Currently Stalking: Sharon Wei

Sunday night, fresh off a plane from Sacramento, Sharon Wei walks into Norris with the expected poise of senior who is double-majoring in theater and political science. She also an edge and flair that comes from being a member of Refresh and spending her summers in LA and Beijing. Within moments of talking with her, I knew I would leave this interview with an invaluable amount of knowledge about makeup, but also with some great advice on how to make your four years at Northwestern worth your wild.

Even though the cities she most identifies with are LA and Beijing, the place Sharon calls home is Wisconsin. She attributes Wisconsin to providing her the perfect backdrop to become obsessed with makeup. As a minority in predominantly-white Wisconsin, Sharon gravitated to her holy ground, Sephora, for an escape and a confidence boost. It also allowed her to gain a sense of individuality from the clones of Forever 21 (the only big-brand store near her town) who polluted her school.

Now, no longer confined to the small and limiting world of Wisconsin, Sharon constantly takes risks and seeks new thrills in life. One of the most interesting things about Sharon is that she auditioned to be on Refresh her freshman year with no prior dance experience and managed to get a sport in the club. Through her child and the risks she took at Northwestern  Sharon never allowing for herself to lose a sense of identity and compassion for those around her.

If both Sharon and I had the time we could have gone on all night, but luckily before she left she provided me with some advice to make the best four years out of Northwestern: “Your failure doesn’t matter”

Photo: Allie Hagen

How does film influence your style?

[In] film, you begin to think how things cinematic compared to stage. I tend to work directly with the people on the set because many of the student productions and smaller indie films do not have a costume designer, so I look into my own closet or my friends’. I tend to focus on...the background and the lighting, staying away from colors such as white or stripes. I began to pay attention to the little details that I often would not think about. Overall, what you are wearing truly depends on the film and the mood the film should convey.

What stores perfectly fit your aesthetic?

For low-end brands, I love Nasty Gal. Topshop has the perfect petite section, and I also like Zara and Brandy Melville; though I do not stand for a lot of what they stand for, they fit me really well. Two high-ends I really like are Saint Laurent and Dolce and Gabbana.

The December Issue of STITCH will be about of excess, do you ever feel guilty partaking in fast fashion?

I definitely have become more conscious of this idea and have begun to ask myself questions about things such as the Coachella trends and where they really come from. Where are they getting these head stickers from? What do the symbols on our flash tattoos really mean? It is super important to stay self-conscious about and just because it sells does not mean that you need to wear it. I really think that once you take a step away, it is very easy for you to go “woah,” but once in the mix it is very easy for it to seem normalized.

Photos: Allie Hagen

Who are some of your top beauty bloggers and Instagrammers?

Back in the day I used to watch a lot; every second I had a break in high school I watched everything. Right now I am very interested in the Pixiwoo Sisters, two make-up artists from Europe who create their own brushes, which I buy. They aren’t just amateur makeup artists. I also love Michelle Phan’s sister-in-law, who can turn herself from being a Filipino woman to Harley Quinn. She really takes the time to understand faces and how to alter them to become someone else.

What are your top everyday makeup products and some makeup trends you love?

I swear by liquid liner, because I surf and I need my makeup to stay. I also love Urban Decay's original Naked palette. It is definitely necessary to keep a good waterproof eyebrow cream or pencil. Also, I wear falsies every day if I put on make-up. This habit started when I was working in a large production studio in Beijing and people would come in and hire me on the spot because they believed I fit the look they were casting for. Which means a good eyelash glue is important, especially in my acting classes where I have to cry a lot. One thing I do not spend a lot of money on is mascara.

I love the liquid-line trend, but am not a fan of when girls over-line their lips. I also love contouring, but like liquid-lipstick, you have to know the balance for the everyday look.

What are some of your favorite high-end brands of makeup?

NARS, Chanel, YSL, and Giorgio Armani (also one of Kim Kardashian’s favorites). But don’t think you can’t use low-end brands; you just have to know your skin and if it is sensitive or not.

Photo: Allie Hagen

As a Midwest native, how do you brave the cold and stay stylish?

I am a really big believer in investing in a nice fitted coat. Something so simple can make you look much more put together, especially if you add in a scarf. I also love the heat-tech leggings from Uniqlo. Some days I can just wear those, others I slip them on under my leggings. And I would recommend a nice pair of leather gloves. They instantly make your outfit more put together compared to knit gloves.

As a member of Refresh, how does that impact your everyday style?

Of course, as a street, hip-hop dancer, the style [that fits best is] the athleisure look, with brand such as Nike and Adidas really being major staples. And often wearing baseball jerseys and caps. The athleisure trend is especially cool to me because the beginning of this inspiration comes from street dancers.

I have never choreographed a piece, but I had this mentor in Refresh who has graduated and is now looking to be a professional dancer. She is someone who I look to both in fashion and life. She was born and raised in Chicago and each one of her dances are fueled in musicality and themes, each with clear inspiration. She also adds a lot of Chicago footwear into her dances. This to me translates over to my style. Wherever I am, I try to assimilate but still keep who I am, whether that is staying more flashy on the East Coast or more simple [and] laid back on the West Coast.

Photos: Allie Hagen