Demand: Angela, 13 June 2009, Harvard Square

I try not to editorialize, but the truth is, I have to say that some people pull off a look without seeming to sweat too much about it. For instance: Angela's hair. She told me her hair coloring was the eventual (faded) result of a failed "hot pink" dye job she had attempted. And she cuts it herself.

I use a bic razor, and I just kind of got at it.

(Exclamation point on my end.) The shoes were from Buffalo Exchange.

I think they look like elf shoes.

Demand: John and Tess, 11 June 2009, Boston Common

John was of the school of clothing that values the found and thrifted.

Where did you get your hat?

I found it in a snowstorm in Pennsylvania.

Tess bought her brand of lipstick once, and everybody, including strangers, complimented her. I asked her if that was weird.

I can't say it's not flattering...You can't say you're not flattered, even if the creepiest guy says something.

Demand: Julia, 11 June 2009, Boston Common

I stopped Julia because of her "Obey Me!" shirt, which turned out to be something she had to wear to volunteer for an AIDS charity event which I didn't get the details on. Everything she was wearing was a little colorful. Her glasses were a pleasing purple (from Versace), and her little change purse was from Dooney & Bourke. I tried to find the thing on the Dooney & Bourke website and have tentatively identified it as the "Multiple Purpose Zip Around". We talked about her thoughts on leather, and she acknowledged some inconsistencies.

I'm a vegetarian but I don't care about animal rights.

Demand: Yoshihito, Yong Ho, Na Rae, 11 June 2009, the Public Garden

Yoshihito (from Japan), Na Jae (from South Korea), and Yong Ho (also from South Korea, pictured above) are studying English here. We talked a lot about Yong Ho's shirt, which he got in Hong Kong. It had studs and pockets in unexpected places, including two studs that marked off a pocket only accessible from inside the shirt. Yoshihito reached over and flipped out the side of the shirt where the pocket hid.

What do you keep in there? [to Yong Ho]

Yoshihito: Big money!

Equally puzzling was a tiny stud at the bottom of the stitching on the front opening that didn't seem to have a function:

I asked what it did. Na Rae jumped in. "Maybe it's better than nothing..."

I asked if there were any more, and Yoshihito lifted up Yong Ho's backpack to see if there was anything unusual back there, but reported nothing.

Is there something a woman over thirty shouldn't wear?

Yong Ho: Nude! ...But their choice is free.

These are Yoshihito's shoes, which were the original reason I stopped to talk to him. Obviously, they're Nikes, but we couldn't figure out what type, even after pulling one off and looking on the inside of the tongue (while he hopped on one foot for a minute). When I went to take the photo of Yoshihito (left) and Na Rae (right), he put his hand on her head.

Demand: Eric and Miles, 8 June 2009, Allston

Eric is on the right, Miles is on the left. Eric said he DJ's, Miles said he's an artist. I told them I was from New Jersey. "I saw Ron Jeremy at the airport in New Jersey," Miles said. "Some woman covered her daughter's eyes."

Where do you shop?

Miles: Friend's closets.

Miles also recommended churches for picking up used clothing, especially one in Brighton. "It's like the Wal-Mart of churches," he explained. The most either of them has spent on clothing is a $1400 Rado watch that Eric has.

Miles was very opinionated about certain fashion topics. He says you need to get white clothing cleaned often.

Miles: If you wear whites, you have to be rich enough to wear whites

He also has certain feelings about camo and fatigues.

Miles: If you're going to wear fatigues, you should go all out.

He suggests scallies for anybody in Boston. "You put on a scally, you disappear," he explained; there are just so many of them around in Boston. "You go to a bar, everyone's your friend."