The two hidden gems I found on my last visit to Calgary. Calgary is definitely smaller and quieter than my hometown of Toronto but I manage to find some great little stores full of fabulous things. The first shop I wandered into was Kismet. The word “kismet” can be found in a number of languages – Turkish, Urdu, Hindi, and Persian to name a few – and it means “fate”. Fate is synonymous with destiny, but also implies change and a power impossible to resist. At its inception, Kismet was an import-based store getting much of its chic and somewhat funky inventory from the far and Middle East. As time went by, the shop evolved into a more up-scale high fashion boutique offering brand-name fashions from about 60 clothing lines and independent designers from around the world. I was super excited to find two of my favourite lines dish jeans and nougat, available in this chic boutique and that my fate lead me there.
My next find was Rubaiyat, a store that looked more like an outdoor garden decor store than a treasure trove of quality handcrafts from the windows I’m so happy that my curiosity forced me to take a peak because I spent close to 3 hours in the store gawking at all the beautiful things. This distinctive 17 Ave gallery and retailer carries imported artifacts and crafts from Africa and Asia, as well as ornate jewelery, art glass and home accessories by local, regional and international designers. Some of my favourite lines that they carry are Aurora Lopez, Me & Ro, Jeanine Payer and Satya Jewelry. It’s like I always say step into stores that may not be all that appealing or isn’t quite your taste because you’d be surprised what you can find. If your visiting Calgary and love to discover new and beautiful things these two shops are a must-see.
