Bargains beckon across the border

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On the road again.

I just couldn’t wait to get on the road again.

I hadn’t expected to take another shopping trip so soon. Nor had I expected to cross the border. But as soon as my friends and I strolled around downtown Fredericton, New Brunswick, I knew I had to write a column about it.

In recent years, Fredericton has become one of my top shopping destinations. The exchange alone is enough of a lure (can you say bargains?). But there’s more. Could it be the fact that we get our taxes back at the border? The Alexander Keith’s on tap? Maybe. But I think it has more to do with the fashions – a little bit European for a lot less money.

As luck would have it, everything was closed when we arrived (they’re on Atlantic time – an hour later than us), so we had to window shop. Or, should I say, drool. The one place that was open, Robert Simmonds, was a fashionista’s mecca. Jeans by Seven and Juicy Couture, tops by DKNY, gorgeous floral skirts, shoes with attitude. I wanted it all, but couldn’t afford any of it, even with the exchange rate.

Since the sidewalks were all rolled up, we headed off to the Regent Mall – the better of the three in town, in my opinion. Regent has a Chapters, which is like Borders with a Starbucks, and a host of wonderful clothing stores. Our first stop was Stitches, which sells clothes for really, really tiny teenage girls.

We stayed there long enough to cram a big toe in a pair of capris, then we headed next door to Fairweather for career wear. I didn’t get anything, but my pals left with shirts. We browsed at Garage, which is similar to American Eagle, then we headed to my favorite clothing store in North America, Le Chateau.

The salespeople at Le Chateau all look – and dress – like supermodels. But they’re Canadian, so they’re all supernice, too. I drooled over an adorable strapless dress, a sexy lace shirt, a tamer lace-trimmed black top, and a pink-and-orange floral skirt with ribbon trim. Nothing fit. But that wasn’t the case at Smart Set, where I got an elegant chiffon top that ties at the waist for a whopping $25 Canadian. Bargain.

After dipping our toes into Aldo, the fabulous shoe store, we hit Roots because my friend Jess adores its sporty styles. She got a sweet, floral-trimmed jacket. I got nothing. The mall was about to close and we were starving, so we headed downtown and had a fiesta at Mexicali Rosa’s. Then it was off to the Lunar Rogue for a pint of Keith’s.

When we finally made it downtown for a day of shopping, we went wild. Wild enough to get a parking ticket because we took so long. The chic, simple necklaces in the window of Aitkens’ Pewter lured us inside, and the handmade cups, bowls, vases and jewelry tempted our wallets.

But we had other, more important things in mind: shoes. We wandered down to The Towne Shoppe, which sells upscale women’s clothing – a white Elie Tahari suit caught my eye, as did a blue chiffon dress in the window. But the adjacent shoe store is what really got me. My friend Monique got a $225 pair of Italian leather mules for $45 on clearance, while Jess walked away in a pair of tall camel boots for $39. I briefly considered a pair of pink Stuart Weitzmann pumps, but they cost $100, and even in Canadian funds, that’s an extravagance for me.

We trotted across the street to Paradise Imports, which sells beautiful jewelry made on site, as well as a fine selection of imported goodies – pottery, furniture, silk purses. Monique ordered a ring to replace the opal she lost on our last trip to Fredericton, then we were on our way to Eloise, a delicious little boutique.

At Eloise, we lingered to look at the pretty April Cornell dresses and skirts. I was impressed by their extensive selection of black clothes – pants by Tribal, chic cocktail dresses, tailored shirts – and their lovely, delicate glassware (including a lantern we broke, like bulls in a china shop).

Next, we headed up the street to The Urban Almanac General Store – a retro-modern oasis, especially if you like to cook, if you have a baby, or if you love dogs. We were greeted by Zack, the resident chocolate Lab, and he tagged along as we perused the selection of hand-painted dog bowls, classy-sassy vodka decanters, spa bath products, and ceramic breakfast sets.

Jess bought baby gifts for an expecting friend, and then we were on our way. Too bad we had to leave on a Friday – from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, the Boyce Farmer Market is open, and you can buy fresh foods, baked goods, crafts, jewelry and more – how bazaar!

It was a long ride home – three hours, give or take – but we had something to look forward to. Something that would make the drive seem that much shorter. Something called the duty-free shop.

Shopnotes

. Congratulations to Patricia Rock of Franklin, the winner of the $250 ShopGirl Shopping Spree! We’re shopping this weekend, so you can read all about it in the coming weeks.

Destination: Fredericton

The Regent Mall is located at 1381 Regent St.

Aitkens’ Pewter, 65 Regent St., (506) 453-9474

Aldo, Regent Mall, (506) 451-6210, www.aldo.com

Boyce Farmer Market, 665 George St., (506) 451-1815

Chapters, Regent Mall

Eloise, 69 York St., (506) 453-7715

Fairweather, Regent Mall, (506) 458-8008, www.fairweather.ca

Garage, Regent Mall, (506) 457-1774, www.garageclothing.com

Le Chateau, Regent Mall, (506) 458-9097, www.lechateau.com

The Lunar Rogue, 625 King St., (506) 450-2065

Mexicali Rosa’s, 546 King Street, (506) 451-0686

Paradise Imports, 95 York St., (506) 453-1711

Robert Simmonds, 400 King St., (506) 455-2500, www.robertsimmonds.com

Roots, Regent Mall, (506) 457-2724, www.roots.com

Smart Set, Regent Mall, (506) 458-9196, www.smart-set.com

Stitches, Regent Mall, (506) 459-8941

The Towne Shoppe, 100 York St., (506) 458-8542

The Urban Almanac General Store, 59 York St., (506) 450-4334, www.urbanalmanac.com