Montreal Fashion Week is always a feast for the eyes, and with the Spring Summer 2012 collections being shown pre-autumn, we’re ready to weather the winter ahead in eager anticipation of our attire to come. Here are our favourite moments from this year’s festival:

We adored rising star, Anastasia Lomonova's smoky palette, perfect pleats, and elegant knots in flowing chiffon and body-conscious jersey. www.anastasialomonova.com

Anomal Couture's feminine meets fembot Asian-inspired collection drew collective oohs and ahhs (particularly the gold kimono) with elegant lines and rich fabrics. www.anomalcouture.com

Denis Gagnon’s springtime romp brought a smile to some oh-so-serious fashionista-faces. Think flirty florals mingling with edgy leather accents. www.denisgagnon.ca

Cactus-inspired DUY created ladylike silhouettes with an edge in dazzling whites, edgy blacks and guacamole greens. www.duycollection.com

We’ve got our hearts set on quite a few pieces from Martin Lim’s collection featuring floaty fabrics and fitted sheaths in muted pin, blue beige and black. www.martin-lim.com

A touch of leopard print added a dash of danger to Mulcair’s nautical-inspired collection. We adored the transparent black dress and the wide-legged trouser in cognac. www.mulcair.com —Jennifer Nachshen

See our Editor’s Diary for more images of Montreal Fashion Week.

Photos courtesy of SMM 2011 - Credit: Jimmy Hamelin

We adored Iris Setlakwe’s clean lines and classic cuts at her Spring/Summer runway show, where we first glimpsed her designs, tailored to take a gal from the workday to a wine-fuelled soirée.

We‘ll be picking up pieces at Setlakwe’s new pied-à-terre in the Plateau. Even better? The designer will be available every Thursday at 2 p.m. to help you select items that fit your style, from her tailored take on stripes ($450) to this subtly sequined evening dress ($295).

Now it’s just a matter of deciding what we want to wear to break the glass ceiling. —JN

Iris Setlakwe, 1127 Laurier Ave. W., Montreal, 514-270-0404, www.collectioniris.com

We already love his signature stripes and celebrated sense of style, and now we can visit an exhibit offering a retrospective of the career of the fashion world’s enfant terrible.

Marking the 35th anniversary of the designer’s own label, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts will present The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk from June 17 to October 2, 2011. The exhibition will feature approximately 120 couture and prêt‐à‐porter ensembles created over the last 35 years, inspired by everything from the boudoir to the Eurostar.  Sketches, stage costumes, excerpts from films, runway shows, concerts, videos, dance performances and television programmes will all be included to highlight Gaultier’s creative collaborations with other artists including filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, photographer Mario Testino and pop stars Madonna and Kylie Minogue, among others.

We won’t be fashionably late for this exhibit. —JN

For admission and hours click here.

For photos from the opening galas, see our French edition's Editors' Diary

There are some things that we need. And others we just want. Sometimes they aren’t all that different.

With botanical drawings and pharmaceutical-inspired art on the walls as well as bold dark oak apothecary-esque tables, The WANT Apothecary brings back the feeling of a 19th century neighbourhood pharmacy that would feel right at home on a New York City block. But you won’t find any medications or Q-Tips (although they do sell salves in the form of the anti-oxidant beauty product line, Aesop). Instead this thoughtfully-curated boutique stocks beautiful leather bags by WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie, stunning clothes by Filippa K (we were all fawning over this hot pink number) and chic pieces by Acne.

Who said you can’t always get what you want? —JN

The WANT Apothecary, 4960 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, 514-484-3555.

Inspired by Louis Vuitton’s Spring Ready to Wear collection, colour-blocking has become the biggest trend for summer.

But if you’re not quite ready to rock the Crayola box like the sassy child’s drawing you are, you can still add a touch of boldly contrasting shades to your outfit with one of the adorable Jeffrey Campbell cross-body bags ($60) available exclusively at Little Burgundy. These tiny totes are perfect for days when you need a splash of vibrant colour to go with your lipstick, cell phone, and keys.

With this carry-all-that-you-need, you'll be the coolest kid on the (colour) block.

At Little Burgundy, 1127 Sainte-Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-286-9414, www.littleburgundyshoes.com

We loved ex-Vena Cava intern, Juliana Bennett’s ballet-inspired fall-winter 2011 collection at the most recent Montreal Fashion Week. But with only one point-of-purchase in Toronto, we didn’t want to have to leave the province to buy items from one of Montreal’s hottest new designers.

With just a click of our mouse we found Mulcair’s spring-summer line on their recently launched e-commerce site. Bennett’s draped dresses and figure-flattering cuts are just what we’re looking for to take us from our pencil-pushing days to patio soirées without missing a beat.

Now that’s surf-worthy style.

http://mulcair.com

While some people may have been watching the Royal Wedding whilst dreaming of marrying a prince, we were busy gaping at the gown. Even if we’re neither becoming a princess nor wearing McQueen, we’ll still be dressed for noblesse with the summer’s frothiest frocks.

FCUK’s pretty Lucy dress ($178) has a lovely little pocket where you can keep the keys to the Aston Martin getaway car. Isn’t Harry such a prankster? www.frenchconnection.com

Banana Republic’s slim-fitting Chloe sheath ($205) is absolutely perfect for day-to-night summer dressing. Just add a few accessories (perhaps a tiara?) and you’re good to go! www.bananarepublic.gapcanada.ca

For the honeymoon (or just a picnic on the mountain) we love this pretty eyelet frock by ADAM. We know eyelet isn’t lace, but we just couldn’t help ourselves. $550 at Boutique David Lesage,1455 Peel St., suite 318, Montreal, 514-564-4400
, www.davidlesage.com

We love this tiered lace number by See by Chloe ($585). With a slightly transparent skirt and black belt, it’s not as innocent as it seems. But then again, we’re guessing Kate isn’t either. At net-a-porter.com

—JN

We’re always looking for the best fashion destinations in town, even on our days off. It’s like homework, if homework was fun.

We’re turning in our style assignment with the new Old Montreal boutique Cahier d’Exercises, which features the upscale items by Celine, artfully draped dresses by Future Classics, and cutting edge clothes by Mandy Coon, as well as Rick Owens’ amazing wedges, among others. Designed by Gilles Saucier, this stunningly modern store offers unique pieces that earn an A+ for individuality.

When it comes to sartorial study, we’re at the top of our class.

Cahier d’Exercises, 369 St. Paul W., Montreal, 514-439-5169, www.cahierdexercices.com/en

We fell in love with by Thomas at Montreal Fashion Week, but had no idea where to purchase items by the talented new designer. Talk about shoppingus interruptus!

Now we can find a few key items from by Thomas and other progressive designers at the new online Trusst boutique. We have to admit that some of the items were a bit out of our world, but we loved the printed tank by Hartmann Nordenholz, the shredded knitwear by Nibelungen and even contemplated the padded Lady Gaga-esque bodysuits by Vilsbøl de Arce.

We’re nothing if not progressive shoppers.

www.trusststore.com

Audrey Hepburn always went first class with 52 suitcases, and while this may not be an option for most of us, we’ve picked up a few travel pointers from Pamela Keogh’s What Would Audrey Do? Timeless Lessons for Living with Grace and Style.

•Invest in good luggage (Miss H used Louis Vuitton, of course).
•Pack the night before—it allows things to settle and you can throw in an extra pair of Ferragamo flats!
•Pre-order a vegetarian meal (they’re often fresher).
•To ward off chills, carry a cashmere wrap (AH preferred navy blue, and who are we to argue?).
•When the journey gets rough, pull out a good book and remain “childishly optimistic.”

That is the Audrey way.

Available at Amazon.ca ($16.17).