Oh'Margaux
On this week's edition of Oh'Woman, we were remotely joined by fellow Canadian Margaux Zanetti! The Toronto based sustainability advocate, style guru and all round enlightened gal, Margaux; shot and styled our Saturday Scrunch Top at the stunning LOVT Studio East location.
What was your childhood like, and where did you grow up?
I grew up in a city just north of Toronto and I had a pretty normal childhood; mom, dad, and sister. My life got catapulted into a different direction when my mom got diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer when I was 16; she passed away a year later. Although it’s the toughest thing that I’ve had to go through, it’s made me the woman that I am today, and I think she would be proud of everything I’ve achieved.
What are your hopes and dreams for your career?
My goal is to be successful, but to be honest, I don’t know what that looks like. I’m working on learning to enjoy the process and be proud of what I’ve done so far. Happiness is my end goal.
What do you consider your biggest achievement thus far, personal or career-wise?
My biggest achievement has been refining my self-care routine. I got to a point at the end of 2018 where I would clench my jaw in my sleep, get constant eye twitches, and had so many pent up emotions. So I decided to start going to therapy, incorporate more fitness and yoga into my life, see a naturopath for my gut health, and have a daily routine of stretching and meditating. It’s not perfect, but I try to stick to it as much as I can, and I definitely notice how much better I feel when I take care of myself.
Have you ever failed at anything, and what did it teach you?
I wouldn’t say that I’ve ever had a massive failure in my work life, but I’ve had friendship failures in my personal life that have really taught me about myself and what to value in friends. It’s all about quality, not quantity.
Is there any social issue you wish was more talked about and could change?
Ah, there are so many! I think one of the biggest issues that is engrained into our society is over-consumption. And that touches so many different aspects of life: fashion, food, technology… We feel the need to have or consume more in order to be happy. And that need creates an unnecessary amount of waste because things are only interesting for a second and then we’re on to the next.
Is there any other career you could have been tempted by?
I always joke that if this career path doesn’t work out, I’m going to work with cats and dogs at a rescue or something like that. I love animals so much
What is your day-to-day routine and do you want it to change in any way?
My morning routine is a two-hour ordeal: wake up, skincare, stretch or yoga, meditate, eat and read, pack up and go to work. I work Monday to Friday and weekends are usually spent doing chores, hanging out with friends, and creating content. I cook most evenings, post on Instagram around 9 PM, and once I’m ready to unwind, I’ll do my skincare, stretch, and read. I also try to do boot camps, yoga, and pilates, at least once a week each; I also have therapy once a week.
How do you treat yourself after a rough day?
I’ll put my phone away, eat something healthy for dinner, and treat myself to some Coconut Bliss ice cream (my fave dairy-free brand) while watching a movie. I’ll also make sure to follow through with my evening routine (skincare, stretch, and reading), or else I’ll most likely clench my jaw in my sleep.
What do you wish to see happen in the next 5 years? (in your life, in the country or the world).
I hope we can break consumption behaviours in order to save our planet. Less red meat, less plastic, less fast fashion.
Can you tell us your current favourite song and book?
Ok I’m obsessed with Nekfeu, a French rapper, and he just came out with a new album; so I’ve been listening to Alunissons non-stop. Honestly, my favourite books are cookbooks because I love the process of cooking; lately, I’ve been following a lot of Gwyneth Paltrow’s recipes from The Clean Plate.
Who has been the biggest influence on you in your life so far - positive or negative?
My mom has been the biggest influence on my life. Losing her changed my life completely, but I try to make her proud in everything that I do. She moved to Canada from France when she was 21, met my dad, and built herself a life here. She was the glue that kept a lot of her friend circles together and she was the best mom I could ask for. My only hope in life is that I can be as good of a mother as her to my own children.
What's the best advice you've ever been given?
“You’ll be okay”
When I get stressed or anxious, I get really in my head and imagine the worst case scenario; after a therapy session a couple of weeks ago, my therapist told me that and it’s something that I’ve thought of to give me perspective recently.
Where is home, and what makes it feel like home for you?
To me, home is a feeling more than a place. It’s somewhere where I can decompress, enjoy life, nature, and be present.
You can shop Margaux's wardrobe here:
