fashion news

New fashion and beauty from here and elsewhere.

Featured: Adé: celebrating his difference

Adé’s earrings are not for those who like to go unnoticed. Sometimes colorful, often imposing, with a nevertheless minimalist side, they are for people who assume their uniqueness.

For designer Andréa Kpenou, they are a way of reclaiming her story. Of Beninese origin, the Montrealer grew up in a small town in the Ardennes, France, in the late 1990s. At school, when she only wanted to blend in with the group, she was the object of curiosity and taunts. “There were very few models at that time. My self-esteem was quite low. I was ashamed of my origins. I just wanted to be like everyone else. So, this desire to carry my origins loud and clear through this brand, is to respond to this experience. »

To also invite all women who have lacked positive representation to celebrate their uniqueness. “There are a lot of them, believes the one who also works as a graphic designer in an agency. Beauty standards are very, very narrow. It’s also a bit to snub these standards. »

Adé, diminutive of Adétola, her Yoruba first name, was born in 2021, after confinement and maternity leave which allowed her to lay the foundations for her first collection.

She creates her pieces by cutting shapes, inspired by the visual arts, pottery or her African origins, in fired polymer clay, whose colors she often mixes. Although the material is available to everyone in creative supply stores, obtaining a refined finished product is complex.

“It’s a versatile material, meaning you can take the material and make a simple piece of jewelry, but the finish won’t be as smooth. You can refine and refine your technique to have a quality product. This is what will make the difference and what is difficult. » The material, on which fingerprints and dust are easily printed, must be handled with care.

For the moment, Andréa makes all her jewelry at home. We can also see the manufacturing process in a video presented on its website. Its permanent collection has eight models, rather light, which all bear a Yoruba name. It is available online as well as in a few points of sale in Montreal, including the Belle et Rebelle boutique where we met it. Throughout the month of June, Adé will be among the shop’s guests. Each month, a retail space located rue Beaubien Est which offers, each month, a showcase for a new series of artists and artisans.

Workshops: making jewelry with Camillette

Want to learn how to make jewelry? Designer Camille Ouellette, from Camillette, is launching a new series of workshops for making necklaces or charm bracelets. The two-hour course will be an opportunity to choose your own design, customize it with silver, brass or bronze charms and experience the traditional activities of jewelry making: sawing, sanding, filing, punching, polishing, etc. A series of dates are offered from June 3 to August 26. Open to anyone 12 years and older, at a cost of $139, the workshops are given at Camillette’s studio, near the Rosemont metro station in Montreal.

In addition, Camillette will participate in a collective sale of designers organized this weekend at the Marigold boutique-workshop, in Verdun. Mercedes Morin, Odeyalo, Prysm, SLT Studio, Selfish Swimwear, Dorsali, Modern Sunday and Marigold by Marilyne Baril will also be present.

Luxury: MYEL presents YELM

Recognized for its fine and delicate jewelry, the high-end jewelry store Myel is launching a bold new collection. Entitled YELM, it includes five unique models of ostentatious rings (only one ring per model is offered), produced with a batch of stones (tiger’s eye, citrines, blue sapphires, garnets or rubies, on 14 yellow gold carats) which date back to the beginnings of the brand. The collection draws its inspiration from the music of the 1990s. Be warned, these luxury pieces are for the more generous purses; prices start at $2800. On sale online and in stores from June 5.

New at Florence by Mills

Florence by Mills, created by young actress Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, Enola Holmes), is the darling cosmetics brand for teenage girls, in addition to being 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free and at low prices. Summer novelty: the very practical eyeshadow sticks, which are creamy, which is nice. There are six colors, some very bright like blue and electric green, others more discreet, like old rose and champagne. Another novelty, skin jewellery, such as hearts or small sticky shiny dots, pink, mauve, turquoise, which can be applied to the face or body to simply shine! The skin jewels are available online only ($20) while the eyeshadow sticks ($17) are on sale online and exclusively at Pharmaprix, starting June 7.

Tested and approved: for a hydrated and radiant face

Clinique products have proven themselves, but the brand is not resting on its laurels. The face cream Moisture Surge, a great success of the American brand, fulfills all its promises. If the rigors of winter are behind us, a good dose of hydration to start the beautiful days does not hurt. In contact with the skin, the moisturizer does just that: it hydrates, without leaving a greasy feeling on the skin and, above all, it maintains its effect for a long time. For its part, the Even Better Clinical Radical Anti-Dark Spot Corrector and Interrupter Serum promises to restore an even complexion. Suitable for all skin types, consisting of salicylic acid, vitamin C (use sparingly, so on summer days — or use with sunscreen) and yeast extract, the product says act after several months, but immediately gives a feeling of radiance to the face. After a few weeks of use, we can’t live without it! Clinique’s Moisture Surge Moisturizing Cream ($36) and Even Better Clinical Serum ($74), available at various pharmacies and online.