1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

When I buy a new outfit and after a good workout

2. Do you notice women on the street? If so, what sort of women do you tend to notice or admire?

Yes, older professional women who still remain age appropriately fashionable.

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

I like women who know how to walk the line of sexy but classy

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?

Actually just recently it clicked for me. I think I've always liked classic styles but in my younger years it just look cool. So basically I had to age into my already aging style.

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

You can always go cheap on the outfit but never buy cheap shoes or purses

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

Sexy shoes or sexy outfit never both at the same time or it looks trashy

7. What is the most transformative conversation you have ever had on the subject of fashion or style?

How much young girls rely on labels for fashion and identity instead what fashion really is, being able to spot a cheap piece and making it look like a million bucks. Young women don't realize youth and a radiant personality stand out more than. The expense outfit.

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

Black sweaters. I'm always cold, they cover up my body flaws (or at least I think) and they go with everything

10. Have you ever successfully given someone a present of jewelry or clothing that you continue to feel good about?

Yes. A colleague who I knew could not afford the clothing and needed it because her confidence eas down due to a divorce.

11. Is there any fashion trend you’ve refused to participate in and why? 

Black tights as part of professional wear. Just because you add a suit jacket doesn't make the tights dressy.

12. Can you say a bit about how your mother’s body and style has been passed down to you, or not?

My mother prefers flash and my sister and I are the opposite.

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

Yes, my girlfriend Sandra taught me how to mix costume jewelry to dressy the similiest outfit

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

No

15. Is there anything political about the way you dress?

I tend to stay conservative because of work.

16. Please describe your body.

Medium build, curvy back side and more muscular then slim

17. Please describe your mind.

Creative

18. Please describe your emotions.

Even keel

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

Makeup, hair pulled back, jeans and blouse.

20. In what way is this stuff important, if at all?

I wish it was important. It just has not been a priority in past years with young kids. I put the kids,work and my relationship before myself.

21. With whom do you talk about clothes?

My sister

22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?

Determine how you dress

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

Taste.

Taste means you pick things that suit you and style means you pick things that keep up with the trends.

24. Do you remember the biggest waste of money you ever made on an item of clothing?

Yes, my wedding dress. I was too young to know the value of a dollar.

25. Are there any dressing tricks you’ve invented or learned that make you feel like you’re getting away with something?

Duck tape and breast. Who needs a push up bra

26. Do you have style in any areas of your life aside from fashion?

Decorating or choosing finishings for our home.

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?

No

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?

Yes. I'm Italian so dress is very important. It's a sign of respect for yourself and for your host when you dress appropriately for the function.

30. What sorts of things do you do, clothing or make-up or hair- wise, to feel sexy or alluring?

Wear my hair down.

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?

To me it means people who are confident and comfortable in their own skin and don't stress to achieve physically or emotionally more than who they are

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?

Practical

33. What is really beautiful, for you, in general?

Someone who sees beauty and fault in themself and is embraces them both.

34. What do you consider very ugly?

Selfish people

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?

No

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

Weather, comfort and what meetings I have and with whom

38. What are you trying to achieve when you dress?

Professional but still keep some sexy appeal

39. What, for you, is the difference between dressing and dressing up?

I recently started dressing up everyday. My new motto is dress to feel good everyday - life is too short to save my nice cloths for another day

40. If you had to wear a “uniform” what would it look like?

A dress

41. What would you say is “you” and what would you say is “not you”?

Dresses are me.

Crocks are not me.

42. What is your cultural background and how has that influenced how you dress?

Italian and it has had a large influence on my clothing.

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?

No

44. What sorts of things do you do, clothing, make-up or hair-wise, to feel professional?

Dress, hair tied back and heels.

45. How do you conform to or rebel against the dress expectations at your workplace?

Conform. It's a professional environment.

46. Do you have a dress code, a school uniform, or a uniform that you wear for an extracurricular activity?

No

47. Are there ways in which you conform to or rebel against these uniforms?

No

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?

A simple black, formfitting three quarter length dress.

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?

Yes. I love ties and vests. I often tie my scarfs into a tie with my suits.

51. If there was one country or culture or era that you had to live in, fashion-wise, what would it be?

England 1800's

52. Do you consider yourself photogenic?

No

53. When you see yourself in photographs, what do you think?

Fat

54. Are there any figures from culture, past or present, whose style you admire or have drawn from?

No

55. Have you ever had a dream that involved clothes?

What woman hasn't.

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?

Leather pants

58. Is there anyone that you are trying to attract or repel when you dress?

My husband. I still really like him.

59. Are there any dressing rules you’d want to convey to other women?

No to each their own. I respect my rules may not be others and I don't judge.

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

Love it an wear it everyday even though I know it unprofessional.

61. What are some things you need to do to your body or clothes in order to feel presentable?

Lose 15 pounds or wear cloths that hide my extra 15 pounds.

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

I wear it everyday. Just eye make. No lipstick.

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?

No

64. Can you describe in a basic way what you own, clothing and jewelry-wise?

Dresses, suits, jeans and blouses. I only have a few pieces of real jewelry that I wear everyday and some nice pieces of costume jewelry.

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

My earrings for sentimental reasons.

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?

An expensive yellow dress that I bought in the hopes that one day I would fit it - still hasn't happened.

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?

My dressy dresses. Good dresses last forever.

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?

My favorite jean jacket that I lost. Good jean jackets are hard to come by.

69. If you had to throw out all your clothes but keep one thing, what would you keep?

One of my nice dresses.

70. Building up your wardrobe from nothing, what would you do differently this time?

Buy more tops. You really only need a few bottoms.

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

My suit jackets. Yes, good clothing lasts forever and can be used dress up and dress down.

72. Was there ever an important or paradigm-shifting purchase in your life?

Yes, switching from purchasing lots of cheap purses to buying one or two expensive ones.

73. What item of clothing are you still (or have you forever been) on the hunt for?

A casual fall jacket.

74. What are your closet and drawers like? Do you keep things neat, etc?

For the most part yes but I often do not put things in the same place so I'm always looking for something.

75. Were you ever given a present of clothing or jewelry that especially touched you?

Yes, my first gift from my husband while dating were diamond earrings.

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?

Yes, my good jeans.

77. How and when do you shop for clothes?

I never go to the mall so I only shop when I need something or we have an event to go to.

78. Do you like to smell a certain way?

Yes. I love perfume or any bath and body product that has a vanilla smell.

79. How does how you dress play into your ambitions for yourself?

I dress for the job I want.

80. How does money fit into all this?

Money helps but I know I shop very little and I've had most of my good cloths for years and still wear them. Buy classic, simple and versitile.

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

No

82. Did anyone ever say anything to you that made you see yourself differently, on a physical and especially sartorial level?

No. I have a realistc perception of self.

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?

Once when i attended a conference with primarily men and I wished I had dresses differently.

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

January 25, 1975, born in Etobioke and now live in north york

What kind of work do you do?

Project manger/ business analyst

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

Married with two kids

Please say anything you like about yourself that might put this survey into some sort of context.

I try everyday to lose weight and dress up but really it's just not a priority most of the time and I'm pretty happy with what God gave me - even the flaws.

How do you feel after filling out this survey?

Tired

Bio

Just turned 40. I'm a project manager/ business analyst for the ministry of the attorney general. I have two children, girl 9 and boy 7. I married my perfect match. I love to read romance novels, watch foreign films and love construction projects. I can be a feminist when it suits me.