Patrick

Patrick: "I'm trying to look kinda dressy and summery today. It's beautiful outside."

TorontoVerve: "Is there anyone in particular who inspires your style?"

Patrick: "Um, I find that a lot of people…or at least the way that I look at it…a lot of people judge me on being black. I feel like all they see is gangster so I'm trying to change that. When you dress nicely, people treat you better."

TorontoVerve: "That's sad. Do you think it's sad that you feel that way?"

Patrick: "Not sad. I grew up with white parents also. I worked at the Gap when I was younger so I always knew how to dress appropriately. Yes, it's pretty depressing that I can't dress anyway that I want because I get judged on it basically. I remember when I was in grade 11, I used to get pulled over by the police if I wore a baggy t-shirt and shorts. But when I walk down the street like this, they ask, 'how are you doing, sir?' There's actually a big difference. It's surprising. I want to change the stereotype. A lot of people think that black people are what they see portrayed on TV, in the movies or on the internet: gangsters who sell drugs and do bad things. But really, I have a great job and work 40 hours a week and I don't do drugs or anything like that."

TorontoVerve: "So what are the flowers for?"

Patrick: "I'm going on a date tonight. The flowers are a nice added touch. Every girl should get flowers."

TorontoVerve: "What's your favourite memory in life?"

Patrick: "I have a photography company and we run a charity. Once every 2 weeks, my friends and I all pitch in to buy a bunch of toothbrushes, socks and deodorant and we walk around downtown and hand them out to homeless people. Their happy faces are definitely memorable to me."

Check out Patrick AKA Pattattak's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see his life in pictures.

Jenna

Jenna: "Am I allowed to swear?"

TorontoVerve: "Sure. Go ahead."

Jenna: "My style is f@%ing weird. I have tons of clothes and I just put on whatever I feel like. Today I felt like tying a scarf into my braid instead of wearing it as an actual scarf. I'm not super high-end, which is very good. I just try to be different. I really love the 90's. At one point I was really into 90210 -- not the new one but the really old old one. Now I'm more into Ann Marie Hoang's style. She's also known as Master of Disguise on Instagram.  She's a huge babe and she dresses like amazing. I try to appropriate from her sometimes."

TorontoVerve: "What's your favourite memory in life?

Jenna: "One time my friend asked me what was my biggest adventure was and I answered, 'being in love.' That was a good memory."

TorontoVerve: "So I take it the adventure didn't last?"

Jenna: "It does with different things. It carries on from thing to thing -- not just person to person. Like 'I'm in love with this, I'm in love with that and I'm in love with you.' It keeps going. Once you learn how to love, you can't undo it."

Brooke

"I wear a lot of black and leather. My girl, fashion blogger Gracie Carroll, inspires me. She's got a great style and a great bod too (laughs)."

Edwin

"My style is utilitarian-psychedelic-punk. I don't have any direct sources for inspiration. I pick up stuff here and there and enjoy emulating them in my fashion."

DJ Miss Tara

DJ Miss Tara plays "house. All kinds of house. I model as well, but I'm more focussed on the music right now."

Today she'll be spinnin' records at Cabana Pool Bar (Noon to 3pm) and if you can't make it, then check out her website to hear her cool beats.

TorontoVerve made #7 on Street Style News Daily Most Popular: http://www.streetstylenews.com/most-popular-july-28-2014/

Alexandra

Alexandra: "My style goes seasonally or by mood and today I'm feeling a bit flirty -- it's a Gypsy flirt. I've fallen quite in love with Lana Del Rey because I think she feels the same way -- she dresses by her mood. She expresses herself eloquently."

TorontoVerve: "What's your favourite memory in life?"

Alexandra: "Travelling alone on the Via Rail. I travelled from Toronto to BC and got to see the whole Canadian geography. It was inspiring. I learned that Canada has a lot of diversity and not just with the people but with the land. It's magnificent."

We previously captured Alexandra's cool street style last winter in Kensington Market.

Arnika

"Today my style is laid-back, relaxed and last minute."

Check out Arnika's life in pictures on her Instagram.

Frances

Frances: "My style is a lot everything -- colour, glitter and metal. As a non-binary trans person, I think I'm inspired by androgynous models like Grace Jones, Jenny Shimizu, Casey Legler and Erika Linder who have definitely broken down some fashion walls and made fashion feel more accessible to me."

TorontoVerve: "What's your biggest regret in life?"

Frances: "I don't think I have any -- I think everything brought me to where I am now."

Frances designs jewellery and you can check out their cool creations here.

Katie

"My summer style is usually rock 'n' roll, but today I'm looking kinda sharp wearing this fluorescent jacket. And to mess things up a bit, I'm wearing a netted punk tank top. I got my Wonder Woman cuffs on because I always wear them. I broke my foot that's why I have the big boot, but I'm happy at least that it's black and matches my black shoes."

Katie is an illustrator and you can check out her Facebook and Twitter to view her drawings, which she describes as "dark, but I'm trying to lighten them up."

We previously captured Katie's mod and boyish street styles.

Heather

Heather: "I scavenge for fashion. I find a lot of things at thrift stores. I love to shop at Goodwill. It's better to reuse and recycle and it goes to a good cause. I often find stuff at the back of my closet that I forgot I had. I get a lot of inspiration from watching old movies and Mad Men."

TorontoVerve: "What's your favourite memory in life?"

Heather: "Probably when my sister lived at Ossington and Bloor. We used to walk around in the early summer evenings and buy little potatoes from the Portuguese markets and talk. It was a nice simple time."

We previously shot Heather's vintage glam 2 years ago on Bloor Street West.

Matty

"My style is psyche-funka-not-normal-delic. Jimi Hendrix and George Clinton inspire me. Their style is just different. They do their own thing and I respect people who do their own thing and not follow anybody else."

We captured Matty's funky street style 2 years ago just around the corner.

Daria

"My style is simple basics and interchangeable -- nothing fancy."

Daria is the manager of GotStyle Menswear Store.

Follow Daria on Instagram at @MsDariaT.

Stella

Stella: "My style can be described as 'sports-goth'. Singer Debbie Harry is a big inspiration. I think she's cool." 

 

TorontoVerve: "What's your biggest regret in life?" 

Stella: "I don't think I have regrets that stand out actually. There are things that I wish I could redo, but you learn from everything, don't you?"

TorontoVerve: "What do you wish you could redo?"

Stella: "I had a friend who died and we weren't talking at the time."

TorontoVerve: "And you wish you could go back and repair your friendship?"

Stella: "Yeah or I wish I was kinder."

Megan

"I switch up my style a lot. Everyday is totally different. Today my hair is inspired by Harajuku. How I look depends on which party I'm going to. Rihanna inspires me. She's unique and edgy. I'm also obsessed with London fashion. I just moved back here from England. I love cropped tops and drop-crotch pants."

Claudia

Claudia: "My style is very simple. I like having a pop of something like big earrings, sunglasses or a cool jacket. Actress Zoë Kravitz is a big influence of mine. I just love her. Her style is effortless. She wears distressed clothing, but it still looks good. It's homeless chic."

TorontoVerve: "What's your biggest regret in life?"

Claudia: "I guess associating myself with negative people. It's important to stay positive because positively attracts healthy people."

Tara

Tara: "I don't even know what my style is. Actually, I'm not wearing what I usually wear. Right now, I'm wearing a nightgown. I usually wear a lot of fluorescent because I live in New Orleans and there's a lot of colourful flowers there."

TorontoVerve: "What's your biggest regret in life?"

Tara: "I don't know what my biggest regret is. I generally do what I feel makes sense. I can't even be like 'I wish I had dropped out of school earlier and travelled the world.' No, I already did that. 'I wish I took more risks without fearing being poor.' Already did that. I think I'm doing pretty good. I have few regrets. I just follow my intuition and it hasn't led me astray yet."

Nicollette

"My style is whatever goes with my mood and right now I'm into sneakers and dresses. I don't have any particular fashion icons. I'm influenced by everybody on the street. Everyone has their own unique style and I like to borrow a little bit here and there, but put my own personal spin on things."

Sam

Sam: "Today my style is work-oriented. This is what I wear at MAC Cosmetics. I get inspiration from the street. When I like someone's style, I pick it up and put it together. Things that I love from the past, I bring back and mix it up with what's fashionable today."

TorontoVerve: "What's your biggest regret in life?"

Sam: "Not finishing school. I'm a beauty school drop out (laughs)."

TorontoVerve: "Why did you quit school?"

Sam: "I was modelling. I finished school early because I wanted to model internationally and I did."

TorontoVerve: "Any plans to go back."

Sam: "Yes, I'm back right now."

Cleo

Cleo: "My style has no primary colours. They're too garish. I'm influenced by a Jewish rapper from New York named Despot. He's the most stylish man in the world. He inspires me to go out there and take the next step. He looks amazing all the time."

TorontoVerve: "I see you're taking photos today."

Cleo: "Yes. This is my Pentax K-1000. It's straight film -- no digital. I had a blog for a while, but then I hurt my back and I couldn't take pictures for a long time. I'm sorta getting back into it."

TorontoVerve: "What kind of photos do you take?"

Cleo: "Street photography. People. Situations. I like small, quaint everyday ironies."

Check out Cleo's charming ironies on her website The Photographic Abject.

Follow Cleo on Twitter.

Yuan

Yuan's elegant street style caught my attention as she confidently cycled through the busy College Street traffic. "My style is classic, vintage and chic," she said. Before packing away my camera, I couldn't help but also notice the many cuts and scraps on her arm and leg.

TorontoVerve: "What happened?"

Yuan: "It happened a week ago after I just returned home from my honeymoon. I bought these Havalanas flip-flops that were a little too big. As I was biking North on Dundas from Queen, one of my flip-flops slipped off and got caught in my bicycle chain. I lost control, keeled over and scrapped my whole right side. I cried like a baby."

TorontoVerve: That's terrible."

Yuan: "I'm trying to cover up my cuts in a creative way with my wardrobe now. I wouldn't normally wear this dress when it's so hot outside."

TorontoVerve: "Were you wearing your helmet at the time?"

Yuan: "No."

TorontoVerve: "So I guess you're wearing a helmet today because you've learned from the experience."

Yuan: "Yes, I try to always wear a helmet - plus it looks cute."

TorontoVerve: "Did any good samaritans help you?"

Yuan: Yeah, pedestrians really surprised me. Some people think that Torontonians don't care about each other. They got me water and a first aid kit. It was great."

TorontoVerve: "Any tips for anybody wearing flip-flops on a bike?"

Yuan: "Yeah, don't (laughs).

TorontoVerve made #7 on Street Style News Daily Most Popular: http://www.streetstylenews.com/most-popular-july-13-2014/

Alexis

Alexis: "My style can be described as hippy-prairie girl."

TorontoVerve: "What's your biggest fear in life?"

Alexis: "To be erased from this Earth and be forgotten. I want to do something epic and always be remembered."

TorontoVerve: "Do you have any plans to make that happen?"

Alexis: "No, not yet (laughs), but I'm working on it. Oh, my friends and I began an Instagram account: @416Adventures. That's going to be our legacy."

Asheda

Asheda: "My style is 'New World Africa.' I'm inspired by my mother and the I - Threes. They are my style icons. I love how they can be conservative and sexy at the same time. All of them are really powerful in their own way and they are able to exude an understated confidence with their presence."

TorontoVerve: "What's your biggest regret in life?"

Asheda: "When I was younger, I was really passionate about studying music and performing, but my mother convinced me to not pursue it and just go to school."

TorontoVerve: "You can still get into music."

Asheda: "Yes, I know, but I still wonder how things would have turned out."

TorontoVerve: "You say that like you're an old person. It's not too late."

Asheda: "No, you're right. It's not too late (laughs). I'm going to try."

Neesha

Neesha: "My style is a mix of preppy and boho. Model Alexa Chung inspires me because her style is very simple and elegant."

TorontoVerve: "What's the best advice you've received and from whom?"

Neesha: "My boyfriend told me when opportunity knocks, be prepared."

TorontoVerve made #7 on Street Style News Daily Most Popular: http://www.streetstylenews.com/most-popular-july-10-2014/

Montina

"My style is wannabe-boho chic."

Montina is a visual-artist and describes her art as "very surreal, colourful, expressive and focusses on the female figure." Check out her Facebook to see her cool creations.

Toby Mottershead of Black Diamond Express

Toby: "I like the 20's, 30's and 40's style. The way the men dressed back then wasn't just an image, it was kind of a way of life. Gentlemanly conduct -- men opened doors for ladies. I'm inspired by classic jazz musicians like Django Reinhardt,  Duke Ellington and Miles Davis. Also, sharp looking guys from the 40's and 50's like Bogie and Sinatra. They kinda look like their socks don't smell."

TorontoVerve: "What's the best advice you've ever received and from whom?"

Toby: "The Dali Lama said 'never give up.' Just keep on. That's pretty good advice. We got to play for the Dali Lama in Edinburgh when he was there a few years ago."

Toby fronts for the band Black Diamond Express who were in town to play the NXNE Music Festival and the retro-style is clearly a band favourite with both their look and sound.

Toby: "Musically we take from the old-time American and Celtic roots and we put it together with a big 8-piece band. We take influences and inspiration from that era and we play it with the awareness of everything that's passed -- all the crazy music that's been and gone. We try to do it our way and stay true to our roots and look forward."

Visit Black Diamond Express' website to check out their videos, music and photos.

Follow the band on Twitter and Facebook.

Loni

Loni: "I like very tailored masculine pieces with a little bit of a feminine edge."

TorontoVerve: "What's the best advice you've received?"

Loni: "Not to take life too seriously. I used to be a pretty uptight and driven person. Now I'm starting to enjoy things more. Today I'm riding my bike with my cast doing whatever I can."

Marie

When I met Marie on Queen Street West, she was surrounded by a ton of luggage, waiting for a friend to take her to Pearson Airport. Since January, she had been living in Toronto for an internship and today she was flying back to her hometown in Northern Sweden.

Last year, I captured the magnificent street style of Stockholm and I couldn't resist asking her what she thought about Toronto Fashion. "Actually, I think we're better," she reluctantly responds. "I like European style more. I can't really explain why, but there's something definitely different about it."

Bisera

Bisera: "I couldn't describe my style, but if I had to, I'd call it the gypsy look. It's all about my mood. I'm having fun. My mom is my inspiration. She's just like me, but I'm a little funkier."

TorontoVerve: "What's the biggest lesson you've learned in life?"

Bisera: "To be honest. I made mistakes by trusting people and being too honest, but I still think honesty is the best policy. I'll never give that up."

We also captured Bisera's street style last summer.