“I’ve never been asked about my style before. I’m lightweight excited to see the article.”
I met Candace Hsu at a coffee shop on campus. She looked effortlessly chic sitting at one of the far tables; sunglasses on her head, backpack off to the side, and her laptop slightly open on the table. Candace is a third year International Studies/Economics major at UCSD. I met her a couple of months ago and instantly noticed her style. When I asked to interview her and talk a little bit about it, she seemed interested in talking about her views on fashion and why style is so important to her.
Candace had some amazing things to say about why she believes fashion is all about the individual, the palletes, and the details.
Describe your style in 3 words.
Timeless, details, and functional.
Describe what you’re wearing.
Camo sneakers that my dad bought me, really pale pink jeans with a minimal floral pattern, a basic sparkly top with a mesh back, a Skagen watch, my staple winter motorcycle jacket, sunglasses, the most expensive earrings I own, and my Timbuk2 backpack.
What are your favorite spring essentials?
Well, I wear my clothes throughout the year. I don’t discriminate against anything in my closet; I’ll still wear all my clothes year round, except for maybe heavy coats. That’s what you’re suppose to do with clothes, you’re not suppose to leave half of them out.
Where do you most like to shop?
Thrift stores. Thrifttown in SF is probably my favorite. The Mission District in SF is the new area for thrifting since it’s a block away from Valencia. I usually only sell to Crossroads; it’s thrifting but on a higher scale. They do really good credit, too. Besides thrifting I shop at Nordstrom – my mom loves Nordstrom. I guess you could call me a Nordstrom kid, my mom has shopped there for years and I even did a mini-fashion show at Nordstrom when I was a kid.
Favorite brands?
I don’t really pay attention to the brands. It doesn’t make sense to just wear one particular style all the time; I like to be versatile. One day I can be super street wear, and wear everything I have that’s street wear, and another day I can be minimalist and comfortable – and maybe even be an “Instagram model” on other days. Or, even one day I could be wearing a sundress and tennis shoes. I just like to wear all my clothes and switch it up.
Would you say you have a particular style then?
No, I’ve never analyzed my style in depth. I do draw inspiration, but I don’t like going with the trends – because if you do that then everyone would dress the same and that’s not original to me. I would try my best to not see someone wearing something I have, or at least not wear it in the same way I’m wearing it. Like Forever21, for example- people who buy stuff from there will see other people wearing the same clothes as them. That’s really what I try to avoid.
Where/from whom do you get inspiration for your outfits?
I read fashion blogs, and it’s not really for the particular items, but more for the palettes and combinations. When I read blogs, I don’t want to copy the outfit, I just want to glance and have it in my head. I would say that I also look at the people around me too, and how they put their own outfits together. What I think is most important is how an outfit is put together as a whole, the whole enchilada, how the clothes are presented together. I’m slowly getting into the whole street wear culture; it’s very comfortable and I’m trying to incorporate that into my wardrobe.
Anyone specific?
Stockholm Style! I love her because she takes pictures of people. Song of Style, as well; I started following her the beginning of high school when she was living in SF. I liked her more when she was less mainstream. Sincerely Jules, Neon Blush, I could give you a whole list if you wanted – I use Blog Lovin’ to keep track of all of them. The blogs have to use nice photos – that’s a main thing. They have to have a photographer, or be a photographer themselves. And I admire that too, how they compose the whole shoot.
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Do you have a style icon?
Audrey Hepburn, a lot of people would say that, though. But even if it is broad, I do like her. My favorite though would be Princess Diana- she was bad in her days, and my mom really likes her, too. I did book reports about her as a kid. Maybe her, if I had to pick one person. She was always so put together.
Staple?
My Skagen watch! I’ve been wearing this for a while. It’s been laying around at home and I put a battery in it and I’ve been obsessed with it. Sunglasses, too- some people don’t even recognize me without sunglasses on, either on my face or on my head. Not really a staple clothing item, [though].
So, would you say you are in support of fashion trends?
Yes, it’s nice that there’s a direction for things, but you can’t one-for-one copy everything. There has to be style behind the trend. As long as someone does something with it, it works. You don’t want to necessarily copy it, you want to give it the push it needs. For example, high-waisted shorts. It’s a trend but you have to make it your own.
Do you wear trends usually then?
People have told me that I wear things that other people cannot wear. But my response is always that you can always wear it, but people never do. They never think they can wear certain things because it’s “not in style right now.” Why do people think they can only wear things that are in style? I find that you should be able to wear whatever you want, even if it’s not a trend.
How would people describe your own personal style?
I always come home and my apartment mates always say that they like what I’m wearing. I really always just put random stuff together, and it works. You have to ask other people who see me, and see the things that I wear to really get a feel of what my style is. I don’t know how to explain what I wear. The girls that I lived with for three years can help explain how my style is, because I don’t see it as something that is “classified.”
What’s your favorite thing about fashion?
I pay attention to the details. I feel like a part of it is my parents, too. I was color-coordinated as a kid, always matching. My parents had pretty good style, too. I went to private school, so I wore a uniform for 9 years, but then going into high school I was able to finally wear what I wanted to wear and have options. Then, I started becoming conscious about style. More towards senior year, I started to do more palletes, and figure out more colors that go together – not just the same colors. I’m usually very conscious now; I sometimes boycott Forever21.
Finally, a random fact about yourself?
I have a Japanese middle name but I”m not Japanese. I guess that’s random, it’s different.