WHAT TO WEAR: LADIES DAY POP-UP PICNIC

Have you been to one of the Downtown Calgary Pop-Up Picnics yet? If you’ve missed all of the ones so far, I highly recommend that you check out the upcoming Ladies Day Picnic on July 30th. Hosted at the Harley Hotchkiss Gardens (on the corner of 6th Avenue & 4th Street SW) from Noon to 1pm.

This fun lunch hour will be extra girlie as they are encouraging attendees to wear a fascinator or hat to the picnic, and embrace the whole garden party feel. What better way to spend an otherwise dry Wednesday afternoon? Enjoy some great entertainment as well as get to know some of Stephen Avenue’s amazing merchants such as Twigs, Soma Spa, The Brow Studio and the Aveda Academy. They can’t wait to meet each and everyone one of you and will be supporting the picnic with some free services!

Events & Entertainment include:

• Lawn chairs, tables and blankets
• Hair and Makeup touch ups provided by Aveda Institute Calgary
• Skin consultations by Soma Spa
• Eyebrow consultations The Brow Studio
• Express Massages provided by Spagoes
• Candy Buffet provided by the Calgary Downtown Association
• Giant-sized chess/checkers set
• Ring toss & giant Jenga
• Pop-Up entertainment from The Polyjesters
• On-site food vendors
• “Best Dressed” contest with a $300 prize package

So, you must be wondering - what does one wear to a Ladies Day Picnic? You cannot go wrong with any kind of florals. This is summer, so let’s embrace it! First off, I have found two great dresses that are perfect for a picnic like this; the striped fit & flare dress is an absolutely lady-like option that you can easily transition into your fall wardrobe later this year.

The chic short sleeve dress from BCBG is the perfect modern take on garden party attire. Of course you’ll need an iPhone case that is just as Instagram-able as the rest of your picnic - this multi-colour arrow case will be a conversation started.

Sunglasses are a must as we have some hot and sunny temperatures ahead of us and projected for the picnic date. These sassy leopard shades contrast nicely with all of the girlie florals. In terms of shoes, pick a simple sandal or a cute pointed flat like this pale pink patent flat from Aldo.

Now you need some seriously amazing headgear. Whether you opt for a big floppy straw hat or an elegant fascinator, what you wear on your head is quite possibly the most important part of your outfit. If you aren’t into super feminine hats, why not try this cute floral cap from Little Burgundy - it is soft and practical, and looks great paired with the striped fit & flare dress.

One of the hottest trends for garden parties is to DIY your own floral crown using fresh flowers. Pick up some flowers at one of the great floral shops in downtown Calgary and use this tutorial to craft yourself something absolutely beautiful.

Where to Shop:

Rugby Fit & Flare Dress, Gap

Lythgoe Flats, Aldo

Kristy Layered Short Sleeve Dress, BCBG

UnCommon Arrows iPhone Case, Indigo

Lestina Shades, Little Burgundy

Cosmo Hat, Little Burgundy

Flowers, Twigs

All items available in Downtown Calgary.

Tagged as: harley hotchkiss gardens, ladies day picnic, picnic, POP, pop-up picnics, stephen avenue merchants, what to wear