Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
Style

Toronto’s Best Dressed: CanCon music mainstay Kardinal Offishall

Rapper, producer and avant-garde outfit aficionado

By Jean Grant
Copy link
Seen here at Call and Response, Kardinal Offishall wears a hat from Brimz, watch by Diesel, and shirt and jacket from Call and Response.
Seen here at Call and Response, Kardinal Offishall wears a hat from Brimz, watch by Diesel, and shirt and jacket from Call and Response. Photograph by Vanessa Heins

Kardinal Offishall’s sense of style is all about originality. For most of his decades-long career, that meant adding a funky fedora or heavy gold chain to casual streetwear. Lately, however, his style has taken a more highbrow turn—especially on red carpets, where he’s been spotted in exotic furs and luxe leathers.

He credits the transformation to friend and London-based designer Nana Boateng, who encouraged him to step up his game by telling him in 2010, “You can’t be considered a king and only have part of what you do reflect royalty.” Now, Offishall (né Jason Harrow) designs his own pieces with the team at Toronto’s avant-garde boutique Call and Response (formerly Magpie), who aren’t afraid of his ideas. “I’ll say I’m thinking of something with feathers and sequins, and they’ll be like ‘We got you.’ ”

Together, they imagine one-of-a-kind looks that reflect his boundless energy. “I want every piece I wear to speak for me. I love when my outfit tells people I’ve arrived.”

Current Obsessions

A Bright Accessory
It has to be borderline offensive.” $14. Happysocks.com.

Brimz Mountie Hat
“I love having a plethora of hats that allow you to express how you feel every day.” $225. Brimzofficial.com.

Custom Vest from Call and Response
“We do a lot of fashion brainstorming. I’ll say, that’s great, but why don’t we take off the sleeves?” From $500. 702 Queen St. W.

Bevel Shaving System
“It gives you the smoothest skin.” $30 per month. Getbevel.com.

More of Toronto’s Best-Dressed People

Toronto’s Best Dressed: Trish, Mac & Matty Matheson, the ultimate nonconformists
Style

Toronto’s Best Dressed: Trish, Mac & Matty Matheson, the ultimate nonconformists

Queen West's cutest trio

NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY

Sign up for This City, our free newsletter about everything that matters right now in Toronto politics, sports, business, culture, society and more.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Advertisement
Advertisement

The Latest

Inside the Latest Issue

The February issue of Toronto Life features Scottie Barnes, the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.