Courtesy Alisha Brown-Wint
Artisan Alicia Browne-Wint and Harlen Dziuba’s little Fashion Central store Bibelot is a treasure trove of jewellery and accessories.
The romantic pieces are festooned with carefully crafted gemstones. Browne’s collection includes simple pearl necklaces, $175, as well as earrings set with uncut diamonds, $375, and iridescent blue labradorite, $45–$85. Complimenting the pretty rocks is a selection of cashmere scarves and English sweaters. 805 – 1 St SW. —Allison Onyett
This Easter check out out John Gilchrist’s list of must-try chocolate shops around the city for an extra decadent treat…
One of Epiphanie's many hand-crafted Easter goodies
One of The Beehive's 50-plus varities of soap. Courtesy The Beehive.
The Beehive brims with bee products like hazelnut lip balm, hemp-and-honey soap, Moroccan spice beeswax candles, therapeutic bee balm, honey-herbal pet shampoo, bee pollen and royal jelly.
The wee store also stocks 50-plus varieties of soap. And did we mention honey? It carries classic, pure Alberta honey as well as flavoured types. 311 – 10 St NW. —Allison Onyett
Queen Boutique owners, from left, Cydney Connell, Rio Smith, Joe Connell
Having successfully run a seasonal clothing boutique in Osoyoos, British Columbia, twenty-something sisters Rio Smith and Cydney Connell along with their mom Jo Connell launched Queen Boutique, a women’s clothing store in Calgary’s Kensington neighbourhood.
They named the store after the late singer and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, known for both his onstage theatrics and wild attire. His fashion motto “I dress to kill, but tastefully” fit the women’s own fashion philosophy. “You get a feeling about a certain line and just know it’ll work because we’re attracted to it,” says Smith. “I think all three of us have very good instincts. We carry what we love.” (more…)
BY ALLISON ONYETT
Courtesy Leah Von Loon; Jason Dziver.
Although Calgary’s malls boast hundreds of well-known chain stores and are destinations in their own rights, the city also has a thriving boutique scene. In trendy neighborhoods like 17th Avenue, Kensington and Marda Loop, find independent shops carrying wears by local designers as well as international labels.
We enlisted the help of fashion and commercial stylist Leah Van Loon for her favourite boutiques to shop at for this season’s trends. In addition to knowing Calgary’s fashion scene inside and out, she has done styling for fashion magazines and international ad campaigns. She also provides image consulting, and personal shopping services. For more information email her at leah@leahvanloon.com.
Take home a unique souvenir of Calgary with one of local artist Gillian Hillerud’s silver pendants. Made with 14 karat gold, pearls and found materials, the necklaces can be found at Influx Gallery—a boutique dedicated to handcrafted jewellery made by over 30 Canadian artists. $50 – $200, in Art Central.
Silver pendants at Influx Jewellery Gallery
Lizzy denim crops from True Religion
We love the flattering fit and feel of hippie-chic denim label, True Religion. Hailing from California, all of the brand’s styles are hand-sewn in the U.S. and approved by owner Jeffrey Lubell, whose mandate is to make comfy, high quality jeans “feel like they’ve been in your closet for 30 years.” Celebs seen sporting the line include the likes of Beyoncé, Gisele Bundchen and Colin Farrell. We like these lowrise “Lizzy” denim crops in optic white for summer. Pick up a pair for $275 at True Religion’s only shop in Alberta, at Chinook Centre. —Laura Pellerine
Girls will delight in the hot pink décor, glimmering chandeliers, and attentive staff at Chinook Centre’s new 13,000-square-foot Victoria’s Secret. The walls are lined with hundreds of brightly coloured form-fitting, bust-improving bras like the popular Miraculous which adds two full cup sizes, and the new Dream Angels with Memory Fit Foam. The shop also stocks stylish workout wear, cute and suggestive pjs and underwear, and fragrances. Noir Summer, is this season’s sweeter, fruitier version of the popular Noir—the antique pump and flirty pink bottle makes this fragrance a sexy little thing, $55, Chinook Centre.
Noir Summer perfume at Victoria's Secret
Browse through almost a century’s worth of stylish dresses at A Vintage Collective, a new eclectic consignment boutique in Fashion Central. Their collections include feminine, edgy and tailored styles from the flapper 1920s to the rocking 1980s. Each piece is hand chosen by shop owners, and is cleaned and prepped so its ready to be worn. While some pieces are left in their original period style, others have been re-worked for a unique cross-decade look. - Laura Pellerine
Try on a pair of upscale jeans worn by the likes of celebs Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds. Chinook Centre has scooped up the first 7 For All Mankind store in Canada. Inside its 1,000 square feet of space, the luxury brand that started in L.A. in 2000, offers up a variety of styles from straight-legged to bootcut to even bell-bottoms (which are rumoured to be making a comeback). The brand is known for its flattering cuts and tight fit, as well as its hand finishings. Styles start at $189 and go up from there. - Laura Pellerine
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