Tips on creating your own Wild West style

Shop vintage and consignment to round up a novel western look

For 10 days every July, Calgarians root through their closets looking for duds that will pass for western wear. Most people have a plaid shirt and denim, although skinny jeans aren’t quite what real cowboys and cowgirls wear.

If your closets are filled with suits and ties or cocktail dresses, the lack of bandanas and boots and the all-important hat can be anxiety-inducing. As Stampede is such a massive community event, you’ll want to get in on the action and look the part.

Although some are feeling the loss of Riley & McCormick’s 115-year-old store downtown, Lammle’s Western Wear and Tack can outfit you in some proper boots, jeans, and traditional or modern shirts. Simons, a store that normally focuses on current fashion, is also getting into the western spirit. It has teamed up with iconic Canadian boot maker Boulet for a collection of men’s and women’s cowboy boots, crafted in Quebec.

But if you’re the type who wants to stand out in the turquoise jewelry and plaid shirt crowd, there are additional options. Consider hitting up the city’s many vintage and consignment shops for a look all your own.

“We don’t take ourselves too seriously here. We want people to have fun and express their own style,” says Myra Miller, owner of Velour Clothing Exchange, a “wearable vintage” shop on 11th Avenue S.W.

The store has some truly unique finds, like a 1950s brown tie with imported French fabric sporting a jumping horse and an exquisitely tooled leather handbag from Mexico that bears the name of its original owner, Eva.

While many of the items come in from elderly Calgarians cleaning out their closets, most of the buyers are generations younger.

“Millennials are our target audience and they ’re really receptive to vintage,” she says.

Miller says lots of local bands, like many of those who played recently at Sled Island, and even the boys from Static Shift (who competed on CTV’s reality show The Launch earlier this year) shop there for one-of-a-kind finds.

“If you look at the patterns in department stores, they’re all influenced by vintage clothing. It’s a huge trend,” says Miller. “And believe it or not, the ’80s are considered vintage now.”

IF YOU GO

Calgary has a plethora of consignment stores with Stampede goodness just waiting to be discovered. Some to scout out include: SalvEdge, 113, 1013 17th Ave. S.W., a shop brimming with high-end men’s and woman’s gems located directly across the street from Velour;

Peacock Boutique’s two stores, 1415 11th St. S.W. and

1145 Kensington Cres.; Curated Consignment, 1502 14th St. S.W., is small but popular; Clothing Bar Boutique Consignment, 1911 34th Ave. S.W., carries contemporary lines; Plato’s Closet for youth and teen clothing, 10233 Elbow Dr. S.W., Unit 115;

Vespucci Ladies Consignment, a long established and very large consignment shop at 8244 Elbow Dr S.W.

This Anthropologie Floreat dress at SalvEdgewould rock the Stampede if paired with cute cowboy boots. Paired with some smoking white boots, this red gingham skirt will be the talk of the town during Stampede. Made by Free Pople, it’s $35 at Velour Clothing Exchange.

Consignment has gone upscale in the city. This $40 Boss shirt with a paisley pattern will make you stand out in a sea of black and white western shirts. It’s at SalvEdge.

Macramé or crochet? Either way, this cool California Moonrise fringed cardigan, $79, could be a hot addition to a Stampede wardrobe. At SalvEdge. (13, 113 17th Ave. S.W.)

We’ll wager even Brad Paisley doesn’t have a sweet vest like this one. Made of heavy black cotton with a “pony hair” accent flap on top, it has a unique silver buckle at the back that sports a bear’s paw print. It’s $65 at Velour Clothing Exchange.

Very few people head to Stampede wearing ties but this one will make you change your mind. The vintage western necktie is on imported French fabric — it has the Arc de Triomphe on the label. The tie, $35, is at Velour Clothing Exchange.

At left: You can bet there won’t be another purse like this on the Stampede grounds. This vintage leather bag was hand-tooled in Mexico. It can be found at Velour Clothing Exchange (200, 1022 17th Ave S.W.) Priced at $135, it’s from the 1950s and even includes the original owner’s name — Eva — stamped inside the front flap.