I just recently took a trip to my hometown, Montreal. Sure it was nice to connect with friends and family but I think the best time was had by my 16 year old twin sons, Alex and Michael, who were on the prowl for back to school coolness. They ran us up and down Ste. Catherine street and through the malls and shops downtown until they had just the right mix of tees, jeans, hoodies and sneakers that would be the talk of the town once they got home to suburbia Los Angeles. In their words, here is what is shaking in Montreal!

The twins’ mandate: We need shirts, shoes, jeans and a hoody but it can’t look like the stuff that our friends are going to wear. Do they have Bape in Montreal?

My View: Are you kidding me? Bape? Your budget is set at 2 shirts each for under $25 each, a hoodie each for under $60 and 2 pairs of jeans at $60 or less. Shoes are debatable, depending on the quality, we will subsidize up to $80 for one pair each.

1st Stop le Chateau

Alex: OK, I could get into this, but the stuff feels like tracing paper.

Michael: This is too expensive and too dressy…let’s get out of here…

My view: Le Chateau, like Bedo, Tristan, Reitmans, Smart Set and a handful of other chains are Quebecois institutions that must be seen in order to understand the market. True, Chateau’s quality was never their strong point but they continue to churn out up to the minute fashions at a mid price point.

Various Locations along Ste. Catherine and in malls around the city.

2nd Stop Underworld Skate

Alex: This is cool! Whoa…$60 bucks for shorts that I got for $20 at Vans in LA. But they have great jeans and shirts.

Michael: Ya, I like the decks and shirts but it’s too expensive for stuff I can get at home.

My View: LA style comes at a premium in Montreal. The beauty is that they get shipments of fall and winter looks that we never see in Southern CA. It’s worth the trip just to see original fall and winter looks, even at hefty retail prices.

Underworld Station 21

289, Ste-Catherine East

Montreal, Qc

H2X 1L5

Phone: 514.284.6473

Fax: 514.284.6478

3rd Stop: Jazz Urban Style

Alex: Holly Cow. They have Ice Cream shoes for under $90 bucks a pair right up front. I’m taking a picture to send to my buds in LA…they’re gonna die. (He proceeds to buy 2 pairs). They also have racks of fakie Bape hoodies for $85 bucks a piece!!!

Michael: Ya, this stuff is cool and all, but it’s not me…

My View: Alex debates the Bape hoodies and we discourage him because they really look cheesy. How do they get away with selling this stuff! It turns out that Jazz Urban Style is a national retail chain. Hmmm.

Various locations around the city and along Ste. Catherine.

4th Stop: Off the Hook

Alex: This rocks. They have LRG, Scifen, Freshjive and cool New Era’s (hats).

Michael: This is more like it! Love the Obey shirts and they have all of these brands and shirts I’ve never seen before!

My View: Both guys blow their budget on truly original stuff that looks and feels home grown. Tons of New Rave looks and colors are mixed in with Urban Skate looks. If you only have one stop to make…go to Off the Hook!

Off the Hook

1021a Ste-Catherine W.

UPSTAIRS

(514) 499-1021)

5th Stop: Zara

Alex: I love this stuff but it’s too dressy for school!

Michael: I’m gonna try on these shirts….

My View: We love Zara in Southern CA because we just don’t have enough of their stores around. The only downside? Their men’s sizing is bizarre with short and boxy tees that barely skim the top of your jeans and with XL’s that feel like mediums. Too bad, Michael leaves the very original screened tees behind.

6th Stop: Winners

Alex and Michael run through the store without connecting to anything in particular…

My View: Ask any Montrealer about Winners and their faces light up. This Canadian version of TJ Max has all of the brands and skus you could hope for in a marked-down, rows of racks setting. Fashionable? Not really…Fun? You bet!

Take a look at what the boys bought!