Interview with Alexa

Today’s interview is with Alexa – a gorgeous, very stylish new mom from Hong Kong. Alexa has a wonderful sense of fashion that I adore, is a beauty guru, and was also featured in one of my favorite Sartorialist photos ever (you’ll soon see below). I hope you all enjoy meeting her!

Who are you? What do you do, and where do you live?

My name is Alexa. I am a makeup artist and a mom and I live in Hong Kong.

You’re a freelance makeup artist…what does that entail? Can you share some of the more unique projects that you’ve done?

Freelancing means I have the freedom to do jobs that I love. I’ve worked on everything from fashion editorials and shows to music videos and even movies. The most interesting project was probably the movie I did a few years ago called ‘Seventh Moon’. The guys from ‘The Blair Witch Project’ were behind it and it was all filmed in Hong Kong and mostly at night. For this particular movie, I was a senior special effects makeup artist and made up the ‘Pale Figures’ (ghosts) which was messy and really fun!

What are some of your favorite, must have, desert island beauty products? Can you also share some pieces of beauty advice that you live by?

Sunscreen is a must- I always have at least SPF 25 on, if not SPF 45.

Lip balm is another essential. I like balms like Smith’s ‘Rosebud Salve’ – not only does it keep my lips soft and adds a nice touch of colour, it’s also great for dry cuticles, taming fly away hairs, keeping eyebrows in place and even provides a soft glow when used on cheeks!

When I worked with Lisa Selesner at Channel V, she always had great hair and she told me her secret was Moroccan Oil. I’ve been using it on damp and dry hair ever since! I love the smell of it and it really helps keep my hair nice and shiny even when I’m in the sun a lot.

I would never be caught dead without nicely groomed brows! I think they can really make or break a good makeup look and even when I’m bare faced, I think that having neatly groomed brows make a big difference. I actually had my brows done the day before I gave birth! Tweezerman tweezers are my favourite.

You can never go wrong with a really fabulous red lip-they make you look “done” even when you only have 5 minutes to get ready. I almost always show up with a red lip and mascara (sometimes with glasses!) when the call time is crazy early. I have so many favourite reds… NARS Velvet Matte lip pencils are amazing and stay put the whole day. I have them in ‘Cruella’ and ‘Dragon Girl’. I also love NARS Semi Matte lipstick in ‘Heatwave‘ and Armani’s 401 is a beautiful true blue red.

Can you share how you see your style, and what a go to look for you is, for day and night? 

I like to think that my style is relatively simple. I know what works for my body and I stick with it. I’m not big on trends but if I see one that I think will work, I’m not afraid to give it a try! I was really hesitant to try maxi dresses but found that when paired with a crop top, they can work for a smaller frame. That said, I really think that it’s important to dress for your size and shape. I know that there are some items that I can’t pull off!

I feel like my style has changed a bit since having “The Bean” (Alexa’s son)… I don’t traipse around in super short skirts or dresses anymore and part of the reason is because I always have to be ready to nurse, haha! But in all honesty, I really love shoes and tend to center my outfits on them. I even bought my wedding shoes before the dress!

What are some of your favorite, beautiful, most loved items in your wardrobe?

Wow, I have so many- it’s hard to choose! One of my most favourite and frequently worn pieces is a tartan cashmere sweater that my mom gave me when I was 17. She actually received it as a souvenir from her parent’s first trip to Scotland as a teenager. I actually wear it a lot and the quality of it really amazes me.

What about the items that you wear the most?

This winter I’ve been wearing this one pair of Topshop skinny jeans to death. They are super soft and the perfect shade of dark grey and go with everything!

What’s a piece of advice about style and building the perfect closet that you’ve learned (maybe the hard way) over the years?

As I mentioned before, I think it’s essential to have a wardrobe that fits your size and shape. For example, over the years I’ve learned that bulky shapeless items just weigh me down and make me look even shorter! Heels are a petite girl’s best friend but sometimes I just want to wear flats. That’s when I’m not afraid to hike up the hemline and show a bit more leg… I should also add that if you’re going to spend $500 on a Helmut Lang blazer, don’t be afraid to spend a bit more to tailor it to your body! Fit is everything.

You are a animal lover (three dogs, two cats) and also recently had a baby! How do you keep your life organized? Has it been an adjustment with the pets since you had a baby?

Excuse my language but it’s been one hell of a ride for us with the arrival of “The Bean”. Nothing can quite prepare you for the changes that come with becoming a parent but we’ve had fun learning and really, you just have to jump straight in. Also, who says I’m organized? They’re lying!

What are some of your other hobbies and passions?

I am passionate about food, fashion and flying. Nothing makes me happier than to take off to a new country and eat something new and different. With “The Bean”, I am going to bring him with me as much as possible. I pray that he’s a good flyer for the sake of the other passengers!

Finally – please share something surprising about yourself!

I am actually really camera shy so if you notice, there aren’t that many clear shots of my face on my blog. I’m either looking off camera or hiding behind shades!

 

I can definitely relate to that last sentence – some of you may have noticed that I like to take all of my outfit pictures with sunglasses on. How cute is it that Alexa calls her little son “The Bean”? I just adore her style and was so glad to have her on here today. Thank you Alexa for being here, and for more of her, please check out her blog, here!