Refinery 29′s original Search For The Next Big Style Blogger is back. This time, the winner ends up at the New York headquarters for Refinery 29, or as a style ambassador for Bar III, a fashion brand sold exclusively at Macy’s.

Nominate yourself by simply submitting a photo and blog entry at styleblogger.refinery29.com. Or, follow Refinery 29 in the coming weeks to vote for your favorite finalist.

Courtney Kos || Image via refinery29.com

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

California’s 7 For All Mankind created in the Fall of 2000 were one of the first brands to bring premium denim to a large mass, making Los Angelas, California a hub for research and development in premium made denim.

Dubbed “Sevens” by fashion sylists and editors 7FAM exploded onto the scene with critical acclaim and an instant following for their inovation in fits, finish’s and fabric.

7 For All Mankind continues to grow and has evolved into a lifestyle brand with stores in over 80 Countries. Canada can now be added to that list, with the first “Sevens” store opening up in Calgary!

Calgary Fashion was at the wonderful opening in Chinook Centre. It was a great night of fabulous denim, clothing and fashionable people.

Photos by Linda Sui Lem

This morning in the US,  ALDO have released their latest collabotation with New York fashion designer Julian Louie. Louie has been one to watch since mentoring with Francisco Costa, creative director at Calvin Klein. Louie’s fashion shows have been attended by top acclaimed fashion magazine editors from Style.com, Elle and more.

The collaboration is as a result of ALDO helping to raise awareness for rising designers by creating shoes worth of their vision. Having caused quite the buzz amongst editors, bloggers and customers at New York Fashion Week, ALDO have released the full runway collection for purchase in the US.

We do have to say we are quite the fans of this collection and can’t wait to see ALDO bring this initiative across the border! We’re going to do everything we can to get our hands on a pair of Louie’s fabulous designs.

The malls are packed all day long, pine needles are scattered across the living room floor, and the flood of seasonal beverages is on it’s way. So we enter– End game. One week to finish all your shopping and do the best you can for the people you love.

To help you out in the final week before the big day here’s a small rundown for the man on you’re list.

STYLE

The Tag Heur Monaco Watch

At  $ 2, 769.00 this bad boy ain’t cheap, but much like diamonds, a good watch is forever!

Canada Goose

It’s cold in Calgary right? And this whole global warming, or cooling or whatever the hell it is isn’t helping. So what say we finally invest in a jacket that’s both made for the sub- zero temperature and stylish? Canada Goose is just the thing, they even recently released a “Calgary” jacket to evoke our specific climate. Of course if Nylon isn’t your thing…

• $485.00 at Holt Renfrew

The Peacoat

Esquire magazine named this as the essential jacket every man must have. It’s timeless, strapping, and fits in just as well on the docks as it does downtown. Team it up with a nit wool cap for a classic ensemble.

• $250.00 at Banana Republic

GROOMING

Cologne

A man should smell good and not like his deodorant. Keeping up with your old scent or getting set up with a new one each year is a solid example of what every man needs. Scent is tied strongly to memory, think of if as a sensual calling card. So make sure it’s unique and fits his body chemistry, otherwise he could end up smelling like a junior high locker room. Try the sample pack from Calvin Klein to help nail down a scent.

• $34.95 at Sephora

The Art of Shaving

Winter season is harsh on the skin, Calgary’s winters are murder. While most men don’t like using moisturizer, or at least have a hard time admitting to it, this nifty starter kit from The Art of Shaving will have them taking better care of their skin without realizing it. Free of alcohol or dyes this set not only smooth the skins, but helps combat ingrown hairs and razor burn. Oh, and it looks classy.  Who knows they may even give in when they begin to like the way their skin feels.

• The Art of Shave Starter Kit- Sandlewood- $28.00- Harry Rosen

JUBILATION

Sazerac Rye

Scotch is out, and rye, the long dormant contender, has risen from it’s prohibition era grave. Sazerac Rye’s 18 year old just took the title of Best Whiskey in the World for 2009. It’s a milder whiskey than scotch, which should allow for more enjoyment across the board. That’s not an excuse to mistreat it like so many inferior spirits. Just close your eyes, think of ol’ Bogey, and sip it straight or with a little water.

Nespresso

These things are all the rage in Europe. Who’s got the time to drink a full cup of coffee these days? With this recession in full swing you’re either stuck without a caffeine fix, or toting around a damn go- cup all day. This tidy minuteman coffee maker however eliminates all that. Pre-packaged coffee portioned out to perfect sizes with a variety of roasts and a fully automatic dispenser. The Nespresso is a sleek, easy stow pusher, that’s hard to pass up.

When B Traits isn’t taking the world by storm, she’s at home in Vancouver, B.C. working, recording and now producing. Known mostly for Drum and Bass in the beginning of her career, the first official holder of the first Digital Sound Girl title for the UK based Digital Soundboy Recording group has expanded her musical portfolio to include break beats, electro, fidget house, dub step, funk and hip-hop. With several accomplishments under her belt including guest appearances on BBC Radio 1 and the Ministry of Sound, B Traits is well on her journey of what promises to be a whirlwind of a career.

CF: What are you doing most of the time?

B Traits: I travel all the time. My job is truly amazing.

CF: Favorite place that you’ve been to so far?

BT: Russia, a couple years ago. I got to play one of the most incredible gigs I’ve ever played. St Petersburg was incredible, everything was really different. Last year I went to Thailand. It was total culture shock but totally incredible. I also went to the Philippines; it was really good, really beautiful there.

CF: Where do you get your style?

BT: I used to dance and I love hip-hop music. I guess I was definitely influenced by b-boying.

BT: Most DJ’s claim they aren’t into style or anything related to fashion but you rock Hellz Bellz and you seem to be a Kid Robot fan?

I like to be comfortably stylish. Hellz Bellz is a label I really like. I just did the mix, Belle of the Brawl for them. Such an awesome collaboration.

Yes, I have a thing for designer toys; I guess you could say that it’s fashion. I have a big collection, there are artists that are actually making bigger toys for designer toys such as Treeson, Vinyl Tree or the people behind Teddy Troops are doing really big things at the moment. Usually I pick them up from Voltage, which is Vancouver’s best store for designer toys, galleries, art shows and custom toyshops.

CF: What are you listening to right now?

BT: Jack Beats just did a mix for the clothing line Mishka from New York. Their mixes are always tight. Rusko did one not too long ago and Klever as well. Right now my favorite song on my iPod is the Sidney Samson, Riverside Breakage remix. Toddla T’s Boom DJ From The Steel City, Track 68 by 12 Planet. I could go on for a while! (Laughs.)

CF: What is your style piece de resistance?

BT: I have a huge love affair with kicks. I wish I didn’t! Kicks are one of those things, everywhere I go I always have to ask ‘Can you take me to the best shoe store?’ I’m really into Nikes, Jordan’s and Air Max’s. I used to collect a lot of dunks. I got the Vans Watermelon Low Lace and Air Jordan’s, raspberry pink with black lace, they are totally girly but one of a kind. They are so fly! I also got the fluorescent pink Air Max Air B W Slickest. I have a pair of Reebok Freestyles, they are the Married To The Mob Collette Edition, I should keep them in a box but they are too cool!

For more on B Traits: http://www.myspace.com/djbtraits

Download The Hellz Bellz Bell of the Brawl Mixtape

Catch B Traits in Calgary, AB with Virtual Boy, December 19, 2009 at The Garage (Eau Claire Market)

Kimberley Jev

CF: So Miss Erica Dee, What’s you’re real name? For real!

ED: Erica Dee, People don’t believe me when I say that.

CF: What have you been up to lately?

ED: Luscious Beats has been my main focus. has been my main focus. It’s my duo project with Melissa Meretsky who’s from Wassabi Collective. We put together Luscious Beats last June, through my second year at music school and we wanted to do a project combining DJing, MCing, Singing and Live Percussion. I only played dancehall and hip-hop at the time but Melissa wanted a bit more up tempo beats so I got into everything from House, to bangers to Disco! This whole thing was born in a month. We sat writing on our back porch and threw a set together and began touring.

It’s been magical.

CF: When you aren’t focused on Luscious Beats what are you up to?

ED: Mainly, focusing on a lot of solo projects. Basically at this point it’s hard to separate everything because I’m so diverse.

At the moment  I’m working with Neighbor, Small town DJs and Wax Romeo, focusing on the disco house kind of style, so I can have my soulful R & B roots shine through.

CF: Does your music influence your style?

I’m all about expression. I feel like I rock a bunch of different styles, I always try to find a happy medium in between. On the soulful, funky, R & B tip, I like to have elegance to it and rock the curly hair and the sexy bustiers. I also MC over electronic music, so I find myself expressing my style through funky colours, shorts over purple leggings, glasses with no lenses, crazy glasses. I always like to keep my asymmetrical hairdo which I have no idea about but it works for me!

I think I’m always trying to find a balance between electronic music style and hip hop and classy so it’s a mash up of all those things.

CF: What’s your favorite accessory?

I’d have to say the glasses. but I actually have to wear glasses but the glasses that are my prescription aren’t the ones I want to wear. I actually wear my contact lenses with glasses with no frames The reasoning for this is because I’m so blind I can’t wear big frames I would only be able to see through certain parts.

CF: What’s on your iPod right now?

ED: Little Dragon, this group from Sweden, the lead singer is Yukimi Nagano.They are really amazing, crazy electronic a music with soul attatched to it. It’s more atmosphere electronic music. Also Chrissette Michele is amazing.

CF: Whats the craziest outfit you’ve ever rocked?

ED: Ooh this is a hard question! (laughs!) Fluorescent pink tights with fluorescent pink leg warmers, blue booty shorts with fluorescent pink suspenders and a black bustier top. I wore that to this party we played at Fandango Farm and I had crazy airbrushed make-up that night!

CF: When shopping what are you always in search of?

ED: I’m always on the lookout for accessories. I do like Bang On and American Apparel, I’m into comfortable cotton but I’m also really into vintage and second hand shopping. I only spend money on my high tops, I only wear high tops, I never wear girl shoes except for boots because I like to be comfortable, you will probably never catch me in heels cos I’m already pretty tall and you can’t really skateboard in heels!

Catch Erica Dee performing with DJ Nu Marc at The HiFi Club, Wednesday, December 16, 2009.

Kimberley Jev

For more on Erica Dee: www.myspace.com/erica_dee

Photo courtesy of Lucas Image.ca