Jessica Wu's Simplistic Approach to Recreating Iconic Runway Looks
The 25-year-old model and entrepreneur retraces her connection to fashion and beauty, recalling her dad's sewing machine and her grandmother's Taiwan boutique.
WHAT COLOR DEFINES JESSICA WU?
Red. I've been a black and white person for a large part of my life — predominantly black, which used to be my one color to wear. When I lived in Southern California, everyone would ask why I wore black, but I would wear it because it was fashionable and easy.
When I moved to New York City, I got into the color red. It just catches my eye. The essence, too, of red is passion and it gives off a burning feeling — which is how I view my life in New York. I focus on what I'm really passionate about and pursue it.
Red is robust, it’s confident, and that is what I love about it.
The infamous “NO” which made its debut at the Viktor & Rolf FW08 show, the vibrant rainbow at the Margiela FW17 show, and the culturally radiant look at the Christian Dior SS07 show: Jessica Wu has recreated them all using fewer makeup tools than one would think.
Wu is a 25-year-old model, co-founder and press director of the clothing brand Peter Do, founder of the souvenir store Shop Shop, and the founder of the online menstrual platform Period Space. If you ask her, she sums it all by saying she is a model and entrepreneur.
“I love to pursue a lot of things,” Wu said to Palette.
Recently, Wu, currently based in New York City, caught the eye of her Instagram followers through her recreations of iconic runway makeup looks. When asked why she chose Instagram to host the looks, Wu says exterior beauty has always been as integral to fashion as it is to the app.
“Presentation is important and it’s a trial and error process,” Wu said.
But, she is sure to clarify she is not a member of the beauty world.
“I wouldn't say I’m a beauty person — I don't watch a lot of Youtube videos, I didn't get makeup brushes until a few months ago — I don't really consider myself a makeup buff, I just find the experimentation part to be fun,” Wu said.
She continued, “I'm inspired by the Instagram world but I'm not really part of it. I just think it’s fun to reminisce on fashion’s history.”
Wu’s connection to fashion began in the sixth grade. On her mother’s side, her grandmother owned a boutique in Taiwan — her parents’ place of origin — and on her other grandmother, on her father’s side, was often busy sewing on her machine.
“She would even sew clothes for my stuffed animals,” Wu said through laughs.
Her father’s sister also had subscriptions to fashion magazines such as Vogue and Teen Vogue.
“I remember seeing editorials and seeing how fashion could be so different,” Wu said. “I come from Newport Beach in California, where things are so laid back. Finding fashion was a way to escape and a way to differentiate myself.”
She describes growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood with about five people of Asian descent.
“My best friend was Japanese and they'd make jokes about us being related, so fashion became a way to combat that feeling and I was able to extend myself,” Wu said.
After growing to be more stabilized in her fashion, Wu then started to tap into the world of beauty, though, not until she entered college.
“In high school, I felt really self-conscious,” Wu said. “I had braces and glasses and my mom wouldn't let me get contact lenses because I was young and so were my eyes. So, I waited until my college years and started to wear makeup then.”
Her first makeup tool of choice was an eyeliner, which she would use to sketch out a cat-eye.
“I'm a cat-eye person, I’ll wear a cat-eye to death. I would wear it to a point where I felt naked without it on,” Wu said.
While on fashion shoots, Wu would receive compliments from makeup artists of various backgrounds. The diversity in artistry she encountered, enabled Wu to practice various looks on herself and remain inspired by how different looks could blend together. This, in part, is what led to her runway recreations on Instagram.
“I don't remember how I was suddenly into it. I had leftover sequins from my Shop Shop and even before the runway looks I was playing around with makeup,” Wu said. “But, the Chanel runway look was the first one I did and it was a random experiment at first. I got interested in how I could practice on my face.”
Quite simply, Wu is drawn to the theatrics and discovers her next creations through revisiting Vogue runway shows over the years.
“I love how extravagant and out of control they are. It's not something you'll be wearing on the street,” Wu said, adding she admires textured looks. Her recent purchase of sequins, feathers, and Swarovski crystals goes on to prove this.
To create the looks, Wu says of importance to her is using items and tools she has in her home. Those could include her face painting palette, which helps her mix and match distinct colors.
Wu preps her face by doing her skincare routine — usually consisting of a serum and moisturizer — before beginning in the process. She also says she does not wear foundation, but if she were to, makeup brand Orcé would be her product of choice as they create products for Asian skin tones.
“After that, I play around a little bit and the entire process time varies. Some of the looks will take two or three hours, the Dior look took 40 something minutes,” Wu said. “I play around and then I fix whatever mistakes come up.”
As a fan of bold looks, Wu’s advice to anyone trying to recreate them is to not be afraid to experiment.
“It took a while for me to get out of my comfort zone — I would wear red eyeshadow and get funny looks — but when you put on your face and own your confidence, you can do whatever you want,” Wu said. “Be comfortable in your own skin then do something that makes you uncomfortable.”
As far as her ride or die makeup products?
“NYX liquid eyeliner, the one with a really fine brush, I have used for years. Then, Glossier’s concealer I use religiously because it’s easily buildable. I also love the HipDot eyeshadow palettes.”
Her list of makeup artists for inspiration is also extensive and dazzling. Those include Pat McGrath, Isamaya Ffrench, Katie Jane Hughes, Chiao Li Hsu, Grace Ahn, Peter Philips, and Kate Mur.
Wu’s final word on creating is to create when the lightning is good and to always be positioned near the sun.