In Toronto, fashion isn’t just clothing, it’s culture, climate, career and community stitched together. Toronto fashion doesn’t have a single image. It’s something more intimate, a reflection of who we are, where we come from and what we do.

TORONTO’S CULTURE, CLIMATE AND THE FOUNDATION OF TORONTO STYLE

Toronto style is often characterized by practicality, adaptability and creative layering.

“Toronto chic is a combination of black, grey and other austere urban tones in versatile ensembles, complemented by flashes of bright colours and meaningful accessories,” says Henry Navarro Delgado, an interdisciplinary designer and fashion lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) who combines fashion, art and activism in his work.

Tanya Tonello, a Toronto-based stylist, fashion expert and personal shopper, shares this sentiment. Having worked with both high-end and affordable brands, Tonello has seen first-hand that Toronto’s diversity shapes style from the ground up.

STREET INFLUENCES: TIKTOK, THRIFTING AND CASUAL STYLE

For content creators like Helen Tu, personal style began as a quiet act of rebellion.

“My style was formed back in high school when I started thrifting. It may have been a teenage rebellion against dressing like everyone else, but I like to think it was more about expressing my individuality through what I wore,” says Tu, who now shares fashion inspiration with her TikTok subscribers.

Her style – a mix of big cities like London and New York, but still rooted in her upbringing in Scarborough – is a reflection of experimentation and people-watching.

Like many in the city’s new fashion circles, Tu doesn’t chase fame or popularity – she chooses and pursues creativity and authenticity.

“I just started posting outfits because I genuinely liked them and hoped it would inspire others to find clothes that bring them joy or to play with their own fashion.”

Another local author, Aaliyah Ntim, also combines fashion with storytelling. A journalism student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) who does style documentation on TikTok, Ntim explained what makes Toronto’s fashion scene so distinctive.

“Toronto is so unique and diverse because the fashion scene is constantly evolving, from creative and editorial styles to streetwear. In the city’s bipolar weather, I often see a mix of high-end designer pieces and vintage finds layered on top of each other,” shared Nitm.

“A unique aspect of Toronto fashion is that there are so many cultural influences. I love seeing traditional outfits, whether it’s African, Asian or European styles mixed with modern Canadian streetwear.”

SO WHAT IS A “TORONTONIAN IMAGE”?

A single look? There is no one style that defines a multicultural city.

“It’s not one aesthetic, it’s a way of thinking. It’s creativity, confidence and celebrating who we are in a way that looks modern, fresh and completely non-apologetic,” says Tonello.

Or, as Navarro Delgado says, Toronto’s style can be seen as a reflection of the cultural roots Torontonians adhere to.

“Immigrant and diaspora communities have already influenced Toronto fashion and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. People from all over the world who have made Toronto their home bring fresh ideas with them. Even if they originally wanted to maintain cultural ties to their home cultures, Toronto is changing them, and they in turn are changing the style of the city,” he explains.