Read Surveys (By Author)
Lucy Hes
1. When do you feel at your most attractive?
When I'm well dressed
2. Do you notice women on the street? If so, what sort of women do you tend to notice or admire?
Not often.
3. What are some things you admire about how other women present themselves?
Co-ordinated look; confident walk.
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?
When I first coloured my hair and I realized I was in control of my look.
5. What are some shopping rules you wouldn’t necessarily recommend to others but which you follow?
I rarely shop because I buy good quality that lasts.
6. What are some rules about dressing you follow, but you wouldn't necessarily recommend to others?
Always match colours.
7. What is the most transformative conversation you have ever had on the subject of fashion or style?
Never had one.
8. Do you have a unified way of approaching your life, work, relationships, finances, chores, etc.? Please explain.
Stay organized.
9. Are there any clothing (or related) items that you have in multiple? Why do you think you keep buying this thing?
T-shirts, jeans and boots. Because that's what I like to wear. Cardigan sweaters and t-necks for winter. Shoes and leather bags because I love leather.
10. Have you ever successfully given someone a present of jewelry or clothing that you continue to feel good about?
No
11. Is there any fashion trend you’ve refused to participate in and why?
Baggy pants, stiletto/pointed toed shoes. Ugly!
12. Can you say a bit about how your mother’s body and style has been passed down to you, or not?
It has not passed down to me - totally different generation! Had an aunt who loved shoes and passed this along to me.
13. Have you stolen, borrowed or adapted any dressing ideas or actual items from friends or family?
No
14. Was there a point in your life when your style changed dramatically? What happened?
When I started work I bought suits. When I left my office job, I ditched the suits.
15. Is there anything political about the way you dress?
Yes! I refuse to be a slave to fashion so, for instance, absolutely will not wear stiletto/pointed toe shoes which look ridiculous on women. Very trashy and meant only to appeal to men.
16. Please describe your body.
Petite.
17. Please describe your mind.
Clear, logical. Don't believe in magic or religion.
18. Please describe your emotions.
Even keeled.
19. What are you wearing on your body and face, and how is your hair done, right at this moment?
Tights and a loose t-shirt. Hair is wet - just emerged from the lake.
20. In what way is this stuff important, if at all?
Fun only - not of major importance.
21. With whom do you talk about clothes?
No one
22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?
Not sure what this means? Institutions as in a formal setting or institutions as an ethos?
23. Do you think you have taste or style? Which one is more important? What do these words mean to you?
Taste. It lasts a lifetime. Style changes and can depend on size, age, season, life circumstances.
24. Do you remember the biggest waste of money you ever made on an item of clothing?
A leather blazer - never wore it.
25. Are there any dressing tricks you’ve invented or learned that make you feel like you’re getting away with something?
No
26. Do you have style in any areas of your life aside from fashion?
Yes of course. Everyone has a 'style'. Silly question.
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
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?
Yep because I'm strong minded.
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?
Also wear clean clothes. Spend the money on dry cleaning and a good quality coat will last for years. AND always, always keep shoes and boots in good repair.
30. What sorts of things do you do, clothing or make-up or hair- wise, to feel sexy or alluring?
None
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?
The clothes fade to the background; the other person sees the individual not the clothes.
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?
Clean lines; good fit. Classic clothes.
33. What is really beautiful, for you, in general?
Great art....and flowers.
34. What do you consider very ugly?
Slouch pants; obesity; stiletto/pointed toe shoes; any item of clothing in the colour pink.
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?
Yes by choosing the right colours and sticking to classic lines.
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?
Generally well dressed in a subdued, not flashy, way. Clothing fits my body and colours are suited to my skin/hair colour.
37. What is your process getting dressed in the morning? What are you considering?
Depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing that day.
38. What are you trying to achieve when you dress?
A good look that is comfortable.
39. What, for you, is the difference between dressing and dressing up?
Dressing up is adorning my clothes e.g. with a bit more jewelry than usual
40. If you had to wear a “uniform” what would it look like?
Well cut jeans, quality top with a cashmere cardigan (in cooler months) and classic good quality leather boots. My best leather jacket or, in cold weather a high quality wool mid-calf length coat. Italian leather gloves, a pashmina scarf and a good leather bag.
41. What would you say is “you” and what would you say is “not you”?
"Me" is casual and classic. "Not me" is fussy, frills and lace.
42. What is your cultural background and how has that influenced how you dress?
Canadian - subdued
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?
Yes, when working in an office, I always wore a suit and panty hose. It was a uniform that I could forget about and concentrate on the job at hand instead of worrying about my clothes.
44. What sorts of things do you do, clothing, make-up or hair-wise, to feel professional?
Regular visits to the hair salon and manicurist. Nightly skin cleansing and facials a few times a year.
45. How do you conform to or rebel against the dress expectations at your workplace?
Never really cared what people thought about how I dressed in the office because, as written above, I dressed to be comfortable.
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?
N/A
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?
Jeans and a t-shirt
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?
Absolutely never!
51. If there was one country or culture or era that you had to live in, fashion-wise, what would it be?
1930s - love those trousers that Kathryn Hepburn wore and the quality silk and satin evening gowns
52. Do you consider yourself photogenic?
Depends
53. When you see yourself in photographs, what do you think?
Hair looks awful
54. Are there any figures from culture, past or present, whose style you admire or have drawn from?
Kathryn Hepburn
55. Have you ever had a dream that involved clothes?
No
56. What would be a difficult or uncomfortable look for you to try and achieve?
Sexy siren
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?
Longer clothes for a different silhouette
58. Is there anyone that you are trying to attract or repel when you dress?
No
59. Are there any dressing rules you’d want to convey to other women?
Don't dress for men!
60. What do you think of perfume? Do you wear it?
Love it and yes, I wear it.
61. What are some things you need to do to your body or clothes in order to feel presentable?
Keep them clean and ironed
62. How does makeup fit into all this for you?
Not important. Only wear a base in the winter months.
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?
Lots of shoes, coats, jackets and sweaters. Dozens of pashmina scarves and leather gloves. Summer clothes is primarily dresses and capri pants. Jewelry is eclectic - I buy when I travel.
65. What is your favorite piece of clothing or jewelry that you own?
Navy blue leather jacket and Fry boots.
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 clear out my closets once a year.
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?
Good quality items
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
69. If you had to throw out all your clothes but keep one thing, what would you keep?
Fry boots
70. Building up your wardrobe from nothing, what would you do differently this time?
Stay with a few basic colours
71. What’s the first “investment” item you bought? Do you still own or wear it?
Winter coat and no, I don't still own it.
72. Was there ever an important or paradigm-shifting purchase in your life?
My house!
73. What item of clothing are you still (or have you forever been) on the hunt for?
The perfect pair of shoes
74. What are your closet and drawers like? Do you keep things neat, etc?
Everything is organized
75. Were you ever given a present of clothing or jewelry that especially touched you?
Yes
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?
No
77. How and when do you shop for clothes?
Seasonal. Look online then head to a shop to find what I want to buy
78. Do you like to smell a certain way?
Yes
79. How does how you dress play into your ambitions for yourself?
It doesn't
80. How does money fit into all this?
Key to being able to purchase what I want.
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
82. Did anyone ever say anything to you that made you see yourself differently, on a physical and especially sartorial level?
Yes
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. I was complimented on a pair of shoes and was told that I had great taste!
What’s your birth date? Where were you born and where do you live now?
1952, Montreal
Now in Ontario
What kind of work do you do?
Travel
Please say anything you like about yourself that might put this survey into some sort of context.
Grew up in the late 1960s and early 1970s when women's liberation was gaining ground so that affects my attitude toward clothes.