You're Too Fat for Club Monaco, Max Azria's $400 Dress Falls apart and Denis Gagnon Saves the Day!

It's a good thing that I'm comfortable with my size because otherwise shopping at Club Monaco would be a crushing experience. While looking for a few new outfits to wear at TIFF events (Toronto Film Festival), my shopping trip led me to Club Monaco. I do like their clothes: nice, classic, great for the office... but also completely overpriced. That's why I only visit Club Monaco when they have sales. But this time, sales or not, I needed an outfit. A super skinny sales assistant tried to cover my body with a shapeless dress "because it would fit a larger bottom". I know she was trying to be diplomatic about it but she looked so uncomfortable with the topic of curves and body shape, it was weird. I looked at the dress: there was nothing sexy about it. I told you I was going to a TIFF party, idiot, not to a retirement home.  I also had to educate her about what neckline better suits pear shape figures. I then noticed a cute dress that would look great on me - she announced that the biggest size they had was a size 4.  I guess, we don't have your size, then! For a second I felt sorry for all the plus-size ladies who probably hear that frequently.  

Bitch, wait. I'm going to try it on. The dress actually looked fine on me, but I just didn't like it that much. In the meantime, the sales assistant had abandoned me as there was nothing else in the store that would fit me.

I left this store thinking that Club Monaco has a very weird attitude. This is North America, most people aren't size 4 or 6. Also you're not Chanel, your clothes are all made in China, why the attitude? 

Undeterred, I went to BCBG by Max Azria. Complete different attitude there: the sales assistant was lovely and made me squeeze into a couple of tight dresses!  

Me: "It's... tight and very revealing."

While I appreciated her vote of confidence,  I'm not that slutty (despite what Lisamarie says)  and I picked a long elegant midnight blue dress instead. Unfortunately, the dress was already falling apart. No way, I was going to spend $200 (down from $400) on a dress that was already in that state. Sorry, I don't care about the label. I want something that looks good and lasts for a little while, you know.

My last stop was at Bedo. I wasn't particularly hopeful. But I was wrong. So wrong! I tried one dress from the Denis Gagnon collection for Bedo. It fitted like a glove, it was comfortable but it also looked sexy and original. Added bonus: it was inexpensive ($98 for the zipper dress)! The sales assistants helped me accessorize it - and they were good - you know, just normal young women who like fashion! If you want designer pieces at great prices, this Denis Gagnon line is a must buy! I will probably go back to Bedo to pickup a couple more pieces!

The lesson here is clear: an affordable dress can look more expensive than an expensive one!

-Christelle-