A SENSE OF DESIGN
Katelyn Saltarski grew up surrounded by fashion. As a kid, teen and then young adult, she hung out, helped out and eventually worked in her mom Kathryn Fairfield’s iconic Dundas shop, Terraware.
BUT
WHEN IT CAME TIME to choose a career path for university, Saltarski, now 23, saw herself heading in a direction that veered away from fashion and business. Sociology and anthropology at McMaster were for her, she thought, followed perhaps by social work.
A funny thing happened soon after she completed her undergraduate degree, though. Encouraged by her mom, Saltarski tried her hand at designing: a sleeveless formal gown with subtle vertical ruching on the bodice, sashed waist and full skirt to start, followed soon after by a classic wool doublebreasted peacoat with colourblocking on the sleeves and bottom.
“I love long,” says Saltarski of the reason she chose to design a long gown. “I love maxi dresses, maxi skirts.”
Both pieces were so well received and did so well that Saltarski, who now works full-time at Terraware, decided to press on. And again encouraged by her mom, she designed her first collection, geared at young women her age, consisting of a maxi dress, pant, jacket, wraparound short skirt and peplum top, which she expects will debut at Terraware sometime this year.
“My sense of fashion has definitely matured,” says Saltarski of her younger self ’s penchant for high-waisted short-shorts and crop tops. “Before I started working here, I’d wear things that didn’t fit me properly, kind of made me look not how I wanted to look … and I think I designed something for girls my age who are looking for serious pieces to invest in that will take them through their 30s and 40s and that they’ll love and be able to get tons of wear out of. Make them look how they want to feel.”
Here Saltarski wears a red halter dress from Terraware with nude heels from Spring Shoes. Her permanent accessories — her lioness tattoo on her shoulder and the words to the song “You Are My Sunshine” tattooed on her feet — have special family significance and are a nod to her parents and grandparents.
Most eye-catching piece
It’s from White Fox Boutique — a super gorgeous maxi dress. It’s white and it has this beautiful flower print with teal petals — almost like a watercolour. And it’s got this beautiful fuchsia peony flower on it. It has a high waist … it’s a tightfitting dress and the back is very cool. I love backless things.
Quirkiest wardrobe item
I have a pair of sweatpants that I absolutely love and they have pineapples on them. I bought them when I went to Florida … they’re just like a grey sweatpant with a black pineapple print all over them.
Wardrobe must have
Scarves. They are something that I always have. You can never have too many scarves because you can wear the same outfit (twice) and put on a scarf and it changes the entire thing, the entire look.
Best purchase
A (wool) winter coat … from (Terraware). It’s just above the ankle, has a huge pancake hood and it’s fitted in the body and then it A-lines out. Everyone calls it the Little Red Riding Hood jacket because she did a version in red and then with purple, but I went with all black.
And the (wool) Boyfriend jacket from (Terraware), I’m so obsessed with. It’s kind of a men’s suit jacket … it’s supposed to be looser. But the thing I love about it is it covers your bum, so you can wear leggings with it and a boot and it’s almost like a tunic … I have a cobalt blue one and a beautiful plum/burgundy one.
Regrets buying
Anything online, aside from White Fox Boutique, Mura Boutique and Sabo Skirt. Because they don’t fit what they look like, the materials are always see-through and every time I buy online, I’m like, Why did I buy this?
Loves to shop at
White Fox Boutique, Mura Boutique, Sabo Skirt, Spring Shoes and Terraware.
Ridding her closet of
Every time I buy something new, I rid my closet of things that I haven’t worn in six months … a lot of tops that I had when I was younger but don’t do anything for me. They’re not figure flattering, I don’t feel comfortable when I’m wearing them.
Splurges on
Shoes. Wedges, heels — I don’t have a lot of flats.
Beauty item she can’t live without
Beauty Blender. It’s a sponge that you use to apply your foundation. You can blend anything. If you’re doing contouring, it’s so great. And (Stila) liquid eyeliner and (L’Oreal Voluminous) mascara.