style is life

One of the most wonderful things about living in Toronto is the charm of its many hubs and Villages. On Queen West, one of the most stylish places in all of Toronto, it’s all about personal touch. On a recent trip to Kensington Market I ran into this stunning young lady, I felt she captured the true essence of the Queen West sprit so I decided to share. I was playing tour guide to a new friend I made on my recent stay at Hospital. I was fresh off of buying a pair of sunglasses that bare an amazing feel to Versace minus the price tag. I paid $5 and change if you’re curious. Like so many people I’ve met, my new friend Julita lives a mere 45 minutes outside of the city and had only been to Toronto 3 times in more than 15 years. I thought I was sheltered. She calls Mississauga home, a place known for Square One, a shopping center with a Time Square feel, the Mavis Road Outlet, and Hazel MacCallion, a feisty Mayoral figure that has garnered international recognition for her lengthy stay in office. Much like my first time in Kensington, Julita failed to see the beauty of the rustic appeal in such an unpolished place. On my first trip I recall trying to be very polite to my host Ginger, a colleague from summer jobs past. I thought the people were weird and that the entire place smelt like cheese and fish, how times have changed. I won’t say that those are my favourite things about Kensington (I’m partial to the cheap wears) but it’s all a part of the Kensington experience.

In my attempt to sell her on the place, I told her about Tom’s Place, the Jamaican place that has good Rotis and for personal touch, threw in that Ben Heaton, Chef Du Cuisine at ONE in Yorkville lived in the area and apparently loves it there. As I was mid spiel, along came this lovely young woman who fits the Queen West lifestyle to a tee. The bold nature of her 3/4 length Polka Dot dress pulled me in right away. I knew I had to take her picture for my Blog, possibly Newsletter. I prepped myself with my camera and business card and Julita and I chit chatted with a near by craftsmith who does amazing work with bone among other things while she finished her conversation with what I presume was a good friend. Her friend, armed with another of Toronto’s hottest accessories, a bicycle, engaged her for a while but I thought it was worth the shot to wait out the conversation. Trying not to hover but keeping a keen eye on their conversation, I half listened to the vendor who was peddling a pair of what looked like wooden earrings to Julita. As he convinces her to try them on and asks for my camera to take pictures of me (something I found bizarre), but that’s Kensington, a bizarre Bazaar. As he snaps away, she breaks away from her conversation; I take off after her and gestures to Julita to rescue my camera from the vendor. I kept the intro simple, name, Blog/Newsletter, complimented her lovely outfit, and asked for her picture. She was more than happy to obliged and even got rid of her canvas shopping bag when I asked, something I now regret. At the time I thought without it the shot would be more polished. Her bright pink lipstick and nail polish suggests she could be a temptress of some sort, but after our brief chat, she strikes me as a Teacher or even a Writer. Her accessories, a Bamboo woven handbag with chocolate straps and retro Ray Bans a la Tom Cruise in Cocktail were spot on. Her pink studded sandals pulled the whole thing together. Love it!

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