Yesterday, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Raji Sohal, a reporter for the CBC, a personal fashion stylist, and a fashion blogger. She, like I hope to do someday, created her own website, http://www.fashionminute.blogspot.com/, and is a radio personality for cultural news on the CBC. Sitting down with her in a cafe in the artsy Montreal Plateau, I was immediately stricken by her genuine kindness. And, of course, her wonderful blue jacket and amazing shoes.
After explaining to me that she had just come back from a hot yoga class, she answered my many questions with sheer intelligence and expertise. "Every single day is different," she said to me, explaining that the many different aspects of her career take her to different places every day. My jealousy began at that moment, but was overcome by inspiration. I asked her about where she found her inspiration, and responded that she takes inspiration from "absolutely everything."
"For me, its all about the idea," she said, saying that her interest in telling stories visually through fashion styling, along with other cultural stories on her blog and on the radio, was the reason that she originally felt that culture was her calling. Music, movies, literature and fashion, she says, all come from the same place creatively, a place that she is so fascinated by.
"My strength is pulling together visual ideas, and experimenting with what people have already made," Sohal said, after I asked her what spurred her interest in fashion styling. Fashion File, a program that was on air for 17 years, showed her that she had many ideas and opinions about fashion as well, and the experience helped her to start her own blog.
She retold the story of how she came to her position at the CBC, and how her passion for music (she attends four or five concerts a week) got her to where she is today. She had unknowingly met a CBC executive, and they discussed music for a long time. He then passed her name along to audition for a show, and she began her career as a CBC radio host.
My notebook filled with notes and questions, Sohal answered most of my questions without my having to ask them. She was so open to my curiousity, and so willing to talk to me and share her experiences. Drinking tea and talking fashion and culture, I found myself learning something and gaining inspiration with every word she said. As she walked me to the bus stop and gave me directions on how to get home, she told me that I reminded her of herself when she was 18. Then, she told me that she could tell that I was truly in love with journalism, and that I worked hard and because of that, I would go places. That, single-handedly, was the highest compliment I have ever received.
After explaining to me that she had just come back from a hot yoga class, she answered my many questions with sheer intelligence and expertise. "Every single day is different," she said to me, explaining that the many different aspects of her career take her to different places every day. My jealousy began at that moment, but was overcome by inspiration. I asked her about where she found her inspiration, and responded that she takes inspiration from "absolutely everything."
"For me, its all about the idea," she said, saying that her interest in telling stories visually through fashion styling, along with other cultural stories on her blog and on the radio, was the reason that she originally felt that culture was her calling. Music, movies, literature and fashion, she says, all come from the same place creatively, a place that she is so fascinated by.
"My strength is pulling together visual ideas, and experimenting with what people have already made," Sohal said, after I asked her what spurred her interest in fashion styling. Fashion File, a program that was on air for 17 years, showed her that she had many ideas and opinions about fashion as well, and the experience helped her to start her own blog.
She retold the story of how she came to her position at the CBC, and how her passion for music (she attends four or five concerts a week) got her to where she is today. She had unknowingly met a CBC executive, and they discussed music for a long time. He then passed her name along to audition for a show, and she began her career as a CBC radio host.
My notebook filled with notes and questions, Sohal answered most of my questions without my having to ask them. She was so open to my curiousity, and so willing to talk to me and share her experiences. Drinking tea and talking fashion and culture, I found myself learning something and gaining inspiration with every word she said. As she walked me to the bus stop and gave me directions on how to get home, she told me that I reminded her of herself when she was 18. Then, she told me that she could tell that I was truly in love with journalism, and that I worked hard and because of that, I would go places. That, single-handedly, was the highest compliment I have ever received.