Thistle

Thistle Brown

Caker Crush

• Can you write a short paragraph about yourself - you can talk about anything at all.

  Hi my names Thistle, I grew up in Te Tai Tokerau and have lived in NYC for the last 7 years.

• What makes you feel powerful?

  Dancing.

• What music/podcast are you listening to at the moment?

  The meaning of Mariah Carey

• Tell us about your day to day life in New York?

  I work freelance, so my weeks vary depending on what type of projects I am working on. Usually when I am home in the LES, I will always start my day with a coffee in bed, read the news and then get up to run any errands for the day. As a freelancer, I still try to stick to a 9-5pm schedule when I can. I give myself the evening to eat out at great restaurants and hang with the people I love in NYC. I really like biking around Manhattan instead of using the subway.

• What does food mean in your family? Are there any classic dishes?

  Food in my family was always very classic no frills. I loved my mums Lasagne the most.

• In your opinion, what is important in the foundation of a perfect outfit?

  I think for me having a good consistent rotation of solid jewelry pieces - they can anchor any look and all the while keeping it personal. At the moment I am religiously wearing this silver bracelet I got from Turkey, its pretty perfect.

• What was your birthday cake of choice as a kid?

  I remember my 5th birthday cake was of Bart Simpson that my mum made. Another one was a four turret castle made out of candy and cream - quite a moment tbh.

• If you could go back and capture a memory from your life in HD, to rewatch whenever you wanted, which would it be?

  I think I would prefer to go back before I was born and rewatch my family immigrating here in the 70’s. They moved here 10 of them and from all the photos it seemed like a really poignant and special time for everyone.

• What star sign are you and which traits from it resonate with you?

  Gemini. I guess drop me anywhere and I won’t sink.

• What makes you proud of your generation?

  I'd have to answer that once we see what is actually achieved.

• We know how busy you are, so down time must be special - how do you spend a day off?

  I like going for a bike ride with a speaker on the front, getting a takeaway margarita and sitting in Washington square park with some friends.

• What is your favourite fruit?

  Black cherries

• If you could have complete access to any designers archives, who would it be?

  Hèrmes

• If you could work with any photographer who would it be?

  Lise Safarti

• In terms of fashion, what movie in your opinion just got it right?

  The Last Seduction

• Dinner in a bubble under the sea, or breakfast on a cloud?

  Clouds for sure

• When you're back in Auckland, what things are at the top of your list to do?

  Beach, House Parties & visit Alison + Katie at Search & Destroy.

• If you could fly off on vacation tomorrow, where would you go?

  Greece

• If you had an empty white room, and one bucket of paint, which colour would splash all over the walls?

  I’d probably keep it white tbh.

• You can really put together an outfit unlike anyone else, but I was wondering - was there a time in history, or any specific people (etc) that had a profound impact on your sense of style?

  I think I’ve always been into old clothes, things that hold memory. My family only thrifted growing up. I’m not sure if I have ever consciously been impacted by a particular persons style but I definitely think I admire peoples attitude towards clothing, especially when it feels at ease and personal to them.

• If you could spend a day picking the brain of one photographer, living or otherwise, who would you choose?

  I think Wolfgang Tillmans would be nice to talk too.

• Tell us about a dream you had recently…

  I was coming home in a taxi with all the windows down, driving over water in the dark.

• Where would you take someone spending the day in New York?

  Mogador for Breakfast, bike ride around the city, Raouls for dinner.

• Your family are in Whangārei, which is a beautiful city north of Auckland - what was it like for you growing up there, and how do you like to spend your time when you return home?

  Growing up in the north definitely taught me a thing or two about being streetwise, but now looking back it really gave me the drive to discover something more beyond the hills. I appreciate it on a whole other level now, I love it up there. When I go back my favorite thing to do is to just hang out with my cousins, eat seafood and be at the beach.

• What is your favorite season?

  Summer, always