Edmonton: Spring’s most stylish (green) ride
How is it that my husband, charming and handsome man that he is, whose idea of fashionable outerwear is a Gore-Tex shell by Mountain Hardwear and thinks the Gel-Kayano by Asics is “the best shoe,” has suddenly become more chic than me, a Marni-wearing, Devi Kroell-carrying, Bond No. 9-spritzing girl? Times have changed, green is the new black and being stylish means lowering your carbon emissions and decreasing your ecological footprint.
My husband has been commuting to work on his bike for several years and even gave me a pink Hello Kitty cruiser by Nirve for our first wedding anniversary. This spring, I can’t wait to save the planet by riding my aforementioned bike while wearing my floral print full skirt from Liz Claiborne with a Donna Karan cardigan. United Cycle (10323-78 Ave, 780-433-1181, unitedcycle.com) is the place to pick up your very own Nirve cruiser (from $400). They have several styles in stock, but special editions, like the Hello Kitty, may need to be custom ordered (which can take anywhere from 5 days to a couple of months, so get your order in now for summer).
While my bike is perfectly suited for short trips around my neighborhood, would I ride it home after a mani-pedi, massage or new haircut? I think not. My husband and I will be celebrating our sixth anniversary this year and I’m hoping he’ll continue to think green and surprise me with a Vespa. I have my heart set on the Vespa S 50, which is available in orange, red, white or black. Sarah Jackson, manager of Top Gear Scooters (10011-82 Ave, 780-438-8399, top-gear.ca) assures me that the Italian-built Vespas, with their unique, steel-pressed, one-piece frames are a worthy investment. I am smitten. After all, who wouldn’t want to emulate Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday? Eco-chic has never looked this good.
A self-proclaimed accessories junkie who is addicted to shoes, sunglasses and vintage jewellery. Even my mom claims that I “came out of the womb wearing stilettos.” Although my shoe collection (178 pairs and counting) is a definite source of pride, my greatest achievements to date are my three sons, aged two years and under. If you need the scoop on all things fashion in the City of Champions, I’m your gal.
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