Always poetic and evocative, Beaudet’s words match the mood of his fashion.

From the invitation to the upcoming show:

“….Through the thick veil of dust, the beauty of a doddering chandelier, pearls on a frayed velvet case, a pristine pleated flannel midi skirt, a lace trimmed bishop sleeved blouse and a floral print taffeta evening gown.’’

Beaudet explains that he was inspired by the shops of Outremont and Mile End, some with an inch of dust on the windows obscuring the elegant fashion and antiques inside.

Images from Leinad Beaudet’s Outremont,ma chère collection.

He likes the contrast, he says, between the shabbiness and the high end.

The designer is loyal to the showcase; this is his sixth showing, of Fashion Preview’s seven seasons in total. Other evocative show titles of his have been Dimanche, Comfort of Indifference and Solastalgia, with fashions I have variously described as austere, monkish, poetic and beautifully draped.

“We’re working hard so it’s part of the fun to show it to the public. It’s a way to keep the momentum going,’’ he says. “It’s bringing contacts and visibility.”

As for business, there is some light on the horizon. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau’s stylist has ordered some pieces, and Montagne, a boutique on de la Montagne, has ordered a selection of styles for spring, due in store in April.

He’s hanging in, he says, explaining that the difficulty is that Quebec does not have retail points for high end local fashion. “All the stores selling local are in a certain price point,’’ he says.

Helmer’s collection of elaborate blouses at the last edition of Fashion Preview.

Helmer, the couturier with a flair for elaborate ruffles and lace, as well as menswear, is another draw who has graced the Fashion Preview catwalk numerous times. Naïké, KQK, Muse, V-Franz and the students of LaSalle, Marie-Victorin and UQAM’s École supérieure de mode return, while Brit Wacher and Markantoine are making names for themselves.

Fashion Preview runs March 27-29 at the Agora Hydro-Québec, the UQAM pavilion at Jeanne Mance and President-Kennedy.

And as in previous editions, there is a satellite salon of accessories – dolls, bags, shoes and bijoux to peruse between shows.

Here is the schedule: Doors open at 5:45 p.m., with shows to start half an hour later.

Monday, March 27

• Collège LaSalle
• Brit Wacher
• Naïké
• Helmer

Tuesday, March 28

• Cégep Marie-Victorin
• MUSE par Christian Chenail
• Leinad Beaudet
• KQK
• V-Franz

Wednesday, March 29

Ecole supérieure de mode ESG-UQAM

• COLLAGE Fashion
• Coquette en soie
• Robert Atelier
• Markantoine

The shows are open to the public, with tickets for sale here:

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On the menu: cocktails and canapés catered by Buonanotte, a DJ, prizes and booths from the likes of Carrément Tarte, Tailor2Go and the Phi Centre. The main course: a fashion show spotlighting designs by Denis Gagnon, Naïka, Daniel Beaudet and Jennifer Masabni. Gagnon has also designed a limited edition scarf that will be available for sale during the evening.

A limited edition of 150 silk scarves created by Denis Gagnon for Dress for Success. They will be offered for sale at $120 at a fundraiser on March 19.

Dress for Success – known as  L’Étoffe du Succès in Quebec – opened its doors here in September 2014 and has helped more than 200 women in its first year.

Montreal retailers have stepped up for the cause, with Le Château, Reitmans and Dynamite among the businesses donating clothing. Le Château, for instance, has opened its doors to Dress for Success clients in six Canadian cities. By last month, it had outfitted almost 1,800 women seeking jobs across Canada.

Dress for Success offers not just clothing, but advice and support to women looking to get back to work, and stay in the job.

That’s what Awa Diallo found out when she enlisted the help of Dress for Success as she embarked on a job search a few months ago. She had been out of work for a month and a half, and had formerly worked in financial sales and surveys – for which she did not need a professional wardrobe.

“I was warmly welcomed – I was stunned because I wasn’t expecting it,” Diallo said, adding she was shown a selection of dresses that suited her complexion, with jewelry and jackets to match.

Diallo said she received excellent advice, sartorially speaking and otherwise. She offers up her own words of wisdom, too: “When you have an interview, the first impression is very important. Even before you speak, you are observed.”

She points out that different workplaces demand different dress codes.

“I tell people when you go for an interview, be prepared,” she said.

After five interviews, she found a job in banking.

Dress for Success offers services to complement the wardrobe help it is known for, said Véronique Boivin, a founding member and president of the board of the organization in Quebec.

It offers coaching on interview skills and is now starting up a professional women’s group for networking as well as for life skills to help clients stay in a job.

Some facts and figures supplied by DFS:

• 140 affiliates in 19 countries
• 12 affiliates in Canada
• 850,000 women served
• 82 per cent of single family homes in Montreal are headed by a woman; that was 72.655 households in 2011

There are challenges for a new organization, Boivin said, and it is actively seeking funding to hire a director general. Right now, the entire operation is run by volunteers.

“As soon as we have enough funding to be able to hire personnel, then we can start helping more women,” said Boivin, who works as an adviser at Desjardins Group. “We have a long list of organizations that would like to send their clients to us, but unfortunately now we don’t have the capacity to have them come.”

The first annual Evening of Style to benefit Dress for Success is on March 19  at Luciani Infiniti, 4000 Jean Talon St. W. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $150 each, or you can donate at sponsorship levels from Silk (with lounge and bubbly) to Tulle. Visit www.dressforsuccess.org to for more information about the event. Tickets can be bought online at Eventbrite.

Tax receipts will be issued.

To donate clothing, get in touch with Dress For Success at info@dressforsuccessmontreal.org.

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