1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

When I'm naked, because it's purely my body and nothing else.

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

Women who walk gracefully, or hold themselves with a certain poise.

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

Any woman who takes the time to put on makeup, do their hair, suffer through five-inch stilettos.... (I can't bother).

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 once heard that when a woman said "I have nothing to wear today!" she actually means, "There is nothing that represents me here today!"

And that was kind of an aha moment, when I understood why women (including me) have an insatiable urge for new clothes. It's because we are always on this quest to express ourselves through our clothes - and as life changes, we want our clothes to represent those changes as well.

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

Quality before quantity; cut before color.

Never buy anything unless it is on sale.
Never buy anything unless you can think of at least 3 other things to pair it with in your closet.

If you don't LOVE it in the fitting room, you won't like it at home.

(Of course, I have broken all these rules. Sometimes very regretfully.)

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

If a man was trying to kidnap you, would you be able to stab him in the eyes, knee him in the balls and run away?

...Basically I always dress in a way that maximizes my mobility.

and of course DRESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WEATHER! Try to keep warm/cool/dry.

tl;dr: Your clothes should not cause you to suffer.

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

I guess I generally know exactly what I want, and I won't settle for anything less. I looked 4 years before buying a camel coat, because I couldn't find one that fit the image in my head. And likewise with men - I don't bother with hookups, and I tend to go long periods without being in a relationship. But when I do find something I want, I will go after it with everything I have. (I shelled out my monthly paycheck for that coat.)

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

White t-shirts. Because they go with everything, and it's so hard to find one with a good cut & fabric - when I manage to discover a new one, I have to stop myself from buying 5 at once.

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

I don't gift these things, because I always worry the person won't like them. (Re: I'm scared they'll hate it the way I hate it when someone tries to dress me)

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

Knit ponchos...you might as well cut a hole in your blanket and shove it over your head.

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

She values practicality above else - her clothes are all simple, easy to clean, and easy to match. That's probably where my minimalism comes from.

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

Doesn't everyone borrow clothes and ideas from their friends? Both consciously and subconsciously? Both male and female?

To steal from boys:
flannel
t-shirts
hair gel
deodorant

To steal from gals:
makeup
bras
dresses
...everything really

16. Please describe your body.

I am a pear. I can almost never find pants that fit both my butt and my waist. My body in general is a US size 4, but my butt is definitely a size 6. I'm 5'7.

17. Please describe your mind.

Curious about everything! Constantly thinking, wondering, questioning, formulating.

18. Please describe your emotions.

Too rational, very bad with emotions. Sometimes thought to be emotion-less.

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

Face: Sunscreen SPF 50, chapstick

Hair: Bedhead (I have a pixie cut)

Body: White blouse, black pencil skirt, black pumps (I'm currently slacking off at work)

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

Well, it's part of being human, getting dressed.

21. With whom do you talk about clothes?

my girlfriends!

22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?

Institutions enforce standards. At work, this means dressing professionally and simply in a way that does not attract attention.

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

If you're genuinely confident about what you're wearing, you'll be fine.

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 think my discernment comes from...the gut? Or it's purely instinctual. If I have to think about it and weigh the options, that means I probably don't really want it.

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

Wear lingerie.

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?

Fuck everyone else. Dress in a way that makes you feel good.

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

Happiness, confidence, open-mindedness

34. What do you consider very ugly?

Following trends blindly