Fall Style Guide Misses

by: Toronto Notes

October 17, 2008 1:49 PM

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When the Fall Style Guide was conceptualized, City Style photographer Alyssa K. Faoro and I wanted to celebrate the street style blog ‘look’ (granted, an ‘out of control’ concept, but I still check The Sartorialist on a weekly basis for inspiration and really, you could say this is just blowing up the ‘mood board’ concept that designers have used for ages) with a dash of Bill Cunningham’s philosophy.

It was very important however that we do this within a blatantly Toronto context (a sort of psycho-geographic embrace of past fashionable subcultures) from a purely democratic standpoint – looking beyond our style elite and being inspired by the everyday person.

Of course, we went to so many different events that the final twelve street style shots that were used to illustrate the looks doesn’t necessarily do justice to the individuals that just worked it but alas, space and concept could not recognize.

So we’re going to give those unsung heroes a spotlight (another twelve at that), with a dash of commentary discussing the trends we left out, mini-profiles and you know, just an excuse to show off more stylish people.

First up – our two cover girls, Bianca Austini and Connie Ng.

Bianca Austini, Manifesto Festival, September 21.

We were just leaving Manifesto’s Main Event, overloaded on our local ever-so-fashionable hip hop set, when we bumped into Bianca. It’s hard to really zero in on what was so fashionable about her, but if I had to nail it, the Donyale Luna quality (especially for those Paco Rabanne-esque earrings) and her street interpretation of the lady-like trend – the prim bow tied high-waist skirt, American Apparel leggings made demure with the peep of skin courtesy of the ballet flats? Enter the schoolboy blazer with turned up collar, and it’s a very complex but effortless look.

Connie Ng, 69 Vintage’s By-The-Pound sale, Sept 11.

Connie is a self-described ‘style geek’ who runs a quirky how-to style blog (The Odd Goods), which actually won her an online correspondent gig writing for FASHION Magazine. We found her perusing the vintage racks in this lovely Yamamoto oversized silhouette that she worked wonderfully despite her relatively small stature: balancing the relatively conservative men’s khaki jacket with quirky white frames (apparently garage sale finds) with a darkly monochromatic blend from top to bottom underneath. I’m in love with the navy blue woven tights – navy blue is a shade that’s been under the rock for ages, but I feel is starting to emerge.

Matt Bahen, Horseshoe Tavern, September 11.

Alyssa calls Matt’s look “clean cut Southern hospitality”. I love the red rose embroidery of his Western shirt – it inspired the Reebok Freestyle pick from the “Metal Excess” look. Matt’s band The Schomberg Fair (a little gospel, a little folk) was playing that night. He’s also an artist whose large-scale oil works have been shown in Canada and the US.

'Old guy', Horseshoe Tavern, September 11.

Alyssa loved the soul patch, paisley print fedora, and Stella in hand. Another great example of the navy blue, with this oddly vagabond-like fanny pack that somehow just works.

Melissa, Horseshoe Tavern, September 11.

Alyssa: “a garage rock kinda gal – you see her type sifting through romance comics and 60s girl pop 45s.” I add that I love the demure twist in the black cardigan thrown over the shoulder.

'Guy', Mod Club, September 17.

A take on the ’90s low-fi look - I like how he’s faithful, but there are a contemporary bent. Note the two plaid guys flanking him – we decided fairly early on to not feature plaid in the Guide (it’s reached a mass level that doesn’t necessitate further encouragement).

Rawiya Kameir, Mod Club, September 17.

Favourite oxfords in the world with a cute 1940s floral tea skirt.

Brendon Thomas, Mod Club, September 17.

A musician who has played with Zaki, Thomas is someone who can turn look after look (when I first met him a few years back, I believe he had a Mohawk). The light wash of his denim jacket (so ’90s) was something we saw pop up a few different places: as a short-prairie style skirt at CiRCA, a shirt dress at Sound Academy.

Anita Clarke, Bay & King, September 23.

We caught the I Want I Got style blogger on the street as well as at the Dark Glamour book launch at Ilori. She was the only exciting thing we saw from the Bay Street set. Clashing patterns can be work-appropriate!

'Girl', University of Toronto, September 24.

This girl was adorable! When we approached her, she was like, “Oh, I read EYE Weekly’s style section all the time, please don’t take a photo of me looking like this.” So whether or not she was truthful, it's still nice to meet a reader pulling a very simple and classic campus look.

'Old lady', Word on the Street, September 28.

Check the boots. The woman told us they were twenty years old and lamented that she hadn’t worn them enough.

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