@vpettorelli on Boots, Fall Fashion & Finding Your Style
A coffee and style catch-up with Vanessa, the face of our latest fall collection.
In this season: slouchy boots, suede textures and boho styling. Or at least that’s what Vanessa says.
This fall, we teamed up with fashion & lifestyle influencer @vpettorelli to bring to life Vanessa’s Take, a campaign shot at all her favourite Montreal spots. From cozy thrift-shop stops to late-night Orange Julep runs (IYKYK), Vanessa shows us how to effortlessly style this season’s must-haves.
Over matcha, we caught up with the woman of the hour to talk all things shoes, personal style & staying true to yourself.
Check out her picks here & read the interview below.
Q: You’re Canadian-Italian. Do you think you’re influenced by Italian style?
Vanessa: I think so. Italian—and European—style in general is built around versatile pieces that feel a bit more elevated. Not necessarily designer, but elevated basics you can rewear season after season. A lot of pieces my mom wore have been passed down to me. It feels very generational, and that’s definitely influenced me as I’ve gotten older.
Q: And when you have those staples, it allows you to take part in trends in a more mindful way.
Vanessa: Exactly, and you learn a lot about your personal style too by doing that. A few years ago, I was constantly buying things just to buy, which is totally normal when you’re growing up, but I didn’t really know what my style was because I hopped on every single trend I saw. Now that I have a more curated wardrobe, I know what I like, and I can just add pieces to that depending on my tastes.
Q: For sure. Ok, now let’s talk shoes. What are three things you look for in a pair of shoes?
Vanessa: Definitely comfort. As I get older, comfort is number one. Versatility too. I honestly wear the same pairs every day—flip-flops all summer, chunky boots or ballet flats in the fall. They have to work in different situations. And of course, style. That’s why I love ballet flats lately—they look good, you can wear them to a party and still walk home in them. So yeah: comfort, versatility and style — those are my three must-haves.
Q: I feel like there was a huge shift toward comfort in fashion after COVID that’s still relevant today. Getting me back in heels after the pandemic was a whole ordeal.
Vanessa: Yes! If I wear heels now, they have to be comfortable—chunkier styles, square toes, things that actually feel good on your foot. For me, it’s usually lower heels, and if I want height I’ll go for a chunky boot since they’re easier to wear.
Q: Now that we know what to look for, what shoe trend excites you most this season?
Vanessa: Boots, always. I love chunky knee-highs—they’re stylish but still comfortable. I’m also really into slouchy, boho-inspired boots this year, especially in suede or textured finishes like fur and leather. High-rise boots will always have my heart, but lately I’ve been loving low-rise, slouchy silhouettes too. Honestly, boots are my daily uniform in the fall.
Q: And when you say “boho,” what exactly do you mean? I feel like there are many iterations of that term.
Vanessa: To me, it’s a little Western and a little rugged—slouchy suede, worn-in textures, that “model-off-duty” vibe. A boho boot is one that speaks for itself. You can pair it with a casual outfit and still look put together.
Q: What’s your philosophy or go-to trick when building an outfit?
Vanessa: I usually start with a statement piece and style the rest around it. And then I have a few must-haves, like my chunky jewelry that I always wear. I also like to color match: if I’m wearing a white top, I’ll pair it with white shoes or a silver accessory to pull it in. If I’m wearing a brighter color, I’ll go more neutral on top and bottom. I think it’s called the sandwich method, and now I mostly follow it subconsciously. But I wouldn’t say I have strict rules—it’s more about what makes me feel good that day.
Q: Some of the earlier content that really started your career was around thrifting. What is it about thrifting that resonates with you?
Vanessa: I love how accessible it is. It’s affordable, and it’s such an easy way to curate your own personal style. Everyone can walk into the same vintage store and leave with completely different pieces. You can also find items from so many different decades and eras, which makes it exciting and unique. When I didn’t know what my personal style was, it was really fun to go thrifting, try different things on, and see what stuck.
Q: Your style is known for being unique and bold, especially with your nails, jewelry, and bag charms. Do you ever feel pressure to stick to that, or does it still feel authentic to you?
Vanessa: I love this question. It definitely still feels authentic. When I first started posting fashion content, I felt pressure to look put together all the time— like I needed a new crazy outfit every day. Now I feel less pressure because I know my personal style. My jewelry, for example, is the same almost every day and it feels like a staple that's unique to me. In the past, I would wear things just because they were trendy, not because they felt like me. Now I feel much more comfortable wearing jeans and a T-shirt. That feels real, and I think people appreciate that authenticity.
Q: And are you comfortable rewearing and reposting the same pieces now?
Vanessa: Oh yeah. A few years ago, I was embarrassed to do that because I felt like everyone I watched had a different outfit every day, so I was constantly rotating my wardrobe. But that’s not realistic or sustainable. Now I outfit-repeat all the time. If you look at my videos, I’m often in the same outfit, the same rings, the same accessories. I’ve carried the same bag almost every day for the past month. If you like something, you might as well wear it.
Q: One of your first jobs was at a bookstore. What’s a book that’s really stuck with you over the years?
Vanessa: I have so many! I love dystopian fiction—my all-time favorite is The Handmaid’s Tale, and not because of the show! I first read it in high school and I’ve loved it ever since. The Alchemist is also a classic, and The Catcher in the Rye is another one I’ve come to appreciate more as I got older. But I also read silly books, or self-help, depending on my mood. The Secret is one of my favorites—it’s all about manifestation and having a positive outlook on life, and that book honestly changed my life.
Q: And now, you're working as a full-time content creator. What's one perk and one downside that people don't realize about content creation?
Vanessa: Definitely a perk is the flexibility. You can create your own schedule and work pretty much any time of day, which I love. But the downside is that you’re kind of always on. Even on vacation, it doesn’t always feel like a break because you want to create content and maximize it for your audience. Since I do lifestyle content, a lot of my videos are about me and my daily life, so work and life blend together. I think that’s something a lot of content creators can relate to.
Q: As your followers have grown, you’ve mentioned overthinking content ideas more than you used to. How do you push past that anxiety and stay grounded?
Vanessa: I’m still figuring that out, haha. A really good tip I heard is to decenter yourself from the video. At the end of the day, you’re posting to help or inspire someone else, not just to focus on yourself. When I remind myself it’s not all about me, it takes the pressure off. I’m still learning, but reframing it that way definitely helps.
Q: You’re obviously a foodie. Can you run us through a typical “what I eat in a day”?
Vanessa: Breakfast is usually simple—soft-boiled eggs, toast, berries, yogurt, and an iced matcha or coffee. Lunch is something easy at home, like a chicken salad or an egg-salad sandwich. Dinner is where I try to have something high protein—so I’ll cook salmon or a burger, but I also love ordering sushi or pizza. And in the summer I love going to the Orange Julep—my go-to order is a hot dog and a poutine. If I could eat that every day, I would.
Q: You’ve transitioned into the wellness and lifestyle space a bit more lately. How has that affected your personal style?
Vanessa: It’s definitely influenced me. I never thought I’d be a workout-set girl, but they’re so easy and practical that I wear them all the time. Most days I keep it casual—jeans, flats, or something loungy—and I save dressing up for events. It’s toned down my style, but in a way that feels authentic.
Q: How do you get inspired, creatively?
Vanessa: Mostly through media. Other content creators inspire me, and even fashion or lifestyle articles. Honestly, just scrolling on TikTok and finding new creators—just like local ones—gives me ideas. I get really inspired by the fashion scene in Montreal too. Even just walking down the street, I’ll see what someone’s wearing or how they do something and it inspires me to try it myself.
Q: And outside of fashion, do you feel like you have other creative outlets?
Vanessa: Decor is something I love. I’ve been really into decorating my apartment—scrolling Pinterest and looking for furniture has become a passion. My style is kind of Art Deco with a futuristic touch: lots of chrome, white accents, and fun patterns like cow print. I like mixing muted colors with a pop here and there. I also love Gustaf Westman’s Scandinavian style—funky but neutral.
Q: And lastly, what’s a trend you partook in that you wish you could forget?
Vanessa: I think skinny jeans—or actually anything high-waisted! Honestly, anything super tight isn’t for me. And there are some 2010 trends I don’t want to see again, like the green parka with the drawstrings or the infinity scarf. The 2010s were a good time, but you had to be there, and we need to leave that era in the past.
