Courtesy of Rachel Serruya

She’s barely been on the scene a few months, and her work has already managed to circulate some of the most prestigious photography blogs in Canada. Rachel Serruya of Baneful and Beautiful has tapped into her own style so quickly and effortlessly that it’s no wonder why she’s doing so well. The Cowgirls sat down with this radiant rocker to learn more about her photography, and how she’s captured such raw and intimate footage of Toronto’s hottest up-and-comers.

Pony: How did you get into photography and starting-up Baneful and Beautiful?

Rachel: Actually, I got my camera as a birthday gift two years ago (a DSLR Sony) and just started snapping up shots – a lot of scenic stuff. After I got the hang of it, I took some courses at a studio on King West and went from there starting up the blog.

Courtesy of Rachel Serruya

Pony: Now you’re doing more people shots, how did you transition into that?

Rachel: I get inspiration from a lot of photographers out there, and my work has always been quite raw and sexy. I’ve always loved sticking to black and white for instance, but I keep forcing myself to try colour at least once a week. You need to constantly experiment and play around.

Pony: To get that sexy look, does it take a lot of directing on your part?

Rachel: No, no. I like to put on some music and have fun. Keep them moving freely at their own pace. I just have fun with it! If they want to smoke a cigarette, then they smoke a cigarette.

Pony: Your style is so distinct. How do you create that faded vintage effect that we see on your photos?

Rachel: I take my photos into Photoshop a lot. Everything I shoot is always in colour but I render it into black and white later on. But that being said, I don’t do any airbrushing or anything – I like my photos to be as real and raw as possible.

Courtesy of Rachel Serruya

Courtesy of Rachel Serruya

Pony: Is there anyone you’re just dying to shoot?

Rachel: Nobody famous. I’m more intrigued by the people I see on the street. I’d love to get a shot of a nice, old wrinkly person for instance and hone in on their various imperfections. But I’ll be traveling a lot this summer so I’m sure I’ll get some interesting shots then.

Pony: Any challenges that you’ve faced so far? In regards to photo-shoots?

Rachel: Honestly, no. You need to have fun with what you do and I’m enjoying myself far too much! Maybe that’s because I’m still so new, and my shoots tend to be with my friends (as opposed to commissioned work) so we all just have a blast together and wind up with these beautiful photos.

Courtesy of Rachel Serruya

Courtesy of Rachel Serruya

Courtesy of Rachel Serruya

To check out more of Rachel’s work, head over to Baneful and Beautiful where she updates her brilliant photography on a daily basis.

–Emma Farquharson.

Courtesy of Flashbam

Jacflash sweetheart Jaclyn Genovese has teamed up with Bambi World‘s Augustina Valenza to bring us a show-stopping collaboration called Flashbam. They will be hosting together starting tonight and every Friday at the newest it-bar Nyood (located on West Queen West). Guys want them, girls want to be them, and we all want to be near them. See you tonight!
– The Cowgirls.

Courtesy of Chris Craigoe

If you haven’t yet heard about the store Jacflash, you’re living in a completely soundproof bubble. The newest it-store comfortably settled on West Queen West has made headlines across Canada as the latest in rock and glam labels (featuring designers such as Alice and Olivia, Mink Pink, Operations and Modern Vintage). Cousins Jaclyn Genovese and Gillian Young, who are arguably the most beautiful women in town, run this Torontonian gem and are now launching their own collection appropriately titled: Jac & Gill.

Sitting with Jaclyn, the cowgirls realized right away; that even though she’s been featured on eTalk and HGTV, she’s still your kindhearted girl next door – with a cat that insists on sprawling out over her paperwork. After rolling her eyes and politely shooing away ‘Julie’, we start the interview:

Pony: So why did you start Jac & Gill?

Jaclyn: About a year ago we started a menswear line called ‘Jac’ by Jacflash, and it became our top selling line. We knew we wanted to do a women’s line at some point and while buying for our store we kept wanting to tweak little things here and there about the pieces – so we started working at night drawing designs, kept it simple with only 7 pieces at first, and then we found a seamstress downtown and went from there!

Pony: What are both of your roles within the line?

Jaclyn: It’s pretty equal between the two of us, I’m in New York more often so I do a lot of networking there and fabric buying etc. Gillian does more of the number crunching and marketing needed. It works well with our different skill sets.

Pony: But you’re cousins. Are there any challenges you’ve had so far working together? With Jacflash or Jac & Gill?

Jaclyn: We have such different styles. I like tighter, form-fitting clothes because I’m more voluptuous, and Gillian is taller and leaner so she likes more loose fitting clothes –so we have to compromise. If we make a really tight shirt for example, we’ll add some looser sleeves to balance it out. But if we both don’t like something we’ll either toss it or work on it until we’re both satisfied with the outcome.

Pony: Sounds like it’s working well then! What are the challenges you face together?

Jaclyn: Our seamstress (in Toronto) had to work under such strict deadlines, working by hand. She worked on an hourly wage, which was costing us too much, and it ended up not working out with her. That was something we had to learn the hard way, and now we’re making our pieces in a factory in New York. But thankfully, we started with only a few pieces for our first collection; so it wasn’t too big a disaster.

Pony: You also work with 90210’s Shenae Grimes, what’s she like to work with?

Jaclyn: She’s one of my best friends, a very sweet girl. We have a similar sense of style, we’re both petit so when we designed the “Shenae” dress, we kept it short and tight to flatter her body – but with a little more edge because she’s more of a rocker chick. We all just sat down in my kitchen one day and I was like “Nae, I’m starting this line what do you think?” and she just jumped at the opportunity.

Pony: Aw you get to call her “Neigh”!

Jaclyn: Haha, but she’s got such a busy schedule. It only took us about an hour sitting together, browsing some pieces and drawing up a design. Then we got our seamstress to mock up a sample, and a week later we see her rocking it on the red carpet! Suddenly we’re all featured on Just Jared and other celebrity blogs.

Courtesy of Chris Craigoe

Pony: You were also in Star Magazine.

Jaclyn: What? Really? I didn’t even know. Got a copy for me?

Pony: Nope. Saw it while getting a pedicure. So where can we find Jac & Gill items?

Jaclyn: Right now it’s only available at Jacflash. But with people already buying from our Spring 2010 line (which we’re designing right now) we might also sell it on places like ShopBop.com, and other online stores.

Pony: That being said, where can we find Jac and Gill on a Saturday night?

Jaclyn: We’re Grandmas! Haha. We stay at home, on the couch with our computers. Thursdays are the real nights to go out, either to Jezebel (on Ossington st.) or somewhere along Queen.

Pony: So on your computers, is that where you get your inspiration for the pieces?

Jaclyn: Yea, lots of blogs and magazines – taking an expensive design and recreating it to be more affordable for the younger crowd.

Pony: And that’s what makes Jac & Gill special?

Jaclyn: Each piece is different from anything we’ve ever seen. We try to add something that’s more of a “wow” factor. So even if it costs a little more, we want to have a dress that’s a  “must-have” item rather than just looking pretty.

Pony: What’s the best part about working in the fashion industry?

Jaclyn: It’s very creative, everything around us inspires our style and the industry’s always moving forward so it’s constantly evolving – which is exciting.

Pony: And the worst part?

Jaclyn: The economy. Everyone’s very picky and careful with what they buy these days – including me. So that’s something we have to take into account.

Pony: What are some beauty tips you have for women our age?

Jaclyn: Sleep, water, yoga, cardio…

Pony: Those are all things I keep meaning to do.

Jaclyn: Haha, well it’s mainly about being able to take time for yourself. Knowing what you want in order to be happy… although I’m a very stressed out person so I should really start listening to my own advice.

Pony: Any “it-trends” you hate? (ie. leggings, fedoras, etc.)

Jaclyn: I hate baby-doll dresses. You always have to belt them, and they never look right.

Pony: I think I have a few of those. Oops.

Jaclyn: No worries. I’m sure you look fine…

Pony: Lastly, what’s your favourite thing about Toronto?

Jaclyn: Living on Queen West is amazing – it’s such a closely-knit community. You go to Starbucks and you’ll see 5 people there you know, then heading over to the Beaconsfield there’s another 12 people. Everyone’s so accepting here, and even if you enter a different area of the city you get to experience that culture as well. No matter where you go in Toronto you get to come as you are – that’s a personal motto of mine. To simply come as you are.

Contact Jacflash at www.jacflash.net, or www.jacflashtoronto.blogspot.com

XoXo
-The Cowgirls.