Cool people like cool things, which is why we asked cool person Grace Dougherty to come on Perfectly Imperfect & redistribute her good taste.

Grace Dougherty is an actress, writer, model, and stylist assistant living in Los Angeles. A few months ago she put out Bedside Manner, a lovely zine that explores “the true values and ever-evolving imagination of its owner” through 22 images of bedside tables. Her first poem, “dial 1”, was just published in the Fall edition of the Despair Books quarterly journal, and more of her poetry is being published in mid-November with Expat Press. Grace has great taste and lucky for us, she’s here to tell us what she’s been into.

Without further ado

Grace Dougherty (instagram, twitter)

🔮 Alice Bell

Alice is my astrologer and the most important person in New York because she can look at your birth chart transits and tell you what to expect in the coming days, weeks, months, etc. When I first met Alice in June 2019 she told me I'd be in a new relationship that fall. I thought, “there’s no way I’m going to be in another relationship, I’m going to get back together with my ex boyfriend!” Much to my dismay, that September I was in a new relationship. Turns out, I was dating someone who Alice had also dated back in her days at Vogue. Ever since, we have been fast friends. Also: it’s easy to make friends with girls who have kissed the same boys as you, you can form a strong bond! 

🎭 Jessica Chastain

Where do I even start with this lady!!! She inspires me daily to keep being an actress even when I feel like quitting (& I live in Los Angeles now so that happens...A LOT!!!) I have seen Zero Dark Thirty 15+ times, and watch this scene at least once a week.  Plus!!! Terrence Malick + Jessica= Tree of Life= <3 I’ve seen every single interview she's ever done. If you care about the craft of acting at all, or like listening to people talk then you should watch this.

🧴 Aesop Hair Oil

I have a lot of hair, and I’m trying to grow it out as long as Lissie’s.  My hair can be temperamental, (I have a cowlick that has a mind of its own) a few drops of this stuff and my hair is not only tamed, but it smells amazing and people will hug you for longer. What’s not to love??

👚 Lemaire Button Down

Easily one of the five things I would take with me in a fire. This is the blouse for every occasion. I bought it for my birthday in 2020, approximately 1 week before the world decided to end (??), so it holds a lot of sentimental value. It’s easily dressed down (I like to wear it with the Nu Swim Moon shorts), but it’s most classically dressed up. Armani trousers from Chickee’s Vintage plus this perfectly structured blouse is heaven on earth to my eye.

🎺  Wynton Marsalis

My first time ever visiting New York, I was 10 years old and had the pleasure of going to Dizzy’s at Lincoln Center with my father. I don’t remember how it happened but we somehow randomly met a photographer (?) who brought us backstage (everyone loves 10 year old girls) and directly to Mr. Marsalis. I had listened to jazz growing up, but this experience deepend my love for it. I had been keeping a *New York Journal* (pink with gold edged pages) and started writing a song (used to want to be a pop-star) called “New York is magnifasent.” Magnificent spelled horribly wrong. I brought the journal with me everywhere that weekend, so it was under my arm while meeting him. He ended up signing his autograph on the following page to which he wrote “Grace, New York is magnifasent” spelled wrong just like I had. 15 years later, he is not only one of the greats, but one of my favorites. I listen to his album Standard Time Vol. 2: Intimacy Calling all the time, I hope you will too.

🦁 Coeur De Lion by Ariana Reines

An epistolary love-poem that found its way to me during a totally psychotic time in my life, this, as well as Jamie Hood’s how to be a good girl, inspired me to start writing my own poetry. My dear friend was reading Coeur de Lion back when we lived together & would text me photos of stanzas that stuck out to her. We would would often have long conversations about men (obviously), boundaries, relationships, sex, self growth, etc, etc. Those conversations as well as these brilliant words by Ariana have a special place in my heart. In April, this excerpt struck me the most, “I guess there’s no point saying these things we did. We know what we did. But stating them is like reinstating them inside me.” Moody!!!!! Kinda dark!!!!! Real good if you’re into that kinda thing. God knows I am!!!!! Xoxo

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