Presented by PARK, Gerry Thomas Gallery, and Sophia Models International, The Fashion Industry Mixer is an event that should not be missed by any media or fashion professional in Calgary. The event will highlight: Colin Way Photography, Lisa Turner Design, Fashion bloggers, Ania B and Lions Lace Lattes and tasting samples from three local restaurants via local food writer, Dan Clapson. 

Courtney Kos

Recently, I came across what is the best fashion article I have read in a very long time. The New Luxury: The Curated Wardrobe, featured on fashionising.com, painted the picture of a luxurious wardrobe not defined by its size and receipt tally. In a society where large fashion chains such as H&M and Zara are pumping out affordable fashion with the highest inventory turnovers ever seen before, this concept may seem unimaginable.

Yet, it is what I believe to be the true definition of style. Curating a wardrobe is a skill that requires picking select pieces that work together and balance harmoniously. This concept has many other applications in addition to fashion.

Fine restaurants don’t try to have every type of dish imaginable on their menu. Interior designers, boutique owners, and art galleries curate everyday. Why wouldn’t we apply this concept to our own closets? Read the full article.

Courtney Kos || Photography via callmenaomi.com

Style Nine to Five is Canada’s fashion career website. The site features positions in every aspect of the industry across the country. View the latest job postings, or post a job.

Courtney Kos 

On February 8th the Textile Museum of Canada will present an exhibit titled Dare to Wear Love, which will feature African-inspired custom designs by renowned Canadian designers. The exhibition is named after the annual fundraising fashion show and gala that takes place during LG Fashion Week. Dare to Wear Love supports the Stephen Lewis Foundation and its efforts against HIV-AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

Started by Hoax Couture designers Jim Searle and Chris Tyrell, the yearly event is also proven to be fabulous way to support the talent of the Canadian fashion industry. Each year, a combination of 24 emerging and top Canadian designers used just six yards of custom print fabric from Africa to create the featured pieces in the fashion show. Starting next month, a number of these pieces can be viewed at the Textile Museum of Canada through until May 6th.

Courtney Kos 

Photography : George Pimentel

Nicole Rita Tomney, designer of NRT Fashions, has earned a reputation at fashion weeks across the country that can be described as a very talented young designer to watch, with her innovative masterpieces and thrilling runway shows. On the evening of February 3rd, Tomney will be delivering NRT Fashions‘ Fall/Winter 2012 collection, titled DROP DEAD, at Sociale Bar and Grill.

Another collection from NRT Fashions isn’t the only thing to look forward to. This event coincides with the official launch of the NRT Fashions website and online store, which will have available all of the designer’s past collections alongside its present season. This means any piece from NRT Fashions you’ve ever fallen in love with can now be yours.

Tickets and table reservations for this event are available at 403-826-6454, or online at nrt.zoobis.com.

Courtney Kos (Blog Editor) 

BeachMint, a members-only customer-centric online shopping site, has expanded it’s shipping across the boarder to Canada. Working closely with fashionable celebrities, BeachMint.com’s group of online shopping destinations includes Kate Bosworth’s JewelMint.com, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s StyleMint.com, and Rachel Bilson’s ShoeMint.com. Customers create a free, customized profile by completing a fun online survey that helps the site determine the customer’s style. Product recommendations are then emailed to its members daily.

Courtney Kos

Photography  via BeachMint.com

There is a rumble in the jungle and Fashion [Unfold] brought to you by missSLY has teamed key fashion players and enthusiasts together for an intense, fun and heated hour of fashion debate/tweeting, sharing and networking never seen before.

Fashion bloggers, writers, designers, business owners and students are privy to an uncensored point of view LIVE, TODAY (Dec. 13 @1PM EST) to discuss some of the key topics affecting the fashion industry today. Held monthly, the December segment of Fashion [Unfold] will see key panelists discuss a topic delivered to the audience on commencement time.

All are welcome to follow @FashionUnfold on Twitter and tweet and keep track of the conversation under the #FashionUnfold tag. Open to fashion enthusiats worldwide join us as Editor in Chief of CalgaryFashion.ca sits on the panel with an estemeed group of fashion professionals for of this months discussion.

Take a look back at previous Fashion[Unfold] debates and we hope to see you in the Twittersphere for Fashion[Unfold] December 2011.

Fur is back in this winter…and thankfully due to a collective consciousness on the dangers and demerits of real fur in fashion has managed to stay away from retail shelves which, have left Vintage fur jackets in the dark corners of some of our closets. These forgotten fashion gems takes over 40 hours to manufacture, so it seems like a waste to do nothing with them. Style & Conscience, a clothing and accessories line focused on local production and social responsibility, approached the vintage fur conundrum with an entrepreneurial smile and has developed a new accessories line – City Fox.

Ashley Bilodeau, designer of City Fox, combines vintage fur and leather for natural looking fur boot cuffs for urban fashionistas. Soft fur and beautiful colours are the factors in choosing the building materials for City Fox, and theses accessories are finished by hand to ensure attention to detail and high quality production.

Currently there are two colour schemes available. Desert Fox has fur sable in colour with hints of black and a deep mahogany leather trim with a bronze chain accents to finish the look. While, the City Fox scheme features Norwegian fox fur of silver colour with streaks of dark brown and a black leather trim on the cuffs with a pewter chain accent for a sleeker look.

City Fox fur accessories are not limited to bootwear. Fox tassels dyed in a variety of colorus can be wrapped around any hand bag or belt, so no fashionista will miss out on this fur trend. These accents are also created from upcycled materials.

City Fox isn’t in fashion boutiques yet. They need your help to release this limited edition line to the public. A pledge of any amount would pull City Fox closer to their goal of $5000 and help them kickstart production of quality fur accessories.

For more information or to submit a pledge, visit the Style & Conscience Presents City Fox Kickstarter Page.

Words by Elle Nguyen 

“We are a young, sexy, fun, exciting brand and we are just really happy to be here,” says Jennifer Bayley, public relations manager for the clothing company Express. Canadians have been craving its arrival and their prayers have been answered: the popular American chain opened its doors at Chinook Centre and Southcentre this past Friday on Remembrance Day. The Market Mall location opens this week.

“I’ve been walking around downtown Calgary. People have style here, they really do and I think it was the perfect fit for us,” boasts Bayley.

Even Canadian celebrity, Shenae Grimes who plays Annie Wilson on the hit TV show 90210 has been a long time fan. Bayley tells the story: “[She] was just telling me in the backroom that she used to drive down to Buffalo to shop us, when she lived in Toronto and that’s what I love hearing.”

So what draws people in? Comfortable, classic clothing that does not go out of style.

“Well we are trend driven, we’re not trendy,” explains Bayley. It is not only women who can enjoy Express’s styles, but men as well. Two staples recommended by Bayley are the Editor Pant for women and the 1MX Shirt for men. The Editor Pant comes in various blends and colours while the 1MX Shirt comes in all the colours of the rainbow. Most importantly, though, they are said to both have a great fit!

Shenae Grimes has her favourite as well: “I’m going nuts over all the coats right now. I’m a coat fanatic. I have a whole closet dedicated to coats because you could have sweat pants on and NOBODY has to know and you still look cute because you got a cute coat on. I’m from Canada. We wear coats a lot over here.”

For the unconvinced men reading this story, Cale Hulse who is a former NHL player and currently on the Canadian TV show Battle of the Blades might be able to sway you. He mentions, “The jeans I am wearing right now, it’s like they are tailor made for me and I have always struggled to find jeans that fit”, and goes on to say, “I’m looking around already. I’ve got my eye on a few things I’m going to have to get before I leave. I’m a necessities guy right now, back to the basics: underwear, socks, maybe some t-shirts and maybe one of those cool backpacks to throw it in, so I can take it back home. But the sweaters are great too. I love the sweater I’m wearing now.”

Imagine only having to stop at one place for you and your lady. Perfect, right?

Words by Daniela Codreanu & Photography by Todd Korol

Fashion designer Lauren Bagliore delivers to Calgary an impressive resume that lists the designer alongside staple names of the fashion industry. The Art of Fashion debuted at the DaDe Art & Design Lab where guests were dazzled and entranced by Bagliore’s ready to wear line.

Now based in Calgary, Bagliore has just returned from a very succesful showing at LG Fashion Week in Toronto. The celebrated designer maintains consitency with the style and general look of her line, tying the collection together with elegant evening dresses and distinct outerwear jackets. Nothing is overdone. From the layering to the ruching and the cuts of dresses, Bagliore’s choice of fabric is right on the money, mixing tones and textures elegantly.

True stand out pieces were the long dresses that flowed to the ground with a train that could be held by  hand or slipped over the shoulder.

For the evening, Bagliore paired up with the charity organization Ratanak to raise awareness on human trafficking in Cambodia.

Photography © Eric Epie/Calgary Fashion