Cheeseburgers, Aquariums, and International Dalliances: Julia Answers Vogue’s 73 Questions (Part 1 of 3)

Clearly, blogging is not my favorite way of connecting with you all. It’s been a year and a half since my first blog post and I seem to be averaging about one every six months. Not my best show of consistency. I was feeling a bit stuck as to how to give you all a bit more of an insight into my life, when I remembered that Vogue has a series where they interview celebrities in a slightly bizarrely staged way where the producer follows them through their house with a camera and asks them 73 questions. While I’m sure you all find me terribly fascinating, I’ll spare you all the staged walk and talk and settle for a blog post instead. I’ve broken the interview up into three parts, given that we all have the attention spans of goldfish these days. Hopefully you all will enjoy this little look inside my mind.

1. What’s your favorite time of day?

Golden hour in the afternoon. I find I am the most relaxed and the most creative towards the later part of the afternoon/early evening.

2. What’s your biggest weakness?

A big soaking tub. If my choices are get some work done or take a bath, I’m in the bath. No questions.

3. What’s your biggest strength?

I’m an excellent listener. I’ve been told that I have a way of absorbing what people are saying and reflecting it back to them in a way that helps them to see themselves. Also my posterior chain is quite strong. I can deadlift a decent amount.

4. What’s the biggest learning experience you’ve had?

Studying abroad in the Middle East was an experience that forced my to grow a lot as a person. I tend to live my life in pursuit of challenging experiences, so when I was presented with the opportunity to study in Europe or the Middle East, I decided to pick the country that would feel the most culturally foreign to me. I wanted to get outside of my American English-speaking bubble. Growth happens when we’re uncomfortable, and let me tell you, I grew A LOT. Nothing will build your confidence like being forced to figure out how to get from one city to another on public transportation, with no wifi, in a country where you cannot yet read the alphabet.

5. What’s your idea of a perfect date?

In no particular order: Shopping. Day drinking. Bubble baths. Afternoon sex. A sumptuous meal in an inspiring setting. Live music. A late night cheeseburger. Long conversations about the deeper things in life. Lots of laughter. Bondage.

6. What’s one vice you wish you could give up?

An impulsive mid-day pastry

7. What’s a cause that’s important to you?

Sustainability in fashion. The way we approach clothing consumption has changed so much in the past 50 years. The fashion industry is producing cheap, poorly made clothing designed to be thrown away at an astronomical rate. It’s bad for the environment and its terrible for the laborers making the clothing. Buying second hand, learning to mend and properly launder clothing, and investing in pieces you’ll have in your closet for a long time are all ways to combat the pressure we all feel to overconsume clothing. The True Cost is a really great documentary on the topic.

8. What’s the best compliment you have ever received?

The looks of amazement on a client’s face when they discover what its like to be deeply present in their body never fails to touch me.

9. When do you feel the most inspired?

After I’ve seen live performance (music, theater, dance, burlesque)

10. Sweet or savory?

Yes!

11. What song can you listen to on repeat?

Genesis by Grimes

12. What makes you smile the most?

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge at night in a car. Few things make me feel more alive than that view of New York City.

13. What’s one thing people don’t know about you?

I love aquariums! I’m an animal lover in general, but I have a particular fondness for creatures found below the surface.

14. Heels or flats or sneakers?

Heeled boots

15. Vintage or new?

Vintage

16. What are three things you can’t live without?

My sense of smell, my sense of taste, my sense of touch

17. Window or aisle seat?

Window. How the fuck am I supposed to daydream in the aisle seat?

18. What’s your current tv character obsession?

Joan from Mad Men. She’s smart, cunning, cutting. Her styling is perfect. And candidly, she has an amazing rack.

19. Leather or lace?

Leather. And none of that vegan shit (aka plastic).

20. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done in your life?

Drove 6 hours and crossed an international border for a 24 hour fling with a lover I would never see again.

21. How would you define yourself in three words?

Yes, No, Maybe

22. What’s your current favorite piece of clothing that you own?

A black silk haori with a red and white crane pattern printed all over it. I bought it from a purveyor of vintage kimonos last year and I wear it almost constantly.

23. What’s a must-have clothing item everyone should own?

Comfortable, stylish shoes that can be re-soled when they wear out.

24. What’s inspiring you in life right now?

I was recently gifted a coffee table book of Guo Pei’s work and I’m feeling very inspired by her embellishing. 

25. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

“Let go or be dragged”