Before becoming a first-time mom on that beautiful fall day in October, I never imagined how much things would really change. And how much they would stay the same. I pretended to listen to the endless advice my mommy friends dispensed my way only to be dreaming of that fabulous dress in the store window I just HAD to have! In the back of my mind, I knew that I wasn’t destined to become a mall mom with slicked-back hair and slouchy sweatpants. I was also not keen on dressing my prince in the generic baby fashions that were a common sight at toddler birthday parties and mommy-and-me playgroups. I was determined to stay fit and fabulous even if that meant shopping online in the wee hours of the night while my little angel fell into his heavenly slumber. I was ready to swap sleep for style any day. Luckily however, the current economic boom in my hometown of Calgary has provided me with ample opportunities to shop till I drop and not make that desperate trip all the way to New York just to find some decent designer duds.

I remember not too long ago feeling like a big city girl trapped in a small town setting over here in the Canadian Rockies but all that has changed thanks to the roaring economy where the streets are practically paved with gold — well, oil actually. Only the 70s created more instant millionaires amongst the population here, being the youngest and most educated in Canada. An hour’s drive away to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, makes this place a winter wonderful where kids are practically born holding a hockey stick in their hands, inherently knowing their national sport. Though bursting at the seams, this cosmopolitan city has managed to retain its ranch town charm where Armani suits are as common as cowboy hats.

Calgary is a young confident city full of hopes and promises with its tall, shiny buildings housing the largest number of corporate head offices next to Toronto. The current scene here is fresh and vibrant with its abundant land and wide open skies where the sun shines even in minus 20oC and the Chinook winds bring welcome relief in the frigid winter months. Although the steady influx of people has pushed the population to past a million, ‘help wanted’ ads abound everywhere as there are still not enough people to fill those positions. It’s an exciting time to be here and the big city gal in me is no longer always wishing I were somewhere else. These days when I go shopping, my biggest problem seems to be finding a salesperson or a parking spot. Luckily however, road rage isn’t as common here as in Los Angeles for example, since there are still many friendly cowboys to gladly give any pretty lady the right of way.

In fact, I fit right into the wild, wild west whether I’m in my staple wardrobe of designer jeans, a sexy tee and a pair of killer Manolos or dressed head-to-toe in black. Since giving birth, it’s just a little harder to run in stilettos with baby in tow. When walking the streets of this friendly city with its thriving restaurant and retail scene, I notice other fashion-forward moms who are also sporting this season’s hottest accessory on their hips — a baby! It seems being a mommy has never been more fashionable as style-conscious yummy mummies such as Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts make more headlines for motherhood rather than their latest box-office success story, inspiring all new moms to look and feel good. In fact, there’s a new standard for hot mammas to adhere to and retailers are definitely cashing in on this ‘trend’ although women have been having babies for a very long time now. Hopefully this ‘trend’ is here to stay!

Cowtown Calgary, which continues to host the annual 10-day rodeo of the Stampede, indeed has enough Parisian flair to keep my glam gal image alive by dressing in the latest trendy fashions. This picturesque city can easily transform any diva from country to uptown chic even with babes in arms. The latest offering of kiddie couture from top designers such as Burberry and Paul Smith whose dress shirts for little men, available in the yummiest assortment of candy cane colours, allow fashionistas and their tots to travel in style while sporting matching mini fashions.

With serious shopping in mind, I furiously push my son in his limited-edition Bugaboo stroller to avoid being late for Holt Renfrew’s Now or Never Sale, almost missing the lingering glance from a tall, handsome desi cowboy whom I leave behind in the cloud of my delicious perfume. Baby, life is good!