She may be making a name for herself in Britain, but actress Celeste Wong remains fond of New Zealand fashion. She tells us about her style.
Celeste Wong is based in London, but represents New Zealand fashion by wearing pieces from the likes of Nom*D and jewellery label d-luxe. The actress has been back in Auckland for the launch of My Wedding and Other Secrets (she plays Melanie, "the perfect Chinese daughter"). New Zealand fashion helps
protect her against the London cold too: Wong says she would be lost without her black wool Nom*D "mama jack" cardigan bought more than 10 years ago. "I've had to put suede elbow patches on it, but other than that it still has a great shape. "
Best style advice you have ever received?
Dress to impress, not to shock. Avoid nylon.
Your favourite accessory?
A d-luxe antique typeface necklace that my friend Megan, one of the two designers, gave me for my birthday. It has my initials, CCW. It's a perfect combination of antique and contemporary.
Who are your favourite designers?
Early Martin Margiela - before the designer himself left the brand - for conceptual design. Helmet Lang and Alexander Wang for a bit of city edge. Chloe and Celine for femininity.
What's your biggest guilty pleasure?
Coffee and breakfast, then a manicure.
Who does the best shoes?
Christian Louboutin. They're classic and elegant with a good range of colourways that always flatter the leg.
What's the one thing everyone should have in their wardrobe?
A trusty belt.
Best city for fashion shopping?
London, Stockholm and Hong Kong. London has a reputation for being "avant garde" so it makes for a selection of clothing available that is more diverse. Swedish people are generally very stylish, particularly in regards to fashion and design, so shopping is great there. Hong Kong has lots of boutiques filled with weird and quirky finds no one else will think of making or even wearing.
Your favourite shop?
Liberty and Dover St Market, in London; Beyond Retro, in London and Stockholm.
Whose wardrobe would you most like to raid?
Chloe Sevigny, Kate Bosworth, Diane Kruger, Katherine Hepburn and Sofia Coppola.
Is there anything you' never wear?
Crocs and tight white trousers - unless I'm in "character", but even then ...
What is the biggest fashion/beauty/hair mistake you have ever made?
Buying platform Skechers.
The one rule you always dress by?
Always be comfortable with what you're wearing and what it says about you.
Favourite fashion-y movie, or fashion moment in film?
The Aviator, All about Eve, oh and Clueless is still funny. There's a great paradoxical fashion moment in the movie The Devil Wears Prada. Meryl Streep's character coolly deprecates Andrea's ignorance of the significance that fashion decisions at an expert level affect her even at the most basic level - whether she is consciously "involved" in fashion or not.
Dress to impress whom?
Myself. And perhaps a casting director.
How would you describe your style?
I dress pretty normally, but I think my style has a combination of feminine and masculine. I don't feel comfortable completely being one or the other.
When I was in high school I wore ...
I'd rather forget about that.
What is your favourite decade, style-wise?
The 50s. I love the hair, the opulence of the fabrics and dresses and the femininity of the 50s silhouette.
Who does the best jeans?
Am I the only one who doesn't give a toss about jeans?
