Meet NYC passerby, Charlotte Doherty. She went to college for writing in NC and moved here to further that pursuit, but ended up transitioning into the fashion industry. Currently, she is the general manager of Courtshop Denim and does art on the side.
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Meet Peisin Yang Lazo
in Producer
Meet NYC passerby, Peisin Yang Lazo. Half Ecuadorian, half Taiwanese, Peisin grew up in Ecuador as well as Nicaragua, before moving to the States by herself to go to Boston University and study Film/TV. Now she’s a producer at ad agency Johannes Leonardo.
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Meet Leslie Hamilton
in Illustrator
Meet NYC passerby, Leslie Hamilton, a freelance design assistant working for independent designers while also working for American Two Shot.
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Meet Rachael Yaeger
in Entrepreneur, Producer
“Born outside of the Adirondacks, upstate NY, Rachael is the creator and editor of The Working Pair—an online editorial that showcases couples; their lives, love, work and the balance of it all. She went to Flagler College for Communication with a minor in Journalism and got her MA in Marketing from Regent’s College in London. She is also the founder of Human NYC, LLC. a front-end focused development shop for thoughtful design and has worked with clients such as Saturdays NYC, Coming Soon, Basic Rights, Tanya Taylor, Sandy Liang, Sight Unseen, Know-Wave radio.”
on her morning routine
I like to get up around 7:30 AM, Hugh and I snooze the alarm a couple of times. Shower, fight with my closet a bit. The walk through Chinatown and seeing all of the cheap, colorful fruits makes my day. Coffee from Happy Bones. They're family. Human NYC shares a studio space with RoAndCo. We do team morning stand-ups at 10 AM, and then get building websites and working on projects.
on her career path
I grew up with the lucky mentality that the sky's the limit. My parents always did the best that they could do to enable me to fulfill my goals, from playing sports to studying abroad, to going on scuba diving trips, to going to graduate school in London. I knew I wanted to work with people and talk; I also have a certificate in mediation. I graduated in 2009 with my MA and went home to upstate NY, I was substitute teaching and called my friends to see what they were up to, they graciously set me up in the city. I landed with a sublet on E. 7th and Ave. A, a bartending job and an interview at Gin Lane.
on creating her projects
I started The Working Pair as I couldn’t believe there were people in solid relationships in New York. I felt like there was a stigma that if you were in a relationship you were lame and not working hard enough on your own career path. I wanted to prove the opposite. You know when you meet two cool people and you’re inspired by them, and then you realize they're actually a couple and it blows your mind, that’s what I wanted to find. I started with Archie Coates (pluspool.org) and Emily Coates, from there the site has really been an extension of that friend group. I’m super grateful to work mainly with photographer Meredith Jenks, and started out by shooting with Ryan Patterson. The Working Pair is truly a labour of love.
““Modoc” is the best book ever written! “Plein Air” is designed well and visually beautiful. “Riposte” is the epitome of my zine obsession. I have to limit my trips to McNally Jackson and Bouwerie Iconic.”
on creating opportunities
I left Gin Lane in 2013. I felt a surge of entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to go for it. I started theworkingpair.com and opened a gallery on Meserole and Manhattan Avenues in Greenpoint with my dear friend Jill. We curated female focused shows and printed two zines, one with Akila Berjaoui solely of her work and the other entitled, “The Babe Show” highlighting creative women around us. In 2014 my now technical partner Michael, left Code & Theory where he had been after Gin Lane (where we met originally) and we started working together again on websites. The gallery allowed me to work in a more tangible way, but with both curating shows and building websites I get to work with people by providing a platform to showcase their work and grow their business. I realized at Gin Lane how meaningful it is to work with friends. Once you’ve been in the trenches together, you establish this trust that makes it so easy and fun to do work as a team.
on her favorite job
My favorite job was at an Ace Hardware store called Coakley's. I like working, I started working at a young age babysitting, I also like painting walls and garage doors. I did an internship with my Aunt's company in DC and learned a lot about production! I went into Gin Lane on a Friday and kind of jumped in on a Monday. I had a Blackberry and a PC, and Gin Lane's founder Emmett immediately took me to the Apple store. We built websites for clients so I quickly realized that designers and developers were my keys to success. I enjoyed working with our internal team and managing our external clients. I also got to shoot content and help to build @adidasWomen with social media and digital strategy.
TOP, SANDY LIANG ; PANTS, ZARA ; BAG, Loeffler Randall ; Shoes, Teva ; Sunglasses, crap eyewear
““Apartmento” is my favorite magazine on this planet. When I left Gin Lane, I wanted to move to Barcelona to work for them, their aesthetic is perfect. Cass Bird is one of my favorite photographers.”
on her beauty routine
We recently launched theklog.co so I got into Korean skincare. I really like sheet masks! I use Glossier tinted moisturizer for that dewy look end-goal. I like to stay hydrated and listen to my skin. It looks best when I have been outdoors, not showered for a couple of days. As for tips, never wax your eyebrows, wear sunscreen (hi mom, I'm 29 and now realize this), DRINK WATER, smile, try to get rest, a little oil on the ends of your hair. I think confidence is everything, which comes from within.
I also recommend Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Lucas Papaw Ointment, Glossier Priming Moisturizer, MISSHA Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator, MISSHA Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence, and Glossier Balm Dotcom.
on her shopping habits
I like to rep the brands that we work with! And I want to work with people that have brands we believe in. I wear Negative Underwear, Datura, Sandy Liang + pieces picked up from travels like my long black skirt from Berlin or red Kimono from Toronto, high waisted mom jeans, t-shirts from friends like Laferrera.pizza and acid.camp. I also wear all of my dad's old jackets, a white cable knit soft Woolrich sweater from my mom, a Timex from my brother and my Grandad's Pendleton's. My style is cozy. In an ideal world I am wearing all Rachel Comey, Apiece Apart, Acne Studios, The Row.
“I like brainstorming, art, reading, interacting with people, conveying messaging, marketing for me was like building a fire for ideas. ”
TOP, SANDY LIANG ; PANTS, ZARA ; BAG, Loeffler Randall ; Shoes, Teva ; Sunglasses, crap eyewear
rachael's favorite books and magazines
Riposte Magazine, Apartamento Magazine, Plein Air Magazine, Modoc by Ralph Helfer, Cass Bird: Rewilding by Cass Bird
rachael's favorite places in nyc
Happy Bones for coffee
Mr Fong's for a bar
Rintintin for dinner
Madhufalla Organic Juice & Smoothie Bar
Meet Yousra Elbagir
in Journalist
“Sudanese-born, British-educated journalist currently working in Khartoum, Sudan as a writer for the Guardian, CNN Africa, Reuters Africa and Content manager for Elephant Media.”
Yousra’s favorite books
on her morning routine
I usually spend quite a bit of time checking my phone with one-eye open for the first 30 minutes I'm awake. Once I drag myself out of bed, I brush my teeth, shower and wash my face with an all-natural Tumeric soap from India. It's amazing - exfoliates and purifies - I also use it as a body wash. Then I use the Pixi Glow tonic and moisturise with Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré. I usually put on a thin layer of Clinique Moisture surge tinted moisturiser with SPF 15 if I'm heading out for the day. I have a lot of allergies and really sensitive skin so I avoid any other skin make-up or sun protection.
on her family and childhood
My dad is a Sudanese journalist and politician, and my mum is his business partner and publisher. His newspaper - Al-Khartoum - was printing in Khartoum, London, Cairo, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Before I was born, my dad was exiled for being government opposition. He hopped over to the University of Exeter in the UK to get his PHD in political science and that's where I grew up until I was 8. We then moved to Khartoum and I studied high school there for the next 7 years. When I first arrived it was really difficult assimilating, I remember getting teased quite a bit. But by the time I left for London at 16, I had a strong group of close friends and became fluent in Arabic. I did my A Levels (SAT equivalent) in London and read Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews, graduating last summer. I made the big decision to move back home for field experience as a journalist, where I now work at our family production company Elephant Media and have been there ever since.
““Asmarani is the chap-book of an incredible Sudanese-American poet, and very good friend of mine, Safia Elhillo (@safiamafia). This girl plucks poetry from the heavens. She’s got a book coming out called The January Children and I feel like my autographed copy of Asmarani is going to be priceless very, very soon.””
on her love for Sudanese culture
I fell so deeply in love with Sudanese culture as soon as I moved back. Studying anthropology really made me look at things in a different light - things I'd taken for granted before. The music, the food, the perfumed oils and heavenly sandalwood incense (bakhoor). At Elephant Media, we focus a lot on uncovering Sudanese culture. Through those projects, I've been introduced to an incredible community of contemporary artists - people who are constantly producing beautiful work regardless of socio-economic circumstance and lack of exposure. My room in Sudan is full of Sudanese art. I had to physically stop myself from bringing it all with me to NYC for the month.
on her writing
Someone asked me once if we burn newspapers as incense at home. It was one of the most spot-on metaphors I've ever heard. My family is very media-oriented and our newspaper was around long before I even came into existence. My sister Safia is the only one who managed to escape the madness - she's a doctor. My eldest sister Nima is a senior foreign correspondent for CNN and my brother used to run our printing press and has now evolved the family trade into new media by founding Elephant Media. When I first moved to Sudan at the end of last summer, I started writing for the CNN Africa website. My first article was on Nuba wrestling, a thousand year-old tradition hailing from the south of Sudan that had meant displaced and persecuted Nuba were competing in the Khartoum and were being trained by the Japanese embassy for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. I'll never forget how I felt when it was published, I was just elated. I had been published by CNN and Reuters News before but never on Sudan or anything Sudanese. That really set the tone for everything I've gone on to write the last year - a blend of culture, human interest and news. I started writing for the Guardian in February, mostly on stories we work on at Elephant Media. I was recently able to combine my two worlds more seamlessly with Elephant Media becoming a partner of the Guardian Africa Network.
Shirt, H&M
““As a black, Muslim, African, Arab woman, Ive always known that I relate to some of the most underrepresented groups in the world. At home in Sudan, I’m the majority and growing up in the UK, I was a minority. Shifting between those binaries has really shaped who I am. I’ve always looked at it as a strength, access to a unique perspective that I can try and share with the world through connecting with people and telling their stories in a compelling way. I still have a long way to go but the aim of my entire body of work is to push the developing world narrative to the forefront of the media.””
on her sensitive skin
When I found out I was allergic to fragrances, I started using some of my mums perfumed oils because it's applied without a spray getting it everywhere. Now my mum mixes a special little bottle for me. I've had people stop me in the street and ask me where they can buy it. She's not selling! I think it's really important to monitor how your skin reacts to the elements and different products. My allergies have meant that I pay really close attention to that. There was a period of two years where my skin was breaking out constantly and what I thought was acne turned out to be a rash from my long list of unknown food intolerances. Listen to your skin, it'll always tell you when something shouldn't be in your system.
I also generously lather on moisturizer before I sleep - it's the best time for your skin to rehydrate. Additionally, I would recommend: Clinique Moisture Surge, Embryolisse, Pixi Glow Tonic Toner, and Mixed Chicks conditioner.
Top, Zara ; pants, Missguided ; Shoes, & OTHER STORIES ; Sunglasses, Sincerely Tommy ; Bag, Zara
Yousra’s favorite food in nyc
I tried Senegalese food recently at Africa Kine restaurant in Harlem. It was absolutely incredible - best grilled fish I've ever had.
Boulevard on Malcolm X boulevard has the most amazing soul food.
Champs vegan diner in Brooklyn kept me going back there every weekend! Was so great to indulge in some mac & cheese and not worry about my face swelling up.
yousra’s favorite shops in nyc
As for shops: I love Sincerely Tommy in Brooklyn - fell in love with their Perspex sunglasses.
I'm also obsessed with this Senegalese shop in Harlem called Kilimanjaro fashions. It's on 116th and Malcolm X boulevard and just full to the brim with these colourful African prints. They have an in-store tailor that can alter any purchases and make custom designs using their printed fabric.
yousra’s favorite books
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
What is the What by Dave Eggars
Asmarani by Safia Elhillo
Meet Lisa Przystup
“Born in Falls Church, VA Lisa is a Brooklyn-based writer who has written for Garance Dore, New York Magazine, The WILD Magazine, J. Crew, La Garconne and more. She’s also a florist who has done flowers for the likes of Ulla Johnson, Rachel Comey and Stone Fox Bride and her work has appeared in Vogue, New York Magazine and Elle.com.”
on her morning routine
I wake up and resent the alarm with every bone in my body, shuffle out to the kitchen to a cup of coffee because my husband is awake before I am 99.9% of the time, procrastinate getting ready and out the door until I have no choice but to madly rush through my “beauty” routine: wash my face with a Clarisonic I got last Christmas (can’t tell if it’s really made a difference but now I’m too paranoid to stop using it), then some sort of eye treatment from my multitude of Kiehl’s Eye Treatment samples, smear overpriced but damn good Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat under my eyes, Diorshow Black Out Mascara, Hourglass Brow stuff for my anemic asian eyebrows, MAC matte bronzer and then this Bobbi Brown stuff in a pot that makes it look like my cheeks are living in a perpetual summer. Then out the door with toast in hand.
how she started out
I moved to NYC because I had my tunnel vision focused on making it as a fashion writer (or really any sort of writer for that matter). What no one really tells you is how difficult/impossible that is. I pursued it pretty tirelessly, checking everything off the list—Master’s degree in journalism, internships, networking, establishing hard-fought relationships editors only to have them leave the publication, following up (always following up) etc. and just really hit a wall after many, many years with little to no results/income/progress and needed to step away from it all for a moment, which is when I started doing flowers. Copywriting was always in the back of my mind as an option that I really didn’t want to embrace but I’ve learned that 1. you can actually make a living doing it and 2. you can actually get pretty creative and still have a voice and still be challenged coming up with smart ways to reach people.
“So these books aren’t necessarily my favorite books of all time but rather a snapshot of what I’m reading right now/recently read and liked. I’ve been endeavoring to read East of Eden and started it on our honeymoon—the language is heartbreakingly beautiful in its practicality and sparse matter-of-fact-ed-ness and it reminds me of why I ever wanted to be a writer. It’s too beautiful for ugly subway rides—I almost want to go on a retreat somewhere befitting of its beauty and finish reading it there.”
on her interest in flowers
After hitting a wall with writing I needed to just step away from things for a moment and separate myself from the tireless pursuit of it all. I had recently done a story on Brooklyn florists for New York Magazine’s The Cut and thought I’d trying playing around with flowers. I have such a Type-A, perfectionist personality that it felt really good to try something that didn’t have all my hopes and dreams wrapped up in it. My husband and I head upstate quite frequently so I sort of used that as a testing ground and practiced form and all those good things with the wildflowers and blooms that are rampant (and free) up there. Then I started reaching out to contacts I had from pitching fashion stories to pitch flowers instead.
on selecting an arrangement
The actual process is sort of different every time. Sometimes I’ll see an arrangement that really inspires me and will work off that, other times I have a specific color scheme I’m dreaming of working with or that a client specifically wants, and other times I go the less thinking route and just go for it. My favorite part is making the arrangements. I’m pretty not great at everything else, which is a bit of a problem since it turns out that arranging feels like it’s actually just 10-15% of the package. You have to be business savvy and be willing to take a pretty big financial risk—getting a studio and a team—in order to grow and I’ve just never been ready for that, which means my business has always had a pretty low overhead. It works for me but it is tough when you see other people pulling off larger, more glamorous installs and projects but then I have to remind myself and my ego that I chose this level of engagement and that it’s what works best for me for now.
on her beauty routine
I’ve been using Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner for as long as I can remember and I just recently discovered Oribe products—all amazing—but the Surfcomber Mousse is exceptionally so. I just put it my hair after I take a shower at night, go to sleep with my hair wet and in the morning my hair has just the right amount of gritty texture and wave (although my real dream is to get a perm, this’ll do for now). Love the idea of body oil as a moisturizer and I have this great one that smells like roses and earth and makes me feel like I should be at the beach but I like the ease of lotion and I’ve been feeling Kiehl's Creme de Corps for a couple of years now. I also recommend Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque.
on her shopping habits
Lately I’ve been doing a lot of online shopping, mostly stalking Etsy for vintage goods. Stella Dallas in Williamsburg is great too but it can be a real undertaking since there’s so much stuff in there. I usually go with a specific mission in mind. I also feel pretty lucky to know a handful of friends who are amazingly talented designers: Ilana Kohn, Aurora James of Brother Vellies, Marissa Maximo of Anaak…I love wearing their pieces. Rounding all that out, there are the usual big chain suspects: Zara, Madewell, J.Crew. And then there are the designers I covet but can never pull the financial trigger on: Rachel Comey, Apiece Apart, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Caron Callahan etc. I’ve also been working my way up to a pair of Jesse Kamm pants—resolving to do that here really really soon. Oh! And Ace and Jig for textile amazingness.
on her favorite records
That Bon Iver album makes time stop. AA Bondy (paired with Timber Timber) is great for driving around Joshua Tree at night as the full moon rises over the mountains. Melaena Cadiz has a voice like a train. The Iron and Wine album is perfect for playing Gin Rummy in bed with a mezcal gimlet in hand—actually, it’s the perfect soundtrack for peaceful contentment.
Top, Vintage Dior ; Jeans, Vintage Levi's
“My man and I just went on our honeymoon in February—we sort of drove all over the desert-y areas of the west coast and hit other little spots along the way too. Joshua Tree and Ojai were great but we really fell in love with Tucson—it’s a real gem of a town that for some reason a very specific demographic (ahem, people who live in Phoenix) tend to hate on but don’t listen to a word they say. I like to think that the people who end up drawn to it and loving it are the exact people Tucson wants in its arms anyway.”
JUMPSUIT, MADEWELL ; BAG, VINTAGE ; SUNGLASSES, RAY-BANS ; SHOES, MARAIS
lisa's recommended books
The Lover by Marguerite Duras, Blue Nights by Joan Didion, Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein, East of Eden by John Steinbeck
lisa's favorite movies
Cinema Paradiso, Finding Nemo, Amelie, Ain't Them Bodies Saints
lisa's favorite records
American Hearts by A. A. Bondy, Around the Well by Iron and Wine, Deep Below Heaven by Melaena Cadiz, For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
lisa's favorite places in nyc
Achilles Heel for stupidly good small plates and cocktails (and the occasional chicken/lamb/goat roast)
Alameda for the best unpretentious burger
Troost for the best backyard hang—go on a Monday for their bratwurst and sauerkraut night
Acapulco diner for huevos rancheros
Porter James = furniture eye candy
Meet Kelsey Garcia
in Writer
Meet NYC passerby, Kelsey Garcia. Born and raised in Miami by her loud and crazy passionate Cuban family, Kelsey moved to New York when she attended New York University, earning a dual degree in Journalism and Gender and Sexuality Studies.
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Meet Carrie Schaff
Meet NYC passerby, Carrie Schaff. A native Seattleite, Carrie moved to NYC three years ago while working for the esoteric non-fiction publisher Feral House. Carrie has since gone freelance in publishing, and does what she can to help subversive art and music book publishers do their thing.
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Meet Molly Surno
“Born in California, Molly creates physical experiences that connect people to their own bodies and the “communal body.” So whether she is working as the Director of Partnerships at Splacer or composing a sound sculpture for BAM, her work is always about the human form and how it generates tension and unity when sharing space. Her works has exhibited internationally at the Essl Museum, Salzburg Museum of Modern Art, Suzanne Geiss, and Anat Ebgi Galery. She is also the founder and director of Cinema 16, which pairs contemporary musicians with experimental films.”
on her morning routine
I love rituals although I rarely adhere to them. The current one I am going with: wake up, resist looking at my phone, brush my teeth, scrape my tongue, wash my face with either CeraVe or baking soda, moisturize with Linne facial oil, and apply Dr. Hauschka Summer Impressions Bronze Fluid. If I'm feeling ambitious I will make yogurt with fruit and honey or do some stretching. I go to Variety every morning before work for the best iced coffee in town.
on starting her career
My art career has taken many different forms, but I would say what unites them is creating physical experiences that connect people to their own bodies and the “communal body.” This has taken many forms: my series Cinema 16 or my sound choreography at BAM, We of Me. These ideas are influenced by the traditions of social sculpture, happenings, séances, and rituals, among other things. I use film, sound, performance, sculpture, and photography as a launching point to explore genre, the psycho sexual, the fragmented body, gender, and ritual.
on one of her favorite projects
For BAM, I handmade hairbrushes filled with microphones and choreographed a one-hour sound piece with 20 male performers. In the middle, my collaborator Brian Chase, drummer for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and I did a live mix in the middle. This piece was so much about the collective experience of listening, how sound affects our bodies, how touch and watching people being touched [affects our bodies]—there’s a very physical component.
Molly's favorite books
“Michael Taussig’s “Beauty and the Beast” is my new favorite text, essentially about the nature of beauty and the grotesque. Does all beauty end in tragedy? Taussig is an anthropologist at Columbia and uses case studies in Colombia where he compares plastic surgery cases, the aesthetics of narcotrafficing, and the reconstructive surgery of high profile drug criminals.”
on her current job role
I work as the Director of Partnerships for Splacer, which means I get to talk to the most interesting people, organizations, collectives, and help them figure out how to reimagine space for any sort of creative activation. Social space and how people congregate in present time is always a driving force in my work. At Splacer I get to reimagine space as it relates to a variety of gatherings. Working with so many different types of people, I get to help conceptualize, execute, curate, and contribute to the culture of the site by programming really remarkable social gatherings. So far I’ve gotten to collaborate with everyone from the Criterion Collection to Van Alen Institute.
on her style and shopping habits
Ultimately I am a creature of convenience, so I generally choose a handful of places that I commit to on and offline. These days I love Staud clothing based in LA, online shop LisaSaysGah, American Apparel, Trademark, and American Two Shot. So many of my friends have incredible style and they inspire me constantly: Sarah Kuhn, Gaby Ron, Jasmine Pasquill to name a few.
I try to mix it up: a combination of 60s French New Wave, with 70s Southwest desert, beach girl, and old fashioned maiden. Cher has become somewhat of a style icon to me, which is birthed out of my obsession with extremely long hair, as evident in my art.
“Neil Young’s On the Beach has sort of carried me through my teens and into adult life. The sounds are really silky and haunting. They remind of a Los Angeles that I was too young to ever know, simultaneously betraying and full of promise.”
on her skincare routine
I like to think of myself as pretty low maintenance but I am sure that's a total self distortion. In the last two years I have gotten really into skin care and do a facial every two months. I wash my face day and night with something super gentle and moisturize with Linné Botanical Skincare Facial Oil, which is all organic botanical products. Once a week I use the Christine Chin Hydration Mask (also when I fly). It's really important to keep hydrated especially in such a congested city like New York. I also recommend Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil, MD Solar Sciences Mineral Crème Broad Spectrum, Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant, Medline Remedy Phytoplex Hydrating Cleansing Foam, and Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream.
on her beauty routine
I recommend Lancôme Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner, Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Drama, and Chanel Lip Color.
on her haircare routine
I've been trying to grow out my hair for years and take it really seriously. Every morning I take Biotin and rub coconut oil into the ends of my hair. I wash it once a week with Pureology, which I actually learned about from Passerbuys! Also I try to do a conditioning treatment once a month and dust off the dead ends.
“One of my favorite beauty tips is washing your face with baking soda once a week. It’s sort of a natural scrub and evens out your skin tone. Of course, water and sleep are better than anything you can buy. Threading only on your face— best shape for your brows and doesn’t pull at your skin. (Warning: extreme discomfort)”
molly's favorite books
Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity by David Lynch, Hollywood Babylon II by Kenneth Anger, Poems by Yvonne Rainer, Criterion Designs, Beauty and the Beast by Michael Taussig, The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante
molly's favorite records
Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly, Dub Housing by Pere Ubu, Suicide by Martin Rev & Alan Vega, On the Beach by Neil Young
molly's favorite movies
Harold and Maude, Moonstruck, 3 Women, Persona
molly's favorite places in nyc
Threading: Amazing Eyebrows on 331 Graham Ave
Coffee: Variety
Acupuncture: Sherry Chang in Williamsburg
Facial: Christine Chin
Salon V for Collagen Conditioning Treatment
For amazing food, Eastwood, Speedy Romeo as an alternative to Roberta's, for a food/wine splurge The Four Horsemen
Windowfront art gallery Four A.M
For a special beach: Dead Horse Bay
Meet Caitlin McMullen
Meet NYC passerby, Caitlin McMullen, co-founder of to.be. After reaching out to Costume Designer & Artist Christian Joy while she was working on The Visitors Must Be Amused exhibit in 2008-09, her career started.
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Meet Ysa Pérez
in Photographer
“Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico but raised in Rochester, New York, Ysa moved to NYC in 2008 while she was an Advertising Photography student at RIT to intern at Nylon Magazine. After graduating, in 2010-2011 she worked as a photography assistant at GQ Magazine under Photo Director Dora Somosi, supporting the photography department. Off the clock, she’d photograph musicians, rappers, DJs and nightlife which led to shooting assignments for magazines such as Spin, Vibe, XXL, New York Mag & Bloomberg Businessweek. She currently lives in Miami Beach both photographing and training in martial arts full-time.”
on her morning routine
I wake up everyday around 6.45am. I like to accomplish a lot of things in the day and when you’re in a place where the weather is inviting like Miami, you just want to be up. I usually start the day looking at my phone, doing my emails or I’ll just go straight to the beach and meditate.
on her start in photography
I took a basic 10th grade photography class and I shot a black & white photo of a gloomy set of railroad tracks and my teacher acknowledged it was good. That was it until college. These two students at RIT were in need of a model and reached out to me on Myspace (so dated). At the time, I was undecided at University at Buffalo, but seeing their space, the facilities and equipment, I was convinced I could probably do that. From there I transferred to The Rochester Institute of Technology for Advertising Photography.
I always had a good eye and have been using photoshop since I was like 12, my mom was a graphic designer, but when I started at RIT I took really shit pictures. I mean, you’re experimenting and you have no clue how things work, what lenses to use, what you’re trying to say through your work - it’s a process. It took me almost as long as I’ve been doing this professionally, to now completely be confident in the way I shoot. I never second guess what I’m framing, and when to press the button.
on how she shoots
I work candidly based off the energy between me and what’s going on, I use natural light and I don’t interfere. Occasionally for portraits I’ll direct a moment, but more or less I just want to document what’s going on. My process is more simple than people think, I shoot film and I use an 8 year old DSLR. It’s not what you use, it's how you use it. It’s also about being able to tell a story through the images despite the subject matter.
I just use a 5D Mark II which came out years ago, when I was in photo school. Everyone was in awe it could record video. Big 2008 moment. I’m not sure why I chose Canon instead of Nikon, but it’s probably because my first camera was a basic Canon Rebel to survive my first year of photo school. I don’t keep up with what’s coming out next, digital cameras used to come out like twice a year, now it’s every few months a consumer friendly DSLR comes out, so I just use what I got and edit how I do. My work looks different from other people’s for a reason.
Right now I’m shooting for Budokon University, a mixed martial arts school based in Miami Beach, Florida. I enter dojo spaces with people that have been doing these art forms a majority of their lives so you need to you walk into their space with respect. I can’t be intrusive and disturb the students or instruction, so I’ll just sit in a spot, observe, move when I have to, mostly everyone says they never notice me there and trust me, I grab a lot of content. I just work fast.
““When I began the point & shoot phase in college, I bought this shit 35mm Ricoh off eBay and wasn’t really impressed with the photos, but thought that was that. Then 2011, I met a photographer in London, Tom Oxley, and he had this Contax T2 sitting on his desk. He let me shoot a few rolls during my stay, and when I returned to the states I fell in love with how crisp the images were. Contax got that Zeiss glass.””
Ysa's favorite beauty products
on her beauty routine
Ever since Budokon, my regimen has gravitated towards being more authentic. I’m extremely active there’s no need for makeup, plus it’s Miami, it’s going to sweat off anyway. I always tone and moisturize, but I keep a natural thing going - I ride my bike outside, tan, go into the sea for salt water (which cures everything), I workout. I steam & sauna for my muscles. I just take care of myself - being healthy is how I view beauty. For products, I would recommend: Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer Daily Hydrator, Botanics Faical Oil, and Nivea Lip Butter.
on how she handles her hair
Ironically now that I’ve finally grown out my hair, I’m in humidity Miami, and the combination of my Puerto Rican roots, active lifestyle, presents a lot to deal with. My routine is kind of a process - when I shower I can’t let it air dry otherwise it instantly frazzles and bigs up, I I have to instantly comb it through, put coconut oil, braid it, let it dry, then unravel it few hours later. Blow drying it here, also impossible. Shoving hot air in my face here is punishment on punishment. I actually need like 8 days for my hair to naturally retain full moisture but it’s impossible to avoid washing it when I attend jiu jitsu 4 times a week and get my hair in a daily sweaty tangle. We’re always identifying who’s hair is on the mat.
““I love to thrift, I’m a nostalgic kind of person. I like old things and I have relationships with brands that fortunately send me clothes anyway. Being a gypsy, it’s easy to acquire clothing when you’re traveling so I have to be very conscious. Been going to the same places in Bushwick since I lived there 2008, all the Mexican/Spanish thrift stores always win. We know what’s up. In LA I found that the thrifting is completely different but the places to go are The Goodwills. Hollywood one is dope, also the one on Beverly, and rare one is Downtown, not many people go there and it’s super organized. As I get older though, my style becomes more simple. It’s funny to think as a photo assistant at GQ I would wear skirts and heels, I would even keratin my hair to make it full time straight, but when I started freelancing, that urge to present myself formally disappeared, as I’m behind the camera. Now in Miami, I have a very athletic lifestyle — always been a tomboy, so right now it’s minimal clothing daily: shorts, sports bras, bathing suits and jiu jitsu rash guards, for real.””
ysa’s favorite spots in nyc
In NYC, Ippudo in East Village, 65 4th Ave, the best ramen ever, there’s just no question. Also do not leave without eating the pork buns and if shishito peppers.
Commodore in Williamsburg, it’s the place you’ll start running into people the longer you live there, because it’s somewhere easy to chill (when it’s not insane) and yeah obviously the best fried chicken hands down. Bonus are the biscuits that come with lavenderrrrrrr honey.
After Commodore, you get two in one - head next door to Momofuku Milk Bar and get a CEREAL MILKSHAKE. If you like downing the end of the cereal bowl and know that specific taste I’m referring to… RUN there. And ask for extra cereal topping. Bonus you can buy the mixture and take it with you my international people.
ysa’s favorite spots in LA
In LA, the one stop place is SWINGERS. I’m all for reasonably priced organic delicious food where I can get a stack of pancakes ahi tuna sandwich, or a steak ANYTIME 7am-2am.
LA is all about acai bowls, my bank account was dying the few months I was there just from those. The best > Liquid Juice Bar, get ‘The Chronic’ trust me.
ysa’s favorite movies
The Fifth Element by Luc Besson
Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino
Natural Born Killers by Oliver Stone
Risky Business by Paul Brickman
Outfit, Vintage ; Jacket, BornxRaised
Meet Jasmine Imani
in Beautician
Meet NYC passerby, Jasmine Imani, the Co-Founder of Collective XX, a collective of women creatives specializing in everything related to social media.
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Meet Zoe Beyer
in Marketer
“Born in Santa Monica, Zoe studied film and U.S. history at Wesleyan University. She has lived in New York for six years and worked in marketing and social media at A24 for 3.5 years. Some of the campaigns she has worked on include Ex Machina, Amy, Room, The Witch, The Lobster, and Swiss Army Man.”
on her morning routine
I spend the first 5 minutes of every day in bed with my cat. She responds to her name so I can usually summon her from across the apartment. I feel great when I exercise before work so I try and do that a couple times a week. On the other days I spend the morning reading news (New York Times and Deadline) and catching up on articles I've saved throughout the week, usually from Jason Hirschhorn's Mediaredef emails and Ann Friedman's weekly newsletter, or things I've found on This. or Rex.
I get dressed and ready as quickly as possible. I try to look my best but I resent the effort it takes. The "getting ready" process is my least favorite part of being female. Getting unready is wonderful though. I love getting home from work, cleaning my face and putting on mask.
“I fell in love with movies in middle school. I got in trouble a lot but my parents were nice enough to recommend films to watch while I was home grounded. My dad told me about “All About Eve” and “The Third Man” and I just went down a rabbit hole from there. ”
on the start of her career
Before A24 I could not have told you what movie marketing was. I thought the only interesting jobs in film had to do with getting movies made. So I started interning at A24 while I was waiting to hear back from graduate programs. I was trying to go back to school and study film production. A24 was a new company with less than 15 employees. This was before Spring Breakers came out. I was at the front desk answering phones and at that point there was no one running their social media accounts so I took that on. By the time I heard back from schools I’d created a role for myself at the company. I thought if I waited for the right time I could turn what I was doing into a job. So I stuck it out a couple more months and they hired me. Getting a foot in the door at the right time was very serendipitous but once I was “in,” I could tell the company was doing something special and I wanted to be part of it. I remember reading about something Eric Schmidt told Sheryl Sandberg when he was convincing her to join Google. "If you’re offered a seat on a rocketship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on.” This is all to say I did not set out to work in marketing.
“I’m one of those people who picks at their face the second there’s a blemish. It’s compulsive and insane behavior. Even though I know it will make things worse I still do it. It could be right before I’m going to a wedding there’s literally no stopping me. So I’ve started getting 30 minute facials once a month at a place by my office called Heyday. It’s helped a lot and I don’t pick as much.”
on her beauty routine
It's easy to get caught up in the idea that there's some perfect beauty routine that will leave you looking amazing but I don't think that's true. I've settled on a few products that seem to work for me. I have dry skin and I've found Vintner's Daughter face oil at night and Glossier Priming Moisturizer in the morning keep things balanced and hydrated.
I also recommend Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Natural Sage Deodorant by Weleda, Rodin Olio Lusso Perfume, Jurlique Balancing Foaming Cleanser, and Biafine.
on her shopping habits
I like wearing things I can move around in. I'm usually in jeans and sneakers or comfy pants and flat shoes. Black is my favorite color, so I've accepted there's probably always a bit of cat hair on me. One day I hope to design a portable lint roller that comes in a plastic case so it won't stick to the inside of your purse. I would market it to fashionable cat-ladies. I don't have a lot of go-to stores but I can always find something at No. 6. I love Duo for vintage.
top, carson potter ; pants, vintage (from duo) ; shoes, converse ; bag, clare v.
zoe's favorite books
The Beach by Alex Garland, Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor, The Body in Pain by Elaine Scarry, I Love Dick by Chris Kraus, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
zoe's favorite places in nyc
MIMI on Sullivan Street is my favorite neighborhood spot to get a drink. I like their Negronis and flourless chocolate cake.
Souen is great if I'm in the mood for something clean and healthy. The best burger is at Raoul's on Prince Street. You can order it at the bar and it comes with a side of fries and au poivre sauce.
When I'm meeting someone for work I like getting a coffee or tea in the library at the Nomad hotel.
Nails/waxing: Tenoverten. It's so close and open until 10pm!
Meet Eva Goicochea
in Entrepreneur
“New Mexico-native raised in California. Éva has been in New York for three months (went to FIT many years ago.) She moved her with her husband to live in a walking city, get some seasons in, soak up the museums and culture and generally just go the opposite way of most folks. She is the founder of a design studio and a watch company, Tinker Watches. She has a band of animals. ”
On her morning routine
After putting my contacts in (I'm blind otherwise), I go to the kitchen and take out the Vitamix for a green smoothie, flip the switch, and then prep breakfast for all of our animals while they stare at me impatiently. Then I make a cup of tea, get ready (SPF is a must), and sit down to work. Ian (husband) is on dog walking duty so I wave goodbye as they make their way down the street.
on her background
I studied advertising and marketing at FIT and then organizational communications. At the time, there was no Squarespace, no social media, but I have always been into computers and found myself designing websites for friends. Now I run my own branding and web studio while working on Tinker and Maude.
on breaking in the industry
I joined the Everlane LA team early on as the social media manager. At the time, our office was in the loft of an art bookstore next to a strip club on Hollywood Blvd...cut to fast growth and a big new HQ 1.5 years later. Not wanting to make the move up to SF where everyone was relocating, I left. I started freelancing, missed being at a product company, and decided to build a watch line with three amazing people. Our first round arrives in a few weeks.
“Amongst an assortment of books from New Mexico—where I’m from—and books on engineering and design (Ian’s an engineer) is this old Shel Silverstein book from my childhood. I can pretty much reference his poems for every situation. Anyone remember Something Missing?”
On what she is working on
I'm also developing a modern condom company called Maude that speaks to all sexes. Sex is universal. Condom marketing isn't. We're in the middle of product development now, but we're hoping to launch later this year.
on shopping and style
I have a lot of basics and try to stick to a muted uniform since my work life requires a lot of creative decisions. Think Steve Jobs: simple, comfortable, sometimes boring. I buy at Everlane, Need Supply, and COS, and have been popping into Anthom and Frankie now that I'm in New York.
on her beauty routine
Daily, I use organic face wipes, anti-aging serum, then an SPF moisturizer. Every week, a face brush to exfoliate. As for makeup, I keep it simple: A swipe of mascara, maybe eyeliner so I don't look too tired, and a lip/cheek stain.
on her pets
I got our eldest dog in New York while in college. The others Ian and I got together through a series of foster failures over 8 years through volunteering with a rescue. We refer to our home as the Goicochea Home for Geriatric Animals.
on her furniture
We have a mix of vintage finds and pieces from the usual suspects: Room & Board, CB2, etc. I call our aesthetic Georgia O'Keefe-goes-to-Sweden: A nod to our Southwest heritage, but minimal and monochromatic.
Meet Brianne Wills
in Photographer
Originally from Portland, Oregon, BriAnne has lived in Prague, Ukraine & Shanghai for the past few years. She moved to NYC last year with her husband, and is currently working as a fashion photographer. She is also the creator of Girls and Their Cats.
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Meet Kyla Marshell
in Writer
“Kyla is a graduate of Spelman College and the Writing M.F.A. at Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in New York, where she is working on a memoir about a chance encounter with a distant relative that leads her to research her family’s origins. Her poetry and prose have appeared in Blackbird, Gawker, the Guardian, O, the Oprah Magazine, the Poetry Foundation, SPOOK Magazine, Vinyl Poetry, and elsewhere. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including a Jacob K. Javits Fellowship.”
♫ LISTEN TO KYLA'S PLAYLIST | LAST GOOGLE SEARCH
Streetstyle Details: Top, Forever 21 ; Jeans, H&M // PHOTOGRAPHY BY Michelle Peralta
“I started writing very young—in Kindergarten. I really enjoyed doing it, and was celebrated for it, so I just kept going. I started writing poetry as a teenager, and over the last few years, I became serious about writing creative nonfiction. I am also a freelance writer which I do with equal parts pride and annoyance.”
“My morning routine is very, very basic. I shower, dress, and eat breakfast. I usually listen to music as I get dressed; if it’s Tuesday, I’ll listen to the Another Round podcast or 2 Dope Queens.”
“I’m writing a book that explores the relationships with family I’ve met later in life, and by surprise—everyone from siblings I’d never met to a white cousin (who didn’t know she was black!). There’s a travel element to it—going to my ancestral homeland to meet some of these people, dig through old court records; there’s secret identities, murder. People keep asking me if this is a novel, but it’s actually my life.”
Kyla's favorite book
“I picked Letters to a Young Poet because it is my personal secular art bible. It’s gotten me through some very tough times, when I felt lost, or confused, or alone. Over and over, I’ve said to myself that great, famous quotation from Letter 4: “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” I’ve been slowly embroidering that quotation onto a ribbon as well.”
“For better or worse, I don’t have a real beauty routine. I would like to think this is because I am a “natural beauty”—but really, I don’t get into products, because I don’t want to be dependent on them. My hair pretty much looks the same no matter what I do or don’t do to it, but I try to moisturize it, at least, with shea butter and oil. I wear tinted moisturizer, eyeliner and blush—more so for myself than for the appearance (I doubt I look much different with so little makeup on). I try to make sure things are paraben-free, and as simply made as possible.”
“Simple is better. Whenever I’m nervous about going somewhere or meeting someone, thinking, ‘Should I put on more makeup?’ I just remember that no one ever liked me because I had on mascara.”
“Because I’m old inside, I have always shopped at a lot of vintage or consignment stores. For a while, I was using Stitch Fix to find new clothes. I don’t have pierced ears, so I wear a lot of vintage earrings—I like Pippin Jewelers in Manhattan. I’m inclined to wear solid colors instead of prints or patterns—I prefer textures.”
SHOP HER WISHLIST
RECOMMENDATIONS
✓ Four & Twenty Blackbirds this pie shop in Brooklyn is divine
✓ Ample Hills Creamery ice cream (I’m very into fancy ice cream.)
Meet Mira Moore
Mira was born and raised in Fairfield, Iowa. After receiving her BFA in Visual Communication Design from SAIC in 2013, she moved to New York and now currently lives in Brooklyn. Mira is the graphic designer at CMA and also runs Sanguis Ornatus, her leather body wear line. This fall she will be launching Cixous72 with her business partner Elizabeth Scott, an online boutique and collective that showcases artists and designers.
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Meet Helen Levi
in Ceramist
Meet NYC Passerby and ceramist, Helen Levi. She left to go to Oberlin in Ohio where she studied photography, and then moved back home when she graduated. She now makes ceramics in her new studio in Red Hook.
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Meet Kayla Tanenbaum
in Writer, Dog Walker
“Kayla Tanenbaum is a freelance writer/dog walker. She was born, raised, and educated in New York City, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Nonfiction at Columbia University. She is the Editor at Large of Enchantress Magazine and runs a dog walking service called KTpups. She dabbles in photography and ukulele.”
Jacket, JOIE ; Jumpsuit, REIF HAUS
Jacket, JOIE ; Jumpsuit, REIF HAUS
on her morning routine
If I let myself, I would sleep until noon every day. I need to ease into mornings, so I set my alarm for two hours before I want to be out of bed, spend an hour pressing snooze, and 40 minutes watching TV. Back before Stewart left and Colbert moved on, that meant watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report every morning. I’m still reeling from that loss and figuring out my morning shows.
on getting her start
In college, I interned for a couple of magazines and at a literary agency and loved it. But I didn’t have the guts to pursue my own writing so I thought I would encourage it in others: I wanted to be an agent for a while, then I worked as a high school English teacher. I realize if I don’t try now, I will always wonder what could have been, so I left my teaching gig (which was very difficult to do) and applied to graduate school. I’m thrilled to say I’ll be going to Columbia for my MFA. I’m beginning to work on a book about people who live off the grid in various ways for various reasons (religion, anti-technology, etc.) and form alternative communities. I also write regularly for Man Repeller and Interview Magazine.
on being a dog walker
I have a dog whom I adopted after fostering him through Social Tees Animal Rescue. I still work with them, taking photos of dogs who need forever homes, but I realized I could make money doing something I love, hanging out with dogs and getting outside, so I launched KT Pups. More importantly, if I write all day, I’ll either get nothing done or spend the entire day in my own head, which is overwhelming and exhausting. Being responsible for other people’s pets gives me a way to break up my day and get outside. I don’t think I could write if I didn’t do something physical and not so introspective. I hate going to the gym, so I ride my bike to the clients’ houses and walk or jog for an hour. Nothing clears my head for writing like cleaning poop off the street.
“Why be Happy When You Could be Normal is a memoir by Jeanette Winterson. I’m about to get my MFA in nonfiction writing, so I’ve been reading the best of the best in first-person writing and feeling jealous, inadequate, and inspired. Jeanette Winterson is an fucking genius. She wrote an autobiographical novel Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit based on growing up a lesbian in a Pentecostal family in England. I loved the novel, but I’m partial to nonfiction. When I’m reading, I always underline the lines I wish I had written, and this book is basically black with pen underlinings because every single line is that good. She talks about her childhood in more detail here, but my favorite parts of are the sections on her writing life: what it took to write Oranges, her mother’s response, how she fell into books as a child and maintained that love. Her writing is so elegant and specific, not plainspoken at all, let entirely unpretentious. I had a very different childhood from her, but this book hit me in my inner most core. Plus, that title.”
on her shopping habits and style
I really love minimalism in interesting proportions. I tend to wear neutrals or earth tones (except bright red; I love bright red). I very much want to be a Maryam Nassir Zadeh girl. I also love Rachel Comey and Creatures of Comfort. I prefer to shop at independent boutiques (though I don’t think I’ve ever exited a Zara empty-handed). Two of my favorite stores in NYC are The Rising States and American Two Shot. They don’t really fit into this minimal aesthetic, but where I always go if I want something no one else will have, which is obnoxiously important to me sometimes. I also love the stores Sincerely, Tommy in Bed-Stuy and Otherwild in the LES. Online, I love Staud and Needsupply.
on taking the time for herself
I learned to surf in Rincon, Puerto Rico. I signed up for a women’s-only retreat at Samatahiti and we lived in tents (actually, more like yurts) and surfed for four hours/day. I feel in love with the physicality of surfing. I’m so in my head, by nature and by virtue of my day job, but while surfing, especially while learning to surf, there’s no room for rumination or neuroses. I think it’s really important to have a hobby you do only for you, not for any sense of recognition or ambition. For me, that used to be photography, but now I'm working towards getting some stuff shown, so my photography is kind of wrought with ambition as well. I’m a decent surfer, but I’ll never be actually good. That's the best part. It’s really just for me, just for fun. I’m going to the Rockaways to surf in a few weeks, then I’m heading to Panama for another women’s retreat.
Top, Georgia Alice ; Pants, Vintage Levi's
“Tumbleweed Connection is Elton John’s third album. It’s his take on Americana and country western themes. I’m from a New York City Jewish family who can never be outdoors because of our confusion and allergies, but for some reason, I’ve always been really drawn to the West. I love how well Sir Elton captures the spirit while being so damn English. He feels like an outsider to the themes in the same way I do. I love to go record hunting with my parents because it reveals to me they actually have great taste in music even though growing up they played the same Crosby Still and Nash album in the car for about 10 years. They gave away their record collection but recently bought me a bunch of albums they loved when they were younger, including this one. I thought Elton John was only “Tiny Dancer,” “Candle in the Wind,” etc. but this album has totally changed my mind about him. I’ve practically worn it into oblivion by listening to it so much.”
on her beauty routine
I wash my face at night with a white washcloth. I bought a pack of 20 for maybe $5 dollars. They’re kind of rough on my face, which feels exfoliating, and are much cheaper (and more hygienic) than a clarisonic brush. Plus, because they’re white, you can really see when the makeup/city pollution is totally gone. A friend introduced me to Vintner’s Daughter. I bought the Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum, which is by far the most expensive beauty product I’ve ever purchased. I use two drops/night mixed with moisturizer so it really lasts and my skin feels great. I used to be a product junkie — and such a sucker for packaging — but I started reading Paula’s Choice makeup blog and more articles about the beauty industry, and realized that most products are just gimmicks. I love trying new red lipsticks but when it comes to skin products, I don’t really believe the hype.
I love red lipstick on a bare face. It’s such a strange blend of trying really hard and not trying at all. I do a bold lip, fill in my eyebrows with Glossier Boy Brow and Benefit Gimme Brow, and if I’m going out at night, add some RMS Beauty Living Luminizer or Hourglass Bronzer in a C shape around my brow bones. Maybe I’ll still inspired by those Juergen Teller for Celine ads with Daria Werbowy, or maybe i’m just so sick of photoshop and Facetune on everyone’s selfies, but I think under-eye circles and freckles are so chic. I want my skin to look like skin. I really want to have a Signature Look, so I’m trying to only be photographed in lipstick, like Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek or Glossier Generation G Lip. I also recommend YSL Touche Eclat.
Jumpsuit, REIF HAUS ; Shoes, Urban Outfitters
“Before I moved, I pinned everything I liked onto a Pinterest board I called “be my house plz,” (which you can check out) and went through it, looking for patterns. It turns out I liked midcentury modern furniture, an aggressively neural palette, oriental rugs, and lots of plants. If you had asked me what I wanted my apartment to look like, I would have said something way more ornate and bohemian. So my advice is: you might be wrong about what you think you want. Look for what you’re drawn to, not what you say you’re drawn to.”
kayla's favorite books
Yoga For People Who Can't Be Bothered To Do It by Geoff Dyer, Teaching A Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard, The Folded Clock by Heidi Julavits, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson, Sex and Landscapes by Helmut Newton
kayla's favorite records
Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John, El Camino by The Black Keys, Walkin' This Road By Myself by Lightnin' Hopkins, Still Crazy After All This Years by Paul Simon
kayla's favorite places in nyc
Mill Korean: tiny restaurant near Columbia, every time I go it's mostly Korean people, which I take as a great sign.
Lincoln Plaza Cinemas has the best films and baked goods.
Top & Shoes, Zara ; Pants, Rachel Comey ; Bag, Loeffler Randall
Meet Lizania Cruz
Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Lizania Cruz is a New York-based designer working in fashion, arts and advocacy. Before moving to New York she worked at Anthropologie where she helped design their global brand language. She now works as a Graphic Designer for the Language Dept with clients ranging from food startups to nonprofits such as The American Cancer Society. Her work has been recognized by AIGA, Type Directors Club, Communication Art among others. Most recently, she launched her own jewelry line, Bagavundas.
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