Category Archives: Sophster-Toaster Brand

In Like a Lamb

Posted on March 10, 2020March 9, 2020 by Melissa Harrison

After two cold and stormy springs that had me in mittens until May, it looks like our luck is turning around and we’re going to get a sweet and soft spring this year. March arrived with warm sunshine and gentle breezes and has only had a few dips into wintery weather since. Even this snowy day couldn’t stop me from pulling some choice spring dresses from their spare closet cocoon and declaring it Canadian t-shirt weather.

Glasses Warby Parker
Earrings Just A Little This That (other colours)
T-shirt Sophster-Toaster
Pants Angry Rabbit
Boots L.L.Bean

All photos by me.

Team No Fun

Posted on February 4, 2020February 3, 2020 by Melissa Harrison

My newest hand silk screened t-shirt is the Team No Fun tee! A sporty baseball tee in black and heather charcoal, this new shirt is inspired by roller derby NSO’s (non-skating officials), who wear dark colours and aren’t allowed to cheer or “have fun” while performing the essential tasks that run our games.

Having performed just some of the many things these officials do, I know how hard it is. They track players, penalties and stats, run the penalty box, time jams and periods, keep score, and keep everyone organized, all while blending into the background. We couldn’t skate without them; it’s a very important job and, in our league, these people are all volunteers! They are so crucial to our sport and community, that they form their own team: Team No Fun.

Tee Sophster-Toaster
Glasses Warby Parker
Shoes Keds

All photos by me.

Want to see what it takes to be an NSO, or just catch one of our bouts? Find our schedule here.

California, 1982

Posted on July 11, 2019February 7, 2020 by Melissa Harrison

I’m finding, more and more, that my personal style is evolving into a fairly specific aesthetic that I’ve been internally referring to as California, 1982. I love anything with this vibe and snap up everything that possesses it, even when it doesn’t exactly jive with my earlier mid century obsession.

Living, as I do, in Canada, 2019, I don’t get many opportunities to explore this new fascination. It’s made for an even murkier transition from vintage pin-up to retro boardwalk babe. It’s hard to find effortlessly aloof clothes with that sunny, summertime feel that can stand up to a Canadian winter, so summer is when I really get to shine. I feel most myself when I’m skating – on my quads or on my little banana board – to the 7-11 for a Popsicle in tube socks and a ringer tee.

Bodysuit Camp Collection
Skirt Sophster-Toaster
Necklace Emery & Opal

All photos by me.

Party Planner Skirt

Posted on May 7, 2019February 7, 2020 by Melissa Harrison

I am so in love with this new skirt from my new summer collection. Of all the new pieces I have planned, this one held the weakest picture in my mind. Once all the components arrived and I sat down to work on a sample, I had to go dog through my stack of notes to find my written plans because I couldn’t remember what it was supposed to look like. Even while making it, my vision of the final product was blurry. The organic cotton felt so soft and the colours popped so beautifully, but it wasn’t until I stood up from my sewing machine, after having just sewn the full and fluffy voile lining in, and pulled everything around to sew the back seams together that I knew I was onto something. I had the weakest vision of this skirt, other than I knew I wanted to work with the subtle diagonal lines of the print, and it turned out to be one of my favourites: love at first sight.

Skirt Sophster-Toaster
Glasses Warby Parker
Necklace Emery & Opal

All photos by me.