Citizen Vintage

Uncle James visited Citizen Vintage, the new vintage store in Mile-End and couldn’t believe his eyes. So much great clothes, tasteful deco, awesome and cute little miss behind the antique desk. Boy oh boy will we spend good money there!

Uncle James had a little chat with the awesome Brooke, just to make sure we had the low down and knew all the important stuff.

Uncle James: Please tell us how the store started: 
Awesome Brooke: I met my two business partners, Rebecca and Lara, last June and we began a series of pop-up shops in Montreal, selling our respective vintage collections for a week at a time in various studios and storefronts. This past spring we began looking for permanent storefronts and couldn’t pass up our current home when we found it!

Uncle James: Was it important for you to be located in the Mile-End?
Awesome Brooke: Being in the Mile-End had a lot of advantages and we love being near other vintage shops, cafes and independent boutiques; it builds a great sense of community and makes the most sense in terms of our clientele. Of course, Montreal is incredibly rich and diverse and each neighborhood has its own strengths and charm, but the Mile-End is really a one-stop neighborhood for fashion, art and music.

Uncle James: Where do you draw the line between vintage and too used to sell?
Awesome Brooke: This is a great question and is at the root of what separates vintage boutiques from second-hand stores. Just because something is “used” doesn’t mean it is of true vintage quality!
At Citizen Vintage, we personally hand select each and every item and focus on vintage clothing that translates to current trends. Of course, condition is extremely important as well as the style and anything with imperfections will not make the cut!

Uncle James: Describe the essence of Citizen Vintage in one word:
Awesome Brooke: Distinctive

Uncle James: Your favorite piece in the store right now?
Awesome Brooke: We have new items coming in each week, so my favorites change quite often! Currently, we have a pair of stormy grey, high-waisted leather shorts. They are gorgeously cut and the perfect length!

Uncle James: What kind of music is playing in your store?
Awesome Brooke: Generally, I keep a rotating roster of Bjork, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Breeders, Shout Out Louds, Architecture in Helsinki, The Kills, Talking Heads  [ Uncle James' favorite ] and Guns N’ Roses playing but recently, our friend and blogger/designer Isabelle Hayes made a custom mix of French yéyé, especially for Citizen Vintage! It’s light and perfect for Sunday browsing.

Uncle James: If Citizen Vintage could be reincarnated in a fashion muse, who would it be?
Awesome Brooke: If Edie Sedgwick and 90s Winona Ryder had a little sister…

Uncle James: What is your favorite trend right now:
Awesome Brooke: Lace tops, bold brows and sheer everything.

Uncle James: Black or white?
Awesome Brooke: Black silks for Autumn and White wool for winter!!

Uncle James: A motto in life?
Awesome Brooke: Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.
-Mae West
[ All photos by Uncle James except the one below ]

[ The store owners, awesome Brooke in the middle - Photo by Martin Reisch ]

Citizen Vintage is at 5330 Saint-Laurent Boulevard in Montreal, Quebec.
514.439.2774 || citizenvintage.com