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Photo by Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder).
Part One: The Celebration
Good Company, Great Style, and a Table Full of Scarves
Give us a reason to bring out our favourite scarves, and we’re there! On September 24, Beyond Scarf joined Avenue’s Best Dressed celebration at Bankers Hall for a night of dressing up, meeting new people, and sharing a little of what we love.
There were outfits worth a second look, plenty of conversations, and a few scarves that went home with someone new. Here’s how the evening unfolded.
A Reason to Dress Up
Avenue’s Best Dressed celebration brings Calgary’s personal style into the spotlight. This year, the party took place at Bond at Bankers Hall on the +45 level, with Gather Catering providing appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, refreshments from Pacific Wine & Spirits, and a welcome glass of Gérard Bertrand sparkling wine.
The room had that lovely mix of people catching up with familiar faces and introducing themselves to someone new. Guests browsed the retailers’ displays, chatted over drinks, and enjoyed having a good reason to wear something they loved.
Ahead of the event, Ramona Biggar, manager of marketing, arts, and events at BGRE, shared that she was looking forward to bringing Calgary’s fashion community together. We were happy to have a little place in that gathering.
The Best Dressed Honourees
Photo by Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder).
The evening centred on this year's honourees. Avenue describes the list as entrepreneurs, designers, business owners, artists, and corporate folks who are fearless about showing their personal style. The ten honourees are:
- Shannon Norberg, co-director of Norberg Hall, whose artistic eye carries into her wardrobe.
- Michael Corner, a Banff-based painter who loves sophisticated Western style.
- Anna Niemczewski, owner of Chinook Optical, known for expressive eyewear and bold silhouettes.
- Edward Tsang, founder of Ed Tsang Studio, who brings unexpected contrasts and pop-culture influences into fashion.
- Kendall Manyhorses, who combines contemporary fashion with handmade First Nations pieces.
- Chai Swinton-Truch, owner of Body by Chai, whose style blends feminine and masculine influences.
- Karsten and Mackenzie Carriere, the stylish duo recognized together on this year's list.
- Hakeem Lawal, founder and co-owner of Fari Hara, who appreciates beautiful fabrics and tailoring.
- Kim Flanagan, a longtime stylist who believes personal taste matters more than fashion rules.
- Lisa Jacobs, a musician and music therapist with a wardrobe full of rock 'n' roll personality.
The Judges
Photo by Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder).
A panel of expert judges chose this year's list:
Jade Davis: more than 30 years in modelling, film, and television.
Cynthia Chang-Christison: approaches fashion as storytelling and cultural expression.
Carl Abad: a stylist for 29 years, trained in jewelry design, behind the brands Fun Not Serious and the skincare line AbadFace.
Kelly Streit: founder of Mode Models International and board co-chair of Contemporary Calgary.
Kara Chomistek: producer, fashion director, and co-founder of PARK Production House and the PARKLUXE and PARKSHOW fashion events.
Leela Jacobs: vice-chair and program director of the NVRLND Arts Foundation, who also designs her own leather accessories.
What we loved most about the celebration was seeing so many different interpretations of personal style in one room. Some looks were bold, some understated, and some playful, but every one had a story.
You can explore the full Avenue Best Dressed 2026 list here.
Meanwhile, at Our Scarf Table…
We came with a table full of prints and colours, and we loved seeing which pieces caught people’s attention.
As a recent addition to the Bankers Hall retail family, this was a lovely chance to introduce ourselves. Guests stopped for a closer look, asked about the scarves, and tried different ways to wear them with us.
This is the part we always enjoy. You unfold a scarf, discover a detail tucked into the print, try a knot, and suddenly see how it could work with something already in your wardrobe.
A few guests found their favourites and took them home that night. We couldn’t have asked for a sweeter response.
And to everyone who simply stopped to browse or say hello, we’re glad you did. Getting to meet you was a big part of what made the evening special for us.
Photo by Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder).
A Little Peek Behind the Scenes
Our table wasn’t the only place our scarves made an appearance!
Polly wore three looks styled by Paulina, with pieces generously lent by Calgary designer Anneke Forbes. We had fun seeing our scarves become part of each outfit, and we have plenty of photos to share.
But those looks deserve a post of their own.
Thank you to Avenue Calgary and Bankers Hall for having us, to everyone who helped us get ready, and to all the guests who spent a little of their evening with Beyond Scarf.
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