Capital Holiday: Edmonton blogger Janis Galloway checks out OFW with the Westin

Janis Galloway loves fashion. She said her love affair started as a child with red plastic heels from the Dollar Store. “It’s how it makes me feel. When you put the right outfit together…It’s so invigorating for me,” she said.

Fittingly, Galloway, from Edmonton, was the winner of The Westin Ottawa hotel’s Ottawa Fashion Week “Insider” contest. Galloway won VIP passes to Ottawa Fashion Week, a stay at the Westin in a deluxe room with a view of Parliament and the Rideau Canal, a swag bag full of local designer and boutique goodies and much more.

The marketing department at the Westin was on the hunt for the next up-and-coming Fashion blogger and they said Galloway was their ideal choice. “Judging from her blog and social media sites, we knew Janis would be a great fit to represent the hotel. Meeting her and spending the week with her was above and beyond anything we could have asked for. She is not only a lovely person, but is also a talented stylist, writer, and photographer,” said Amber Brannan, Communications Specialist.

Galloway works at the Art Gallery of Alberta as a marketing and communications coordinator. “I always think of fashion and art going hand in hand, so it’s actually a really good fit.”

In her spare time, see writes a blog called Dress Me Dearly. “It’s a personal style blog with a focus on Edmonton fashion.”

Q&A with Dress Me Dearly 

SV: Why did you enter The Westin Ottawa Fashion Week “Insider” contest?

JG: Why not?

SV: What were your first impressions of Ottawa Fashion Week?

JG: I’m really impressed. I’m impressed with the quality of the designers. Rachel Sin presented [on Saturday] and I just could not believe the tailoring. Everything off of Eliz Bourk’s runway I could take off the runway and wear. It was so wearable, but still fashion forward.

SV: Why did you start your blog, Dress Me Dearly?

JG: I grew up on a farm outside Vermilion, Alta., where fashion wasn’t accessible, so when the blogging boom started in 2008, I thought, I like writing, why don’t I give this a try? It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.  I love fashion, I’m not an expert, but I do have something to say about it.

SV: How would you describe your personal style?

JG: Eclectic and feminine. I love dresses. I literally have a closet in my apartment dedicated to dresses.

SV: Is Edmonton fashionable?

JG: The city really inspires my blog. When people think of Edmonton they don’t really think of it as a fashionable city, but the truth is it’s very fashionable. There’s a growing fashion conscience in the city, especially with the rise of our Western Canada Fashion Week.

SV: What is your role like in Edmonton’s fashion industry?

JG: It’s kind of like Justyna here. I’m involved with the bloggers, I do a little bit of freelance wardrobe styling, I do personal wardrobe styling and I am involved with the planning committee for Western Canada Fashion Week.

SV: Favourite Fashion Designer?

JG: Chanel.

Janis’ Top 3 Favourite Blogs:

Keiko Lynn http://www.keikolynn.com/ “She kind of breathes my desired style!”

Karla’s Closet http://karlascloset.blogspot.com/ “She has the best style and you can tell that she LOVES fashion.”

Her Waise Choice http://www.herwaisechoice.com/ “Beautiful photography and great style.”

Janis’ Top 3 Favourite Magazines

Dress to Kill http://dresstokillmagazine.com/ “So many great editorials.”

Italian Vogue http://www.vogue.it/en “So much better than American Vogue.”

Fashion Magazine http://www.fashionmagazine.com/ “It continues to get better and better.”

Janis’ Top 3 Favourite Stores in Edmonton

Divine and its sister store Decadence http://www.divineplanet.com/ “The most amazing vintage pieces and so reasonably priced it’s insane.”

Oak + Fork http://www.oakandfort.com/ “Really beautiful contemporary pieces.”

Red Pony Consignment http://www.redpony.ca/ “I love the idea of recyclable, reusable fashion.”