Some have said that if shopping was an Olympic sport, I would sweep the podium every four years. Of course, those are the same people who, come Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and a slew of other shopping-required holidays happily abuse my purchase prowess, and hand me their cash and various plastic to do what I obviously do well.
That’s not to say I shop needlessly or without purpose. (Although window shopping—aka scouting—can be a joy all its own.) I shop when need or event dictates, or when 'want' supercedes common sense, and forcefully overrides it. (When that happens, it's just best to stand clear.)
While the last few years have found me gravitating more towards one of a kind boutiques like Inglewood’s Espy and Kensington’s Joints, there is still something to be said for the ultimate in one-stop shopping—the mall.
The recent opening of Chinook Centre’s much lauded expansion has made the one-stop shopping experience all the richer. Literally. Luxe brands sparkle and co-mingle with flagship stores, as well as shops new to the Calgary consumer scene altogether.
More than 60 new stores have been added, as well as additional heated (and light-censored!) underground parking. (Hooray!)
Here are some standouts:
Stuart Weitzman
Spoken in the same revered breaths as Blahnik and Choo, this shoe couturier does women’s shoes the way they should be done: sexy, classic, and always strut-ready.
Kiehl’s
For skincare, it’s the brand I’ve been faithful to the longest, so of course I am tickled pink at Calgary’s first stand-alone shop. More space means full product line availability, and the Kiehl’s customer rewards program.
Abercrombie & Fitch
Admittedly, it is the only store that will give me a profuse headache from the saturation of cologne in the air, but when it comes to that relaxed, casual n’ sexy look (guys, I’m talking to you), there is no shop better.
Le Creuset
May not boast designer footwear or even a luxe bag or scarf, but cruising the rows of colourful French artisan cookware is just as fun.
Burberry
Synonymous with luxury and good taste, who doesn’t covet the iconic pattern on a sexy trench or sumptuous bag?
More shops to open in Chinook Centre in the coming weeks.