Sara Camposarcone is a Canadian stylist, writer, and fashion influencer based out of Toronto. With her work featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, the New York Times, and Elle France, she is one of the most notable examples of sustainable maximalist fashion in the 21st century. Having discussed her work in my Bull and Bear piece “Totally to the Max: McGill and the Resurgence of Maximalist Fashion,” published in April of 2023, I spoke with Sara in the new year to discuss her personal style philosophy and the fashion world beyond.
We’re in a new year so that means trend predictions. What do you think is coming in? What do you think is going out? Give us the rundown.
I think we’re gonna continue with just dressing a lot more fun. I feel like (in) the past year, most brands I’ve seen have come out with crazy fun (pieces of clothing) […], for instance, Jonathan Anderson, what he makes, is kind of like surrealism, but still wearable. So I think more wearable but weird fashion is going to still be on the rise, which I love. I’ve also been seeing so many metallics. I love doing Metallics in my makeup. So I think even makeup-wise, that could be something that still (persists), like chrome nails and everything. To me, the whole quiet luxury type of thing – I don’t know. I’ve never been a fan of that anyway, so that could be out.
I have three clothing items. Can you tell me if you think the hype surrounding them is warranted or overblown?
Super micro mini skirts.
Yeah. I say overrated. They’re not my personal style, but I will say that I think I have a few skirt belts, so I guess it could be (used) like a little mini skirt and I love layering.
Margiela tabis.
Underrated. I love tabis.
Bodysuits as a whole.
Ooh, underrated. I really like that.
In a 2022 interview, you listed Betsy Johnson, John Galliano, and Vivianne Westwood as icons you see as your muses. Do you have any up-and-coming designers or even stylists that are on your radar that you could see reaching that level in the future that are kind of playing into how you style yourself now?
Just this past year I went to one of my friend’s shows. His name is Kevin Germanier. I went to his show in Paris and I’ve never been to a show where my mouth was just wide open the whole time. It was insane. Better or more artistic as opposed to (a show like) Prada where it’s more so … this is the new collection of Prada, blah, blah, blah, whatever. Sometimes that gets boring. I was like this (collection) is the future and this is amazing. He’s someone that I’ve been so inspired by. I’m based in Toronto so a Canadian designer, his name is Tristan Réhel, makes very fun, avant-garde designs. Again, something that you don’t see often. He made a dress where the whole garment was made out of structural ribbon. When I wore it I felt like I was wearing this masterpiece of art. I respect designers who are pushing the limits as to what you can actually wear.
Recently you visited Montreal, posting live from Eva B and the SSENCE store amongst others. If you could outline your perfect day in Montreal, whether it includes shopping or restaurants, how would that day look?
Okay, it would include vintage shopping […] and something that I would a hundred percent have to go back and get, if I was having a full day in Montreal, is one of the bagels, like a Montreal bagel. Every time I go to New York, I get bagels because New York bagels are the best. And I always hear Montreal’s are even better. So yeah, I would probably start off my day with a good Montreal bagel and then probably hit up every single vintage or thrift store I could find. I made a list on my last visit and I didn’t get to go to all of them. The Eva B one was so cool. Any vintage store that decorates the store with all sorts of random weird crap. I eat that up. I love it. Because that’s honestly kind of what I live in. I just collect so many things and it just becomes part of my house and there are a lot of them in Montreal.
We see a trend on TikTok of correlating regions and/or cities to different aesthetics. We have the Upper East Side and Copenhagen girlies, maybe because of the architecture of those places, or the people that live there. Which city would you best ascribe to fitting your personal style?
Two places kind of come to mind. I would say Tokyo or (another) big city in Japan. I haven’t even been to Japan personally, but it is where I pull so much style inspiration from, like (a) Harajuku kind of style. I follow so many Instagram accounts where they’ll post people, just like style creators in Japan or people on the streets and their outfits are always so maximalized. It’s just accessory on accessory. I think they even go more than I even do. So definitely I would probably fit in there. And then another place, I actually haven’t been but my sister lives in the UK in London, and she always says to me, “You would just love Camden.” So I think that would be fun. She says the people there are just like me, everyone has a funky colour hair. It’s just very expressive. So I probably would maybe fit in there.
Clothing, as you wear it, comes alive, very similarly to a lot of contemporary performance art pieces. The line blurs at times. What role does performativity play in your style, if any at all?
I get dressed or when I’m styling, like, an outfit, I do try and tell a story. I’m someone who likes to stick to a theme, whether it’s a literal theme, like everything I’m wearing is food-themed or some kind of colour scheme. I think a lot of people look at my outfits or even just maximalism in general and think it’s just a bunch of stuff all thrown on, but there is logic to the madness. So I really do like to tell a story. I also love wearing things that are very unique and I think that speaks to who I am on the inside too. I dress in a very fun, outgoing, colourful way and I feel like that’s my personality on the inside. I just am a vibrant person and I think some people will ask are you dressed up crazy every single day? Like no, some days I’m literally in a t-shirt and sweatpants […]. I enjoy dressing up because it’s what makes me feel good.
You can follow Sara on both Instagram and her newly relaunched YouTube channel with the handle @saracampo
