LATEX LOVE

How to wear the infamous Dior Latex boots

                 If you have been paying attention to any Dior shows over the past few seasons, whether it be ready-to-wear, couture, or resort you have definitely noticed that house designer Raf Simons is in the midst of a love affair with Latex. He has self-replicated his iconic design of the boots in almost every show he has done since then. The stunning boots have been featured in two of the designer’s shows, starting off with Spring 2015 Couture and more recently Fall 2015 ready-to-wear.

The couture-designed boots were available in almost any color and a few patterns, in a thigh-high and a mid-calf design with a hollow metal frame heel. The fall ready-to-wear boots were also available in thigh-high and mid-calf styles and many colors, but featured a Perspex heel in a contrasting color. The boots have been seen everywhere, on every sidewalk during fashion week, every front row at every runway show, and worn day-to-day internationally by fashionistas and celebrities.

I think every person needs a pair or two of these boots in wardrobes, the boots are so wearable and make such a statement. They can easily complete a basic outfit with almost no effort. If you want to get your hands on a pair of these flawlessly designer boots, you might have to put in a bit of work; word is they are currently sold out everywhere! Some may think that’s shocking due to the fact that they retail for $3,000 to $5,000 USD. For some people in the fashion industry price doesn’t deter them from an incredible design that they know they’ll get ample wear out of.

These boots work with almost any outfit, from short dresses to cuffed jeans, you can wear them in anyway. The thigh-high design is so flattering and slimming of the legs that you almost are forced by them to wear a short dress, skirt or short-shorts to show them off. The shorter above ankle design looks perfect with cuffed jeans, longer dresses, jumpsuits, or spandex bodysuits. These boots will be one of those designs that are looked back upon in twenty years and thought of as life changing.

                  The aesthetic of Dior is so classic and feminine that when their looks are paired with such a strong boot, it adds a completely different vibe to the look. Their clothing features soft and muted tones, and the boots are made in just eye-catching, bright colors. Everyone bigger fear of these winter months is boots, I think Raf Simons has done a great job in designing a boot that everyone will love and won’t hesitate to wear throughout the season.

Staying Couture in the Cold

Staying Couture in the Cold 
Surviving winter without compromising your style!

By this time of the year we all face the struggle of staying warm on the coldest days of winter without compromising our fashionable outfits. Avoid tumbling into a fashion slump and falling into the trap of sweat pants and puffer jackets to keep warm from Toronto’s winters freezing temperatures that we all know so well. Follow these simple tips to stay fashionable and warm at the same time!

A good quality jacket is the most important fix for fighting the winter cold. Sometimes your winter coat can be an investment so make sure it will be versatile through the winter months. By picking an over sized, loose fitting jacket, you are ensuring that you have space for your favourite knit sweater or turtleneck to fit under it. The over sized, erogenous style will be sticking around for a while so don’t be afraid to spend a little extra for a stylish, loose fitting coat. Chances are you get what you pay for, and the little extra money will seem like nothing when you’re stuck in a blizzard!

For combating the cold in the winter, scarves are an absolute must! Scarves aren’t only great for keeping you warm, but they also can turn a boring outfit into an exciting, couture one! Since it may not be acceptable or fashionable to walk around wearing a ski mask in the city, scarves are ideal for keeping your neck and face protected from the snow and cold. Wrap your scarf around your neck, and pull it up enough to cover your nose. Pair it with your favourite chunky sunglasses and your whole face will be protected from winter’s cruel chill!

Do you have the perfect pair of heels to go with your outfit, but don’t feel like risking your life on the black ice and snow? Try sticking to the basics with a simple black booties. Classic, and versatile, black booties are available everywhere and in so many options. Try to opt for a boot with a thick lining, and grip on the bottom to help when the sidewalks aren’t salted! Similar to finding the right jacket, try to make sure your boots have enough room for you to fit a pair of cozy knit socks to keep your toes extra warm.      
         The last thing you want to worry about while you’re making the trek to work or school in a snowstorm is your hair. It’s hard to find the right hat to protect your styled hair, keep you warm, as well as match your outfit. You can pick up a knit beanie practically anywhere these days, but try to find one thick enough that when the snow melts off of it, your head doesn’t get soaked! You can glam up your head wear by finding a hat with a fur pom-pom or cute appliqués to keep it interesting!  
        We are all counting down the days until our favourite skirt or heels can make their debut again, but for now if you follow these simple tips, you will make it to spring warm, cozy, and safe from frost bite!

BRAND-NEW

4 New Contemporary Menswear Brands Being Introduced to Toronto for Fall/Winter 2015

J.W Anderson

The brand was only launched in 2008 but since then J.W Anderson has been growing at an astonishing rate. The founder, Jonathan Anderson has won just about every prize a young designer could win and is now also the creative director of spanish fashion giant, Loewe. His brand is mostly known for blurring the line between menswear and womenswear. It has been readily stocked at high end retailers such as Mr. Porter and Ssense and has now finally made it’s way into Ontario. Anderson’s designs are currently available at the Hudson’s Bay White Space in the Eaton Centre. A must have for this season is the zip funnel neck sweater with oversized zip detail. It has been seen on the likes of rapper and style influencer, A$AP Rocky in his new video “Jukebox Joints”.

Sunnei

If you are a fan of the fresh and playful designs of Italian brand Marni, you will fall in love with Sunnei. Sunnei is 2 years old and stocked at a small group of well curated boutiques, most notably at Opening Ceremony. Brand creative director, Loris Messina claims that italian fashion is getting stale and wants to change. Messina creates easy to wear pieces that do not follow trends and are “effortlessly cool”. The brands attention to detail is clearly illustrated with its use of  interesting fabrics and dyeing techniques. The garments are now available at the trendy Soop Soop shop on Dundas Street West for this Fall/Winter season. A must-have from the collection and also a favourite from the designer himself is the oversized parka with large patch pockets, in a beautiful shade of forest green.

Proper Gang

You may never have heard of Proper Gang before, but undoubtedly you have heard of Supreme. What these two brands have in common is that they are currently creatively directed by the same man- Max Vanderwoude Gross. After Brendon Babenzien’s departure in 2015, Vanderwoude was chosen to take over the brand’s creative department. Supreme saw potential in him with his owns brand success, that was only created in 2013. Proper Gang has deep roots in street culture; think hip-hop music and skateboarding. It is only appropriate that the brand carries this identity seeing as Vanderwoude is a New-Yorker. Yorkville based shop Working Title, who also has roots in street culture, has picked up Proper Gang for F/W 2015. A key piece for this season is the denim dungaree pant which has a comfortable loose fit and is cropped. 

Sacai

By no means is Sacai a new brand, as it was launched in 1999 by Chitose Abe after working under Junya Watanabe’s eponymous label. Sacai is finally available at the renowned Haven shop, which stocks mainly high end Japanese labels. The brand comfortably makes its way into Haven’s roster with its reworked staple garments. Chitose Abe is famous for making sportswear inspired garments with interesting textile combinations, that remain masculine. A standout piece for this season is the Leather Rider’s jacket with a removable liner. The liner is made of pile fleece, which will keep you warm on those -30 Celsius days but is removable which gives the jacket more wearability.  

LESS IS MORE

LESS IS MORE

Ode to Simplicity- Minimalism is the hottest NOW

              

Minimalism style is not a fad or trend, it always brings the pithiest interpretation for fashion through the low-key classic.

What is this minimalism thing

It’s quite simple: to be a minimalist you must live with less than 100 things, you can’t own a car or a home or a television, you can’t have a career, you must live in exotic hard-to-pronounce places all over the world, you must start a blog and you can’t have children.

   OK, I’m joking—obviously. Minimalism is a tool that can assist you in finding freedom-freedom from fear, freedom from worry, freedom from overwhelm, freedom from guilt, freedom from depression and freedom from the trappings of the consumer culture we’ve built our lives around. Real freedom.

   In the visual arts and music, minimalism is a style that uses pared-down design elements. In the eyes of designers, neat lines and low-key colors such as black, white, gray and camel are the aim of minimalism. It embodies sense and connotation.

Get rid of all needless details

Minimalism style doesn’t have any showy accessories, even the zippers and buttons. All the small accessories are hidden very well. It is just like normcore style, there are only great fabrics, immaculate tailoring, and interesting proportions.

   Minimalism is opposed to the aristocratic and complicated traditional design style of luxury brand. It creates a simple fashion, high functional ready-to-wear design concept with the purpose of French Romantic style. So just get rid of all needless details and be a minimalist. Remember that simple is the best.

Three representative minimalist fashion brands

There are many designers who advocate minimalism. The top three fashion brands are Jil Sander, Chole and oak+fort. Jil Sander is the earliest originator of minimalist style. Her works has amazing shock power- perfect tailoring with accurate proportion and fetching colors. It reflects the temperament of modern woman vividly. Jil Sander is well known as curling pants, featherlike coat and light jacket.

   Floral pattern veil, gentle streamline, classic A-line dress and stereo clipping method of stiff cloth, layered skirt and fluffy like a trumpet shaped shoulder line. These are the representatives of Chole. It highlights the elegance of modern woman.

   Oak+fort is a new fashion brand. Since their inception in 2010, Oak+fort has curated collections that reflect their design philosophies. A belief that fashion should be uncomplicated and thoughtfully designed. We are not distracted or fettered by trends, and will continue to provide attainable luxury to like-minded individuals. There are no bright colors, only low-key classic colors on oak+fort.

Where to shop for minimalism style in Toronto

There are many places in Toronto that every fashionista should make a point of checking out. The top 1 place that I suggest is Queen Street West. It is a main east west street of Toronto. This street is filled with all kinds of fashionable boutiques, exotic cafes and cool tattoo shops.

   The top 2 place that I recommend is Holt Renfrew that is located on Bloor Street including the Yorkville Area. There are many luxurious brands including the minimalism style such as Chole and Jil Sander that I mentioned before.

   The top 3 place is Eaton Center. It is home to over 175 brand name stores, restaurants and entertainment. Oak+fort is also recently opened on the second floor of Eaton Center. There are also some other minimalist brands such as Aritiza and Club Monaco. It is such a good place that is worth to visit.

Oh, George! volume 12, number 1 (Autumn 2015)

When asked what word best describes your issue of Oh, George!, students answered:

• Hip hop culture's influence on fashion
• It's lit
• '70s fashion
• Modern
• The influence of soulja boy in the fashion industry
• Wicked
• Low-key couture
• Glamour
• Psychedelic
• High fashion meets street style
• Compelling
• Minimalistic
• Uniforms
• Culture
• Monochromatic
• The new-age designer
• Social justice
• Destruction

The theme that was chosen for this issue is:

Couture in the Streets

Other themes that were discussed:

• Black and white
• Renaissance
• Controversy
• Dancing on the catwalk: music's influence in fashion
• The b&w issue (black and white)
• Blast from the past
• Primitive
• Back to the basics
• Celebrities' influence in fashion
• Sex
• Cultural Forces in Fashion

When Fashion Hits the Spot

            As a fashion student, you always want to consider all your options within the fashion industry.

Recent Ryerson University graduate Amanda Stines has been in the position most of us are in now. She currently has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Arts and Contemporary Studies with a Honours diploma in Fashion Business Industry from George Brown College. She has gained experience within the Fashion Industry by having internships with Holt Renfrew, Seventeen Magazine, LOULOU and the digital magazine, The Kit. I was also an online fashion contributor for the GUESS Watches fashion blog, GUESS Access and currently run my own fashion blog, Amanda's Fashion Spot, “she says. With these opportunities Stines was able to have a career and basically live out her dreams. Through the Fashion Business Industry program, especially the Fashion Journalism elective, she was able to utilize the skills and use the information given to her to start her own blog and be successful at what she does.

           Being a fashion blogger, you obviously have to know about fashion. The ins and outs. What's trending at the moment, what's coming back into style. “Fashion is the something that I have always loved. When I was younger, I always expressing myself and fashion a way for me to do that,” says Stines. “I used to enjoy spending time with my mother and aunts who loved fashion, shopping and reading magazines so their interests rubbed off on me, “ she adds. There is more to being a blogger than what meets the eye. A fashion blog can be about many different things such as: different types of clothing and accessory pieces, celebrity fashion statements and urban fashion trends. Most fashion blogs cover fashion from the biggest designer brands to an average person walking down the street.

            Amanda started her blog almost six years ago. She is still shocked how much time has passed.  “I started Amanda's Fashion Spot because I really wanted to obtain an internship, and I struggled to find one, so I decided to start my blog,” she says.  “I felt empowered when I started my blog because I felt as if I had my own special place in fashion.”  Starting something that you feel strongly about can give you a sense of entitlement. When putting your all into everything there is an element of risk-taking. With Stines blog she's simply sharing her interests with other individuals. While having true personality.

         Everyone who knows the fashion industry well enough knows that there are perqs to being a fashion blogger, such as “having your own voice and creative freedom to write about and feature whatever you choose,” she says. As a fashion blogger she has been able to preview select fashion collections before anyone else. “I have received free products and it is always flattering when companies reach out to me and ask me to blog about them,“ she says. Being a fashion blogger also helped her get chosen as one of the Canadian finalists for GUESS Watches One To Watch worldwide contest.

        Stines gives credit to George Brown College and acknowledges that particular courses that were mandatory to the program helped her for the long run in the career and more importantly helped her with her career as a blogger. In fact, it was the Fashion Journalism course that awakened her passion for fashion journalism and inspired her to write about fashion. “I actually started my blog while I was taking the Fashion Journalism course! Being at George Brown College, I was able to learn to so much about the fashion industry and that made me want to have my own voice in the fashion industry, which my blog allowed.”

           Her advice for someone who wants to be a successful fashion blogger is firstly to determine what your intentions are. What do you want to do? Do you want to share your favorite outfits? Discuss fashion news? Write about the latest trends? Of course do what you want to do, but be sure to have a main idea. Having a clear focus and staying consistent is the best way to have success as a blogger. “If a young fashion student would like to start a blog, I think that they should go ahead and do it! Right now, is a great and easy time to start a blog. With the popularity of social media, there are so many ways that someone can start a blog and express their fashion point of view.” she says. “Instagram is a great way to show your daily outfits or daily outfit inspirations, and Twitter can also be used to write about you're fashion point of view,” she adds. “Most importantly, no matter what profession you're in, make sure that you're always having fun and staying true to yourself. Be who you are! Accept yourself as you really are, not as someone else thinks you should be. Do not take action or pretend to be someone else for the sake of gaining acceptance. “

 

Feature articles

T-Rexx in da T.Dot by Theia Bonas
She's Done It All - Anna Lacivita by Sumiko Curry
Coffee with a Toronto Fashionisto by Kayla Salmon
Thank You Toronto: Home is Here by Samantha O'Neill

The Up and Coming (backup) by Mickenzie Binding

When Fashion Hits the Spot (George in the City) by Shanelle Stewart

T-Rexx in da T.Dot

Feature Article Assignment: Tyrone ‘T-Rexx’ Edwards (revised)

Style, swagger and confidence are a few of the words that come to mind when you think of Tyrone ‘T-Rexx’ Edwards; former host of MuchMusic’s RapCity, entertainment host for E news and founder of the brand 1LoveTO are just a few of the items on his resume. He has made such a name for himself in a short period of time, it’s hard to imagine that he never planned to end up in this field and that his first love was actually basketball. He makes it very clear that all his success has not and will not change him at any point. “Never did I think I would have gotten this far. And though it may sound cliché, it’s the truth. He says "It almost feels like a dream but I’m enjoying it so much that I’m not going to complain.” He takes pride in giving back and trying to give other young black kids the opportunity at success by offering his time to the Remix Project. A free program that offers workshops in varies areas of the arts to help keep youth busy, while helping them link up with mentors in their field of choice to offer advice and networking.  

Edwards first got his taste at hosting for a few small gigs around the city and found it fitting because of his outgoing personality. “It was easy for me, because I love to talk and converse with people to hear their stories. Everyone has a story and once you get them going you can really learn interesting things about them but it’s all about how you talk to them" he says. When you speak with him it is easy to see why he is so good at what he does. He has been given the opportunity to meet artist and actors that he grew up watching. But being good at talking is nothing if you do not have the professional style to match. According to Edwards the fashion is really high up there. You can imagine that his style for RapCity is very different from his dress code for E. Another perk is having a stylist! “I actually love how my style has evolved because I’m a lot more willing to try new things and when you look good, you feel good. Helps your confidence.” He has become such a style icon that he has had the opportunity to walk and host fashion shows from right here at home to Trinidad and Tobago, building a great relationship with Project Runway winner Anya Ayoung Chee to collaborate and create a costume for Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival 2015. Becoming a recognizable face pushes you to make a statement he says: “I think my favourite look will always be a t-shirt (1LoveTO of course), jeans and Timberlands, but fashion is taking the basic and taking it a step further. So now I will add a dope jacket, sunglasses and a Russian fur hat. You now have a fashionable outfit with minimal extra effort.” He never use to think so much about the details, but with menswear finally undergoing a change, Tyrone wants to move with it!

T-Rexx calls 1LoveTO his baby. “It literally came from nothing and became something.” 1loveTO came from an idea of building a brand that would represent Toronto as a whole and bring it into the forefront. So he, along with three others, decided to make t-shirts and sell them at Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival back in 2008 out of an Ikea bag. Not exactly the story you would expect, but now they have become so popular that with every pop-up shop recently located a Roots Eaton Centre for a collaboration called "Show Your Roots", they are guaranteed to sell out in every colour and size. Now the band generally just sells their merchandise online where they also host a blog. That is the power of Toronto and how much Torontonians love their city. They started a website blog and they encourage customers to wear their t-shirts when abroad and take pictures. People have taken pictures wearing 1LoveTO in places like Australia and Dubai! Edwards looks forward to expanding and pushing the company to its maximum capacity.

Very devoted to his career, Edwards wants to keep on this successful train not only for himself but for his daughter whom he says he does everything for. “I want her to have every opportunity and see that my dad did it, so I know it is attainable.” Big things are in the works for him, but we will just have to wait and see what he does next.

She's Done It All - Anna Lacivita

She’s Done It All
Anna Lacivita, History of Costume and Fabric Science professor at George Brown College, costume designer, stylist, choreographer, draper, and set designer.

I had the pleasure of first meeting Anna on Friday, January 9, 2015, it was my first class for History of Costume and I was absolutely giddy with excitement. I had been waiting so long for this particular course. History of Costume is a topic in which I am knowledgeable and deeply fond of and I couldn’t wait to meet the professor who would enlighten me further. All week my schoolmates who had already had their first class were telling me how much I was going to love it. I remember sitting in my seat, right near the front, my hands were shaking, palms sweating and I could feel colour rising to my cheeks. My friend sitting next to me, making fun of my eagerness to learn, I had my notebook open to a fresh new page and my pen at the ready, already prepared to begin vigorously writing down whatever words Anna would say. Friday quickly became my favourite day of the week and History of Costume, my favourite class and Anna my favourite professor. As the weeks went on and I slowly learned more about Anna, her favourite historical pieces and random snippets of her preferences and career history, I knew that I needed to learn everything from her and so it was obvious that I would need to interview her.
We met on a Friday, an hour before class. I was a little nervous but that quickly disappeared after Anna politely asked if it was okay if she ate her clementine whilst I interviewed her. She didn’t always want to work in fashion, “No, I wanted to be a teacher or chiropractor…I was really fascinated with the human body, but I guess it’s kinda connected. I always took drawing classes and was drawing from live nudes…I really got into studying the body, it’s helpful when you’re designing.” Her transition into the designing community began with dance. She choreographed and designed costumes for over 10 years in Ontario. Her designs were recognized and she won many awards which led her to study at York University in Theater Design. She also studied at the Istituto Marangoni in Milan for fashion design and at the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University for Design for Stage and Film.
She stayed in New York and began as a design assist, assisting Oscar and Tony award winning designers for theatre, “I think it’s more difficult to be an assistant or an associate because essentially you’re not thinking for how you want it to be, you’re thinking how somebody else would want it to be. So you have to know the designer’s aesthetic and how they would want it. It’s a hard job, I actually think it’s a lot harder to be an assistant or associate than being a designer. Because when you’re a designer, you call all the shots.” Anna also had the fantastic opportunity to work on Broadway, “Broadway was so much fun because usually they’re bigger budgets and bigger teams. But then because of my dance background I was able to really lead a lot of the teams because I knew a lot of what would work and what wouldn’t work, especially when you have quick changes.”
Anna has done just about everything in the theatre and film industry, she even did assistant set design for movies starring Nicole Kidman, “So they always worked in Nashville, because that’s where she lived…so I stayed in New York and I never went to Nashville and everything happened through Skype or through phone…so I never actually met the team personally…and so what my job was all about finding fabrics for furniture, costume, curtains, matching paint colours, so a lot of colour planning…so I was their New York person.” She would ship fabrics every day and they would be sent back if they were usable or not.
She even styled up-and-coming soul bands in New York and a few styling shoots for Vanity Fair and Neiman Marcus, “we worked really close with department stores like Saks, Bloomingdales, Barney’s, Bergdorf Goodman, and so you work with them and you’re finding things that work for the shoot. So it was a historical piece but more modernized, so how does Miss Hannigan from Annie: The Musical, relate to 2012… how do you showcase some historical aspects to today. So Prada mules and housecoats.”
And nonchalantly she name drops a few other stars whom she had the great privilege to work with, “And then I worked with you know, Alec Baldwin and Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges.” Anna’s favourite experience was working with Alec Baldwin for the play Equus (2010) in the theatre company in the Hamptons, “A very well-to-do kinda class of people, you know whatever you see in the movies is true about the Hamptons, everyone wears white,” Anna sarcastically adds, “and I showed up wearing fluorescent pink, so it was a great day.” Alec Baldwin played the lead role, Dr. Martin Dysart a psychiatrist who treats a young man with a religious fascination of horses. Anna worked with a tailor to costume Baldwin in a suit that they built from scratch. “He’s great, he’s great, I’m like, I have a huge crush, HUGE crush.”
More notable work from Anna’s resume is the 2012 film, R.I.P.D, Taylor Swift’s tour, Red, the television series, Boardwalk Empire, and the 2012 film, Mirror Mirror. Anna still misses theatre work in New York and frequently flew back and forth in between teaching to work on plays, though she can no longer do that now, as she is pregnant and needs to relax.
Time flew by as Anna and I continued to talk about fashion and history but sadly, the interview came to an abrupt ending as it was almost time for class. I hope to further converse with Anna and pick her brain for more insights into the costume and fashion industry.

“When you’re a stylist you pull and when you design you create,” says Anna.

EssKay Ji

Technology has grown so much in the last 20 years.   Just looking into entertainment, leaving your house is not the only option to watch a new movie.   We can now stream, download and view movies just with a click of our phones.  We can also shop, interact with people and work while sitting in our pajama’s at home.  With all these new apps, where does the future lay for the younger generations when it comes to finding a job, or a career?  With people becoming famous just from YouTube, Instagram, or Tumbler it’s easy to get your foot out the door. 

EssKay Ji is a fashion blogger who does most of her work from her Tumbler page, Instagram, and recently YouTube.  EssKay Ji is a fashion inspiration. With her Hip-Hop influence to her fashion, her style is very unique.  Just like any other fashion blogger EssKay Ji started blogging because her outfits stood out.  I had the honor to interview Sandy Gill better known as EssKay Ji.  When I asked how she started in the industry she responded; “Basically for the longest time I was always the friend who would attend events dressed to the nines wearing the most ridiculous outfit, and my friends would always tell me to start taking pictures of my outfits and start posting them online on a blog and writing about them and how I put them together. I slowly became addicted and started being consistent with blogging my outfits and the hustle started to get noticed! That's all!”  Personally following her on her Instagram and Tumbler page regularly, I was curious to find out how it would have been for EssKay Ji if there weren’t any technology.  “I don't think I would exist if there was no technology. I certainly think that new age technology has helped me and is the reason why my art is easily accessible to everyone. I am only doing it because I have an outlet to push my art through,” she says.

EssKay Ji is a stylist who has styled artist such as Superwomen who is known for her hilarious videos on YouTube, and Humble the Poet who is an amazing local rap artist.  With their highly watched new music video ‘Leh’ EssKay Ji was the great stylist behind the scenes.  When asked how she felt when styling Humble the Poet and Superwomen when their styles are very different as her own, she replied; “Styling both Lilly and Humble has been so wonderful, not only because they are such amazing individuals to be around but also because they both allow me full creative control when I style them. They are both so open to trying new things and always make everything look so good. Both of them have also been huge influences behind Esskayji and have helped me get to where I am today.”  The proof is in the video; EssKay Ji definitely knows what she is doing when it comes to fashion. 

The story doesn’t end there, not only is EssKay Ji an amazing stylist she is also a model and a designer of scarves/head wraps, and t-shirts.  With her funky patterns and bright colours we can insure that these head wraps will be displayed all over Toronto.  Her newly designed shirts display the names of all the influential hip-hop artists of all time, from DJ Kool Herc to Eminem.  We can catch up on all her new items of clothing from posts on her Tumbler and Instagram page.  “In the next five years, I see myself with an established and developed clothing line, still blogging and hopefully styling more clients!”  With all her great responses to my questions it was really easy to see who EssKay Ji really is.  She is very confident in who she is, and where she would like to take her career; and I did not need to sit down to talk to her to figure this one out.  With the amount of effort she puts into her Social Media, we can see her personality seep through her clothes. 

What’s next for EssKay Ji “You can definitely look out for more head wraps and t-shirt designs! Excited to share those with you all this year! And of course keep checking www.esskayji.com for updates, blogs, videos and everything else!”  With her blaring personality seeping through her art in fashion, we can insure that EssKay Ji will not be a stranger in Toronto.  I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next and where this new technology driven fashion world takes her.

Website: www.esskayji.com

Instagram: thesandylion

YouTube: www.youtube.com/esskayji

Coffee with a Toronto Fashionisto

 

Coffee with a Toronto Fashionisto

 

“Favourite fashion magazine?

Don’t have one, I find they are all doing the same thing now! #basic” - Christopher Mello

 

I had the pleasure of sitting down with an up incoming Toronto fashionisto, where I got to hear about some of his up and coming projects as well as steal some advice for anyone who wants to tackle the fashion industry. Christopher Mello is a recent graduate from The Academy of Design and Technology; there he studied Fashion Marketing and Merchandising. Of course this isn’t where his passion for fashion started; Mello’s interests for the fashion industry began at the tender age of 13 while modelling for various companies such as Hollister and Abercrombie. “When I would be on set, I would watch the artistic director, PR person and stylist closely as they would do their job, which lead to me always asking them questions, and helping them out whenever I wasn’t needed on set.” Soon after Mello found himself drooling over the stylish clothes more intensely, which lead him to move more and more towards the fashion industry. During his years at The Academy of Design and Technology Mello was able to work with many fashion forward/ well known people and companies. There he had the opportunity to intern for Fashion Weekly Magazine, SCPR, Hil & Gertner Capitol Corp along with Ink Entertainment and more recently Conde Nast International, at Vogue Brazil. This was only the beginning of Mello’s inspiring journey to success. He was fortunate enough to have also worked and learned from some of the biggest names in Toronto such as Farley Chatto, Stephen Cara, Christopher Bates, Jay Strut, Greta Constantine, Keith Richardson, Doris Montanera, Jennifer Dares and Mark S Doss. Having been able to learn/ work closely with such big names, Mello decided to continue his education further and now studies Public Relations as a post-graduate at Ryerson University. He has also started a new project, his very own company Nudite Communications which has slowly been appearing around the Toronto Fashion scene. This busy 22-year old took time out of his hectic schedule to sit down with me and answer some questions about his personal style, fashion in Toronto as well as advice for any aspiring fashionista or fashionisto.  First off I couldn’t help but burst out and ask Mello wear he shops, his style is so unique and ahead of the time that I had to make sure that I could share with you guys where his cool threads were from.  Mello stated that he generally shops online, random stores on Queen or with the designers themselves; he does this because “I find retailers are basic and boring, carrying the same pattern, cut and drop over and over again. So going directly to the designer like Som Kong or NARCES, makes life easier and gives me a sense of couture like garments, where the piece is made to measure for me”. Mello also shared some trendy places in Toronto to shop “ best places to shop in Toronto I would say are Serpentine, TNT, Jacflash (online), Lavish & Squalor, SSENSE (online) and of course those random little boutiques on Queen West”.  Mello’s style is so unique that I wasn’t surprised that this fashionisto doesn’t subscribe to just one brand, but dabbles in many different stores that have many different styles. This trend setter describes his style as a “city slicker” meets a “bohemian grunge” type with an occasional “smoking jacket” look in his words “If it’s not black or white, it’s not for me.” Mello continued talking about his style, touching base on key pieces in his closet such as his black YSL destroyed jeans and his Bottega loafers, where I interrupted asking him about up and coming trends and fashion must haves for his closet. “I can’t say I know what my next must have item is, since I’m generally changing up my look and wants daily. Generally if I want something, I get it if I’m still still thinking about it, after a few days.” a rule personally I think we should all follow. Mello’s unique style and mature attitude towards the fashion industry is what keeps him fresh and successful. At 22-years old Mello has already created a name for himself. With the amount of experience Mello has you’d think he would be confused as to where he sees himself in the future. I had asked Mello what his dream job was and with no fear he confidently responded saying “My dream job would be a trend forecaster for a big company such as Pantone or WGSN, or working for a fashion brand such as Oscar de la Renta under their PR team or even under a fashion based PR agency.” This guy has no fear and is definitely aiming big in terms of his future career.  Christopher Mello claims his inspirations and passions came from his elders who raised him to have the beliefs and strength he has today, that has also helped guide him to become who he is in the Toronto fashion industry. Mello continued on to speak a little bit about Toronto’s fashion industry and why he enjoys being a part of it “Ideally what I love most about the fashion industry in Toronto, I guess would be the fact that for such a small city, that does not really implement or care much about fashion or arts, it seems to always be doing just fine. The fact that Torontonian’s seem to always be turning heads in a good way, even during the recession. But who are we kidding, I love the industry parties, nothing like being young and being able to enjoy the pressence of others like you, loving what you love and partying the way you do. Plus VIP on a invite or pass always makes you feel better, but don’t let your ego grow!” After a long coffee break from Mello’s busy schedule he concluded the interview by sharing some advice for up and coming fashion gurus “Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! Volunteer, until they tell you, your past that point and then note that it is time for you to make something from that name you created, and know that everything has its timing. Getting a job in your industry and field is a little bit of timing and hard work. Luck doesn’t exist!” Christopher Mello is definitely someone we should all keep our eyes out for, this fashionisto is a face we will all see around for while! Best of luck to him and his success!

 

Website- http://christophermello.fashionprofessionals.ca/index.htm

 

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