The Look Book

Margaret Wardlaw, Artist

"I always have looked up to people with interesting hairstyles."

By Amy Larocca
Published Mar 30, 2008

(Photo: Jake Chessum)

What do you do?
I’m a painter. I paint still-life portraits of people. And I play the guitar. So I work on painting stuff and art stuff, and then I work at a café, too.

Tell me about your hat.
Everyone loves it. People think it’s so cute. Like a stuffed toy is cute or a fairy tale. I live in Bushwick, and I like to go to these little marts run by the Chinese in my area, and I just picked it up there. I guess it reminds me of Where the Wild Things Are. I walk around all the time. I’m always trying to go off the beaten path.

What kind of stuff do you like?
I like thrift stores and I like colors that are painterly and I like old-style Hollywood glamour, like the Greta Garbos. And I like bold haircuts and bold eyes, like Siouxsie from Siouxsie and the Banshees or like Karen O or Robert Smith. I always have looked up to people with interesting hairstyles. And I love mods and I love beatniks.

What kind of shoes are best for walking around?
Doc Martens. I love them. I have so many different kinds. I mean, I have flats and dressy shoes and things, but the most comfortable, wonderful thing for me is a Doc Martens boot.