Avenue Magazine Calgary

I do not really have a fashion icon, although I admire Sarah Jessica Parker for her attitude toward fashion: her looks are fun, fearless, experimental and always flattering. I believe that my style and my clothes should work for my body, my personality, my mood and my lifestyle – and as I get bored easily, I rotate my clothes and avoid committing to super-expensive but boring pieces often referred to as “timeless”. My only style constant is confidence. I also think that a great posture and a friendly smile are critical fashion accessories – even the most stunning designer item looks lame with stooped shoulders and a sour face. I love Canadian designers and source them out whenever possible, because this way I come across many one-of-a-kind pieces, plus it feels right to support them. Yet, my style is heavily influenced by travel, other cultures, and art. I like incorporating ethnic touches into my looks and pick up much of my jewellery and accessories when I travel. Almost every piece I own has a story behind it, like my colourful “piano scarf” hand-knitted in a tiny shop in Buenos Aires, or a gold-tone necklace bought from a chatty artist in his studio in the South of France. My choice of clothes is often inspired by city landscapes, change of seasons and nature’s colours, although even the plushest of wool scarves doesn’t help me put up with Calgary’s long winters. I trust my instincts in putting my outfits together, and I am my only critic and authority – if it feels good, I’ll wear it. I grew up in the former Soviet Union, where at the time we had little access to goods and services, and one had to be quite inventive to look good and stand out from the crowd. I try to maintain and nurture that inventive streak. I also draw much inspiration from my daughter Miriam – at four, she is amazingly artistic and creative, and unrestrained by convention and any kind of boundaries. It is so much fun to play dress-up together!