts in interesting cuts. The men's collection also delves into plaid, but is heavier on leather and emphasizes bulky sweaters and understated trench coats. The staff is as hip as the selection, and offers a tolerable level of service amid the usual institutional attitude. Other locations include 3706 St-Laurent Boulevard (+1 514 987 9940). Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Classic jewelry in an elegant setting |
1240 Phillips Square (At Ste-Catherine) Montreal, QC H3B 3H4 Canada +1 514 397 2511 |
The oldest store in this national Canadian chain was opened in 1879 and moved to this stately location a couple of years later. This is the place to buy your daughter's first string of pearls or a special graduation gift. Birks' trademark blue box holds more than jewelery these days: crystal, fine cutlery and porcelain gifts are also available at this downtown location, where generations have also purchased wedding bands and engagement rings. Service is discreet and the staff is helpful but not intrusive. An appraisal service is available, as well. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: noireopale |
 Photo: Jeremy Watt |
 Medieval wonders |
3804 St-Denis Street (Near Roy) Montreal, QC H2W 2M2 Canada +1 514 840 9030 http://www.oyez.ca/ |
As hard as it is to believe, St-Denis Street is home to two separate boutiques devoted entirely to medieval clothes and paraphernalia. Here in the Red Dragon's Workshop you will find swords and maces with which to fight the Black Knight, and chain mail armour to ward off his counter-attacks. It is all too easy to get caught up in the bodices, lavish undergarments, outrageously ugly picture frames, books, CDs and intriguing medieval musical instruments. The staff are certifiably nuts about their chosen obsession, and are eager to guide you through their bizarre inventory. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Medieval wear |
4400 St-Denis Street (Near Rachel) Montreal, QC H2J 2L1 Canada +1 514 843 9993 http://www.excalibor.com/ |
This store dukes it out with nearby l'Echoppe du Dragon Rouge for a truly bizarre niche market: all things medieval. This store is somewhat brighter, larger and slicker than its competitor, focusing on beautifully crafted and monumentally expensive reproduction gowns. Bodices, shoes and all the other fashion accouterments of the age are on hand, along with the requisite swords, maces, books and magazines. For Goths with thick wallets it's not to be missed. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Azzaelea |
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High end |
1455 Peel Street, Suite 227 (Cours Mont-Royal) Montreal, QC H3A 1T5 Canada +1 514 284 3315 http://www.harryrosen.com/ |
This is the type of store Donald Trump would love: valet parking, custom tailoring, cappuccino bar and a Playstation for the kids (if he had any). This is the ultimate men's wear store, featuring all the top designer labels in the world in a store-within-a-store layout. The usual names are here, including Hugo Boss, Giorgio Armani and Versace. There are also a few more elite brands such as Brioni, Zegna and Ferragamo. Needless to say, this is not your typical bargain basement haberdashery. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Taste, style and fashion |
1300 Sherbrooke Street West (At de la Montagne) Montreal, QC H3G 1H9 Canada +1 514 842 5111 http://www.holtrenfrew.com/ |
Undoubtedly Canada's ritziest department store, this upscale chain opened in 1837 as a hat shop in Quebec City, quickly developed a reputation for fine furs, and never looked back. The downtown Montreal location is housed in a wonderful art-deco building and the interior reeks of taste, style and wealth. If you wish, personal shoppers can guide you through the selection of Christian Dior, European sportswear, men's and women's wear and accessories. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Colin Rose |
 Photo: Quan Nguyen |
 Photo: projetsdequebec |
 Photo: Morales |
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Practical haute couture |
4107 St-Denis Street (Near Marie-Anne) Montreal, QC H2W 2M7 Canada +1 514 844 0633 http://www.kaliyana.com/ |
With unique, fashionable, practical pieces for women living real lives, this spiffy boutique is the brainchild of Karina Ackert, a designer so dedicated to quality that she spends much of the year in Indonesia overseeing production. With the bold step of opening on St-Denis Street, Kaliyana now has a retail presence in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. Specializing in large sizes (6-22), the boutiques offers an uncommon flair and style in clothes the designer hopes can be worn to the grocery store, the opera, and everything in between. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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New kid on the block |
977 Ste-Catherine Street W (At Mansfield) Montreal, QC H3B 4W3 Canada +1 514 282 1840 |
This venerable department store has been a favourite among shoppers in Quebec City since 1840 and is now in Montréal. With 90,000 square feet of retail space over three storeys, Simons has a reputation of offering good value at moderate prices: it maintains buying offices in Paris, London and Hong Kong. Shoppers will find the latest fashions from around the world. It's worth a trip just to look a the three-story atrium and the 24-foot mobile by local artist Guido Molinari. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: KEN CHEN |
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Upscale boutiques |
1307 St. Catherine Street West (Near Crescent) Montreal, QC H3G 1P7 Canada +1 514 842 7711 http://ogilvycanada.com/ |
This grand dame of St-Catherine Street stores has undergone many changes since it first opened more than 130 years ago. What was once the store of choice for genteel Montrealers is now a series of upscale boutiques, ranging from the Pavillon Christofle crystalware shop to Gifts and Gear for gardeners. During the Christmas holiday season, the store revives its famous antique Enchanted Village from the 1940s. It is not uncommon for dozens of shoppers to stop and watch the mechanical animals bobbing up and down in the display window. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Caroline Pilon |
 Photo: Maria Luiza Uchoa Campos |
 Photo: Tim Sullivan |
 Photo: Jacques Rivard |
 Photo: Candra newsham |
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Upscale second-hand |
4430 St-Denis Street (Near Mont-Royal) Montreal, QC H2J 2L1 Canada +1 514 286 4321 |
St-Denis Street is not really the home of second-hand clothes, but this upscale shop is an exception. Suede and leather are something of a specialty, but there is a full slate of other men's and women's clothing and shoes as well. Prices befit the store's tony address, though there are some bargains to be had, and the helpful staff knows the stock very well. It is a fun, fashionable stop on a day's shopping in the Plateau. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Quebec design showcase |
3852 St-Denis St (Near Roy) Montreal, QC H2W 2M2 Canada +1 514 843 4379 |
This highly regarded fashion boutique helps solidify St-Denis Street as the main thoroughfare of Quebec fashion and design. Featured designers include Jean-Claude Poitras, Michel Desjardins and Marie Saint-Pierre; if they have anything in common it is a certain combination of traditional earthiness with the avant-garde. The open, post-industrial but somehow warm and inviting decor is the perfect setting for one of St-Denis Street's foremost boutiques. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Yves Lalonde  |