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My First Fashion Week as a Canadian Living in America

By Mohana Holloway

Fashion week ... the glitz, the glamor, and the pizazz. As a Canadian living in America for just over a year, I only ever dreamed of attending an event like Scottsdale Fashion Week. This fashion week season, I had the opportunity to attend the closing ‘Sunday Soirée’ show, presented by Nordstrom. Accompanied with cocktails, Nespresso coffee, complimentary flowers and an exclusive Nordstrom shopping session for ticket holders, the brunch-themed event was the perfect way to cap off 2024 Scottsdale Fashion Week. 


Held at Scottsdale Fashion Square, I was pleasantly greeted by a photo-op session as soon as I entered the runway facility. I was able to mix and mingle with people from a multitude of backgrounds. From individuals in the tech industry to Love Island stars, to a group of ladies who called themselves “Glam Grandmas,” the variety of people prompted my first realization of the morning — fashion brings us all together, no matter what walk of life you come from. 



I was then taken to a front-row seat, where a lovely PR package was waiting for me. How exciting! Some of the featured partners included Barry’s Bootcamp, Sugarfina, Elta MD Skincare and the widely discussed Waymo. My anticipation was rising as I was in my seat. Finally, after the seats filled in, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Bed Chem” came over the speaker, and the show began. 



The host, Desiree Fluellen from Fox 10, opened the fashion show and introduced us to the Nordstrom stylists who helped curate the show. Nordstrom’s collection featured a seamless blend between business professional and streetwear, for both menswear and womenswear. 

Think blazers with bold prints, dress shirts paired with cargo pants, the “coastal grandaughter” aesthetic with 6-inch heels and tailored jeans completed with rose appliqués. As the models closed out the show with their final group runway strut, I had a second realization: Nordstrom’s show had the perfect encapsulation of Gen-Z ‘chic’ meets Millennial ‘classy’ - made for those with an eventful “5 to 9” after their “9 to 5.” 


All in all, my first fashion week was a dream come true. Getting to preview the new designs from Nordstrom first-hand helped me realize that no matter what aesthetic you hold, you can mix and match different pieces to help curate your own sense of style to shine in. Scottsdale Fashion Week was nothing short of a spectacle, which is to be expected when you are in one of the fashion capitals of the world, let alone in America. It was the most magical Sunday a Canadian girl could ask for.

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