HERMES KELLY BAG MADE IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES

Gold horses, the emblem of Hermes and an ode to its legendary history as a leather harness maker to the well-heeled.

Coloured thread readied to hand stitch the Kelly bag.

Cecile, an Hermes artisan from Paris was in Calgary this week to spend the requisite 15 hours it takes to complete the hand sewn Kelly bag. Here, on September 29 2010 she works on the bag's handle.

On a subsequent visit on October 2 2010, Cecile has nearly completed the Kelly bag.

For more on the Kelly bag or to purchase this bag visit Hermes inside Holt Renfrew Calgary.

www.hermes.com/

www.holtrenfrew.com/

Get more fashion, and style stories at City Style and Living Magazine:
www.citystyleandliving.com/

MARC BY MARC JACOBS LIMITED EDITION VISION SPRING CHARITY TOTE LAUNCHES AT HOLT RENFREW

The totes- available in pink, black or blue benefit Vision Spring, a
non -profit org an ization providing low - cost eyeglasses in the developing world.

In true Holt style, guests filled up their own bags with delicious candy

An imaginative display with a mamoth sized tote

Photography K&S Media

The Marc by Marc tote will be available exclusively at Holt Renfrew and only be available until October 10, 2010.

"Vision Spring is thrilled to partner with premiere companies Holt Renfrew and Marc by Marc Jacobs,” said Vision Spring founder Dr. Jordan Kassalow. “A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this unique tote bag will enable Vis ion Spring to provide the gift of sight and economic self reliance to thousands of people in the developing world.

www.visonspring.org

www.holtrenfrew.com
www.citystyleandliving.com

RAG AND BONE IN CALGARY

One part of the Rag and Bone team, Marcus Wainwright

Some of the hors d'oeuvres

Some clothes from the Fall 2010 collection

CSL met with designers from Rag and Bone, Marcus Wainwright and David Neville at Holt Renfrew. The label, founded in 2002 in Kentucky, first gained notoriety for their denim. Today, the line includes contemporary wear with attention to craftsmenship and british tailoring for both men and women.

www.holtrenfrew.com

www.rag-bone.com

www.citystyleandliving.com

WHAT WE'RE EATING AT CSL

Photography K&S Media

We decided to try some chocolate bars from Dylan's Candy Bar, available at Holt Renfrew. Dylan Lauren, (daughter of Mr. Ralph Lauren himself) always had a penchant for candy, and in 2001, she opened her first boutique in New York. Now, with over 5000 candy choices and several locations, Dylan is the female Willy Wonka.

The flavours: "the it bar", Dark Chocolate with sea salt, and Dark chocolate iwht strawberry and champange

The Verdict: Texture wise, the smoothness of the chocolate is not overwhelmingly smooth or creamy, and does not have the noticele crack, when broken, often found in high quality chocoalte. The sea salt bar was noticeably "salty", as opposed to more delicate fleur de sel chocoalte bars we have tasted. However, all in all the it bar will do in a crunch. Speaking of crunch, the strawberry and champagne was fruity, in a sour candy, chemical kind of way, with only a slight fizz in the pieces of interspersed strawberry candy in the bar. Again, the chocolate was nothing to rave about but ok.

Overall, though not our favourite chocolate of all time, the bars are beautifully packaged, and a nice snack. You could well cut the bar into pieces and put into your chocolate chip cookie batter for a bit of a surprise.

www.dylanscandybar.com

HOW TO WEAR...PINK TARTAN

Can this black and white cardigan be worn more than one way? How about 3 looks?

Check out more from the fashion team at City Style and Living magazine at:

http://www.citystyleandliving.com/fashion/everydayinspiration/3ways/

http://www.pinktartan.com/

LIFE IN MAGENTA - THE HOLT RENFREW GALA OPENING IN CALGARY

“Life is like a box of crayons. Most people are the 8-color boxes, but what you're really looking for are the 64-color boxes with the sharpeners on the back. I fancy myself to be a 64-color box, though I've got a few missing. It's ok though, because I've got some more vibrant colors like periwinkle at my disposal. I have a bit of a problem though in that I can only meet the 8-color boxes. Does anyone else have that problem? I mean there are so many different colors of life, of feeling, of articulation.. so when I meet someone who's an 8-color type.. I'm like, "hey girl, MAGENTA!" and she's like, "oh, you mean purple!" and she goes off on her purple thing, and I'm like, "no - I want MAGENTA!"”- John Mayer

City Style and Living magazine agrees with you John Mayer. Well said.- and Magenta it was at the gala opening of the Holt Renfrew flagship store in downtown Calgary, November 19, 2009

Guests had the opportunity to take photo's on the magenta carpet, with a keepsake photo to take home. Notice the Piper-Heidsieck Rose Sauvage - cold, crisp and a great way to start off the evening's festivities.

Guests danced to tunes from Calgary band "The Fast Romantics". Check out model Heather Marks (wearing the 'shattered spandrel glass dress' from Canadian designer Rita Liefhebber's newest collection).

Executive Chef Esther Hagen and Executive sous- Chef Chad Blunston showcased a "sweet bar", complete with (we will try to name as many as we can, to make your mouth water):
gingerbread, hand made marshmallows, mini cheesecakes, chocolate fondue fountains (white and milk) with fruit, black forest yule log (bouche de noel), mini brownies, chocolate boxes filled with cream, profiteroles with edible gold , and other wonderful petit fours. Sweets enough to rival Hansel and Gretel's escapade, and the sweets in The Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Where to begin with the delectable hors d'oeuvres, provided by C Catering Vancouver?
Our favourite three appetizers you ask ?

1. Lobster skewers

2. Dungeness Crab canape

3. Stuffed cherry tomato with goats cheese

Want to see CSL's exclusive interview with VP of menswear at Holt Renfrew, Lanita Layton? Check out the Fall 2009 issue of City Style and Living magazine at:

http://www.citystyleandliving.com/

Other links:

http://ritaliefhebber.com/

http://www.fairmont.com/palliser

http://www.crestaurant.com/catering.cfm

http://www.holtrenfrew.com/

All photo's copyright K&S Media 2009-2010

JOHN HARDY DESIGNER EXCLUSIVE: GUY BEDARIDA

What a pleasure City Style and Living had, as we were the FIRST CANADIAN PUBLICATION to have an exclusive with renown head designer at John Hardy Jewellry, Guy Bedarida, when the designer made a personal appearance at Holt Renfrew in Calgary.

Monsieur Bedarida works in Bali, where his vision is carried out. His designs range from simple silver cuffs, earrings, and bracelets, to inctricate jewel encrusted one-of-a-kind pieces (google the cinta naga bracelet with aquamarine). The statement jewellery, made by hand truly is something to behold, and we were honoured to meet the designer face to face.

Look for a full feature on this designer in a future issue of City Style and Living magazine (Spring 2010, http://www.citystyleandliving.com).

http://www.johnhardy.com/

CREME DE LA MER INTRODUCES NEW SERUM

La Mer introduces a Limited Edition Lifting Face Serum Grande 75 ml.The Lifting Face Serum is designed to work immediately at visiblylifting skin's appearance and restoring clarity and brightness. At the heart of The Lifting Face Serum is a rare blue algae with thepower to remarkably lift the skin's appearance. Specially harvested in early autumn to capture its optimal potentialthis protein-rich algae flourishes in pristine waters fed by a cascade of ancient glacial waters and undergroundsprings. Once harvested, the nutrient rich blue algae is specially fermented to generate an explosion of activity.

The exceptional lifting properties of the blue algae come to life as it journeys through a meticulous biofermentation process mastered bythe Max Huber Research Labs, boosting its efficacy far beyond anything previously imagined. Devotees of La Mer and the Lifting Face Serum in particular will bequick to snap up this grande size of one of their favourite products.

With the oscars set for the weekend, stars will be sure to stockpile on this one.

Available at Holt renfrew across Canada

http://www.cremedelamer.com/