1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

Something that fits well but not way too well.

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

All the time. I look at women more than I look at men. I look at their clothes, their features, how they carry themselves. Their handbags. Their hair.

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

The way some women walk that's what makes all the difference.
How relaxed someone feels in any kind of outfit - be it skimpy or something completely traditional.

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?

Short hair. It just suits the way I am as a person. Lot of men/women told me 'they' miss my long hair. But that's just not me. I also felt more powerful or natural with short hair.

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

I'm not a shopaholic. But I spend a lot of time in stores. I literally waste a lot of time looking at something.

Don't waste your time. If you like it, buy it. Sell it on ebay later if you're not using it.

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

I don't iron my clothes well. I look unkept. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. But I kind of don't care so i follow it.

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

I haven't actually even though I work in fashion.

I recently realized I should stop caring about what anyone thinks about what I want to wear. I'd just wear it if it feels good.

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

Chores are important. I try finishing them as quickly as possible.

Relationships - I've not idea.

Life - take it as it comes.

Work - work hard and don't be an asshole.

Finances - save a little every month.

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

Black t-shirts. I'm looking for the perfect one - the perfect silhouette and fabric. So I just keep buying them. And they do with all the other strange coloured pants that I have.

Stripes - no reason.

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

Yes. I've been really pretty and thoughtful jewellery to my sister. One of the pieces she lost and she feels guilty about it :P

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

Flatform or platform sandals. They're just weird. What is the point?

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

She was also thin when she was younger. I think her hairstyles have passed on to me. She had pixie hair when she was in her thirties which is insane considering the time when she chopped it off. It was the most non-feminine thing to do at that time and society would definitely frown upon it. I never asked her why she did it, but she looked great in it too (:

She loves prints. So do I.

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

Coloured sneakers? The trend just caught on and I'm not giving up. A friend of mine wears it and I love how she pulls it off with everything.

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

When I started college. It changed probably because I started paying attention to what looked good. Before that I just looked stupid. Ha.

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

No.

16. Please describe your body.

Srawny. Almost flat chested. Short.

17. Please describe your mind.

Realist pessimist. Mostly jumbled. Little bit of anger in my head all the time. Constantly noticing things.

18. Please describe your emotions.

Sad.

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

Loose t-shirt. Pyjama. Hair is just how it's the hold, sitting on my head. No makeup. I don't wear makeup.

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

Takes the edge off. It's fun sometimes.

21. With whom do you talk about clothes?

A friend/colleague of mine. My sister.

22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?

I'm not allowed to wear distressed jeans to work.
Can't wear shorts to work - even dressy shorts.
Can't wear dresses/skirts that are too short.
Can't wear low necklines - will be frowned upon.

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

I have taste. I read a lot about fashion. I know when someone looks great and what makes them look great in those clothes. I notice their outfits.

Style - I should care more about it.

Taste is something I know and style is something I'd use if I had the taste.

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

900 bucks on a bra that didn't fit me. I bought it online.

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

A sweater. It makes shabbiness go away and makes you look cool.

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

May be. Not sure.

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?

When I'm alone and sad I dress up and dance around.

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?

No I wouldn't. You can like everything. No one is stopping you.

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?

Yeah. No matter how the clothes are, shoes are what complete the look.

Clean clothes are more important than trendy clothes.

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

A tank top. Kohl may be.

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?

I would fidget with my clothes if I were wearing something small/skimpy. Some people just don't seem to bother no matter what they're wearing.

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?

No matter what you wear, just hold your posture right. (this doesn't sound like a style advice, does it?)

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

Ease. Smile.

34. What do you consider very ugly?

Bad smell.

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?

Yeah. It should fit.

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?

It's not based on anyone.

If I'm wearing something short, I check if my legs look to skinny in the shoes I'm wearing. Or if letting the bra straps show is okay or not based on where I'm going.

Nothing else. I actually never thought about this.

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

Look neat. Casual.

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

Preppy style.

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

Dressing is casual. Dressing up is generally for an event/party/date.

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

Black t-shirt and jeans.

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

Not me - too feminine.
Me - slightly tomboyish.

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

Indian.
Less skin show/being covered as much as possible/no plunging necklines/should wear colour (I don't follow this so much).

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?

Not really.

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

Wear a pressed shirt. Fitting pants. Shoes. Comb my hair. Not look sleepy.

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

I think I come into the normcore trend now.
I don't rebel, I don't conform. It just is.

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?

If there were, I'd fold my socks pull 1 half of my shirt out, wear a size bigger.

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

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?

Jeans.

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?

Yeah. Men look great in suits. Even scrawny men look great in suits.

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

New York.

52. Do you consider yourself photogenic?

Yeah.

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

I should do something about my acne scars. Teeth are too big, should control the smile.

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

Twiggy. Alexa Chung. Cara Delevingne?

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

Don't remember.

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

Wearing a bodycon dress.
Wearing a saree. You need grace for it.

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?

Clothes exactly my size.

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

Trying not to take much attention.

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

No.

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

Yes. Perfume is very important.

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

Pluck eyebrows.
Wear a belt. Good shoes.
Wear perfume.
Take a shower.

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

I don't do makeup.

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?

Indian clothes. I don't look good in it.

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

Clothes are normcore. Nothing outrageous. Generally drab colours.
Jewellery - few earrings (small).

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

Heart shaped gold studs.

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?

Dresses. I'm not comfortable.

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?

A paid of sneakers.

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?

Grey skirt. I don't know where it is.

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

Black jeans.

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

Buy shirts of different colours and few dresses that I'm comfortable wearing everyday, buy long lasting black flats.

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

I don't remember.

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

No.

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

Perfect black t-shirt. Perfect denim shorts.

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

Somewhere between messy and neat.

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

No.

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?

Need based.

78. Do you like to smell a certain way?

Yeah.

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

They say dress for the part, I try. But it ends up being - I dress for how I want the part to be. Silly?

80. How does money fit into all this?

I try being stingy.

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

Small butterfly studs.

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

That I look like a painting.

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?

No.

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

28th Feb, 1990. India (both).

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

Indian/Middle class/Slightly more global in terms of the mindset.

What kind of work do you do?

Fashion Marketing.

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.

It's been more of a self style reflection.

How do you feel after filling out this survey?

Strange. But nothing in particular. Just feels like a good exercise.

Bio

I'm a women in my mid-twenties from India. Struggling to be in a job that I can like. I love being in fashion but I'm not the most fashionable person you'd meet. I follow global trends but not necessarily practice them. I don't know what else to say.

http://www.thisblockhasaglitch.com