INSIDE: Dish it out • Santa's techy treats • Where the toys are • Naughty and nice

A dress from the Dark Ages to The Supermodern Wardrobe: fashionable offerings for the whole family

by GENEVIEVE PAIEMENT

Medieval magnetism

Quebec and medieval fashion go together like Charlton Heston and guns - theirs is an epic love story. If your m’lady love has a penchant for ye olden garments of yonder days, get thee hence to Excalibor medieval boutique (with locations around town, visit www.excalibor.com) to procure a burgundy and gold Clothilde dress ($249). Made of a cotton-flax blend, this richly textured robe ties at the front which makes it adjustable in size and perfect for loosening up the belly area when one’s eaten too much rump of wild boar and drunk too much honey mead. For just a touch of dark-age style, skip the head-to-toe look and investigate the dragon, gargoyle or shield pendants ($12–$22).

A less extreme form of retro fashion awaits at your local friperie, where one-of-a-kind recycled fashion gifts abound. Lolita (274 St-Viateur W.) has a sweet selection of women’s wear including charming ’60s and ’70s coats, skirts and blouses. Old favourites: the many frips on Mont-Royal between St-Laurent and St-Denis; Eva B. (2013 St-Laurent) for loads of used clothes, odd retro finds and some new streetwear thrown in; Twist Encore (3972 St-Laurent) for a smaller, choice collection of both new and old clothing. Tip: remember to wash it before you offer it.

For a deconstructive (or is it re-constructive?) spin on pre-used clothes, Toronto’s Preloved have opened a brand new Montreal store (4832 St-Laurent). Cutting up and reworking vintage threads into updated designs is their specialty, with new collections coming out each season. The patchwork-inspired winter accessories make unique gifts, with mitts at $15, hats, $30, and scarves for $50.

Rusty plums and monkey business

Elle Corazon’s ever-popular Rusty Plum Holiday Craft Sale is a thoroughly contemporary version of the old Christmas church bazaar where macramé ornaments sold for a nickel a pop. Every Saturday and Sunday in December leading up to Christmas (11 a.m.–6 p.m.), crafty chicks sell their wares, including clothing, hats, mitts, jewellery, hand-made soap and more. At 5454 St-Laurent (corner St-Viateur), info: 273-3933.

You’ve seen him around, without a doubt - those full red lips, those beady black eyes and those ears sticking out like hunks of cheese. He’s the Paul Frank monkey and he’s on wallets, bags, T-shirts and key chains. Yes, the lovable streetwear primate is inescapable and very popular with those crazy kids today. To keep your little cousin warm and cuddly-looking all winter long, offer her some Paul Frank flannel pajamas ($118). They come in three delightful patterns: the plain pink monkey face, the French monkey face (in a beret and thin mustache), or with penguins. Available at Acme (2003 St-Denis).

A classic gift, and almost always much appreciated, is that of a classy, quality scarf. The Gas Folk Scarf ($70) is a fresh take on the traditional wool scarf. It’s extra-long, and thick, and it’s got a ’70s, Swedish, country cottage feel, with a very loose knit of multi-coloured beige, orange and brown wool. Available at Style Exchange, Plato, OLAM and Les Ailes de la Mode.

Future wool and riot gear

First came the pump-up sneakers and ski boots, and now comes the air-fuelled, outdoor-fashion innovation of the 21st century: the blow-up coat. The Marmot “Airvantage” Tallac ski jacket ($469.99) has a Goretex adjustable insulation insert that covers the torso, akin to a wearable air mattress. You blow air into it through a conveniently located tube concealed at chest level, which provides natural insulation against cold and wind. Great for winter sports-gear nerds.

On a less extreme front, to ensure the future of this planet, fashion manufacturers are turning more and more to recycled and natural materials. For instance, the quest for the ultimate in high-tech synthetic blends has shifted to explore new ways of using natural fabrics. New Zealand Merino sheep’s wool has been around for years, but it’s resurfaced lately as a natural alternative to polyester. Icebreaker long underwear is made of 100 per cent Merino wool and promise to be the long johns of the future: warm, breathable and completely itch-free. Tops and bottoms are $110 a piece at Le Yéti (5190 St-Laurent).

Finally, for an overview of future fashion design, pick up Andrew Bolton’s new book, The Supermodern Wardrobe (Victoria & Albert Museum Press, $60). A total of 120 colour photos explore everything from ridiculous, self-consciously futuristic designs like CP Company’s jackets that turn into a tent or an armchair, to revolutionary protester gear like Vexed Generation’s bulletproof parka designed to protect the wearer against an attack by riot police. :