Today’s question: Are you inspired by your own culture? If so, how do you incorporate it?

I guess I got ahead of myself yesterday when I said my own American culture inspired me. I’m not inspired by most mainstream stuff, but historical American stuff and subcultures like punk and goth inspire me a lot. I like ghost towns and old mining towns with Wild West history, I like little colonial districts and civil war museums out east, I like the beautiful art deco Old Hollywood stuff out in California. I like Motown and soul, I like New Orleans and all its haunted buildings. The U.S. is huge and varied, and there are amazing little things to love all over, even when the big stuff sucks.

The main way I incorporate American culture into my style is through handmade and vintage clothes and decor. I live in a very artsy craftsy part of the country so it’s easy to find things by local artisans, inspired by local history and nature. When I visit other states I try to find souvenirs made by locals in those areas, and when I can’t I look for things based on their local culture and history. I also own some things based on historical designs, like a colonial style cloak and a Tiffany style floor lamp.