3. What are some things you admire about how other women present themselves?

I love women who dress the way the want to dress, and don’t let anyone make them feel bad about it. I also love older women who still dress stylishly. I hope when I’m 65 I’m still having fun with clothes.

5. What are some shopping rules you wouldn’t necessarily recommend to others but which you follow?

I try to avoid synthetic fabrics. They don’t breathe as easily and clothes made with them are usually cheaply made. I do get angry when I see blouses and dresses being sold for $200 and more and they’re 100% polyester. Sewing and developing an interest in fiber and textile art has really turned me into a fabric snob sometimes.

6. What are some rules about dressing you follow, but you wouldn't necessarily recommend to others?

I normally don’t wear larger earring unless I’m going out to a party or something more fancy than school or hanging out on the weekends. I love bigger earrings and own quite a few of them, but don’t ear them too often. Same rule applies to heels as well, although I would love to buy a nice pair of black ones.

9. Are there any clothing (or related) items that you have in multiple? Why do you think you keep buying this thing?

- Underwear
- Whites shirts. Not necessarily button downs, but just white blouses because they go with everything.
- A lot of my dresses are also pretty similar in silhouette: kind of shapeless shift dresses that hit at mid thigh level, or a fit and flare.
- Ballet flats.
- Tights, especially black ones but ones, but other colors too.

13. Have you stolen, borrowed or adapted any dressing ideas or actual items from friends or family?

I love getting hand-me-downs from my older sister. Some things of hers I’ve asked to borrow and never returned (and she’s done the same with some of my things). We have kind of similar or overlapping tastes in clothing so I was really happy when after having her first baby and not being able to fit into some of her clothes, I was able to take some things of hers I’ve always liked, although I’m sure she not so pleased.

14. Was there a point in your life when your style changed dramatically? What happened?

I don’t think my style has changed too dramatically, but I do like things such as jewelry and longer length skirts more than I did before.

19. What are you wearing on your body and face, and how is your hair done, right at this moment?

Right now it’s 4:06am (I’m an night owl). I changed out of my dark wash, skinny jeans when I got home and put on a pair of old pajama shorts. The elastic is a bit stretched out and the fabric is faded. I’m still in my shirt I had on to go work: a loose fitting navy shear top with white polka dots and a big cutout in the back with a long ribbon bow at the back of the neck. My friend gave me this shirt for a birthday present last year, and although it’s not a shirt I think I would have bought myself, I do really like it. For some reason I still have my bra on with a bandeau over it (because of the see-through crop top) and it’s not the most comfortable. I also have on a pair of white, pink, and purple knee socks with hearts on them.
I don’t wear too much make up – just mascara, blush, and tinted lip balm – all of which has been rubbed and worn off. My hair is in a high bun with a wrap-around headband that I’m sure is slowly falling off with the bobby pins sticking out haphazardly.

23. Do you think you have taste or style? Which one is more important? What do these words mean to you?

I think I have both. I really enjoy fashion and getting dressed. I’m not one to follow trends usually, (I like what I like, and know what works on me) but I’ve been told by others that I dress well.

I do think style and taste are words that don’t have a universal definition though. What one woman sees as tacky, another thinks is just fun and stylish.

I think I have both. I really enjoy fashion and getting dressed. I’m not one to follow trends usually, (I like what I like, and know what works on me) but I’ve been told by others that I dress well.

I do think style and taste are words that don’t have a universal definition though. What one woman sees as tacky, another thinks is just fun and stylish.

I tend to go for clothing that is very feminine and girly, and I guess classic. But not boring, at least I think. It’s kind of funny though, because my mother doesn’t always like the way I dress. She thinks I should dress more “grown up,” which I guess means not as girly, because it tends to make me look younger and I’ve already got such a baby face. But everyone else always compliments me on my hats (which she really doesn’t like, haha) and girly clothes.

37. What is your process getting dressed in the morning? What are you considering?

I love to spend time picking out my clothes for the day. I try and do it the night before just so I can save time in the mornings. For going to class or work I try to pick an outfit that’s pretty casual – usually a dress or shorts with a cardigan. But, I’ve had people ask why I’m so dressed up sometimes because I’m in a dress or skirt that I guess looks fancy? Since I’ve recently cleaned out my closet and got rid of a lot of things it’s both easier and more difficult to pick outfits. I have less to choose from, but the clothes I have, I love and wear more often. I prefer dresses and skirts to pants, but wear a lot of shorts too.

When picking out an outfit, I first consider the weather. I’m usually always cold so I always bring a sweater. If it’s cold out (and living in San Diego, cold is anything below 70) I’ll just wear jeans, or if I’m not feeling too lazy, a skirt or dress with tights. When it is cold I never want to get out the bed and get ready, so I’m more likely to just put on jeans and a sweater.

I really love hair accessories, so I’ll put on a headband if my hair is up and a cute clip or comb if I wear it down. I don’t wear much jewelry, but I always have on a pair of small stud or drop earrings, my ring I got from my mom and maybe a necklace if I remember to put one on. When I do put on more than just my ring, I’ll most likely wear the same pair of earrings and necklace for like two weeks, just because it’s convenient. Or I’m just too lazy to change them.

52. Do you consider yourself photogenic?

Not really. I think I can take a good picture of myself on my macbook’s photo booth sometimes, (usually taken when I think I’m having an exceptionally good hair day) but I don’t like having my picture taken by others. I seem to have a lazy eye when I get my photo taken and it looks like I’m drunk. My weird facial expressions have become a joke with my friends when we take group pictures. Ironically, when someone asks to take my picture making a funny face, I have a hard time coming up with one.

56. What would be a difficult or uncomfortable look for you to try and achieve?

I’ve always envied girls who dress like tomboys and still look adorable. I don’t think I could pull off the sporty look.

60. What do you think of perfume? Do you wear it?

I love perfume. I’ve worn it regularly since maybe middle school, using the Bath and Body Works girl’s collection of scented glitters and body splashes. I ran out of my Marc Jacobs Lola perfume a while ago and have since been using a natural perfume.

62. How does makeup fit into all this for you?

Like I said above I don’t wear much, nothing on my face (foundation, concealer), and I’m just now learning to put on eyeliner the right way. I love watching make up tutorial videos on Youtube and used to like to watch my sister get ready in the mornings and do her makeup (my mom doesn’t wear much make up either). I used to wear a little powder and eye shadow sometimes, but after I decided to throw out all my makeup and start over with natural cosmetics I don’t wear as much. Only when I’m really breaking out do I think I really need foundation, although my skin is far from perfect.

65. What is your favorite piece of clothing or jewelry that you own?

My favorite piece of jewelry is a small gold ring with an emerald in the center that I took from my mother’s jewelry box. I didn’t steal it, I asked her could I wear it one day while going through her things and she let me take it. I’ve worn it everyday for the past 2 years since I asked. My friends have asked if there is any significance to it since I wear it all the time and there isn’t, I just like the way it looks.

My favorite dress is a sleeveless, orange, flared skirt dress with a fitted bodice and small collar. I love the bright color and its very flattering. It does have a slightly low neckline, which I would usually avoid, but don’t feel too uncomfortable in. I also wear a navy printed peasant blouse I took from my sister very often. It looks good with most bottoms and is really comfortable. I wear it whenever it’s clean.

71. What’s the first “investment” item you bought? Do you still own or wear it?

I bought a pair of nice black ankle boots from Madewell last winter that cost $200. The most expensive pair of shoes I own. I was looking for black boots for months before I decided on these. It is surprisingly hard to find plain black leather boots without any extra adornments – zippers and buttons, and charms. I love them. They look good with jeans and dresses, especially with tights. When I first got them I didn’t like wearing them because they were so uncomfortable, but I’ve worn them in now.

77. How and when do you shop for clothes?

Recently I’ve decided not to shop at places such as Forever 21 and H&M for the majority of my clothes, which is where I used to shop frequently. Most of the clothing from stores like that sell cheaply made clothes that I don’t really care for. I do like thrift and vintage shopping at places like Goodwill, thrift stores around town, and Etsy. And I’ve more recently begun sewing a lot of my own clothes, which I love doing, so I don’t shop often.

I’m trying to replace all of my old, worn out clothes that I’ve worn since freshman year of high school with better-made pieces. When I decide I want to buy something, I look around a lot first, online and in stores, until I find something that I really like and feel it meets all my requirements. Then I’ll save up for it until I can buy it, or I’ll decide to make it myself. Except for winter clothes, I don’t have a specific time of the year when I shop; I go when I decide to replace something or just want something new.

81. Is there an article of clothing, a piece of make-up, or an accessory that you carry with you or wear every day?

Other than my ring, which I wear everyday, I always carry my tinted lip balm with me. I hate the feeling of dry lips and think the color brightens up my face nicely. I’m too lazy to reapply lipstick in a mirror throughout the day.

What’s your birth date? 
Where were you born and where do you live now?

June 12, 1992
Born: San Diego, Ca
Now: San Diego, Ca

What kind of work do you do?

I’m a college student and work part time.

Are you single, married, do you have kids, etc.?

Single