Shop 'Til You Drop: Fashion and I In Montreal

I would be lying to say that my favorite past time so far in Montreal isn’t the shopping. I have never been one to resist the temptation of a glamorous window display or to pass by a neon SALE sign. Yet no matter how much I love to spend an entire afternoon rattling clothes hangers I have also never been one to actually buy.

In short, I have a horrible case of perpetual buyers remorse. There is something about the thought of parting with my minimal monetary reservoirs for a pair of buttery brown calf-high boots that I just can’t shake.

I may admire a muted, satin gray, empire waist tank top for a good twenty minutes while a not-enthused sales staff stands buy. My requests for some dark wash straight legs and black mary-jane inspired heels are granted, yet the items almost always left in the dust as price tag phobia settles in.

Yet since I have moved to Montreal I am noticing a little change in my window gazing habits. First of all, it seems that fabulous stores line every block . Mannequins decked out in trendy ensemble beckon from windows left and right. It seems that the mannequins themselves have escaped from their glass show boxes and are perusing the icy sidewalks as real people. The majority of the population of the city is uber fashion conscious, a real 360 from the snowboarder chic/ crunchy hippy scene of Vermont.

It is slowly becoming clear why citizens of the city are so sharply dressed. It is because the prices are actually affordable. This is the second reason why my shopping habits are slowly changing. No longer am I simply trying the clothes for a quick test drive in front of the dressing room mirror. I can buy them, too!

For too long I have been accustomed to visiting the same stores on Church Street to update my wardrobe while wistfully gazing at the store fronts of Echo or Sweet Lady Jane. Now, similar styles of even better quality are at my fingertips for a fraction of the price. I believe that my days of preconceived buyers remorse are coming to a more reasonable close. Is Montreal some sort of retail therapy? Who knows, but I really love this place.
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