Interviews

With a passion for ladylike silhouettes and sweet pastel shades, Toronto designer Miriam Baker is known for flattering the female figure. At Toronto Women’s Fashion Week, the homegrown designer (who studied at George Brown College and Ryerson University’s School of Fashion) presented a new Fall 2017 collection. We spoke to her backstage about her creative inspiration, sartorial influences and more.

As a designer of intricately embellished eveningwear and bridal gowns, Mikael D (who was born Mikael Derderian) is recognized for crafting Canadian couture. Recently, Real Style spoke to Derderian backstage at Toronto Women’s Fashion Week Fall 2017.

Canadian designer Rachel Sin recently showcased her new joint Spring 2017/Fall 2017 collection at Toronto Women’s Fashion Week. Following the show, Real Style spoke to the designer backstage about her label’s creative vision, signature aesthetic and her definition of killer sartorial sense.

Calgary-born design talent Paul Hardy first entered the industry in 2002, with a debut show at Toronto Fashion Week. Fifteen years later, the humble, soft-spoken and meticulous Hardy recently presented his latest collection at FashionCAN at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Read on to learn more about his thoughts on the leading Spring 2017 trends, his passion for layered materials and the iconic designers who have helped to inspire his craft.

As the creative force behind Toronto eveningwear label Narces, Nikki Wirthensohn Yassemi is known for her love of illustrious dresses. Recently, Real Style spoke with Wirthensohn Yassemi at the FashionCAN Pop-Up Shop at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. From her favourite fabrics to collaborating with her inspiring mother, the local talent spilled on the story behind her fairytale designs.

With their vivid colours and playful, youthful aesthetic, Jeanne Lottie purses certainly stand out in a room full of neutral accessories. From discovering the art of crafting a handbag to her favourite new trends, here’s what Ip had to share with us about purses and far more.

With Valentine’s Day upon us, fashionistas everywhere will surely be slipping into their finest lingerie to mark the occasion. Real Style recently caught up with Ashley Holden and Amy Pearson, co-owners and founders of Toronto boutique Stole My Heart. From finding pieces which suit individual tastes to their essential undergarments, Holden and Pearson offered their advice on body positivity and new lingerie trends.

With her signature modern yet perfectly feminine pieces, 30-year-old Canadian designer Tanya Taylor could very well be the next rising star in the fashion world.

Real Style spoke to talented Canadian jewellery designer Niki Kavakonis about her jewellery journey, preferred gemstones, creative icons and more. From incorporating architectural elements into her work to using 3-D technology to create her baubles, here’s what she had to share with us.

Hayley Elsaesser’s brightly coloured and flashily patterned designs have made her one of the biggest Canadian designers at the moment, with celebrities like Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus sporting her designs. Real Style caught up with the talented fashionista to chat about holiday trends, travel essentials, and dressing for the weather.

With the holidays looming ahead, trendsetters will soon be perfecting their outfit choices for Christmas dinner and festive functions. As we comb through our own closets here at Real Style, we decided to catch up with Yahoo Style editor-in-chief Joe Zee about his favourite holiday fashion picks.

With the countdown to Christmas officially upon us, we spoke to our Winter 2016/17 cover girl Wendy Crewson about her favourite gift giving suggestions. From the rapidly approaching holidays to winter birthdays, here are her must-have gifts for the season ahead.

With her penchant for neon hues and splashy prints, emerging Canadian designer Hayley Elsaesser is a firm believer in the cheering powers of vivid hues. Real Style spoke to Elsaesser about her best tips for wearing bold colours this season, how to rock wintertime pastels and more.

As an established Montreal-based designer, Marie Saint Pierre founded her eponymous luxury fashion house in 1987. Real Style caught up the Canadian fashion guru about her romantic Fall 2016 line, passion for jewellery and most poignant early sartorial memory.

In 2010, Canadian designer Christopher Paunil founded his eponymous label, which has since become synonymous with ethereal bridal gowns and graceful eveningwear. We spoke to Paunil and his business partner Chalo Hancock backstage at the recent FashionCAN show at Yorkdale Shopping Centre.