Erika Erikssonon DTNicholson's Wednesday-Night.com

Occupation: "I design lawyers' robes for the courts. In French they're called toges."

Erika Eriksson: Don't stare at her.

JOHN MAHONEY THE GAZETTE

Designing lawyers' robes is: "Great. It's all made to measure, but I'd love to put more style into them. Unfortunately, the whole point is to be conservative. A toge is like a wedding dress or a tuxedo. I mostly make them for new lawyers who are fresh out of the torture of law school. They're so excited about their new profession. The toge is a symbol of their new life."

She can't live without: "Sunshine, laughter, my daughter and my Mac."

She's most likely to lie about: "My age."

At midnight she's: "On the Internet indulging my writer's dreams."

Her ideal home: "Ideally it's Montreal, San Francisco and New York."

Her recently acquired taste: "Comfort. I love my little flat fat boots. I'm usually in heels so this is new. I've earned it."

Her screen saver: "It's a picture of Peter, my rabbit."

Her favourite website: "My grandson lives in London, and thank God he has his own website where he uploads pictures and videos so I can see him. Computers are fantastic: All grandmothers should have one."

Her hidden talent: "I am a fabulous ballroom dancer."

Her second-choice profession: "I would have been a singer like Madonna."

You'd never know by looking at her but: "I'm really shy."

You'll never catch her: "Running after a bus that's not waiting for me. It's a metaphor."

The last time she cried: "Three weeks ago. It was very personal. I was just feeling very sorry for myself."

What's on her coffee table: "Vanity Fair, an angel my daughter made, a red crystal heart and lots of books and newspapers."

What she misses most about being a kid: "I grew up in Sweden and I remember walking with my dad in the woods. It was wonderful to have him all to myself."

She's really uncomfortable when: "Two things make me uncomfortable: debt and people staring at me."

The last person she said I love you to: "My rabbit."

Her favourite part of winter in the city: "There's this fabulous little path behind Mount Royal in Outremont. Walking there makes it all worthwhile."

The last scary thing she did: "Telling someone I wouldn't go along with their ridiculous plans."

People she admires: "I'm fond of designers like Norma Kamali and John Galliano, but really, I respect anyone who can reinvent themselves."

If she could change the law: "I'd force police officers to enforce the littering laws."

People say she looks like: "Of course we all want to look unique, but I have been told I look like Kim Cattrall from Sex and the City and Nanette Workman."

What makes her upset: "Animal fur on children's clothes."

Her New Year's resolutions: "Every day I try to be calmer, kinder, more patient and understanding. If I can do all that even for half a day I already see that I'm enjoying life more. And that's the name of the game."

mtlgazettegirl@hotmail.com

2008

Dressing up lawyers and ballroom dancing the night away

MAXINE MENDELSSOHN, The Gazette

Erika Eriksson: Don't stare at her.

JOHN MAHONEY THE GAZETTE

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008