A DAY IN THE LIFE

Bayview Village Style Director Melissa Evans-Lee has a dream job. Here is a behind-the-scenes peek at her daily calendar, plus a preview of Melissa’s fashionable must-haves for fall.

Starbucks ritual
Melissa stays ahead of trends with an early start, fuelled by a Slurpee-sized cup of joe – “Venti bold, no room.” The journalism and PR grad says she has always wanted to tell a story. And Bayview Village is a great fit because “it dovetails so well with my personal interests as a foodie, fashionista and decorista – me in a nutshell!”

A green break
“The greener the better. I don’t do sweet,” says Melissa of her mid-morning juice at ELXR Juice Lab. It helps her follow her motto – “Just keep moving, one stilettoed foot forward at all times, and it will all get done.” Oh, and high heels are mandatory. “I really can’t concentrate in flats.””

A girl’s gotta eat!
The first thing Melissa’s friends would say about her: “You eat like a champ!” Indeed, her foodie philosophy is to eat clean most of the time but indulge big sometimes, as in this decadent barbecue chicken sandwich from Beauty Barbecue & Smokehouse, the new bbq spot at BV. It’s a feat only the most fearless fashionista would attempt in a white shirt! Note also Melissa’s statement necklace. She has a firm rule to wear only one “wow factor” piece at a time. “I typically have too much other stuff going on in my outfit, so when it comes to accessories, less is more.”

Melissa’s motto is “Go big or go home.” And she also knows that the best personal style embraces contradictions. “I default, style-wise, to extremely girly, but then I can also rock ripped jeans and a pair of Doc Martens. Similarly, you can take me to the fanciest restaurant or you could just feed me a sandwich (although it better have potato chips in it).”

Sign-off for fall lookbook
An eye for detail is critical for a style director. Here, Melissa gets ready to sign off on Bayview Village’s fall lookbook. Melissa’s advice for someone who aspires to a job like hers? “I cannot underscore the need to be a dog with a bone. Having tenacity and passion is absolutely critical.”

What’s in Melissa’s beauty bag?
“Face oil! I have a few on rotation, but I’m loving Cocoon Apothecary Rosehip Oil Moisturizing Serum from Your Good Health. It’s high in antioxidants that help reverse sun damage. A red lip is also a nice wake-up call. One of my BFFs just introduced me to MAC’s Relentlessly Red Retro Matte Lipstick. Lastly, I love any kind of smoky, spicy fragrance. I’m not a delicate flower type girl when it comes to perfume.”

What’s for dinner?
The benefits of working at BV, where everything you might desire is close at hand, are most evident in Melissa’s daily market shopping at Pusateri’s Fine Foods. She takes a pause mid-afternoon to consider something healthy to make for dinner with her husband, John, at their home in the trendy Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood. “My very best self is barefoot in the kitchen with something cooking on every burner.”

Making a list – best fall buys
What is on Melissa’s must-have list for fall? “A pair of little white boots” is her first answer. “I’m literally obsessed with white footwear.” And then, to prove one should never say never, she adds, “I’m giving serious thought to the Michael Kors ‘dad sneakers’ at Browns.” She also admits to eyeing a Blueberry French Oven from Le Creuset to add to her collection, which includes one in Cerise and one in Licorice. Hey, a girl’s kitchen cupboard should be as colourful as her closet!

It’s a wrap!
One of the many perks of working with a clothing rack in your office is the quick change. Today, Melissa swaps out her day finery for jeans and a blouse to meet up with friends after work at the new Parcheggio Ristorante. As a haute one-stop, BV allows Melissa, along with its well-heeled customers, “to check off most everything on a to-do list – valet, mani, pedi, blow-out, lunch, pick up Veuve and a duck breast for dinner – in the glam-est way possible.”

Follow along @bvshops and @melissaevanslee.