Heather

"Whenever life gets you down, it's important to remember to face the darkness -- instead of trying to run away from it. Because you can never really run away from it. It'll only get worse. Turn around and face it head-on."

Heather is a musician who sings old country and blues cover songs. "Someone once said I sound like Joni Mitchell. That's a pretty big compliment. I started playing guitar because I wanted to jam with my friends around campfires, but now it's taken on a life of its own."

Her first solo show is happening tonight at Cafe Embargo in Parkdale.

Sophia’s Starry Style

Sophia Nasr is an astroparticle physicist with a flare for fashion and a steadily growing social media presence, largely due to her passion for the cosmos and her outspoken voice against inequality. We got together to talk about many things – both in and out of this world.

Sophia Nasr: This is a custom print dress from Shenova Fashion. They do a lot of science-themed dresses like Saturn and space-time warp prints. My dress is from the Millennium Simulation of the dark matter cosmic web. I got it when I graduated from my undergrad and wore it to my convocation. I’m now doing my PhD in dark matter at the University of California, Irvine.



TorontoVerve: As a child, what was the spark that got you interested in the universe?



SN: My mom used to take me out to see meteor showers. That really got me interested in the cosmos and black holes. I wondered if there was life beyond Earth. Dark matter was always a curiosity of mine. But it wasn’t always a straightforward path because I was living in my dad’s dream of becoming a medical doctor. But I inevitably found my true passion in university.

TV: Men dominate the faculty of physics and astronomy, but we’re seeing more women entering the field. What are some of the challenges that women face in the industry?



SN: It is dominated by men. At York [University], there was one female faculty member who taught a physics course. They were all great teachers, but sometimes you want to have a diverse set of role models. You want to be able to see people of colour and not just white men. I have nothing bad to say about York. It is a wonderful school and the people are great. But in terms of diversity, like most places, it needs work. The problem that women face in general is sexual harassment. There’s this thing called the “Whisper Net” where people share their stories about harassment among faculty members. They’ll tell you who to avoid, and that’s sad. If it’s commonly known that these faculty members are being inappropriate with students, then they should be removed. But they’re not – because of their status. It’s a tough world for women in physics.



TV: You once tweeted, "The more I discuss white privilege with white women, the more I see how difficult this matter is for People of Colour…”.



SN: Yes. When you discuss white privilege, the first people who deny it are white people. “How do I have white privilege if I’m poor?” It’s a systemic problem and you can’t solve it until white people acknowledge it. I hate when people say, “Well, colour doesn’t matter. I’m colour blind.” If it doesn’t matter, we wouldn’t be having these problems. 



TV: Well, it’s safer to say that colour doesn’t matter because then you don’t have to have those tough conversations about white privilege.



SN: Exactly. Talking about race is an inconvenience to many white people because it forces them to admit that there is a problem. 


TV: To resolve the shortage of women in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) industry, what advice do you have for parents to encourage their daughters to pursue these fields?



SN: Parents should take their daughters to the Science Centre. Get them excited for sciences. Don’t girly them. Tell them they can accomplish whatever they want. When I was a kid, I was good at math. But in middle school, I didn’t want to be good because it wasn’t considered cool. None of my friends were good at math. But my parents always encouraged me. Thankfully, girls today have many role models to look up to, like astro physicist Katie Mack and Space Gal, Emily Calandrelli. 



TV: Did you ever feel that you had to dumb yourself down to make friends?



SN: Yeah. I remember we had to do the times table, 1-12. And I was nearly done and my friend next to me still had a long way to go. I slowed down because I didn’t want to be the weird one who finished first.

TV: What are some misconceptions that people have about science people?



SN: People tend to think what we’re introverted, we all wear glasses and we don’t get out much. But we’re super diverse. Look at me. I’m not the only physicist who has purple hair. We’re into fashion and we love to socialize. I tend to get a lot of, “Really? You’re in physics? I didn’t take you to be a physicist.” Well, what do you expect a physicist to look like?



TV: So you’re doing your PhD at the University of California, Irvine. What’s it like living in Orange County, California?



SN: It’s great. The weather is beautiful and I feel much better there. And there’s a diverse crowd. My brother is an actor in California so I actually get to hang out with both actors and space people. I also plan on getting into the entertainment industry with my science outreach like my role model, Neil deGrasse Tyson. 



TV: Will you be looking for a guest spot on the Big Bang Theory? [laughs]



SN: [laughs] No. I actually want to do real science.

***

Follow Sophia on Instagram, Twitter and her website.

Jessica

Jessica: A lot of what I'm wearing is from thrift stores, sales or hand me downs. I just kinda put them all together. I like mashing things together that normally wouldn't be mashed together.

TorontoVerve: What's the best advice that you've received?

Jessica: To live in the moment, be present and appreciative of living.

I captured Jessica's street style 5 years ago near Kensington Market.

Hayley

Hayley: "Today I have a retro Brady Bunch look. I love their style."

TV: "What's your favourite moral lesson from the show?"

Hayley: "My favourite episode is when Peter Brady's voice is going through a certain change and they sing this musical number about going through change. The lesson was let change come when it comes."

TorontoVerve made #9 on Street Style News' Most Popular!

Petra, Rosie & Pastel Supernova

Petra: My style is urban rock. I inspire myself.

Instagram: @PetraLLC

Rosie: My style can be described as "Trash Barbie".

TorontoVerve: Who inspires you?

Rosie: Refer to the answer of your first question.

Instagram: @SugarTburlesque

Pastel Supernova: My style is urban pin-up. My mom inspires me. Most of the stuff I have either looks like the stuff that she used to have or is something she used to own. Her style is ultra-feminine.

Instagram: @PastelSupernova

The ladies are part of the Love Letters Cabaret and they'll be performing their burlesque show, Knockout, at Lula Lounge this Thursday, June 22nd.

Teaghan

I love shooting dance-themed photography — especially in dingy alleys. Here’s my shoot with budding singer, actor and dancer, Teaghan Young. 

Teaghan Young: The best advice someone has ever given me is: “Success is the best revenge." That’s what they said before they screwed me over and I thought, “Hmmm…good mantra. Now I’ll have to be very successful so you will not be able to avoid seeing me." [laughs]

TorontoVerve: You’ve got a list of names for those people? 

TY: Yeah. I just think it’s important to be nice to everybody even though you don’t like them because you never know where they’ll end up. Be nice to them until they give you reason not to. That’s what my mom told me.

TV: What does dancing mean to you? 

TY: I fell in love with ballet when I first started my college course. It’s peaceful and graceful, but powerful. You’re doing things that your body shouldn’t be doing, but you have to make it look beautiful. It’s almost therapeutic. I love tap and jazz dance, but ballet calms me. I’m never going to be a professional ballet dancer. I’m never going to be in a company, but I just love it. Ballet is the foundation of all dance.

TV: Who inspires you in the ballet industry? 

TY: Misty Copeland. She’s the first Black dancer to play the lead in Swan Lake. She’s so graceful and you can tell that she works so hard. Also my ballet teacher, Debbie, inspires me. She’s been with the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet and she’s done Broadway. She’s so funny and understanding. That’s how every ballet teacher should be. She gets that not everybody is built for ballet, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. She can also do any dance move in jeans.

TV: Is the ballet industry really cutthroat? 

TY: [Laughs] I don’t go to an exclusive ballet school. In general, the performing industry is very cutthroat. My program has a total of 150 kids in it. I made a family there. I know within my family it’s not cutthroat, but once I get out there, after I graduate, it’ll be a shark tank.

TV: In the movie Showgirls, the seasoned performer makes life difficult for the new kid because she feels threatened by her talent.  Have you ever encountered that kind of treatment? 

TY: Absolutely. I’ve encountered it a lot. It’s definitely hard to see a [newbie] sneaking up on your career.

TV: So what do you think of the TTC's "We Move You" ballet campaign?

TY: I think it’s awesome. I love the movement in their ads. It’s a great campaign.
 

TV: How do you feel about the controversy surrounding the campaign — specifically its promotion of unhealthy body images?

TY: I don’t agree with it. I think a lot of ballet dancers hear a lot of crap about their body. The women and men in the National Ballet of Canada are not thin because they don’t eat. They’re thin because they’re dancing 8 hours a day and they’re working out on top of that. I read an article where a woman said that it was an unattainable body type. I can understand the criticism if the TTC had skinny models in a photo-shopped ad, but those are the ballet dancers’ actual body. It’s wrong to tell plus-size people that they’re unhealthy. The same can be said about thin people. I’ve been accused of being anorexic when I was younger. Kids used to make fun of me. I know it’s not to the same extent as with plus-size people. It’s not inclusive praising one body type and shaming another. We should accept all body types.

Follow Teaghan on Twitter and Instagram.

Asha

Today we showcase singer Asha Pieper's impeccable street style shot in Dundas Street West.

Asha's street style was previously featured on the blog.

Check out her website and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Jason

Odessa

Odessa: I really like mixing patterns, prints and textures. I have fun with my style. I think people smile when they see me. Rockstars from the sixties, like Jimi Hendrix, inspire me -- like Jimi Hendrix. He had a casual elegance. He wasn't afraid to rip a curtain down and make a blazer with it. He had a special eye for finding beautiful things.

TorontoVerve: What's the best advice you've received in life?

Odessa: My mom said, "Be true to yourself." If you don't fit in with other people, that's OK. That's given me the courage to take risks with colour. I work in the fashion industry so I'm often standing against a sea of people dressed in black. I encourage people to go with their instincts and be free to express themselves.

Odessa is the fashion editor of Globe Style. Follow her on Instagram.

Alessandra

Alessandra's cool street style recently appeared on the blog. This time, she shows off her latest look in a rainy Graffiti Alley.

Lexi

Lee

I first captured Lee's street style in the summer of 2013. Last month, we spoke about men's fashion, racial stereotypes and the Donald.

Lee: Throughout my career, my uniform has been a suit. It complements my image. Having said that, I’m comfortable in anything. When I’m casual, I’ll wear cargo pants and a t-shirt like any Joe Blow going into Canadian Tire. When I’m cycling, you’ll see me in tight spandex; which I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d ever wear, but it’s functional. In business, fashion is like role playing. When I was a banker on Bay Street, I had to dress like a banker. Image is everything and it makes a difference. Despite skills, a person wearing the right suit can sell more than a person who isn't. That’s reality.

Lee: I find it amusing how differently people treat me based on my appearance. I once walked into a Home Depot dressed up and they addressed me by: “Sir, sir, sir.” I received the best service, but when I wore cargo shorts and a t-shirt, they treated me like a bum. There was no ‘sir’. You often hear people say, “Clothes make the man.” Well, those people lack confidence and are very insecure. I have insecurities like anyone else, but I’m very confident. I remember when I was a shy, short and fat kid. I’m turning fifty this year and I’m happy with who I am now.

 

TorontoVerve: I once interviewed a Black man who said the same thing. He wears fashionable or formal clothing because he wants that respect.

Lee: Yes, Black people still face overt racism. There’s that stereotype. Whereas with Asians — Chinese, Japanese or Korean — the stereotypes are: they’re smart, they’re good with math or they’re hard working. It’s racist, but a good form of racism. I’ve been in Canada since 1975. I’m more Canadian than Korean. A lot of people tell me, “You don’t have an accent.” Well, I’ve been here since I was nine. I think they’re dumb-asses for assuming I would speak with an accent.

TV: What’s the biggest misconception that people have about Asians?

Lee: Most people who don’t have experience with Asian men assume that we all like Asian women, Oriental food, have an accent, probably don’t play hockey or golf and don’t understand Canadian culture. Sometimes I hear, “You’re not Asian. You’re White.” It’s funny. They think it’s a compliment to say that. Again, I think they’re dumb-asses. I’m very Korean because I have Korean parents and my ex-wife and girlfriend are Korean. I can fit in whether I’m with Westerners or Koreans. I have limited Korean vocabulary so my Korean friends think I’m more Canadian than Korean.

TV: So you get it from both sides.

Lee: Yeah. People call me ‘banana’; which is yellow on the outside and white on the inside. In reality, I’m a Korean-born man raised in Canada so I’m naturally Canadian. Your first language is the language you dream in or do math in and my first language is English.

TV: Ok, I have to ask: What’s with the Trump button?

Lee: [Laughs] I knew you were going to ask me that. One of my best friends is a huge Trump supporter and when I found out, I asked, “What’s wrong with you?” Like most people, I think Trump is a sociopath, but most politicians are. My friend and I had great debates about it. I'm a conservative — I always have been. If I was American, I would be with the Republican party and he’s their candidate. In my opinion, both Trump and Clinton are shitty choices for President and between them, I’d vote for Trump. He’s the lesser of two evils. As a Canadian, I think Trump would be better for our economy. I think he’s going to f@%k up America and actually make Canada stronger. Some Americans say that if Trump wins, they’ll move to Canada. I’ve learned through good sources that major banks in New York say they’ll leave America if Trumps wins. They’re still going to do business in America, but they’ll move their headquarters outside the country. I personally think they’ll move to Canada. Who knows, the Bank of America could have their headquarters here. I’m a betting man and I would wager that Trump will become the President of the United States.

After Trump’s recent hot mic fiasco, that’s one bet I should have taken.

*** 

Follow Lee on Instagram.

Zeke

Zeke: When I moved to Toronto I only had two hundred bucks in my pocket. I eventually began producing TV shows, working for the Food Network and making something for myself by becoming a chef. Life's been good.

Check out Zeke's culinary art on his Instagram.

Kirstin

My mom gave me the best advice. She said, "Keep going. Never give in." I've had to deal with some issues. I was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder and my mom helps me deal with it. She helps me achieve what I want to achieve.

Yeelen

Yeelen: "I'm an actor so I like to be different people every day. Sometimes I'll be in a suit. Sometimes I'll be in a dress. Today I'm in both. I like to transcend hetero-normative style conventions. I define myself as gender queer. I don't really believe in gender and that's representative in my style."

"I don't really have style inspirations or follow style icons. Probably subconsciously I do. I like fashion from different eras and countries. Sometimes I like to be in an outfit inspired by the middle ages and other times I like to be in an outfit that's inspired by the future. This jacket is from the 70's, my shoes and tight pants are more modern. This is a woman's dress that reminds me of India. I dress 95% of the time in women's clothing."

TorontoVerve: What's the best advice you've received in life?

Yeelen: I learned this from the Pedro Almodóvar film, All About My Mother: “It costs a lot to be authentic. And one can't be stingy with these things because you are more authentic when you resemble what you've dreamed of being.” The price of being authentic in our society is high -- whether you're a person of colour or whether you're queer. When I dress this way, you might think it's interesting and want to take my picture, but other people may reject it and it'll bring out something within them that they're not comfortable with. Sometimes that can be dangerous. The more you fight for authenticity, the more you'll realize what your purpose in this world will be.

Follow Yeelen on Instagram.

Yeelen was at TIFF supporting his mother, director Guetty Felin, and her feature film, Ayiti Mon Amour. Felin has the distinction of being the first female Haitian director invited to the festival.

Ayiti Mon Amour trailer 

Charlotte

"My style is fun, colourful and retro-inspired. Old Hollywood musicals inspire me. I adore Doris Day."

Charlotte manages Tatyana Boutique on Queen Street West. Follow them on Instagram.

Simone

Simone: I get fashion inspiration from social media. I love model Slick Woods' style. I've never seen anything like it.

TorontoVerve: What's the best advice you've received in life?

Simone: My mom told me, "never regret anything because if you're happy, then every single choice you've ever made has brought you to where you are." Her advice has helped me look forward instead of dwelling in the past.

Follow Simone on Instagram.

Emily

"My style is laid-back, comfortable and simple. Chloë Sevigny inpires me. Her style is effortless and cool. She does what she wants to do."

Follow Emily on Instagram.

TorontoVerve made #10 on Street Style News' Daily Most Popular Chart!