Couture from Calgary may have been an oxymoron in the past, but not
since 2002, when designer Paul Hardy put Cowtown on the fashion radar
with his line of sophisticated dresses that revealed his talent for
edgy, intellectual silhouettes and textured layering. Hardy quickly
became a media darling after receiving rave reviews for his debut
collection in Toronto, leading him to runways in Los Angeles and New
York and attracting the attention of celebs like Kate Hudson and Sandra
Oh. Recent creations like feathered capelets, bustiers with flower
appliqués, and fur vests have translated Hardy’s love for the eccentric
into a solid following of fashionistas that flock to his Calgary
boutique and hyped-up catwalk presentations.
-Jessalynn Keller