FASHION Magazine

When you think about street style, the first streets that comes to mind are most likely not those that host the Calgary Stampede. But from the natives dressed in traditional garb over at the “Indian Village” to the various patio parties, there’s diverse vibrancy as far as the eye can see. To document, we had Calgary photoblogger extraordinaire and resident cool girl Ania Boniecka snap the raddest stampede styles. And as they say, the proof is in the pudding. And by pudding, we obviously mean photos.

See the photos »

This year marks the centennial for the Calgary Stampede, and after last year’s Royal visit, you can be sure this southern Alberta city will see a record number of tourists passing through Cowtown—or the New West, rather, from July 6 to 15. Apart from the nightly parties taking place at a majority of restaurants, bars […]

The post Calgary Stampede To-Do: Pancake breakfast fashion shows, Kate Middleton–approved wears, a Carly Rae Jepsen concert and other ways to say “yee-haw!” to the Stampede’s centennial celebrations appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Spring visit to the Wildfox Couture (wildfoxcouture.com) showroom in downtown Los Angeles ignited visions of summertime festival fashion at the Calgary Stampede and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. This L.A. brand is available at Calgary’s Coco+Violet Boutique (17-2500 Fourth St. SW, Calgary, 403-244-6234, cocoandviolet.com), one of only a few shops in Alberta to carry this celeb-adored label. The light knit, strategically shredded sweaters (right, $320) and cowgirl graphic tees balance pretty Coachella grunge with the perfect dose of home.

Nothing says Calgary like its signature Smithbilt white hat, so in a fitting tribute to the city’s 100^th Stampede, Calgary native Paul Hardy has been commissioned with creating a commemorative topper. The $900 hat, which is entirely made of soft white rabbit fur and adorned with a hand-woven Italian leather belt, will be presented to 40 famous Canadians, including Steve Nash, Rick Mercer, George Stroumboulopoulos and Karen Kain.

Here’s a little history lesson for those of you not familiar with Calgary’s long history of white hats: after the first-ever Calgary white hat was created in 1946 by Smithbilt Hats’ artisan Morris Shumiatcher, a Calgary mayor began presenting the hats to notables who came to the city, beginning a now 60-year-long tradition of “white hatting.” Essentially, it’s Calgary’s equivalent to presenting keys of the city.

Follow our ongoing coverage of the Royal visit! »

Boy, have Will and Kate ever gotten into the Stampede spirit in Calgary! At last night’s kick-off and then again this morning at the official parade, the couple’s donned authentic cowboy outfits, no doubt thrilling the crowd again and again. Last night, after initially declining to don the white hats that they received in the traditional “white-hatting” ceremony at the airport, the couple surrendered, emerging in adorable matching Western outfits: Will, in a green-and-black plaid button-down and jeans and Kate in a rodeo-style Alice by Temperley top, bootcut J Brand jeans, an oversized-buckle belt, and custom-made cowboy boots from the Alberta Boot Company. Today, Will showed up in the same exact outfit, and Kate looks to have just changed her top into a similar style from Temperley London! Small luggage, we suppose?

Stepping out of her comfort zone to please the crowd, Kate’s cowgirl get-ups are by FAR two of our favourite outfits of the trip. So, how do we show our love? By shopping for the look, naturally!

Check out our top picks for Kate’s cowgirl look »

We all have our own definition of beauty and this notion grows and renovates itself over time.  For example, today I happen to think that the scar on my forehead from a recent snowboarding accident is healing beautifully.  Don’t get me wrong, my interpretation of my once unsightly war wound has evolved over the past four weeks.  But what’s a girl to do but embellish her mind-numbing tale of how her battle scar came to be and ultimately embrace it.  I could go on and on about how beauty is skin deep, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, blah, blah, blah…but deep down you already know that.  If you ask me, if you’re gonna talk the talk, you might as well walk to walk, like personal stylist Karen Judge of Gorgeous studio (studiogorgeous.com).