I don’t know about you but now that it’s February, I am itching for signs of spring. Luckily, this month Clinique is launching Almost Lipstick, which is described as “in between a lipstick and a gloss” and is comprised of seven warm, sheer shades. The product has been formulated to enhance any skin tone, and react uniquely to the wearer. Sephora, Holt Renfrew and The Bay all carry Clinique products. Shop Clinique online.

Courtney Kos

The newest skin care product from NARS, makeup removing water, has been launched and is available this month. Skin care in it’s purest form, this gentle cleanser’s botanical ingredients are free of oils and alcohol, leaving the skin clean and radiant. NARS skin care products are available at Holt Renfrew and online at narscosmetics.ca.

Courtney Kos

Photography via narscosmetics.ca

Calgary Fashion’s writers put together a wish-list of some of their most wanted items over the holiday season. Contributing writer, Sarah Little shares her choice of gadgets, accessories and more.

(From Left to Right)

• Marc Jacobs Computer Case – Holt Renfrew – $58.99
• Maybelline Baby Lips – Shoppers Drug Mart – $7.99
  
• Marc Jacobs ‘Daisy’ – Sephora - $75.00
  
• Tiffany’s Bead Bracelet – Tiffany & Co. - $165
  
• Sorel “Tofino” Winter Boots – Gravity Pope – $199
  
• Michael Kors iPhone Wristlet (Python) – Michael Kors Outlet (Cross Iron Mills)  - $79.95
  
• FCUK Pleated Belt Dress – French Connection UK – $99.99
  
• Vintage Polaroid 600 Camera Kit – Urban Outfitters (Chinook Mall) – $180
  
• Leopard Thermal Long Jane – Victoria’s Secret (Chinook Mall) – $49.50
  
• Kelly Cutrone “Normal Gets You Nowhere” – Chapters/Indigo (Cross Iron Mills) – $16.50 

The event the city is talking about “T’was the Night” at The CORE, (TD Square/Holt Renfrew) is only one week away and Calgary Fashion is giving away some secrets of the night.

Walk a red carpet entrance with host international blogger Lainey Lui from LaineyGossip.com to local artists including the Calgary Girls Choir and Juno Award Winner Chantal Kreviazuk serenading the crowd at this private shopping event. Guests will enjoy the finest holiday themed culinary the city has to offer with mini Yorkshire’s, warm apple cider, eggnog mousse chocolate tulips and so much more. Appreciate the feast and entertainment under the 45-foot Christmas tree featuring over 2,000 ornaments and 45,000 individual lights,which promises to be a sight in itself.

If the exciting entertainment and cuisine isn’t enough, let talk about the shopping! CORE retailers will be offering one-night only exclusive deals including a live house band and a buy one get one free offer at HMZ, complimentary hot shaves at Tommy’s Gun’swith a donation to Christmas Bureau and 15% off storewide at Brooks Brothers.

Holt Renfrew will give away $6,500 worth of door prizes including a $1000 shopping spree, a Canali shopping gift worth $2,500 and Jimmy Choo Isabel glitter pumps. Stop in a Harry Rosen to enjoy some live music, holiday hors d’oeuvres and a special surprise gift with purchase. At 8:15pm, Papyrus will be putting on a spectacular fashion show with couture dressed made from Papyrus papers and materials. Amazing!

We didn’t let all the details slip, get your tickets today to join Calgary Fashion at this fabulous event!

Tickets to the event are $15.00 each and can be purchased online at coreshopping.ca or at customer service in the CORE.

ALL ticket proceeds from this event will be donated to two charities, The United Way of Calgary’s next generation initiative ‘BeCause’ and the National Music Centre Project. Ticket holders to this event will also get free parking downtown.

We’ve also got a very special  pair of T’Was the Night at the CORE tickets to giveaway to our readers, just tweet us @Calgary_Fashion saying:

“Seasons Greetings @Calgary_Fashion, I would like to win a pair of tickets to @COREshopping T’was the Night!”

- Jacquie Jardine

If you’ve been following us for a while then you know music is of the essence for us at Calgary Fashion…and if you’ve been paying close attention then you know we’ve been fans of the high quality outerwear brand Canada Goose from way back when. A special ocassion is upon us this Friday as one of Canada’s celebrated angels of sound, Chantal Kreviazuk makes a noteworthy personal appearance in Calgary to unveil her limited edition Canada Goose Jacket.

Fans of the down to earth singer/songwriter who has also penned tracks for artists such as Canadian starlet turned fashion designer amongst other notable roles Avril Lavigne and  American Idol alum and winner Kelly Clarkson will have first hand access to a limited quantity of coats available for purchase at 10AM, November 11. Proceeds from each jacket sold will benefit the Polar Bears International the non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the polar bear and its habitat.

In a Toronto minute, last week Calgary Fashion came, saw and conquered Canada’s largest and highly praised LG Fashion Week . The Calgary Fashion team shared the runway not only with the best in Canadian fashion but with Canadian fashion icons such as celebrated model Stacey McKenzie, vice president of fashion direction at Holt Renfrew, Barbara Atkin, fashion blogging queen Anita Clarke of I Want I Got, and a selection of bloggers, photographers and writers from fashion publications found across the country.

We’re not going to pretend we knew who everyone was but if there is one thing we do know, it is that “style and swagger” are hard to ignore! Best of all for us was to see a little bit of Calgary sprinkled around the tents with influential rising stars such as Sarah Shell of 442 McAdam, Caitlin Power, Michi New York and Lauren Bagliore. We’ve put together photo albums of the people and outfits that caught our eyes as we waited for shows to begin. Do you recognize anyone from The Row?

View photos from LG FASHION WEEK – THE ROW – DAY 1

View photos from LG FASHION WEEK – THE ROW – DAY 2

View photos from LG FASHION WEEK – THE ROW – DAY 3

View photos from LG FASHION WEEK – THE ROW – DAY 4

View photos from LG FASHION WEEK – THE ROW – DAY 5

Stay tuned for more Calgary Fashion coverage from LG Fashion Week.

Adams-Gellar met and greeted fans in person and even took the time to sign autographs.

Blonde bombshell Paige Adams-Geller, model-turned denim-designer, came to town last week to teach styling tips and connect with her fans. Known to be one of the top sellers for the women’s jeans line Paige Denim. Adams-Geller a former model for various male denim designers believed she “had a different perspective on what [she] thought [women] wanted to wear” – sparking inspiration to begin her line.

Paige Denim collection at Holt Renfrew 

Paige Denim has grown since it’s launch and has expanded into the realm of mens jeans, with its main focus on being “a fashion denim brand”. To ring in the fall season Paige Denim introduce their new edgemont double zipped jean in the colour cabernet. 

“I kind of just love edge when it comes to fashion and I like mixing yin and yang, so I am a little bit feminine [too]… I kind of like to call it Edgy Barbie,” she says with a cute laugh to follow. “Cabernet is like one of my favourite colours and I just think this time of year with all the bright colours out there, it’s a little more subtle, sexy colour. Actually it was the same colour as the roses at my wedding too”.

The edgemont double zipped jean in cabernet – Paige Denim’s latest style – perfect for the fall season!

Shoes also have a great influence when it comes to her designs: “So really when I am coming up with new styles, it’s like based on the new shoes that I am either pining over or the new shoes I just bought and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I know what style is going to look so cute with those’ and then I’ll create a new style” [cute laugh from Adam-Geller again].

Come spring, expect to see an evolution in the current elegant Paige Denim logo. The one to date is how she signs her name. It was about “having an emotional connection with the consumer and for [them] to know that there was a Paige that they could go to…”  she said, really emphasizing the female side of things.

Adams-Geller wants to be able to represent the male line in a stronger sense keeping a balance.

Watch for the latest Paige Denim updates on Twitter as Adams-Geller herself tweets! Got to love it!

Words by Daniela Codreanu

Photo Courtesy of Ania B. & The Diva Lounge 

It is time to dust off those boots and do the “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” Stampede has once again snuck up on us! The city’s spirit is alive: ten days of mini donuts, the grandstand show, country music and rides.

Yesterday, The CORE began the festivities by putting on a fashion show revealing the latest trends for both men and women. With the help of country musical artist Matt Masters, it attracted quite the crowd on Stephen Avenue. Eveline Charles did the hair and make-up for the models & clothing was provided by Brooks Brothers, Cleo, Smart Set, H&M, Judith & Charles, Gap, Harry Rosen and Holt Renfrew. The idea was to keep it simple, yet fun.

From July 4^th to the 17^th , Holt Renfrew will be having on the spot hemming with all jean purchases. Men’s starting at $85 and women’s at $120. There will also be a special performance by Albertan singer Kira Hladun on Saturday, July 9^th from 1 to 4 pm.

Do not miss out!

For more information on the Calgary Stampede check out their website at http://cs.calgarystampede.com/

Happy Stampeding!

Words by Daniela Codreanu

Photography by Paul Spenard

They can be seen everywhere – brilliant beiges, charcoaled greens, cool corals and sandy browns. And no, these aren’t just the colours that are being added to your spring wardrobe.

These are the colours that are popping up all over runways across the world…on your face. “It’s all very nature inspired colours that we’re seeing this spring,” says Global Makeup Artist, Fernando CADavid for Chantecaille, a fragrance, skincare and makeup line.“This season the look seems to be very soft on the eyes with very, defined lips.”

This look was recreated for Chantecaille’s spring 2011 campaign using their new limited edition Sea Turtle Palette, inspired by the beauty of green, sea turtles and their warm sandy nesting grounds. The palette contains, three eye shadows, and one cheek shade all composed of fine pearl and pigment particles creating a barely-there makeup look and glowing fresh skin. (Retail Price: $98 CAD)

Chantecaille is also donating five per cent of its sea turtle palette proceeds to WIDECAST, the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network, to help ensure the survival of sea turtles in the Atlantic Ocean. “At Chantecaille we believe that since we take from the environment, we would like to give back,” says CADavid.

As for lipsticks, CADavid suggests choosing a bright coloured lipstick that will help light up your face.“We have three new Hydra Chic Shade lipsticks,” says CADavid. “It comes in one bright, coral, a red with yellow undertones instead of blue, and a neutral soft peach.” (Retail Price $38 CAD; exclusively at Holt Renfrew.)

The spring 2011 look can also be switched up with fresh faced skin, strong colourful eyes and nude lips as seen on runways, such as; Christopher Kane and Peter Pilotto during London Fashion Week.

CADavid began his makeup career at the University of California. “I have a background in architecture, but my passion was makeup, and as part of my degree I had to take other courses not related to my degree.” He ended up taking special effects makeup, and then editorial. “When I started working in television, I kept seeing one product in particular, feature skin foundation by Chantecaille. Every makeup artist was working with it.”

“It really does look like real skin, its oil free, lightweight, and you can find a colour that matches your exact skin tone.”

CADavid says he couldn’t imagine working in any other industry. “It really is a dream job, to travel the world, and paint faces using an incredible line, meanwhile getting to meet people from all walks of life is amazing.”

“I love introducing women to the world of skin care and showing them that it doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming.”

In fact Chantecaille’s most popular items are its skincare and fragrance line.

“It was created by Sylvie Chantecaille, who is very passionate about the healing powers of botanicals.” Their hottest sellers are the Stress Repair Concentrate, and the Pure Rosewater. “We focus on stopping inflammation and irritation to the skin, not just damage by the elements, but damage that occurs from using other lines that contain synthetics,” he says.

CADavid says there are trends all over the world that certain cultures stick to. “In Asia they focus on fair, bright skin, with very bold lips, in Florida they use very golden, beachy looks. In Calgary the weather really dictates a lot of what is happening with skincare. Here it’s more skincare first and cosmetics are secondary, other than that the trends for makeup are actually very universal.”

For more info on these products, check out http://www.chantecaille.com/

Words and Photos by Christine Bassit

Image via Fashion Served

Calgary! We hope you all had a fantastic week, we sure did! The week started out a cold one but by the end it was beautiful outside. A little bit of Spring for us! We hope you were able to get outside a bit and embrace the Spring fever! We went “Ba-Na-Nas”  for mixed prints this week.  Bright colors and mixing prints is big this Spring. Check it out here.

Our guest blogger Adelaide Kwaning from Trench and Accessory wrote a great article on H&M’s fight against AIDS campaign. It’s a fantastic! Read more about it from her article this past week.

We definitely caught the Spring fever hype with our brand new banners from Wilkosz and Way. We are thrilled with how they turned out and we’re feeling mighty pretty! You can see all the photos from the rest of the set on their blog!

Be sure to keep checking Calgary Fashion, as we have many more exciting things coming up in the next weeks.

• Fashion Magazine has done a great interview with Olivier Theyskens, designer of Theory. Read it here!
• We are very excited! Two new fantastic blogs being added to our Blogroll! Shinos Journal and The Diva Lounge.
• A little photo slideshow of Calgary Model Heather Marks is up on Modelina, A day in the life of Heather Marks.
• PARKshow is happening this Saturday, March 12th! Be sure to grab your tickets and head down.
• H&M announced that they will be opening a new flagship store in April in TD Square.
• We will be at Hifi this Saturday for Jeffrey Jerusalem, Look for a post after the show.
• Holt Renfrew’s Fashionata is on Wednesday March 16th. Tickets still available!
• Death By Shoe has a fabulous Spring Shoe Report.
• Unbelievably Exciting, Topshop and Topman are being brought to Canada by The Hudson’s Bay Company! Topshop will open in select Bay’s this Fall.

Matt James