story / Tiffany Tso
It is that pastel pink and heart-shaped time of year again – a time that some choose to write off as just a Hallmark holiday. Greeting card created or not, Valentine’s Day is here, and Ladygunn wants to help you out with all of your matters of the heart (or some other parts of your body).
We decided to seek out some objective love advice from some women we envy, power players in the NY fashion scene: Lyz Olko of Obesity + Speed, Mary Meyer, Becca McCharen of Chromat and Lila Rice. I mean they dress us up for when we want to go out and get a little action, so why can’t they advise us on how to as well?
Lyz Olko of Obesity + Speed
obesityandspeed.com
How will you be spending your Valentine’s Day? I will be spending Valentine’s Day with my best friends Matt Kliegman, James Cruickshank and Carlos Quirarte for the Me In My Place Valentine’s Day party at the Westway.
Best spot to meet people: Tompkins, or Whole Foods on Bowery.
Best date night spots: Also Whole Foods, “a chill rooftop”, the benches on Houston, Central Park, Juice Press, a long bike ride down to Battery Park, boat docks late at night
#1 piece of advice you have to give for dating: Just chill out
#1 piece of advice you have to give for sex: Umm
Best kind of guy to date: Gainfully employed man who loves his mom?
Worst kind of guy to date: Ummm
How has love/sex influenced your designs?
My designs are more about crushes and obsessions, like that whole unrequited thing. Like the boy you were too shy to talk to after school, the same one you caught drawing on his shoes in class. Like that wild teenage fatal attraction vibe but without all the sex mess, when it was more real, when the consequences seemed more dire and the risk. Sitting on a landline in silence for 45 minutes, that’s what my designs are influenced by. Driving home at night in a car full of people after making out with someone secretly at a house party. That’s the kind of love I put into the o+s line. The kid that signed your yearbook then his family moved away forever…
Mary Meyer
marymeyerclothing.com
How will you be spending your Valentine’s Day? With my sweet Valentine. He’s taking us for massages then hopefully a steak dinner!
Where are all the babes in NY? Bushwick!
Best spot to meet people: The beach.
Best date night spots: Marlow and Sons or St Anselm. And I know you specify night spots, but a real favorite date for me and my boyfriend is the museum, MoMA or the Met.
#1 piece of advice you have to give for dating: Just go for it!
#1 piece of advice you have to give for sex: Just go for it!
Best kind of guy to date: Someone who is sweet and funny.
Worst kind of guy to date: A self-absorbed hot guy who is actually a total drag.
How has love/sex influenced your designs?
Well I’m always thinking about sexiness when designing clothes, because that’s what women and men want. Love is different; my boyfriend is my rock, and his love helps give me the strength to overcome all the zillions of obstacles that come up daily being a designer, business-owner and entrepreneur.
Becca McCharen of Chromat
How will you be spending your Valentine’s Day? Hopefully with a cute lady friend.
Where are all the babes in NY? Backstage at Santigold shows.
Best spot to meet people: On the dance floor wherever Helen Harris is DJing- HAM at Tandem is always dirty and fun.
Best date night spots: Anywhere where we can have a drink and crack jokes all night.
#1 piece of advice you have to give for dating: Figure out how to make yourself happy first.
#1 piece of advice you have to give for sex: Lots of sexy talk.
Best kind of girl to date: Beautiful shorthaired androgynous girls, tough girls with long hair that you can pull on, girls with big smiles and round lips, girls that ride bikes.
Worst kind of girl to date: Distracted girls.
How has love/sex influenced your designs?
I’m definitely in awe of and inspired by the female body, I love that the Chromat pieces accentuates a woman’s curves.
Lila Rice Marshall
lilarice.com
How will you be spending your Valentine’s Day? Eating something fabulous, likely home-cooked by yours truly. Â Definitely will include something chocolate.
Where are all the babes in NY? At Mary Meyer’s parties!
Best spot to meet people: On the dance floor.
Best date night spots: I like a very dark place, like Moto or the basement of St. Mazie. And Nitehawk Theater!
#1 piece of advice you have to give for dating: Oh god, I don’t know anything about dating.  Don’t date anyone that hates cats? I think that should be a real red flag. Ha.
#1 piece of advice you have to give for sex: Don’t overthink it.
Best kind of guy to date: The guy who you have fun with, who makes you laugh, who makes your life better and easier and gives you wings. The guy who believes in you. Â
Worst kind of guy to date: The guy who drains your life force. Just say no!
How has love/sex influenced your designs?
I’ve designed a lot of pieces for my boyfriend, and his aesthetic and mine have really grown into one another. I always think about him and if he would wear a piece when I’m designing for men.
P.S. Feel free to send in your own questions and problems, and we’ll get other rad ladies to answer them! Email questions to tiffany@ladygunn.com.
