Some of the world’s most stylish women are first and foremost musicians. As front-woman of Toronto indie band The Modern Superstitions, Nyssa Rosaleen knows a thing or two about formulating a larger-than-life stage persona, and dressing the part. In addition to her musical career, Nyssa moonlights as a model. She strut her stuff at Evan Biddell’s show at FAT (Alternative Fashion Week) and has posed in ad campaigns for several Toronto designers. I saw The Modern Superstitions for the first time in May and was blown away by the power of Nyssa’s voice and her strong yet feminine stage presence. I caught up with her after the show to chat about fashion, music, and high heels.

Where do you like to shop in Toronto?
I’d have to say my favourite places to shop in Toronto are Carte Blanche and the various vintage stores in Kensington Market and along Ossington. I usually aim for a combination of quality pieces that empty my wallet and lower quality pieces that don’t. It’s all about the balance; sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don’t.

What was your most recent purchase?
My Camilla Skovgaard heels. Spending that much money on shoes has made me a lot taller, a lot more comfortable, and a lot more stylish on stage.

What are you looking forward to wearing this summer?
It doesn’t sound exciting and it certainly isn’t very fashion-forward, but I plan on wearing a lot of cut-off shorts and button-up shirts this summer. I’ve been running all through the winter, and I reckon my legs have earned themselves a tan.

Who are your style inspirations?
As far as style inspirations go, there are a quite a few: Francoise Hardy and Marianne Faithfull in their 1960’s hey-day, Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, the pretty girls in Robert Palmer music videos, the cast of the terrible but amazing ‘Satisfaction’, Sharin Foo from The Raveonettes, and finally the ladies in ‘Mad Men’. I don’t think I’m apart of any specific style or trend. I like to dress up and look good, but the decade’s style I choose to adopt depends on the day.

Who are your musical inspirations?
My musical inspirations are quite varied; they range a lengthy time-span and myriad genres. I believe in the pursuit of the perfect pop-song, so, I’m a big fan of everything from the Phil Spector girl-groups and Stax records, to The Rolling Stones and T.REX, to The Smiths and The Replacements, and modern bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The White Stripes. I also get a lot of inspiration from books, whether it be the poetry of E.E. Cummings, or the essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson, or the prose of Roberto Bolano, literature always provides me with ample material. I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to lyrics so I try to get inspiration from as many places as possible.

How does music influence your fashion choices?
I think music and fashion are inextricably linked together. From the beginnings of rock n’ roll to the bespectacled indie rock of today, music has always influenced fashion. Since my favourite music spans from the bubble-gum pop of the 60’s to 80’s New Wave, to modern pop and rock n’ roll, my personal style kind of does the same. It’s a combination of British mod, sharp and angular 80’s, and the most recent stage stylings of singers like Karen O and Lykke Li. For me, fashion is the most important part of music next to the music itself. I think it’s disrespectful to appear on stage in shorts and a baseball hat. Music is performance. Fashion plays a key part in striking the right chord on stage.

By: Caitlin Agnew, Toronto

I just want to bring attention to my three amazing writers: Val, Chloe and Caitlin (left to right). I know I’ve intro’d them before, but they really do an amazing job and I’m continuously inspired by them. They each have their own personality and flare and have helped christielohr.com become what it is today.

Thank you ladies! I appreciate all your hard work. You deserve recognition.

xoxo

Christie

I’m excited to introduce you to Toronto correspondent Caitlin Agnew, who joins the team with previous fashion writing experience for a few different sites, primarily galleryfemme.com. Her first assignment is a Chanel makeup event tomorrow at Toronto’s Holt Refrew. Look for her post early next week.

She spends her days running the office at an all-girls private school and her nights exploring all of the hot spots the city has to offer.  Originally from Sudbury, Caitlin moved to Toronto to attend UofT, leaving after five years with a Masters degree in German Literature. Her idea of a perfect afternoon is strolling (and shopping) along Queen West, with mandatory stops at Carte Blanche, 69 Vintage, Deluxe Boutique, Chasse Gardée, and, of course, Clafouti for some chocolate croissant sustenance.  She loves chatting with friends over dinner and drinks at the Beaconsfield, Czehoski, and Oddfellows.  On a lazy, sunny afternoon you’re most likely to find her relaxing in Trinity Bellwoods Park with her miniature poodle, Oskar.

Being half French, it’s no surprise Chloe Berge’s favourite city is Paris and that she’s fond of fashion. This UBC Art History Graduate and ex Vitamin Daily intern also adores art, food, wine, and red velvet cupcakes, and spends her afternoons perusing the VAG and South Granville art galleries or getting her shopping fix on Main Street and West 4, in Gastown and at Holts and Aritzia to satisfy her denim cravings. On a night out, she frequents her fave restaurants Hapa Izakaya, Coast, Market, Glowbal, La Brasserie (for the truffle oil poutine), Cielo’s and Pearl on White Rock Beach. Having grown up there, she admits she’s still a bit of summer beach bum. But don’t let that fool you as she truly is a girly girl who loves buying herself flowers, treating her toes to pedicures and picking up a great red lipstick or nail polish for instant glamour. If you see her out and about, buy her a glass of champagne. She won’t say no to a good glass of bubbly.

Valerie Tiu is a freelance fashion writer and stylist, as well as the marketing and pr gal for local label Noir Bonbon. Gastown is her shopping hot spot, especially Nouvelle Nouvelle and Deluxe Junk, and her mom’s closet and Value Village are her go-to’s for some killer 80’s and 90’s pieces. When she’s not immersed in fashion, she hangs out with her best friends at Kingyo Izakaya on Denman, Trattoria on 4th or waiting in line for a meal-on-the-fly Japa dog. She loves spending an entire day reading books and blogs in bed while listening to pop hits of yesteryear and indulging in dark chocolate with sea salt.

Seems I’ve found two great gals to join my team. Welcome Chloe and Val!

Some call her Vancouver’s Megan Fox, and I don’t disagree. Erin Ireland is a host for FMA Entertainment Weekly, a spanking-new local show featuring the latest and greatest in fashion, music and art from LA to Vancouver. So if you want to stay up-to-date with trends, city hotspots, celebs and more, be sure to watch Saturdays at 10:30pm on KVOS (it’s not like you go out until midnight anyway).

Thanks to Miriam Alden at Brunette Showroom, Erin’s knockout threads are from Zanerobe, a sporty yet trendy collection that includes printed tees, denim and fun casual dresses, to name a few. Her flirty So and So geometric print skirt will transition perfectly into the warmer months and we can never have enough ‘little black tops’ such as this Gaelle tank. She’s also rockin Lisbeth Jewelry, a local line where you’ll find trendy New Age necklaces such as the crystal and unicorn, simple styles that include the heart and locket and delicate earrings that add style to any outfit (the heart studs are my fave).

Stay tuned for more Erin—you’ll be seeing a lot of her, and I’m sure she’ll be looking foxy.

Zanerobe is available at One of a Few, Purr, Privilege Clothing and more.

Lisbeth Jewelry is available at One of a Few, Fine Finds and Kiss and Makeup. For more locations visit lisbethjewelry.com.