Above: Oscar de la Renta suit from Holt Renfrew and Calvin Klein shirt.
How does your work dictate your fashion sense?
I believe I have perfected the look of the “urban camper.” I like clothes I can move in and clothes that are well-constructed and durable. Also, I sometimes like to throw in something a little wild, something that clashes. I think because I’m an artist, that kind of style is expected somehow. But, for my job, I need to have a variety of options, from clothes I can roll around on the floor in, to dress-up clothes for opening night.
What do you wear to opening night?
A crisp black shirt and a pair of dress pants is my usual for opening night. I have a thing for black shirts. I have about seven of them. And I’m very particular about how I treat them – always hang-dry. You never want to put black shirts in the dryer, boys, ’cause they’ll fade.
Above: Jacket was a gift from a friend and Montreal Canadiens t-shirt from the Oilers Store in Kingsway Mall.
Where do you shop?
I actually get a lot of my clothes from Theatre Network and costume designers such as Leona Brausen and Sheena Haug. I have a joke that I only hire actors who are my size so I can steal their wardrobes. But when I actually have to buy my own clothes, I head to MEC. And actually, I have a couple of Sam Abouhassan suits, but I bought them at Value Village. Maybe Sam Abouhassan will give me one of his suits because of this article [laughs] .
Do you care about labels?
Not really. Actually, I have no respect for labels. Wait, that’s harsh. I just don’t have much brand loyalty. I’m more concerned about the quality of an item, so I’m not particularly label-fixated. I want clothing that is classic, that’s going to have a long shelf-life.
Your dog is almost as well-known as you are. How does she fit into your style? Your life?
I believe I am her guardian. Her name is Bella. She’s a Vizsla, which is a Hungarian bird dog. She’s a talky dog, likes to let you know what’s going on. She’s 50 pounds and a high-energy breed, so we spend lots of time walking. She’s a very regal, noble-looking dog. I tell people she’s my girlfriend. She’s very sensitive, you have to be very constructive with her when you’re disciplining her. Very instructive and positive. Kind of like working with actors, you know?