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Canadian-Born Flower Child Does Haute Hippy Better Than Anyone

Wide-eyed and cheerful, designer Lara Vincent (pictured at left wearing her own design) takes the world in with deep, hungry breaths. Spend an afternoon with her, and you too will find magic in trash cans and mud puddles, feeling light as air and flushed with curiosity. She is totally contagious. But busy as a bee, you've got to be lucky to catch her.

She is unmistakable. Floating through Yorkville in denim overalls, a flowered crown and desert boots, she hums and swings a small leather pouch made to carry fairy dust - although she swears it's only trail mix. Her unsullied naivete is childlike and charming, typical of a prairie girl that's new to the big city. 

Although prairie raised she was, new to the big city she's not.

Years ago, she arrived in Toronto from Winnipeg, Mb., in pursuit of an education in fashion. She graced both Ryerson and George Brown, and after that she touched ground again at the London College of Fashion in England. It was there that she first discovered millinery, and fell ribboned-head over ruffled-heel for the craft. Soon, the fire in her belly fuelled a voyage to New York City, where she worked for fellow free-spirit Betsey Johnson.

Once she felt ready to develop her own brand, she returned to Canada. Here, in Toronto, she spent her days cutting and sewing in a thimble-sized apartment downtown. And then, one by one, her floral head pieces found new homes. Some with friends, some with friends of friends, and some with complete strangers. Word of mouth and busy hands carried her all the way to Toronto's LG Fashion Week in 2009.

Editorial shoots, massive orders and heaps of press later, she works out of a studio on Queen Street West, lovingly crafting supply to meet the teaming demand. And, if she wasn't busy enough, later this month she will present to a room full of high-fashion buyers in the Big Apple. Although the pressure is mounting for this up-and-coming talent, she doesn't let the stress break her spirited stride and still sets aside time for friends, family, and of course, interviews.

Today, she speaks to WOMAN.ca about embracing individuality, using her imagination, and doing something that she loves every day of the week:

Since I was little I always played with adornments. Like, around Halloween time I'd go to the shops and buy all these fun costume ad-ons, but I never used them for the big night. Instead, I would wear them after everyone else had stored their costumes away. I'd wear fairy wings in December and devil horns in Spring! I don't know, I think that might have had something to do with it.

You went to school for fashion - actually - you went to a number of schools for fashion. What's the most important lesson you learned during your academic career?
I was one of those kids in (design) school that always listened to my teachers compliments and criticisms but would beat to my own drum. I think going to Ryerson, Central St. Martins College, London College of Fashion, George Brown, all for fashion, I took an ear-full from so many teachers. All of my experiences, though, gave me the confidence to beat my drum pretty loud.

Interning with Betsey Johnson must have been quite the experience. Tell us about it! Did she cartwheel for you?
No cartwheels! But, working for Betsey was one of those experiences that when I think back to it, I still get butterflies. When she was working on her Opening Ceremony collaboration, I got to sit in her office with her and go through all of these old press clippings and photos. We were making a lookbook story board, so we'd pull out pictures of her, and of John Cale, and she'd tell me stories about their wedding day, and stories about Edie Sedgwick and how they'd hang out at the Chelsea Hotel where Edie was living... and actually that's where I had been living at the time, too.

Next to Betsey, are there any other designers that inspire you?
Vivianne Westwood has always been an inspiration to me, not necessarily for her design aesthetic, but just for her life.

Your line of head pieces are so unique. What inspired your looks?
One of my classes at London College of Fashion was all about the trims for a hat. So, at lunch I'd go sit in the rose garden, and eat berries and dream up floral everything', then I'd go back to class and ask my teacher to help me interpret my ideas into materials.

You participated in LG Fashion Week last year, what was that experience like?
I had just moved back to the city and I think doing LG Fashion Week was a great way to dig my feet back into Canadian soil.

In the 50's and 60's hats were a staple in every woman's wardrobe. What happened? Where did those hats disappear to?
I don't know?! Maybe in Winnipeg the hats got lost in grandparents' dusty basements, and then the basements would flood every spring, and the hats would float away? (laughing) It's a shame because I do have to say that there is no better way to top off an outfit than with a hat. When I see a women in a hat, it just looks so yummy. Like a cherry on a sundae.

How do you want someone to feel when they're wearing one of your pieces?
I want women to feel magical, and beautiful. I almost like that hats aren't everywhere in fashion at the moment. Fashion has become so saturated, we need little things to set us apart, make us feel like we can cast spells.

Crafting these elaborate pieces must take time and patience, because you do it all yourself, and you do it by hand. What do you do to get yourself in a crafty, focused mode?
I pop open a bottle of champagne, and add a splash of freshly squeezed orange juice from Pusiteries, and then I put on music. Velvet Underground for rainy days, Portishead for Mondays, and then whichever new CD's I've recently bought. For this interview, I chose The Feelies!

When do you do you very best work?
I'm a morning person, but lately its been anytime from 7 am-noon, or 6p.m- 2 a.m, I have a hard time in between when its so nice out.

You're heading to New York to showcase for buyers this month. Where would you like to see your stuff sold?
Oh, Opening Ceremony is my number one.

If you could get one of your pieces on the head of any celebrity or model, who would it be - and why?
Milla Jovovich, because I really love her a lot.

You always look so... unique. How would you sum up your style?
I'd say it's sort of feminine. I like mini dresses mixed with a touch of cute-boy-cheese-monger slash painter-taking-lunch-break

If you don't mind my saying so, you always smell amazing too. What's your secret?
Fresh flowers!

What advice can you give to other young designers who want to get where you are today?
I think its most important to always dream. Dream big, and wide, and starry.

Because this is WOMAN.ca, we've got to ask: What's your favourite part about being a woman?
Sugar and spice and everything nice. And who wouldn't want to be that?

And, what's your favourite part about being Lara Vincent?
I think that I'm pretty lucky to believe in magic.

For more information visit www.laravincent.com