William Ashman, owner of HAUS, 1265 Bloor W.
What does style mean to you? Style is really about the way you strut around, the way you see the world, your outlook and how that emanates from you. Style has less to do with with what I wear and more about how it makes me feel and there is nothing I love more than feeling fresh.
Describe your personal style? I love feeling airy and fresh. Right now, I love combining local designer pieces from my fashion HAUS created by Julie Phelps and Muttonhead Collective with edgy-fresh accessories by Dits and mix it with my Cheap Monday jeans and vintage designer boots and flats. I am in love with vintage Gucci and could spend the afternoon in Value Village (and I do). On my off days, there’s nothing fresher than throwing on my TOMS and grabbing a coffee at Holy Oak Cafe.
I feel naked without: my Blackberry, sunglasses and personal fragrance for the day. Right now, I am addicted to Fresh Clean Laundry and Armani Rose-Alexandre fragrances. Layering fragrance for me is like layering clothing in the fall – why would I ever leave without a scarf? I also believe fashion starts with your skin and so I religiously use my secret body oil choice and a particular face and hair oil I stash in my room that I bought in Soho a few months back in NYC. Its important to have shine in all the right areas.
Tell us about your shop HAUS. HAUS is the place where you will find clothing and everything else by emerging designers. HAUS is the platform for emerging designers to start selling their work and creating a sustainable lifestyle for themselves. We have eco-chic lineups, local and international designers all with one thing in mind: showcasing the best artistic work that fits the HAUS vision and bringing this alive to the world. Fashion is for everyone-and so we made a showroom boutique for everyone to feel inspired and to freely be themselves in. Every leading designer started out as emerging one-even Tom Ford. We just wanted to create a fun space to show off fresh talent.
Favourite part of Toronto? If you took Bloordale Village out of the Toronto Map, I wouldn’t be here. I’ve lived here for six years and grew with the area. Bloordale makes my heart swoon and I love everyone here. HAUSTers, artists, families, art galleries, cool unique shops and bar hangouts make me wake up every morning with inspiration. We even have the best fruit markets that I get to fill my Credobags with daily. I’m a Westender for life in Toronto and an Eastender in New York. It’s where I feel the freshest. I need flavour. I don’t do bottle service and you’ll never see me in first class regardless-I want to be where the energy is. That inspires me personally to expand creatively.
Head-to-toe:
Shirt: JOOL, by Julie Phelps
Jeans: Cheap Monday
Loafers: Vintage Valentino
Sunnies: I foundon the street in the West Village in NY for $7.
