Jean Seberg wears Jean-Paul Belmondo’s hat in a scene from “Breathless,” by Godard.
1. Favorite book?
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. I have an unabashed love of "soft" sci-fi, or what is also called speculative fiction.
2. Country of origin:
Born in the city of Shanghai in China. Lived in Australia since I was 6.
3. How many red lipsticks do you own?
22 or so lipsticks, 2 lipliners and 2 glosses. My current favourites are Cle de Peau Beaute R1 Black Baccara and R3 Leonardis, one a dark burgundy skating the boundary of purple and red, the other a reddish-rose.
4. Most worn, beloved item of clothing in your closet?
Right now, it's probably my beige snakeskin loafers from Milani for David Jones. I have had them for about 9 months, and they are scuffed, dirty, and have already been re-soled. I have a somewhat "out of sight, out of mind" attitude about things, so I am never precious with them. I tend to lose, tear, or otherwise destroy beloved items of clothing - for instance my red and white paisley jacket with faux shearing collar from Nu+Nan (disappeared, probably left on a train somewhere), the dusty pink silk blouse from Saba (bleach stained), or the white blouse with ruffled collar from Cue (cigarette burn).
5. How do you take your coffee?
Soy cappuccino with half a teaspoon of sugar. First thing in the morning, I drink a big mug of watery coffee made with a Robert Timms coffee bag, some raw sugar, and a dash of soy milk.
6. Pet peeve, beauty-related:
People who equate self-proclaimed lack of concern about their appearance - "Oh, what do I care what I wear when there are starving children in Africa!" - with moral superiority. To me, it shows in nearly all cases a blissful lack of awareness of what true monk-like lack of judgement and simplicity is.
7. Which product has kept your loyalty for longest?
Blistex Lip Conditioner with SPF 20. I've been using it continuously since high school.
8. Skin type:
Combination, tending to dryness on the cheeks in Winter.
9. What was your undergraduate major?
I had three: economics, political economy, and philosophy.
10. Have you ever cut your own hair?
No, I have no skills in that department at all, and my hair is too thick and too short to mess around with.
11. What blogs do you check daily?
The Non-Blonde, The Playlist, Red Carpet Fashion Awards, Kottke.org, Tumblr, and my reading list on LiveJournal.
12. The five most extravagant things on your wishlist (but still intend to buy some day):
Loewe Amazona, a classic, structured lady-like bag large enough to hold everything I need; Ormonde Jayne Champaca parfum; Ole Lynggaard sweet drops bracelet in olive or navy; a large framed print of Falls Creek III by Melissa; a bottle of 2001 Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino.
Ole Lynggaard Sweet Drops Bracelet / Cle de Peau Beaute Ultra Rich Lipstick / Ormonde Jayne Champaca / Loewe Bolso Amazona13. Signature scent:
Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental, although this year I have also been wearing a lot of Fille en Aiguilles and Azuree.
14. Fashion and film---which inspires you most?
Jean-Luc Godard's À bout de souffle (Breathless) and Jean-Jacques Annaud's L'Amant (The Lover), both of which I saw in my early teens. You can find most of the important elements of my personal style in them: the boyish cool and insouciance of Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo's characters, the love of vintage men's brimmed hats, a minimalist aesthetic that pares accessories down to the basics in their unembellished form (shoes, bag, ring, watch). And French chic, always - ironic, nonconformist, and above all, "not aspirational", as Luca Turin defines it - underpinning everything.
15. When you binge on snacks, do you prefer salt or sweet?
I don't normally snack, and usually only on fruit - citrus and stoned fruits in particular. I am, however, very partial to dessert.
16. How do you highlight your best feature?
Objectively, my lips are probably my best feature - full, near-symmetrical and in well-maintained condition - so I wear rich, vibrant lip colours well. Brighter lip colours also help divert attention away from my skin, which lately has been less than perfect.
17. Where is your favorite place to shop for makeup?
Tangs at Orchard, Singapore and Mecca Cosmetica in Myer Sydney. Between them, they stock most of my favourite brands that are available in the Asia-Pacific region, and they get new collections fairly early. I value friendly and unobtrusive service, professional knowledge, and the patience/willingness to let me try products on.
18. Dream vacation:
The route taken by William Dalrymple in "From the Holy Mountain", across the former Byzantine Empire.
19. Worst habit:
Smoking. It's terrible for the skin (among other things), but then it apparently also improves your sense of smell, so I suppose that's some consolation.
20. The beauty maxim you live by:
Never wear something that you don't feel comfortable in.
I agree - I never wear anything that I don't feel absolutely comfortable and happy in.
ReplyDeleteI'm experimenting more with bright lip colour these days too and really enjoying it. So wonderful for spring :)
I miss Spring. :( I've been in Shanghai for the last month, and it's starting to turn into Autumn here, but I'm looking forward to getting back to Sydney for Christmas and summer at the beach.
ReplyDeleteGreat believer in lipstick that I am, I have been slowly grooming my mother into wearing shades other than soft brown-berry and rosewood... Usually by giving her lipsticks I bought that "didn't suit me but maybe it'll suit you". It took time to get her expand her comfort zone, but now she's wearing pinks and reds and looking fabulous! But it doesn't mean anything if she doesn't feel good in it, which hopefully she does.
I love the image you've chosen to front your answers; she's clearly just taken her lover's hat, like a slice of life instead of a produced image. There's something about your style... it looks like a natural, effortless extension of you.
ReplyDeleteDid we all choose work bags for our wishlists?
My style has always been very much focused on comfort - physical and mental - so nothing constricting, painful, or scratchy, that inhibits my movement or requires conscientious maintenance and care. I like things that are a bit worn-in, that bear my history. My look has become more confident and refined over the years as I played around more with shapes, colours and fabrics, but that core of relaxed semi-androgyny has remained a constant.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the long-term investment it can represent, I'm not surprised that a classic, luxurious and sturdy everyday bag is so high up on the wishlist. More attainable than the car or the house/apartment, but perhaps just as symbolic of nearing a particular stage in one's life.
I also prefer clothes to be worn in. I feel like the fabric takes on the memory of your body, and fits better, than when they are new. The question of the most worn, beloved item in our closets is a revealing one; everyone has clothes they've worn to shreds, and they're more meaningful than the shiny new trend. It's the secret behind Isabel Marant, I think. The clothes look normal, nothing special, but when you put them on they look like you've had them for years.
ReplyDelete