What’s in

A new series featuring the style and stories of Asian women with influence.

Photo by: @kiranoelphotography

One thing about me is that I often sit on ideas for a long time. I’ll think of a topic I want to cover for the newsletter, get excited, jot down a long list of notes, ruminate about it, talk it through with my husband and then… talk myself out of it. Some ideas, though, I just can’t shake, and those are the ones I know are worth pursuing.

So far, this newsletter has been a place for me to write out my personal thoughts and share a bit about my life and what I’m loving (you might’ve noticed a lot of the times, it’s clothes.) At the same time, I have a strong desire to cover topics that feel meaningful and that connect us in one way or another. To share stories that feel relatable. And to bring up interesting points of view that could give you, the readers, something to think about.

I’ve had this idea for a long time on how I could mesh my love of fashion with my other interest, which is conversations around identity. So, before I talk myself out of it again, I figured I’d better go ahead and share with you that I’m starting a new series for the newsletter called What’s in.

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What’s in will be a recurring series spotlighting the style and stories of Asian women with influence. Get to know who they are, what they’re wearing and what’s in.

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A little backstory

Personally, I love following other Asian creatives and content creators, especially in the fashion and lifestyle space. Many of the ones I follow are talented, successful and have something to offer with their unique taste and style—yet I’ve noticed they’re not talked about as much.

I notice this in conversations with friends about where they go to for style inspiration. I notice it on Substack, where a lot of the same fashion newsletters are repeatedly recommended and shared, with very few of them written by women who look like me.

Let me point out that I don’t think this is deliberate, and most of the time, it’s probably because we’re not exposed to as many Asian creators as often. Their lack of representation in these conversations could be because people aren’t aware of who’s out there. 

When I wrote about my observations in a previous newsletter, many of you expressed feeling the same way, which brings us here. My idea for this series is simply to continue keeping talented Asian women at the forefront of conversations around fashion and lifestyle, so it’s not so hard for others to seek out their perspectives.

More on my ‘why’ for starting the series

My love of fashion and clothes started at a young age and was something that was passed down to me from my mom. In 1988, when I was two years old, we immigrated to Canada from the Philippines with not much. My mom worked hard, sometimes juggling 2-3 jobs at a time, to support our family and be able to afford nice things.

She’d take me along on trips to the mall, and I’d see how much effort she’d put into what to wear, mixing and matching pieces, assessing quality and price. She liked looking put-together and was always interested in what people were wearing and what styles or brands were in. My mom definitely influenced my approach to getting dressed, and to this day, she’s the one I swap style ideas with over Instagram and who I turn to for input when I buy something new.

Left: Me at age 7 (?) My mom dressed me in ruffles, a vest, skirt and hat when we took our oath of citizenship in Canada. Right: My mom, all dressed up, and me, snacking, in Ottawa.

Growing up, I didn’t have many fashion influences who looked like me, but now, with social media, I get excited whenever I come across someone from the same or similar background. I think it’s natural to want to see yourself reflected in the types of content you’re consuming.

Not only is it about the clothes but there’s also a sense of connection and pride. Seeing other Asian women lean into who they are and embrace their individuality and roots—in life and creative pursuits—makes me want to do the same. I want to be able to create a space where we can share different life and style perspectives while acknowledging the experiences that shaped them.

What to expect

Profiles and interviews with personal style insights and recommendations. In my mom’s native language, Tagalog, “uso” means stylish, trendy and in. The context of What’s in is meant to be in reference to the Asian creators themselves and their style recs.

The series is going to be light, fun and conversational, and I hope it connects you to new women and perspectives you may not have yet discovered.

Thanks for reading and all your support—I can’t wait to show you What’s in.

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One last thing

Just wanted to say a quick thanks for subscribing and reading these newsletters. Writing them brings me so much joy, as does hearing from you and knowing you liked reading them, too. So, if you can…

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