Written by Tara Parachuk (BA '06)
Fashion, runway shows and models surrounded me during my two years volunteering at the L’Oreal Fashion week in Toronto. I loved every minute of being backstage because I was in the middle of glamourous chaos. I had the opportunity to meet with runway show producers, talk with the media, learn from industry professionals and be introduced to local talented models – all at one venue.
It all started when I was lucky enough to be hired by the Drama and Speech Communications department in my second year at UWaterloo as the Costume Assistant. This experience sparked my love of fashion design and styling, even leading to creating my own fashion line, FEXTY.
In my second year, I had the pleasure of interviewing Toronto-based designer Izzy Camilleri for a business project I was working on in my Business Planning for the Entrepreneur class. She guided me through her Toronto factory and design studio on a private tour, sharing her story along the way. Her career highlight was having one of her fur coats featured in the movie The Devil Wears Prada by Miranda herself, played by Meryl Streep.
After graduating, I worked in Marketing for a few years while rocking the most stylish outfits. Seriously though, just because I wasn't working in the fashion industry, didn't mean I couldn't look the part! My fashion-passion has remained strong throughout my career and I’m always looking for opportunities to style someone.
For the past two years, I’ve worked with the Princess Project, helping female teenagers find the perfect prom dress, shoes and accessories. I am honoured to be a part of this organization because the generous donations from our community make it possible for these girls (who otherwise couldn’t afford it) to go to prom and look like they’re walking down a red carpet. It’s initiatives like this that help me share the knowledge I learned during my studies at UWaterloo and I am so thankful for those years.
I’m currently working with a Toronto based band, David Boyd Janes, as their set designer and stylist for an upcoming music video. I met the lead singer, David Janes while I was working as a stylist for contestants on The Shot, a singing competition in Waterloo. We kept in touch and now with his music career taking off, I will be working with his band on set design and image styling.
David Janes and I backstage during The Shot finale
Want fashion tips and to learn how to create the perfect outfit?
My Instagram is full of stylish #OOTD photos and everyday #fashiontips. If you have questions about the industry, want style tips or just want to know where to shop, please reach out to me anytime.
Fashion will always be a part of who I am and a large part of that began with UWaterloo!