Jessica

Jessica recently won NOW Magazine's Face of NOW and we talked about it in this Annex shoot.

Jessica: I'm really excited about being the face of NOW. As an actor, I never thought that I would have the opportunity to be on a cover of a magazine. I'm not super tall or skinny, but I still felt like I should go for it. Their editorial team is going to do a photo-shoot with me and I'm going to be in a NOW commercial. It's pretty crazy.

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

Jessica: My mother told me that "life is beautiful." In a time when I felt that important people were abandoning me, just thinking about that one quote allowed me to envision the brighter things that life could offer.

Follow Jessica on Instagram.

Sate

Sate: My style is black, powerful, bold and sexy. I'm inspired by risk takers who are unafraid of who they want to be.

TorontoVerve: What's the best advice you've been given?

Sate: My mother shared her sister's words, "It's in the struggle that makes life worth while." That reminds me that the struggle is never permanent. It's getting through that struggle that's worth it.

Sate is the lead singer of her own rock band. "People have described us as Tina Turner heading Black Sabbath," she says.  "Hard rock, punk and metal are a part of my soul."

Catch Sate's performance tonight at the Horseshoe Tavern.

Follow Sate on Instagram.

Sae

Jasper

Jasper: My style is practical, and just because something is practical, it doesn't mean that it can't look good. All my suits are custom made and I choose them based on what feels current. Nature inspires my fashion. You look at the seasons and the changes in colour. That influences the colour and fabric I wear.

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

Jasper: Everything has a time and place. That helps me be patient.

Heather

Heather: I love watching old Hollywood movies -- like those Busby Berkeley musicals. I'm really inspired by the style back then. The skirts were slightly longer and didn't show too much, but what it did show was very sexy. Christina Hendricks is also a huge inspiration. I love her style as Joan on Mad Men.

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

Heather: The best advice I've ever received did not come from a human being. It came from observing cats. I really admire their unconditional self love. Cats are always protecting themselves and are always looking out for their best interest.  They've helped me see what's important in life.

Heather Babcock is a poet and will be reading her work tomorrow at the Annette Street Public Library for their Authors in Conversation About Their Works event. Start time is at 6:30pm and the address is 145 Annette Street.

Girlie

Leila

Halie

Mike

Mike: To figure things out in life you've got to write stuff down. Write what you're thinking about -- especially if writing is what you do for a living. You need to always be writing to be able to understand life.

Jessica

Jessica recently appeared on the blog in August and I previously captured her street style in Spring 2010 and 2012.

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.

Nafeesa

Nafeesa: Social media distracted me so much. I'd be checking my phone every couple of seconds for notifications. It got pretty bad. I felt like other people's lives were affecting mine -- so I got rid of my iPhone 6 and got a flip phone instead. It's a real problem for my generation now. When I go out with my friends, literally, everyone's phone is out on the table. I don't regret getting a flip phone. It's nice not having any dependency on social media anymore.

Follow Nafeesa on Instagram.

Jade

Sarah

Sarah: My friends are much older than me. They always try to impart words of wisdom on my young self. They say, "Just do what makes you happy." You got to make yourself happy before you can take care of the rest of the world. 

Follow Sarah on Instagram.

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.

Olga

Becky

Becky: My mom is at a stage in her life where she just doesn't give a shit about what other people think anymore. It's hard, but try to do the same so I can comfortably be my weird and awkward self around people.