When it comes to shopping, men seem to have it so easy. They give their measurements, fabric and cut choices to a tailor, and a few weeks later, pick up a bespoke suit; whereas, we’ll spend days going from store-to-store to find the right fit.

Cin Tailleurs offers women made-to-measure mode, with exquisite tailoring by co-owners Cinthya Chalifoux and Gabrielle Gauvreau. You can pick from seasonal selection of styles and have your garment created to custom fit your curves, or sketch out something from your own imagination. At $375 for a day dress, $300 for pants, and $700 for a silk trench, a bespoke wardrobe may be something of an investment, but we think your body will thank you for not stuffing it into a too-small skirt or swimming in a poorly fit blazer.

Finally! Some equality for the sexes. —Jennifer Nachshen

Services by appointment: Cin Tailleurs à la Boutique Ouzilleau, 92 Laurier Ave. W., Montreal, H2T 2N4, 514-278-8571, www.cintailleurs.ca

When it comes to sustainable design, the ladies of atelier b. aren’t kidding around.

Collaborative designers, Catherine Métivier and Anne-Marie Laflamme, took over the old Maple Leaf Hat and Cap factory to create their new atelier b. boutique and workshop. They kept the amazingly huge cutting table and old-fashioned sewing machines, but added a modern twist with their stylish made-in-Montreal garments. We found a sweet cap-sleeve dress ($145), a cowl-neck shirt ($110) and a laser-cut jacket ($210) from the F/W line, alongside jewellery by Alexis Buehrer and recycled wood furniture and housewares by Mitz Takahashi.

Now that’s eco-chic. —Jennifer Nachshen

Atelier b., 5758 St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal, 514-769-6094, www.atelier-b.ca

The Spice Girls taught us many important lessons, including how to Zig-a-Zig-Ahhh, not to drive in 5-inch platforms (remember the bus crash in the movie?)and the importance of variety.

If it’s choice you want, head to the new Spice Station, with hundreds of varieties of spices, herbs, salts, peppercorns, teas and chillies that can be ground on site or sent home whole, depending on your preference.  Choose spices from the mosaic-like shelves of the otherwise simple store, or head online to pick up gorgeous gift sets, like the Salt and Pepper set ($55), featuring four peppercorn varieties and six sorts of salt or the Chile set ($40) for those who like it hot.

Spice Station, 174A Bernard St., Montreal, 514 274-1514, www.spicestation.ca

We go to yoga on a regular basis, enjoy the occasional massage, and try to get at least an hour of flake-out TV time at the end of a stressful day. But sometimes full relaxation requires a complete withdrawal from the real world.

Sensory-spa Ovarium boasts boatloads of fans for their muscle-soothing Epsom salt floatation baths ($60) and out-of-this-world Pulsar light and sound experience ($22). We combined both treatments with a 30-minute ride on their brand new Neuro-Masseur bed (starting at $29), which combined relaxing music and the sounds of waves crashing with a pleasant series of full-body vibrations, immersing all our senses into a delicious sense of relaxation.

We emerged ready to take on the world, jelly legs and all. —Jennifer Nachshen

Ovarium, 400 Beaubien St. E., Montreal, 514-271-7515, www.ovarium.com

Depending on how you spent the last decade, a visit to the new Nouveau Palais may induce flashbacks of  forgotten 3 a.m. post-party poutines with fellas whose names have been lost to the sands of time.

Luckily we had no such associations (wink) when we tried the recently revamped restaurant. Although the décor remains true to its earlier incarnation, complete with the original wood paneled tables and vinyl banquettes, the food couldn’t be farther from the fattening late-night fare. We started with a soul-warming matzoh ball soup ($4.45) before moving on to an appetizer of fluffy zucchini fritters ($5.95). After tucking into a rugged dish of Hunter’s Chicken, with tender thighs smothered in a savoury tomato and olive sauce and served with a flaky biscuits ($11.50), we made room to squeeze in an irresistible sweet potato pie ($3.95) with the flakiest crust we’d ever tasted.

We even brought a guy we plan to keep around. My, how we’ve matured. —JN

Nouveau Palais, 281 Bernard St. W., Montreal, 514-273-1180, www.nouveaupalais.com

When timbales of tuna tartare become tiresome and candlelit dining too costly, we retreat to a good old neighbourhood diner.

New on the scene with a been-there-forever feel is Comptoir 21, a retro lunch counter serving up sea-faring faves like creamy clam chowder with fresh herbs ($5.10). We deemd the crispy-battered Fish & Chips ($8.20) deliciously seaworthy as we dunked the melting flakes of fish into fresh herb, light curry, smoky paprika and traditional tartar sauces. Landlubbers need not fear, the menu also includes a fresh veggie burger ($3.99) and tender steak sandwich with onions, cheese, and peppers ($5.10).

We’re totally hooked.

Comptoir 21, 21 St-Viateur Street W., Montreal, 514-507-3474.

Opened by former Le Pistou staffers, Lustucru bistro is the latest foodie stop on the Parc Avenue strip.

We love the open kitchen where you can watch chef Iannick Lessard prepares plates of tartar and charcuterie using ingredients from local agro producers. Choose a few appies (from $4) like beef tartar with lemon confit or horsemeat tataki with peach salsa before moving into delectable deli spreads (from $5) of black pudding with rhubarb chutney and rabbit rillettes with pistachio. 

Throw in '70s-style leather banquettes and a bottle of French Syrah and even the staunchest of vegetarians might start rethinking things.

5159 Parc Ave., Montreal, 514-439-6701, www.bistrolustucru.com

I'm all strung up my hair is fried

I just can’t get you off my mind

Not three weeks into summer and already our hair is as bedraggled as Ke$ha. Our latest obsession for soft and shiny locks is leave-in Essence Absolue from Shu Uemura ($68), finally making its Quebec debut. Jennifer Aniston is a fan of this genie in a bottle formulated with Japanese Camellia Oil to soothe, smooth and control frizz.

One or two drops worked through our frazzled locks after every shampoo has us singing a happy new tune.

At Orbite Coupe Beauté Cosmétiques, 221 Laurier Ave. W., Montreal, 514-271-6333, www.orbite.com

We’re having an attack of the arts now that cutting-edge gallery Yves Laroche has moved uptown.

Starting the party in its massive Mile End space is a thought-stirring show guest-curated by San Francisco’s “art provocateur” Justin Giarla. Looking East features urban inspired pieces by Shepard Fairey (the man responsible for Obama’s iconic Hope poster), layered pop art by Greg Gossel, and a tired J.Lo lookalike in pearls by Aaron Nagel.

Artastic!

Until June 23, Yves Laroche Galerie D’Art, 6355 St-Laurent Blvd., Montreal, 514-393-1999, www.yveslaroche.com

Last time we came back from Australia, we filled our suitcases with Tim Tams and left our clothes behind.

Now we can go to la Tourtière Australienne whenever we’re craving some Aussie Tucker. We ate a steaming Steak, Bacon, and Cheese pie in the store, took a Butter Chicken pie for take away ($4.50 fresh, $4 frozen), plus grabbed a family-sized frozen Curried Vegetable and Sweet Potato pie for tomorrow’s dinner ($15). A delicious coconut-covered Lamington later ($2.50), and we felt like we’d clicked our heels and landed right back in Oz.

We even snagged a few packets of Tim Tams for our purse.

La Tourtière Australienne, 4520 Ave. du Parc, Montreal, 514-277-7437, 
www.tourtiereaustralienne.ca