Dress: Romeo & Juliet Couture. Shoes: Zara. Belt: Newport News.
You have a great haircut. Who cuts your hair?
K. E. Haas, Lower East Side. And they’re rockin’.
What do you do?
I work in the fashion industry. I do design. Currently I’m doing graphic artwork, but I do a little bit of both.
So you design clothes and you do…
I do prints and graphic work, but my employed job is doing graphic work.
So you do stuff on the side too, for yourself.
Yeah, I have ongoing work. And painting.
Is that your training?
Painting and fashion. I merged both training.
And what kind of painting do you do?
It varies. Oil painting, watercolor, painting on everything including fabrics.
Are you more figurative or abstract or does it depend?
It honestly depends, but usually not very abstract.
Where do you live?
On the Lower East Side.
Where do you hang out on the Lower East Side these days?
Honestly, it changes so drastically, that if I take a different route, like a month later, I find that the place has changed. Lately, I haven’t been hanging out on the Lower East Side. Last night I ate at the best Japanese restaurant ever, called 1or8, and it’s in Williamsburg.
What is your favorite thing about having a dog? Is Cookie Monster your first?
She’s my first dog. My favorite thing about having a dog is having that unconditional interaction.
How long have you had her?
I’ve had her for four years. And can I just give a shout-out to Petfinder.com? She was a rescue dog, and she’s eight years old now. The best thing ever is that I rescued a dog, and it’s been a very positive thing in my life.
What are you reading right now?
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami.
Do you like it? Are you a big fan?
I’m a huge fan. I was going to wait for it to come out in paperback, but I couldn’t wait, and after I bought the book I was like, “It’s time for Kindle,” because it’s a really thick hardcover book. Everything by him I love. Everything.
Why? What draws you to his work?
Well, one thing I admire about him–not what draws me to his work–is the way he weaves a story. It’s just phenomenal, it’s beautiful. It’s something that’s not difficult to read, yet it’s very intelligent, it’s really creative, it’s out there. And yet at the same time, it’s something everybody can relate to. I love it. It’s very colorfully woven and interesting and he makes references to music and food–I love him. He can do no wrong. I don’t think it’s possible.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
It’s from me. So this is my advice to myself and anyone else: always be true to yourself.
