Hello, Fabulous Fort Collins!
Can you feel it? That little nip in the air, the golden hues sneaking into the trees, and the undeniable buzz of autumn just around the corner? Our Style Issue is here, and it’s like a love letter to this magical time of year—a time when we get to shake things up, try something new, and have a blast with our style!
For us, style isn’t just about what we wear; it’s about how we live, laugh, and love in our beautiful community. It’s those little moments that make life stylish—whether it’s the perfect pair of boots for crunching through fall leaves, a cozy spot in Old Town to sip your favorite pumpkin spice latte, or that feeling when you find the outfit that makes you feel like you can conquer the world.
In this issue, we’re excited to share some seriously inspiring stories with you. We’ve got a family that’s become an Old Town legend with their amazing restaurant, a stylist who’s full of fresh ideas to help you feel fabulous, a CSU student who’s dreaming big in the world of design, and of course, a peek into my own closet for some of my must-have style staples.
But more than just fashion, this issue is about the connections we build, the stories we share, and the way we come together to make Fort Collins the stylish, vibrant community we all love. We’re so lucky to have incredible people who bring their creativity and passion to everything they do, making our town a little more special—and a lot more stylish.
So, grab your coziest sweater, pour yourself a warm drink, and dive into this issue with us. We’re thrilled to have you along for the ride as we celebrate the fun, the flair, and the fabulousness that makes Fort Collins truly shine.
Cheers to a stylish season ahead!
JAHNA & JASON EICHEL, PUBLISHERS @FORTCOLLINSCITYLIFESTYLE
September 2024
PUBLISHERS
Jahna Eichel | jahna.eichel@citylifestyle.com
Jason Eichel | jason.eichel@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Macey VanDenMeerendonk | macey.v@citylifestyle.com
PUBLISHER ASSISTANT
Morgan Henderson morgan.henderson@citylifestyle.com
MARKET SUPPORT ASSISTANT
Matthew Hart | matthew@thecreativeagencyco.com
PHOTO EDITOR
Henry Magarotto | henry@thecreativeagencyco.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jack Diederich | jack@thecreativeagencyco.com
STAFF WRITER
Allie Bellows | allie@thecreativeagencyco.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
The Creative Agency | hello@thecreativeagencyco.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kathleen Martin, Allie Bellows, Macey VanDenMeerendonk
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
LAYOUT DESIGNER Rhiannon Coffman
Proverbs 3:5-6
Curating Personal Style
city scene
1 - 7: Club Pilates Front Range Village celebrated their six year anniversary on August 3 enjoying food, drinks, yard games, and loads of FUN! Club Pilates showed their appreciation for their members with fantastic prizes and small business pop-up tables from Xanadu Med Spa, Nectar Light Design jewelry, and free five minute Bioresonance frequency scans by a natural health practitioner. They look forward to another year celebrating milestones and achievements with their members and staff.
Opening of Sigma Performance Center
Transform your performance at Sigma Performance Center, where elite technology meets tailored training. Whether you’re training to be a professional athlete, enjoy Zen classes, or are simply a fitness enthusiast, our cutting-edge facility, brand new custom equipment and technology, and personally curated professional coaching ensures anyone, and everyone will perform better than their best! Train to outperform. Join the movement today! movementsigma.com
PEEL EVENT
JOIN
We have such amazing, innovative business leaders in our community who are proud to serve you, our residents, with class and quality. We’ve compiled some of our top company picks for the services that might be on your mind this month in an effort to make your lives a little easier.
Boutique
Lemons and Lace Boutique www.shoplemonsandlace.com | 970.226.3854
Style Curated style-curated.com | 970.227.7043
Sunday Supply Co. www.sundaysupplyco.com | 970.482.1868
Ivy Boutique ivyboutiquefoco.com | 970.825.5121
Kansas City Kitty kckitty.com | 970.482.5845
Furniture
Store
Domistyle domistylehome.com | 970.893.9090
Roughing It In Style roughingitinstyle.com | 970.282.9400
Forma Furniture formafurniture.com | 970.204.9700
Want to suggest a monthly pick?
Change Everything Furniture & Home Decor changeverything.co | 970.797.0654
HelloHOME - Furniture, Mattress & Decor hellohfm.com | 720.491.3283
Personal CURATING STYLE
Elevate your wardrobe with the help of Jenna McEnaney
ARTICLE BY MACEY VANDENMEERENDONK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE CREATIVE AGENCY
Style is as individual as our personalities. Finding our own style is a journey that is life-long and changes throughout the seasons of our lives. Learning our likes and dislikes, along with what’s the most flattering, is how we grow in our own sense of style and expression. Jenna McEnaney, owner and stylist at Style Curated, has lent us some of her wisdom when it comes to elevating our personal style and capturing our best sense of style during the transition from summer to fall.
Fall in Fort Collins is a short season, often accompanied by hot and sunny weather alongside the fall foliage. McEnaney has many tips and tricks on how to use summer and fall items in our closets to create elevated and high-end outfits that effortlessly transition between the seasons.
“I am a huge fan of transitional items. My wardrobe is mostly made up of transitional pieces because they are so multifunctional,” McEnaney shares.
In her approach to transitional basics, McEnaney emphasizes the importance of airy, lightweight tops and form-fitting pieces. She suggests swapping out light colors for darker tones and transitioning from sleeveless to short sleeve lengths or lightweight long sleeves. A denim jacket or a lightweight statement jacket can add versatility, while blazers can effortlessly elevate casual outfits. High-quality denim, especially wide-leg styles, have been very popular, and slim-fit, ankleheight boots are a classic choice. Additionally, timeless-style, darker-tone belts and felt hats can add the perfect finishing touches to an outfit.
While each season tends to have a color palette that naturally aligns with its aesthetics, McEnaney notes that current trends have been breaking the mold when it comes to seasonal color tones.
“I think that we are moving away from such distinguished color palettes for each season, which I love,” she says. “However, there are definitely some common themes. Summer colors get brighter and lighter, such as creams, light pinks, light blues, and pale yellows. Heading into the fall, we generally start to get darker with our color tones, and they're really fun to play with too. I recommend wearing some really cool green tones like olive green and evergreen, which look really pretty in the fall season. I also love grays, browns, as well as a rich mocha, or any shade of brown. Those are some great options other than black and white.”
CONTINUED >
Style Curated lives up to its name. Every customer that walks through their doors is given the time and attention to curate an outfit or wardrobe that complements their own style and body type.
“I generally like to get a good feel for my clients' lifestyle, their current style, and what they are hoping to achieve with their styling,” McEnaney explains. Her styling process ensures that her clients not only receive beautiful, high-quality clothing but also feel their best in what they find within her store.
In the hands of Jenna McEnaney and her expert team at Style Curated, the transition from summer to fall becomes an effortless journey of style and self-expression. Whether you’re layering lightweight pieces or experimenting with richer tones, embracing the change of seasons has never felt more stylish or personalized.
LOOK 1:
Kamila Top $180, Romi French Wide Leg $180
Accessories: Dawn Initial Necklace $45, Issy Earring $55, Beth Bracelet $54, Comass Boots $160, Orange Hat: Austin Hat $180, Milla Leather Belt $140
LOOK 2:
Iolanda Power Shoulder Dress $130, The Kelly Blazer $300
Accessories: Henley Hoop Earrings $120, Watch Band $85, Catena Ring $58, Teach Boot $215, Downtown Crosswalk Handbag $160, Toni Leather Belt $145
LOOK 3:
Arcadia Sequin Sweater $255, Aleah Skirt $215
Accessories: Henley Hoop Earrings $120, Dawn Initial Necklace $45, Teach Boot $215, Cream Hat: McVie Hat $180, Shining Star Belt Bag $111
ARTICLE BY MACEY VANDENMEERENDONK
Publisher Picks
OUR PUBLISHER'S GO-TO STYLE ITEMS
Jahna Eichel, the publisher of Fort Collins City Lifestyle, is dedicated to high-quality beauty products that ensure a lasting and sophisticated appearance. For a consistently polished look, she relies on these triedand-true favorites. Discover the products she swears by.
Keeping up with current style trends
On Trend
Style trends seem to go just as fast as they pop up. What was popular yesterday might be out tomorrow, and what was popular decades ago could be making its way back. With the constant change and re-inventing, it can be hard to keep up. So, we’ve compiled a list of what’s currently in style!
MIXING METALS
Jewelry rules tend to stretch and bend throughout time and this rule has been a debate. Mixing metals like silver, gold, and rose gold and styling them together, rather than sticking with one metal, is back.
BOLD AND BUSHY AND LAMINATED
This trend is a bit controversial. The laminated bold and bushy eyebrow trend blew up and has quickly been criticized as a form of “eyebrow blindness,” much like the highly popular thin 90s brows. This trend may result in some
eyebrow regret in a few years, but for now it’s the thing to do.
CLEAN GIRL MAKEUP
This makeup trend takes natural makeup one step further. Prioritizing skincare as the base for this trend and creating looks with a minimalistic approach that enhances natural beauty is what has drawn people to this fresh look.
SHORT AND SHIMMER
Big and bold is out. Shorter versions of nail shapes and metallic, shimmering polishes have been the go-to picks when it comes to nail aesthetics.
THE MODERN BOB
Bobs come in many shapes and sizes. With its versatility, the Bob works for any hair texture and type, creating a flattering and timeless look that never seems to go out of style.
“With the constant change and re-inventing, it can be hard to keep up.”
ARTICLE BY MACEY VANDENMEERENDONK
FAMILYROOTS IN OLDTOWN
CREATING TIES BETWEEN FAMILY AND BUSINESS AT ELEVATIONS CREDIT UNION
ARTICLE BY KATHLEEN MARTIN, CONTENT SPECIALIST AT ELEVATIONS CREDIT UNION
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE CREATIVE AGENCY
The Lopez family
“Fort Collins has really opened its arms to us.”
- Norma Lopez
For Norma and Luis Lopez, owners of the Fort Collins Mexican restaurant Pueblo Viejo, combining family and business is something of an art.
With two of their four children coming into the world as they expanded their restaurant locations, it’s been a family affair from the start. The family business has continued its legacy with the oldest son now running the Windsor Pueblo Viejo.
Staff have also become their family, often staying on for more than 15 years — a length of time practically unheard of in the restaurant industry.
Pueblo Viejo is closely tied with the Fort Collins community, where they opened their first location more than 20 years ago. Regulars come weekly and say goodbye to the owners before they leave. Even outside the restaurant, they greet Norma and Luis by name.
"Fort Collins has really opened its arms to us,” Norma said. "Customers become like your family.”
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Norma and Luis met in Chicago at Norma’s cousin’s wedding while she was still in high school. They dated, married, and had their first child before moving to Oregon. There, they began their culinary adventure at a restaurant Luis’s in-laws owned — Norma was a hostess and Luis a busser. In 1999, the pair moved to Colorado Springs where they managed Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant.
Just three years later and after having their second child, the pair celebrated the opening of their own place in Fort Collins’s Old Town Square on New Year’s Eve.
Their third child came before they planned a second restaurant, and so on until they had
Norma and Luis Lopez
“Elevations is very welcoming and understanding. We’re really happy here.” - Norma Lopez
four children and five restaurants in Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and Windsor. Today, they own two locations in Fort Collins and Windsor.
BUILDING A BUSINESS
Norma and Luis jumped head-first into the business, trusting their time in the restaurant industry to guide them. They were surprised when a friend warned them that the first few years would be a make-or-break time.
“You learn the hard way, and we did,” Norma said. “We’re strong together.”
Norma attracted new customers with English and Spanish radio ads and coupons, and the duo kept the new business with good service and authentic, comforting, and consistent food.
Now a 20-year Fort Collins success, the couple’s tenacity has produced a local institution. With a spacious event space and bountiful bar, it’s a space to celebrate special occasions and make memories.
Just as the restaurant is closely tied to the Lopez family, it’s become a place for Fort Collins families to gather, celebrate, and remember good times.
Customers tell the Lopezes’ that Pueblo Viejo was the first-date spot where they met their spouse. Others remember it as the place they came for regular meals with a grandparent who’s now deceased. Where a group of girlfriends want to come to ring in their 21st birthdays with margaritas.
Norma attributes their strong community standing to hard work and resilience.
“You have to work hard for what you want,” she said. “You can’t throw in the towel and quit — you have to keep going. There’s always a way.”
FINDING SECURITY
When your business feels like family — and sometimes is your family — you take challenges even more seriously.
With the past couple extreme winters, customers started to stay home. So, Luis and Norma decided to pursue a business line of credit. They were referred to Elevations Credit Union from Kelley Spight, who helped them buy their home before she became an Elevations mortgage lender.
They found Elevations Business Banking Sales Manager Nadine Trujillo-Rogers positive, fast, and flexible. Trujillo-Rogers quickly found the Lopez’s a line of credit that served their needs, giving the family a sense of safety.
“I think what they needed was someone to care about them and advocate for them,” Trujillo-Rogers said. “It’s about community.”
Norma said she’s seen extremely fast response times at Elevations, above her expectations for a financial institution.
“She (Trujillo-Rogers) went out of her way to help,” Norma said. “Elevations is very welcoming and understanding. We’re really happy here.”
A TASTE OF MEXICO
With interiors of traditional Mexican wood imported from Guadalajara and their wall art and logo created by Mexican artists, Pueblo Viejo is rooted in authenticity.
The high ceilings, dark wood and patterned brick arches offer a welcoming and timeless atmosphere — the kind of place you can come for a casual bite, weekly family meal, or a celebratory dinner.
With a menu easily topping 70 dishes, the comforting cuisine and generous portions honor the restaurant’s Mexican roots. Reviews often praise the staff’s friendliness, fast service, and complimentary chips, salsa, and bean dip. Cuisine consistency is a point of pride for Norma and Luis, who want their regulars' favorites to taste the same every time.
As for the logo of a wheelbarrow resting beside an old house, it comes from the painting created by a Mexican artist that hangs in the Fort Collins restaurant.
CONTINUED >
The name Pueblo Viejo, which means Old Town, is something the Lopez’s thought of before realizing the neighborhood was also named Old Town. It seems the restaurant was always meant to be right here in Fort Collins.
EAT
ARTICLE BY HAYLEY HYER
KEEP YOUR PLATE IN STYLE WITH THESE FOODS THAT WILL HELP YOU LOOK AND FEEL GOOD
PUMPKIN
SWEET POTATOES CARROTS
BUTTERNUT SQUASH
Vitamin A is essential to protecting the corneas of our eyes. By taking care of your corneas, you can extend the health of your eyesight and reduce vision loss with age. An easy way to remember what to eat for healthy eyes is to look for orange foods. Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and butternut squash are all high in vitamin A.
EYES HEALTHY
SKIN HEALTHY
NUTS FLAX SEED
CHIA SEEDS FISH
Did you know that vitamin A is also imperative for skin health? So while you’re caring for your corneas, you’re also boosting your outer glow. If you want to kick it up a notch, be intentional about eating plenty of foods with omega-3 fatty acids to reduce acne and inflammation and help your skin produce its own collagen. For your healthy fats, go for flax seed, nuts, chia seeds, and fish.
HAIR HEALTHY
For soft, flowing tresses, make sure you’re getting an equal amount of B vitamins in your diet. We naturally get plenty of B-6 because it’s in most grains, but it’s easier to end up with a biotin or B-12 deficiency if you don’t pay attention. Focus on foods like salmon, eggs, spinach, and broccoli for a healthy balance of B vitamins for your hair.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 eggs
• Dash of flax milk
• Cumin
• Salt + pepper
• ½ sweet potato, cubed
• ¼ green onion, chopped
• ¼ cup spinach
• Handful of broccoli florets
SWEET POTATO SCRAMBLE
(for one)
• Ghee butter or avocado oil for cooking
TOPPING IDEAS
• Cooked salmon
• Hot sauce
• Chia seeds or flax seeds
• Fresh parsley
DIRECTIONS
1. Whisk together your eggs, milk, and spices.
2. Prepare a skillet over medium heat with your ghee butter or avocado oil. Cook the sweet potato, green onion, and broccoli for 5-8 minutes. Add the spinach and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Pour your egg mixture into the skillet and scramble together until the eggs are your desired texture, roughly 3 minutes.
4. Immediately add your cooked salmon, seeds, parsley, or hot sauce and enjoy while it’s still hot!
MIX IT UP
CLASS IS IN SESSION
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Crafting Self-Expression
Diving into the inspiration and methods of a CSU Design and Merchandising student
ARTICLE BY MACEY VANDENMEERENDONK PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE
For Ella McBride, a Senior in CSU's Design and Merchandising program, personal style is a celebration of individuality and creativity. Her journey into self-expression through fashion began at only eight years old.
"All I wanted in this whole world was a pair of overalls," McBride recalls. After diligently saving for an entire year, she finally acquired them, marking the beginning of her style journey.
During her time at CSU, McBride's passion has evolved from merely designing to also crafting the very fabrics she utilizes. In a specialized fabric design class, she studied the art of creating custom prints and patterns by hand, which were then transferred onto fabric for her projects. From the initial threads to the final product, McBride's influence permeates every stage of her work.
Among her preferred materials are patterned and printed fabrics. Designing whimsical, child-like patterns has been a highlight of her education, leading her to envision a senior capstone project that integrates her love for children's literature with fashion. Her plan is to develop a clothing line inspired by children's books.
"I think it came from my mom, who’s an elementary school teacher," McBride reflects. "I had a lot of exposure to [children's books] when I was little. Just piles and piles of books."
As her senior year approaches, McBride contemplates her future career. She is drawn to the realms of children's apparel, fabric design, and costume creation, seeking to craft garments that are both playful and comfortable. Wherever her path may lead, McBride carries the inspiration drawn from her younger self, using it as a driving force to create designs that fully embody her self-expression.
CREATIVE AGENCY
ELLA MCBRIDE
A BRAND IS MORE THAN A LOGO.
BUILD YOUR LEGACY WITH US.
MARKETING INTELLIGENCE. VISUAL BRILLIANCE.