danica
may 15, 2017
foreword
The first class I ever had with Danica (or “Dani”, as I call her) was grade nine gym. I remember she was short, cute and had a particularly cherubic face, which I suppose hasn’t changed over the years. We didn’t become true, close friends, however, until eleventh grade, bonding over shared interests in Asian culture. As one of few pre-university friends that I still consider myself close to, Dani is someone I can be comfortable with for hours. (This photoshoot was literally a 9 to 5 day, and Dani was happy, patient and completely willing to put up with me.) We are so similar in so many ways — especially in style, which is why when I started this project, I knew I had to ask her to model immediately. We like the same sort of clothes, music and food. The same sorts of things catch our eye. She is a sweet and gracious friend, but she also has a wilder side that comes out with enough laughter or the right song. (Or maybe a drink or two.)
As we sit by the window in Aroma, she tells me about Fujian, China, her nostalgic love of books, and a lost locket.
How would you describe your fashion sense?
I’m not that good at it (*laughs*), but I like doing layered outfits. Like, not just a simple jeans and t-shirt. I definitely love hoodies, bomber jackets and most of the stuff in my closet is black. I also have neutral tones — brown, beige. And I like pastels.
Describe a brand that you really like and/or relate to. What do you like about it?
The one that’s popping up in my head right now is Zara. I love [their] clothes. They match my aesthetic and they have a more unique and mature vibe [than what I used to wear.]
What makes Zara different to you?
You’ll find something really weird that may not look nice, but when you try it on, it’s so unique that it just stands out.
What is something you stopped doing, even though you still love it?
In middle school, right before high school, I used to read — a lot, a lot, a lot. I love reading books. But [when] high school started, I kind of stopped. I feel like, maybe I haven’t had time[…] but I look at my book shelf and I see how many books there are, and I’m like, “Man, I read most of these! What happened?” […] I miss that feeling of finishing a book and buying books in the bookstore, it’s like one of the best [feelings.] I bought the Kobo reader, but I stopped using it after a while, because I just couldn’t. I like the feeling of a physical book.
Do you own something that is important to how you define yourself? What is it and what’s the meaning behind it?
A locket my mom gave me for my birthday, when I was younger. It’s a heart locket and she engraved my name on the front and at the back, there’s a heart with “Love, mom.” Inside, I put a picture of her and my dad. I used to wear it every day, but that’s how things of mine go missing so I’m not sure where it is right now. I wish I could find it again because I would want to wear it.
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
China. I haven’t gone there yet, but I kind of want to visit where my roots are. My grandparents are from Fujian so I want to try going there. I don’t really know too much about it because most of our family history takes place in the Philippines […] but I kind of want to see where my grandparents came from because I don’t really know too much about their history.