Meet Katy Hallowell

Katy is an NYC based location scout and writer. Born in Connecticut, she moved to Toronto and then to San Francisco before moving back to the east coast. Avid film-goer, Rolling Stones lover, reader and explorer. Occasional trespasser.

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on her morning routine

I'm a night owl so I complain a lot in the morning because I haven't slept much. My usual routine consists of setting at least eight alarms and sleeping through all of them. When it gets down to crunch time I'll take a shower and make myself a cup of tea — it's usually Barry's Irish Breakfast, but I also love the teas from McNally's in the West Village. Generally I skip breakfast and go straight to washing my face, brushing my teeth and putting on light makeup.

on getting into location scouting

I grew up moving around a lot so I got really into house hunting online in the cities my family was moving to. From there I would just look for locations, whether it was homes or abandoned locations— I loved the investigative part of it and that's what keeps my interest. My first job out of college was at a company called Splacer, they provide interesting locations for productions and other gigs. I started as a location scout there and just fell in love with finding secret places in particular, ones that you really have to dig for. It's special, in a city that's so full of people to find some new undiscovered space.

on writing and reading

I've loved writing and reading for as long as I can remember, when I was around seven years old I would fill journals with poetry. It just grew from there and I think reading had a lot to do with it. Great books are an amazing source of inspiration so the more I read the more I write.

““When I combine writing and scouting with photography I can get away with not committing or giving up one medium for another, I can create something much more thought out and full...create a scene. My favorite artists and artworks have always been, in my mind, genre-less. They use multiple mediums to supplement each other and produce a completely unique and abstract body of work. So I’m sure it’s also that the artists I look up to are indecisive in their mediums as well.””

— on mixing mediums

on her beauty routine

My mom always said eyes and lips are what count. That said, I don't like looking like I'm wearing a ton of makeup. When I was in high school I used to wear a ton of eyeliner and I looked like the daughter of darkness. I don't wear foundation, my freckles would make it too hard to wear anyway. I wear some soft eyeshadow, like Chanel Les 4 Ombres. Sometimes a cat eye with Chanel Le Volume mascara and a little lipstick. In products I just stick to brands I trust and ones that won't wreak havoc on my skin, like Babor Daily Mattifying Cream and Caudalie Beauty Elixir.

For nails, Essie Meet Me at Sunset and Wicked and Diptyque Eau Rose for Perfume (their Jasmine Candle is also amazing).

on confidence

I just think people should take advantage of what they have naturally, but really just do what makes you feel confident. The best thing I ever did was get comfortable with my face without makeup. It sounds stupid, but after painting on a face for so long it's a relief to be happy with the face you have. My beauty tip would be to do whatever makes you feel confident and happy — make sure you wear your makeup and it doesn't wear you.

on her style

I go through different phases aesthetically, but if I had to try and describe it I would say it's classic and clean with some 80's/90's funk and a little bit of whimsy. I usually find my favorite pieces at random stores I just happen to walk into, are outside of the city or are online. Two of my favorite vintage spots are Sideshow in Hudson, New York and Who is Sylvia? in Woodstock, Vermont. Reformation can be good for staple pieces and online I love Bona Drag. For jewlery, I love Tuza.

katy’s favorite books

I Love Dick by Chris Kraus. I wrote my senior thesis on this book at school. The provocative title makes it especially fun to read in public places, be sure to take it out on the subway. The whole story exists somewhere between fiction and non-fiction, it's a daring and honest story of one woman's experience and becoming comfortable with her own bizarre nature.

The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa

Miss Lonelyhearts & the Day of the Locust by Nathaniel West

Prenez Soin De Vous by Sophie Calle

Exercises in Style by Raymond Queneau

katy’s favorite places in New York

Troost in Greenpoint for a great backyard

Maria Vanna in Gramercy for a full Russian in wonderland experience and either a carafe of vodka or a Moscow mule

Duo on 9th St for clothes

Sadelle's in SoHo makes killer in-house bagels

Kinokuniya Bookshop -- clear your schedule for the day, you'll spend hours there

Elizabeth Street Garden