Fashion & Beauty Q&A
April 01, 2019
To get better in touch with what you guys were looking to hear from me not as an expert but more a connoisseur of knowledge in way too many subjects. Super straightforward post today but I will be following up with something later this week in line with my more usual format so fret not my dearests!
1) Any recommendations for sandals this spring/summer?
I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't like having their toes out so I don't own even one pair of shoes that isn't closed up. Lately, I've gotten a bit shoe-sick though and I'm constantly eyeing a few brands and the styles are pretty consistent. Reike Nen, Yuul Yie, Miista, About Arianne, By Far, and Rejina Pyo have been on my radar for a while now but they tend to be a bit out of my price range unless a sale comes around. Mango and & Other Stories have been dipping their toes (please accept my puns) into these more eclectic and kitschy designs as well but you can also try out some Korean and Japanese brands featured on Yesstyle if your shoes size is under a US Women's 8. I'll link some choices for you to take ideas from that I believe are perfect for incorporating into your closet throughout the year, not just in warmer weather.
Yesstyle $31 yesstyle.com
Yuul Yie $350 shopbop.com
& Other Stories $129 stories.com
Miista $295 needsupply.com
Mango $60 shop.mango.com
Topshop $48 topshop.com
Pomelo $110 pomelofashion.com
2) How do you deal with your hair in humid climates?
My mom's gonna snort when she reads this but, yeah, I have never had to deal with the fear of the frizz. The best advice on this I have is to make sure to use deeply moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, try to deep-condition or use a hair mask once a week, switch to satin pillowcases or wrap your hair to sleep (black women have been doing this for a million years because they have all the genius hacks), and read up on my post on cruelty-free hair care. Arming yourself with these extra tools when you get stuck in the rain or are en route to a tropical destination might save you from a bad hair day too.
Ouai Anti-Frizz Sheets $18 nordstrom.com
Kiehl's Silk Groom Serum $18 kiehls.com
Living Proof Instant De-Frizzer $29 ulta.com
3) What are some ingredients you should avoid when purchasing skincare products?
Most alcohols, fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, most oils, citrus, witch hazel, caffeine, eucalyptus, hydrogen peroxide, mint/menthol, metals, and metals. A majority of these ingredients induce skin sensitivities which can lead to a plethora of issues and downplay all of your skin salvaging efforts. I also have sensitivities to snail mucin and get breakouts when using squalane which are both supposed to be really good for the skin, but poses as a reminder to everyone to test products out before going full throttle. Paula's Choice has an amazing ingredient dictionary for helping you scope out the good and bad on the market.
4) Who are your fashion inspirations?
Cher, Diana Ross, Jeanne Damas, Aimee Song, Gemma Chan, Janelle Monae, Audrey Hepburn, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Anna Karina, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lupita Nyong'o, Rihanna, Francoise Hardy, Christy Turlington, Selena, Vanessa Hong, Margaret Zhang, and Celine Dion.
5) Who are your favorite bloggers?
Aimee Song, Chriselle Lim, Margaret Zhang, Lisa Eldridge, Leandra Medine, Into The Gloss, Olivia Palermo, Fashionista, The Klog, and The Sunday Girl.
6) Favorite couture house?
Dior and Iris van Herpen.
7) Favorite IU look?
For anyone who doesn't know I'm a mega fan of the Korean female soloist IU aka Lee Jieun, but her stylist is a lifesaver since IU has zero sense of style herself.
8) When you feel stuck, where do you look for outfit inspiration?
Instagram explore page's style section is nice to scroll through, paging through online stores even if I'm not planning on making a purchase, and Kpop girlies always dressed to impress too so album photobooks + red carpet events + music videos are great for the purpose of picking up on trends.
9) What's a current trend you don't see going out of style anytime soon?
Oversized blazers and loose fitting trousers hopefully will stick around, belted jackets and coats, mules, glass skin, and mini bags.
10) What styles are best suited for curvier figures or those who don't fit the mold of the typical runway model?
Your body doesn't dictate your ability to dress well. Being confident and comfortable is the top priority when it comes to buying and wearing clothes. Find the parts of your body you like the most and highlight those and if you feel a need to cover others, add a variety of pieces that subtly hide your insecurities while both not taking away from your personal style and not limiting your options. Try to combine fits like paring straight/skinny jeans with a loose fitting blazer or putting on wide-leg trousers with a form-fitting/more revealing blouse on top. You can always elevate simpler outfits with accessories and embellish your best features.
Reformation has just expanded the size ranges of quite a few of their selections!
11) Can you make feet look smaller in certain shoes?
Shoes with pointed toes tend to slim the shape of your foot along with heels whereas flat shoes can emphasize a wide foot. Converse are the biggest enemy for big feet, guaranteed bowling shoes.
12) Do we really have to follow the no white after Labor Day rule?
Some rules are meant to broken even if they were hammered into your head after years of watching What Not To Wear.
13) How necessary is toner in a skincare routine?
It acts as both a pH balancing tool post-cleansing and can wipe away any residue that was still stubborn enough to stick around. While 12-step routines might not be ideal for your skin, it's normally recommended to even those with minimal routines to include it.
14) Which article of clothing is versatile enough to help avoid overpacking while traveling?
Your favorite pair of jeans and a white button down. Denim can be paired with a multitude of shoes, accessories, tops, and outerwear. A white button down can be worn alone, over another shirt, or tied up in different ways to differentiate it from its primary use. (Pro tip: Apparently you can freeze your jeans so you can wash them less often)
15) How have your dietary habits changed your skin?
I've been a pescatarian for almost 5 years and I rarely consume dairy and minimize my consumption of wheat while avoiding refined sugars and processed foods. Over time, I noticed that my breakouts were reduced to unavoidable hormonal instances along with decreased oil production in my T-zone. Aside from my skin, I had a lot of gastric issues growing up and since making these changes have a much healthier gut and rarely have any stomachaches.
16) Are there any trends you wouldn't be caught dead wearing?
Dad sneakers and neon. Never. EVER.
17) What do you listen to/watch while doing your skincare routine?
I like watching Beauty Within on YouTube or the Vogue and Harper's Bazaar makeup/skin tutorials.
18) What's your holy grail skincare product?
I change around my line-up to try out new products all the time but I'm a big fan of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, Korean sheet masks, Glossier Balm Dot Com, Belif Aqua Bomb, Shiseido Gentle Foaming Cleanser, and Pyunkang Yul Moisture Serum.
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5 comments
This was so useful for me; especially the ingredient list. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading! xo
DeleteThis may or may not have opened up my eyes on a few stuff I was unaware of. Also, love that you dragged IU while praising her lmao.
ReplyDeleteGotta keep it real even with our fave artists. Thanks for reading. x
DeleteAwesome to be read about fashion trends. Here is a huge discount on Latest Fashion Accessories for Women USA. Grab the deals now.
ReplyDelete