Style Profiles

ROB

Occupation: Graphic designer (nun)

How would you describe your personal style?
Casual street style.

Where do you get your style influences?
Vintage looks, pop art, and everything in between. A lot of my influence comes from my background in art and design. As a side note, Andy Warhol’s been a huge influence on me, in terms of colour and repetition.

What can you tell me about your shirt?
It’s a ringer tee from American Apparel. I use a lot of American Apparel in my design. The quality of the shirt is excellent for screen-printing. I screen-print t-shirts, so it’s great for that.

How about the logo?
The logo is “nun”, and that’s my design company. I don’t actually sell these. It’s just for promotion for the show.

Your pants?
They’re old Levi’s. I’ve had them for a long time and they’ve worn really well. You can’t go wrong with a pair of Levi’s.

Shoes?
I’ve always loved the Converse All Stars. I got this current pair at Value Village for five bucks, and I couldn’t believe it. When I saw it, I said, “OK, this is for me.” And they were in almost new condition, so it was a great deal.

Is there anything you’d never be caught dead in?
Tommy Hilfiger.

How did you get into graphic design?
I’ve always been a creative person. I’ve always been attracted to visual things. And that’s sort of where it led me.

What do you enjoy about being a graphic designer?
For me, it’s a creative outlet. I’ve got lots of ideas always spilling over in my mind, and this is just a way for me to put it out there.

What are your interests and hobbies?
I love the outdoors. I teach snowboarding. I’m a snowboarding instructor in the winter. I do lots of running in the summer, and a bit of biking. I enjoy lots of indie music. I manage a band. So, yeah, I keep myself busy.

Any final thoughts?
I think people should keep using whatever outlet allows their creative juices to flow. If you have an idea, go out there and pursue it in whatever form that manifests itself.

Check out Rob’s designs at www.nuninc.com

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Jovanka

Occupation: Editor-in-chief of Rue Morgue, a magazine about horror in culture and entertainment.
My style: Rock slut chic.
Style influences: I don’t pay attention to what other people are wearing. I spend a lot of time in L.A., so maybe the bandanas hanging off of me, and the leopard prints, and the huge hooker shoes are a little bit more prevalent over there, but I don’t really (get my style influences) from music or movies or anything like that. MORE…

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MATT

Occupation: Musician
My style: Urban preppy chic. I’m trying to give people the impression that I’m fashion forward, but that I’m also conservative enough to introduce to your parents.
Style influences: Classic rock and roll, punk, new pop stars and singer-songwriters. I also follow a lot of men’s fashion magazines.
Hairstyle: It’s kind of a preppy rock star look.
Jacket: I love this jacket. I bought it at DKNY at an outlet in Pennsylvania. It was a totally random sale rack, and this was ridiculously discounted. I’m just assuming nobody in Pennsylvania wears camouflaged blazers, so that’s probably why.
Shirt: This shirt’s by a company called Salvage. They’re a label out of L.A. I actually bought it here in Toronto, but the first time I bought Salvage was in L.A. I got it for a photo shoot I did last year for my first record. It’s different, and I know there are only a few people in Toronto who’ve purchased this t-shirt. Not a lot of stores carried it.
Pants: This is just a basic pair of dark jeans from RW&CO.
Shoes: I like them because I can wear them with a casual outfit – right now, they need to be polished – and I can also wear them with a suit.
I once bought a t-shirt in Tucson, Arizona – I was down there for business. It was a pink Buffalo t-shirt and it had some neat designs all over it. I was like, “Great, I bought this in Tucson, so there’s no way anybody in Toronto would have it.” I was at the Drake one night after the K-OS concert, and there was a dude standing at the other side of the bar, wearing that same pink t-shirt. I had to avoid him the whole night. It was brutal.
I almost got beat up in Port Credit, because I had flowers on my shirt. I was on my way into a bar, and a guy was walking out of the bar. The guy was like, “Nice shirt.” I was like, “Thanks.” He was like, “Actually, I mean it’s really ugly.” And I was like, “…Okay, see ya later!” I was worried this guy was going to jump me. I just thought it was so ridiculous that someone would get offended by the shirt I wore.
I first got involved in music as a child, singing in a church choir. It progressed into something I started doing all the time. Playing piano, violin, guitar, doing formal lessons, classical training, and it eventually transferred into me taking a degree in music at the University of Toronto, where I studied voice. I released my first solo record last year.
My interests include riding my motor scooter, drinking and socializing, going to theatre, watching live music.
I typically listen to alternative rock, adult contemporary rock, and I like to listen to singer-songwriters.
I read the newspaper sometimes, and the internet. I don’t read books.
I like to watch shows on DVD (Dexter, Californication), because then I don’t have to wait every week to see a new one.
I don’t really have a favourite food. It’s kind of hard to have a favourite food in Toronto, I find. I like every ethnic food there is. I do not like goat cheese, or lamb. It’s not like I’ll eat it and I’ll puke, or I’m allergic to it, I just (don’t like it).
I’m kind of obsessed with staying in shape. Being fit. I’m always looking for some new way to motivate myself to stay in shape. I just bought a Wii yesterday, because I heard about the Wii Fit. A buddy of mine lost 30 pounds (using it).
In the future I’m going to keep making music, keep producing records, and keep touring. I’m going to try to do something new and different and innovative, because the music industry is such a competitive place to be.

Find out more about Matt and his music at matthumphreys.ca

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TORI

Occupation: Artist
My style: Funky classic. Really feminine, with a lot of clean, straight lines.
Style influences: I tend to not read any fashion magazines, and I don’t watch TV. I stay away from any media influence whatsoever. I basically wear what I like.
Deciding what to wear: I think about it before I get out of bed, actually. I kind of leave the closet door open and stare, and see what kind of mood I’m feeling.
Hairstyle: I like anything that’s a little asymmetrical. It’s really long on the one side and a lot shorter on the other. It’s kind of clean, and a little bit classic, but still has some edge to it.
Earrings: I love black and silver, even in my art, so I was totally attracted to them.
Dress: It’s really cute and kind of retro.
Shoes: I love these shoes. They’re so comfortable. Cute little round toe, really feminine, really girly.
I would never wear: Track pants in public.
Style confession #1: I love red lipstick. That’s one thing I never go without. I love contrast, and I think it’s very striking.
Style confession #2: I have at least 40 belts. It’s the perfect accessory to anything.
Interests: Exercising, swimming, running, traveling, reading, listening to music, just chilling.
Favourite music: Classic Rock. Lyrically, it’s so different than what’s coming out nowadays. There’s a lot of energy in it. A lot of fun energy, and just great musicianship.
Favourite reading material: I love Ralph Waldo Emerson. Anything on philosophy, and anything cultural. Art history is fascinating. Kurt Vonnegut is my favourite author by far. He’s just so dry and so fabulous.
Favourite food: Seafood.
Current obsession: Starbucks. I’m a Starbucks addict.
Being an artist: My mom was an artist, so I always grew up with her painting and creating while I was at home. There are no rules in art. You can express yourself freely, however you’d like. It’s limitless. I don’t like being confined, so I really enjoy art because of that. I have about 53 paintings now and I manage a gallery. It’s working out really well.
Goal: To continue to help artists to develop their careers, and bring artists more into the limelight in society. I would love to get rid of the term “starving artist”.

Check out Tori’s artwork at www.torimongrain.com

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JEN

Occupation: Painter, illustrator, visual artist.
My style: Refined, dark, quirky, edgy but conservative. I like dressing in a way where I can go and do anything.
My style is influenced by: Madonna, Brian Molko from the band Placebo, dancing, my mind.
Hair: Well, it’s out of my face. I can show off my awesome new earrings. I used to dye it a lot and I used to put in extensions myself. Different colours, like white or blue or pink. Now I’m just more concerned about the health of my hair.
Striped top: I picked it up for $5 or $10 dollars a few months ago. I like ¾ length sleeves a lot.
Sheer top: I like things that are functional, but that look nice, so I have a lot of these. You can wear them anywhere.
Pants: I bought these pants a long time ago for $10 dollars. They pretty much go with anything.
Shoes: I’m not into heels or anything complicated that’s hard to walk in, so I like something flat. But I do like the extra height, and I think they look cool.
Bag: It cost me $4 dollars at the Salvation Army. I love it because it’s got all kinds of pockets. I have a pocket for everything, like bus tickets, business cards, etc.
Favourite colour to wear: Usually, just black. I’ve been getting into white lately. Actually, I tried to stay away from that forever, because I don’t know how to do white laundry, but I guess I’m going to have to figure it out.
I would never wear: White pants. They make you look fat. And I just don’t think they’d look very flattering on me. And they get dirty very easily.
My interests: Dancing, hanging out with my boyfriend, watching British soccer, hanging out with my sister, doing stuff on the computer, reading.
How I became an artist: I’ve just always been that way, ever since I was young. I liked to draw everything. I used to draw the Jetsons, and my Barbie dolls, and stuff like that.
Favourite reading material: Non-fiction, the metaphysical, self-improvement.
Favourite music: I listen to all types of music, but I like to dance to EBM and synthpop.
TV and movies: Daytime talk shows, the Office (U.K.). I don’t like anything too unbelievable, so I wouldn’t go see Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, or anything like that. No flying dragons or wizards for me.
Favourite food: Spicy tuna hand rolls.
My current obsession: Thomas Rosicky. He’s a midfielder for Arsenal. It’s my favourite British soccer team. He’s really good. And he kind of looks like me. I think I have a thing for people that look like me.
More about me: I like to pretend I’m a German robot when I’m dancing.

Check out Jen’s artwork at www.worldfamousjen.page.tl

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