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Country Inspired Fashion in Calgary Alberta

by Cailyn, Miss Teenage Calgary 2017

I live in Calgary and consider myself lucky when it comes to fashion. We have everything we need here including fancy evening dresses and country wear, which includes cowboy boots and, during The Calgary Stampede, a cowboy hat. Even for simply enjoying a Saturday night inside with the girls, you have to still go out and pick up that pizza, and so you have to look semi presentable.  That’s the look I find myself wearing more than I’d like to admit.

In Calgary, we have many diverse fashion styles; some folks like long, baggy shirts worn as a dress with a plaid around your waist, while others seem to always choose sweat pants and jersey tops. These styles are not gender specific and us younger ladies like to occasionally wear a man’s shirt or a blazer.

I have four different looks that I find myself wearing most frequently, and sometimes I mix them up and combine styles.

My first look is something you can wear to a casual event/ outing or you can dress it up with heels like I did or even a bit of jewelry like bracelets or a longer necklace since the front is quite plain and you’re good to go to a nice dinner.

The model is me, Cailyn. Here I’m wearing a shoulder less top which is a must in every girls closet during the summer (free those shoulders) but due to the fact that there is no hiding annoying bra straps I highly recommend a strapless bra, which I know can be tricky to keep up sometimes but your outfit will look so much better. The shirt is just a plain high waisted black skirt which gives you the freedom to tuck in your shirt or leave it untucked, the shirt I’m wearing was quite long, so I decided to have it tucked-in for a cleaner and more put-together look.

My second outfit is ‘country inspired’ and is something I find myself wearing quite often. This is a look I could wear for a day out, to the Calgary stampede or another local outing like many country-themed restaurants and bars we have in town. I chose a light coloured jeans and top because not only does it get less hot, the subtle notes make your boots pop. Regardless you could just as easily throw on some dark blue jeans and the outfit would still work.

Traditionally, with cowboy boots, I would wear boot cut jeans that cover them, but not and then I like to show them off by wearing tight jeans such as a ‘skinny jean’ to show those boots off. Also on a side note is like to add the fact that cowboy boots are one of my favorite shoes because they are versatile and functional but also they look great with jeans and if planned right they go amazingly well with a skirt or cute summer dress.

Cailyn on the Mustang workout clothes in CalgaryMy third look is street wear that is comfortable for an exercise  work-out and nice enough that you could wear outside and do your daily deeds. I went with white sweat pants because I feel like they are a great statement piece considering how often you actually see white sweatpants. I went with the white tank top to blend in under to make the black jersey standout more. Then I used the red bandana and lipstick to give the look a pop of color and as a standout piece. Also I swear by Converse running shoes, they are my absolute favorite sneakers because you can where them with anything at any time!Cailyn Miss Teen Calgary

For my last outfit I went for more of a classic look with the 50s style red dress. You can wear it whenever and its light enough to wear in the summer and once winter rolls around you can throw on some leggings or thighs and put on an old style knitted jacket (the one I have reminds me of a sock monkey)

I think my favorite part about any of these outfits is that you can wear them anytime and dress them up or down due to your mood and what you are dressing for. ​

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Peekaboo Beans feature image in Calgary Alberta

Peekaboo Bean’s Fashion for Pre-Schoolers in Calgary Alberta

In the beautiful city of Calgary there is not a day that passes that you don’t see a variety of different clothing and fashion styles! Whether it’s the style of someone’s hair, their choice of outfit,  or the style of one of the amazing buildings in downtown Calgary, it is a truly beautiful and fashionable place! The word ‘fashion’ normally brings to mind well dressed women and men in the streets of a busy cosmopolitan city, or beautiful, well dressed models walking a runway. 
For this blog post I decided to focus on a smaller segment of the fashion population, which are the kids who will define the fashion of the future.  Kids can be very fashionable, while still doing what they do best, which is just being kids!
Peekaboo Beans clothes lets kids do just that. This Street Chic blog post focuses on a sharp-looking line of Canadian designed kids’ clothing that are soft and comfortable yet durable and inspire kids to run, jump and play. You will find many fashionable kids on the streets and playgrounds of Calgary sporting the very stylish Peekaboo Beans clothing line. This apparel is great for young kids who are excited to play.  
Peekaboo Beans has fashionable and comfortable clothes that kids all around Canada will wear and find comfortable. Peekaboo Beans was created with a vision that kids can play and look amazing at the same time. These clothes are also super durable and can last through even the toughest falls and stains! These clothes are also great because children can easily dress themselves without going crazy on patterns.
All Peekaboo Beans clothes are mix and match so even the littlest ones can dress themselves and always have a coordinating outfit!  The young people in the photos definitely stand out the streets of Calgary with their clothes. These boys enjoy running, playing and having fun like any kids should, but with the dependable fabrics their parents don’t need to worry about the Peekaboo Beans clothing getting ripped! 
As if the clothing line of Peekaboo Beans isn’t amazing enough the founder of the company, Traci, has incorporated some great safety and comfort features into the clothes as well.  For example the clothing items with zippers include a chin guard to protect your child’s chin from getting caught in the zipper! And, just when you think it can’t get any better you don’t have to worry about itchy tags that can irritate your child’s skin.  Peekaboo Beans has cleverly taken care of this annoying feature by hiding the tags within the layers of the fabric. 
Justin Trudeau  with toddler wearing Peekaboo BeansThe very fashionable founder of Peekaboo Beans, Traci is always working to market her products and get the word out about her stylish and comfortable kids’ line.  She recently designed the outfits that were on display at our country’s capital on Canada Day, being modeled by the children of our Prime Minister, as can be seen in the picture attached.  
All of the Peekaboo Bean prices are very reasonable as well given the amazing value that is coming with your clothes.  Most  dresses range anywhere from $40-$60. And for a boys T-shirt only $30-$40. To sum up my blog post I would like to address how these clothes tie into my platform, These clothes can let kids stay active and healthy in a very fashionable way and I hope all parents and kids decide to make the switch, as their website says “Once you go BEANS, you never go back!”
*All promotional photos are used with written permission of Peekaboo Beans Founder Traci

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Hay Bales To High Fashion in Airdrie, Alberta

by Mackenzie, Miss Teen Western Alberta 2017

Boutiques, live music, good food and good people fill Calgary’s skyline. As you look upon the beaming lights of the city from a distance, it’s hard to notice all the beauty that surrounds it. As you wander through the outskirts of town, you’ll find miles upon miles of both prairie land filled with bright yellow and green patches in the summer haze, and Alberta’s infamous mountains framing the border to our neighboring province, BC.

Mikaela is a girl that can enjoy both of these views. Living in Airdrie, a town just minutes outside of Calgary, Mikaela is able to transform her style from comfortably chic venturing through the back roads of her town, to country styling in the city. Taking the road less traveled, Mikaela is paving the way of country fashion; creating a cowgirl couture for the everyday woman.

Keeping her essential hiking gear on hand in her sand colored lug bag purchased at The Store Upstairs boutique for $79.99, Mikaela can store sunscreen, extra sweaters and those much needed snacks for her adventure. Ensuring to be fit for any challenge needing to be hop, skipped or jumped over, Mikaela is wearing her black mesh, Puma leggings that she snagged from The Store Upstairs for $75.00.

While she was there, Mikaela made sure to add a subtle pop of color to the look by pairing a khaki green Puma jacket ($60.00) with her blush toned MPG shirt ($46.00) that allows her to feel and look comfortably cool on a hot summer day.

Looking fit for a journey is imperative, and this dirt road symbolizes that very journey. When chasing a big, hairy, and audacious dream, you’ll be met with a few bumps along the way, have a few rocks by your side, and may drift here, there and everywhere figuring out where your path may lead you. Whether striving to be a trendsetter in a new destination, or vying to be the next Miss Teenage Canada, one must be comfortable, confidant and beautifully authentic in their personality and style.

Mikaela’s outfit shows her authenticity and allows her to have some fun along the way.

Sticking with her hometown roots, Mikaela is rocking a blue denim button up blouse by Picadilly ($85.00)  Dressing up the look, she tucks Picadilly’s blouse into her white lace, over the knee skirt by Pink Stich ($200.00) to allow this look to be more versatile for both in town, and in the city. She finishes the look by trading in Alberta’s traditional cowboy hat for a more chic and wearable alternative. This brown, suede, wide brim hat is just the cherry on top to take Mikaela from straight from the country to the city.

From actively seeking out to crush some goals in an outfit made for leaping over obstacles that are bound to come your way, to achieving these goals and seeing the progression made throughout the process, you must remain humble and true to your roots. Mikaela’s style evolved, and overtime so did she. But her success never took away from her small yet meaningful beginnings. Keeping in touch with her roots in the end prevailed, as it made for some unbelievable style.

Beyond fashion, the take away lesson from this is to reach for those unbelievably big dreams. While you’re reaching you’ll come across a beautiful and enticing journey. Along that journey you’ll make wrong turns, and maybe even hit some potholes that seem impossible to get yourself out of. But you’ll also grow. You’ll grow into someone you never envisioned yourself being able to become, and that will make the climb to success all the worthwhile.

Airdrie Alberta fashion in rural wheat fields and farms

From climbing over hay bales in the outback’s of Alberta, to high fashion in the booming city, never lose sight of the journey that shaped you.

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Fashion on Stephen Ave in Calgary

Fashion on Stephen Ave Walk in Calgary

by Maneet, Miss Southern Alberta World 2017

On July 7, 2017 I took to the ever-famous Stephen Avenue in Calgary as Miss Southern Alberta World to begin my street chic blog journey. When choosing what street I would use in this blog Stephen Avenue was the first place that came to mind without a single thought. In 2002 the street was declared a National Historical District!

Every person in Calgary knows the Stephen Avenue Walk, whether it be young or old. It is one of the busiest streets of downtown no matter which day you decide to go. This street is known as the ‘pedestrian mall’, with numerous stores, restaurants, entertainment and hot spots, there are also opportunities for smaller vendors to get their product and services on display. From a live band performance to clothing, Stephen Avenue has it all. This famous street is also the one place you can find people rocking all sorts of different clothing styles. It is definitely the epicenter of Calgary fashion as the street links to ‘The Core’, downtown’s largest indoor mall that carries almost every brand that you can think of.

To begin, the day was quite warm for what us Calgarians are used to at around 30 degrees

Thus the street was busier than ever and people were off enjoying their day in the heat. Thus I ran into quite a few stylish people throughout my day.

Bronwhyn on Stephen Street

Bronwhyn on Stephen Ave in Calgary’s downtown core.

The first was Bronwhyn, who was wearing a beautiful white chiffon dress by Jessica Simpson, she had purchased it from The Bay. With it she had paired a blue denim vest from Gap. Her mint green purse was by Kate Spade, which was also purchased from The Bay. Along with her dress she was rocking a pair of burgundy cowgirl boots by Riley and McCormick.

Next I saw Daniele, she was just finishing up work and was dressed up in spirit of the Calgary Stampede, which is an outdoor show that happens in Calgary every July. Daniele was styled in an American Eagle  purple and pink flannel and denim shorts along with a pair of sneakers from Keds Shoes. Her leopard trim glasses were from Forever 21 and only cost her $5!

Danielle and Wei on Stephen St

Danielle and Wei on Stephen Ave in Calgary

Wei’s outfit was definitely an eye-catcher for me, I could see her standing out from a distance. She was wearing a blue chiffon dress from The Bay, and white shoes from The Shoe Company. Her glasses were purchased from the Sunglasses hut, her hat and purse were from Aldo.

Me asking Mung

Maneet asks Mung why wear a black suit on the hot day?

Then I saw Mung, who was wearing a full suit on quite a hot day, he was actually heading to a quick meeting with someone at Cactus Club Café on Stephen Avenue. He was dressed in a double-breasted suit and shirt with French cuffs all from RW & Co. Interestingly; he had bought his shoes from Mongolia, and they were definitely eye-catching.

Brandon and Ryan on Stephen St

Bradon and Mung on Stephen Ave in Calgary

Bradon was just finishing up his day at work as he was heading out on Stephan Avenue. He was dressed in a navy blue block wrangler shirt and Levi jeans, while also sporting a white cowboy hat in spirit of the Calgary Stampede.  His shoes were from Larriat and watch from Hugo Boss.

Ryan Fashion on Stephen Ave in Calgary

Lastly, I met Ryan. He had recently just moved to the city and was out to explore the hottest spots, so I had caught him in just the right place. Ryan was rocking a navy blue suit from Calvin Klein, along with a striped J crew shirt. His shoes were from Johnston & Murphy, which he paired with colorful blue and green socks from Express.

Ryans socks on Stephen Ave

As I was on the street I noticed that there were many diverse clothing styles, whether it be the men in business suits on a hot day coming from work, or the girls in dresses spending their day out. However none of them failed to stand out with their unique styles, which made my street chic experience on Stephen Avenue definitely a success.