Tanya Taylor
It seems that homages to 60’s mod culture are en vogue this year. Taking
the modernist movement into a more whimsical direction is Toronto-born
designer Tanya Taylor. Her Spring/Summer 2013 collection is a myriad of
vintage florals, pastels and a refreshing tinge mod prints – it’s an easy set of
covetables tailored for the elegant (yet experimental!) woman.
Taylor describes her own aesthetic as a balance between classic femininity
and urban masculinity, along with smart reinterpretations of silhouettes.
Layman’s terms: vintage woman through the modern eye. But, one look
at her pieces confirms one thing – all those fashion publications were right
about calling her label whimsical. Judging by her history and influences, it’s
easy to pinpoint same parallels.
After graduating from Parsons and a designer stint with Elizabeth and James
(an Olsen twin brand right under the hipster couture of The Row), Taylor
started her own brand. Though she may not necessarily be a neophyte in
the scene, Taylor still manages to bring freshness into the spring season. The
tailoring experience speaks for itself.
To Taylor, being in the fashion industry is a continuous learning process.
Contrary to the harsh inclusivity the fashion world is portrayed as, she
stresses the importance of kindness in the business. “I have learned that it is a
pretty small industry,” she says. “The energy you put out there is the energy
that comes back at you.” Wise words for any budding fashionistas to live by
– it’s all been there, done that for Taylor.