The Proust Questionnaire via VANITY FAIR bc why the heck not?! It’s so fun to take a little break from the specific fashions and shopping to share a bit behind the curtain. Do me a solid and answer questions #4, 12, 19 and 34 in the comments. I want to get to know you too!

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? The splash of my pool on a really hot day, surrounded by drinks and that small group of friends who are always invited. Alternatively, the intoxicating chaos of New York City on any day of the week.

2. What is your greatest fear? That I won’t have everything my sweet, idealistic 20-something self dreamed of.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I’m admittedly pretty vain, which can lead to a snobbishness that I work very hard to tamper down.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others? I can’t abide by cruelty. It’s so low-class.

5. Which living person do you most admire? My family— especially my parents. They may not be perfect people (who is?!) but they are absolutely perfect parents!

6. What is your greatest extravagance? My health! I am a sucker for a great workout, good skincare, regular doctors’ appointments, fresh produce and whatever it takes to regulate my nervous system.

7. What is your current state of mind? I am swimming in self-confidence, which makes my current state of mind pretty damn elevated.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Self-abandonment disguised as martyrdom.

9. On what occasion do you lie? When I don’t want to do something/see someone. My personal peace is worth more than being overly polite. I have really moved on from people-pleasing in 2025.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance? How beauty can co-opt a person’s entire existence. I am obsessed with my brain, my charm, my humor and my confidence. Don’t reduce me to a pretty face and a great outfit.

11. Which living person do you most despise? The list grows longer by the day, but I’m a Black, progressive woman so you can take one guess as to who may be top of mind…

12. What is the quality you most like in a man? Generosity and vulnerability.

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Confidence and decisiveness.

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Probably some random Southern saying like “Heavens!” or “Hells bells!”

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Until my husband walks through that door, it would be myself, my mama and HT (my first house!).

16. When and where were you happiest? Summer 2012-Spring 2013, living the absolute fucking dream in New York City. I would go back in a heartbeat!

17. Which talent would you most like to have? To speak multiple languages.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would love to be more innately patient. Plot twist– I’m not!

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Unwavering belief in myself!

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? I’m much more interested in figuring out this one life I have now!

21. Where would you most like to live? Between HT and an apartment in TriBeCa.

22. What is your most treasured possession? My home in Memphis—it’s perfect.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Ongoing hatred/anger towards another person. Fuck ‘em and move on.

24. What is your favorite occupation? I love building relationships and trust with people who are generous enough to share their resources and time for a worthy cause.

25. What is your most marked characteristic? I am an unbelievably optimistic person, with a warmth that is belied by how I first present.

26. What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty, reliability and FUN!

27. Who are your favorite writers? Too many to name, but a few—Toni Morrison, Nella Larsen, my sweet friend Cecilia, and myself when I am blogging without a care in the world.

28. Who is your hero of fiction? No surprise, but I love a fiery female protagonist who allows herself to show up fully on every page of a story or on-screen. I recently devoured Nella Larsen’s Quicksand, and Helga Crane nestled her complex self all the way into every crevice of my being.

29. Who are your heroes in real life? My grandparents! They were/continue to be my everything.

30. Which historical figure do you most identify with? I think I’m too busy living my own life to think of myself in those terms.

31. What are your favorite names? Amelia (lol), Tennessee, John and Charlie.

32. What is it that you most dislike? I can’t stand a petty person—babe, your insecurity is showing!

33. What is your greatest regret? Allowing people to take up more energetic/emotional space than they ever deserved.

34. How would you like to die? Surrounded by my grandchildren.

35. What is your motto? “John Ware raised me…” (JW was my grandfather—my favorite person to ever walk this planet!)

Happy Thanksgiving, my darlings! Again, I would love to hear some of your responses in the comments below. Enjoy the long weekend— eat, fellowship, loaf and shop as much as your heart desires. Xx

**images from top— a most luxurious poem via Mary Oliver, me in my now world-famous vintage duck camo, an internet truthbomb, NYers in dream homes via New Yorker Mag, a Happy Mimi in BK @ 2 am, and some classic Gyllenhaal because why the heck not?!