This past year, I’ve made a big effort to feed several of my passions. This includes taking myself to the movies and being more mindful of what I watch when I’m at home.
Getting reacquainted with that rewarding feeling of seeing something new has been an enormous source of inspiration. Not only has it rewired my brain from my not-so-guilty pleasures (I still love watching Real Housewives, Love is Bllind, and the very underrated, Southern Charm, sparingly), it’s also, unsurprisingly, influenced my personal style.
Over the summer, Toronto’s beloved Revue Cinema screened all of Elaine May’s features—a director I was unfamiliar with until this year. Aside from May’s uncompromising vision and brilliant comedic timing, the film that stayed with me for a few days was Mikey & Nickey, and not necessarily for the obvious reason of it being one of the best films I’ve seen in a really long time.
Authenticity is a buzzword that’s often overused in our day-to-day discourse. But it’s also an attribute I associate with our talented team, as well as the women we’ve had the honour of featuring in this issue.
Whether it’s the discernment of our Emmy-nominated cover star Dakota Fanning in picking roles, or the new class of food and beauty entrepreneurs challenging stereotypes in their respective industries, there’s nothing more rewarding than having agency over the path you choose to take, and the change you wish to make.
The film follows an increasingly paranoid wise guy named Nicky (played by the achingly handsome John Cassavettes) who believes wholeheartedly that there’s an imminent hit on his head. His childhood friend Mikey (played by Peter Falk) pays him a visit to cool his nerves, and instead, a drama-filled evening unfolds with their longstanding friendship crumbling.
Beyond the magnetic chemistry between the two actors, and unsettling-at-times plot, it’s the white dress shirt worn by Nicky that sparked something within in me. Initialed “NG”, it’s a small detail that says a lot—and if you blink you might miss it. In my view, this is one of the most important costume design choices in the film, not only representing Nicky’s standing, but symbolizing a man spiraling into desperation and losing control of the power he once had.
Despite the dark undertones of the film—when I came out of the theater, all I could think of was how I wanted a shirt just like Nicky’s, and how it’s something I’ll gift myself at the end of the year as a pat on the shoulder. For those of you interested in knowing which shirt I’ve settled on, it’s a cotton-linen blend shirt from Husbands, a Parisian brand I’ve coveted for a long time.
As the holiday season nears and the year draws to a close, it feels like the perfect time to refresh our perspective on gifting. Draw your focus to selecting pieces or experiences—whether for yourself or loved ones—that are thoughtful, carry personal significance, and maybe even a bit of nostalgia.
Photography by Ted Belton.
