Style Tribe: Miranda July’s Die-hard Fans in Brooklyn
Photo: Dietmar Busse
Last night, Miranda July fans from all over the city (and a few from abroad) flocked to the Brooklyn Academy of Music to see the filmmaker/author in conversation with Lena Dunham about her debut novel, The First Bad Man. Their conversation was frank and funny, ranging from musings on sexual fantasies to thoughts about motherhood and loneliness. We caught up with members of the crowd — including dozens of Girls and You, Me, and Everyone We Know aficionados — before the event. Click through the slideshow for a look at the audience, shot on Polaroid film by Dietmar Busse.
Shamikah Martinez, Actor/Producer/Writer, 31; Brian Gonzalez, Artist, 27 I like your necklace.
Brian: It's from a shop in Williamsburg called No...
Shamikah Martinez, Actor/Producer/Writer, 31; Brian Gonzalez, Artist, 27 I like your necklace.
Brian: It's from a shop in Williamsburg called Norbu. Sometimes I wear it open, like I’m open-hearted; sometimes I wear it closed, when I need protection. Everything I own is pretty much black. Well, not this shirt. This is the one exception. It's a little more festive. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Lisa A. Bernhoft-Suodin, Writer, 33 What are you most excited to hear Miranda and Lena talk about tonight?
I’m really just interested in their c...
Lisa A. Bernhoft-Suodin, Writer, 33 What are you most excited to hear Miranda and Lena talk about tonight?
I’m really just interested in their conversation. I’m a writer, so I like to look at people and how they speak to other people, and how they engage with other people.
Photo: Dietmar Busse
Stefanie Paschen-May, Photo Retoucher, 25; Margaret Wolff, Ph.D. Student and Public Health Data Manager, 32 Did you put any special thought into ...
Stefanie Paschen-May, Photo Retoucher, 25; Margaret Wolff, Ph.D. Student and Public Health Data Manager, 32 Did you put any special thought into your outfits tonight?
Margaret: Yeah. I like this blazer a lot. I wanted to wear something cheerful in the winter.
Stefanie: I wore my bolo tie.
Photo: Dietmar Busse
Cait Munro, Journalist, 25 How did you decide what to wear tonight?
I was wearing something way nicer at work but then I changed because I just...
Cait Munro, Journalist, 25 How did you decide what to wear tonight?
I was wearing something way nicer at work but then I changed because I just wanted to be comfortable. This coat was my mother’s, actually. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Heidi Julavits, Writer, 46; Leanne Shapton, Artist/Writer, 41 Photo: Dietmar Busse
Melissa Albert, Editor, 31 Have you read the book already?
I did, yeah. I loved it. It was really weird.
Photo: Dietmar Busse
Daniel Breen, Student at Temple University, 19 Are you a big Miranda July fan?
Yeah. I started watching her films, and I found out she wrote a b...
Daniel Breen, Student at Temple University, 19 Are you a big Miranda July fan?
Yeah. I started watching her films, and I found out she wrote a book of short stories, and I read that and I really liked it. When I found out [her new book] was being released, I pre-ordered it and read it as soon as it came. I was trying to figure out how to work it to see her, since she's also going to Canada and the Pacific Northwest. I was thinking of driving out or flying out, but luckily, she's here. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Monica Felix, Photographer, 30 How did you decide to come tonight?
These two ladies I really admire. When I saw it was going to be the two of th...
Monica Felix, Photographer, 30 How did you decide to come tonight?
These two ladies I really admire. When I saw it was going to be the two of them, I was like, Yeah, I wanna be in that room. I identify mostly with Lena, but I also find Miranda’s stories very inspiring. I’m excited to hear how they intertwine. You know what I mean? Like, I would totally be sitting with them at a bar, and gabbing away.
Photo: Dietmar Busse
Phyllis Rosser, Sculptor, 80 What are you wearing tonight?
Well, my coat has a name: It’s called selvage. And it’s actually lamb. Which, you kno...
Phyllis Rosser, Sculptor, 80 What are you wearing tonight?
Well, my coat has a name: It’s called selvage. And it’s actually lamb. Which, you know, is supposed to not be an animal that we have to worry about. It’s made by a woman over in the Garment District. I've had it for ten years. You could go naked under this and you’d be warm. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Luna Arboleda, Actor, 23 What did you think of Miranda’s latest book?
I think it was amazing, and really strange and wonderful. Photo: Dietmar B...
Luna Arboleda, Actor, 23 What did you think of Miranda’s latest book?
I think it was amazing, and really strange and wonderful. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Isabelle Barbier, Actor, 23
Did you put any special thought into your outfit tonight?
Um … I definitely thought I should look good. But no, no...
Isabelle Barbier, Actor, 23
Did you put any special thought into your outfit tonight?
Um … I definitely thought I should look good. But no, not besides that. Both the buttons of my jacket fell off today, so it's kind of more like a poncho now. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Melissa Perez-Halley, Retail Manager, 30 Have you read Miranda's new book yet?
I just got it today, and I was reading it on the subway on the wa...
Melissa Perez-Halley, Retail Manager, 30 Have you read Miranda's new book yet?
I just got it today, and I was reading it on the subway on the way here. It’s really quirky and intriguing already, and I’m just through the first chapter. I’m excited to hear some insight into why it took her so long to do a novel, versus the short stories that she’s been working with for a while.
Photo: Dietmar Busse
Emily Altman, Comedy Writer, 35 How would you describe your style?
I’d like it to be, like, French tomboy, but it’s also just comfortable. But r...
Emily Altman, Comedy Writer, 35 How would you describe your style?
I’d like it to be, like, French tomboy, but it’s also just comfortable. But right now I’m in a breakup haze, so I’m just pulling stuff. I just told my friend: I look like trash can. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Jordan Martin, Copy Writer, 22; Bradley Little, Log Specialist, 23 Photo: Dietmar Busse
Haley Richardson, Archivist, 32 I like your glasses. Where did you find them?
I got them at a thrift store in Long Island, probably four years a...
Haley Richardson, Archivist, 32 I like your glasses. Where did you find them?
I got them at a thrift store in Long Island, probably four years ago. I wear them every day.
Did you put any special thought into your outfit tonight?
I did. It’s my second day at a new job, so I tried to look a little professional. But I got dog smudges all over my jacket, so I’m not sure I really succeeded. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Ashley Ford, Writer, 28 What are you most excited to hear Lena and Miranda talk about tonight?
I’m really interested to hear them talk about goi...
Ashley Ford, Writer, 28 What are you most excited to hear Lena and Miranda talk about tonight?
I’m really interested to hear them talk about going outside of the book medium. I’d like to hear them talk about being more than writers — about being artists in the total sense.
Photo: Dietmar Busse
Theodore Kerr, Writer/Organizer, 36 Does going to a Miranda July and Lena Dunham talk feel apt for a date?
Yeah, the awkwardness — the twee sens...
Theodore Kerr, Writer/Organizer, 36 Does going to a Miranda July and Lena Dunham talk feel apt for a date?
Yeah, the awkwardness — the twee sensibility of being cute and sly and hopefully really amazing underneath. And Lena Dunham’s mom is an amazing artist, so I’m hoping that she’ll talk about her mom Laurie’s work. I think that’s something that me and my date can talk about. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Stephanie Geogopulous, Editor, 28 Do you always wear colorful shoes?
Yeah, I have a pretty basic wardrobe, so the shoes are where I get fancy. B...
Stephanie Geogopulous, Editor, 28 Do you always wear colorful shoes?
Yeah, I have a pretty basic wardrobe, so the shoes are where I get fancy. But I actually left the boots I wear every day at my boyfriend’s house, so that’s why I’m wearing these shoes ... I wanted to wear boots. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Mari Accardi, Writer, 37; Boiron Laurent, Researcher, 30 How did you decide to come tonight?
Mari: I’m here from Italy, and since I like Miranda...
Mari Accardi, Writer, 37; Boiron Laurent, Researcher, 30 How did you decide to come tonight?
Mari: I’m here from Italy, and since I like Miranda July and Lena Dunham, I thought it was the best thing to do in New York. [Miranda's] so original, so I’m really curious about what she’s going to say. And just to see her. Photo: Dietmar Busse
Kellie Welch, Songwriter, 24; Lauren Kuester, Ceramic Artist, 24 Photo: Dietmar Busse
Maya Kyllander, Department Manager at H&M, 24; Petter Rosswall, Salesperson, 30 How would you describe your style?
Maya: Very much a mix-pil...
Maya Kyllander, Department Manager at H&M, 24; Petter Rosswall, Salesperson, 30 How would you describe your style?
Maya: Very much a mix-pile, I’d say — buying things everywhere, traveling, and mixing that with clothes that I work in. I just like to be comfortable. I changed my sweater three times before I came. It just didn’t feel like me.
Photo: Dietmar Busse
Joanna Harkins, Journalist, 23; Kellie Hogan, Writer, 22 What are you most excited to hear Miranda and Lena talk about tonight?
Joanna: We...
Joanna Harkins, Journalist, 23; Kellie Hogan, Writer, 22 What are you most excited to hear Miranda and Lena talk about tonight?
Joanna: Well, they’re both women writers, and they talk about not-mainstream things, but they’re kind of different personalities. Like, Lena Dunham has her kind of happy, outgoing personality. Miranda July can be like that, but she’s a little more reserved and kind of weird. So, it will be interesting to see how they talk to each other.
Photo: Dietmar Busse
Charlotte Durke, Student/Actress, 18 How did you decide what to wear tonight?
Well, everything's super-cheap. These are my favorite shoes, but t...
Charlotte Durke, Student/Actress, 18 How did you decide what to wear tonight?
Well, everything's super-cheap. These are my favorite shoes, but they're kind of getting ruined from grease. Right now my style is inspired a lot by the movie Anastasia. Photo: Dietmar Busse
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