FASHION Magazine

Check out all the graphic artists’ sweaters! »

What with Holt Renfrew’s limited-edition designer collection and Fashion’s Night Out festivities, we’ve already carved out time to celebrate the high-end mecca’s 175th birthday in style. Now Holt’s has announced yet another addition to their Hot @ 175 festivities (and yet another reason to camp out in front of your nearest Holt’s location): the luxury retailer will be hitting the road in a mobile pop-up shop next month, with specially created sweaters on sale for the occasion by seven internationally celebrated graphic artists.

Canadian fan favourite Clara Hughes used grit to secure six Olympic medals (in speed skating and cycling) throughout her career, but what about her auburn hair? Why, that came directly from her grandmother. While Hughes swears by Kérastase hair products (“I have great hair but without good products, my hair is not so great!”), she’s not above flying Calgary stylist Brianna Hallet of SwizzleSticks Salon out to do an emergency touch-up for a speaking engagement in, say, Vancouver. Devotion indeed. We asked Hallet what it takes to do Olympic-style hair.

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 […]

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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.

This season, runways from Mary Katrantzou to Chanel were awash in ocean references. Get the beachy waves seen at Acne’s show by using Calgary-based sisters Anita and Nadia Saoud’s hair-care line TAJ10 (from $12, taj10.com), which is free of parabens and petroleum-based ingredients. Good for your hair and the Earth; Ariel would be proud.

Luxury watches have a haute new home at the Rolex shop-in-shop at Birks in the Core shopping centre (317 7th Ave. SW, Suite 270, Calgary, 403-260-8700, birks.com). This location is one of only three across Canada to have introduced this prestigious Swiss brand. Looking to make a timeless statement? The Oyster Perpetual Datejust in 18-karat Everose gold with diamonds (shown, $13,510) says forever.

The word “designer” permeates Kara Chomistek’s world from head to heels. This cool 24-year-old biomedical engineer designs orthopedic equipment and her own namesake clothing line. In her spare time, she dances with a semi-professional salsa troupe, in addition to teaching cha-cha, tango and jive. She is also the co-founder and president of PARK (Promoting Artists, Redefining Kulture), a non-profit organization launched in 2008 that promotes local designers and artists through designer forums, industry mixers, and fashion and art shows. When attending evening affairs, this glam go-getter slips into spotlight-stealing labels, including Lanvin, Miu Miu, Valentino and local designer Paul Hardy. “Fashion allows me to achieve balance in my life,” she says. “It’s another medium for me to use my creativity. Similar to art, I like to wear unique or unusual pieces that can spark a conversation.”

See her shopping picks »

Consider it the people’s choice awards for online fashion: Polyvore has partnered with Cover Girl to bring four alumni designers from the Fashion Institute of Technology to the runway during New York Fashion Week. The shows will take place today, February 13, at La.venue in New York but, naturally, Polyvore will also be streaming the shows live.

This is the time of year to revamp your lingerie collection. Treat yourself this Valentine’s Day with a trip to one of Alberta’s two new Victoria’s Secret locations (Kingsway Mall, 109 St. and Princess Elizabeth Ave., Edmonton, 780-479-4221; Southcentre Mall, 100 Anderson Rd. SE, Calgary, 403-278-4881; victoriassecret.com), both fully stocked with all the fine lingerie and satiny goodness you’ve been fantasizing about since the brand’s Canadian launch nearly two years ago.

Fresh off her Spring 2012 exclusive for Givenchy in Paris, jetsetting New York–based supermodel Heather Marks (a Calgary native) took a few moments to chat with us backstage at Edmonton’s Fashion with Compassion breast cancer fundraiser and fashion show. Despite insider access to fashion for nearly a decade, this 23-year-old beauty with rockstar style still has an appreciation for the simpler things in life.

Where do you shop when you’re back in Alberta?
“I always stop by Aritzia and I like going to Gravitypope on 17th Avenue [in Calgary] for shoes. Holt Renfrew is also a favourite.”

What’s your favourite accessory at the moment?
“I got a new Chanel bag that I’m currently obsessing over. It’s not your classic shape. It’s a little bit more round, a little bit more funky.”

Boxing Day: It strikes fear in the hearts of retail workers, and trumps Christmas celebrations for all bargain addicts. For the rest of us, it’s an opportunity to pick up what our well-meaning significant others didn’t end up buying us for the holidays. If you are willing to brave the cold, the lineups (like the one pictured above at Toronto’s Eaton Centre), and the inevitable Christmas hangover, here are some shops that you should check out.