Cool People - Ayan View

In a world where style and substance rarely come as a package deal, there are very few people who embody both of these qualities. When you do encounter such individuals, try not to get discouraged by the fact that they get along with the types of people you admire the most. From high-brow literature professors, to cool girls with pink mullets, their friend circle is as eclectic as it goes. Whether you admire them for their ideas, their writing or for their fashionable style, they are hard to spot. If you’re lucky enough to meet one in your lifetime, these types of Cool People, are what make the world go round. Tasteful Chronicles caught up with Ayan View, a NYC-based model, student and freelance writer whose spirit, wit and sophistication is what makes her one of those. 

How would you, describe yourself…

to an employer:

 I am very dedicated a passionate. I’m so afraid of being reprimanded that it drives me to try to be a perfect employee.

 to someone you respected and wanted to impress:

 I have range. The saying “still waters run deep” describes me.

To a lover:

If I love you, you have my whole heart. It takes a while for me to become comfortable so please be gentle.

To a stalker:

I’m not as interesting as you seem to think I am *

*editor’s note: Yes you are Ayan, that’s the whole point of this article

Can you create your best quarantine outfit, take a selfie and give us a mini-rundown? 

I wear some version of this every day. A Brooks Brother’s button down that I got from the Goodwill Outlet, a pair of corduroys from H&M, and font Puma slides my roommate gave me.

Your most prized possession?

My David Sedaris books that he personally inscribed for me.  Also my Michigan State sweatshirt that belonged to my grandpa. Anything that gave me really.

Weirdest/craziest New York City story? 

The day I met Ashley Graham and then we wen to a Mexican restaurant where there were like 5 Italians who had been there all day drinking. Then they took us in a cab to an Italian restaurant in the West Village, the driver was a Chinese immigrant who was singing Opera and was really good. Then we get to the restaurant and there are like 15 of us and I don’t know any of them but we start eating and they take over the music in the restaurant. They all start dancing and then they raise me up in my chair and start doing the Hora. I left without paying for any food.

Best and worst entertainment you've consumed during quarantine 

I’ve started new shows —Shameless, Nurse Jackie, some Netflix documentaries and rewatched The Office for the millionth time. My roommate loves Family Guy which I always thought was a show with douchebag humor but it’s actually really witty. The worst thing is probably TikToks.

Your muse?

New York is my muse. It sounds cringey but I have such eclectic taste that living in the city inspires me constantly. Also Pintrest.

Something you learned during quarantine? 

I need to socialize more. I’m too comfortable at home.

what does a day in your life look like? 

A day not in quarantine is probably spent in class or in my apartment. I love to walk and see where it takes me.

5 instagram pages that inspire you 

@brittanybathgate

@patiasfantasyworld

@zoras_daughter

@palomawool

@thankyou_ok

COOL PEOPLE - HALEY CRAWFORD

There are few people we feel we can go to for fashion & beauty tips, proof-reads and financial advice. But Haley Crawford is one of those people — the kind who understands financial market analytics, reads Shakespeare in Old English and looks amazing while doing so. The recent New York University graduate, with a major in English, has already worked for the world’s top media publications like Suitcase and Assouline and is now in the process of earning her Master’s Degree in International Business at Western University. TC caught up with Haley and asked her to share some tips on how she is keeping herself busy, healthy and entertained during quarantine.

How do you STAY active?

I’m a big morning runner –  it’s when I get some of my most creative ideas. When I’m in New York, running through SoHo and the West Village first thing is so magical. It feels like you have the whole city to yourself! Now that I’m in the countryside, I love running along the lake and following up with a yoga routine or a Melissa Wood Health workout in the sun. Her classes are amazing, and her voice is so soothing.

What DOES your moring skincare routine LOOK LIKE?

After my workout, I’m obsessed with Youth to the People’s Kale + Green Tea cleanser, which is like a green juice for your face. From there, I use Ole Henriksen’s Vitamin C Truth Serum to look ultra glowy and slather on Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream, which I’ve been using for years. After trying just about every cream under the sun, I’ve finally found one I can’t live without: Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright Eye Cream works so well I hardly need any concealer for Zoom calls. If I want even more brightness, I’ll dab some of Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Glow Drops onto my cheekbones, almost like a highlighter. Finally, as summer is (finally) approaching, Supergoop’s SPF 40 Unseen Sunscreen is great for extra protection when I’m out in the sun.

Best Self-care Tip?

Spending time in the kitchen is such great self-care. I’ve never been a big baker, but like the rest of the world, quarantine has changed that. I love vegan baking, and have been discovering the most incredible sugar- and gluten-free recipes too. Dates and coconut sugar are fantastic replacements for processed sugar, and bananas or apple sauce can be used in place of eggs. Almond flour and almond butter also give brownies and cookies the best consistency!

Go-tO Breakfast?

Now that I have more time on my hands, I’ve been addicted to making smoothie bowls. I have tons of recipes, but my favourite is a green bowl, with banana, lots of kale and spinach, frozen avocado, frozen pineapple, and a few frozen strawberries. For toppings, I love using healthy granola, unsweetened coconut, sliced banana, berries and chia seeds.

How DO you Keep yourself entertained During Quarantine?

While it’s tough not being able to socialize during this time, it is a great opportunity to focus on personal creative projects that can sometimes get pushed by the wayside in day-to-day life. My best friend and I are currently working on getting the novel we co-authored published, so that’s been a pretty major focus at the moment! Otherwise, it’s a great time to finally tackle the growing stack of books on my bedside table. Right now, I’m reading Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise, which transports me back to New York, as it’s set between the city and Princeton. For anyone else with the travel bug, here are a few more of my go-to reads:

 -      Out East by John Glynne was one of my absolute favourites last summer. It’s a great story about identity, and the Montauk setting will tide you over until hopping on the Jitney is permissible again.

-       Jennifer Egan’s Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit from the Goon Squad is an impressive work of interwoven tales that skip from the East Village's Tompkins Square Park all the way to a Kenyan safari.

-       Brideshead Revisited by the hilarious Evelyn Waugh has been one of my favourites since I was 12 and way too young to be reading it. It’s the ultimate Oxford story, and a great read if you’re longing for the English countryside.

How do you wind down after a busy day?

I love taking baths before bed to decompress, and often use a hydrating sheet mask or REN’s Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask while I soak. When I use a treatment like that, I use something super moisturizing to coddle the skin afterwards – an all-time favourite of mine is Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Wild Rose Beauty Balm. The smell puts me right to sleep, and you wake up with buttery-soft skin.

Cool People - Lea Roy

Some compare her to the modern-day Charlotte Gainsbourg, others might say she is a French-speaking version of Kristen Stewart — thanks to the array of roles Lea Roy has been able to take on, it’s hard to pin her down to a single archetype. Montreal-born actress and recent college graduate, is multi-hyphenate woman of her own kind. From Elle covers, feature films, to starring in teen drama TV series, it’s easy to forget she is only twenty-two. To celebrate the release of her latest movie Speak Love directed by Emmanuel Tardif , Tasteful Chronicles zoomed in with Lea to talk about her latest project, her favorite films, and what it’s like growing up as a child actress. 

Tell US A Bit About Yourself

I’m from Montreal and I’ve been acting on French-Canadian TV shows and movies since I was 10 years old. I just graduated with a degree in Communications & French Literature at Concordia University. Currently I’m thinking about pursuing studies in theatre. 

how has acting shaped the person you have become today?

 I became an actress because I was an only child, when I was little I had this ridiculous imagination. I would embody all sorts of different characters, so being an only child was never an issue thanks to acting. Also, being introduced to professional work spaces at a young age, like film sets where I was constantly surrounded with adults — that definitely made me mature a bit faster!

How does your experience as an actress influence the way you watch movies?

I’m inevitably drawn to the actors work, I always find myself scrutinizing their facial expressions, constantly trying to learn from actors that I enjoy watching and get inspired by. Sometimes I even surprise myself trying to unconsciously emulate the performances as I’m watching them! Also, I feel like the moment I became aware of all the pieces of the puzzle that are necessary to bring about the final product, in terms of pre and post production, that’s when I started appreciating films for more than merely their storytelling qualities — acting definitely made me a more picky spectator !

5 movies everyone should watch before they die ?

Les bons débarras by Francis Mankiewicz, a gem of French-Canadian cinema.

Synonyms by  Nadav Lapid — for the more adventurous mind, it’s a beautiful movie about masculinity and the love of language.

Punch Drunk Love by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Adam Sandler. It’s an Adam Sandler that I came to discover and love.

Wild Strawberries by Ingmar Bergman, a classic.

Call Me By Your Name by  Luca Guadagnino , I chose this movie for the “guilty pleasures” category but I shouldn’t be guilty, it’s beautiful !

acting skills that come in handy in your everyday life?

As an actor you’re asked to feel and put yourself in other peoples shoes and live experiences that are so far away from your own. Thanks to this, it has allowed me to become a lot more empathetic towards others. I’m someone my friends come to when they need advice because I try to relate to them as best I can.

Dream Collab ?

Play in a Gaspar Noé film, I love his movies, and play alongside the actress Juliette Binoche — dream big they say! 

SPEAK LOVE, your latest film, is coming out today — tell us more about the project

It’s the 2nd and last movie I played in, it’s a film about the transition between childhood and adulthood. But Emmanuel Tardif, the director, does it in a very particular way. The protagonists are two young girls — the youngest is on the verge of becoming a teenager and the oldest is almost an adult. We follow these two girls in a very surrealistic manner, in improbable locations and their dialogues are very poetic. It’s a coming of age, and a homage to French fifties cinema. Very metaphorical, a cinematographic experience for the willing and curious mind. It’s very beautiful but asks for some interpretation. 

WHat was your favorite part about this project?

The dialogues, which are not realistic but more poetic. I’ve always played in TV shows so it was a hard to find the tone in my acting to convey these lyrical dialogues in a touching way and for them to be understandable to a certain degree. It was a challenge because I had to construct this character from scratch — but it was worth it!

Watch the Speak Love trailer here

Cool people: Taylor Rozenblat

Maybe its the aries in her, the Israeli-Morrocan lineage, or her innate sense of style, but one thing is certain: Taylor Rozenblat’s got that secret sauce. If you live in either Montreal or Miami, the two cities that she calls home, her name might sound familiar. Taylor Rozenblat embodies a girl of all traits, talent, and drive. At 17, she founded Sound and Noize, an on-line media publication that focuses on dance music and has since made a name for herself as a world-renown music journalist, manager and event planner. At only 22 she has worked for and collaborated with the likes of Steve Angello, Dave Grutman, Lee Burridge, The Chainsmokers and many more.

We sat down with the media, health and fashion guru who spoke to TC about how she stays busy during quarantine, the story behind Sound and Noize and the importance of maintaining good vibes in the midst of all of this. Read up to find out more about the young woman whose many qualities and vibrant energy is what makes her one of a kind!

Dream Guest list, DEAD OR ALIVE?

Guy Gerber, Soloman, Scott Disick, Peggy Gou and Johnny Depp

Fave songs ever?

Starry Night by Peggy Gou, Lost in Istanbul by Pascal junior and Masar by The Soul Brothers . Check out my latest playlist ;)

Next travel destinations?

Ibiza, Mykonos and Tulum

Favorite clubs in the world?

Gospel in New York City, Papaya Project Tulum, Clandestino in Montreal

Beach or city?

Miami

Life motto?

Think positive in every situation because I believe in law of attraction. If you radiate positive energy you will attract this kind of energy into your life.

HOW do you uplift yourself?

Taking care of myself both physically and mentally. I try to be aware of my thoughts and my emotions. I take deep breaths when I feel anxious. I always try to put myself together no matter what. It helps me feel good about myself. I chose an outfit that makes me feel dope af, I do my hair, spray some Le Labo and I’m ready to take on the day!

name one person you admire and why?

My boyfriend. He works so hard and always puts a smile on his face no matter what.

Tell us more about Sound and noize

Sound and Noize started as a music blog and evolved into something so much greater than that. Beyond interviews, playlists and articles we also host events. All related to dance music, but my twist on the matter is to bring dance music into our everyday lives. I hosted a couple of spinning events where I curated the playlist and turns the studios into a burning man den. I think that good music should happen everywhere, not only at the club. People tend to associate me with dance music and the clubbing scene, but I don’t drink and I am very health oriented. I’m very into spiritual healing, good energy and health. That’s what I want to bring to the dance music industry.

For feature inquires and pitches please email: margaux@tastefulchronicles.com