FEATURE: Laura Goode
by portender
I have trouble getting up in the morning and walking to the shower, so when anyone writes a book, I’m floored. Such a monumental task requires an equally monumental person, and new author Laura Goode is definitely a monumental person. Her new book, Sister Mischief, recently hit the shelves to much acclaim. More than just being a brilliant author, Laura has a unique sense of style that’s fun and fresh and as creative as her writing. I asked Laura a few style questions, ranging from what she likes to write in to her feelings on animal prints (spoiler alert: she loves them.)
Q: First, a non-fashion question. You have a book coming out. Tell us about it.
A: My first young adult novel, Sister Mischief, was just released by Candlewick Press. It follows 16-year-old Esme Rockett as she comes out of the closet, starts an all-girl hip-hop crew with her three best friends, and falls in love with her hot co-MC. I like to call it the world’s first interracial gay hip-hop love story for teens.
Q: How would you describe your personal style?
A: My fiance once told me I “dress like a wacko.” I like to blend eras and styles, and I rarely wear something someone else hasn’t worn before. Fashion items I love right now include: jeggings, ankle boots, and feather earrings. Fashion items I love eternally include: the perfect red lipstick, the drama of dark nails, liquid liner, fishnet stockings, and 1950s housewife dresses.
Q: What is your favorite brand or store?
A: I feel like it’s probably not that fashion-forward to admit how much I shop at Express, but I’m cheap and they make great-fitting stuff for tall women, so when I need a staple item like jeans or a tank top or a cardigan, that’s usually where I go. But like I said, more often than not I’m digging for camisoles and hoodies at Thrift Town or a vintage store’s bargain box.
Q: Animal prints: yea or nay?
A: I am unequivocally YEA on animal prints. Go big or go home. There’s a fine line between red carpet and cruise ship, though, and I love to violate it. I think my NYC book party outfit was somewhere between Liza Minnelli and Snooki.
Q: What is your favorite trend for this fall? Is there anything you are excited to wear?
A: I’m really into the Mad Men 1960s revival right now, and I’m delighted to be wearing my mother’s classic-retro wedding dress from 1968 next month. I can’t get enough of pencil skirts and kitten heels and French twists. Quick, someone get me a cocktail dress, mama needs a gimlet.
Q: Is there any way in particular you dress to write?
A: I wish I could say that I always go sexy-librarian comfy chic when I’m writing, but there’s something about writing (and living in San Francisco) that always makes me cold, so I tend to dress in obscene amounts of layers. My wear-it-everywhere wraparound black cardigan is a go-to, and San Francisco has introduced an embarrassing amount of flannel into my wardrobe. My brain doesn’t work if my waist is being suffocated, so I’ll admit that sweatpants are also a staple. Sometimes I put on lipstick and a scarf just to be a little tart about it, but that’s about as glam as my word nerdery gets when I’m nose-to-the-page.
