Style Profile: Ottawa West Fashion

Name: Fiona Mitchell

Age: 23

Occupation: Recent Graduate (translation: desperately seeking professional employment)

Site: Ottawa West Fashion, http://ottawawestfashion.wordpress.com

Location: Ottawa, Ontario

When and why did you start your site? 

I started the site in August 2011. I noticed there were not too many street fashion sites for Ottawa, and wanted to make one with a twist. The twist being featuring a specific area of Ottawa, the area where I live: Westboro, the West Wellington Village, and up-in-coming Hintonburg (hence the name, Ottawa West Fashion).

How would you describe your site?

My site has two focuses: The first is profiling street fashion. The looks, outfits and pieces that people throw on, without too much thought and run around to do their errands, meet up with friends or to go shopping in. I find these looks interesting because they reflect the individual’s personal style and they are not dressing for anyone else. It is also interesting to look at what is happening on major runways across the globe and then reevaluating which pieces and components of those trends filter down to the street level of fashion. The second focus is the stores and businesses in the particular area in Westboro, the West Wellington Village, and Hintonburg. These three areas are all stretched out on one long street, and have undergone dramatic changes over the last 5 years in terms of development and reputation. I enjoy promoting the various unique boutiques in these areas such as Victoire, Flock Boutique, Allegro, Red Velvet, Lida, Viens Avec Moi, AMH, and Rikochet Resale (there are more information on these stores on my site). I also make my readers aware of any sales or events that are happening in the area.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Since I feature street fashion, I get my inspiration from what I see people wearing around me. I am also very inspired by how people intergrate a more expensive basic piece such as a jacket or pants with affordable, or even vintage pieces such as tops, scarves, hats, purses, etc.

Who are your style/beauty icons?

My personal style icons would have to Dita Von Teese because she is an absolutely flawless beauty who exudes confidence and class, and Beth Ditto for taking wild fashion risks as a plus sized woman, which I find very inspirational.

Describe your personal style.

I don't take life too seriously, and that includes my personal style. I love vintage pieces such as shoes, purses and scarfs, but I also enjoy mixing badass pieces into my looks such as combat boots, or a necklace with a gun on it. I also never wear jeans, so I'm always either in leggings with an oversized top or dresses. I am also a huge advocate of sequins and own more sequin pieces than I probably should. 

What was the best style/beauty advice you were given?

That confidence is beautiful, no matter what you are wearing.

Where are your favourite places to shop?

Zaras, H&M, Victoire, Flock Boutique, AMH, St. Vincent De Pauls (second hand store), Joe Fresh, Winners, Urban Outfitters and Sephoras.

What are your favourite trends for this season?

While it’s not a fashion trend, more of a beauty trend, nude nails and accent nails. I love seeing all the nude and beige nail colors or nails where the ring finger is accented in a bright hue.

Style/Beauty Pet Peeve?

Plus sized fashion! It is such a personal issue for me being a plus sized woman myself. I can’t stand when designers take a dress that has been designed for a size 2, and make the measurements bigger for a size 14. The construction for a size 2 is different than what a size 14 requires, and often these dresses are extremely unflattering or boring! We need more designers designing for trendy, fashion loving plus sized women, and these clothes need to be in more accessible retailers.

What do you never leave home without?

My notebook. When I’m not blogging I’m an aspiring poet so I’m always jotting down random pieces or inspiration.

What are your five essential items that you think every woman should own? 

1)    Floral patterned vintage scarf

2) Classic pearl earrings (real OR fake!)

3) Combat boots for those days when you want to feel badass

4) Lacey underwear (confidence starts with the first layers)

5) Anything with sequins, because it’s fun to sparkle sometimes.

Where do you see yourself and your site in five years? 

Hopefully not living with my parents! In all seriousness, in five years I hope to be working in a professional environment leading me to a substantial and interesting career either in the publication or fashion industry. For my site, I am hoping to be able to profile street fashion no matter where life takes me, be it a different city or country. I would love to eventually, with time and commitment, make my blog a staple of this community and have many contributors and readers.

What's on your nightstand? 

Candles, incense, nail polish, and an empty Bridgehead cup.

Tell Petite Adventures readers something random about yourself.

I have a large collection of hotel soaps that I have collected over the years from various foreign hotels.

All images courtesy of Ottawa West Fashion.

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