David Walker, former wine director at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Image © Jason Dziver

EDITOR'S PICK: 1, 2, 3, 4 WINES

Great things keep coming out of the new Arriva Towers development. The latest is a new wine boutique called 100 Wines by David Walker. The concept is showcasing 100 wines specifically chosen by co-owner and wine connoisseur David Walker. Beginning with 20 wines under 20, the selections can change daily and each wine is accompanied by tasting notes and a brief history on the vineyard and wine maker. Though the wines are in no particular order, the 100th bottle is “the best wine they’ve had recently,” and is featured with photos and expanded descriptions. Try the Mosato D’asti for $14.95, it’s a delightful sparkling white (sealed with a beer cap!) that Walker says never fails to put a smile on someone’s face.

Not Your Daughter’s Jeans from Brown Eyed Girl

Image © Courtesy KMR Communications Inc

STAMPEDE JEANS

When the cowboy hats come out it’s time to put on your best pair of jeans. Here’s where you can find the most unique selection around town:

Unlimited Blue
Designer brands for women and men at discount prices. 636 - 17 Ave SW.

Riley & McCormick and Lammle’s
These stores carry the kind of jeans that actual cowboys wear, like the Original Fit Pro Rodeo Cowboy Cut from Wrangler.

Brown Eyed Girl
For the over 30-somethings who don’t want to wear “Mom” jeans; try the label Not Your Daughter’s Jeans. 2303 - 4 St SW.

Holt Renfrew
Upscale designer labels including D&G, Armani and 7 for all mankind.

The interior of Inglewood's newest fashion boutique

Image © Courtesy Mandarine Couture

READY TO WEAR

Fashionistas have a new shop to frequent with the opening of Mandarine Couture in Inglewood. Carrying ready-to-wear, limited pieces (only one per size) from European and Asian brands like Barcelona’s Skunk Funk; Sportmax; Anne Klein; Marc by Marc Jacobs, as well as handbags from Gai Mattiolo, store co-owner Melody Song hopes to achieve a big-city shopping experience. “When I shop in cities like Montreal, Beijing, or Paris there are tons of little shops, and you never know what you will find. I want to bring that intrigue to Calgary.” The shop will also carry clothing and handcrafted jewellery from a few independent designers.

Jessica Jacobs's baby booties for Matthew McConaughey

Image © Courtesy C Communications

CELEB BOOTIES

Check out these stylish children’s shoes from Calgarian entrepreneur and designer Jessica Jacobs. The concept behind Jacobs’ line, Little Soles, is to offer parents unique footwear for little ones crafted in soft leather with sewn-on details. Glamour guru Jayneoni Moore chose Jacobs’ designs to be included in the Hollywood Baby Breakfast Club Gift Basket. Some of the A-list parents who received shoes were Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie and Jessica Alba. This pair was sent to Matthew McConaughey, find them for $39.95 at The Mom Store, Chinook Centre, 265 - 6455 Macleod Tr S.

Mikel Lefler's swallowtail butterfly pendant

Image © Courtesy INFLUX Jewellery Gallery

LOCAL GEMS

This colourful pendant by local artistan Mikel Lefler incorporates the delicate beauty of the swallowtail butterfly, a family of butterflies with tail-like projections at the end of each wing, $190. Find this and other pieces by Calgary designers at INFLUX Jewellery Gallery in Art Central. —Sally MacKinnon

The Westin’s Chef Concierge, Cindy Stewart

Image © Kimberly Morritt

CONCIERGE CORNER: SOUVENIR HUNTING

As the Westin’s Chef Concierge and 10-year member of Les Clefs d’Ors (meaning The Golden Keys), a prestigious international organization of hotel concierges, Cindy Stewart always knows where to send people looking for souvenirs of their stay in Calgary.
“When people think of souvenirs for Calgary they always think Western! With this in mind I like to send them to Lammle’s, Riley & McCormick or Alberta Boot Company.” These stores carry a variety of authentic Western items from cowboy hats to polished leather boots.
Stewart says the Glenbow Museum, with its regionally made items like Aboriginal art, offers up great gift possibilities, as does the souvenir shop at the base of the Calgary Tower. “They have unique gift items such as carved wooden pepper mills in the shape of the tower.”

ENDoutdoor, availabe at Coast Mountain Sports

Image © Courtesy In-Sport Fashions Inc.

ECO SHOES

Keeping it minimal is one way to reduce a product’s ecological footprint. ENDoutdoor, a manufacturer of outdoor gear based in Oregon, has taken this directive to heart; their hiking, running and training shoes use a minimal combination of traditional, recycled and non-toxic materials and are produced with simpler production methods. The result: shoes that take less energy to manufacture but are nonetheless top-quality. ENDoutdoor shoes are available at Coast Mountain Sports. —Sally MacKinnon

Cocoa butter, nutmeg and cardamom body butter

Image © Courtesy Crabtree & Evelyn

MIGHTY MOISTURIZERS

Calgary is a dry city—the average annual precipitation here is less than 400 mm a year, roughly a third of Vancouver’s annual rainfall and one half of that in Toronto. Fortunately, there is no shortage of products to help you avoid flaky skin. We recommend the pumpkin patch soap at Rocky Mountain Soap Company, Calgary Eaton Centre, made from pumpkin, wheat germ and sweet almond oil. Originally designed for sufferers of eczema, this soap is highly moisturizing, full of exfoliants and completely unscented. For a moisturizer that is also an olfactory experience, try the cocoa butter, nutmeg and cardamom body butter at Crabtree & Evelyn, 315 - 8 Ave SW, which harnesses the natural emollients in cocoa beans.—Sally MacKinnon