by Olga Barsky
While most girls fantasized about being Carrie Bradshaw – her exciting life as a Sex in the City columnist and evasive love interest of Mr. Big – I dreamed of being Patricia Field, the show’s quirky stylist.  So for me, interviewing Alissia Marciano – Canada’s hardest working stylist – was definitely a dream scenario. 

At 28 years, Alissia has worked all across Canada, and styled for brands like Covergirl, Levi’s, and Diesel. Innumerable celebs, from The Trews to David Cronenberg, have been dressed by her.  She’s also no stranger to the world of glossy editorial spreads, films, and fashion shows, and has done artistic direction and production for Fashion Cares.  

Alissia suggests the Beaconsfield, a fun place to meet and a personal favourite.  I order a tea and wait. Not long. She walks in and I vie for her attention but must wait my turn as she exchanges pleasantries with some friends at the bar. She greets the bartender then dishes out some handbag advice. She is poised and magnetic as she walks through the bar. I greedily wait my turn. 

She’s rocking her signature dark side-swept bangs with bright lips and looks every bit as good as she does on TV.  She’s charming, eloquent, and has impeccable posture as a result of years and years of training as a dancer.   

In fact, it is a combination of Alissia’s edgy aesthetic and charisma that have helped her seamlessly transition to a career on the other side the camera lens.  She’s appeared on Canada’s Next Top Model, Sexy Girl, MTV Canada, Much Music, Much More Music, and most notably Look-A-Like.  

Needless to say, Alissia is an authority on fashion, describing her style in three words – eclectic, black, and tall boots – it makes complete sense.  I spend the night before the interview trying to predict what she’ll wear.  

Her outfit will obviously be fabulous but I figure it can go one of two ways – either all black with an interesting silhouette and lots of texture, or a cream coloured blouse with a large pair of vintage gold earrings…and then I happily fall asleep with racks of luxurious clothing twirling about in my dreams. 

The minute Alissia sits down, I can’t help it, and ask what she’s wearing.  I am slightly horrified at the fact that I’m making her undress and scramble to find her tags – but I must know!  She has on a Comme de Garcons jacket, with a very cute gathered detail in the back, a vintage Burning Violet leather mini, an unusual gathered scarf she got in Paris from Idea + Plus, and the biggest cocktail ring I’ve ever seen. 

Alissia’s favourite shops in Toronto are Dennis’ House of Vintage, 69 Vintage, TNT, and Boutique Le Trou. Her top Canadian labels include Arthur Mendonça, Common Cloth, Beckerman, and Morales.  Hard to disagree with that!  She does, nonetheless, prefer to shop abroad during her travels. 

I ask her about her appearances as a stylist on reality television. If the tables were turned, and she was a contestant – which show would she pick? After some deliberation she decides that with her methodical approach to work and her training, she’s best suited for Project Runway.  She’s studied fashion in Paris, and has skills as a pattern-maker and seamstress.  She’s also dabbled in fashion design and has a few projects in the works about which she remains hush-hush.  I decide there and then I will buy ten of what-ever she comes up with, one in each colour.  

As for Alissia’s style influences she need look no further than her mom and grandma, two very creative, fashion-loving ladies. Her mom is a jewelry designer, so it’s safe to say creativity runs in the family. In fact, Alissia’s favourite possessions include a diamond ring given to her by grandma and pieces from her mother’s jewelry line K-Bijou. 

She fondly recalls Halloween at the Marciano household, when her mom would dig around her closet and put-together the craziest costumes. She’d always select evil characters and it was imperative that her creations had names.  This is still very important to Alissia, who’s most recent character was named “Mystical Faerie Witch.” 

As far as celebrity inspirations, Alissia loves Chloë Sevigny, who famously chipped four teeth while wearing insanely high Balenciaga boots, and French actress/model Lou Doillon.  Sienna Miller is another favourite, though a bit mainstream for her tastes, “but I do like what she does to herself.”  Topping off the list are Mick Jagger, who she would love the opportunity to dress, and Johnny Depp’s beautiful partner Vanessa Paradis.  She also appreciates Yoko Ono, and factory girl, Edie Sedgwick.   

A theme begins to emerge; Alissia is drawn to strong women, with a fearless, playful attitude towards fashion. I ask the style maven if she’s ever regretted anything ‘too crazy’ that she’s worn.  She hasn’t, Alissia is never one to play it safe. She believes in the ‘art’ of styling, and using it as method of self-expression. 

It’s clear that Alissia is one of the hardest working women in showbiz.  So how does she remain so laid back and well-adjusted while working her mega-schedule? She loves reading biographies, the Beaconsfield and hot yoga. She rides her bike (with a basket) about town and loves playing with her two cats – Lalou and Le Petit Oiseau – who have the privilege of having the best names ever. 

She’s so charming and perfect (in a rare, completely non-annoying way) that I make it my mission to find the dark side to Alissia Marciano.  There must be something she despises, a nemesis of some kind – polyester, shoulder pads – I ask her what fashion ‘faux pas’ she sees women making in hopes of extracting something juicy.  Unfortunately for me, Alissia doesn’t judge others’ fashion choices.  Her only rule – “you can never be too overdressed.” Additionally, she maintains that money can’t buy style, and if you have a flare for fashion, you’ll look great at any price point. 

For all you budding fashion stylists, Alissia advises strongly that you always do your research!  This is the most important step in prepping for a job.  To be a good stylist, one must be aware of the artistic, social, political, etc. influences that helped shape it.  Fashion does not exist in a bubble, it needs context. 

With total fashion overload (print this, neon that, safari all around) scheduled for this spring and summer, I wanted to know the must-haves for the coming seasons?  

  1. Fuchsia pumps or boots
  2. Handbags in exotic leathers – python, croc in wild colours like fuchsia and aqua blue
  3. Jewel encrusted cuff bracelets
  4. Jumpsuits (hells yeah!)
  5. Transparent layer like a dress or blouse

 

This transparent blouse business seems awfully hard to pull off.  How would Alissia rock this trend?  She advises against the visible bra underneath as it defeats the purpose and dishonours the integrity of the style.  Instead, for a day look, she suggests a beige camisole, and for nighttime, if the blouse had surface detail around the nipple, and “if it’s a really good party” she says almost in a whisper – “nothing.”  And that is exactly why we love her.

You can catch Alissia Marciano on Look-A-Like every Thursday at 9 pm on STAR.