Marie Saint Pierre is the latest in a slew of designers to combine forces with a mega retailer, and this time around, Reitmans is acting as the other half. The tough-as-nails Québécois designer — who, a day after giving birth to her first kid, hopped on a plane for a New York showing — recently showed a series of (mostly) little black dresses at LG Fashion Week. The presentation ended with Saint Pierre doing a tour of the room accompanied by FDCC head Robin Kay, each with a pint-sized pup in tow.
The Reitmans pairing has resulted in a holiday collection of 10 LBDs from Saint Pierre, clearly her favoured piece of clothing. Fans of the designer — both Adrienne Clarkson and Michaëlle Jean are on that list — can grab a frock for under $100; a steal compared to Saint Pierre’s own line, which usually sets the price-point at over $600. The dramatic ad campaign for the collection features some very angry-looking ladies, and has the tagline “you’ll be sorry if you miss it.”
One of our top picks from the line is a mock turtleneck dress with fringed sleeves that can be worn either hitched up or pulled down, creating two different silhouettes ($85). We also like a number that mixes sporty with evening, marrying a sleeveless zippered bodice with an A-line skirt that has a sheer overlay ($85). The collection also includes two dresses in petite sizes and two more for curvy gals, ensuring that no one ends up like the girls in the ads.
Reitmans, 243 Bay Street, 416-363-1542
