We love Rebecca Tay, and not least because sharing oxygen with her at a party, show, restaurant or sidewalk is to participate in the manufacture of a jolly good time. The local writer has supplied cases of her words to The Block, Globe & Mail, enRoute, The Georgia Straight and other publications (for years she was the Western Editor of FASHION Magazine), but of greater import to us is the fact that she is consistently one of the best dressed ladies in Vancouver, as well as one of our most learned in the realm of looking good. So say hello…

Scout Q&A

The first three things that you do every morning? Snooze, check email on Blackberry, snooze.

Your ancestry? Chinese-Singaporean.

What makes you the most nervous? Feeling the need to make a To Do list and, for some reason (phone died / no paper / no pen), not being able to make one.

Three things about the West End that make you want to live there? The location; my building (it’s apparently one of the oldest residential buildings in Vancouver!); the West End parking permit.

The thing that you eat that is bad for you that you will never stop eating? Oh god. Where do I even begin? Chicken wings, chips, movie popcorn, cheese, gluten gluten gluten.

Default drink/cocktail of choice? White wine or a Caesar.

What are the three things you’d like to change about Vancouver? The rain, complaining about the rain, and the barrier between being acquaintances and actually friends that seems higher here than anywhere else.

Your go to, no-frills place for dinner? Iki Sushi on Broadway at Macdonald in my old hood!

If you could board a plane this afternoon, where would it be taking you? London or Spain, to see my boyfriend.

The three books that you read that made an impact on you in your formative years? Matilda by Roald Dahl, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, any of the Babysitter’s Club / Sweet Valley Twins books.

Whose personal style do you covet? Gwyneth Paltrow’s, Chloe Sevigny’s, Carey Mulligan’s. Someone from Vancouver? Leila Bani has a pretty amazing wardrobe.

Where was the last place you traveled to for work or pleasure? South Africa for Christmas. AMAZING. It was pleasure but I’ve since freelanced about it!

Where did you go to school? Calgary for elementary, junior, and high school; Queen’s University for my undergrad, and UBC for law school.

What did you major in as an undergraduate? Psychology.

Shoe of choice? I could never choose just one! And it depends on my mood and the occasion. I do like a good, high heel though.

The character flaws in others that you can’t abide? Unreliability and procrastination. And extreme frugality.

What are you listening to as you answer these questions? The soundtrack to a Nowness.com video featuring Elle Fanning in Rodarte clothing. It’s research!

What musical instrument you secretly long to play? Cello. I do have my ARCT in Piano Performance, though! I come from an over-achieving family, didn’t you know?

What is the game that you’re best at? Taboo! [remember?]

What’s next? Hmm. Good question. I’m freelancing now, but I’m also Managing Editor at Aritzia, gearing us up for e-commerce and the opening of the company’s first US flagship in SoHo.

Have you ever fired a gun? If so, what were the circumstances? I have my Canadian Firearms license but haven’t used it yet. I’ve only actually shot a gun in Thailand.

The wildest place you’ve ever been to? The Wild Coast of South Africa. [look]

The first album that made you love music? The Carpenters’ “The Singles: 1969-1973”. [listen]

The song that you could listen to on repeat for an hour? Right now: “I Follow Rivers” by Lykke Li. [listen]

How do you know when you can trust someone? You just know.

The talent that you wish you possessed? The ability to really belt out a tune.

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