If you’ve ever picked up a magazine and spent time poring over a fashion spread, chances are you’ve asked yourself “who would think to pair these two outrageous styles and make it look so good.” Well, it’s possible that you may be scratching your head to the aesthetic genius of Amy Lu. Called the “Fairy Godmother of Style,” the Vancouver-bred, Toronto-based stylist Lu brings fashion shoots to life with her eclectic sensibility and knack for transforming almost any idea into a look that’s au courant. Since launching her career in 2001 she’s styled for Vanity Fair, FASHION, Zink, Interview and Coca-Cola’s Olympic ad campaigns. The Standard caught up with Lu to find out where her sense of style comes from and her thoughts on Toronto fashion. Could you describe your style? My style is a well put together mash-up of the pretty and ber feminine mixed with vintage inspired punky bits. Always comfortable, usually black with a little lace and some sparkle for good measure. What are you doing in your editorials? What I’m doing is entirely dependent on what project I’m working on, the team, and the platform – what I do is catered towards all of that. In general, my role as a stylist for editorial shoots is to collaborate with the photographer on a story told through clothes, to source the looks, and keep them cohesive throughout the shoot. How did you get into styling? I like to think that I have always been a stylist. I was putting together looks for pre-school and a large majority of my memories involve not just the people but the clothes that the people had on. I suppose I got into styling professionally after I had dabbled in photography, fashion merchandising and marketing at university. I always tell students, you need a portfolio to showcase your work. How you compile the contents is up to you. What I do know is that the moment I stepped onto my first shoot, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I love fashion! What’s your take on Toronto’s fashion scene? Toronto has an incredible amount of world class talent. We have all the right ingredients:innovation, passion, talent and drive. I believe the more support and recognition those within the industry provide for each other the better off we will all be. Are there Canadian designers you’re especially excited about? Anyone we should be looking out for? I’m a huge fan of Denis Gagnon, his vision and craftsmanship is unparalleled. I’m really excited about all of the designer/retail collaborations happening now like Danier Leather with Greta Constantine and ALDO with Denis. I think it’s a beautiful thing for successful retailers to give back, it’s shaking things up and tapping into the savvy minds of shoppers. It’s about celebrating our talent and working with each other! – with notes from Hilary Caton
