1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

When my hair is down, I'm wearing a black skirt with sheer black tights, and hoop earrings. Usually when in the company of good friends

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

Yes, all the time. I tend to notice women who dress in the ways I want to dress but am too lazy/lack the wardrobe. I am always into drapey, vintage, boots, sunglasses and hats.

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

When a woman is walking up the street towards you and she's wearing sunglasses and her hair is a little messy and she doesn't look 100% put together but she's still got it going on. There is a casual coolness about them, part attitude and part dress. I always feel like I am putting in too much effort to look effortless

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?

The summer that I worked my first and last retail job at Urban Outfitters. It was the first time I let myself really admit that I liked fashion and clothes and gave into the joy of dressing. I felt this need to look really cool every time I showed up for work, and the fun in fashion translated into my everyday life as well.

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

Go it alone.

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

I have never been one for matching, matchy-matchy is a term we used when my mom and I used to argue about my outfit choices in high school. Somehow the rebellious allure of being mismatched stuck. I still refuse to be ever look too put together.

Unless its all black. In which case I cannot stand it when my blacks don't match.

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

When I had a conversation with some friends our own personal senses of style. At the time, I felt kind of free floating and without a specific style, but as we got into a discussion about it, all my friends said with much authority that I had style and a unique sense of style and that they liked it and I should too. It helped me become confident in my fashion statements or lack of statements.

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

Organized chaos. I don't keep a planner, but instead make and remake lists in my sketchbook. I always know where things in my room are, even though its a mess. Lots of contradictions.

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

Every year I get obsessed with an item or two of clothing. This season its turtlenecks. Cropped, knitted, printed, grandma, grandpa, all the turtle necks. I am wearing a shortie turtle neck right now. 2 summers ago I got really into bolo ties. I know own 10. I also always buy things in black. If its an option, there is no option the answer is black. I also am always tentative to buy something in color.

I think I keep buying black because it feels cool and classic. A professor once said to me, "You know you're a designer when you start to wear all black and only all black." So that was also probably ingrained in my subconscious back when being a designer was the ultimate goal. And he was a really fucking cool designer so. Oh impressionable me.

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

Gave my brother a beanie that he wore religiously until he lost it. I still feel good about that one.

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

Peplum tops. Too girly. Too big. I don't know why, but I hate them and hate that they are always on those list of "Fashion Trends Men Hate and Women Love". I DON'T LOVE THEM, STOP TELLING ME I LOVE PEPLUM TOPS.

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

My mom and I have pretty different bodies, which might be why she and I have conflicting styles.

But we do both share similar sized breasts. I have always admired the way she tastefully shows her cleavage off, while I tend to hide mine.

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

Yes, duh, all the time. In the same way that we all became obbessed with ramen at the same time, and how we swap catchphrases. Our tastes and ideas change together.

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

When I went to college. Out of the house and free to buy as much vintage and used clothing I desired. I quickly adopted the PNW tendencies, much to my mothers disdain. Graduating high school also meant graduating from a school uniform.

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

Not really. I mean, if you stood me next to a conservative woman of the same age from Alabama, you could probably guess which leaned left and which leaned right, but for the most part, not political.

I don't wear real fur, I guess that's political.

16. Please describe your body.

Friend and foe.

17. Please describe your mind.

Self aware.

18. Please describe your emotions.

Currently, very heavy. But usually bright.

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

Tinted moisturizer and light mascara. Chapstick. Deodorant and perfume. I havn't properly washed my hair for 4 days so its up in a messy ponytail.

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

Dressing is a reflection of self. It's a reflection of how I feel, of how I want to be perceived, if I even care that day how people are thinking about me.

I like to think about the assumptions people might be making about me based on what I'm wearing, because I like to do the same to strangers.

I like the way dressing up makes me feels, and I like how putting on my favorite flannel is instantly comforting.

Clothes are important because society says we have to wear them everyday.

21. With whom do you talk about clothes?

Roommates and friends seriously, people working in stores superficially. Myself, on the daily.

22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?

Well, I always feel self conscious when getting dressed for work. I always feel like I need to hide my body, and like the way in which I dress will somehow undermine me in the workplace.

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

Is it arrogant of me to say that I have good taste and style?

Taste is knowing whether something is "good" or "bad" if it is cool or acceptable to own or wear something. Style on the other hand is how you incorporate these things you find in good taste. For example. I know that this dress I'm looking at in Vouge is great. It fits the bill of tasteful. I however, would never wear it. It doesn't fit into my style.

I have always thought of myself as someone with expensive taste but a cheap paycheck. I can't afford a lot of things I like, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate them, or pick them out for other people.

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

My junior prom dress. It was the week of prom, and I was still without a dress. I hated all dresses I tried on and was near tears when I tried on a $500 pink silky dress. Way outside our budget, and out of my usual color scheme. But it fit and in that dressing room under those florescent lights, it was the one. It was short and sleeveless. My mom justified that I could totally wear it again.

I spent most of my evening pulling up my dress because it kept slipping down my large chest.

I never worn it again. I think it's still at my parents house?

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

As a graphic designer, I have a visual style I have cultivated and have been told is distinct. I have a way of speaking that I have taken time to develop and craft.

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?

Comfortable is not thinking about what I'm wearing after I put it on. I don't fidget and don't fix. I just put it on an move on with my life. Confident is tied to that. If I am confident in what I'm wearing I will be comfortable. Confident is feeling good about how you look or proud of an item of clothing you're wearing.

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, so it kills me when I buy something I know I am not going to wear. It's always when I feel I need to buy something due to pressure from an event or situation where I feel I need to dress a certain way. 2 years ago I was catering this event that required me to wear "sexy black heels" and I don't ever wear heels. But I bought them anyways, and havn't worn them since.

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

Weather, where I'm going, what's clean, how I feel.

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

All black. Nice skinny black jeans, nice black t-shirts, billowy coat/sweater, black shoes.

NICE SIMPLE WELL MADE THINGS.

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

Something with a collar.

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

November 1, 1991
Born in Walnut Creek, CA. Currently residing in Seattle, WA

What kind of work do you do?

Graphic design

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.

23, feeling a little lost post college, but everyday it gets a little easier.

How do you feel after filling out this survey?

it was kinda fun! did it at work instead of actually working

Bio

graphic designer, lover of ramen and comfortable shoes

http://www.taylornelsonmade.com/