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Julia

1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

Early in the day when I am dressed for work.

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

Yes, those who are pulled together with elegant style yet not over the top.

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

Those who look polished but with an underlying bohemian influence.

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 realized at work that I was treated with more respect at work when I dressed up.

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

Don't overpay.

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

Don't dress slutty

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

I don't talk about fashion or style.

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

I like things predictable and polished with preparation if possible.

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

I have multiple blazers and sweater sets. I need them for work.

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

Yes. I have bought clothing for my daughter that she loves.

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

Jeans with holes in them

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

My mother was so frugal from the Great Depression that she dressed frumpy and bought second hand.

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

Yes, I adapt from what my daughter wears.

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

When I started work as a female surgeon, I realised that patients did not trust me to do their surgery unless I dressed up. Unfair, my male colleagues could wear cowboy boots and jeans and no questions asked about their skill level. I have to always wear a blazer and no white pants(confused for a nurse) and male type scrubs in the operating room.

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

No

16. Please describe your body.

Thin and mesomorphic

17. Please describe your mind.

Analytical

18. Please describe your emotions.

Stable

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

Weekend jeans. No make up. Hair is highlighted and not done up.

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

Makes me feel polished and individualistic.

21. With whom do you talk about clothes?

No one.

22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?

Must maintain image of competence

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

I have style on how I put outfits together. Taste to me means appropriateness for setting you are in. Style is much more important and is more innate.

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

My wedding dress an shoes

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

Buying low end basic blouses and Tees to wear with high end blazers and shoes

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

I have style in my house furnishings and fabrics.

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?

Interview clothing.

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 like a pulled together look with a hint of fun. This carries over into life decisions. Discernment is awareness which is innate.

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?

My mother taught me what not to do. When I bought clothes second hand or cheap it was usually a mistake.

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

I can't be sexy or alluring in my work environment and since I work over 60 hours a week there is not much time for any thing else.

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?

Confident and comfortable is being able to work all day and myself not noticing what I am wearing but having patients and colleagues respect me

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?

Dress for yourself. Find your own style that expresses you.

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

Polished elegance with a twist.

34. What do you consider very ugly?

Selfish slutty behavior.

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, if it speaks to me as being unique and special.

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?

Outer eye is what I have developed from reactions of others around me

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

What is the weather, do I have a meeting surrounded my male surgeons, and do I have to tell anyone they have cancer today.

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

Polished competence

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

Dressing up is for social events

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

Blazer, fitted skirt or tailored pants, and stylish shoes

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

Pulled together curated image and not frumpy and sloven.

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

I have no special cultural background

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?

I dressed casual in college

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

Tailored clothing, minimal make up as I have to get up in middle of night for call and surgery, and highlight hair to avoid gray and looking frumpy

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

I have to conform by dressing with more care than my male colleagues to garner equal respect

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?

Nothing archetypal. I have had so many roles and changes throughout my life

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?

France

52. Do you consider yourself photogenic?

No

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

Plain face slender body

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

Coco Chanel

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?

Risqué lingerie type clothing

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?

I am totally comfortable with my body and wear what I want.

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?

Be aware that what you wear does affect your work opportunities

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

It is allergenic. No

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

They need to be ironed

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

Not used

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 professional classic work clothes with an edge and stylish shoes. Jewelry is non flashy. Mainly earrings and bracelet watch

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

Blazer

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?

An expensive pair of boots. No longer stylish

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?

Classic clothing. Shoe styles change and must be constantly updated.

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?

A silk blouse that I recycled. It was an unusual color combination which I am wearing again.

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

A blazer

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

Nothing

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

Blazer, yes

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

Started wearing pencil jeans/pants thanks to my daughter. We share clothes.

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

Navy dress shoes

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

Neat and categorized by color. Rotate for seasons

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

Yes, a hand made scarf from a patient who had to ride a long distant bus to see me.

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?

A par of grey pants that I can dress up or down

77. How and when do you shop for clothes?

Usually shop online at night or when on vacation with my daughter

78. Do you like to smell a certain way?

Clean

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

I have to dress to maintain my professional image and fit in with male surgeons. I have to wear male color and style scrubs to be one of the guys in the operating room

80. How does money fit into all this?

I can't afford designer clothes but I can style well

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

Bracelet watch when working

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

When a medical student, a resident referred to me as Betty boop because of how I was dressed

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?

I was wearing a ratty one piece swimsuit that was ill fitting when I was eight. It gave me a poor self image and influenced me not to scrimp on style like my mother did.

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

1958 born in Wisconsin. Live in California

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

I was raised by depression era parents and am now economically self sufficient

What kind of work do you do?

Surgeon

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

Married, three kids

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

Might give young women insight into workplace image and how to make lemonade out of lemons..I am very happy with myself and image because I formed it with my own edge.

How do you feel after filling out this survey?

Cathartic to remember how my mother and work colleagues influenced my life.

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