Walking down Yonge St. on a Friday night, Amy Shen's and George H.'s "dressy-casual" style caught my eye because of the small details they both added to their wardrobe. Amy's purple silk scarf tied in a bow, and George's studded Chuck Taylors helped create a more individual approach to their looks.

Who: Amy Shen (26, Auditor) and George H. (26, Non-Profit)

Spotted: Yonge and King

What are you wearing and where was it purchased?

Amy: I got the top from Gap and the skirt from Old Navy. The scarf is actually my mom's from her closet and the shoes are vintage.

George: The cardigan-vest is from Club Monaco, jeans are Puma by Evisu and the shoes are Chuck Taylors by John Varvatos.

Describe your style...are there certain pieces you gravitate towards when shopping?

Amy: I'm very random, it depends on my mood. I definitely lean towards vintage.

George: I like the more classic colors like the white, black, grey. I try not to wear too many things that are branded so as not to be a billboard. I mean, the stuff I wear are brands still but I'm not advertising for them. If they have nice stuff I'll buy it. So, it's a modern-casual look.

Would you dress differently going to work?

Amy: Definitely, it would be business-casual.

What was your style like ten years ago?

Amy: Whatever was in fashion! Back then you just follow everyone else, and you don't develop into your own sense of style. But afterwards you find things that you stick with and that you really like.

George: I would agree with that. In our generation, when we were 16, style wasn't as important as it is now. I think now people try to over-express individuality to the point where it's not really individuality anymore. Back then I was probably wearing Levis jeans with a Club Monaco t-shirt.

Do you tend to follow trends as soon as they come out?

Amy: If I see something I like, I'll try it out but I keep in mind whether it suits my personality or my everyday style.

George: I tend to look at more age-appropriate clothing. I would call my style casual-dressy. I could dress up or dress it down and interchange a pair of shoes or jeans and it could be dressier. So I tend to look for clothing that could add to my wardrobe.

What is one item that you're willing to put down more money on?

Amy: A nice fitted blazer.

George: Shoes, especially for men. A nice pair of leather shoes because if you have cheap leather shoes then you'll definitely look cheap.

--
My Paved Runway appears every Saturday, highlighting fashion on the streets of Toronto.