we’re fans of canadian experiemental pop band BRAIDS because their music is intricate, enticing and envelope pushing crushing. it’s different in a time where everything pretty much sounds the same. and to us, that’s refreshing.

so it should come as no surprise that lead singer {and now only female member of the trio} raphaelle standell-preston would be equally as brazen. with no holds barred, raphaelle answered our questions in a very thoughtful & uncensored way – broaching potentially taboo topics, from the regression of women’s fashion to feminine hygiene. yes, we went there. rather, she took us there. but since we only get to know her through BRAIDS’ inventive and emotive soundscapes, this mini q&a definitely provided context to the inimitable, authentic mind behind the music.

and she got us thinking. sometimes it’s important to come out of your comfort zone {even if you’re dragged kicking & screaming} to really feel something and learn about other people and other practices. so with that preamble…dig in.

store:

• raphaelle: les étoffes in montreal. it carries such thoughtfully selected clothing. it’s beautifully curated. also the quality of the clothing is so good, it’s wonderful to see things that are well made. everything now is so disposable and is made so immorally so it’s a treat to see hand crafted clothing done by designers who are socially and environmentally conscious. i can’t afford any of it, but there was a sale there once and i just barely had enough money to buy these beautiful trousers that I wear all the time in montreal. i don’t take them on the road because they would get trashed. i just like walking through the store, and the couple who owns it had a little old dog that follows you around while you browse.

tip:

• raphaelle: be comfortable. i don’t like seeing people put themselves through discomfort in order to be fashionable. the whole intent of furthering women’s fashion from the traditional corset and restricting dress of the 19th century was to allow the woman movement, freedom and comfort. miss coco chanel was a huge advocate and catalyst for this movement with her little black dress and her chanel suit. it seems like such a regression to go back to clothing that restricts women of movement. i like clothing that allows me to feel beautiful and elegant while being comfortable; where I could be sitting at a table very proper like, or lying sprawled on the ground stretching or throwing myself around on stage. it’s liberating to be able to do anything in your clothing.

{she snapped an example of  ”sprawled comfort”…mimicking this pose as we write}

accessory:

• raphaelle: illesteva sunglasses. it took me three years to find the perfect pair of sunglasses. i kept pulling friends into glasses shops while on tour and would try so many pairs on. finally one day in vancouver i stumbled upon these. it was a big decision to buy a designer pair, but because i spent the money i take very good care of them. usually i just lose or break sunglasses in a week, but with these i put them in their case and clean them and love them. if it were a dog it would be very happy.

{she also snapped a pic of her sunnies which we’re adding to our coveting tab stat}

muse:

• raphaelle: bjork, because she doesn’t give a fuck and just tries whatever she feels. she radiates beauty because she is true to her vision and is not held back by any social expectations. she allows herself to be boundless. {bjork & beyonce are neck-and-neck in the muse popularity contest & for raphaelle, we definitely see more of the bjork “boundless” influence than the bootylicious. also boundless is our new favorite adjective.}

product:

• raphaelle: this is maybe kind of gross to talk about but i’m just going to cut the bullshit. my diva cup has absolutely changed the time when I go through my period. if any girls are curious about this, I would so so so advise to try it. best invention for women in the last ten years. huge advancement. {if anyone wants to learn more about this, just click that link above…or google away}