Dualité

According to the Globe and Mail, Canadian retailer Hudson Bay Company has been acquired by NRDC Equity today, which owns American department store Lord & Taylor, for $8 billion US. Richard Baker, chief executive officer of NRDC, said there are plans to convert 10-15 “high profile” Bay stores into Lord & Taylor department stores.

So there is a risk that in Montreal, the downtown Bay store can be on the death list and turned into a Lord & Taylor. Among the department stores left in Montreal, if The Bay goes, only Ogilvy will remain as the only original department store (previously there was Eaton’s and Simpson’s) established since the 1800′s, still standing.

Acquisitions of Canadian companies has been on the rise as of late. Limited Brands Inc, which owns Victoria’s Secret, bought out La Senza in 2006. It also owns Bath & Body Works and plans to expand 6 specialty stores this fall in Canada, don’t be surprised if they’re gonna try and buy out Canadian equivalent Fruits & Passion in the near future.

I find it a little sad that HBC didn’t make enough effort in turning this iconic department store around. And that has to take some business savvy American to come and outright buy it and have the galls to rename the store. So enjoy what you can of what’s gonna be left of The Bay as you’ll soon find it replaced by a more posh Lord & Taylor.

Image source: The Globe and Mail

Since I gave my blog a little dry spell on Montreal Fashion, I’ll catch up in today’s post

Although I’m not a big fan of beauty products, and I’m sure you’ve already read it from the newspapers, but Sephora just opened two stores in Fairview Pointe-Claire Mall and Promenade St-Bruno. Why the mega french beauty store hasn’t opened one in downtown Montreal always boils down to the same problem: lack of space. Downtown isn’t very big, competition is fierce, and rent for space is high. I personally think that if the city wants to attract more commercial vendors, they will need to rethink their urban planning a little (like maybe work on making more commercial skyscrapers instead of just limiting the merchandise with tiny buildings).

Over at the Rockland Centre, La Senza is being relaunched with a “new store concept” a couple of weeks ago. The newly refurbished store is now 5000 sq. ft of bras and panties. If you’re not already aware, La Senza also sells Victoria’s Secret beauty line – my spidey senses tell me that lingerie mogul Victoria’s Secret made a pact with La Senza instead of outright overtaking it.

If you head on out to the Eaton Center, you might have noticed a spankin’ brand new store called “Little Burgundy” carrying over 80 brands of shoes and bags with a dash of cupcakes. According to Creativity Montreal, there’ll be a second store opening on Ste-Catherine this summer, is it open yet I haven’t checked, but you can scoot your bunbuns over to the Eaton Center to get a taste.

Lastly, I attended what was called a Crave Party thrown by several indie brands in Montreal at the Just for Laughs Museum. A laid back party of cupcakes, foods, drinks, raffles and goodie bags, I invited my friend along since some of the Aqua Di Lara swimsuits were on sale. Sadly, I didn’t purchase a swimsuit, they’re just really way too fancy despite having subtle colors, but is there such a thing as too sexy while being covered up? How does that work? And I’m not talking about ultimate boobie and butt exposure here, I’m talking about one piece suits tastefully covering all the necessities plentifully, yet a peep of a stomach skin here make a huge difference.

I’m not a fan of small dogs, but damn does that look cute.

I came across one booth full of dog apparels from a store called Poochey Couture. And it has the latest fashion trends for dogs, from “sushi poochie” squeaky toys to Juicy Couture for dogs (I kid you not). You may think it tacky to dress your dog, but from the album pictures of some model dogs, honestly some of those argyle sweaters look really cute! As a pet lover, you might want to check this place out, it’s amazing what people will buy for their pets. Eventhough I don’t own a pet…my boyfriend does, and it was really tempting to buy a cute raincoat for a yorkshire terrier…really tempting.

If La Senza brings us daily and Victoria’s Secret is fantasy, then British import Agent Provocateur could be the sauciest of them all. CNW Group reports the opening of the famous lingerie line to their very first Canadian store in Vancouver last week. Plans to establish stores in Toronto and Montreal should be set up later this year.

Maggie Gyllenhaal – sweet knickers.

Known for its controversial sexually laden ads especially the 2001 ad featuring Kylie Minogue riding a mechanical bull (whew!), it has since gathered quite a cult following among celebrities.

If you’re on a hunt for that special little number for Valentine’s Day (ladies, of course) and can’t wait for Agent Provocateur to make an appearance, you can try you luck at Blush and Boutique Josephine.