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Terri Potratz
Personal Blog:http://www.theconveyorbelt.com
Read Under the Buckle
About Terri
I am 25, live in Vancouver, and have a bit of an entrepreneurial and independent spirit. I own a knitwear accessories line called “Larry.” that will be launching in Fall 2008. I run The Conveyor Belt, an online fashion and lifestyle journal. And in between my countless projects and passions, I am a freelance writer! I love having 10 things to do at once, observing people, and above all, learning new things.
Who is your style icon and why?
This is actually a tough question because I don’t really have a single style icon, and I rarely catch myself emulating others. There are countless figures who look smashing one day and not the next, so my style philosophy is to draw inspiration from overall themes or fragments of an outfit and then see how they fit with my personality and wardrobe. Anyone who forges their own style instead of directly borrowing from others is a style icon in my books, and I could list plenty from within popular culture and my personal world.
What’s your favourite item in your closet?
I suppose that would be my Dace Nekana jacket. It’s an oversized linen jacket with three-quarter-length sleeves, and I find it very versatile and suitable for so many occasions – sleek enough to wear out at night, but casual enough to ride my bike on a slightly chilly day.
What was your favourite childhood outfit?
I wanted to wear dresses whenever possible when I was a kid, but it wasn’t always possible for me to have new and pretty things. Looking at the photos now, my favourite outfit was in one taken in 1987 at Stanley Park with my brother Jeff. I was wearing thick orange tights, a black skirt and a blue-and-white, horizontally striped sweater with flat Mary Janes. My mom must have been feeling stripe-y that day, because Jeff was wearing a colourfully striped shirt and socks, and my oldest brother, Keith, was also in stripes. What a family.
What’s your worst outfit ever?
My closet has a pretty regular rotation of “ins” and “outs” because I don’t hold on to clothes that make me livid – but non-specifically speaking, I’d have to say anything that makes me feel drab. Sometimes I confuse “timeless classic” with “shapeless, boring sack of nothing,” but once I’ve figured out the distinction, I don’t allow the latter pieces to consume precious wardrobe real estate any longer!
Name a current celeb whose style you admire and tell us why.
Zooey Deschanel. I love how relaxed and casual her fashion choices are – seems so effortless – but more importantly, her style is consistent. She’s one of those few who can wear a sweater and tights to a film premiere without looking like something the closet coughed up, then slip into a glamorous designer dress without a hitch. Her style is casual, understated and just a little bit quirky, and she never seems to sacrifice her personal taste or get lost in her own style.
What’s a trend you hate?
I am pretty tolerant of the coming and going of trends, and I try not to pay too much attention to the status quo anyhow, but if you twisted my arm, I’d say that a current trend I would be least likely to give in to is hats. Never been a hat person, maybe never will be. My only exception would be a big, floppy beach hat, and I would certainly have to be on a beach to justify wearing it!
Why do you love the shopping/fashion scene in your town?
Vancouver is a burgeoning fashion hub, and I believe this city is primed to become one of the key players within the international fashion scene. We have so many talented local designers – and people here are starting to recognize that fact by buying locally. Boutiques are stocking local designs next to international mainstays. Whereas Vancouver was once deemed the “fashionless” city, we are now becoming a destination for creative and original style and design. All of the key players in this growing scene are working together to make amazing things happen, and this collaborative environment breeds incredibly exciting and inspiring possibilities.
