Snapped by Tommy Ton: “She had me at Miu Miu”

Canadian wonder boy Tommy Ton reflects on his street style photographs in a new monthly column.

“This was the first time I’d ever seen Chiara, and it was…I don’t want to say love at first sight, but I was infatuated by her. It’s refreshing to see someone new for a change. I’ve noticed there’s a certain way that young Italian girls are dressing. It’s a kind of mishmash of Italian housewife, streetwear and a bit of effortlessness. I loved how, even though it was warm outside, she had the beanie on, and the way the T-shirt slouched, the proportions of the short jacket, the simplicity of the jewellery. The Miu Miu jacket I recognized instantly, and actually when I first saw it on the runway I thought it was ugly. But to see someone take a piece that isn’t considered covetable or a must-have and wear it in a clever way was so cool. And it was nice to see someone not wearing current-season clothing. She’s an up-and-coming stylist and I know she didn’t pay full price. She probably hunted it down in an outlet somewhere. Those are my favourite type of girls to shoot: the ones that aren’t established and are still working their way up from the bottom. They’re not trying to be a street-style icon, they’re just working hard, going to the shows, not even sitting, they’re standing. She was very mysterious and I think that’s important. In this business you have to maintain a certain sense of mystery and be able to give off a great first impression. So she had me at Miu Miu.”