The fashion industry can be difficult to break into and when it comes to making it in the fashion industry. Alexander Liang, editor-in-chief of Kenton Magazine, is making an impression and turning heads with his fashion editorials and style. The magazine brings its audience the latest on news in fashion and trend reports from staff writers located in Vancouver, Toronto, New York and Europe in hopes of providing a more robust view of fashion.

Vancouver will always be Liang’s home but his passion for fashion has taken him to high profile fashion capitals such as New York City where he graduated from Parson’s School of Design. He later went to work for Conde Naste publication such as Details Magazine and The New York Times. It’s safe to say that he’s come up on top when it comes to competing with the best within the fashion industry.

I took the opportunity to catch up with Liang on his recent visit back to Vancouver for an editorial shoot and asked him questions about style, success and what’s on the horizon for him.

Q: What have been your keys to success?

Liang: Be humble, remember where you came from and know your relative place in the industry. Be confident, stick to it and don’t take fashion too seriously. Have fun with it.

Q: As a stylist, what are some tips on finding your personal style?

Liang: I think the style you portray on the outside is a representation of who you are on the inside but I think everybody develops their own personal style and there are great inspiration for ideas from bloggers and online magazines. Not every style/trend will work for you. Find something that you will be comfortable in.

Q: What are some tips for shopping?

Liang: Try new things and experiment. Sometimes what a garment looks like on a hanger looks different when you try it on. You learn more about what you do and don’t like from trying things on.

Q: What are some trends for spring?

Liang: Black and white looks are on trend for both men and women. For men, we’re seeing an emergence of prints and animal prints. We’re also seeing athletic wear crossing over to menswear for spring. For women, it’s the year of emerald and Monaco blue. Clean lines for women, some colour blocking and monochromatic.

Q: The weather in Vancouver is challenging for dressing chic while still staying functional? Any tips?

Liang: Everybody needs to own a good trench. You can get great pieces from Burberry or Holt Renfrew but if you’re on a budget you can find trenches from Banana Republic, J Crew, Express, Joe Fresh. I really love an open jacket look and play around with accessories such as hats. For girls, the wedge ankle boot is a great way to add style for rainy weather instead of rain boots.

Q: You’re heading to New York fashion week in a couple of weeks. What will you be packing in your suitcase?

Liang: I’m a huge fan of t-shirts in black and white. I’ll be bringing my blazer, Alexander McQueen scarf, a couple watches, fur collars and black jeans. I like the paring of black and navy a lot. I think you can mix and match certain pieces without people really remembering that you’ve worn that. Some magenta and prints will also be in my edit for fashion week.

Q: Where do you stand on designer versus department store?

Liang: It’s good to have great key pieces and basics in designer because you wear it so often that it’s a better investment in terms of quality. I think supporting young designers are a great way to be unique. I’m not opposed to department stores because it allows you to experiment. Places like H&M and Zara are great for that. If you like the trend you can always opt for the designer version. Style is different from luxury fashion. Style is how you interpret fashion.

Amy Yew is a contributing columnist at Vancouver Courier. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to amyvancouvercourier@gmail.com. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.