FB François Beauregard

As you stroll along the chic Laurier street, it's impossible not to marvel at the shop windows you pass. And it's among this string of small independent shops, nestled between the Esplanade and Jeanne Mance, that Quebec designer François Beauregard chose to set up shop. "After running a store on Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Laurent, I finally found my place on Laurier Street," he says.

On the industrial displays that hem the white walls, there are none of the flashy colors or prints of today's trends. Instead, on offer are quality pieces, designed to be mixed with any wardrobe.

Far from the chains and other giants of fashion, François Beauregard moved closer to a clientele that resembles him. "The cuts are simple, comfortable and often masculine," he explains. "I suggest pieces that I would wear if I were a woman! I'm not afraid of minimalism. Whether it's here in the shop, or at home, the decor is refined."