Fashion steps up

Fashion steps up


In a city of summer festivals, it’s now fashion’s turn to step up.

The 12th annual Festival Mode & Design kicks off in stilettoed splendour Wednesday, Aug. 1, on McGill College Ave., the plaza of Place Ville Marie, and for Thursday’s shopping rally – our answer to Fashion’s Night Out – along Ste. Catherine St. and in the major malls.

On the fashion front, there are shows featuring the fall trends, Montreal Fashion Week highlights, blogger style and a grand Bollywood finale Saturday night.

Shopping-wise, the Thursday night rally will feature gifts, discounts and four vintage buses loaded with designer exclusives. Throughout the festival, a pop-up shop offers design chez nous for sale.

There will be music: guest DJs every evening at 5 p.m. and performances by bands Girl, Jolie Jumper, Tops and Grenadine.

There will be dance, as Noémie Lafrance choreographs a show called Dressing Room opening night at 10 p.m., and Bollywood Blast does the honours for Saturday’s kitsch finale.

On the design front, Sylvie Berkowicz curates an exhibit called Inbox Design, with ship containers holding artists’ visions of northern icons like the forest, snow, rivers and wind. The McCord Museum offers two exhibitions: an urban forest of purple papered metal trees on the avenue, as well as Living Landscapes, 25 giant photos of 19th-century landscapes by Alexander Henderson.

It all kicks off with a high-heel race, Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. on the avenue, to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society.

The big catwalk events are on the main stage on McGill College Ave. The Scène Select is on the plaza of PVM.