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Alice Wonderland

1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

Every day as I put a great deal of effort into my appearance, grooming and hygiene.

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

Women that are well put together, not especially wealthy women but women with elan, style, colour, originality, boldness and creativity ! Women who are not afraid to say with there image, "I enjoy life, I'm alive and I'm here"

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

Women who are original in their presentation and individual.

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?

As one becomes older one becomes more confident in finding one own's style and expression vs going for the fads.

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

I think you need to change one's style and perception on how we see ourselves so we don't get into a fashion rut.

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

Same as above.

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

My brother was and is a fashion illustrator who has great influence on me in regards to helping me see the asethetics of design whether it be architecture, fashion etc. My mother always had a great sense of fashion and style and I remember this as a child and would admire it.

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

Yes, I believe in seeing and creating beauty in life....a sense of colour, balance, joy, and being fully emmersed in the moment.

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

No, my items are pretty balanced.

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

Yes, when my mother was still alive I used to purchase dresses, jewelry for her.

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

Yes, the "grunge look" it's ugly !!!!

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

Yes, Mom had great taste in clothes and she always went for quality over quantity. There was a dressing up for the public sphere of life. What I mean by this is that when she went out in public she always dressed up in her best but of course that was the 1940's and 50's when people did do that. (gloves,hats etc)

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

No so much family or friends but people on the street that may wear a scarf in a certain way or unusual colour pairings that I hadn't thought of.

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

Not really.

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

I respect myself as a person and a women so I dress to please myself and feel strong and confident.

16. Please describe your body.

At 74 a healthy, strong petite women.

17. Please describe your mind.

Strong, clear, curious, exploring, interested in many areas of life.

18. Please describe your emotions.

Happy, content and grateful.

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

My hair is up in a pony tail, eye makup, dark wash gene capris and a cotton t-shirt with a cousage flower on the left side of the tee.

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

It is important because it reflects one's attitude about life in general. It's being fully alive in the moment.

21. With whom do you talk about clothes?

My sisters.

22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?

They determine a certain appropriatness. i.e. wearing tailored suits for work etc.

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

Taste is personal preference in style, colour, silouette, texture and style is how one puts all of the above together.

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

No not really because quality is expensive.

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

Solid colours, straight lines, tailoring, v-neckline, nice details, high quality fabric, and last but not least accessories !!!

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

Yes, decorating, gardening, cooking, photography etc.

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?

Yes, a job interview I would wear tailored clothing and conservative colours.

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 have discernment due to life experience and through getting to know who I am as a person and through making many mistakes in choices over the years. You learn what you lik e and what looks good and feels good.

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?

As a kid you had clothes for school, play and church so ever item was separat and you took care of them

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

More makeup when you go out in the evening or put your hair up in a different style.

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 being so comfortable that one is free of worry on what one looks like.

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?

My philosophy is express your wonderful self !

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

Colour, nature, pattern,

34. What do you consider very ugly?

When you see women constantly wearing black!!!!

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?

By now, yes through experience and knowing oneself.

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?

The other person is supportive and wants me to look her best.

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

My work dictates that I dress in a modest and conservative way but with some personality.

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

A good feeling towards myself and confidence and pride when I go out.

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

Dressing up is putting more thought and effort and a little more drama into it.

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

A tailored suit with a colourful silk scarf.

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

Flashy is not me but style, colour, quality is

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

Canadian born with eastern europeon backgroud.

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?

When one is young one follows the trends more as one gets older one developes one's own style.

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

No overuse of makeup, great grooming and simplicity.

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

I wear colour and bold accessories.

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

48. Do you find it comforting or constraining to have a uniform?

n/a

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 tailored jacket and a great 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?

No.

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

Paris 1930's and 1950's the Dior "New Look".

52. Do you consider yourself photogenic?

Not really.

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

Oh, there's a happy person.

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

Many, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, etc

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

Yes, a wedding dress.

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

Anything spandex.

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?

Fitted clothes, shorter skirts, belts,

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

No I dress for myself

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

Don't over do it as Chanel said "before you got out look in the mirror and take one thing off" In other words....edit, edit edit.

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

It's what completes an outfit, your signiture. Yes, Chanel # 5 Premier.

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

Exercise and tailoring.

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

It gives one a polished look

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?

The message that one should not be bold in colour or style when one is aging.

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

My wardrobe is colourful, great fabric, and comfortable. My jewelry is a variety some of it is classic and some of it is fun and bold.

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

My favourite piece of clothing is my linen tops and dresses for summer. Pearls are my favourite.

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 one of my mothers black crepe vintage dresses. I keep it because it reminds me of her good taste.

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?

Natural fabrics like linen

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?

I had pink suede shoes and I loved them and wish I could wear them now.

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

I can't answer that.

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

I would coordinate colours and separate peices.

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

A good coat.....and no I still don't own it.

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

Yes when I found a shop where the clothes suited my frame had the right fit and were stylish.

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

A simple black leather jacket that feels and looks like "buddar"

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

Yes, I keep things neat.Sometimes I organize my clothes as to groups of colours.

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

Yes, a diamond circle pendent

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?

Not really.

77. How and when do you shop for clothes?

Seasonal and I make a day or outing out of it as a special occassion.

78. Do you like to smell a certain way?

Yes, soft floral.

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

To reflect that I am a professional.

80. How does money fit into all this?

Good quality clothes are expensive. I look for the sales

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

Yes, LIPSTICK !!!

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

People comment on my style, and appreciate my effort and my eye.

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?

Yes as a child I had a pink smocked dress and everyone used to comment on how nice I looked.

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

May 4th1940. I was born in Ontario Canada and continue to live there although I have travelled the world.

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

I am close to my family and my culture contributes to this.

What kind of work do you do?

The health profession

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

Married with no kids.

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

I see clothes as one expression of life and creativity.

How do you feel after filling out this survey?

The questions were very thought provoking that led one to dig deep into the past and also motivations and ideas about clothing.

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