Welcome Dominique! Listen up people because today’s Friday Focus knows the ins and outs of Canadian fashion and is about to share all of her little tricks which, trust us, make for a very cute outfit. From her life as a BCBG insider to her studies of the fashion industry, this Toronto native knows just how to make a casual look avoid the slop! And to give you an idea of how passionate this one is about style, she capped off our chat by saying, “I dress for myself, I can’t draw, paint or anything along those lines so I look at fashion as my art and love using it as a way to express myself.”

GO TRY IT ON: Teach us a bit about how fashion varies from city to city in Canada. Is it like in the US where fashion differs from LA to NY? 

DOMINIQUE: I love Canadian style because it’s so different from the states. We have great local brands that set our style apart. Montreal and Toronto are very different. Montreal style is laid back and fearless, they will try anything once and have access to incredible boutiques. Toronto much more conservative; we stick to our basics and play around them with more. We’re all about uggs and Canada Gooses here. 

GO TRY IT ON: What shaped your interest in fashion? Are your family members style mavens like yourself? 

DOMINIQUE: I am very lucky to have two sisters because I have access to three wardrobes. My younger sister, who is 15 and in high school, wears a uniform so fashion isn’t on her radar. My older sister is a makeup artist and is into funky and wild styles that make me totally jealous. She has the ability to  pull off looks I could never and loves fashion from every aspect. Because our dad is an actor and our mom a writer, our creative background has encouraged us to express ourselves and experiment with fashion.

GO TRY IT ON: Where else have you lived in the world besides Toronto and how did the fashion change in each city? 

DOMINIQUE: I’ve lived in New Zealand, California and Vancouver but was very young so my wardrobe consisted of shorts, Disney princess t-shirts and jelly’s. I often travel to and from L.A, New York and Chicago. I adore the look of bundling up in peacoats, scarfs up to your ears, and skinny jeans but the warm climate look in L.A. of high waisted cutoffs shorts, sneakers, messy hair and flowy tops are my thing! Style seems to change from city to city based on both climate and the local fashion industry. I must get to Australian because the fashion their is perfect. 

GO TRY IT ON: Why did you choose to work at BCBG? 

DOMINIQUE: I adore BCBG! They are the best at what they do and have mastered the market of wearable party dresses you need in a pinch which I have found really intriguing—and the fit is like a glove. I wasn’t familiar with their ready-to-wear until becoming an employee but now can safely say half my wardrobe is BCBG.

GO TRY IT ON: Are you in school and what are you studying? 

DOMINIQUE: I study Fashion Marketing and Merchandising and am interested in the business side of the industry because it’s the best way to do what I love (I never had the skill to design!) This semester I learned that in the 1400’s, Italians came up with the term “planned obsolescence” which means to throw away clothes before they’re worn out—something we base our entire wardrobes around which I found so fascinating. 

GO TRY IT ON: How would you describe your style and how do you put it together?  

DOMINIQUE: My style is touch and go. I love the laid back beach-y hipster look but I also love a polished and dressy look which is what I wear to work. My style jumps around a lot between work and school so I am still coming into my own style. I’m turning 21 this year so it’s a growing period which has put my style into an odd, growing up phase, it’s a lot of combinations at the moment.

GO TRY IT ON: Do you buy what you need or what you like and then just make it work?

DOMINIQUE: I’m big on buying what I like, there’s really no method to my closet’s madness. Sale is my favorite word so I tend to wander into stores then and grab what I like. Lately I’ve been shopping mostly at work, our new fall line is my current obsession but also check Urban Outfitters weekly. If you plan out what you’re going to buy, you limit your options.

GO TRY IT ON: Where do you get inspiration? Do you take away tips from your peers? What is the last thing you remember seeing an outfit on someone you had to try?

DOMINIQUE: I love street style blogs and tumblr has great fashion inspiration. Many people assume fashion school is a bunch of incredibly fashionable girls strutting around in heels, I expected that too my first semester. However, we mostly spend our days in back to back lectures and wear jeans and flats. It is definitely inspiring to be surrounded by people who share the same passion as you but also understand that sometimes leggings and huge sweaters are acceptable.

GO TRY IT ON: What is one thing in your closet that you CAN’T live without? 

DOMINIQUE: A silk tunic from BCBG. It’s off white and has a gorgeous drape. I can dress it up with dark skinny jeans and my new litas (that are quickly becoming my “can’t live without item”), a high waisted skirt or leggings and a cardigan. 

GO TRY IT ON: How do you pick out your outfit each day? Take us though your “getting ready” thought process.  

DOMINIQUE: I am a huge fan of night before. When going out, it’s a much more complicated process where I try on everything I own, post tons of photos to get feedback from the Go Try It On community and then settle on the first thing I put on. A lot of people believe that women dress to impress men or show off to other women. I dress for myself, I can’t draw, paint or anything along those lines so I look at fashion as my art and love using it as a way to express myself.