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Welcome to Vancouver Is Awesome's newest feature, "In the Closet", an intimate look into the wardrobes of stylish Vancouverites.I have a girl crush on Sima Kumar. I wish I had enough space to go on about her amazing accomplishments, but all you need to know is that she is one of the most talented people you'll meet. A Creative Director and Yogi, Sima has such an infectious personality and positivity that surrounds her that left me glowing after our shoot. She also has quite the admirable wardrobe that exemplifies her expertise in vintage shopping as well as her years of styling for some of the biggest names in the industry. Though she's humble about it, her closet is any fashion enthusiast's dream. From Manolo Blahniks to her Mrs. Roeper dress pictured below, Sima's closet covers a broad spectrum of style that will never leave you bored, complimenting her perfectly. |
Tell us a little about yourself...
I'm a recovering Human Doing. I'm now a Human Being who injects love and creativity into every single project and venture I launch and collaborate on. My Human Doing years comprised of working in Retail to becoming an accidental fashion stylist then worked under the ego-fulfilling yet ultimately confining moniker of "Celebrity Stylist" for many years before moving on to projects as a Creative Director.
My life was mostly a whirlwind ride on a non-stop roller coaster that looked more exciting and alluring from the outside than it ever was from the inside.
I was a really normal girl constantly in really abnormal circumstances. My ability to negotiate these circumstance and turn them into opportunities brought me a great deal of experience and expertise but I can't say that I lived successfully. Meaning, I lied for years about who I was and what I really wanted. Meaning, I often embodied the Muse when what I really wanted to be was a Mrs. I accepted labels projected on me and fulfilled people's expectations about my life by being aloof, vague and absent.
In 2008 I began the process of "getting real" which culminated in dropping out for 4 months to travel to India and take my yoga teacher training. Studying at the School of Santhi was more a course of study in the school of life and humanity with a little yoga asana thrown in for good measure. This led me to launch my company Bespoke Yoga (makeovers from the inside out which incorporate yoga therapy) along with most recently THO: The Home Office, which is my creative consulting business that both exercises my two decades of experience along with the practice of doing business in the creative field with ethics and love. After spending the majority of my life on the road, I am now building the philosophies of "Homebody is the new Social Butterfly" and "Home is where the Art is" and turning them into the next phase of my creative expressions both personally and professionally. As corny as it sounds, no matter what you do on the outside to show the world who you are, it's what is on the inside that will be your legacy. The Home Office and Bespoke Yoga are both based in this philosophy. A quote I love that wraps up what I believe is:
"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance" - Aristotle
How would you describe your style?
Ethnic: for my love of Indiano-esque earrings and jewellery plus I LOVE make up. I love a strong dark lined eye and am obsessed with eyeliner. As I get older I am mindful of not being one of those 40+ women who wear too much make up in the day. I've basically eliminated personal drama for dramatic make-up. It's been a lovely transition.
Girly: for my love of dresses. I love day dresses, city dresses, vintage dresses, cocktail dresses, winter dresses... I am dressed obsessed! I think a woman looks best in a dress, well heeled shoe, signature bag and a loving attitude.
Urban: I'm a city dweller at heart with a love of the countryside. Suburbia and middle of the road cookie cutter existence is an energy zapper for me. I like pieces that can be incorporated into my girly aesthetic like my Dayton Motorcycle boots with my dresses from India but then take those same boots out for a proper muddy muck about in the countryside.
Grunge: I will forever have a Seattle Grunge loving girl in me. Long dresses with oversized Grand-Pa cardigans and military boots and good scarf hair. It's just more refined now. It's no longer Value Village. The look is more "First Hand as Second Hand."
Best places to shop in Vancouver?
I'm not a precious shopper at all. Working as a fashion stylist for over twenty years has taught me to look for what I love not pledge allegiance to a particular place. What this means locally is that you will see me in bargain basement places like Winners & WalMart to mid-range shops that churn out on trend items such as Aritzia, Club Monaco and Zara, independent boutiques Eugene Choo and Lark for the hit of androgyny and simple clean lines the minimalist in me enjoys, to One Stop Shopping at Holt Renfrew. Where I drop my dollars though is second hand and vintage. I love F as In Frank, Burcu's Angels, Community and Church jumble sales.
What item from your wardrobe would you save if your house was on fire?
Apparently not one as this has happened to me before! But if it were to happen again, I would take my beautiful cashmere oversized scarf which I endearingly refer to as my LW which stands for "Love Wrap" to keep me cozy and warm as I watched my material life go up in flames along with my IWC Schauffenhausen Chronograph watch to time how quickly a lifetime of stuff can go up in smoke!
What's the most sentimental piece you own?
I have a few. My Nani's jewellery from playing Bingo which everyone always "ooooh's and aaah's" about for being vintage but is more likely dollar store. But if you gave me the stipulation of "you can only ever keep one piece" it would be my IWC watch. It symbolizes a lot for me. Notably my love of menswear and embracing the masculine nature of women, strength, style & substance, technology, craftsmanship and most importantly LOVE.
Is there an outfit in your wardrobe that you think is hideous but just can't part with?
I have a multi-coloured Mrs. Roper-esque vintage Kaftan. Mrs. Roper was Stanley's wife on Three's Company. It's bright and gaudy. I've been known to welcome guests to dinner parties at my flat while wearing this piece. It's always received so well and instantly bumps up my Hostess Metre! I think I hold on to it because it will be something I can resurrect in public when I'm in my 70's but it will re-appear with a turban and a monster sized cocktail ring on my index finger with that particular shade of peach nail polish! It's exciting to imagine!
