FEARLESS FASHIONISTA
When Mary Long Bishop was planning her second wedding at the age of 65, she refused to consider wearing a white dress. The former politician, social service benefits tribunal adjudicator, real estate agent, community activist, mom to three girls and all-around trailblazer would wear a gown befitting her personality — shimmery, stunning, unique.
She found it in a custom blue shock taffeta number, a dress she wore again to her 70th birthday party three years ago. Because when it comes to putting together an outfit, Long Bishop looks for pieces that stand out, have an unexpected hemline or an interesting ruffle, and are bold, daring and colourful.
“I like statement pieces and I’m not afraid to wear fashion,” says Long Bishop, 73, who describes her wardrobe as dramatic and eclectic. “I’ll wear something and somebody will say, ‘Oh, I love it, but only you can wear that.’ So, I am not scared of fashion.”
In fact, Long Bishop isn’t scared of much. Not of leaving her home in Jamaica to move to Canada at the age of 20, back in 1966. Not of diving right into Canadian government social service work and education. Not of moving to then-predominantly white and rural Milton back in the mid-’70s shortly after getting married. Not of advocating for change in her children’s schools, her neighbourhood and her community.
So, when Milton’s only female town
councillor in 1988, Rose Harrison, decided not to run again, Long Bishop considered the opportunity that presented itself. And in 1989, after a hard-fought campaign, she became the first black person to sit on Milton town council, a position she held for one three-year term.
Bishop Long then went on to work in social services for Halton Region, eventually being appointed adjudicator to the social service benefits tribunal. In 1997 she was named Milton Citizen of the Year. She’s also worked in fashion, real estate and these days runs several small businesses through which she sells poinsettias for Christmas, Jamaican-themed gift baskets and Artistry cosmetics.
“You have to let people know what you do,” says Bishop Long. “Because if you don’t … why are you keeping it a secret?”
Here she wears a black and white cold-shoulder dress from Modella in Dundas with Stuart Weitzman pumps from Browns Shoes. She accessorizes with patterned tights from Legs Beautiful in Toronto, a chunky stone necklace she bought at a charity auction, a hammered silver necklace and a multi-strand silver cuff, both from a shop in Chatham. She also wears an ornate silver cuff and chunky silver earrings, both bought during her travels.
Most eye-catching piece:
“My wedding dress … when I was getting married I wanted to have a dress that was stunning and (the fabric is) a shock taffeta. When you walk, it has different colours. I was 65 years old. I didn’t want a white dress … (stored) in a box, put away for whom? I thought I wanted to get something I can wear again. A girlfriend of mine who … studied fashion design and I went to Holt Renfrew and we saw a style like that and it was so stunning. It was $3,000 and she goes, ‘Mary, I can make that dress for you.’ The guy told us who the designer was. She googled it. We went on Queen Street. We bought the fabric and that’s it.”
Quirkiest wardrobe item:
“A jumpsuit I bought last year in the (Artisan Market) at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market … it’s black and white and the fabric that it’s made from is just beautiful, and the way it fits ... As a matter of fact, last Saturday night we went to a dinner party and a lady wanted me to leave it with her for her to try it on and she would give me another dress to wear home … it’s fabulous. And it has a very fine strap and I wore it with a lovely jacket and it’s just stunning.”
Wardrobe must-have:
“I must have a stunning jacket. I love suits and I love them to mix and match ... so I can wear them with other things.”
Best purchase:
“A jacket … it’s navy and the sleeves come to my elbow and one side is short to a little bit below my ribs and one side is longer and in the back it has a pattern that comes in, and it’s stunning. Whenever I wear it, there is a lady who says, ‘Oh, she’s wearing my jacket.’ ”
Regrets buying:
“I bought a pair of sandals in … a shoe store that’s in all the malls. Normally that’s not a place I buy my shoes, but it was a lovely eye-catching sandal. But it wasn’t comfortable and so I got rid of it … it wasn’t the price, it was just poorly made.”
Loves to shop at:
“I love to shop at second-hand shops. Second Time Around in Waterdown is a fantastic store. Oh, the things you get in there — I got shoes that were not worn and I paid, like, $20. I like to shop at small stores in small towns. I find you have a very good selection … and sometimes you need some feedback. When you’re in big stores, they’re not trained to give you feedback.”
Ridding her closet of:
“I should say short dresses. I love short dresses and I have some that I’ll wear if I’m having a party, I’ll wear it at home ... some of them I’m getting rid of. The time is coming.”
Splurges on:
“Eye makeup. I love eye makeup. I’m using Artistry. I splurge on skin care … I wear really good skin care because I want to look this way when I’m 100 ... there is a (Signature Select Personalized) serum that I use. And the Artistry Supreme LX Regenerating eye cream and regenerating cream.”
Beauty product she can’t live without:
“My (Artistry Intensive Skincare 14 night restore program) … you put it on at night and it repairs your skin while you’re asleep … I have a lot of oils in my skin … but that helps to keep your skin wrinkle free.”