Wish You Were Here With… Jessica Wu
Sailing in the Hamptons? Partying in Ibiza? Lounging in Morocco?
Model and Stylist, Jessica Wu is leading this week’s vacation selfie series and stirring some serious FOMO...
How would you sum up what you do in a sentence?
I'm a model, stylist, and e-commerce director for Peter Do.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be everything from a fashion and jewelry designer to an interior decorator and comic illustrator.
How do you waste time, when your schedule is clear?
I waste time by baking cakes for other people! Or going on a run in Central Park (are those considered wasting though?)
What did you do on your last day off?
I watched TV with my boyfriend and we went to get junk food at 1 AM.
What’s your greatest ambition?
To enjoy every second of my life with awesome people whether it's on work or personal time.
Do you have any phobias?
Fear of heights!
Who do you most admire?
My mom, for her wisdom and guidance, and resilience in raising four children.
What do you talk about when you get your hair cut?
How the last time I let someone touch my hair was 5 years ago.
What’s the last dream that you can remember having?
I was in an airplane and the oxygen levels dropped and everyone's masks came down but I didn't have one and I was panicking.
What would you most like to change about the world?
Too many things...effectively address all humanitarian crises, end deadly wars and resolve conflicts, re-allocate spending to areas that truly need it the most, and ultimately fix the government infrastructures that allow all these things to happen.
What would you most like to change about yourself?
I'd like to manage my stress better.
Have you ever pretended to be someone else in the mirror?
Yes, when someone else styles me for a shoot!
If you could do anything without fear of repercussion, what would you do?
Eat like a queen everyday!
If you could ask anyone a question, who would you ask, and what?
Donald Trump: How do you sleep at night?
Describe yourself in three words…
Friendly, determined, enthusiastic.
What’s the most surprising thing we’d find out if we looked at your phone?
I don't have that many apps!
Favourite song?
Alone in Tokyo by Air.
Favourite colour?
Red
The perfect night out?
Enjoying a long dinner and good conversation in fall weather and walking around the city afterwards.
The funniest person you know?
My 11 year old brother.
The funniest thing you’ve ever read about yourself?
"What can't she do?"
One thing you can’t live without?
Burt's Bee's all natural oil mosquito repellent because I get bitten alive in the summer.
Favourite thing to eat?
I'm obsessed with french fries!
Least favourite thing to eat?
Bland food.
What was your first job?
I was a blogger for Claire's in high school - they sent me boxes of "cool teen stuff" over the course of a month and I created content for them.
The best advice you’ve ever been given?
When you're stressed out about something, step away for a second and reassess the situation and yourself outside of that issue. Put your life into perspective by drawing on all the other positives first.
Why did you become a stylist?
I actually fell into it rather organically. It was really more of a lowkey, casual hobby at first when I was in college (I literally pulled from my own closet!) and when I became serious about it and began assisting editors and various productions, I became more determined to build my own book and was simultaneously styling shoots on my own.
Who or what inspires you?
I'm most inspired by the people around me. Of course, they're largely fashion and arts people, but I'm attracted to those who have drive and excel in their paths that way. There are also plenty of things (causes, issues, organizations) outside of the industry that motivate me to be successful and give back to the community, whether it's small scale or for society at large.
What drives your creativity?
I get bored with myself and my work pretty easily, so I think it's just the novelty of looking at or creating something new! We're also inundated with visual information on the daily with social media so that always keeps my gears turning too.
If you could style anyone (alive or dead), who would it be?
Audrey Hepburn.
Who do you consider to be the true creatives in the world?
People who solve problems and find solutions. A lot of the time there isn't a straight path to an answer so you have to be creative in your approach. You don't necessarily have to be in an "artistic" industry like fashion--you could be an engineer, teacher, or housewife...all those things require some sort of creativity in the craft.
Who’s the coolest person you know?
My dad.