LEVI’S® MONTHLY MUSE

Nina Cheb-Terrab

Community
September 2021

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In this interview series, we introduce you to the people who inspire us most: creatives, educators, activists, community leaders and the everyday super-humans who keep us on our toes. We’ll take you inside their day-to-day lives, homes and workspaces. We’ll talk motivation and inspiration and, of course, all things style.

Meet our latest Monthly Muse: Nina Cheb-Terrab, a creator—in every sense of the word—whose work is just as conscious of ethics as it is color and composition. Through her fantastical art and imaginative approach to styling, this multi-hyphenate artist builds whole worlds—and dynamic characters with which to fill them. On a video call from the sunny balcony of her Vancouver apartment, the stylist, 3D designer, tattoo artist and illustrator (who, by the way, also makes clothing) discusses anime, sustainability in the fashion industry and transcending the suburban pressure to conform. Read on to learn more about Nina in her own words.

Let’s start with your career. How’d you get into styling?

Growing up, I was always really into art, especially drawing, so I always assumed I would pursue a career as an illustrator or a comic book artist. Then, I developed an interest in psychology in high school, so I moved to Montréal to study at McGill. I quickly realized that it wasn't what I’d pictured and ended up dropping out two years in. I then spent a year getting to know Vancouver in a new way, meeting people who inspired me and changed the way that I thought. After taking that year off, I decided to go to Emily Carr to study graphic design, which I thought would be a better commercial option for my art. While I was there, I was introduced to the fashion industry and fell in love with styling.

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How would you describe your personal style?

It’s constantly changing. Right now, I’m into dressing in elegant, interesting pieces that are also comfortable. Being in quarantine for so long, I’ve really learned to appreciate comfort. I like wearing outfits that are more fitted to my body and that create an elongating effect, like miniskirts combined with a tighter top and a structured jacket. Integrating colour into my wardrobe has been a journey, since for a long time I dressed mostly in black. After experimenting lots (so important!) I think I’ve finally found my zone. Looking for colors that suit your skin tone is super key. I personally love baby blue, grass green, pinks and browns. I also love getting my nails done in a design or a bright colour that I don’t wear much, to contrast the rest of my outfit and create visual interest.

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A large part of my styling is finding my way back to that childhood state of wonder, that joy you get when creating imaginary worlds and playing dress up.

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We want to hear about baby Nina's fashion sense!

When I was a kid, I was very into anime and manga. I was really influenced by the fun, over-the-top outfits in Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor. Being a late-‘90s, early-2000s baby, my wardrobe was super colorful. My grandma would bring us a lot of clothes from Brazil, like pants with drawings on them, which I would mix with graphic tees. I also played a lot with accessories. My sister and I had this huge collection of hair clips and we’d put like hundreds of hair clips in our hair.


And then my family moved us to the suburbs, which was a huge switch-up. The culture was completely different. Everyone dressed the same and the other kids didn't really understand the way I dressed. I felt extremely left out. During those years, I felt like I had to conform and lost a lot of that excitement around dressing. As soon as I left high school and moved to Montréal, I started meeting interesting people whose style I admired. Observing how the way they dressed added to their presence inspired me to reconnect with my own style.

You mentioned Sailor Moon, so I gotta ask: Which character would you be?

I always gravitated towards Jupiter. A lot of my friends growing up were very small and blonde, and I was always the tall brunette one. She's also a grounded person and knows how to stand up for herself and supports her friends. So I stand by that choice.

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How has your identity shaped your style?

Identity is a huge part of my style. Growing up in a family that has such a mixed background—Argentinian, Brazilian, Syrian, Italian—I never really knew how to ground myself culturally, so it feels nice to use clothing to shape my identity. As an adult, a large part of my styling is finding my way back to that childhood state of wonder, that joy you get when creating imaginary worlds and playing dress up.

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How does your approach to styling yourself differ from your approach to styling others?

To be a good stylist, you have to be versatile. It's not just about what you want or what you would put on yourself—it's about working with the client or publication’s needs, while still bringing your own perspective, which is ultimately what sets you apart from others in the field. On top of that, it's important to be aware that what looks good on you, whether that’s silhouette, color or style, won't necessarily feel right for someone else.

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How does your interest in psychology shape your work?

It informs my styling a lot—both on a professional and personal level. You have to find meaning in the fashion industry, otherwise it can feel superficial and draining. What really excites me about styling is creating images or characters that evoke emotion. During the pandemic, I did a cover shoot with my partner and friend. I had a lot of fun putting him in these really absurd outfits, and it evoked a lot of responses. So when I style others, I try to create this dynamic, interesting character who people can either relate to or want to learn more about.

How do you navigate trends considering there’s a new one every day?

If I'm being honest, it's difficult not to be influenced by trends, especially right now. If you have any form of social media, you're going to be bombarded by trends all the time. If I see something I like, I’ll wait a long time before investing in it. I look for good quality and shop for vintage or second hand pieces. I also consider: Will this go with the rest of the clothing in my wardrobe? Is this something I can wear year round or just for one season? It’s important to think about the piece in terms of longevity and to go out of your way to fix garments when they get damaged.

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The environment is such a big conversation in the industry right now. How do you weave sustainability into your practice?

The fashion industry, at least as it is now, is inherently unsustainable. There's so much waste and not enough proper ways to dispose of it. Thrift stores don’t actually take everything that you donate… a lot of that gets thrown out.

For me, it’s about being really selective. When I go thrifting, I'll often leave empty-handed because if you buy a bunch of stuff and then decide that you don't want half of it a month later, you're once again getting rid of clothes. It's a waste of money, a waste of clothing and, ultimately, unsustainable. It’s also important to seek out alternatives to large thrift stores, like shelters, where you know what you donate will actually be going to people who need it. It’s a fairly easy thing to do that makes a big difference.

here are definitely things that I try to do to make working in the fashion industry more sustainable, but the industry itself is not sustainable—and I'm not going to pretend it is.

If there's a brand that's a big deal, but their values are clearly off, I won’t feature that brand.

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What tips would you share with someone looking to enter the industry?

Styling is one of those things you can't do alone—and it’s definitely much easier to get into if you have money. If you’re trying to get started, I’d recommend connecting with photographers and models who you resonate with creatively and setting up small shoots, even if you only have access to your own clothes. I often use pieces from my own wardrobe. Showing people what you can do is so much easier to do in the era of social media. Don't be afraid, even if you feel like you don't necessarily know what you're doing. You’ll learn and adapt. And don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and ask for what you need.

What role do ethics play in your work?

Something that's key for me is being selective about who I work with and which brands I showcase. I like to work with people who treat both me and others well. As a stylist, you literally get to decide what clothing is being promoted. If there's a brand that's a big deal, but their values are clearly off, I won’t feature that brand.

There’s also a lot of opportunity to uplift the people around you. I make an effort to source clothing from local designers or designers whose work might not have as many opportunities to be showcased. That's one way a stylist can do a lot of good. It’s important to stay respectful: Just because a person or a brand is small doesn't mean that you're entitled to their clothing.

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How has your life and work changed during the pandemic?

Once you remove many of the distractions we had before the pandemic, you’re forced to sit down with yourself and evaluate your life: the people around you, what you spend your time on and, ultimately, what you believe in. And sometimes you realize that you're not exactly on the path you thought you were on. Coming to terms with that has been my most challenging experience throughout the pandemic.

In terms of work, I had the opportunity to style my first magazine covers, which is super exciting. I’ve also started to explore new mediums. Problem-solving has been extremely important during these times; when you can't go to a studio or be around other people, you have to get creative. And one way I’ve been doing that is through 3D design, by creating spaces on a computer, then Photoshopping myself into them.

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Aside from styling, you also work in graphic design, 3D modeling and rendering, illustration and even tattooing. How do these different artforms intersect for you?

For me, and probably for a lot of creative people, it can get extremely draining to rely on one artform to bring you both joy and money. It's really easy to fall out of love with what you're doing, so I balance one medium with another. If I'm relying on styling for work, I’ll balance it out. I'll do a bit of water coloring or create art on my computer. I'm always excited to try new things. When experimenting with different art forms, there's always something you can bring back to the one that you invest most of your time in. Take tattooing for example. A huge part of it is self-awareness, consent and fostering space in which the client feels safe, all of which I’ve channeled into my styling practice.
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So what’s next for Nina?

I would love to London or elsewhere in Europe. There are incredibly creative, talented people in other parts of the world who I’d love to collaborate with. I’m excited to create with folks who share similar values, to challenge the people around me in the industry to shift their thinking and find ways of doing this work in a way that's more ethical.



Shop Nina’s style below and stay tuned here, to our Off The Cuff blog, for more style inspiration, DIY tutorials, sneak peeks of our latest collaborations and all the insider goodness you can handle.



Photo credit: Shanice Bishop