Shopping in Calgary

The undergarment experts at She Apparel earned the upscale boutique the honour of Calgary's Best Retail Experience in the 2011 Calgary Choice Awards with the help of their 50 hours of training in proper fitting methods. She Apparel, a winner in the lingerie store category for Calgary Herald's 2012-13 Readers’ Choice Awards, introduces women of all body types to upscale, international lingerie and swimwear, ensuring a proper fit from cup to strap (the boutique's selection encompasses cup sizes A–K and back sizes 28–48). They act as personalized shoppers, presenting customers with corsets, bras, and garters from brands such as Chantelle and Evollove, and once a woman has been fitted at the store, they save her measurements in a profile. This can be especially helpful for men who want to buy their wife or girlfriend a gift. She Apparel also outfits men in upscale Naked underwear, crafted from soft Italian fabric that seamlessly forms to the male figure.

Between birthdays and holidays, there always seems to be a reason to buy a gift. And sometimes, the best time to buy a gift is when there is no reason at all other than to show you care. Nestled in West Market Square's rustic shopping getaway, Cobblestone Corner offers customers a wide selection of memory-making gifts for any loved one or occasion. Shoppers can pick out stylish, contemporary jewellery for a friend's birthday, gourmet dip mixes and soy candles to surprise a significant other, or treats and toys to congratulate the family dog on befriending the mailman. Bath products from Rocky Mountain invite recipients to relax and melt their cares away, and seasonal decor and gifts brighten homes for any holiday. Helpful, friendly staff members shepherd visitors through the smorgasbord of wares, with complimentary gift bagging for any purchase.

A duo of turn-of-the-century entrepreneurs, Riley and McCormick opened the doors to their first Calgary storefront in 1901—four years before Alberta was established as a province. Their pioneering spirit quickly led to the store’s entrenchment in the annals of local and world history; over the years, the pair crafted military saddles for the Russian cavalry in World War I and supplied equipment to Edward, Prince of Wales, at his famed EP Ranch. The grandchildren of Eneas McCormick picked up right where the founding friends left off, and the family has maintained a presence at every Calgary Stampede dating back to 1912.

Today, those grandchildren continue to leave their mark on the business, expanding the store’s reach but staying true to the traditions that made it such an integral part of the Canadian West. Their selection includes shoes, accessories, and clothing for every member of the family, including wide-brimmed felt and straw hats that protect eyes from the sun’s rays and cows’ grassy spitballs. Let a pair of Canadian-made leather boots do your talking for you, or prepare for a rugged day on the ranch or this year's Stampede (July 5–14) with durable jeans in all cuts and styles.

In 1970, AmaSwiss founder Ama Mirzaee realized his boyhood dream of crafting jewellery upon the completion of his first handmade gold watch. Over the years, he honed his skills and slowly garnered enough acclaim to open his own boutique for his custom, handcrafted jewellery in 1987. Now a seasoned jeweller, Ama's statement timepieces adorn the wrists of celebrities such as NBA superstars Chris Bosh and Steve Nash. In 2002, the company expanded its business with a manufacturing facility in Switzerland, where scientists marvel at the watches' elegant lack of built-in corkscrews and nail files.

The Place For Men combines the sophistication of a high-end boutique with the affordability of a clearance centre, resulting in a one-stop shop for customers in search of well-fitting suits, shirts, and customizable accessories. Like a yacht made of generic cereal boxes, the well-stocked haberdashery fuses luxury and thrift, decking out clients in stylish finery from designers such as Marco Donateli and Cerruti, as well as casual wear for everyday occasions. The boutique's collection of accessories and one-of-a-kind items helps polish off new ensembles with shoes, outerwear, designer wallets, and shiny cufflinks.

Since 1974, the experienced temperature-control technicians at TempHeat have kept home hearths roaring and living rooms toasty with a specialized focus in maintaining Sure Flame and Frost Fighter heaters. Four journeyman gas fitters service an extensive variety of equipment and systems, from routine gas hook-ups and heater repairs to delivering fully harmonized renditions of the guild song of the Worshipful Company of Hydrocarbonsmiths. At the spacious facilities in Calgary and Edmonton, helpful techs refill or patch propane canisters and balloon tanks of any size while showing off a shiny fleet of propane stoves, fridges, and space heaters.