INTRODUCING: VANESSA

Vanessa and I first met in person back in May at a clothing sale that we were both taking part in but we've been following each other on Instagram for a while now. Her bold personal style is what first drew me to her on social media - it's a fantastic mix of colourful athleisure and retro '90s pieces. Meeting people that you follow online is a unique experience. People either surprise you by being nothing like they appear to be online or it feels like you've been friends for awhile and you're able to skip the awkward stages of getting to know someone. Meeting Vanessa was the latter.
Vanessa is an extremely creative and passionate person in all aspects of her life and she expresses herself through dance. As someone who's rhythm and coordination can only be compared to a drunk toddler, the world of dance is a world that I know nothing about but Vanessa is amazing at explaining every aspect of it - from what it means to her, to why it's important, to different genres and steps - she has a wealth of knowledge on the subject and she never makes you feel left out and silly for asking questions.

She is currently teaching at The Flava Factory in Wellington West and this is what she had to say about why she started dance and why she's so passionate about the art:
I have been dancing since I was a kid, but started taking lessons in the studio around age 12. I grew up listening to various types of music, but hip hop resonated with me the most. I didn't officially start teaching until I was in my early 20s and that was through my boss at the time putting trust in my talents and giving me the opportunity to teach. While I was in University I took a brief break from dancing, due to me listening to other people's opinion saying it isn't a real job and in my final year, I ended up working at a dance studio. During my time at the studio, it reignited my love for dance but also opened my mind to various styles. I mostly focus on Hip Hop and House. But I like to learn the foundation of various street styles. Once I moved back to Ottawa, I kind reconnected with old dance contacts and then met new people and ended up at The Flava Factory. I now teach solely at The Flava Factory and do workshops in schools here and there. I teach the Intro and Inter Hip Hop classes at the studio. I'm passionate about dance because as someone who doesn't consider themselves to be that strong in verbal communication; I am able to express myself through dance. It's always another awesome way to learn about other cultures. Understanding the music and history of these various dances helps you to be that much more open minded.

The Flava Factory Vanessa's Instagram

EIGHTY-FIVE/ confessions of a bag lady

I read this interesting article not too long about about shoe people vs handbag people and how they approach fashion. When I finished reading the article I just sat there and stared at the screen; it was like a rude awakening. I was truly a shoe fiend in my younger years but my love for bags has come up swinging recently. After reading that article I thought about the progress of my personal style and I found that since converting to a bag lady that I definitely let my bags be the focal point of my outfits. It's no secret that I adore dark coloured basics and designer purses - if my personal could be summed up in a sentence it would be that. But it wasn't always like this and I'm a bit confused how this came to be.

In high school I had a sneaker collection that would make you sick. I had sneakers in every colour and for every occasion. As I evolved I branched out from sneakers - I dabbled in boots, flats and for a short time, even heels. I even used to work at a shoe store so I that I could have access to the latest and greatest kicks on the market. Back in the day I cared so much about my actual clothes and I would try to wear outfits that would coordinate with my footwear to ensure that I stood out as an individual.

Maybe it was all just a phase but I've definitely seen a shift over the years. Now, I let my bags do all the talking. I'm still trying to figure out how to process this information and some days I even feel like a failure in the world of fashion. When I think about my personal style I wonder why I can't have it all. Is it so hard to mix a statement shoe, killer clothes AND an amazing handbag on top of that? Is that just too much fabulous for the world to handle, you can only restrict yourself to one look or the other? Is it just me? Am I just that lazy? I can never imagine myself giving up my admiration for handbags but I want to start in-cooperating more intricate and beautiful clothing and shoes into my daily routine as well. This adventure in personal style will definitely be a journey and it is one that I fully intend on going on with a fabulous handbag still by my side.

For the simple look pictured below I just wore a soft white blouse, my favourite black skinny jeans from Forever 21, a classic denim jacket, a lightweight scarf, a pair of glittery Converse and the new love in my life - my 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli. Although it is still rather basic, I tried to throw on a pair of statement shoes to match the hardware on my bag so they compliment each other. My style is definitely always evolving and I'll always be a work in progress - but such is life.

JACKET/ Old Navy TOP/ Addition Elle JEANS/ Forever 21+ 

SHOES/ Converse (gifted) SCARF/ H&M via Consignment

HANDBAG/ 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli (medium size)

Photos by Laura Kidd