Jessica Mulroney

Who Says Montreal Girls are not Stylish?

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

MONTREAL- I woke up this morning in a pissy mood. It didn’t last long, but I kept thinking of a comment I read somewhere (I’m ashamed, but it was on The DailyMail). It was criticizing one of our fashionista Godmamma‘s, Jessica Mulroney‘s, fashion style and her status as a stylist.

First of all, for us, the golden children of this beautiful city, Jessica was a well-known stylist in Montreal – the city of a thousand bells. I’m not speaking as a fan but as a journalist. I am writing a fact. The beauty in the fashion scene of Montreal is that we have this New Yorker edge, with a touch of European class. We celebrate diversity and audacity. Sometimes I wish I was as daring as Jessica, but I’m forever a minimalist CBK girl (Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy). I writing a quick shoutout to Maestro Matt Berman!

Ok, back to the story…..

For me and probably others, when we attack in a mean-spirited way, one of us (and “us“ for me is a woman, a human being, a hard worker and in this case, a fellow Montrealer), we get protective, our mamma bear coat and the Rocky Balboa (I know, he is my ultimate hero) gloves go on and we fight back.

I won’t do a Kanye of myself because I’m a very proud woman. I don’t believe in fighting fire with fire and being a total ass. But, I do get it. We don’t share the same taste in fashion. That’s the beauty of it though. A good stylist is someone who understands this. They see the different tastes of someone and can be creative without changing their style. We do have fun with fashion.

Why so serious?

Using writing to bully someone and posting mean posts; that I am against it.

I do respect constructive comments. You may not be a fan of a particular fashion house, stylists, fashion magazine or designer, but let’s not go into the judgmental territory.

Fashion is a big playground, for everybody.

Stylists, fashion houses and designers like Jessica, Zoë Bedos-Trudeau, Catherine Malandrino, Di Carlo Couture, Marie Saint-Pierre, Eve Gravel, Denis Gagnon, DUY, Mackage, Philippe Dubuc, Valerie Dumaine and many more are making their marks and they all bring something special in this big playground that will call fashion.

Montreal fashion, for me, is like Micheal Jackson‘s first solo album, Of The Wall (my favorite!). It is the template for the storm that will come.

And Canadian designers, Canadian stylists and (Hell ya!) us Canadian lovers, are starting to show the world, you may or may not like it, but let’s conquer the world by storm.

https://www.mackage.com/ca/en

http://www.valeriedumaine.com/en/

https://evegravel.com

https://www.dicarlocouture.com

http://catherinemalandrinousa.com

https://www.mariesaintpierre.com/ca_en/

http://duycollection.com/Duy/duy.html

Our Canadian fashion Godmother. Her name is Jessica Mulroney.

Our Canadian fashion godmother. Her name is Jessica Mulroney.

She is sassy.

She is the ultimate cool Montrealer girl.

You know what, she is our fashion godmother.

You may have known her already for her segment on the CityLine with one of our favorite TV personality Tracy Moore.

But let me introduce you to the talented, fashionable and cool Jessica Mulroney.

The first time I read about Jessica was around 2008. I was a die-hard Hello Magazine. I couldn’t wait to buy my copy of Hello during the lunch hour and eating at a nice Italian restaurant looking to Queen Mary Boulevard. I remember the magazine issue talking about Ben and Jessica’s wedding like it was yesterday. I was alone at the restaurant and next to me, Richard Garneau was having lunch. Richard Garneau was our ultimate sports anchor. He gave so much flavour commenting ice skating competition to the Olympic hockey finals. That Friday was magical.

I still wanted to keep my cool but I wasn’t shy reading my Hello Magazine and reading the love story between two people. I got a really soft spot for romance.

I was so taken by the simplicity of Jessica’s dress and I found her to be so beautiful. During that moment, I was curious about this Montrealer fashion style. As the years passed by, I did see more and more her fashion sense. And I liked it. She can be bold but elegant.

My style has always been minimalist with a preppy touch. But I always admired women that take some fashion chances.

Jessica is Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau fashion secret weapon.

Credits: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

For the bride to be, she is a bridal expert. She is collaborating with Kleinfeld and The Bay to help some brides finding their perfect wedding dress.

What I like with Jessica is that she is showcasing our Canadian fashion brand. And for that, I say a big amen!

Brand like Sentalar (I will get one of their coats in 2018), Erdem, Judith and Charles, Lucian Matis, Di Carlo Couture, Birks, Aldo Shoes and many more are on the map.

Talking about Meghan Markle look, I was really happy to see Sentalar coats on her during this past weekend.

I know that some people may have hoped for a bigger extravaganza look but I love the simplicity of this look. It’s very CBK (Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy).

With the three looks we have witnessed, she is still the same woman that loves our Canadian brand and she isn’t shy of showing it.

TORONTO, ON – MARCH 22: Jessica Mulroney and actress Meghan Markle attend the World Vision event held at Lumas Gallery on March 22, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage)

So today, I dedicated this Chronicle to Jessica Mulroney. She is inspiring, she is super cool like I wrote earlier and I’m joining her and many Canadians to showcase our beautiful fashion sense. We have the best of both worlds.

We have the chicness of the French Couture fashion and an audacity of a New Yorker.

Thank you Jessica for being a fashion strength in Canada and surely, you will rock this world.

Jessica Mulroney Instagram

Sentaler Website

Lucian Matis Website

Di Carlo Couture Website

Maison Birks Website

Aldo Shoes Website

Written by Sab Demosthenes

Resilience

On this much cooler Friday morning, I am looking through the window from my seat on my train ride to Montreal and admiring the beautiful trees and the leaves with all of those vibrant colours.

I’m listening to the song Reflektor from Arcade Fire and I’m so saddened to know that so many people are losing their love ones and their homes, but not their spirits in hurricanes, earthquakes and volcano eruptions.

I feel so helpless but seeing their resilience gives me, and probably you, the strength to keep going and continue showing them compassion. Maybe even showing some compassion to those less fortunate in our own country.

I was so moved to learn that in Bali, the Balinese are making kitchen appliances and toilets at their refugee camps. Instead of playing the victim, they are choosing to be resilient and strong.

There is this beautiful, strong woman called Kalek. She is Balinese and a mother of two beautiful children. Kalek, her family members, workers, and other Balinese have taken others under their wings, ensuring that they have food and a place to stay.

When you hear stories like this, your heart just melts. It brings me more faith in humanity. Kind people are still around us. We just have to open our eyes and our hearts.

I feel so blessed and lucky in life but sometimes, in a way, I have this survivor‘s guilt and helplessness. But, by talking about these issues on The Chronicle, I hope I can help in any capacity to raise awareness and perhaps bring myself some closure too.

In Canada, there is an amazing charity called The Shoebox Project. Actually, it’s very literal, you put items in a shoebox such as creams lotion, lipstick, shampoo bottles, anything you can think that a woman may need.

The foundation will give those boxes to women in shelters within the country. Caroline, Jessica, Vanessa, and Katy Mulroney are the force being this wonderful charity. The really cool part is that it can even be a project done internationally. I find it powerful that four sisters, four compassionate womens are giving back to the society like this. It’s really a powerful message and an act of unity.

I am currently collecting my shoeboxes (a really good excuse to buy more shoes! Hahaha!! Poor husband.) and starting to fill them with useful items.

I think, all together, we can make the world a little brighter by helping each other.

What do you think?

http://www.shoeboxproject.com/

Doctors without borders website

Oxfam Website