StreetStyle: Genevieve Bergman

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/01/2013 (5012 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An interior designer, Genevieve Bergman lives in Toronto but is home for the holidays. Spotted on Academy with some cousins, she was grabbing a coffee before heading out to shop for the day. Her esthetic is mixing old with new and blending rough and soft textures, not only with her outfits but in her design work as well. She loves coming home and making her mandatory trips to Value Village, whether it’s to find a new dress or to buy vases to place on the dining room table for Christmas dinner. Her neon pink hat popped next to her all black outfit on Friday’s sunny afternoon.

What she wore…

Hat — “My hat is from H&M — I live in Toronto but I’m back for Christmas.”

Coat — “This jacket is also from H&M, but I got it when I was in L.A.”

Vest — “This vest is from Cos in London. I put it over my jacket because I love layering things. I like mixing textures and materials. It’s a bit warmer in Toronto but when I come here, I tend to layer more.”

Blouse and bag — Zara in Toronto.

Boots — “Top Shop.”

Tights — “My tights I think are from Joe Fresh.”

Rings — “These rings are from Kensington Market in Toronto. It’s similar to Corydon Avenue here or the Forks. It’s a market with different vintage stores and local jewelry makers. In the summer they close down the streets so you’re only allowed to walk. It’s just a fun place to go out to on the weekends.”

Bracelet — “I was a bridesmaid at my best friend’s wedding and she gave us these Tiffany bracelets for being in her wedding — it says ‘love.’ The other bracelet my mom gave me; women in Africa make them and all proceeds go to them. She gave it to me for Christmas just as a little stocking stuffer this year.”

Fashion essential

“Black ankle boots is my problem; I have an obscene amount of ankle boots, probably about 20 pairs. I wear them even in the middle of the summer with little dresses. I feel like my style can be cutesy girly, so I feel I have to offset it with a black leather jacket and motorcycle vest. I like the contrast and the mix of the hard and the soft.”

Style inspiration

“Definitely street style is my biggest inspiration. I get inspiration from people and blogs I look at, and then some celebrities who take chances and wear different things that typically would be more edgy.”

Fashion tip

“I’ve always loved Value Village. I would frequently go there, finding vintage dresses and hemming them. And going to the Exchange District — I always used to go to Ragpickers.”

What would you say to a Winnipegger looking for great vintage finds?

“Go vintage shopping. Here it’s not as picked over as it is in larger cities like Toronto. In Toronto, the people who own the vintage stores go to Value Village first thing in the morning, grab everything and then you’re paying double the price for it, whereas here, if you know the days they get the clothes you can be really successful with finding vintage things in Winnipeg. I’ve been to Value Village since being back — every time my mom picks me up from the airport, I make sure my mom and I go. I go to all four points of the city to hit them all.” says Berman, laughing. “I pick up random things and my mom says ‘I don’t know what you’re going to do with that.’ Then I hem it or do something and she says ‘I would have never thought.”

Do you decorate your house and dining room table for Christmas?

“For our table I got a centrepiece this year. I went to Value Village and picked up these amazing different white vases that were different shapes and sizes. I got them for $30 for a group of 12. I love mixing old with new.”