AFW | Anne B. & NRT

Friday was day two of Alberta Fashion Week. KD and I were lucky enough to be invited by the Smashbox and Bourjois makeup artists to get our makeup done with the models! I'm saving my makeup photos for a separate post, so you will get to see those shots another day. 

As with the previous night, the doors opened early giving fashion week attendees the chance to mingle and network. KD and I bumped into Sarah from Pagoda Magazine, Shino of Shino's Journal, Miranda of Twenty Something Blog Online, Rupi of The Diva Lounge,  the girls of PARK, and several Calgary Fashion members, just to name a few. 

Amanda, Sarah, KD, Shino

Shea and NRT model

Showing their designs on the second night were Anne B. Accessories and NRT. As I descibed in this post, Anne B's accessories are made from natural materials including bone, wood, shell, and horn resin. All the designs for the second runways show, NRT were hand-made by the designer, Nicole Rita Tomney. For me, her collection brought up images of Beatle Juice, Lady Gaga, and vampires. Everything was in shades of  black and white and grey. This was the second time I had the chance to see NRT. The first was at PARKSHOW in March. 

Smashbox and Bourjois Makeup artists, Amy and Vanessa

front row with Rupi, KD, Jen & Meaghan
Photo by Shino

Anne B. Accessories

NRT

Click here for the Anne B. Accessories runway video by Calgary Fashion

Click here for the NRT runway video by Calgary Fashion

title of show

Forte Musical Theatre Presents

[title of show]

"Who says four chairs and a keyboard can't make a musical?"

(photos are promotional photos for the musical)

Tuesday evening I met up with KD to check out the musical [title of show]. KD and I met Ksenia, one of the actresses in the musical, during Alberta Fashion Week and she invited us to check out the preview of the show.

I really liked the concept behind [title of show]. Just four cast members, four chairs, and a keyboardist. The story is about "the universal value of friendship, loyalty, and the power of chasing your dreams" and was told through the cast members coming together to create a small scale musical. Basically it was a musical about making a musical. And it was hilarious! I definitely recommend checking it out.

The show opens to the public today, Thursday May 26th, Tuesday May 31st is pay what you can day and the show closes on June 4th.

AFW - Boutique Night

Thursday kicked off day one of Alberta Fashion Week with boutique night. Three local retailers, Apt. 22, Mealan, and Bellissima showed fashion week attendees what Calgarians could find in stores this spring and summer. 

Apt. 22 started off the night with bohemian inspired styles including lose flowing fabrics and screen printed t-shirts. Mealan was next up, filling the room with a collection of colourful garments perfect for spring. Finally Bellissima wowed the crowd with their edgy rocker pieces styled by the incredibly talented Jennifer Lyle who writes for the blog Mode Jelly. 

left: Apt. 22 models
right: Corinne and KD

(dress - Guess, blazer - Talula, tights - Shoppers Drug Mart, shoes - Aldo Flare)

Necklace by Chichi Couture

Left: Shino's Journal
Right: PARK's Cara and Maeghan

Makeup artist's from Smashbox Cosmetics and Bourjois Paris

left: Irene from Hey Seto

Apt. 22

photo courtesy of KD

Mealan

Bellissima

If you would like to find out more about the AFW designers click HERE

AFW - Outfit #2

I got home a little while ago from the opening night of Alberta Fashion Week. It was boutique night, and three stores in Calgary were featured. I hope to posting on that tomorrow, but in the mean time here is the outfit I wore to the sneak peek party last night. I had an entirely different outfit planned, but when I put it on it wasn't at all what I expected. I wasn't budgeting my time very well yesterday, so I ended up rushing to put something else together and this was the result. 

So far the best part about fashion week for me is networking and meeting new people. I am loving meeting bloggers, designers, models, make-up artists and stylists.  There are so many talented people in this city, and I'm glad that I've gotten the chance to meet some of them! As well, there is just something about being in a room full of people who share the same interests and who genuinely appreciate the many facets of fashion and art. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week.

(floral blazer - Vero Moda via They Bay, lace t-shirt - American Apparel, shorts - Talula,
 bangle - Stella & Dot, shoes and  hair accessory - Aldo, tights - Joe Fresh)

AFW - Sneak Peek Party

Last night was the Alberta Fashion Week not-so-secret sneak peek party. Items from Mealan Boutique, Bellissima, and DW fashions were previewed to guests of the party. KD and I had the chance to go backstage again to grab some photos of the models getting ready, and I had the chance to speak briefly with Mealan. The boutique carries international collections and several brands exclusive to the boutique. I fell in love with the coral dress that was being previewed. The sequinned peter pan collar was a perfect accent to the dress. 

DW Fashion

Bellissima

Mealan Boutique 

me with Shea and Jacqueline
Photo courtesy of KD

There was a table set up with makeup by Smashbox Cosmetics and Bourjois-Paris. Touch ups and giveaways were available to all guests. I loved the contouring products by Smashbox and the Bourjois lipgloss that I got to try out! 

Smashbox Cosmetics and Bourjois-Paris

right: Fun Funky Fab
Photo courtesy of KD

left: Adriana from Calgary Fashion
right: Claire from Calgary Fashion

Pagoda Magazine
Photo courtesy of KD

David Politi and the AFW team

Tonight  is the opening night and the first set of runway shows will be held at the Nat Christie Centre. Showing tonight are Mealan, Apt. 22, and Bellissima. If you can't make it to the shows but want to be kept in the fashion week loop, follow along with me on twitter! 

AFW - Outfit #1

This is what I wore to the Alberta Fashion Week media reception on Monday. Tonight is a not-so-secret party held at the Nat Christie Centre where there will be more sneak peeks from designers, and a lot more mingling with other Calgary bloggers and fashion lovers. 

(dress - Hawaii, jean jacket - Gap, purse/bracelets/rings - H&M, turquoise coloured bangle - Stella & Dot
watch - kiosk on Stephen Ave., shoes - Aldo)

Alberta Fashion Week - Media Reception

This week in Calgary is Alberta Fashion Week. The weeks events launched last night with a media reception held at the Nat Christie Centre, home of the Alberta Ballet, and where the fashion shows will be held. KD and I arrived at the media launch together and were greeted with a Blueberry Cosmo poured through an ice sculpture.  We were then invited to access a back room where a couple of the designers were preparing a sneak peek for later in the evening. 

Media in attendance were granted an exclusive sneak preview of some of the designs by Apt. 22, D.W, Mealan Boutique, and Anne B. Accessories that will be presented later this week. As well, as I posted earlier in the month, Sophia Models along with Live Cosmo and Alberta Fashion Week launched a AFW runway search. The Winner of the search, Karolina S. was announced during the media reception. It was also announced that Karolina will be walking the runway during fashion week for Crabapple Clothing. 

Announcement of the Sophia Models runway search, Karolina S.

KD of The Girl With the Messy Hair

left: Apt. 22
Right: Mealan Boutique

D.W Fashion

I had the chance to chat a little with Anne B. of Anne B. Accessories and Daryl White of D.W Fashions. Anne's jewellery is exquisite and made from all natural materials from the Philippines. She uses materials like wood, shell, and bone to create her lovely pieces of work. Daryl's is self taught, and his designs are environmentally conscious. All Daryl's garments are made from recycled materials. The yellow vest he showcased in the sneak peek was created from a pillowcase, and the shredded dress from a t-shirt. 

Second from left: Anne B. of Anne B. Accessories

Jewellery by Anne B. Accessories

Kimberley Stern, Bronwyn McDonald, Kim Flanagan

I'm looking forward to seeing more from these designers, and from the ones I've yet to see. To find out more about the events throughout the week click here, and to find out more about the designers click here.