Q&A with Katya Moorman of StyleDefinedNYC

I’m excited to share with you our first interview here on Boots 4 You. And today, the first of June, couldn’t be a better time to debut it!

Our premier interviewee is Katya Moorman, the ultra-talented and ultra-stylish photographer / blogger / writer / designer behind the blog StyleDefinedNYC. As straightforward as its name suggests, Katya’s blog is all about the individualistic, personality-injected and daresay real fashion and style of young New York residents that can only be cultivated from living in a city where trends are set, thrive and first come to life.

While other street style blogs feel like they’re at a pre or post-fashion show setting, StyleDefinedNYC makes you feel like you’re actually walking the streets of New York. One post takes you to an unassuming couple walking down the street while the next shows you the chic attendees of a glam New York social. Scroll down a few posts and you’ll find the achingly hip nightlife partygoers, pictures of whom are what Katya has become well-known for. Katya’s pretenseless presentation of these people on her blog are as authentic as the style of the people of themselves.

Katya also has a rule against posting photos where someone is cut off because she believes that it’s an absolute tragedy not to see the shoes! Of course, as a shoe blog, we 100% agree with her and that’s why she makes a great first interviewee here on Boots 4 You.

Read our interview with Katya Moorman below:

BOOTS4YOU: How would you define style? New York style? Your own personal style?

KATYA: Style is how you communicate without saying a word. The world takes you at face value and will in general believe whatever your appearance says about you: successful, trashy, outrageous, indifferent or something else. So even if you want to ignore fashion it’s pure folly to think what you wear doesn’t matter.

There is so much about NYC that makes it and its street fashion unique — it’s a competitive city that is one of the fashion capitals of the world and it also has a strong performing arts base. You combine these things and it’s like an explosion of creativity. In terms of street style, this translates to people being inspired by the dress of others and pushed to be more daring themselves. If your look is your “visual voice” then it better be unique if you want it to be heard in this city!

My personal style is always evolving but I try to always be a bit polished yet with accessories or something else — like currently my blue streaked hair — that shows I have a sense of humor about fashion and myself as well.

B4Y: What do you look for when photographing people?

KATYA: Intentionality in their style. And what I mean by this is that most people don’t want to stand out – they want to blend in. And there is a tendency to be afraid of appearing to be “trying too hard”. I think this is a ridiculous notion! So I’m attracted to the person that looks like every aspect of their outfit was intentional: whether they are wearing a bow tie or spiked jeans. Sometimes it’s spectacular and sometimes it’s a spectacular failure but even then I applaud the effort and daring.

B4Y: What are some trends or things you think people should wear that would make chronicling fashion more interesting?

KATYA: COLOR. Colorcolorcolor.

B4Y: What are some trends or things someone might wear that would stop you from photographing them for your blog?

KATYA: Khakis and polos. That was an obvious answer! Seriously, though, if a trend has been overdone I won’t shoot it. For example, girls wearing tights with cut off shorts at night… it’s just so over. Also, all black outfits tend to get dismissed by me; they’re so ubiquitous and black is hard to photograph and get the details.

The other thing I can’t stress enough is making sure what you’re wearing fits. Once you start paying attention, you see so many people wearing things that just don’t fit properly.

B4Y: Best / worst / wildest outfit you’ve photographed?

KATYA: There are too many for me to pick! Here are a few from the past month or so that I really like:

These 2 reflect old school/club kid NYC nightlife:

This one is NYC street style:

And one of the many “style tribes” of NYC. This one I call Punk Nouveaux — a modern reinterpretation of the shredded look that originates with Punk:

[And just a couple of additional pictures Katya took of outfits with awesome shoes... - B4Y]:

Kandi is wearing Steve Madden Wicked open toe wedges ($149.95 at Steve Madden)

A pair of insane Dior shoes

B4Y: What fashion websites, blogs, magazines or publications do you follow and read?

KATYA: I love Italian Vogue even though I can’t read Italian — I’m a huge fan of Steven Meisel who photographs all the covers. I also like: Purple Fashion Magazine, AnOther Magazine and i-D.

The websites I like are always changing but I’m addicted to NY Magazines Cut Blog by Amy Odell. It keeps me in the loop and gives me content for tweets!

B4Y: Favorite pairs from your shoe closet?

KATYA: Right now I’m in love with platforms and I’m afraid they’re a trend on the way out because they’ve been around so long! I actually bought a pair of Via Spiga brown platform sandals 6 or 7 years ago and I remember wondering if they were going to be out of style the next summer. So glad now I bought them! The platforms are really high so they’re super comfortable and add some much needed height!

[Via Spiga actually has 1 or 2 similar styles to Katya's 6/7-year-old shoes out this season! - B4Y]

I also love my 7 for All Mankind sandals that I bought around Christmas as a present to myself! In New York you need to be able to walk around and both of these pairs are easy for me to walk in.

[Katya Moorman has the 7 For All Mankind Honey platform sandals. - B4Y]

B4Y: What would you be doing if you weren’t blogging?

KATYA: I photograph and make videos as well now, so I would keep going with these pursuits.

B4Y: What’s one thing that people are always surprised to find out about you?

KATYA: I’m a self-taught financial geek. I subscribe to the Wall Street Journal, Barrons and IBD and place trades with my morning coffee…which allow me to be a blogger!

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Can’t get enough of Katya Moorman either? Find her here:

http://www.twitter.com/katya_nyc
http://www.styledefinednyc.com
http://styledefined.blogspot.com
http://www.pixiewarhol.com

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