Tag Archives: Gucci

Polo Style with Dayelle Fargey

IMG_0279The only female polo pro in Canada, Manitoba-born Dayelle Fargey started swinging a mallet at age six. IMG_0251IMG_0252Currently playing at the Calgary Polo Club, it’s just another stop on her yearly circuit. If it’s not Indio, Santa Barbara or Houston, it’s a tournament in Singapore. But forget about how accomplished she is in a sport where both genders of all ages play against each other, on thousand-pound steeds — let’s get to the fashion. Dayelle took a timeout just before this match to talk to me about her sense of style. IMG_0300On the field, it’s all about the monogram, from tack… IMG_0336 to mallets…IMG_0354to this belt she had handmade in Argentina, the motherland of polo. IMG_0373Off the field, she favors Gucci handbags and shoes, for the horse bit details, and Ralph Lauren. “It’s money well spent to get some timeless, classic pieces that you can dress up or dress down,” says Dayelle. “Rather than going with all the latest trends.”IMG_0371One of Dayelle’s go-to Guccis.IMG_0297Even her string of ponies is stylish, accented in red — her father’s color. Mixing the white into her equine style scheme signals the three times she has played for Team Canada.IMG_0362But her biggest fashion coup could be the time she was in charge of buying the prizes for the 2011 Women’s Polo for Heart Tournament in Calgary. She blew the budget on trophies that would keep up the white pants of the winners — rose gold belt buckles designed by Craig Becker. Meanwhile, the consolation prizes were basic gloves and whips. “I had a pretty good team that year,” Dayelle laughs. “We had a really good shot at winning.” The gamble paid off, but she was never asked to shop for the prizes again.IMG_0309Seen here during half time, Dayelle talks strategy with the rest of the Gordon Ross Remax Team, in a game they would win. The last thing the polo-ess with prowess is thinking about right now is fashion, but one of the perks of her job means she can rock a pair of white jeans.IMG_0255“One of the good things about polo is you’re outdoors,” she says. “You’re tan, you’re fit, you’re athletic. Clothes in general just look good on polo players because they have the body to support it.” Of which she is a prime example. Play on, Dayelle, play on!

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La Tomatina

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!P1030102Preparing for battle, Prada upgrades their classic patent leather platform to a juicy peeptoe. P1030106Gucci drives an accelerated edge of souped-up salmon into their wedged weapon of choice.P1030103Miu Miu’s patent pump packs sly stilletto sparkle.P1030105Tangential forces take Jimmy Choo’s tangerine to another level of fructose friction.P1030098But 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. ClearSmall xx 2

The Earth Needs More Big Boxes

TARGET UPDATE:  The Earth Needs More Big Boxes

 

Besides my Pavlovian response to anything Gucci and my inner compass dialed to LV, I also have an obsession with Target. My addiction to the chic big box store was cemented with regular stops during my Cleveland, Ohio days. I wonder if it will fuel the same fire once it’s in Canada?

Maybe that fire will be more like lava star power spewing from a style volcano. Target Toronto had Blake Lively and Sarah Jessica Parker out for a red carpet opening last month. But they must be saving the best for the west. Right?

Target is almost upon us, here in the wild rose province. I still can’t wrangle exact dates out of them, but they’re timing their Alberta ribbon cuttings with Earth Month. Last time I checked, it was just Earth Day on April 22, but if Target wants to extend our celebration of the planet, I am all for it. Look for the bull’s-eye coming in May to malls near you:

Calgary:  Chinook Centre, Forest Lawn Shopping Centre, Market Mall, Shoppes at Shawnessy

Edmonton:  Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, Mill Woods Town Centre, West Edmonton Mall

Grande Prairie:  Prairie Mall

Red Deer:  Bower Place

Sherwood Park:  Sherwood Park Mall

St. Albert:  St. Albert CentreClearSmall xx 2

Banff Bites

The mountains bring out the carnivore in me.  tiffany burnsIt starts with the clothes. Suede boots, made in Italy. I paid a lot of money for them at an intriguing little boutique in San Francisco, but I can’t even brag about them because they have no designer name… anywhere. Who does that? However, I remember the shop’s name. Paolo Shoes in Hayes Valley. Check it out next time you’re there. Suede handbag, Gucci. Dress, Max Studio. Coat, Armani Exchange. Shearling hat, A Vintage Affair in Calgary. Because a hat like this makes sense when you’re surrounded by snow. You can’t hear my grumbling tummy, but I’m smiling through the hunger pangs. Luckily downtown Banff has a number of incredible restaurants less than a five minute drive from the Juniper Hotel.P1020950So many places in Banff are all about using natural recovered local materials, like the Maple Leaf Grille. I dig this wall.P1020946More than that, I dig their Game Platter. With a selection of bison, elk, beef and duck sausage and charcuterie, it’s a carnivore’s cult list. There might have been some bunny in there too. With local cheeses and tomatoes thrown in, I was pretty much in edible heaven while eating this. Which is good, because tomorrow I’ll need the calories. P1020881Come back manana for a little boarding, Banff style. ClearSmall xx 2