It’s my first day in the office and I realized that today is my worniversary. Four years ago today I dragged a group of drunken kids from residence with me to attend the launch party of Issue 5 in Montreal. They ditched me soon after for a club, but I stayed, and marveled at the pages in front of me. My worniversary is pretty fitting, considering that my main job here as a publishing intern will be to get the word out about the magazine, so that more fashion lovers around the world will get that same tingly feeling I had when I realized that this kind of magazine exists.

I have recently graduated from the creative writing program at Concordia University in Montreal and am back in Toronto now, rediscovering the city I grew up in. In my free time I like to scour second hand shops for vintage dresses, old school barware, and records. I’m trying really hard to replace my television streaming habit with reading the books our editor has recommended.

Current Inspirations:

Elsa Billgren
I love this unique Swedish blogger’s style—most notably her rotation of vintage gingham dresses, stunning photos, and use of colour.

All This Happiness
Kater is a Toronto blogger with an antique look, a thoughtful writing style, and an adorably bookish personality.

Awkward Girlhood Style
My biggest fashion regret is that I didn’t experiment with my style at all when I was a teenager. (If I could go back in time I’d like to get back the money I spent at Aritzia.) I love Allison’s article where she describes her awkward girlhood and use of style as a “revolving door of identity.”

Here’s Looking at Me Kid
I get so lazy when it comes to interior design, but Amanda’s vintage home has inspired me to do something with my place… one of these days.

Martin Reich’s Films for Citizen Vintage
Citizen Vintage puts out innovative photos and videos to promote their shop. You can spot me in one inspired by the teen angst oeuvre The Craft.

photography by Jessica da Silva

My name is Jessica da Silva, I’m 17 years old, and I’m WORN’s first co-op student. I’m in my last year of high school and I plan on attending Ryerson University to study photography. As much as I love fashion, I consider myself to be very unmaterialistic. I love nature and hope to see the world someday — until then, I’ll be seeing it through the pages of National Geographic. I hope to become a fashion photographer and combine my love for nature and clothing through my work.

Current Inspirations:

Audrey Kitching
Audrey Kitching is a model/stylist/designer, and has been a role model of mine since I was 12. She has a blog and a clothing label that are both fun and very unique. Her blog posts include anything from vintage clothing to astrology, and are filled with fashion icons of the past and present.

Michael R Doyle: Moon Raven Designs
I am completely obsessed with these pieces. The accessories are all handmade in Canada, and they’re gorgeous. Michael combines jewelry with nature in a way that makes a statement. Mother nature is the world’s greatest designer.

Luanna
I love her grungy, yet feminine style.

“The Wall” by Pink Floyd
This album has been playing through my parents’ stereo religiously since before I was born. I remember loving the weird, sarcastic remarks throughout the album when I was young. (How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?) However, I couldn’t fully appreciate the album for its genius until I got older. It is unlike any others I’ve heard before. Roger Waters takes the world through his life’s demons consecutively from song to song so clearly one actually feels the emotions he had when writing. The film makes the album even better through crazy illustrations that will surely blow anyone’s mind.

Just Kids by Patti Smith
This is my all-time favorite book. It will open your eyes to the beauty of art and creation, while breaking your heart at the same time. Personally, I believe this is the greatest love story of all time, and has definitely influenced the way I view life.

photography by Natasha Bigioni

Hi my name is Alexandra, or Alex, or Alexandra2 as I have come to be known at WORN. I’m of Estonian-Chinese-English-Irish-Spanish heritage, and I’ve lived in the greater T.dot area all my life. I recently graduated from OCAD University, with a major in advertising and a minor in graphic design. My fashion interests began when I was born. My mother is a designer who often split her work with caring for my brother and I. From her I developed an incredible respect and appreciation for the handiwork and craftsmanship that can go into a garment — not to mention some awesome one-of-a-kind skirts and dresses, and the coolest Halloween costumes on the block. I have a particular panache for collage-ing and illustrative typography, and I’ve spent most of my life either in dance lessons, leafing through fashion magazines or snowboarding. As for my likes: I really love artichokes, Art Nouveau and Audrey Hepburn movies. I’m so excited to be working at WORN!

Current Inspirations:

Pandora
Incredibly fantastical sense of personal style, most of the time she appears like she is straight out of the work of Alphonse Mucha.

Souvenirs
Lovely whimsical fashion inspiration.

Friends of Type
Some seriously amazing and entertaining works of illustrative typography.

LetterCult
“Alphabattles” for illustrative type aficionados.

Atlantic Pacific
Another great personal style blog, with an awesome sense of colour.

photography by Samantha Walton

“Only Angela could pull that off!” is a phrase often followed by a hearty chuckle that I’ve heard all my life. Wearing unconventional pieces is not only one of my favourite pastimes, but it’s also my way of bringing smiles to strangers’ faces. Through Bananne Appeal, my handmade and mostly repurposed label of quirky fascinators, apparel, and doodads, I aim to spread playfulness in quotidian dressing.

I became glued to the sewing machine the way other kids were glued to the television ever since my mother taught me how to use one (and severely limited my television watching hours) when I was little. Many of my most cherished clothes come from my mother’s and grandmother’s closets. Inspiration for my ever-evolving sense of style is literally gathered from all over. I take my cues from everything from Japanese fast food to Australian school children and collectable German nutcrackers.

Special events are my other passion and as a result of my curiosity and commitment for them, I have been involved with Walt Disney World Florida, the CBC, Toronto Fashion Week, Pride Toronto, TIFF, and over a hundred bar/bat mitzvahs. After graduating from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) with a Major in Hospitality & Tourism Management, I worked in Corporate & Special Events in a cubicle while dreaming of traveling. Today, as a Flight Attendant who regularly gets to rummage the world’s thrift stores and still has time to sew and work for WORN as Director of Events, I have never been more satisfied.

Current Inspirations

Snippets - The Online Magazine for Cut Out and Keep
Cut Out and Keep is not only a treasure trove of ideas for those of us who like to make things, but it’s also a vibrant online community where you can share your creations and post your own instructions for unique pieces. The web-only Snippets magazine is full of great articles on uncommon topics to get your creative juices flowing.

New Dress A Day
Although Marissa’s self imposed challenge to blog about her daily adventures in repurposing a thrift store find for 365 days straight has been over for a while now, her blogging and sewing are still going strong. Her conversational style of writing and penchant for alliteration and puns keep her near and dear to my heart.

Jared Andrew Schorr, paper cutter extraordinaire
I have loved paper cutting ever since I was old enough to play with razor blades (under the supervision of my creative and mindful mother, of course). Thanks to extremely talented and dedicated paper cutter Jared Andrew Schorr, the craft is getting all of the limelight it deserves as an art form worthy of adult attention.

BUST Magazine’s blog
My favourite feminist magazine has come a long way since it first came out in 1993. Now with a fabulous blog of their own, there’s more BUST than ever to love.

Keep It Weird from The Etsy Blog
Keep It Weird is a collection of especially strange and therefore inspiring topics gathered under the Etsy blog umbrella. The weirder, the better, I say.

Design Sponge
As a soon to be first time home buyer, I am constantly looking for home decor inspiration and unique DIY how-tos. Although Design Sponge doesn’t focus on fashion, the brilliant images and ideas will easily influence you sartorially and are guaranteed to help you make everything on and around you just a little bit more charming.

photography by Samantha Walton