After graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program, I took some time to volunteer and travel in Southeast Asia. When I returned, I worked for just over a year at an Ottawa-based non-profit. This fall, I decided to move to Toronto and enrolled in Centennial College’s Book and Magazine Publishing Program, which is where I’m now happily spending my days. My fashion experimentations peaked at the age of eight when I would mix patterns and neons so obscene that my mum and sister would beg me to change my clothes before school every morning. I haven’t achieved such levels of greatness since, but am still an appreciator of anyone who takes fashion risks. I can tell that my time spent in the world of WORN will be filled with many new inspirations!

Current Inspirations

Copenhagen Cycle Chic
Pictures of people looking amazing while cycling through Copenhagen snow storms make me feel a little guilty about my winter hibernation tendencies.

Sally Jane Vintage
Lots of pretty vintage finds from this Pennsylvanian blogger. I’m always finding out about other blogs and sites through her links.

Luxirare
I’m grateful to my friend Jasmin for introducing me to this site. Killer clothes + fine cuisine = two of my favourite things in one place. The food posts make my jaw drop.

Lungfuls
I don’t know who creates this blog, but it’s always filled with beautiful photos, fashion spreads and videos.

Book by Its Cover
Ok, this one’s not exactly fashion related – but a good book can make a great accessory! I love the handmade ones on this site.

Seven years ago I found my way to Toronto after completing a fashion design program and eclectic array of university courses out west. I then studied merchandising, and have since worked doing everything from sewing to window display to waitressing to management. Really, though, my fashion education began in the very early eighties, when I skipped Kindergarten to go to work with my mom at her clothing store. I wiled away my fifth year crafting, reading and playing store DJ (that meant Culture Club on repeat). I guess it was good enough to get into grade one! My fashion inspirations come from many places - particularly old patterns, sewing and costume history books, and vintage album covers. I also like the thrill of the fashion hunt and making unloved garments happy again. When I first picked up Worn a few years ago, I was tickled to find such a smart fashion publication, and I’m excited to be here.

Recent Inspirations:

A Design Affair
Illustrator/Graphic Designer Sari Victoria’s inspirations, including many photos of New York window displays

Ysolda Original Patterns
Scottish Knitting designer Ysolda Teague makes me want to go to a stitch ‘n’ bitch in a cute Scottish Pub!

Design Sponge
Lifestyle driven, but I’m a sucker for “before and afters” as well as their Past and Present column

Vintage Sewing.info
Access to vintage sewing publications, Let’s make some gloves!

Lisa Solomon
Illustration, doily Drawings and rifle targets – interesting art subjects and mediums

I come to WORN via Edmonton, where I grew up as one of the few liberals in Alberta (an exaggeration yes, but it does feel that way sometimes) and harbouring a great passion for the arts. I thusly found myself in Toronto doing a Masters in Art History and landing at a local auction house (where I occupied my time by spending more on vintage jewellery, furniture, and art, than I actually made and coveting pieces of great design). I am a major consumer of visual culture. Give me fashion, art, movies, TV, music, books, and politics. If it is visually engaging in the least bit I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame. This can be directly attributed to my upbringing. I was watching MTV as soon as I was able to sit up, moving quickly to movies (where I delightfully exclaimed “Such a big TV!”). Here my mother thankfully gave me a comprehensive education in classic film. I regularly watched Fashion File with Tim Blanks when I was still in elementary school and was a shopping addict at an early age. Frequent trips to India taught me the lessons of beautiful textiles, fabrics, and colors. Finally, the lesson that the power of an image is subtle yet great has been well learned through my lifelong addiction to politics.

Current Inspirations:

Temperley London
Not really a site or a blog, but still inspiring none-the-less. This has to be the best, and most intriguing promotional film for a collection I’ve seen in a long time. It’s just really cool.

Fashematics
A fantastically cheeky take on contemporary fashion.

Nature Morte
A really great contemporary art gallery in New Delhi. As I am currently going through a major India withdrawl (I just really want to jump on a plane to India), this has gotten a lot of my attention lately. Indian contemporary artists are doing visually fantastic things. You will not be bored by the works presented here.

The Moment
This blog for the New York Times style magazine T is a really great place to go for the latest in fashion, design, art, and pretty much just cool stuff. I really enjoy the range of stuff consistently covered here.

Asian Fashion Blog
Did I mention that I have a burgeoning desire to hop on a plane to India? Well this is a pretty good blog dedicated to current Indian fashion. As there is a dearth of decent Indian fashion blogs this is a great place to go to see what’s going on in Indian fashion.

It was not more than a few months ago that I graduated from a high school located in a quaint village in south western Ontario. Growing up in that charming village I spent most of my time at my mother’s dance studio dancing, bicycling and making outfits to disgruntle the ancient demographic. I suppose it is these experiences and a summer in New York that now have me set on studying fashion design. However, before next fall when I settle in to the world of post secondary education , I intend to get some good old fashioned life experience. That is why I find myself here at WORN.

Current Inspirations

DossierJournal online - This online version of Dossier, which is focused on a smart combination of art, fashion and literature, seems to serve me endless anecdotes as well as information about interesting people and their creations.

My Parents Were Awesome - A cheerful collection of photographs depicting the parents of the past. Most often the pictures are accompanied by humourous tidbits that would make anyone smile at any time of day.

Smarthistory - A “multimedia web-book about art and art history” that I always reference. It is a comprehensive website that is useful when researching fashions that were documented within traditional art forms.

Showstudio Archives - Okay, hardly obscure but highly addictive. I mainly enjoy the assemblage of fashion films along with the lectres that are sponsored by places like the Victoria and Albert Museum. I always learn something new.

Dream Create Inspire - This fashion illustrator profiles others in her profession, scours the internet for “how to” fashion illustration videos and has created a comprehensive database of inspiration for fashion lovers and artists alike.