The Spread Love Party!

Love is certainly in the air at espy.

Last weekend, espy kicked off Spread Love Month with a little Saturday evening soiree to celebrate….well….LOVE. We threw a SURPRISE engagement party for two very inspirational couples – thanks to the help of their family, friends and our co-conspirators, Gerri and Mellisha. Here at espy, we have been lucky enough to see these two couples grow in love and as a result, be inspired by them as a couple and as individuals in what they have so kindly shared with us.

Jeff and Dianne – newly engaged! Congratulations one more time you two! xoxo
Photo courtesy Shannon Irvine

Michaelle and Matt – also engaged! Love you guys <3
Photo courtesy Shannon Irvine

And celebrate we did! It was a fancy affair thanks to Notable, who created a menu specifically for this event. DJ Jon Spade brought his classic touch of cool to the atmosphere with his signature beats. And the Notable girls made sure everyone’s glasses were full!

The beautiful and talented Notable staff, helping espy Spread Love.
Photo courtesy Shannon Irvine

espy’s FAV DJ <3 DJ Jon Spade
Photo courtesy of Shannon Irvine

We also officially unveiled the quotes of love that have been shared with espy as part of our project to Spread Love throughout the month of February. Big thanks to all of our Calgary contributors! It’s an honor to get to share your personal articulations of what love is to you with all of our followers, fans, clients, friends, and the community. And an even greater honor to have those words posted all over the store as constant reminders of love.

Our gorgeous window display from our Spread Love quote contributors!
Photo courtesy Shannon Irvine

Spread Love Month is truly about reflection. The time we can spend reflecting on love is what gives us the opportunity to show, share, and spread it. Whether its taking an evening to reflect on your upcoming nuptials with your family and friends, taking the time to reflect on what love is to you and translating that into a quote, sharing something you find inspirational on Facebook, writing a love note on a heart shaped post-it, tweeting out a little love to your followers, or a simple reminder that a random act of kindness might be just the thing the recipient needs – spreading love is the thing that we are all inspired by. With Valentine’s Day upon us, February seems like the perfect month to reflect on love and turn that reflection into something tangible. You just never know who you may inspire! And for that matter, you just never know who may be planning to surprise you to celebrate that inspiration!

The fashion kids…looking fabulous as ever!
Photo courtesy Shannon Irvine

Did I say FABULOUS earlier?! Mr. Fabulous himself shows Ms. Megan a thing or two about posing!
Photo courtesy Shannon Irvine

Happy Spread Love Everyone! Please continue to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to check out more words of love, little doses of inspiration, and of course – the latest fashions we LOVE! Click here for more photos of the Spread Love event.

The espy staff – #spreadloveyyc <3
xoxox
Photo courtesy Shannon Irvine

xoxox

the espy stylists

#bikiniespy – Special Olympics Fundraiser

The first Saturday morning of the Calgary Stampede features a jam-packed schedule of pancake breakfasts. But there was only one breakfast in town that had 100 girls in bikinis and cowboy boots to raise money for Special Olympics Calgary – the #bikiniespy Stampede Breakfast.

#bikiniespy was a lot more than just flapjacks. The fashion stylists at espy experience, the affordable designer boutique in Inglewood, raised over $25,000 for Special Olympics Calgary when we asked a hundred girls to line-up outside our doors in their bikinis and cowboy boots for a Stampede outfit valued at $500. Every single girl in line donated over $100 through personal donation and sponsorship from family, friends, and co-workers. The top donation from the #bikiniespy line-up participants was $1100 – and the very first Miss Bikiniespy has officially been crowned!

The honored guests were of course the Special Olympic athletes who congratulated the girls in line, posed in some pictures, and enjoyed the morning of entertainment thanks to special guests ILLFX Entertainment, The Coachmen, and country music star Ryan Laird. Even Calgary’s most charitable celebrity, Brett Wilson and his famous pup Cash, participated in the morning fun while greeting the athletes and their families.

The girls spent the morning dancing with ILLFX Entertainment when they popped by to teach the espy flash mob choreography. Athletes, espy staff, photographers, families, and volunteers stopped traffic on 9th Avenue SE as the Inglewood Sunfest Secret was previewed with the espy flash mob. Edgar Gilbert-Reyes, the choreographer of ILLFX and former So You Think You Can Dance Canada contestant, pumped up the crowd with lots of personality and helped to spread the joy of the flash mob with espy’s next community project.

By 9am the girls were inside the store to get their Stampede started with sponsored items from Fidelity, Mavi, Niki Biki, and Smithbilt – and the breakfast was officially ready to be served up by Craft Beer Market! The crowds lined up around the corner of the cul-de-sac to make their donation to the SOC and get their fill of pancakes and eggs.

The athletes, volunteers, and espy staff kicked off the Stampede in the name of charity! The goal to raise $20,000 for Special Olympics Calgary was not only met, but far surpassed thanks to all participants, donors, sponsors, and volunteers. And espy was able to bring some of our infamous flair to the event by promoting love for yourself, your body, and community – all in style!

Lots and LOTS of photos to come!

xoxoxoxox

the espy stylists

#bikiniespy FAQ

What is #bikiniespy?

#bikiniespy is a Special Olympics Calgary fundraiser. espy is outfitting the first 100 girls lined up outside espy in their BIKINIS and COWBOY BOOTS in $500 of clothing from our SPONSORS for FREE with a minimum suggested donation of $100 to SOC.

BUT! That’s not all that’s happening! espy is also throwing a GOURMET STAMPEDE BREAKFAST with the help of Craft Beer Market and Executive Chef Paul McGreevy. He has created a delicious menu for our fancy Stampede fundraiser! Think stuffed French toast, breakfast wraps, smoothies…to die for! Attend the breakfast for free with a donation to the SOC.

When is #bikiniespy?

Saturday, July 7th – the VERY FIRST SATURDAY OF THE 100TH YEAR OF THE CALGARY STAMPEDE!

What time do I need to be there if I want to stand in line for the sponsored clothing?

EARLY!!! 50 spots have already been RESERVED in the line up. Which means, there are ONLY 50 spots up for grabs! You won’t want to miss out on the fabulous sponsored clothing! Styling will commence at 8:30am.

Reserved Spots??

There are NO RESERVED SPOTS AVAILABLE! In order to have a RESERVED SPOT in the #bikiniespy line-up, you had to send a photo to espy of yourself in a bikini early in May. Those who did send in a photo will be notified on May 29th if they made the cut! There will only be 50 open spots available on the morning of July 7th – so you’re gonna have to get up early!

What do I get for standing in line in my bikini????

JEANS from Fidelity, DENIM JACKET and STAMPEDE TOP from Mavi, TANK TOP from RD Style, AND a white COWBOY HAT from Calgary’s Stampede Institution – Smithbilt Hats.

You will ALSO be fed breakfast! Because it is so early!

Can I wear a cover-up?

You can … but if it’s OVER 12 inches long … it will be tossed by espy’s very own stylist Clark Whetstone!

This event is about feeling great about your body no matter what shape or size or diet you are or aren’t on. If there is one thing espy can do, it’s send you out the doors looking and feeling fabulous – so come to us in your bikini and we will send 100 girls out the door looking insanely hot for a morning of Stampeding at the espy breakfast!

When does the breakfast start?

The breakfast runs from 9am to 11am.

What is happening at the breakfast?

The Coachmen will be playing all morning for your entertainment! ILLFX Entertainment will be dancing between sets and teaching everyone at the breakfast the SUNFEST SECRET! You will also be able to snap some photos with rodeo contestants and local celebrities! (Rumor has it W. Brett Wilson, the Premier, a couple hockey players, and tv personalities will be in attendance!) You can also compete against a Special Olympic Athlete at our game center, ALL while enjoying your stuffed French toast!

How Can I Attend the #bikiniespy Stampede Breakfast?

You can ensure you get a taste of the now FREE #bikiniespy Stampede Breakfast by making a donation to Special Olympics Calgary in exchange for a ticket. Click the Eventbrite button below or stop by the store to reserve your plate!

GREEN OPTION:

Patrons of the breakfast are encouraged to bring their own dishes and cutlery to the breakfast and have them washed for a $2 donation by a Special Olympic athlete and volunteers.

What is the Dress Code for this event?

It’s Stampede! So please come in your Western Wear!

Big, GIANT, HUGE thank-you to all of our incredible sponsors for allowing us to pull of this fundraiser! Fidelity, Mavi, RD Style, Smithbilt Hats, Rangeland, ABCRC, Craft Beer Market, and our neighbours Little Rock!

xoxoxox

the espy stylists

#nakedespy VIDEOS!

Hey Guys! Check out these AWESOME videos capturing espy’s prostate cancer fundraiser, #nakedespy, held on Nov.5!

Thanks to Connor and Eileen McCord for putting this together!

Thanks to Melrose and espy’s favorite puppet interviewer, The Chef,  for the video!

xoxoxoxox

the espy stylists

Christmas in Inglewood!

It’s that time of year again!!!!

On Thursday, November 17th from 6pm to 9pm espy will be joining the holiday season celebrations of Christmas in Inglewood. We will be open til 9pm with 13% off the ENTIRE store! It will be a great night to explore Inglewood, do some Christmas shopping, indulge in some treats, and get into the holiday spirit. Oh, and of course our fav DJ Jon Spade will be here!

But it doesn’t stop there! On Saturday, November 19th from 10am to 5pm Christmas in Inglewood continues with tons of family fun! You can expect hay rides with Santa, ice sculptures, hot chocolate, treats, and SO much more! Don’t forget to participate in the Tree Find competition! You could win a $25 gift card to espy and lots of other prizes from our Inglewood neighbors. Do you think you can find espy’s tree??

Check out http://www.calgary-inglewood.com/ and http://en-gb.facebook.com/event.php?eid=218401578229877 for more info on Christmas in Inglewood 2011!

ho ho ho ho ho ho

the espy stylists

#nakedespy PHOTOS!

Can you find yourself?????

Click here http://espyexperience.com/photo-gallery/?album=1&gallery=18 to flip through some AMAZING photos thanks to Cydnie Lukowich of Lukowich Photography and Tremaine Lea!

Thanks again to everyone who came out to support and donate to the CPCC!!!

xoxoxox

the espy stylists

#nakedespy

Thank you to ALL the participants of #nakedespy, held on Saturday, November 5 – espy experience’s prostate cancer fundraiser was a HUGE success! Everyone made it through the cold and made it out looking AMAZING in their brand new espy clothes after making very generous donations to the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre. Together we have raised over $9000 – with more donations still to come! We know we can hit our $10 000 goal!

Special thanks to our SPONSORS for #nakedespy 2011 – Fidelity, Mavi, 7 Diamonds, Scott James, GSUS, and Bjorn Borg! There are 100 Calgary men out there with new, fabulous clothes! Single ladies look out!

We know the guys in line are grateful to MELROSE for showing up early, handing out breakfast, and keeping the energy high all morning!

Thanks to the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre for being here with the Man Van! We already can’t wait until next year!

Thanks to Starbucks for donating coffee for the guys in line! We know it was cold but that coffee helped as much as it could.

It was so awesome to have Brett Wilson and the Calgary Stampeders involved this year! Thanks Brett for coming for the second year in a row! We always love seeing you! Thanks Karl, Daren, TA, Eric, and Marc – you guys were awesome.

Crossfit Ramsay – the guys are sore today! Thanks for the FLASH MOB WORKOUT to get the blood flowing. 100 guys working out in their underwear?! Ya that was fun!

BIGGEST thanks to all the guys in line. You were so much fun, so high energy, and so generous with your donations! We can’t wait to style you up again for #nakedespy 2012!

Check our website all week for more photos, footage, and #nakedespy fun you might be in! It was a great event and a great cause!

xoxoxoxoxo SO MUCH LOVE,

the espy stylists

No Glitter, No Glory – PRIDE WEEK with espy and Lit Cosmetics

espy is teaming up with Lit Cosmetics to celebrate Calgary Pride Week, running from September 1 to 11. Our espy stylists will ride with Lit in the Pride Parade on September 4 to support the LGBTQA community and the hard work of the Pride Calgary committee and volunteers.

Clark’s AMAZING graphic design skills!

Make sure to attend the parade and find your espy stylists all glittered up in Lit for AWESOME giveaways! Gift certificates for $13 and Lit Cosmetics samples! It’s a great opportunity for espy and our lovely clientele to share in Pride Calgary’s vision for equality, fair treatment, and respect for all persons of different sexual and gender identities.

Let’s face it – we are all different no matter who we love; let’s celebrate those differences and quirks this week with sparkly makeup and fall shopping! espy will be holding a SECRET PASSWORD SALE from September 1 to 11 in support of Pride Week. Come in and mention the word “pride” for 10% off your purchase!

Check out the NEW photo shoot the espy stylists did with photographer Stuart Robinson of Insomnia Art in honour of pride week!

espy carries Lit Cosmetics and our staff LOVES to play with glitter…so make sure you pop by to get your glitter on in support of Pride! Check out espy makeup artist Meagan Fitzpatrick’s makeup tutorials on how to work Lit products into your makeup routine. Click the links below to learn how!

target=”_blank”>Meagan gives Megan a LIT GLITTER LIP!

target=”_blank”>Meagan gives Ashley Style a vamped up LIT GLITTER EYE!

We hope to see you out on the 4^th and in the new store – which will be totally decked out in rainbow for the week!

Much love and glitter fun,

the espy stylists

#nakedespy

On November 6th, espy will be doing something very special and styling 30 men for free. . . .And yes there is a catch. . .

find out what we’re up to! Continue to check espyexperience.com and follow us on twitter and facebook to make sure you know about the times and details as they become available! Twitter: @espyexperience Facebook: Megan Espy

espy presents at “inner beauty day”

Megan and Lisa from espy were asked by Alice Jamieson’s girls school to teach grade 9 girls about dressing for their shape and to give skincare as well as make up tips. It was all a part of the grade 9 girls initiative to speak about inner beauty. The espy stylists spread the message that any body shape can be beautiful, as long as you know how to dress it.

Check out the video on Global News.