Once upon a time, honestly not too long ago, our barometer for fashion greatness was strictly bounded by flashy red carpet appearances and showy street-style snaps. Now, we recognize that strokes of sartorial genius aren’t restricted to those with fame, glam teams or access to a pit of professional photographers. In fact, our best-dressed nominees from across the country confirm that interesting and inspiring style is everywhere. Read on to learn about these phenoms and just what makes their fashion sense so damn good.
Simply put, Irene Kim makes getting dressed look fun. Maybe it’s because the stylist and fashion consultant doesn’t commit to any one approach; it’ll be a Dion Lee fishnet dress one day, a ballerina-esque vintage Lanvin tulle top the next. Perhaps it’s because she’s choosy with every single piece that makes it into her enviable closet. Either way, a healthy heap of high-end second-hand (care of Toronto institutions like VSP Consignment, 1132 Consignment and Mine & Yours) mixed with high street staples (COS and Uniqlo make regular appearances) plus the odd splurgy item equals total style alchemy.
Kaelen Haworth
Kaelen Haworth
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“Controlled chaos” is how stylist and creative director Kaelen Haworth describes her little-bit-of-this, little-bit-of-that approach to getting dressed. We’re more inclined to describe it as extraordinary. It helps that she has access to some of the coolest up-and-coming brands (Puppets and Puppets bags, novelty Haikure denim and Zankov knitwear) via her recently launched designer and vintage store Absolutely Fabrics. No matter what she’s wearing, it’s always highly considered—a work-ready Fidan Novruzova denim coat accentuated by mollusc-shaped appliqués, a silky Alémais set covered in hand-painted illustrations, or an oversized Margiela blazer coupled with even more oversized Diesel jeans.
Director Teaunna Gray is proof that a nearly all-vintage closet can feel wholly contemporary in 2023 and beyond. A self-described visual storyteller and community facilitator, she’s the mind behind vintage business Sunday Afternoon, and walks away with some pretty epic hauls (wear-anywhere leather jackets, multiple pairs of men’s jeans that she meticulously tailors). But the magic lies in the “surrealistic” proportions and unconventional layering she favours. For Gray, a devout slow fashion supporter, new purchases are always imbued with practicality: a fresh pair of sneakers such as some recent “life-changing” Asics, or layering essentials like TBL x Paper Label’s ribbed leg warmers for transitioning between seasons.
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Siphesihle November
Siphesihle November
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The country’s most mesmerizing ballet dancer also happens to be something of a style prodigy. Siphesihle November is a principal dancer at the National Ballet of Canada and a choreographer, and approaches fashion in an equally artistic and special way. At the TIFF premiere of Swan Song he put his own spin on head-to-toe Chanel—chain-trimmed leather jacket, meet chain-strap crossbody, black neck scarf and white socks—but his off-duty fits are just as likely to take centre stage. Ribbed tanks, baggy jeans and vintage leather jackets are all in his wide-ranging repertoire, though they always get paired up with an elevated styling element—a printed headscarf, Margiela Tabi boots, a fantastical hat—to get the standing O.
Kaysey Davis
Kaysey Davis
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Some of us adopted dopamine dressing when it became 2022’s kickiest buzzword, but the mood-boosting sartorial instinct has always kinda been writer Kaysey Davis’ thing. Fruit-punch pink, electric tangerine, a patchwork of denim washes: there isn’t a colour palette or a mega-voluminous silhouette that she hasn’t taken for an Insta-worthy spin. Size-inclusive brands like Eloquii and Anthropologie are her essential style resources, and one recent homegrown purchase has been on repeat: a vegan-leather trench by Hilary MacMillan in, what else, pink!
Kathi Ziolkowski
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Kathi Ziolkowski
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When you can’t find what you’re looking for, make it yourself. That’s what prompted photography agent and executive producer Kathi Ziolkowski (aka Kathi Z) to rediscover her love of sewing and create fits that fit her six-foot-two frame. Now, around 90 per cent of Ziolkowski’s closet is her own makes, including a dusty-pink jumpsuit made from Ikea curtains and a monochromatic wool look inspired by Phoebe Philo’s debut collection. After recently completing a course with master tailor Thomas von Nordheim and going all in on luxury deadstock fabrics from France, she’s tapped into a specific genre of soft power dressing that is muted and sumptuous in equal measure, calling to mind The Row, ’90s-era Donna Karan and Hermès in the Margiela years.
Ashley McKenzie-Barnes
Ashley Mckenzie-Barnes
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Dress codes be damned—that’s the motto for Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, a creative director, curator and the founder of D.PE Agency. This pluckiness, especially from a frequent out-on-the-town step-and-repeater, comes from the confidence of someone who is wholly sure of themselves style-wise. A mostly monochromatic uniform helps, too. The always on point ingredients: Breezy but perfectly tailored separates (roll call: Prada, Alexander Wang and The Frankie Shop), a rotation of custom Coup de Tête hats and a stack of jewels (a black diamond David Yurman chain, talisman necklaces by Pyrrha and a Tiffany & Co. bangle are standouts).
The style Venn diagram of elegant, thoughtful and modern is a hard one to ace, but Britt Barkwell always does it. She’s registered that a really great wardrobe is a simple one, something she’s put into practice as the co-founder of Toronto-based womenswear brand T.LINE, a staple amongst similarly smart dressers. With her own line’s crisp cotton shirting as the starting point, the rest of her go-to pieces just fall into place: vintage jeans, Scandi-designed outerwear, heirloom-like jewellery from in-the-know brands like Lié Studio and Agmes, and flat Chanel slingbacks that go with everything.
Corteon Moore
Corteon Moore
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We’ve been saying it for decades, but capturing the word “cool” in any tangible form remains elusive—you just know it when you see it. Enter Corteon Moore, a Toronto-based actor who makes easy work of embodying that effortlessness. His refined taste in brands (A.P.C. denim, fun Marni eyewear and Bottega Veneta puddle boots) is only bested by his quietly playful pairings. One favourite example: He paired a vintage Dallas Cowboys jersey with Stussy dark-denim shorts, athletic socks and a second-hand pair of dress shoes.
Reva Luft
Reva Luft
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Much like Zoë Kravitz and the Olsen twins, Reva Luft’s style IQ feels innate. With references to the aforementioned icons’ everyday looks as a foundation, the personal stylist fashions easy-to-follow formulas for her devoted followers and clients that just feel right. The throughline: Invest in perfectly made classics and you’ll always have something chic to wear. She practices what she preaches, wearing where’d-she-get-that pieces on the regular: languid wool coats by Sportmax and Toteme, a slew of fabulous footwear picks (Le Monde Beryl, The Row and Nike are favourites) and a memorable cherry-red Rosetta Getty suit with a defined waist and wide sleeves that she scored on TheRealReal.
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