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.

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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