H Project Opens at Holt’s

At H Project, walking the walk means carrying the clutch

Alexandra Weston, Director of Brand Strategy at Holt Renfrew, brandishes her FEED bag given to her by Lauren Bush, who runs the charitable foundation of the same name. Pay $40 to buy one of the cotton bags, handmade by Indian artisans, and you’ll feed 25 schoolchildren in India.That’s the point of H Project, the new boutique at Holt Renfrew in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto. Satisfy your need for retail therapy and you’ll be fulfilling the real needs of struggling folks around the world. Buy a WeWood timepiece at an affordable price point of $120 and a tree will be planted. A portion of your purchase of Proof sunglasses, made from sustainable wood, will go toward sight-giving surgeries to people in India.Many designers sell items with proceeds going to charitable causes, but rarely do they come together under one roof. Some, like Cornelia Guest and her cruelty-free handbags, were already selling their socially and eco conscious items elsewhere. Others, like Canadian designer Jenny Bird and her Guardian Tusk jewelry collection (proceeds go to the World Wildlife Fund) developed lines exclusively for H Project. In all, Alexandra has gathered thirty brands of apparel, accessories, home décor items and beauty products for the boutique, elevating fashion from style statement to ethics edict. In the midst of all this global artisan accomplishment, a local artist from the Alberta Printmakers’ Society strutted her silkscreen stuff.Limited edition bags, handmade in Calgary, free with purchase at H Project. Take a stand and self-indulge. It could help change the world.

Make Your Minivan Cool

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This wrap almost makes the impossible plausible.Spotted in the Victoria Park district: the distinct tartan of a certain luxury goods clan. Tarted up by Ink’d Graphics, a Cochrane company that specializes in creative car wraps, I could almost imagine driving this Cadillac of minivans though the Scottish moors. But then I got ahold of myself and realized my Highlander fantasy makes much more sense when it involves more Burberry, less van. That buckle almost makes me want to take a look under the hood. Some things just make my engine purr.

FCUK in YYC

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Soon.Soon these barns at the Calgary Polo Club will be full of ponies. Soon the grass will be green. And soon I will be wearing my helmet and using my mallet. But if I’m going to show up at the club like a hop-along groupie, at least I can do it in style. French Connection’s Nix Nights Block Dress has a discreet side zip and a subtle stretch in the fabric, giving anyone a flattering look that will fend off all Pretty Woman types.After a working winter in California or surviving the subzero temperatures of being put out to pasture in Alberta, many of the horses have returned, enjoying their last few days of hay and relaxation before summer prep begins in earnest. Reassuringly structured and boxy, French Connection’s Westbourne Bag could tote a healthy selection of carrots……which would catch the attention of this guy. Enjoy that mane while you have it, buddy! You’re due for a haircut.With the distance between all the paddocks and fields, it’s good to have alternate transportation at the CPC, especially if you’re moving slower than usual. Paired with their Polly Plains daisy white tank, French Connection’s floaty floral maxi skirt flows pleasantly in the breeze, allowing for easy pedaling.The official polo season hasn’t started yet in Calgary, which means there’s still time to get your perfect divet-stomping dress. The styles seen here are available at French Connection.

Vagabond Brewery Opening

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If an area ever needed a new brew pub, it’s this lonely corner in Victoria Park. Someone told me there was a recent move to rename the area Victoria Landing to obscure the neighborhood’s ghetto past, but I haven’t seen any evidence of this myself. But no matter what you call it, the people who work and live in this part of town don’t have many dining options.Inside, a soft launch lunch was jammed with customers, mildly frazzled service staff and good food. The former Olive’s has been stripped down from a high-end Italian restaurant to the rough-hewn Vagabond Brewery, offering more casual fare and beer, beer… and beer. Still, I managed to order a sauv blanc.I sampled the Kale Caesar Salad (yummy with ginormous homemade bacon bits) and a hearty Pulled Pork Pizza. Also: the Lobster Dog. Deep fried in beer and corn batter, it’s a classier version of the deep fried everything that will be available just across the street at the Stampede Grounds in July. Vagabond is perfectly positioned for noshing pre- and post-concert at the Saddledome.

OMG it’s opening!

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The paint on this mural had barely dried when Target finally announced that the long awaited Western Canada rollout will begin: tomorrow morning at 8 am.

It’s a big box bonanza: 10 stores in Alberta, 9 in BC and 3 in Manitoba. In Calgary, bullseye devotees will be able to cruise the wide, well-lit aisles at the Chinook, Forest Lawn and Market Mall locations. Shawnessy shoppers will have to cool their jets until May 14.

Despite a nationwide press release, they’re calling it a soft opening. Perhaps it’s a nod to the lack of any type of star-studded gala, like the party that launched Target in Toronto. There are no events scheduled anywhere tomorrow — not even any red and white ribbon cuttings.

However, the attention to local detail in this mural almost makes up for it. Not only because this chic cowgirl is strolling past the city skyline punctuated by the Calgary Tower on her way to the Stampede grounds. But because, geographically, it’s pretty accurate. The Tower is a few blocks northwest of the building the mural is painted on, while the Stampede grounds are just across Macleod Trail, to the east. The copy continues the theme from Target’s television ads. And even though some people are still miffed over the first commercial use of the song to Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, Target has Canadianized it. Bon travail, neighbour.

La Tomatina

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Crutch-free but Aircast, I limped in for a lap around Holt’s this weekend. Since there are no high heels in my immediate future, of course I was drawn to the shoe department, where greenhouse-grown tomato red pumped-up platforms seemed to straddle every display, across the designer divide. This pigment is no blushing pre-teen peach. This is full blown, in-your-face, plan-your-outfit-from-the-ground-up to grow from the hot hue of non-organic fruits injected with color-inducing chemicals. Splat!Preparing for battle, Prada upgrades their classic patent leather platform to a juicy peeptoe. Gucci drives an accelerated edge of souped-up salmon into their wedged weapon of choice.Miu Miu’s patent pump packs sly stilletto sparkle.Tangential forces take Jimmy Choo’s tangerine to another level of fructose friction.But blood orange doesn’t have to mean blood blisters. Prada waves the neon cantaloupe flag with a low-heeled peace offering to flatlanders everywhere. But an actual tomato truce? Never. There ought to be a festival or something.

Color Blocking

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The good new is… Look at my nose! This camera doesn’t pick up the details that are still bugging me, but the skin graft scar is starting to settle down. Also, I’m getting a little better at the coverup action. A lot of the time I go with concealer only — no foundation or powder, which can accentuate the lumps and lines instead of hiding them. Today I’m using Lancome’s Maquicomplet in the Camee shade, which is darker than my actual skin tone, but seems to do well against the scar, which is still a little red. The creamy liquid is enriched with a hydrating botanical complex, antioxidant protection and light-diverting agents, which seems to be a magical combo for me. Also, it never gets flaky. Which is good because I have enough stuff going on with my beak right now.

Meanwhile, the bad news is… Crutches! I thought twice about revealing this, concerned that regular readers may start to think I have major bad medical mojo. That would be one way of looking at it, especially since someone mentioned that my warranty must be up. But I prefer to think that I am renewing it. In this case, a toe alignment issue (aka brutal mutant bunion) meant there was no way around it: the operation had to be done. But with this color blocking going on, this post had to be done. I’m loving this royal blue shirt, especially now that I’ve realized I don’t have to wait for a flat abs day to wear it, if I layer something flowy underneath. The brand is confusingly called Ttee, so good luck googling that one. I picked it up at Anthropologie, which always has unique casual wear. Grey shirt, Armani Exchange. Skinny pants, Mossimo for Target — USA Target since they still haven’t opened in Calgary yet. Shoes, Adidas. I tried to channel Marilyn from the time she sprained her ankle while filming in Banff, but she makes the crutches look sexier than I ever could. However — you know what she didn’t have? An Aircast!! But let’s face it, even with the suspiciously Nike-like air technology, there is no style going on here at all. For $160, you’d think I could at least get a choice in colors. That’s right, my American friends! Canadian healthcare has a lot of good points, but every once in a while, the government decides you’re on your own when it comes to paying for parts of it. And the medical supply store knows you don’t have time to go online and buy the cast for $84.99. However, I digress from the real issue here: if your toes are going to be peeping out from any type of cast, whether it has foam-filled air cells or not, they better be pretty. Luckily I stocked up on a couple of bottles from L’Oreal’s Colour Riche Trend Setter Collection: Crazy For Chic, left, and Members Only, right. My toes are wearing Members Only. Take that, Marilyn! Meanwhile, let’s both ignore the guy on the walk sign behind me, making it look easy.

Suddenly Last Summer

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I. Can’t. Wait.

We finally had t-shirt weather in Calgary today, which got me all restless and dying for polo to get started. Last year we played right through September. These are my photos from the final day of the season: September 30, 2012.Hair before the match is looking halfway decent, which is nice, because it won’t after I put my helmet on. Meanwhile, Lobo catches a pre-game snooze and misses his first photo op of the day. On the other side of the trailer, groom extraordinaire Andres Felix uses his trademark move to get the tail braid just right. I made it my goal last summer to learn how to do this, thinking I was setting the bar a little low for my polo achievement of the year, but it is so damn hard. However, by the time the leaves started turning my tails were staying together through the games… usually with a lot of tape. And never as pretty as the ones pictured here.Speaking of pretty, see if you can spot the pair of bipeds having a tandem pre-game pee on a tree.Back to Andres! Besides being able to prep a pony with effortless efficiency, most grooms are usually skilled players themselves. Andres often gets recruited to round out a team in Kyle Fargey’s coaching league. If he doesn’t have a pair of boots handy, he’ll MacGyver up some vet wrap. And why not, if the color matches the helmet?I was too busy playing to take any action shots. Looove saying that! But after the final game of the year, I had to take some time for a little love-in with Lobo.It may not have been totally mutual… But he managed to PR the moment eventually. Shirt and pants, both US Polo Association. Boots, Friedson Brothers.The matches in Indio have wrapped and the horses are on the road, heading back to their summer home. The countdown to the Calgary Polo Club 2013 Season is on!

Gateau Louis Vuitton

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Celebrating the birthday of one of my favorite people this weekend, I was delighted to discover what happens when chocolate and Louis Vuitton collide: This cake gives a whole new meaning to a la mode. A match made in my personal heaven, it’s from the talented bakers at Buttercream Bake Shoppe on 17th in Calgary. They do calorie-laden customer orders for wedding cakes, cupcakes – you name it. I’ll let you do the talking because my mouth is full. Tasted just as good as it looked.

My Coachella Moment

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Wondering where the ferris wheel is? Recognize this view without the crowd? In honor of Coachella’s final weekend, I thought I’d post my own moment here. It was last year, after spending an afternoon watching high-goal matches at Empire Polo Club, the week before the desert music festival was scheduled to begin. Following the final game and the final glass of champagne in the field-side cabana, it was time to cross the grass to the players’ party on the other side. Just before sunset, the view was so pretty, I had to stop for a minute to take it in: a shape-shifting oasis for both polo and music fans alike.