Not A Model Street Style

Ankle boots in the sweltering summer heat? Mixing navy & black?

While some may never break these fashion "rules," 19 year old Zoe Wolpert doesn't think twice. The accents of her outfit are tough, while the off the shoulder mini dress is silky and feminine.

Dress: Vince
Shoes: Shoegasm (NYC)
Purse: Zara
Belt: Vintage

Sidenote: When randomly stopping and introducing myself to Zoe on the street, she exclaimed that she's the older sister of Sophie. Sophie was one of the 16 year old girls I interviewed from my "Sixteen is Definitely Sweet" post below. It was the strangest coincidence that I've ever encountered. What are the odds? The universe works in weird ways sometimes.

The Shades In-Between

Grey. The colour ground beef turns after being fried, the colour hair turns when the pigment dies, a soft to the touch bruise, the sky before the world washes clean, the wrinkled trunk of an elephant. It is a colour that has many variants and degrees and can be figuratively applied to a way of viewing the world.

It's a simple saying, "Not everything is black and white, there are always shades of grey."

Some people need to see the world in two colours. Some people must find a right or wrong or yes and no, while others always find the loopholes or elaborate answers beyond the hard and fast.

One of my best friends recently told me that I was being too rigid when it came to certain situations in my life. What? Me? I never thought of myself in that way. I pride myself on being the type of person who can see all sides to a situation, and yet in my own life I was trying to put everything into strict categories. 

Every choice you make coincides with what you've known before, or what others have told you is right or wrong. Maybe it's what your friends or parents have lived by, or what a book or a movie has said. It is hard to tell where the reasoning comes from sometimes.

Everyone writes their own imaginary rule book, perhaps without even knowing it. Have you revamped your rule book or analyzed what you will or won't do? Does it need an update or a software refresh?

No person, experience, relationship or friendship is the same so why apply the same rules to them?

You have to make up your own set. This doesn't mean I condone lighting cars on fire or pantless Wednesdays because it is now "your rule" but I do think it is important to ask yourself WHY. Why am I following this way of thinking? Why am I listening to this logic? Why won't I bend? Are there shades of grey in this situation? It is about making sure you understand the reasoning behind your decisions.

So what better way to embrace living in the "grey shades" then by literally painting my nails. I know it's still summer and my nail polish collection currently ranges from coral to aquamarine, but there is something understated and alluring about grey polish. It's a prelude to fall, but it's light enough to go with my bright summer outfits, and transitions nicely into the workplace.

[Sally Hansen complete salon manicure in "Commander in Chic"]

Before I go, I want to share with my readers this video editorial. It was directed by talented Toronto photographer Steve Carty. I love the music (Chin Injeti featuring the New Royales) the fashion, and the overall moodiness of the video. If the leopard fingerless gloves and the model's perfect, seriously perfect hair doesn't get you, the relationship drama will. This video definitely shows that nothing is black and white.

So how do you see beyond what's in front of you? I love hearing from you! Talk to me here or send me an e-mail (write.notamodel@gmailcom) tweet me at (@notamodelblog) or fan me on facebook: LIKE! xo

Sixteen & Definitely Sweet

What happened when I sat down with five high school girls and talked beauty, body image and style?

Alas, I'm getting ahead of myself. Last week, I was interviewed by 16 year-old Bronte Martin for the fall issue of Off the Map (OTM) zine. I couldn't believe this confident, long legged girl wasn't even out of high school. After the interview I thought it would be a good idea to ask Bronte if she and a few friends would want to be featured on Not A Model.

I met with Nicolette, Cassie, Sophie, Stephanie and Bronte at a cafe in the Toronto Beaches to start the interview. I was impressed with how relaxed, confident and happy-in-their-own-skin they all were. I don't remember looking that stylish or put together at 16.

When I asked the girls about the pressures they feel to look a certain way, they all had different but similar answers. Most of them agreed that while there is pressure, it is mostly external and comes from friends, boys or other people's commentary. Nicolette said her two biggest pressures are the media and school. Stephanie said that she finds she can put pressure on herself. They all agreed that while they have flaws, they try to focus on the positive, and as they get older they gain more confidence. (It's only going to get better, I told them).

One of the best things I noticed was that they seem to feed off each other to build confidence and stay grounded. They all cited their friendship as the reason why they don't spend too much time worrying about their looks. I asked them to write down one thing about themselves physically that they liked, and one thing about their personality that they liked. They were stunned, nervous and no one wanted to play this game. I then asked them to say the exact same thing about the person sitting beside them. They found that super easy. I took out large sheets of paper (like in Kindergarten) and coerced them to write.

I told them that the same nice things they could say about their friends were probably true about themselves. No one was going to think they were conceited. Everyone should be able to point out things about themselves that make them special, because (as cheesy as it sounds) everyone has something that makes them great. 

So I ask you to find the words they chose in *drumroll* Not A Model's first video blog!! Shooting videos and short films could be something that I start doing in the future. Although this video is a little shaky and forgive my cliche "rough around the edges," I had a great time filming it. I promised the girls that I would try to make something of the footage... so enjoy! 

Not A Model- Sixteen Video from Amanda DiPaq on Vimeo.

I want to thank all the girls for a fantastic day. I am passionate about mentoring and talking to young girls. Eventually, I want to start my own Not A Model program and be able to travel to elementary or high schools and speak to large groups of girls. I would love to write a book and have an army of non-models who want to express how they feel about beauty, life and self-esteem. Until then..

'Not A Model' is a state of mind. Live it. Embrace it. Be yourself.

Pink Balloons & Photoshoots

Do you remember when He Put A Ring On It?

Since then I've been asked to be a bridesmaid (beyond excited) but didn't feel the same reaction when my cousin Diane asked me to shoot some Save the Date photos. Can you repeat the question please?

If I'm "Not A Model" then I'm definitely "Not A Photographer." I didn't want to mess up anything that could potentially land on people's doorsteps or magnetized on a refrigerator.

The final result? We had a great day and they were so much fun to shoot. Diane and Chris are adorable and sooo in love, but not the least bit corny or cheesy. I'm lactose intolerant when it comes to the lay-it-on-thick couples.

I always tell them that their kids will be stunners with their pouty lips, long lashes and lanky builds. I won't show their final choice (that's saved for the lucky mailboxes) but here are some of my favourite shots. Enjoy! :)

Triple Treat

While I've talked about the negative side of being a cafe reviewer, I thought I'd share with Not A Model readers some of the things I love about being a caffeinated grasshopper.

Some of my reviews can be classified as "mini adventures." They take a lot of coordinating, planning, moving and shaking to make it all come together.  First and foremost, I couldn't do any of it without my photography partners in crime Stefania & Cory. 

We go through the awkward mix-ups (Is this the right address? Where is the entrance?) the haphazard travelling (they deserve awards for putting up with my Mario Cart driving) and the grueling decision making process (should we try a double chocolate cherry or oatmeal banana cookie?) together.

I've learned to remember their idiosyncrasies such as that Stef loves lattes, preferably vanilla or green tea, and while Cory dislikes hot coffee he will drink iced coffee if he can add 45 spoonfuls of sugar. They've learned to put up with my bossiness (shoot this, send me those photos by this time) and my old school grandmother ways (you eat the last bite, here take this for the road).

Most of all they both make me laugh and we always walk away with a story. Afterwards, I'm positively buzzing long after the caffeine is out of my system. So here are three of our most recent blogTO reviews; enjoy even if you don't live in Toronto:

Little Nicky's Coffee (375 Queen St. W) 

Two words: Mini Donuts. The smell alone will get you and I bet Homer Simpson would be a regular. Can you spot me in action writing in my notebook? I'm dressed for business because we had to fit this in on our lunch breaks. Success. [credit: Cory VanderPloeg]

Ella's Uncle (916 Dundas St. W)

Walk in and ask for the "Crack Cookie," they'll know what you're talking about. Chocolate, toffee, caramel, need I say more? [credit: Stefania Sgambelluri]

Dutch Dreams (78 Vaughan Rd)
We took a break from caffeine and hit up the most unusual, claustrophobic, fun-house of an ice cream shop. Try the famous grape-nut flavour (left) it won't disappoint. [Credit: Cory VanderPloeg]

So thank you Sgams & CV, I'm not sure how much longer we'll be on this journey together but so far it's been pretty darn sweet. (pun intended)

Not A Model Street Style

Street style blogging can be labeled a mini phenomenon.

Influential bloggers like Scott Schuman from The Sartorialist or Dejana Bajic from Shopsterium focus the lens on people who would never be chosen for a stylized photo shoot. Through their photographs, they expand the strict guidelines of what, or who is considered fashionable.

Keeping with the theme of this blog I've decided to start recruiting some Not A Model Street Style. Everyday I walk by people wearing the most incredible outfits (at 8 a.m. may I add) and they represent everything that Not A Model is about.

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to be the "next anything" when it comes to blogging and I know there are some street style blogs that will put my blog to shame. I just want to try and bring my readers the beauty and originality I see in my daily life.

First up: Amalia Ramirez.

I went to PR school with Amalia and bumped into her on the street a couple of weeks ago. I was coming back from a blog interview (hence the sign) and I begged to photograph her. She has incredible, quirky style that takes thought and creativity to pull off. I mean, check out those pants! 

Does this mean I will be carrying around a Not A Model sign everywhere I go? Maybe. So if you see a girl charging at you with determination, don't worry I'm really friendly.

Get ready for your close-up.