I was excited to dress up and spend a night with friends, but I don’t think I realized how much I had missed the whole experience: the live music, the packed dance floor, the games, the laughter and that wonderfully familiar feeling of being part of something here in Kitchener-Waterloo.

An Oktoberfest outfit from my own wardrobe

I love the traditional, romantic feeling of Oktoberfest style, but I didn’t want to buy an outfit I would only wear once. Instead, I treated my own wardrobe like a styling challenge.

Every piece was already in my wardrobe, and every piece can be worn again on its own. Together, they became something completely different: a playful, romantic-folk take on Oktoberfest style.

That is one of my favourite things about personal style. You don’t always need a brand-new outfit for a special occasion. Sometimes you just need to look at what you already own with a little more imagination.

Games, dancing and one very satisfying bell

The night was full of the silly, joyful moments that make Oktoberfest so much fun. We played games, spent plenty of time dancing and wandered through the festivities taking it all in.

One of my proudest moments was shooting a road-hockey ball into the net and hitting the bell. Did I feel disproportionately accomplished? Absolutely. It was one of those tiny wins that instantly becomes part of the story of the night.

There were so many moments when I looked around and thought, this is such a K-W experience. It wasn’t only about the event itself. It was about seeing people come together, dress up, dance and enjoy a tradition that feels woven into our community.

The loveliest surprise before we even walked in

Before the night had really begun, something happened that made me smile: while we were waiting in line, someone recognized me as “Robyn from Le Prix.”

Running a small business can sometimes feel like doing a lot of work quietly behind the scenes. Meeting someone from the Le Prix community out in the real world was such a lovely reminder that the connections created through this business extend far beyond clothing.

Le Prix has always been about more than shopping. It is about helping women feel seen, encouraging creativity, bringing pre-loved pieces into their next chapter and creating community around a more joyful kind of sustainable fashion.

My first Oktoberfest since becoming a mom

This night felt meaningful for another reason: it was my first Oktoberfest since having Luna.

I love being her mom more than I can put into words. And it was also lovely to have a night of dancing, laughing with friends, getting dressed up and reconnecting with this part of myself and my husband.

I went home grateful for my friends, for our local traditions, for the person who said hello in line and for a wardrobe that could transform into exactly what I wanted without buying anything new.

And yes, I’m still proud that I hit that bell.