Celebrity Style
She turned the show into a fashion event.
Its not just how Wu styles herself, however, that is making a splash on screen.
She carries herself with such confidence that its almost intoxicating to watch.
Here, the reality star chats with Bustle about Y2K fashion, confidence, and cultural identity.
Your style is so unique how do you find inspiration?
In some ways I felt like I had to overcompensate.
I’m the first thing you sometimes notice in a room.
What child is at the club?"
You’re wearing your sister’s hand-me-downs."
A lot of these hand-me-downs were off-brand things.
It would be kind of humorous.
It is very mix match.
And my mom has that Asian mom aesthetic they just throw on prints.
How do you feel about the whole Y2K resurgence as a “Millennial/Gen Z cusp”?
I’m a big fan.
Those years, in particular, are when I was most aware/conscious of fashion.
I just missed the super ’90s.
It’s interesting to see that these things are being recycled, because now we’re literally in 2022.
Some of the combinations that came out of Y2K were like, “What are they wearing?”
How does being from the Bay Area influence your style?
The fashion in San Francisco is very relaxed.
We’re very chill.
No one really gives a f*ck about what you’re wearing.
I think it’s more sort of casual and just jeans, flip flops, T-shirt.
I would say what inspires me most is the street fashion.
That laid-back, effortless, cool attitude.
But I think that the architecture of San Francisco and the colors are what really inspire me.
I guess it’s because the city is kind of quirky.
The biggest inspo is that I would always be in Chinatown.
There’s that Chinatown pretty.
How does your identity as an Asian woman inform your style?
It’s so hard because women of color just can’t win.
Then there’s also that feeling of wanting to cover up and be smaller.
That push and pull of identity really informs how I dress.
Fashion on bodies is so political.
We don’t want to be a stereotype.
We also want to rebel against it, whatever traditional ideas of femininity.
We are not stagnant.
Some days, I want to be more quiet.
Other days, I want to be more loud.
Is that something that you kept in mind as you were curating your style for the show?
There’s so much inspiration and mix that comes into play.
And I think that we’re allowed to do that.
I have a YouTube channel and do a series calledStyuling.
Do you like this?"
Who cares if other people don’t like it?
If I feel good in it, then that’s all that matters.
I might get roasted on the internet, but as long as I enjoy it, then whatever.
Do you match your hairstyles to your outfits?
Because it felt like your hair was intentional especially with that first look, the jumpsuit.
I was surprised how coordinated that looked.
Because I was like, “Is the red and the orange too much?
It’s actually called a hime cut in Japan, also known as the princess cut.
If I had blue hair, it could have clashed even more.
But I feel like it was so out there that it somehow went with everything.
Are there any fashion tricks or trends youre currently obsessed with?
A lot of people are asking how I shop, because I’m teeny tiny.
I do shrink a lot of my clothes and I buy exclusively crop tops sometimes.
Tailoring is my best friend.
Aritizia has a pretty good size range.
Those are the two places that I go to if I need good staples.
But always, always shopping vintage and tailoring clothes is the number one way to go.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
