urbanorchard

When I met Sonia Rakchaev and commented on how much I loved her beautiful knit circle scarf, and she told me that she’d made it, I wasn’t the least bit surprised. I often find myself drawn to our city’s creative types when I’m out shooting, and Rakchaev, the designer behind urbanorchard, was no exception.  Her knitwear line is intriguing, funky and impeccably constructed—much like Rakchaev herself.  Rakchaev’s look is colourful and very much at ease. Her lovely accessories effortlessly enhance a simple denim shirt dress and funky boots. Some of her necklaces were designed and made by a friend from London and she added one of her own scarf designs as the cherry on top.

http://swervecalgary.com/2012/03/20/sonia-rakchaev/

Print Perfect

I was standing in line at Beano on a lovely Saturday afternoon when Silvana Chiasson breezed by. We immediately started chatting and admiring one another’s personal styles and I knew instantly that I had to capture her for Style YYC.

Chiasson’s look strikes the balance between funky and distinguished. It also doesn’t hurt that her beauty radiates from the inside out. During the few minutes I spent photographing her, we chatted about hair and fashion, I was delighted to learn that her energy is as enchanting as her personal style. From her funky haircut and colour, to her great jacket and coloured denim, Chiasson’s sartorial choices will always remain a favourite for me.

http://swervecalgary.com/2012/03/13/silvana-chiasson/ 

Pretty in...Orange!

After a long day of fairly unsuccessful style hunting downtown last week, I was about ready to pack it in when Ellen Close and her exuberant orange coat walked into my life. This lovely young lady—and said coat—was exactly the ray of sunshine that I had been waiting for all day.

As you may have already guessed, her fabulous jacket really was the attention-getter in Close’s ensemble. The colour is beautiful and the cut interesting. I also adored how the print of Close’s dress looks as though it were made  to be paired with her topper and how she layered her look for added visual appeal. To avoid looking over-the-top matchy, Close throws in a few unexpected elements. It’s a look that is prim without being too proper.

http://swervecalgary.com/2012/03/06/ellen-close/ 

Pretty in Pink

I had the pleasure of meeting (and eventually becoming great friends with) Amy Lynn Strilchuk a few years ago, and I can genuinely say there has never been a day when she hasn’t looked polished, put together and absolutely on point. Strilchuk’s style is distinct, colourful and very Audrey Hepburn inspired—so much so that her nickname is Audrey.

With a theatre background, personal styling credits to her name and a witty blog she’s sharing with the world, this stylish lady is only getting started as a style star. This particular outfit is beautifully colourful and exciting.  I’m sure Ms. Hepburn would approve.

http://swervecalgary.com/2012/02/29/amy-lynn-strilchuk/

Hearts

Sometimes, shooting street style is super-simple. (If you can stand the alliteration, that is.) On occasion I come across someone who is just so adorable she needs to be photographed. This was the case with Nicole Ortega. This lovely young lady exudes a fun and playful energy, which is clearly reflected in her clothing choices. From her heart-patterned cardigan to her bright coloured bangles, Ortega is a vibrant thing.

Ortega’s accessories—brown skinny belt, chunky-heeled short booties, a circle scarf and a great large tote—make her look. The dark grey wool jacket is a perfect winter piece that can be worn over everything, and the neckline adds a cool visual detail. Ortega’s look is as enchanting as they come.

http://swervecalgary.com/2012/02/21/nicole-ortega/

The lovely and talented Vincent Law

In this world there are those who do and those who watch. Vincent Law is definitely a doer. This 28-year-old Hong Kong native is not only a graduate student in medical studies at the University of Calgary and a television host, he’s also a talented visual artist, style blogger and undeniable presence on the city’s fashion scene. These are certainly not typical trades, but Law is a jack of all of them.

What are the interests and hobbies that make you tick?
Music is a major part of my life. I love singing and in 2007 I was in a singing competition held by a Canadian-Chinese television broadcast here called the New Talent Singing Awards. It’s an annual competition, with regionals held in cities around the world, including Sydney, New York, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Hong Kong. The winner from each city then goes on to represent their home town in the finals held in Hong Kong. It’s almost like Miss Universe for vocalists, and the winner receives a record contract. I made it to the top 10, but I didn’t win.

You did leave with a consolation prize, though, didn’t you?
Yes, the network liked me and I’m now a host for one of its television programs. It’s called Alberta Reports and this is my fourth year hosting. Over time I’ve learned a lot and they’ve given me a lot of opportunities to go out and do live shows. Now I’m emceeing the same competition that I was in a few years ago here in town, and for the last three years I’ve been emceeing the finals in Asia. It’s been fun and I’ve met so many people through this work.

Although you are a scientist, you are also heavily into art and fashion.

Well, as much as I like science, I’ve always been into the arts and culture. I’ve always had an interest in fashion and just love dressing up and being different. It allows me to be bold and express myself without even saying a word.

I actually went to an art school when I was in elementary, but stopped creating after high school. I’m trying to keep my art going now, so I’m working on finishing a series and my goal is to have a show in the next few years. I like to paint and I love pastel drawing. For me, it’s easier to manipulate and it’s a really great, underutilized medium.

You also have your own style blog. What is your goal with that?
I started my blog, binzentovincente.blogspot.com, as a platform for the artists I find to be amazing. I wanted to give them a little push to promote their work. I’m all about supporting up-and-coming and local designers. I want to expose them to the public and let people know about them.

Favourite Designers

Clearly drawn to the artists and the avant-garde, Law lists Vivienne Westwood, Yohji Yamamoto, Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyake and Martin Margiela as his top five.

Favourite Musical Artists

Faye Wong, Björk, Florence and the Machine and Roisin Murphy.

Collectibles

“I have a pretty extensive doll and anime collection. When I was in Grade 1, my mom bought me a doll and it started from there. A lot of these toys are vintage, and I have actually learned a lot about their histories over the years.”

The Highlight Reel

“I think the greatest experience so far was when I was able to cover the Gemini Awards a few years back. I met George Stroumboulopoulos and some people from Dragon’s Den, as well as Cory Monteith and Erin Karpluk from Being Erica. That was a highlight.”

The Cutting Edge

“I’m inspired by design—anything that looks unique. I think fashion and art interplay with each other. Fashion is how you put things together and mix and match your outfits. I think style is all about character and personality, and I’m not afraid to show what I like.”

Originally published in Swerve magazine 17.02.12.

http://swervecalgary.com/2012/02/20/vincent-law/