“A Day in the Life” with Toronto Costume Designer Vanessa Magic

Vanessa Magic is magic. She can transform the ideas of one’s dreams into reality. She loves how images can be conveyed through the power of costume and how costumes can evoke the feel of the character the audience sees. She has been making costumes for theatre, dance, web series music videos and commercials for over a decade. She also loves writing poetry and short stories from her dreams and creating content for online publications.

When Vanessa is not making costumes or writing, she loves to practice Muay Thai, dance and DJ. Anything that gets your body to move is a great way to balance the sitting that comes from sewing or typing on a computer for a long period. She also loves to craft and use found objects to create new pieces. Vanessa loves to put her all in any project she is involved in, and she believes if you put in the work, you’ll get results.

Vanessa Magic - This is me colour testing wardrobe for the 2019/2020 Buddies in Bad Times Brochure. Photo: Tanja-Tiziana
Vanessa Magic – This is me colour testing wardrobe for the 2019/2020 Buddies in Bad Times Brochure.
Photo: Tanja-Tiziana
Vanessa Magic - This is me and my DJ partner Pammm at Pride, enjoying the wild lights before our set.
Vanessa Magic – This is me and my DJ partner Pammm at Pride, enjoying the wild lights before our set.
This is me on set with a costume I created for the web series Bit Playas.
This is me on set with a costume I created for the web series Bit Playas.
This is me mugging after a Muay Thai class at Montrait Muay Thai. I love Muay Thai; it grounds me and makes me into a more confident person.
This is me mugging after a Muay Thai class at Montrait Muay Thai. I love Muay Thai; it grounds me and makes me into a more confident person.
This is me carefully placing a headpiece on Rhoma Spencer at a photoshoot for Aluna Theatre’s The Solitudes Photo: Tanja-Tiziana
This is me carefully placing a headpiece on Rhoma Spencer at a photoshoot for Aluna Theatre’s The Solitudes Photo: Tanja-Tiziana
This is me with a giant Caribana costume with my son Brixton.
This is me with a giant Caribana costume with my son Brixton.
Vanessa Magic - This is me having a blast with Alyssa Gallardo, Lynsey Clark, Deanna Sciortino and Alex Kavanagh at CAFTCAD Celebrates, an event that celebrates the achievements of Canadian costume designers.
Vanessa Magic – This is me having a blast with Alyssa Gallardo, Lynsey Clark, Deanna Sciortino and Alex Kavanagh at CAFTCAD Celebrates, an event that celebrates the achievements of Canadian costume designers.
Vanessa Magic - This is me on a float for Pride wearing an extra-large witch hat. I was lucky to be able to design some Avant-Garde Wizard of Oz costumes for Drag Queens.
Vanessa Magic – This is me on a float for Pride wearing an extra-large witch hat. I was lucky to be able to design some Avant-Garde Wizard of Oz costumes for Drag Queens.

What ‘hood are you in?

I am in the west end of Toronto in Parkdale.

What do you do?

I am an artist and work in creative fields. Primarily, I am a costume designer. I am also a writer. I facilitate workshops on diversity and inclusivity for commercials and TV with Inclusive Stylist Toronto. I DJ, practice Muay Thai and I am a mama to Brixton.

What are you currently working on?

Currently, I am costume designing Aluna Theatre’s production of The Solitudes, which will be on January 7 -18 at Harbourfront Centre. You can find tickets HERE.

Where can we find your work?

You can find my most recent work on CBC Gem for a web series I designed called Bit Playas.
Also vanessaismagic.com and on Insta: @vanessaismagic

 

 

 

About Joel Levy 2530 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography