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Samantha Kanne

1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

When I am listening to great music; when I am around someone who makes me feel comfortable with myself; when I wear something that I know both makes me feel and look good; when I have an excellent hair/makeup day that applies to my current inspiration/aesthetic.

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

Most of the time I try to approach things in a minimal and calming way. I tend to get worked up over a lot of things easily due to over thinking so when something new comes up in life, I try to breath and remember to keep things simple. Go with your gut and don't over think.

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

Basic crew neck t-shirts. I have a lot because I wear them for everything: work, exercise, sleep and for everyday wear. I think they're the best invention and they can be dressed up or down. It's such a universal piece of clothing, too. It's relatable and familiar. I can never have enough.

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

I have refused to participate in the sudden resurgence of overalls or dungarees. I think they are unflattering on everyone except for Alexa Chung and even on her I think they look goofy. I hated wearing them as a child and I can't stand seeing them on the streets and runways today. I think we can find some better statement/trend pieces to focus on and I gotta say, I can't wait until overalls are on their way out.

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

I have acquired my mother's body type: a true hourglass figure. However, my mother never really had a "style" per se. I believe everyone has a "style" whether or not they focus on it; everyone has a sense of dress that is very them. My mother never dressed in a way that made me want to copy it or achieve a similar aesthetic. Clothes were not the most important thing to her but she did have some greatest hits: a true black leather biker jacket, her very Marilyn Monroe in "The Seven Year Itch" wedding dress, chunky sweaters and boots.

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

I have never really been inspired by the way my friends dress. I suppose recently, though, I have been more attracted to the color grey just because my best friend has made me realized how important and wonderfully basic it is. And I do love the basics.

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

Once I started high school, I started dressing in a lot of black and started to approach an appreciation for minimalism. I only wore slim trousers, ballet flats, a t-shirt and blazer for a solid two years. Prior to this, I was wearing hoodies and light wash jeans; two things I never wear EVER. I started to read Teen Vogue and Nylon and was listening to La Roux, Ladyhawke, The Virgins and MGMT so I was very inspired by the fashion industry and the new music I was listening to.

16. Please describe your body.

I have thick eyebrows (compared to Brooke Shields when I was younger, now Cara Delevingne), large, breasts, a narrow waist and larger hips and thighs. I used to despise my body but thankfully I have grown to love it a little more and appreciate the fact that I didn't have to work to achieve a true hourglass shape.

18. Please describe your emotions.

I am very emotionally lead with everything. The decisions I make, the people I surround myself with, the clothes, jewelry, makeup and hairstyles I wear, the music I listen to, the movies and television shows I watch are all dictated by how I feel in that very moment. And that moment can last anywhere from five minutes to a few days.

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

I believe it is important to get in touch with what you love and what makes you, you. I think acknowledging the things on this survey are important to knowing more about yourself, becoming comfortable with yourself and traveling on that sometimes painful path in being confident with who you are.

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?

Not particularly no. My father really did not. My mother taught me more things along the lines of personal hygiene and being the best possible version of yourself that you can be. She was and is always into beautification even if it's in the most simple, inexpensive and least glamorous way. She always has a signature perfume (White Shoulders), uses St. Ives face scrub religiously, always moisturizes and unintentionally taught me the importance of even the slightest amount of mascara. She made an impact on how to groom my eyebrows properly and how to grow into the mess that they used to be in my pre-teen years. Style and clothing wise, I had to teach myself what I liked, who I looked up to and how to apply what I enjoyed to how my body is shaped.

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

More recently since I chopped all of my hair off, I've been hot rolling my long bob and letting it sashay across my shoulders in a very sort of 1940s/1950s style. For a few years, though, I put on my favorite shade of red lipstick to feel sexy. And I have noticed that when I do want to feel alluring or glamorous, I pile on the black.

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?

These two words have recently become very important to me. I have learned that they go hand in hand. In order to feel or seem confident, you must be comfortable. If you're not comfortable in heels, lower the heel inch. If you can't belt something at the waist because it feels awkward, take it off and focus on another good part of your body. This goes back to the "look good, feel good saying." It can't be any more true or important.

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?

I've been chanting "American girl in Paris" as my sense of style. I love good, classical American basics: white t-shirts, jeans and jean jackets, all white sneakers, headbands and the colors red, white and blue. But I also have taken on the French girl style that has been running around the Internet for a few years: all black or darker color ensembles; the effortless, sort of care free elegance attitude; messy hair; minimal makeup; dressing up a casual look and making sure to KISS (keep it simple, stupid).

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

Confidence. My two best friends and mother are so confident with themselves and that's what makes them all so gorgeous.

34. What do you consider very ugly?

Self hate, ignorance and arrogance, close mindedness and women hating on other women.

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, I think so. I have strict style rules: if it isn't on my list of essentials to have then I will not buy it. And even if it is on that list, if it has the slightest feel of awkwardness in it, it goes back on the shelf. I have to know that I will wear the shit out of it and that it can go with 99% of my wardrobe for me to buy it. It's a way to shop on a budget, love what I see when I open my wardrobe and have something fabulous to wear everyday.

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

I consider the weather, firstly since I live in Chicago and the weather is different everyday and sometimes it drastically changes within the day itself. Then I consider what I'm into at the moment, what certain look I'm trying to go for. I try to keep my current style icons in a mental folder and pull it out when outfit planning. I also consider how the outfit is going to work for what I'm doing that day.

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

When I was younger, I always wanted to have uniforms at school. My friends always thought I was insane but it would have solved a lot of problems personally and for the school. Anyway, I would have loved a uniform of black pants, black shoes, a white button down and a navy sweater. Simple, clean and not very distracting.

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

I find it so, so comforting. In fact, I try to establish a uniform for each season so that I know I can feel comfortable every day and so that my decision making process every morning/night isn't long or hard.

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?

Slim pants that hit above the ankle (have been obsessed with this style since I can remember), a t-shirt, a sweater or jacket and white sneakers or black boots. I love it because it's easy. It's classic and you can switch out every piece for something a little different. If not a slim pant, a pair of jeans rolled above the ankle. If not a boot, a sandal. If not a blazer, a jean jacket or statement jacket.

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

I would 100% pick the late 1970s and early 1980s. Everything was so luxe and the colors were warm. Things were oversized and comfortable but also very womanly and quite sexy in a way. Also, who can resist a little Bianca Jagger or Jerry Hall at Studio 54 wearing Yves Saint Laurent and/or Halston?

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

I admire women in the late 1950s. Especially those pictures of college girls walking around ivy league schools. Those plaid shirts and sweaters tucked into the waist is so classic. Lauren Hutton has served me very well for clothing and beauty inspiration this past year. I think her looks back in the 70s and even how she dresses now is so timeless and classic. She dresses for herself which is how it should be.

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

I remember one dream in particular where I was in Las Vegas but it certainly didn't look like any part of Las Vegas that I had been to. I just remember being in this golden yellow courtyard with a tiny fountain with turquoise blue water and seeing myself from outside of my body walk into this courtyard wearing this gorgeous flowing maxi dress. It had turquoise, white, sea foam green and other shades of blue on it in a very Pucci-esque way. I kept saying over and over in my head that it was Bottega Veneta but I had basically subconsciously designed it. I had another one more recently that I was wearing a spaghetti strapped, triangle bra, tulle skirt dress with slim black trousers and high pointed toe heels on. Very Carrie Bradshaw meets Emma Watson's style aesthetic as of late.

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

I think perfume is one of the most personal and personalized things out there. I absolutely love knowing what other women are wearing because it's one of those simple, almost mundane little details like a what's in your purse or what are the last five songs that you listened to on your iPod. I have a little growing collection of perfumes but my signature is Chloé.

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

Makeup is just a way to brighten or enhance my features on my face. I don't use it to alter my look or add anything. I wear mascara to lengthen my already long lashes and I back-comb my brows to make them stand out a little more and I wear BB cream to make me look a little brighter and more awake. Makeup it's an essential but it's definitely fun.

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

I have a simple but substantial amount of clothing. I have two pairs of black skinny jeans and a pair of dark wash skinny jeans that I constantly rotate. I have a pair of wide leg jeans and a nice pair of trousers for miscellaneous wear. I keep a handful of basics (white blouse, long and short sleeve t-shirts in grey, white and black, black blazer, black and camel cardigans, black peacoat, etc.) But I also have some more exciting pieces like a cashmere camel turtle neck from American Apparel, a white jean jacket that I always wear to concerts and plethora of chiffon blouses. Jewelry wise, I keep three classic diamond earrings for everyday wear, a modest pair of diamond evening earrings, a few sentimental necklaces and bracelets and rings.

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?

Last September I thrifted this gorgeous navy blue dress from a thrift shop in Chicago. It looks like it's straight out of the 70s and like something Kate Bush or Florence Welch would wear. It's from Neiman Marcus and I bought it for a discounted price of $30. I never wear it because I don't really have anywhere to wear it. It simply just doesn't apply to my lifestyle. I keep it, though, because it's a gorgeous piece of clothing. It reminds me to be confident, feel free to do whatever I please and stay true to my aesthetic. Hopefully one day I'll find someplace to wear it.

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

I can't remember the first investment piece I bought but the first investment piece that I acquired was an oversized black blazer from my mother. I like to have things I bit more structured now, but I'll still throw on that blazer because it hits perfectly below my butt and I can roll the sleeves up so easily so that it looks dressed down.

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

Yes, I purchased a pair of wannabe black Acne Pistol boots and have never looked back. Although they're a little high to wear for running around the city, they propelled me into a severe obsession with black ankle boots. I always struggled to find a basic, good looking flat shoe that I could wear almost everyday that wasn't a sneaker as I grew out of my adolescent/pre-teen years into teenage/young adulthood years. I didn't want to wear a tennis shoe or a ballet flat so when I finally found a black ankle boot that would go with everything no matter what, I followed that path and haven't turned around since.

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

The. Perfect. White. T-shirt. I'm almost 100% convinced that it does not exist. At least it doesn't exist in my price range. My body is not shaped for a slouchy, flowing t-shirt like so many that are out there. I need something that is a crew neck, a thicker fabric to sustain wears and washes, that fits my large bust and smaller waist and has a good capped sleeve. I haven't had any luck but if I ever do, I'll be sure to document its life cycle.

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

July 3, 1995. I was born in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California and grew up in the Santa Clarita Valley and central Indiana. I currently live in Chicago.

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

Single.

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

I have been interested in fashion since I was about 14 or 15. But only recently have I come to terms with the fact that I love personal style more that just fashion. I love personalized things and someone's wardrobe is as personalized as it gets. I love questionnaires and surveys and this one, particularly about clothes, was especially fun.

How do you feel after filling out this survey?

I feel more put together, a little more knowledgable with myself and eager for my friends to answer at least two or these questions.

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