Shakthi Jothianandan, writer

Photograph: Roxana Marroquin

Tell me about your personal style.
My style is centered on convenience. I don’t like to think at all in the morning. I used to scramble around in the dark to put something together, and sometimes I looked like an idiot. Therefore, what I buy now is basic pieces that I know will look good without any funky jewelry or so forth.

So your style has evolved with time?
Yeah, I used to kind of pick up scraps of anything and put it together.

What’s an example of something you used to wear that you wouldn’t anymore?
Really bold printed shirts and tunics and dresses. I never wore animal print—as least, not that I would admit to you—but a lot of loud colors and flashiness. Now I like to stick to one simple color and that’s it.

I also went through an unfortunate print phase in high school. I had this stripes-with-paisleys number that was one of my favorite shirts for a while.
I think you could still pull that off.

Yeah, you can get away with anything in New York.
As a woman, I feel like those ridiculous shirts are great because you can put a skinny little belt around them and wear them as dresses. You’d get lots of props on the street. Catcalls, too.

Speaking of drawing catcalls, your badass boots must attract a lot of attention.
These boots are a Shakthi staple. I tend to get attached to one piece of footwear and exhaust it.

You don’t ever get bored with that?
No. And people will ask me, “Do you own anything else?” It’s fun to make people think I only own one pair of shoes—maybe they’ll buy me some.

Boots seem quite popular with the TONY ladies. Did you all buy the same fashion magazine two months ago?
Boots are in style, and the ladies at Time Out are stylish. The trend has turned from jeans and heels to skirts and boots. We’re aware of the change. Also, boots are supercomfortable and Time Out has a laid-back atmosphere where it’s okay to wear them.

Is there even an occasion when you’d wear heels?
I, of all people, should be wearing them. I’m 4' 11 1/2". But I would wear them only when required. I was told by career people that I should wear heels to interviews.

Weird. Do you have a go-to garment, so if you oversleep your alarm but you have to look good at an interview, you know you’ll be okay?
You caught me in one of them. The red dress I’m wearing in the photo is comfortable; you can wear it in different season, I love the color...it just looks good.

Yeah, I agree.
So I get the Dustin seal of approval?

You do.