Inside M3: 5 Questions With M3's Yves Ulysse

Art & Entertainment, Beauty & Fashion, The Red Carpet

Inside M3 | 5 Questions with Yves Ulysse, Visionary Behind Mode Masculine Montréal

Unveiling the bold vision of Yves Ulysse, the style disruptor behind Montréal’s ultimate men’s fashion experience, M3

A week ago, I sat with Yves Ulysse, creative director and founder of M3 (Mode Masculine Montreal), the banner men’s fashion event which will be taking place September 2nd-4th at various venues throughout the city and at the showroom of Lamborghini, its main sponsor.

Workshops, networking events, as well as glamorous evening events, including a final night of seven runway shows featuring Montreal’s most exciting menswear designers, will attract the city’s style set emanating from all walks of life and industries. Here’s a glimpse into the visionary mind, plan, and expressive approach of style icon Yves.

EVOLUTION OF MEN’S STYLE:

B: Since you’ve been deep in the fashion world here in Montreal for a while now, can you speak about how you see the evolution of Montreal men’s style?

Y: I’m seeing men’s style evolving not just in Montreal, but in the world internationally; I get inspired by the international scene. This year the MET Gala was all about men’s fashion, men’s elegance. Of course, the MET Gala is the MET Gala–it’s the most glamorous fashion event of the year.

B: But this year, the gala and exhibition theme was specifically the Black Dandy…

Y: Exactly, so it connected to me. People have been calling me a dandy, which is ok. For me, the MET theme was a great inspiration since I was organizing M3 this year. It inspired me to produce the “7 Degrees of Style” editorial, in order to showcase all the different personas you can have by wearing different clothes, yet looking good, accessible, glamorous, and yourself throughout. M3 is a visual experience and a networking event, where people of all backgrounds and expertise can mingle, exchange, and connect.

INCLUSIVENESS:

B: In thinking about the MET Gala and theme this year, inclusiveness comes to mind, as well as a certain kind of freedom, elegance, and extravagance. Of course we saw that on the red carpet, but also in the exhibition, an exhibition that shows us that there’s a long history to this approach to style, even if it’s only now finally getting its moment in the sun. In looking at your “7 Degrees of Style” editorial, which is a visual prelude to M3, there’s a spirit of play, whimsy, and uninhibitedness that you certainly embody in your own personal style, Yves. Are you connecting that vibe to the “inclusive fashion” movement that’s recently been touted by the industry, or has that always been part of men’s fashion?

Y: Well, we live in an interesting era, because in the past, everything was very formal, very black tie, very boring. Now, so much more has been accepted because you have all these manly men, these men who represent masculinity, who dress up with jewels, with nice shoes, who wear the most glamorous outfits, who wear pearls. When you have Bad Bunny, who’s super dressed up, when you have Lewis Hamilton, who’s a racer and puts himself together, it opens up the mind of people.

Most men no longer say “it’s gay to dress up this way” because there are these men who represent masculinity who are doing it. So now we live in an era where anything’s possible. You can dress the way you want, and you can actually express your personality. And that’s what I find interesting about what’s happening today. And me, I’ve always been a person who expresses himself through his clothes; I’m not afraid to wear anything. One day I’ll be wearing a suit, another day something really casual, the other something very sporty. These are all parts of my personality, so long as I feel comfortable in what I’m wearing and I’m not wearing something to attract attention. I believe you should be wearing the clothes; the clothes shouldn’t be wearing you.

TRENDS, STYLE, FASHION:

B: Trends, style, fashion: this is the trio of words associated with clothes. How do you distinguish among them?

Y: Well, you know, there’s the idea that style is eternal–people always say that. But I think style is not just about something that’s timeless; it’s something that comes from within. It’s a natural elegance. Fashion is the craft; trends people follow; but style is personal, something that expresses an aspect of one’s personality. Style is an energy. You can shift the energy in a room just because of how you are dressed, what you embody when you are wearing a particular piece or outfit.

B: And that can only happen if it’s authentic. And to the extent that one is a continuous person–in other words, who am I now is who I will be in ten years, even with changes–some core element is going to be reflected even in one’s signature style. As you said, you’re not going to wear the same uniform every day, but at the same time there’s always the Yves touch, that “je ne sais quoi” that represents you.

MONTREAL MEN’S FASHION IN GLOBAL CONTEXT:

B: How would you set the Montreal menswear world–the designers, the labels, the cachet–in the global context of men’s fashion?

Y: There’s a lot of talent here. Of course, when you look at what’s happening internationally, it’s way up there, compared to Montreal. But I think it’s important to adapt yourself somewhat to your immediate environment. So what I’m trying to showcase with M3 is not just what’s out there at large, but also what should be noticed here in terms of everything that has to do with style–not just fashion. So for us, what’s distinctive about the designers that are presenting at M3 is that their designs represent not just timeless elegance, but also unique styles that suit different kinds of men. That’s what the programming is all about this year: it’s about different styles, different personas, different perspectives on male elegance.

B: So, what kind of men can we anticipate seeing at this 3-day event?

Y: You can find all types of men: businessmen, men in real estate, art, technology, cinema, television, music (not to mention the women who want to dress up and mingle with them!). And that’s because I believe fashion and style are related to all the industries, all the sectors. Also, we live in an era of social media, when everyone cares about how they look, and information travels so fast. So someone might see something online and say, “I like this. I wouldn’t have thought to wear it, but I like the idea of that.” So when designers present something on the runway, it’s similar: it’s a version of what spectators might do or incorporate into their own wardrobes. It’s not about presenting specific garments to be purchased. These are not designers that sell in big department stores. They cater to specific types of people. So, this is the kind of fashion event that I put on.

B: …for people with a vision for something a bit more particular.

Y: Yes.

5. FOUNDING VISION OF M3; MONTREAL: THE NEW CHAPTER OF S.A.P.E.?

B: What prompted you to found M3 and to work so hard at keeping it going and improving it every year since 2019?

Y: It was inspired by my experience at Toronto Men’s fashion week, which was the largest, most glamorous platform in Canada back in 2016. My experience was so amazing as a VIP: I met many important people, spent some time with them, went backstage. I was dressed the part because when you’re dressed, you attract people. I didn’t know anyone at that point, but the impact of how I was dressed helped out; and since I was in the media/VIP sector, I got to meet a lot of people, including models backstage. It was such an amazing experience, a truly VIP experience. And I thought, why don’t we have something like that in Montreal? I wanted to create an event where everyone who comes to my event would feel exactly as I felt that first time at Toronto mens’ fashion week: special.

B: A pampered experience. You’re bringing together people who share a passion for style and fashion, who know something about it. I’m imagining a crowd that’s fairly refined, that knows the basics, that may be familiar, for example, with the MET Costume Institute’s annual exhibitions. In fact, you mentioned Lewis Hamilton, and wasn’t he was one of curators of the MET exhibition this year?

Y: Yes, he was.

B: Coincidentally, one of my senior literary colleagues, Monica Miller, was the head curator: the history of black dandyism and identity is her specialty. So we see even academia has a connection to fashion! If you’ll indulge my own geek-out: Are you familiar with the dandy phenomenon called S.A.P.E. (Société des Ambianceurs et Personnes Élégantes)?

Y: S.A.P.E.? Yes, yes, yes.

B: I’m fascinated by it, and curious to hear your thoughts about it.

Y: It’s a style that comes from Congo: it’s elegant, it’s colorful. In fact, the first designer who’s presenting, HPadar makes similar designs: colorful, beautiful, refined fabrics, and very fitted and elegant cuts. Instead of wearing a boring black jacket, I prefer to wear something that showcases my personality but still has a a lot of class. And that’s what S.A.P.E. is all about.

B: Exactly. And it’s interesting that the S.A.P.E. style, still very popular in places like Brussels, originated with the native Congolese taking the discards of their colonial employers and refashioning them in unique, glamorous, and eccentric ways. This, for me, says so much about how fashion can be inclusive. Regardless of means, there’s always a way to present yourself with style, to create your own ensembles out of even fragments, discards, and fleeting runway or street style visions. So is that S.A.P.E.-esque designer, HPadar, featured in your editorial or just to be featured in your show?

Y: Yes, he’s one of the two Sept. 4th runways designers who were featured in my “7 Degrees of Style” editorial, which moves up from a suit to more glamorous looks. HPadar created 3 looks: the fashionisto, the rockstar, and the award nominee.

B: Oooh, I’m obsessed with the award nominee look…So maybe we can wrap up our interview here:. Full circle from MET Gala to our own M3, and the designers we’ll be seeing on the runway on September 4th. Thank you, Yves.

Runway Schedule – Fashion Red Carpet @ 6:15 PM 🎬✨

Grab your most stylish fit, because M3 is serving a full night of runway magic! Here’s the lineup lighting up the catwalk:

HPadar – 6:15 PM, kicking things off with a bold start
Phalky – 6:00 PM, yes, we’re going fashion-forward right out the gate
Paul Miranda – 7:00 PM, refined meets fearless
Hip and Bone – 8:30 PM, streetwear meets statement vibes
Guillaume Chaigne – 9:15 PM, clean lines and creative twists
Naregworld – 10:00 PM, where modern edge meets timeless flair
Rhowan James – 11:00 PM, closing the night with power and polish

🎟 [Snag your spot here](M3 Tickets)
📅 [Check out the full schedule](M3 Official Events)

And if you thought fashion stopped at the runway, think again, remember the elegance overload at Dîner en Blanc? This week, M3 is taking it up another level.