Coming from the biggest city in Canada to a smaller town in Saskatchewan has allowed me to prove one theory about fashion.

I got my start in the world of fashion in high school, when my performing arts school offered an elective called Fashion Arts. From there, I went onto to majoring in Fashion Design at Ryerson University in my hometown, Toronto. For a while, my life was all about the world of designers, textile properties, and garment construction. As trite as it may sound, I lived and breathed fashion.

Through the years, it’s remained a passion of mine. I love the way a woman can be transformed through clothing; how her inner-confidence can shine through if she feels good about how she looks and what she’s wearing.

When the opportunity to cover fall fashion shows came about recently, I jumped at the chance. I couldn’t wait to see what the women of the Humboldt area wore, what they were interested in wearing, and how fashion is embraced in rural Saskatchewan. So I asked myself, do some of the women of Humboldt have the same passion for fashion as I?

One thing I observed right away was that no matter where you come from, women and men will brave the snow, sleet, and hail to sit down with friends and watch a fashion show with the same awe and delight in their eyes.  They’ll curl their hair, gussy themselves up, and select a lovely outfit to wear to the show. They’ll take notes of catwalk looks that complement their own style and personalities. They’ll take pride in the way they look.

Whether you're at a huge conference centre on Front Street in Toronto during Fashion Week in March, or at an exclusive show at a fabulous art gallery in Humboldt in October, one thing rings true for the people taking it all in:

They all love fashion.

Fashion in Humboldt is thriving. Fashion is a priority. Stylish women live everywhere.

Both fashion shows that took place in Humboldt over the past couple of weeks proved to me that dressing stylishly is a must for many women everywhere. There is a quote from my all-time favourite television show, Sex and the City, that recently came to mind. After a no-frills trip to her boyfriend's country cabin upstate, protagonist Carrie Bradshaw comes to the conclusion that,

"...City girls are just country girls...with cuter outfits."

After having moved to small-town Saskatchewan and observing the fashion scene here, I'd have to disagree with that statement.

Sorry, Carrie. 

katie

Katie Kraus is a fashion-loving, 107.5 Bolt Announcer and former city girl, gone country. Stay tuned for weekly Eye-on-Fashion Blogs at discoverhumboldt.com.