Photo by Dana Veraldi
Ryan O'Connell
NAME Ryan O'Connell WHAT DO YOU DO? I'm a writer. (I swear! Google me.) WHAT SHIRT DID YOU CHOOSE AND WHY? I chose the Bill Cunningham tee because I just adore him. I love this idea of someone who, on the surface, seems like the antithesis of fashion culture. He's warm, kind, and dresses like shit and yet, somehow, he became revered. This old man in North Face riding his bike trumps every other fashion bitch wearing couture. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING/ WATCHING/ LISTENING TO? I'm reading Blue Nights by Joan Didion. It just came out and I'm already re-reading it for the second time. It's dark subject matter but beautifully written. I'm watching The OC: Season One just for Mischa Barton and I Survived, which is a show about people getting shot like ten times and somehow living through it. I'm listening to the new Real Estate record, Gauntlet Hair, Dirty Beaches, Tamaryn and No Joy. The record label, Mexican Summer, is my everything. WHAT WAS THE LAST GREAT MEAL YOU ATE? I was in Paris last spring (douchiest opening ever sorrrrryy) and I was staying with one of my best friends, Colette, who is just a master in the kitchen. She made me pad thai one night and it was amazing. She literally made it out of just like graham crackers, noodles and whatever was around the house, and it somehow managed to be the best pad thai I've ever had. WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU TREASURE? I made these scrapbooks in high school that mean everything to me. One of them was for a school assignment. It was to document my junior year and the second is a scrapbook this guy made me for my 18th birthday and the third one was something me and four of my four best friends made together to commemorate our senior year. I've moved like 15 times since high school and they're still with me intact. I'm staring at them now in fact. WHAT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO? This might sound weird but I have a friend named Eva in San Francisco and I get so happy whenever we spend time in her room. There's something about it. It has magical soothing powers. It looks like something from The Virgin Suicides set. There are candles, incense, and art everywhere. I don't know if it's the most beautiful place but I love it. It chills me out. WHAT DO YOU LIKE/DISLIKE? I like candles and perfumes. Scents are a big deal for me right now. I feel like I can't be an adult until I finally find my scent. I dislike people who have a total lack of self awareness. I also dislike olives. WHO'S SENSE OF STYLE DO YOU ADMIRE? I used to like Mary-Kate Olsen's a lot but now I think it's a bit tired. I like people who have good style in L.A. because it's so rare. Kirsten Dunst, Kate Bosworth and Rachel Bilson (I KNOW, RIGHT) are three girls who have captured L.A. style pretty well. My friend Carey has awesome style too. She's a total dyke and we just raid each other's closets like it ain't no thing. WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ON THE NEXT DEERDANA SHIRT? Me or Joan Didion. Preferably the both of us together.