Read Surveys (By Author)
Peggy Peters
1. When do you feel at your most attractive?
When I've freshly showered and I have a good outfit on.
2. Do you notice women on the street? If so, what sort of women do you tend to notice or admire?
I notice all women, but especially those who have something stylish about them. I ALWAYS notice shoes.
3. What are some things you admire about how other women present themselves?
Confidence and sense of humour.
4. Was there a moment in your life when something “clicked” for you about fashion or dressing or make-up or hair? What? Why did it happen then, do you think?
Nothing special...just always thought about it.
5. What are some shopping rules you wouldn’t necessarily recommend to others but which you follow?
I always try to sleep on the big purchases but if it speaks to me right there and then i do not hesitate to buy it.
6. What are some rules about dressing you follow, but you wouldn't necessarily recommend to others?
I like Converse, I am 51, they rock with dresses. 'nuff said.
8. Do you have a unified way of approaching your life, work, relationships, finances, chores, etc.? Please explain.
I always try to make it a bit more fun or offbeat.
9. Are there any clothing (or related) items that you have in multiple? Why do you think you keep buying this thing?
Shorts...only because I live in the tropics and I like a certain length.
11. Is there any fashion trend you’ve refused to participate in and why?
Showing the tummy. I never had the abs for it and could never figure out when it was appropriate.
12. Can you say a bit about how your mother’s body and style has been passed down to you, or not?
She loved nice sweaters (Dalkeith a Scottish) and pretty shoes.
13. Have you stolen, borrowed or adapted any dressing ideas or actual items from friends or family?
My friend Rhonda usually works a bandana.
14. Was there a point in your life when your style changed dramatically? What happened?
When the kids were little and my style was a bit too much for the moms and tots group. I think it intimidated them and the thought of life beyond "Mommyhood" was a bit scary.
15. Is there anything political about the way you dress?
I am old enough to not give too much of a flyin' eff anymore.
16. Please describe your body.
It's gotten a little bit stodgy( thicker waist) but that said I can flex and bend like the yogini I am.
17. Please describe your mind.
My mind is constantly looking for visual stimulation in terms of colour and design. I can conceptualize in 3D and usually reproduce it by hand. I like to think about ideas and design. Talking about kids or other people bores me.
18. Please describe your emotions.
Pretty even tempered. I like for everyone to "play nice" and to mind their own business. I do not care who you love as long as you love somebody.
19. What are you wearing on your body and face, and how is your hair done, right at this moment?
I've a sweatshirt dress, white ankle socks scrunched down, chrome yellow Hushpuppies, a blue ring and my "rat bag". I wear my hair in a bob with highlights. I also wear orange Raybans.
20. In what way is this stuff important, if at all?
It is all an express of who I am and what I value.
21. With whom do you talk about clothes?
A few friends.
22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?
More conventions than institutions. For example: right now I live in Sri Lanka. So I don't dress outrageously or offensively but I do dress my way.
23. Do you think you have taste or style? Which one is more important? What do these words mean to you?
Can't have one without the other.
24. Do you remember the biggest waste of money you ever made on an item of clothing?
A padded shouldered black polyester jacket from Le Chateau.
25. Are there any dressing tricks you’ve invented or learned that make you feel like you’re getting away with something?
No, I'm not usually trying to hide anything about myself.
26. Do you have style in any areas of your life aside from fashion?
Oh yeah! In decor, creating, living life.
27. Can you recall some times when you have dressed a particular way to calm yourself or gain a sense of control over a situation that scared you?
I tend to to go tailored when in a stressful situation. Like armor.
28. Would you say you “know what you like” in the area of fashion and clothing? If so, do you also know what you like in other areas of life, that is, are you generally good at discernment? Can you say where your discernment comes from, if you have it? Or if you don’t have it, why or why not?
Yes I am good at it. My mom had pretty good taste and I have traveled/lived abroad enough to develop my eye.
29. Did your parents teach you things about clothing, care for your clothing, dressing or style? What lessons do you remember? Or did you just pick things up?
Yup, they taught me about quality and taking care of your stuff, ie., polishing shoes
30. What sorts of things do you do, clothing or make-up or hair- wise, to feel sexy or alluring?
A good blow out for my hair. Simple styling of an out fit, good shoes.
31. Many people say they want to feel “comfortable,” or that they admire people who seem “confident.” What do these words really mean to you?
It means people who have a good eye or have the knowledge of what looks good on them and that bleeds into other aspects of their life.
32. If dressing were the only thing you did, and you were considered an expert and asked to explain your style philosophy, what would you say?
Mix high and low/colour/humour/design/uniqueness
33. What is really beautiful, for you, in general?
Quality materials, simplicity in design, and humour.
34. What do you consider very ugly?
Cheapness in spirit and in fabrics.
35. Are you generally a good judge of whether what you buy will end up being worn? Have you figured out how to know in advance?
I don't buy it unless I can mentally style it with other stuff in the closet.
37. What is your process getting dressed in the morning? What are you considering?
Depends on what I'm doing but generally reflects what I'm feeling that day.
38. What are you trying to achieve when you dress?
I'm trying to tell the world who I am and what I'm about.
39. What, for you, is the difference between dressing and dressing up?
Dressing up is for grown ups.
40. If you had to wear a “uniform” what would it look like?
A standard issue garment but with a twist...maybe in a different colour or fabric.
41. What would you say is “you” and what would you say is “not you”?
Classic, casual, funky and ethnic.
42. What is your cultural background and how has that influenced how you dress?
Upper middle class Canadian. I don't just chuck money around.
43. Do you remember a time in your life when you dressed quite differently from how you do now? Can you describe it and what it was all about for you?
I was really into vintage almost bordering on costume.
44. What sorts of things do you do, clothing, make-up or hair-wise, to feel professional?
I do everything, hair make-up, jewelry shoes.
45. How do you conform to or rebel against the dress expectations at your workplace?
I do not feel the need to revolt at the office. I work in a yoga studio!
46. Do you have a dress code, a school uniform, or a uniform that you wear for an extracurricular activity?
Drop crotch yoga pants.
48. Do you find it comforting or constraining to have a uniform?
You look pulled together and it's easy.
49. What is an archetypal outfit for you; one that you could have happily worn at any point in your life? What do you like about it?
Broomstick skirt white blouse and bracelets and black flats. It's classic but can be easily modified for how I feel at that particular moment.
50. Do you ever wish you were a man or could dress like a man or had a man’s body? Was there ever a time in the past?
No.
51. If there was one country or culture or era that you had to live in, fashion-wise, what would it be?
No because I like to draw from a range of things. You also risk looking costumey.
52. Do you consider yourself photogenic?
Somedays..yes.
53. When you see yourself in photographs, what do you think?
Sometimes good sometimes.."Oh my Lord...it's my mom".
54. Are there any figures from culture, past or present, whose style you admire or have drawn from?
I like Archie's early style. I like the dresses of the 50's and 60's.
55. Have you ever had a dream that involved clothes?
Oh yeah, that's how I know which item to buy.
56. What would be a difficult or uncomfortable look for you to try and achieve?
Drapey, or lululemon-like.
57. If you were totally comfortable with your body, or your body was a bit closer to what you wish it was like, what would you wear?
More fitted dresses.
58. Is there anyone that you are trying to attract or repel when you dress?
I think that happens inadvertently.
59. Are there any dressing rules you’d want to convey to other women?
Wear the right foundation garments, take care of your accessories, don't follow slavishly, and admire other styles than your own.
60. What do you think of perfume? Do you wear it?
Used to.
61. What are some things you need to do to your body or clothes in order to feel presentable?
They have to be clean or disshevelled just so.
62. How does makeup fit into all this for you?
I use eyebrow pencil and lipstick. I live in the tropics and stuff melts.
63. Is there a certain look you feel you’re expected to like that you have absolutely no interest in? What is it? Why aren’t you interested?
I think as one gets older there is an expectation about what is appropriate. Being a boomer I hope to shake that up a bit.
64. Can you describe in a basic way what you own, clothing and jewelry-wise?
Jewelry is all costume as I was robbed 2 yrs ago. Shoes are amazing, couple of nice leather handbags, and mostly classic styles of clothing.
65. What is your favorite piece of clothing or jewelry that you own?
My watch.
66. Tell us about something in your closet that you keep but never wear. What is it, why don’t you wear it, and why do you keep it?
I have some vintage pieces that I love, but don't know if I'm too old.
67. Looking back at all your purchases over the past five to fifteen years, can you generalize about what sorts of things were the most valuable to buy?
Shoes.
68. Is there an item of clothing that you once owned, but no longer own, and still think about or wish you had back? What was it, what happened to it, and why do you want it back?
Nah.
69. If you had to throw out all your clothes but keep one thing, what would you keep?
My grey Old navy t-shirt, thrifted.
70. Building up your wardrobe from nothing, what would you do differently this time?
Better quality and fabrics.
71. What’s the first “investment” item you bought? Do you still own or wear it?
Got rid of it years ago.
73. What item of clothing are you still (or have you forever been) on the hunt for?
Shoes and black dress pants.
74. What are your closet and drawers like? Do you keep things neat, etc?
Yup.
75. Were you ever given a present of clothing or jewelry that especially touched you?
My pearls from Japan, now stolen.
76. Did you ever buy an article of clothing without giving it much thought, only to have it prove much more valuable as time went on? What was the item and what happened?
My grey t-shirt. LOVE TI!
77. How and when do you shop for clothes?
Rare and by myself.
78. Do you like to smell a certain way?
Clean.
79. How does how you dress play into your ambitions for yourself?
WEll, I see myself a certain way but I haven't the courage (Yet) to say it out loud.
80. How does money fit into all this?
Not at all.
81. Is there an article of clothing, a piece of make-up, or an accessory that you carry with you or wear every day?
My watch.
82. Did anyone ever say anything to you that made you see yourself differently, on a physical and especially sartorial level?
My husband said he liked fitted dresses on me.
83. Do you remember the first time you were conscious of what you were wearing? Can you describe this moment and what it was about?
When I started to wear vintage because it was different then and it had a backstory.
What’s your birth date? Where were you born and where do you live now?
July 21, 1963, Edmonton, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Say anything you like about your cultural/ethnic/economic background.
I was a happy well off kid with great folks.
What kind of work do you do?
Yoga teacher.
Are you single, married, do you have kids, etc.?
Married, 2 teenage boys.
Please say anything you like about yourself that might put this survey into some sort of context.
I live and breathe clothing. It is all around me and I love the diversity the chance for self=expression or not , as the person may choose.
How do you feel after filling out this survey?
Glad to have a chance to address some of these things as it is hard when you get older to talk about clothing in this manner.
Bio
I've been living abroad now for almost 1/2 my adult life. I have had many chances to re-redefine myself and I'm always interested in what I come back to.