VALERIE DUMAINE SPRING 09 IS HERE

ELSA TAFFETA TRENCH COAT IN SAND, $229

SPRING IS DEFINITELY ON ITS WAY--THE WIND COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN IS EVER SO SLIGHTLY WARMER, THE SNOW IS MELTING, THE SQUIRRELS ARE MAKING BRIEF APPEARANCES IN THE PARKS, AND LOCAL DESIGNERS ARE FINALLY SHOWING THEIR NEW COLLECTIONS. THE FIRST LADY OF INDEPENDENT MONTREAL DESIGNER'S, VALÉRIE DUMAINE, LAUNCHED HER NEW COLLECTION ONLINE THIS WEEK. AND WITH IT A NEW ECOMMERCE BOUTIQUE.

DUMAINE CAN STILL BE FOUND AROUND THE CITY AT SUCH LOCAL FAVORITES AS THREE MONKEYS.

SPRING AT DUMAINE IS SWEET PRINTED DRESSES IN VARYING SILHOUETTES, FROM THE FLOWING TRAPEZE TO THE ULTRA-TAILORED, SHORTS, AND SOME GREAT DENIM PIECES. THE COLLECTION HAS A NAUTICAL THEME, AND, AS ALWAYS, A STRONG 1940s VIBE. THIS SEASON, ANOTHER DOMINANT TREND, DUMAINE HAS UTILIZED MORE SUSTAINABLE FABRICS WITH BAMBOO AND LYOCELL APPEARING IN EVERY FORM FROM JERSEY KNITS TO SUITING.

THE HOTTEST PIECE FOR SPRING, THE JUMPSUIT IN ALL LENGTHS AND SHAPES, ALSO MAKES ITS APPEARANCE. BELOW ARE TWO GREAT EXAMPLES OF THE TREND WITH A DUMAINE TWIST:

ZOE JUMPER IN BLACK, $139

THE HALTERED ZOE IS A NICE TAKE ON THE TREND WITH THE BOW NECKTIE AND ELASTIC WAIST. A TROMPE L'OEIL, THIS SHORT JUMP SUIT IS AT FIRST GLANCE A DRESS.

AMIRA BAMBOO JUMPER, $135

ALEXA DENIM PANTS, $135

ALTHOUGH NOTHING NEW WITH ITS WIDER LEG AND PAPERBAG WAIST, THE ALEXA PANT IS A GREAT DENIM ALTERNATIVE. THIS SEASON, HOWEVER, THE LEG HAS NARROWED SLIGHTLY FOR MORE EASILY-WORN FIT.