Summer on Stephen Avenue Walk

by Mattea Henderson, 2017 Miss Calgary World

Summer is short in Calgary so ladies make the most of it. We have about six weeks of time to be flirtatious and bold with our everyday looks. Wear killer heels on a causal Tuesday, or festive cowboy boots because you are in the Heart of the New West. Calgary is not the Paris France of Canada, but if you can wear your heart on your sleeve and your head held high knowing you feel good in what you are wearing, I promise you your summer will be memorable and fashionable.

Fashion is a two-way street: how you feel in your choices of the day, and seeing people’s reactions to you loving what you wear when you pass each other. Stephen Avenue in Calgary, Alberta is a balance of corporate, tourist, and entertainment ventures, from main steam patios and restaurants, to buskers, and fashionable people laughing or smiling, or running to a meeting with a cup of coffee in hand. Stephen Avenue is a destination for all Calgarians to work and play!

Kayla is studying Public Relations in university, and is a student working full time this summer for an insurance claim agency. She somehow manages to not only take stylist on a university student’s budget, but does this all on the same street in Calgary! Kayla understand the importance of business to casual to edgy in the quick switch of a jacket, or a pair of shoes. She works just off Stephen Avenue, but she embraces the benefits to being right off one of the hottest places in Calgary if she needs a bite, getting dinner with girlfriends, or going to a concert!

Done with work and taking off her jacket left Stephen Avenue with a long-legged blonde in a black Aritzia crossed-strap halter top ($70.00), high rise black skinny jean from Urban Outfitters ($50.00), and a chunky heeled- strappy sandal.  Being able to go from corporate to contemporary to edgy can be done easily on a university student budget.

By focusing on acquiring pieces that are basics in her wardrobe, Kayla repurposed her back thick heeled sandals from Payless ($15.00), with a body-con dress in stone grey purchased from Aritzia ($60.00), with a classic worn-in black leather jacket from no other than Forever 21 ($20.00). Kayla was successful in embrace her edginess from corporate business woman by swapping out a piece or two in her wardrobe.

If you are looking for the new heart of the west, Stephen Avenue is the place to be during the second week of July. You will see anything from authentic cowboys and cowgirls, families dressed to the nines, but Kayla does it right. A baby blue denim off the shoulder summer dress from Urban Outfitters ($60.00) with nothing less than matching cowboy boots thanks to Lammles, and a leather cross body purse from Michael Kors ($130.00) pairs perfectly for a cute Calgary Stampede look!

This look is authentic to Stampede or embracing Calgary’s western roots, but realistically cowboy boots can be extremely expensive, this $300.00 investment is a staple for Kayla and all Calgarians.

One Girl. One Street. Multipurpose pieces on a university student budget. Kayla is one to watch out for on Stephen Avenue whether she is working on settling an insurance claim, studying for exams at a coffee shop, or out for a night out with friends.

Save