The first time I ever encountered fashion and still life stylist Tricia Hall, she was working her magic backstage at a VAWK fashion show, and I was stalking her with my camera. I’ve since witnessed her at work numerous times – and even had the pleasure of being styled by her once – but I’m still as fascinated as ever by her and the incredible work that she does. And if you aren’t already as well, I have a feeling you will be too – read on.
How did you get your start in the fashion industry?
My background is in fashion design; I have a diploma from George Brown. Before that I was doing a lot of visual display, window display and in-store merchandising, for stores like Gap, Jacob and Bootlegger.
What’s your first fashion-related memory?
It would have to be the first time I worked with [Toronto and Montreal-based fashion photographers] Lily & Lilac and [our editorial Indian Summer] got picked up in Strut Magazine. It was a submission, [and] I was so confident that the story was going to be picked up. I was so brazen: I pulled some great designers from great stores, and I told them, “Yes, we’re doing this for Strut Magazine,” because I just believed that it was going to be picked up by Strut. And it was! To this day, it’s a favourite editorial any time I show my book to clients, [and] my agent loves it. It’s always in my portfolio, and [it] was from 5 years ago.
Between the different types of styling that you do (editorial, still life), which do you prefer?
Editorial is definitely more fun, because it allows [me] to create and collaborate with all these creative minds. It’s like another art form to me. People have their paintings, expressing with brushes and strokes, and different mediums like oil and watercolour. For me, it’s playing with textures and layers and incorporating hair and make-up to create this picture, work of art.
What’s the best part of your job?
I like always working with new people, models, photographers, clients. I can get very restless if I’m doing the same thing over and over, so I definitely love the variety. Never the same thing twice in my job.
If you were throwing a fashionable dance party, who would your three guests-of-honour be?
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, [because they’re] cool, low-key type of people. I’m very low-key. Alexa Chung would be interesting too. I find her style down-to-earth and unpretentious, even though she’s always decked in designer duds. Maybe it’s because she comes across that way as a person. [Fashion editor of Wonderland Magazine] Julia Sarr-Jamois – she definitely inspires me. Her style is uncomplicated but interesting. It never looks too contrived. I also love her hair. She has awesome hair.
What’s one item in your closet you just can’t live without?
Definitely jeans. I require two different sets. I have one that I only wear for work, because when you’re doing still-life styling sometimes you’re building stuff on the ground [and] on your hands and knees, so they get worn out. And then I have my dressier ones for going out.
Tell us about a fashion faux pas you’ve committed.
Hammer pants. [They were] so awful, I don’t know what I was thinking. It was when MC Hammer was popular, in 8th grade. There was a lot of fabric and they looked especially unattractive when the wind was blowing towards you. They were just terrible. Now that I’m older and wiser, I don’t really take on any fashion trends that I would regret down the line. As of late, I can’t look back at anything and think, “OMG, I can’t believe I wore that!”
Where is your favourite place to shop?
I’m a very big online shopper. The Outnet…and Shopbop mainly for accessories like shoes and jewelry, and even Net-a-porter on occasion. Gap’s been stepping up their game, really paying attention to the denim, so I’ve been wearing a lot of Gap lately and shopping online.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
I’m very much a lone wolf. I love going to the movies by myself, much to my husband’s dismay, if it’s something he wants to see too. I really love that alone time.
What’s one item on your bucket list?
Travelling more. I would love to go to London, Paris, Italy. Not necessarily fashion-driven, but beauty-driven: the architecture, the culture. I would even love to explore more of Canada. I think it would be a shame to die and not have explored more of this land I call home.
Do you sing in the shower?
No, I’m usually lost in thoughts. Too busy for singing!
xx, S
Image Credit: Kimberly Lyn
