Another retail powerhouse has landed in Calgary. Saks Fifth Avenue has been one of the city’s most anticipated retail arrivals since it announced it would be opening a store in Calgary back in 2016. The New York City-based company has more than a century of history behind it and has grown to around 40 locations across the United States and Mexico. Saks opened its first two Canadian locations in Toronto in 2016, and, on February 22, it’s opening its first Western Canada location in CF Chinook Centre.
Spread out across around 115,000-square-feet and two floors, Saks Calgary offers luxury men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, shoes, jewellery, cosmetics and more. There are plenty of cool perks and services for shoppers too, including three styling suites, a spa treatment room, in-house alteration services and more.
Beautiful clothes aren’t the only eye candy you’ll see in the store either. The store’s seating areas and displays feature stylish, modern furniture and decor, while the walls feature a local touch with artwork from Calgary’s own Christine Klassen Gallery and Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art.
And there are still other exciting developments to come for Saks Calgary. The store will eventually open an in-store salon. Soon, it will also house an Italian restaurant called Buffo, part of Toronto-based restaurant group Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality. That means that after a long day of shopping, guests will be able to enjoy pizza, pasta and seafood without ever leaving the store.
CF Chinook Centre, 6455 Macleod Tr. S.W., 403-440-2100, saksfifthavenue.com
Here’s what you’ll see inside Calgary’s Saks Fifth Avenue
The entire top floor of Saks Calgary is dedicated to women’s apparel. In the contemporary department, shoppers will find more casual, everyday wear and denim from brands like Rag & Bone, Alice & Olivia, Smythe, Joie, Nanette Lepore and Saks’ own in-house brand Scripted. There’s also outerwear from notable Canadian brands like Canada Goose and Moose Knuckles.Â
The dress department features women’s formal wear in a range of styles and colours. Directly beside this department is a fur salon with luxurious fur jackets and vests from brands like Carolina Herrera and Givenchy.Â
The stylish seating area leading into one of Saks Calgary’s three styling suites.Â
Downstairs in the jewellery department, guests can shop from brands like Hearts on Fire, Alexis Bittar, Lele Sadoughi, Kenneth Jay Lane, Pomellato and more.
In the VIP suite beside the jewellery department, shoppers can try on jewellery in private with a drink in hand.
The expansive men’s department on the lower level features shoes, athleisure wear, denim, formal wear and more. Eventually, made to measure custom suit services will be offered down here as well. Saturdays are a particularly good day to visit the men’s department, as there will be a bar set up here each week.
A look inside the men’s lounge beside the men’s clothing department.
1OO22-SHOE is the women’s shoe department at Saks Calgary. The department’s zip code name is meant to signal that this area is a destination within the store. Shoppers will find everything from sandals to boots from Manolo Blahnik, Alexander Wang, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, Stella McCartney, Vince and more. The clear and yellow glasswork that hangs above the shoe department was inspired by the glasswork display in the shoe department at the Saks Fifth Avenue location in New York. Artists in the Czech Republic made the glass installation that’s in the Calgary store.
The handbag department is surrounded by small individual handbag shops dedicated to specific brands like Loewe, Givenchy and Valentino.
The beauty department features luxury fragrances, cosmetics and skincare products. Look for products from notable brands like EB Florals, Hermes, Chanel, La Mer, La Prairie and soon, Giorgio Armani. Those who want to experience these products first hand can book a facial in the adjacent spa treatment room. Walk-ins are welcome, but it’s recommended that you make an appointment in advance.Â