Alissia Marciano Tells WOMAN.ca What To Wear & How To Wear It

Look-A-Like Star Alissia Marciano Reveals Her Own Style Tips, A Few Fall Must-Haves And The Best Shopping Destinations in Toronto

"It's funny, actually," she says, "I've been told I look like Katy Perry, or Zooey Deschanel..."

I can hear that she's smiling. I can tell that this is not a smile of self-satisfaction or conceit. In fact, she sounds like she's genuinely flattered, and slightly amused.

Why? "I like them both," she says, regarding the flattery of it all. However, the amusement stems from a certain irony. Alissia Marciano is best known as the quick-witted, pint sized stylist from the hit Canadian television show Look-A-Like. Celebrity doppelgangers are kind of her thing, and it's very rare that she's the subject of comparison when it comes to Hollywood parallels.

Besides, when would she have the time to dress up and play pretend, anyways?

Over the past ten years, Marciano has truly made a name for herself. She has tried on many shoes, and undoubtedly done it all in incredible heels. She has been a guest stylist for the Rachel Ray Show and Canada's Next Top Model, and also an on-air style commentator for MTV, Much More Music, Listed, MOD and Much News. But, long before she stole the spotlight on Look-A-Like, she started at the seams of the fashion world most literally. She was trained as a designer, igniting her passion for not only clothing, but for film, and music as well. Independently, she planted seeds in Paris, and Vancouver before setting her roots firmly in Toronto. And to her, independence and creativity go hand in hand. Although she believes that neither trait is inherent, but rather learned.

"My mother and my grandmother were very, very strong influences for me," she explains. "It's all about the way I was brought up, how they always exposed me to different cultures. They're both so very creative, and strong, and pushed me to go above and beyond, to always think outside the box."

Thinking outside the box, as she puts it, is not only the best remedy for reviving dormant creativity, but it's also the best way to give life to an otherwise flat-lined wardrobe. If 'the box' is too abstract, you can call it thinking 'outside of the closet', should further clarification be required. According to her, stepping out of your fashion comfort zone, even if it's just a baby step, is the fastest way to freshen things up.

"Start small," she suggests, "But don't be afraid to push a little." The example she gives me is an animal print. "Many women say, Oh, I love it on the runways, but I can't wear a whole dress in... say... leopard print, for example."

And, for the most part, they'd be right. Despite what the Reitman's commercials say, the office isn't exactly a fashion show. But you can still work it on that imaginary water-cooler catwalk, as long as you choose to make it work for you.

"Begin with accessories, maybe a printed clutch, or a funky animal print lining in your jacket or blazer," she offers with ease. "Fashion should be fun," she continues breathlessly, "You should take certain risks, they might not all work, but you won't know until you try."

Fashion is very much about trial and error, and Marciano would insist that a few things worth trying next season include "a wicked, cropped leather bomber (like she's wearing at right), a really good, shapely blazer, and a lot of layering items in rich, warm fabrics like cashmere."

In addition, you can make the most out of your outfits by ensuring that much of your wardrobe falls into the same colour scheme. For Autumn, Alissia forecasts a lot of blacks, greys, and purples. "Not, like, Anna Sui purple," she muses. I don't strain to hear a smile this time. This time she outright laughs.

When she's not on set, there's usually one other (perhaps obvious) place you'll find the stylist-slash-workaholic. "I do love to shop," she says. Go figure, we say. Although she lusts after designers like Gareth Pugh, Proenza Schouler and Vivienne Westwood, she likes to make the rounds to some equally fantastic local spots. TNT Blue, UPC Boutique and Carte Blanche are just a few of the usual suspects. "I can usually find something I love [at one of those places]," she concludes.

And when in doubt, without time to shop and only minutes to dress, "always feel comfortable, and always, always be overdressed."

"It's really quite simple," she pauses dramatically, as if she's about to reveal the secret to life.

"Doesn't matter where you're going, just walk in there looking like a million bucks."

And simply put? That's the best advice anyone could ever offer.

The new season of Look-A-Like premieres in the fall on Star!, Fashion Television Channel and A Channel. Look-A-Like will also premiere in the US on September 23, 2009 on TV Guide Network. For more information, please visit www.lookaliketv.com.

By Carli Mia

Carli Mia
		About the author:
		Carli Mia, also known as Carli Rothman, also known as Carli Stephens, also known as Carli Mia Stephens Rothman, is a prairie-girl to the core, and a graduate of the Ryerson School of Journalism. She currently lives in downtown Toronto, and acts as the Director of Content for WOMAN.ca!
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