1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

When I'm wearing a loud floral kimono and heeled clogs with nothing else. Hair piled high on my head with smudged black eyeliner and dark lipstick.

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

I stare at everyone.
I'm envious of the tidy women who can wear white.
I feel empathetic toward women who look uncomfortable or unhappy in their clothing.
I have feelings of awe toward women with particularly elegant style, especially if they're capable of making a simple outfit shine.

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

I admire women who create personal style despite socioeconomic disadvantage. Working-class women who know which colors and silhouettes are flattering.

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?

I started dying my hair cobalt blue about 4 years ago. It transformed my skin into porcelain and made my eyes pop.
I may have been born with strawberry blonde hair but dark blue is the most flattering color on me. I may dabble with Indigo or Peacock blue dyes, but I'll never be unfaithful to blue hair.

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

I care about the numeric size printed on a clothing tag, and I'm more likely to buy an item that's vanity-sized. I absolutely despise this fact about myself.
I think women who purchase an item that fits and flatters without getting caught up in the clothing size are more evolved than myself.

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

I always, always wear my pants pretty snug. It's a matter of preference, really. I still wear a lot of skinny jeans and I like flares a lot, I can't make myself get into boyfriend jeans.

I wish I was willing to play around with baggier bottoms, like paperbag pants because they're really pretty universally flattering.

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

I read "I'll Drink to That: A Life in Style" by Betty Halbreich during a very long bus ride. It wasn't a conversation, but it was transformative. This memoir, written by an 86 year-old personal shopper at Bergdorf Goodman felt like a conversation.

Betty Halbreich's book taught me the value of pairing a jacket with a casual outfit to look like a polished boss lady and many other lessons about timeless style and caring for clothes.

8. Do you have a unified way of approaching your life, work, relationships, finances, chores, etc.? Please explain.

Well. My 31st year has brought a lot of challenging lessons, and I've learned the value of slowing down and being more careful. I'm learning to stop burning the candle at both ends when it comes to relationships, work, and finances.

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

I've mostly quit wearing bras, so I have an absolute TON of black camisoles and black thongs for my base layer. I've read that millennial women are driving lingerie retailers out of business with our preference for soft bralettes and such. I'm not remotely busty and it took me 30 years to realize I didn't need a "good bra."

I collect ankle booties with a block heel and real clogs.
I like wearing bold pants, so I've got an absolute ton of simple black tees and sweaters for pairing.

Finally, I'm amassing quite a collection of statement jackets--camo jackets, windbreakers, moto jackets. I couldn't be happier about that!

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

I purchased my boyfriend a red Louis Vuitton belt which he adores and wears at least three times per week.

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

How much time do we have?
Boyfriend jeans
Sherpa fleece pullovers
Ultra high-waisted jeans
Clear heels
Adidas
Neon
Overlined, nude-colored lips
Aggressive facial makeup contouring

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

My Mother is a fundamentalist Christian who wears ankle-length skirts, birkenstocks, and floral prints. I like to say I've swung the opposite direction, but it's not strictly true.

As I get older, I notice elements of my Mother's style in the way I dress. My hair texture is usually naturally curly, and I wear minimal makeup and jewelry. We've both got mad love for gem tones, clogs, and sweaters.

My Mother and I are very physically alike, especially as I age and I know she's never felt good in her skin. Our relationship is the opposite of close, but I wish I could take her shopping and help her find things she felt confident in. I really appreciate the perfect set of legs you gave me, Mama.

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

My sister is two years younger than myself, and we've mutually influenced each other.
We certainly stole many clothing items from each other. She's always been quite athletic and she's taught me how to wear sportswear and athletic shoes.
I've taught her the fine art of kimonos and big hair.

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

A big bang moment occurred when I was 14. I was sitting on a park bench by the waterfront, reading a book on a warm June day. An incredibly creepy old man walked up and started taking my picture. He told me I was beautiful. I felt paralyzed with fear and acted like I didn't mind having my picture taken to avoid upsetting him.

In that moment, I decided I was an alternative girl, like my friend Caroline's older sister who wore Metallica tank tops. I thought I'd get as many piercings and tattoos as I possibly could, as soon as I could. I wanted to look tough, so men didn't bother me any longer.

I had something like 31 body piercings by my 18th birthday. I had three quarter sleeve tattoos by 20. Today, at age 31, I have 2 piercings and loads of tattoos. Alternative style feels natural.

And for the record...men still bother me.

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

I wake up political, and I sleep naked. Tattooed women are inherently political.

Women in our culture lack a certain degree of agency and getting tattoos increases that phenomenon. Men openly discuss my body in public, in front of me. Someone coined the term "tatcalling" to describe excessive attention. People have a lot of questions for heavily-inked women, like "did that hurt?" or "what does it mean?

The rest of me is pretty political, too. I show as much skin as I want to, and I rarely wear a bra. I refuse to wear heels to work if I'm traveling to a conference. I went to grad school for way too long to wear heels for 8 hours. Women colleagues whisper to me "I wish I wore flats," and I tell them "it's a gamechanger. Wear flats to work."

16. Please describe your body.

Tall, strong, rectangular.
A firefighter in a Las Vegas bar once asked me "why are your shoulders so big?"
Plus, I have legs for days and days.

17. Please describe your mind.

Rebellious, curious.

18. Please describe your emotions.

Filtered and softened by years of therapy.

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

My hair is clipped up into a curly birdsnest, like Helena Bonham Carter's coif with bobby pins and a scrunchie.

I'm wearing an oversized solid black hoodie, a camisole, a thong, and tight camo pants. I'm wearing aviator prescription glasses, like Gloria Steinham.

I put on makeup probably 12 hours ago:
Doucce Punk Volumizer Mascara in Black
Belle En Argent Lip Color in Smoking on Screen
Seraphine Botanicals Luminizing Primer
IT Cosmetics CC Cream in Fair
Revlon Blonde Eyebrow Pencil
Tarte Sex Kitten Liquid Eyeliner in Black

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

It's really pretty unimportant in the greater scheme of things. I work from home and I only left my house for 10 minutes today, to purchase a kombucha bag of spicy peanuts from a convenience store.

However, I feel myself--I feel attractive and confident if a friend showed up at my door or I had a surprise video call for work.

21. With whom do you talk about clothes?

I live in a rural area that's mostly filled with retirees. I mostly discuss clothing and fashion online, on communities like Reddit.

22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?

I've been breaking institutional standards for clothing since my mid-teens. I bristle at rules.

My parents and their church have very definitive standards for modest, feminine dress. I've rejected those.

My professional career in IT technology started in the Bible Belt. I remember a female mentor telling me to wear a navy blue skirt suit with hose to job interviews. I scored an interview, and I wore black slacks with an orange printed top. They hired me.

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 great style and poor taste, and I'm very comfortable with that.

To me, "taste" speaks of someone who dresses in a way that's conventionally pleasing. I imagine they have a well-organized closet full of Brooks Brothers shirts and merino sweaters. A tasteful person's clothes always fit, and their clothes never offend.

Someone with style has a well-defined aesthetic that may exist well outside the boundaries of convention or what's acceptable. A stylish person dresses to express their inner self and make themself happy.

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

I have a pair of ankle booties with a very, very high heel. They're purple, sparkly, and designer. They fit correctly but they're just not put together very well and they make my feet hurt. I've worn them maybe 3 times.

I bought my ex-husband a $280 Norwegian sweater for Christmas one year. I think he wore it once. Some people have no taste.

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

An oversized black top with excessively long sleeves is a rad visual trick. I'm not small by any means, but I appear small in an oversized black hoodie.

I've been wearing brandless oversized hoodies and expensive athletic shorts with a 2-inch inseam for years. An XL or XXL hoodie completely obscures the pants, and the resulting look is a jarring amount of pale white leg.

Last year, Ariana Grande wore that outfit in public with her ex-boyfriend Pete Davidson. Now, it's all the rage among college-aged women and also quite controversial. Someone on Twitter described the outfit as "shitwalking" and that's the kind of description you just don't forget.

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

I really honestly don't.

I enjoy looking at expensive wallpaper online and fantasizing about home improvement projects which never ever come to life.

I'm a decent classical pianist and a competent cook. I've got a green thumb, but I mostly grow succulents and water-rooted plants.

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?

4-inch block heels are my armor or maybe my security blanket. I'm 5'8'' tall, and I feel confident walking into a room at 6-feet tall.

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?

I would absolutely say I know what I like--I wear about 4 different colors and exactly two types of print. I rarely vary my silhouettes, and I have a distinct type of style silhouette for lounging, casual, semi-casual, and formal occasions.

I also know exactly what I like when it comes to dating, food, music, entertainment, and work.

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?

My Mother sewed many of her clothes and thrifted the rest. My Father wore workwear, like Carhartt, Timberland, Dickies, and Caterpillar.

I'll be endlessly grateful that my Mother taught me how to sew. I won awards for sewing in my teens, and today I really understand how garments are put together. My Mother's never had the money to buy well-made clothes, but her sewing lessons taught me how to assess garment quality.

There are certain lessons my parents couldn't teach me, because they weren't white collar professionals. I had to learn how to navigate dry cleaning and tailoring very quickly when I graduated college.

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

I'll never quit wearing black eyeliner on my lower lid. False eyelashes make me feel invincible. I've never mastered eyelash glue, I'm so glad they started making magnetic eyelashes.

No matter what, I've always felt pretty good about my legs, so I always showcase them in some way.

If I'm getting really dressed up, I'll typically wear a floor-length gown with a very deeply plunging neckline. I'm tall and flat-chested, so a deep v-neck maxi gown is easy to pull off.

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?

Comfortable is a matter of fit and flattery--most often, we're uncomfortable when clothes are too snug in some places or we feel they're exposing our real or imagined flaws. I think comfort is also about dressing appropriately. A comfortable outfit can be bold, but it's not overtly inappropriate in a way that draws more attention than you want to receive.
Confidence is such a personal concept. I think women put unreasonable rules in place about what's flattering. I read in Betty Halbreich's book that almost no woman loves her upper arms. I wish we could all forget these silly rules so we felt confident more often. I think confidence can be found in clothes that make us feel beautiful and powerful.

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?

Style is the art of using silhouettes, colors, and textiles to create an image. A great outfit involves well-constructed outfits made from high-quality fabrics to create a functional, dramatic look from head-to-toe.

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

the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, the trees and water and mountains.
Strong, hard-working women.
Alternative girls, everywhere. God is an alternative woman.

34. What do you consider very ugly?

Unnatural-looking makeup which dramatically changes the appearance of a person's face.
Khakis and boat shoes, honestly.

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 wish I could say I was a good judge of this, but I'm still not.
I know if anything pinches--shoes or jeans--it's going to sit in a drawer. I'm a terrible judge of whether a garment will fit if I don't try it on.
The only really great predictor of whether a clothing item will be worn is trying it on in a dressing room as opposed to trying it on at home after purchasing or shopping online.

36. When you look at yourself before going out, and you are trying to see yourself from the outside, can you describe a bit about what this “other person” is like? What do they like, dislike, what sorts of judgments do they have? Is this “outer eye” based on someone you know or once knew?

My outer eye is pretty oblivious to other people's feedback. I'm often critical of my waistline and the way my clothes fit over my waist and shoulders. It doesn't take much effort or hair product to clip my hair up into a very loud, curly statement updo.

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

I consider how I feel and what I'm doing, and pick an outfit that conveys an emotion--like strength, warmth, or success. My tops are an afterthought to my pants, and sometimes my pants are an afterthought to the shoes I plan to wear. I always wear three clothing items, so a jacket is generally the last item I pick.

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

it depends on the day. Sometimes I want my clothing to blend in while still being representative of my style. Other times, I'm dressing to show off a pair of shoes I love or convey a certain image.

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

"Dressing" is a step above "getting dressed." To me, dressing involves putting some thought into a cohesive outfit the night before to make sure I look well put-together. After dressing, I'll put at least a little effort into hair, makeup, and jewelry.

I 'get dressed' on days when I don't plan to leave my house, and that's really just about covering myself.

I rarely have the opportunity to dress up, but it involves bold choices. Floor-length dresses, short dresses, and false eyelashes. I often try to coordinate, or at least not completely clash, with my partner if we're dressing up.

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

Timberland boots with a 4-inch heel.
Light wash or camo-print skinny jeans.
Black turtleneck.
Dark plum-colored moto jacket.
Rings on almost every finger.

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

"Me" is long, clean silhouettes. Aggressive shoes with a chunky heel. A lot of black. Oversized sweatshirts and short-short-short shorts.

"Not Me" is preppy, nautical, overly feminine, bohemian, modest, or understated.

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

I was raised by fundamentalist Christians with very strict rules about modest, feminine fashion. I don't think I wore pants in public before age 12.

I used style to rebel at 16. I had a wardrobe in the trunk of my first car, a Dodge Intrepid. I'd put on the shortest skirts and knee-high leather boots as soon as I was out of my parent's eyesight.

To this day, I loathe any clothing that feels like something my Mother would approve of. I'll never wear a midiskirt, a peter pan color, or pastel florals.

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 briefly dabbled with bleach blonde hair and spray tans in my early 20s, which I paired with short skirts and black tops. My style was different, but my clothes were the same.
I wanted to prove to myself that I could pull off mainstream sex appeal. I felt out-of-place, and my fake tanner broke my skin out horribly. Within a few months, I was back to my natural pale skin and darker hair.

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

I work from home around 340 days a year, so I don't have to do "professional" often.

When I'm at work conferences or annual meetings, I put on a black sheath dress underneath a cropped moto jacket. I wear puma athletic flats and a chunky, bold necklace.

My female colleagues tell me they're jealous of my flat shoes. A C-Level female executive pulled me aside last year to tell me I'd inspired her to put pink streaks in my hair.

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

Alternative personal style and tattoos are becoming far more accepted in tech. I spent my early 20s covering my tattoos and around age 28, I stopped. Today, my hand and neck tattoos can't be covered.

At this point, blue hair and a strong work ethic are exactly what's expected of me in my workplace.

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

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?

Camo skinny jeans, a black cut-up metal band tee, a moto jacket and sky-high heeled booties. I've been wearing iterations of this outfit for many years because it makes me feel confident, powerful, and beautiful.

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?

Not once, not even as a female raised by fundamentalist Christians who wanted the same privileges my brothers had.
I've never been fully comfortable in my skin, but I've always been comfortable in my gender.

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

Probably the early 90s. I know many ultra-stylish people like Vogue's Suzy Menkes hate grunge. To me, grunge feels like home. I was raised in the rural Pacific Northwest, close to Kurt Cobain's home town. Grunge is a way of life here--the climate is hard, the economy is hard, and people are tough. My friend's Dad danced at her wedding in the same red flannel he wore to work as a commercial fisherman.
In addition to gorgeous grunge, the early 90s brought us amazing Riotgrrl style and Kinderwhore.

52. Do you consider yourself photogenic?

Occasionally.

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

I'm not always happy about how my skin or body look, but I never regret my style.

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

Helena Bonham Carter
Nancy Spungen
Courtney Love
Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Early Gwen Stefani

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

Always.

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

Lagenlook. It's so bulky and there are so many earth tones.

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?

Transparent, full-length dresses.
Cropped band tees and jersey pencil skirts.
Low-rise jeans.

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

No, I just get dressed and people are either attracted or repelled.
I live in an area that's predominantly white, upper or middle-class retirees. Older men have the best reactions to my look. Some look horrified or disgusted, some smile at me, and the majority look confused.

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

You don't need to wear flowing empire-waist tops to hide your midsection. Don't hide anything.

I don't cover my crotch with a tunic-length top when I wear leggings, and the world keeps spinning.

If you think you can't wear heels, you may be wrong. High-quality heels that are made well and fit correctly are worth the investment and hunt. Don't buy heels online unless you know your size in that brand.

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

I think perfume is an accessory. I wear Amor Amor by Cacharel.

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

Cover my white-blonde eyelashes in black waterproof mascara and perform basic skincare activities.

I've actually started moisturizing at 31, mostly due to getting high-quality moisturizer samples in subscription cosmetic boxes. It's important.

Also, I take fastidious care of my teeth. I'm privileged to have good dental insurance for the first time ever, and I see a dental hygienist every three months. She taught me about dry-brushing my teeth very gently, using a soft feathered toothbrush.

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

I don't wear much makeup, but I need a few products on my face to feel confident. Right now, here's my 2-minute routine:

Black, waterproof mascara
Tinted moisturizer in "fair"
Blonde eyebrow pencil
Oxblood-colored lipstick

I play with makeup, a little. Some days, I'll do my eyebrows in blue and put some highlighter on my face. I'm learning more "dewy" makeup techniques to appear youthful and glowing.

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?

Many alternative women idolize Stevie Nicks. I also idolize Stevie Nicks, but I don't particularly want to co-opt her fashion. I don't feel comfortable in ankle-length skirts or hats, and I find lace itchy.

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

Skinny pants.. Simple tops. Statement jackets. Chunky jewelry. Dresses.

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

My Timberland Camdale 6-inch boots in "wheat nubuck." They're like the original Timberland work boot worn by rappers, with a 4-inch heel.
To me, these boots communicate a real toughness. The color reminds me of my blue-collar Dad's carhartt work jacket.

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?

My boyfriend bought me a black velvet wrap dress a few years back, printed with golden chains and red roses. It's both elegant and trashy, like me. It's never fit me right. I think cheaply-made wrap dresses are hard to wear, especially if you're not an hourglass shape.

I keep this wrap dress because he emptied his checking account to buy it for me in a really grandiose gesture of love. I had to buy our lunch afterward, and everything else he needed for the rest of the week. It was incredibly sweet of him.

Also, I've been telling myself for two years that I'll take it to a tailor and have it converted into a sheath.

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?

Really high-quality shoes never disappoint. Go to the designer outlet mall and try on expensive shoes to find a pair that really fits.
Moto jackets.

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?

No regrets. I've no closet hoarder. I have perhaps 2 bins of clothing I don't wear any longer, and that's too heavy of a load for my tastes.

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

This question makes me uncomfortable, because if I say "a giant black sweatshirt," I'd be walking around half-naked!
I have a pair of high-waisted, light wash denim which I wear about twice a week, they weren't costly. They just fit so well, I'd hate to throw them away so I guess I'll keep them.

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

No fast fashion or impulse buys from discount stores. Never purchase anything that isn't perfect--my weight hasn't changed in almost a year, and I never manage to get anything tailored.

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

I bought a pair of Gap jeans when I was 18 years old. Dark wash, straight leg, mid-rise. They were either $60 or $70, and it was by far the most expensive piece of clothing I'd ever purchased because I was raised very poor.
I don't own them and I don't really know what happened to them. I think I actually wore them all the way out.

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

I bought a bright yellow cardigan when I was 19. I got so many compliments in this cardigan.
It taught me that you don't have to wear all-black, all the time to look alternative or edgy. "Alternative" is a vibe, and bold choices can look a lot more fresh than the same old black stuff.

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

Pleather pants that don't stretch out to infinity after 6 hours of wear.

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

My house is currently sparkling clean and freshly-bleached, but my clean clothing is sitting in a mountain of baskets. Some of it's folded.
I wish I was a tidy woman who lived in a spare studio apartment with a perfectly-organized clothing rack. I'm not that woman, though.

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

My boyfriend bought me a particularly chunky gold chain for my birthday last year. It's a Cuban link, 24 karat gold plated chain, I believe it's 12 mm. It's the first piece of high-end men's jewelry I ever owned, but it really goes with everything.

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?

I bought a black maxi dress last summer at a discount store for less than $25. I wore it constantly.

77. How and when do you shop for clothes?

I window shop online, endlessly. I live about 2 hours from a mall, and there are very limited retail options in my rural town.

Every other month or so, my boyfriend and I make a 4-hour journey to a designer outlet mall where we buy shoes, bags, underwear, and his denim.

I get a fashion subscription box every month and it's been really great for a few things, like my knee-length winter wool coat. I'm not sure the service is a good choice for staples like denim and sweaters, though.

78. Do you like to smell a certain way?

I wear cacharel amor amor perfume which smells clean, and a little like grapefruit. I smelled it on an exotic dancer in the deep south maybe a decade ago, and I loved it. I've worn it ever since.

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

I want to portray an image of confidence, strength, individuality, and independence. I think my clothing portrays the woman I want to be.

80. How does money fit into all this?

Money always matters. I don't have the money to buy certain items I'd like, such as Prada sneakers or couture track suits.

I think there's more pressure than ever for young people to flex a certain social status with designer belts and shoes. I blame it on how musicians impact popular culture, honestly.

20 years ago, musicians dressed like their fans, wearing plaid shirts and department store denim with Nike shoes. Today, musicians wear Versace and Balenciaga.

I know this is all oversimplified, and culture doesn't exist in silos. You can't separate music and fashion. However, I miss the days when musicians dressed in a way that reflected their roots.

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

A black, full-hoop nose ring and Cacharel perfume. My tattoos are a lot of accessory on their own.

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

My college roommate Lizzy told me "you're a very flamboyant woman" when I was 21. She's right. My frame, my style, and my bold silhouettes are

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?

I remember feeling really slick at age 2 in a "101 Dalmations" swimsuit. It was aquamarine with a silly waistline ruffle.
The memory is definitely augmented by photos, but I loved that fucking swimsuit.

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

I was born in 1988. I live on the Olympic Peninsula in Northwest Washington state
I was raised on the Peninsula where grunge was born. People wear flannel shirts to weddings here. I spent my 20s moving around the country, and then I came home.

Say anything you like about your cultural/ethnic/economic background.

Straight, white. I was raised in a working-class home and put myself through 7 years of higher education.

What kind of work do you do?

I write about cybersecurity.

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

I live with my boyfriend. He's 4 years younger and incredibly stylish.

How do you feel after filling out this survey?

Thoroughly interviewed, and interested in other women's answers.

Bio

Jasmine is a technology writer and recovering engineer.