TIFF style icons: Celebrating personal style with Melanie Lyne

At the tail end of every summer, the city streets buzz with excitement during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), welcoming droves of A-listers as they cycle between film screenings and red-carpet appearances to late-night galas and exclusive after-parties.

For this year’s festival circuit, Melanie Lyne has become a go-to name among insiders—the talent, stylists, media voices and backstage players—for its unique ability to merge polished tailoring with bold personality, offering versatility that moves with them through their many roles.

Whether maintaining composure throughout a 14-hour day or seamlessly shifting looks between events, these professionals understand that fashion is more than an aesthetic choice—it’s a tool for self-expression. Here’s what six industry professionals had to say about how they style themselves for TIFF and the part that Melanie Lyne plays in their wardrobes.

It’s a moment to express who you are

Either walking red carpets or directing the chaos from behind the scenes, each woman echoed the same message: the best look is the one that feels like you.

Actress Victoria Baldesarra sees her wardrobe as a reflection of her personal journey. “I used to be a bit more punk, but that’s changed over the years. I’ve become more feminine, soft and simple,” she shares. “Melanie Lyne has such a sleek and sophisticated approach to fashion, and that’s how I consider my own personal style now.”

Blazers are Baldesarra’s go-to when she’s dressing for a high-visibility event like TIFF. “I love the confidence you get from that kind of structure.” At last year’s festival, she wore Melanie Lyne dress pants with a bra top and a Melanie Lyne blazer. “It was kind of sexy but not too revealing,” she says.

Comfort is everything

Prioritizing comfort is a TIFF necessity for those who ride the line of visibility and responsibility. “I need to feel comfortable because I don’t want to be thinking about the clothes I’m wearing. I want to be thinking about what I have to do,” says PR savant Natasha Koifman, founder of NKPR.

As a long-time adherent of all-black dressing, Koifman is known for sophisticated looks with a touch of flirtatiousness and edge. “Look at the suit I’m wearing. It feels like it was actually made for me,” she says. “Melanie Lyne really understands proportion, because they think about a woman’s body and how you’re going to wear something.”

That attention to detail, combined with the versatility to rotate between the brand’s casual and elevated pieces, is what makes her TIFF wardrobe functional. “I could wear this jacket with a pair of jeans and my Tom Ford heels and I’m ready to go. I can also wear this pant with a tank top and sandals,” she shares. “I think having a great suit in your wardrobe is essential for every woman.”

A mixture of form and function

As a celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist, Veronica Chu requires fashion that works hard without compromising identity. “I’m in my all-black era,” she laughs, “but I like things with a little bit of edge and playfulness. Melanie Lyne does that really well because of their modern silhouettes.”

For a previous event, Chu found confidence in a pink head-to-toe suit—a step outside her typical palette. “I felt like a completely different person,” she says of the monochromatic set. “There was something so beautiful and feminine about the Melanie Lyne pieces that made me feel more confident.”

Her favourite Melanie Lyne piece, however, is a uniform staple. “I love the bomber jacket that I have on right now. I can dress it down or dress it up.”

Wear what you feel confident in

For stylist Simone Faloona, the week is a sartorial marathon. “As a stylist during TIFF, there are a lot of moving parts,” she says. “These days, red carpet style feels more street-style effective. There are fun takes on pieces that are a bit louder than your everyday style.”

Faloona gravitates toward structure and match-set dressing, which is why Melanie Lyne’s coordinated sets resonate. “I’m more of a classic dresser, putting a twist on modern looks but keeping it feminine with clean-cut lines.”

“In this Melanie Lyne set, I feel very confident because it flatters me so much. When choosing a more elevated outfit, I want to make sure that I feel extremely confident in the silhouette before anything else.”

Don’t save it for a special occasion

“If you buy something that’s amazing and you haven’t had an occasion to wear it, remember that you bought it for a reason. It spoke to something in you,” says Julia McEwen, senior fashion and beauty editor at FASHION and HELLO! Canada.

She recommends pairing statement pieces with basics if you want to make them more wearable for casual appearances. Her favoured piece to mix and match is a pair of tailored Melanie Lyne jeans—simple but polished.

Who can do you better than yourself?

Etalk host Sonia Mangat views fashion as a window into her personality. “Fashion gives people a solid intro as to who they’re about to interact with,” she says, adding that her outfits act as icebreakers for the celebrities she interviews on the red carpet.

“When you’re about to talk to somebody who may feel intimidating, but you know you’re wearing something beautiful and authentic, it feels uplifting—especially with other women,” she explains.

Mangat chooses a theme for her TIFF wardrobe every year. This year she’s integrating a South Asian touch to honour her heritage. She describes her style as classic with a bold, edgy touch to it and finds that Melanie Lyne’s balance of structure and statement aligns seamlessly with that identity. “The dress that I’m wearing today pretty much describes my entire vibe when it comes to style,” she says.

Dressing the part isn’t just for the camera. It’s about feeling confident while exuding professionalism and grace. Whether they’re on the red carpet or off, this year’s TIFF insiders are looking to Melanie Lyne to help capture their perfect TIFF moment without compromising their personal styles.

Browse Melanie Lyne’s modern collections at melanielyne.com, and stay up to date with their best TIFF looks by following them on Instagram.