Business Of Pleasure

We’re firm believers in the idea that the best type of work is the kind that feels like play; the kind that gives you an intense rush of butterflies when you book a new gig or fully immerse yourself in a new project. This Valentine’s Day, in the spirit of love and being passionate about what you do, we gabbed with a few of our favorite creative ladies and gave them a chance to declare their love for the item that helped them fall for their craft.

Photographer/artist/model Arvida Byström is known for her ultra-girly aesthetic; a dreamy-creamy world of cute ‘n’ queer imagery, that oozes pink and preaches her digital-friendly brand of g-URL power. We asked the Internet It Girl and Nasty Gal pal about her lovie-dovie relationship with Instagram and where it all began.

When did you fall in love with Instagram?

I got into Instagram a little more than a year ago. I used it a few
summers ago, but didn’t like it that much, and also broke my
smartphone so had an old phone for a while. But then I got a
smartphone again and I was like, “Gosh, everyone is still so into
Instagram.” Then I started to use it again and kind of found that it’s
a bit like Tumblr in a way (which I love). You can curate cute things
very easily.

What’s the wildest adventure you two have ever taken together?

Probably whenever I post a photo that shows that I have hair in my
armpits. Turns into a wild commenting adventure
usually.

What is your dream Valentine’s Day outfit?

I guess a cute red dress maybe? Or a red mini-skirt. All these things
are mad cute and perfect for a Valentine’s date with your Instagram!

Shop Arvida’s V-Day Looks

Nasty Gal License to Thrill Cutout Panty; Skivvies By Mine Bra; After Party Vintage Love the Nightlife Knit Dress; Nasty Gal I’m Yours Dress; Suzywan Deluxe Baby Be Mine Choker

Makeup artist and The Work Magazine Editor-in-Chief Gloria Noto is always jetting around the world (with healing crystals in tow), spreading the gospel of beauty wherever she goes (and always stopping by the Nasty Gal offices when she’s in L.A.). In between lining lips and line editing Work‘s next issue, she found some time to reminisce with us on that first life-changing rush she felt from picking up a makeup brush.

When did you fall in love with your makeup brushes?

There isn’t a time that I can really remember not having a brush in my
hands in one-way or another. As for an eyebrow comb, I was about 18
and I did this full-face of makeup, eye-shadow, lipstick, blush—a
beautiful “Midwestern face-beating.” My older cousin looked at me and
said, “What about your eyebrows…? You did all that and forgot the
most important part.” I looked at my eyebrows, thick and long and going
in a million different directions…it was like I saw the light when I
combed them into place.

What’s the wildest adventure you two have ever taken together?

Almost capsizing on a sailboat in Big Sur for an advertising job. Literally we almost flipped over. I was seasick for three days.

What is your dream Valentine’s Day outfit?

A kimono with nothing more.

Shop Gloria’s V-Day Looks

Frends Taylor Leather Headphones; Gimme The Scoop Knit Top; Layer Up Tank; After Party Vintage Essential Tee; Skivvies Bat Your Lashes Lace Robe

Norwegian fashion illustrator Esra Røise is turned on by the crooked, disheveled, and grotesque. She draws her tattooed and gap-toothed female subjects with a surreal attention to detail, a signature style that has won her the favor of publications such as Vogue, Purple, and Nylon. We find out how she and her colored pencils first got together, and all the places they’ve ventured since.

When did you fall in love with your drawing tools?

I’ve been drawing since I was a little kid. Growing up in a big family
with lots of siblings where you share, more or less involuntarily,
most of your toys, clothes, food, whatevs, drawing became this thing
that was just mine. In a sort of an escapist way I guess. For as long
as I can remember it has given me intense joy to just sit and draw and
zone out for hours in my own world. I always kinda knew that this was
something I wanted to keep doing, and the fact that it has become my
actual job is beyond gratifying, and it makes me feel extremely
privileged. I get to do my favorite thing in the world, and pay the
rent with it (and buy the occasional pair of expensive shoes). It
really is a job fuelled by love for the craftsmanship.

What’s the wildest adventure you two have ever taken together?

I was invited to have an exhibition in Sao Paolo, Brazil last year, so
I was flown in and driven around to see all these amazing places. The
gallery was an old house from the 19th century with a big garden
outside. On the opening night it was packed with people who had come
from all over the country to see my work. It was a truly humbling and
insane experience that I will never forget.

What is your dream Valentine’s Day outfit?

I have to admit I am not very big on dressing up, but lately I’ve been
super into overalls and jumpsuits which you can both dress up and
down. Since I’m pretty short, jumpsuit and flats very quickly make me
look like a bit of a toddler, so a pair of swanky heels is crucial.
Top it of with some red lips and messy hair, and I’m good to go.

Shop Esra’s V-Day Looks

Solace Rossi Stretch Crepe Jumpsuit; Asilio Step Aside Cutout Jumpsuit; Nasty Gal Champagne Taste Cape Blazer; Cameo Exempt Leather Mule

London-based photographer and visual artist Polly Brown makes a habit (and a living) of capturing people, places, and even high-profile office plants for a swanky list of clients including The New Yorker and The Gourmand. Even cooler? Her photo essay documenting the foliage at the headquarters of big-time companies including Burberry, Google, and Dazed & Confused basically went viral. After playing the field for years, it was love at first site when Polly laid eyes on her Pentax 67.

When did you fall in love with your Pentax 67?

A friend loaned me their Pentax 67 around 2 years ago. It was love at
first hefty hold.

What’s the wildest adventure you two have ever taken together?

The one we are on at the moment. We are traveling through Asia for two months: China, Vietnam, Laos , Singapore, and ending in Australia.

What is your dream Valentine’s Day outfit?

Red, white, and pink allover.

Shop Polly’s V-Day Looks

Jeffrey Campbell Darjana Jeweled Suede Slide; Nasty Gal Tina Faux Fur Coat; Nasty Gal Boy Gorg Poplin Shirt; Cream of the Crop Skirt; Hansel from Basel Happy Feet Sock Set

When is comes to art—especially body art—New York tattoo artist Minka Sicklinger isn’t interested in minimalism. On the contrary, she finds inspiration in ritual, ceremony, and the exotic textiles she unearths from her travels around the globe. Known for her intricate and primal greyscale renderings of nature, wildlife, and tribal culture, Sicklinger and her trusty pen reimagine the blank canvas that is their world, one line at a time.

When did you fall in love with your ink pens?

As soon as I could pick one up and discovered it made marks…

What’s the wildest adventure you two have ever taken together?

Everyday is a wild adventure…we explore my imagination, have drawn
things together that have been made into objects, hung on walls,
inscribed into flesh…we’ve created new worlds.

What is your dream Valentine’s Day outfit?

Red velvet and four-inch tiger striped heels

Shop Minka’s V-Day Looks

Nasty Gal Little Bow Pink Organza Blouse; Persuasion Lace Crop Top; Keepsake Follow the Sun Silk Dress; Cameo It’s Time Peplum Short; Cameo Static Floral Tee

Poem Store’s free-spirit Jacqueline Suskin is a regular anywhere worth going in Los Angeles, from the Hollywood Farmer’s Market to a Nasty Gal Valentine’s Day party on Melrose (hint, hint). With her name-your-price-and-subject policy, Suskin whips up a custom, on-demand words that’ll either make you smile or move you to tears (or both!). Here, Jacqueline tell us how she came across her prized vintage typewriter, and the beautiful story they’ve been writing ever since.

When did you first fall in love with your typewriter?

Well, I have a collection of 12 typewriters and I could write a book about falling in love with each one. Most of them were given to me throughout my years of performing at Poem Store. Customers bring me their unused machines that are usually hiding under their beds or tucked away in their garages, so each one has a special story. I usually care for them, clean them up and use them for different purposes, one for writing letters, one for writing fiction, one for non-fiction and so forth. I also have a few that I use for teaching workshops on how to use typewriters and people type out poems or lists of things that they like to go along with the concept for my new book “Go Ahead & Like It.” It’s amazing to see people fall in love with typing, with the beautiful result of their words perfectly put on the page. Even though I have so many typewriters, I only use one on a daily basis for Poem Store, turquoise Hermes Rocket from the 1950s. It’s eye-candy really and people are so drawn to its beauty, the perfection of its design, and the nostalgia of its sound that I hardly have to advertise because it attracts a crowd all on its own. It’s the lightest, smallest, and nicest one I own. It was given to me by one of the founders of Ace Hotel in exchange for writing him poems for two months. Everyday he gave me a subject and I sent him a poem. In the end he gave me a book of all the poems and this typewriter, which I have used ever since. It is most certainly my prize possession..

What’s the wildest adventure you two have ever taken together?

Oh this typewriter has traveled all over the country with me! On my first and second book tour, in my backpack every time I traveled with bands, in the overhead bin of airplanes, everywhere. It’s such a main part of my job that I’m never really without it. I’ve used it in hotel rooms, poolside, high up in mountain cabins, out in desert shacks…it’s so sleek and easy to carry that I never think twice about bringing it with me. I’d say the most romantic adventure I had with it was on a train up the coast of California. To be able to bust out this attractive and antiquated thing and write poems for people wherever I am is still an astounding thing for me. This is my job? This really works? Every time I’m amazed.

What’s your dream Valentine’s Day outfit?

Something floral, with roses. Over sheer undies! I would definitely wear this for Valentine’s Day. Shop Jacqueline’s V-Day Looks Nasty Gal Bed of Roses Crop Top; Nasty Gal Bed of Roses Skirt