1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

When I wear that dress or shirt that really makes me feel like myself, and matches perfectly my makeup, and shinny flat shoes

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

I notice when they wear something that I really like. I love people that express their personality without being afraid of what other people might think of them.
I like women (and men) with different haircuts, with original clothes, or clothes that matches their figure.

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

I like people that they know their bodies and they wear what is best for them, they're not trend slaves.

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 started high school I realized there was more to fashion than what the other girls used to wear. I love using skirts, even high heels. Then that changed in college and I used to use snickers, pants and really comfortable clothes. It wasn't until I started working that I got really interested on makeup, before I was too worried on maintaining my face clean due to a severe acne case.

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

When you like something, buy it immediately, doesn't matter if you don't have anything on your closet that match it, just buy it or you will regret it after.

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

If you want to wear something, just use it, doesn't matter if is incompatible with where you're going or doesn't match the weather.

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

With my friend Libertad (http://sahakiel.blogspot.pt/), about fashion freedom, and how it can show your personality.

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

I always try to keep my independence, no matter how complicated the relationship with my employer, boyfriend or family might be.
To keep my own personal space is always going to be the only thing that is never going to change.

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

Shirts, shirts, shirts. They're the best and timeless, they make me feel very well dressed, secure, and they match my favorite pair of jeans, or a really girly skirt.

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

To my sister, she's very exigent about what she wears, and really critical about presents. One time I recommended my mom to buy her a really nice Naf naf blue marine blouse with small flowers, and a big lace on the back, my sister loved it, her face of nicely surprise was the best reward.

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

I don't like animal print, I consider myself an ecologist, and animal print, or fur even if isn't real, represent the idea of wearing the skin of a dead animal.
It isn't for me

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

I have exactly the same figure as my mom's, thereby I know what kind of clothes matches my figure and I guess that we both love shirts and skirts.

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

I adapted the navy style from my sister.

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

When I went to college my style changed completely, I started listening different music, I was surrounded by people that loved indie music, rock concerts, and I had to do laundry on my own, definitely comfort and a little bit of drama were the key .

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

A little, I don't like print animal (because being ecologist), and I don't like to show too much skin (I'm a feminist and believe that women should dress the way they want, but I can't help to feel that if I show too much skin isn't not only cheesy, but also people isn't going to take me seriously)

16. Please describe your body.

I have an hourglass figure, but lately my legs are getting more chubby.

17. Please describe your mind.

I'm an unorganized librarian, I'm a complete paradox.

18. Please describe your emotions.

I try to be objective and balanced about my emotions, but inevitable I'm a bit of passive/aggressive, thereby sometimes I just explode and become too emotional when something really bothers me.

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

I'm wearing a Benetton flowered shirt, a pair of high waist canhartt black jeans and Topshop black, shinny flat shoes. I don't wear any makeup, and my hair is just washed, and air dried hair.

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

Is important in the way they make me feel, and sometimes to help me improve my bad mood.

21. With whom do you talk about clothes?

Definitely, my mom loves clothes and she likes to see that my sister and me, we dress the way she likes.

22. How do institutions affect the way you dress?

I guess that depending of where I'm going it kind of requires a dress code.

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

I think I have my own style, maybe I'm not very happy with the things I put together, but most of the times I'm very happy with the way I dress.
I think that having taste depends of the eye of the person that looks, but style is undeniable.

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

A pair of shoes that I ended giving to my sister because they hurt me. They were too tight for me.

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

I don't think so.

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

I think that a person must have style to treat other people, even to tell a joke.

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?

Completely, to use your favorite sweater or shoes, might give you the confidence you need to confront the situation.

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 know what I like in the are of fashion.
- I'm good at discernment
- My discernment comes from education, the one I received at home, at school, and my myself reading about philosophy, economics, politics, learning languages...

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?

Completely. My mom always taught me how to dress classy, she hated my college times when for me was all about comfort. She always told us to dress elegantly, is the best way to be taken seriously by others (teachers, bosses, family...).

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

Right now I'm all over the makeup. I like to use it not as a disguise, I love when just with a little bit of foundation, eye liner and mascara your face changes entirely and even looks like you'e not using any makeup.

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?

To feel comfortable is related with confidence, is just about feeling good in your own skin.

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?

Just wear what makes you feel comfortable, not matter what other people might say, but also don't get on something too risky that you might regret.
Dress with clean lines, less is more.
Elegance isn't about a chanel suit or a pearls necklace, is about using timeless clothes.

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

Confident people, smart and bright people, poetry, someone singing just with a guitar, photography, cultural differences, nature.

34. What do you consider very ugly?

War, falseness, politics, pollution, envy, electronic music without meaning or too produced pop music.

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?

I think I did, I think that nowadays I choose wisely, and try to invest more on what I wear, but I definitely buy less.

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?

Someone very judgmental, insecure and mean.
Is a mix of different people I know.

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

I consider where I'm going, the weather, and I want to feel more comfy or I can handle a pair of heels during more than 8 hours.

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

To feel good with myself, and to not give a damn about what other think because I'm happy with what I'm wearing.

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

Dressing is the act of put on some clothes, and dressing up is when you want to cause an impression.

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

Shirt/ blouse/ sweater, blazer, high waist suit pants and flat oxford shoes.

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

Me: soft colours, timeless pieces, natural and soft fabrics , navy, natural makeup.

Not me: neon, polyester, animal print, weird hairdos, too complicated makeup.

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

I come from a small city with a great port on the south of Spain, even if my family was middle class, people at school wasn't that fortunate, and also my parents didn't have it easy, they had a small shop and worked hard without holidays for more than 30 years.
I can say that I give value to money because I know how hard people must work to get it, but isn't everything to me. Money helps me get what I want, but give way more value to culture, nature, my friends and family.
I guess all that helped me getting a simple but trendy style. I care about the way I dress, but it isn't remotely the most important thing in my life.

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?

Like I said, I used to dress very differently during college. It was more about being comfortable, to show an edgy personality.
It was a little bit like Kurt Cobain met ‎Alex Kapranos.

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

I like to use classic pieces: a shirt, a blazer, heels or masculine shoes. The makeup is very ladylike, and I just make sure that my hair looks clean and shinny, with natural curls.

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

Right now unfortunately I work on a call center, so my way to rebel against it is to dress very classy, like I'm working in a higher position, is my way to claim that I'm not my job, I'm way more than that.

46. Do you have a dress code, a school uniform, or a uniform that you wear for an extracurricular activity?

I had a school uniform at school for some years: white polo, grey skirt, burgundy sweater and navy/black shoes.

47. Are there ways in which you conform to or rebel against these uniforms?

I conformed with that uniform, the fact of not showing social differences between kids was really great.

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

Is quite comforting, like that you don't have to worry about clothes and free your mind from that.

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?

Navy stripes sleeve top, black pants/skirt, flat pumps and wayfarers.
I like it because is classic, chic and can go well in almost every situation.

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?

When I was on school they used to force girls to play basket and boys to play soccer. I always preferred to play soccer with them, it was way more fun for me.
Also during some years female clothes looked that were made for women with male shape (clothes that only will look well on girls with small breasts, or no hips, and I wished I wasn't less curvy and more male body shaped.

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

The 60's

52. Do you consider yourself photogenic?

Not at all.

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

I'm not that ugly, why do I look so bad?

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

Grace Kelly, Brigitte Bardot, Gwyneth Paltrow, Keira Knightley, Diane Kruger, Scarlett Johansson, even Alexa Chung.

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

Of course I did, with dreamy dresses, nice shoes, who didn't dream with a cinderella dress?

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

Something really with leggings or latex

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?

Back cleavage dresses, kimonos, or wide clothes that didn't make me look even bigger.

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

Probably I try to repel douchebags.

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

Don't dress anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.

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

I like perfume. Usually, but I have long hair, so when I wash it the shampoo and other products can be quite smelly, so I don't wear on those occasions.
I don't want to look like a skunk.

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

Wash them?

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

It has to be simple and nice, something else to look better, not different.

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?

Too girly clothes. I'm not interested on dressing like a doll.

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

I own very basic clothes, based on shirts, simple dresses, skirts, pants, basic shoes, and some nice pieces of jewelry that are based on nice gifts that my family gave me (Pandora, etc.)

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

A babydoll Topshop dress, with a embellished top.
Perfect for a fancy party with silver accessories and sandals.

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?

A black wool vest. I keep it because is pretty, but doesn't fit me at all.

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?

Shoes

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?

Some pants I used to use as a teenager. I no longer have them because they're old. They made me feel great

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

A topshoop wool sweater

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

More basics, less cheap items

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

A D&G watch, I still use it (and always will)

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

29-08-48
- Algeciras (Cádiz) (Spain)
- Lisbon (Portugal)

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

Middle class, Caucasian (I don't look Spanish at all)

What kind of work do you do?

I used to be a librarian, now due to the economic crisis I provide technical support

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

Single, without kids

How do you feel after filling out this survey?

Too many questions, I hope my answers are useful