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Entertainment

Global Trend Report 2009 - Montreal & Mexico City

Boys in Montreal are keeping it pretty monochrome these days. The more adventurous will accessorize with the occasional bright pop of color, but mostly things are pretty murky.

BOYS

Boys in Montreal are keeping it pretty monochrome these days. The more adventurous will accessorize with the occasional bright pop of color, but mostly things are pretty murky. Shirts and pants are never ironed or crisp but always slim and fitted. Skinny jeans don’t appear to be going anywhere (except closer to scrotums), and there’s no shortage of svelte young lads to barely fill them out. Everyone is wearing leather or wool motorcycle jackets like they’re some hoser version of Marlon Brando, and, conversely, guys who’ve steadfastly worn Vans and Chucks are graduating toward shiny, flat-soled shoes that meet the stodgy standards of their grandfathers.

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A little bit of Canadiana still peeks out from under things: The lumberman jacket and boots are everlasting, and those gray, red-striped socks are de rigueur.

GIRLS

Montreal girls have perfected the cute grandpa-sweater thing. By now, every girl knows how to come out of a Salvation Army looking like an adorable, slightly homeless ragamuffin. The few ladies who aren’t rummaging through the trends of their parents’ parents are perfecting the preppy-boy look: oversize school-uniform sweaters with floppy skirts and opaque leggings. Daring girls are breaking out the palazzo pants, but we suspect that’s just a byproduct of the thrift stores being picked recession-clean. Flat boots that go just above the knee and lace-up witch shoes are suddenly everywhere, Docs are commonplace, and ripped-up jeans are making a comeback. Circle scarves complete the snuggly look and, thankfully, the ridiculous shoestring forehead band is experiencing the slow, painful death it deserves.

BOYS

In Mexico, cowboys may be the only guys left who don’t wear cowboy shirts. Ely Diamond’s shirts are everywhere no matter what the weather (seriously, it could be raining burritos and you’d still see more pearl snaps in the city than at a Texas rodeo). Mexican boys are eternally obsessed with hats (it’s hot and sunny here, duh), and right now classy designs from companies like Víquez are experiencing a surge in popularity. When brims aren’t covering their heads, guys like to experiment with their hair and are willing to grow huge sideburns and galactic forelocks.

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In this climate you might as well glue sunglasses to your face, so picking the right style is of supreme importance. The brand doesn’t matter— thrift stores are the main supplier of the big sorts wrapped around everyone’s faces. Owning sturdy, noticeable jeans is more important than basic sustenance— don’t expect to have any sex without at least one decent pair.

GIRLS

Mexican

chicas

are fun and open when it comes to dress-up time, and they gravitate toward experimentation like they are wild-eyed fashion scientists and the closet is their lab. (Wow, that sounded gay.) In many cases ladies like to modify their own duds and buy cheap clothing just for this purpose. Girls are also wearing the newest clothes from designers like Carlos Temores, Dalia Perlasca, and Marvin y Quetzal more than other international houses. Looking like you give a damn about your appearance seems to be the linchpin here—overly casual and frumpy clothing is out. Accordingly, the proper use of colors is very important. Mexicans tend to stay away from black and dark colors, and many believe true elegance can only be reached through the coordination of multiple colors. Boots of any height are clacking the pavement on almost every city street and makeup is delicate and sparse.