Great trip report! We go to MTL a few times a year, mostly to visit family and hit one or two kid friendly museum exhibits. I never manage the time for clothes shopping, but do love the people watching. When we went in late November, I noticed LOTS of black fashion backpacks, both very streamlined types and more lux versions with bright gold hardware/designer logos/etc. Lots of skinny jeans paired with snow boots, but quite a lot of looser fitting tapered jeans as well, often worn with work boots/combat boots (think Doc Marten or Red Wing). I saw one brave young women wearing a pair of dad sneakers with cropped, acid-wash jeans (no socks) -- brrr. Predominant coat silhouette is a long, tailored puffer. I noticed the corduroy trend mostly on men, along with lots of lace-up work boots (again, the classic Red Wing style). Saw a few men in impeccably tailored full suits, even though it was the weekend.
So sorry the alpaca didn't work out. I've had trouble with that fiber, too. Seems it can be more of an irritant than wool or cashmere. It doesn't contain any lanolin, so is often marketed as hypoallergenic, but depending on the quality it can have "secondaries" or guard hairs that feel very itchy against delicate skin, even though you don't notice them with your hands.
I LOVE the Maguire Rachel boots but they're already sold out in my size this year. Pajar has a similar style in their Heritage Collection, but it's even more expensive. https://pajar.com/collections/.....ducts/faye
Those Avene products look good, and I will have to check out the La Roche Posay mascara; I have a very hard time finding eye make-up that doesn't irritate my eyes or eyelids.