Spotlight is a regular series where we feature a prominent person in the style scene. This month we speak with Denise Lai, founder of popular lifestyle blog SUPERWOWOMG.
Since 2008, graphic and web designer Denise Lai has been documenting her outfits, travels and delicious meals on her popular lifestyle blog SUPERWOWOMG. Originally from Hong Kong, Lai has been living in Shanghai with her husband and their French bulldog for the past four years, and travels frequently back to her hometown. In this interview, she shares with us the fashion labels that she loves, as well as advice for aspiring bloggers on how to build up a following on social media.
Tell us why you started your blog SUPERWOWOMG.
It's crazy to say this, but I've been blogging for nine years now! I started posting about my lifestyle and outfits while I was studying in New York. It was a way for me to connect with my friends and family around the world and also an outlet for me to keep myself inspired and creative. The success of my blog allowed me to connect to other girls around the world who were interested in the same things.
What advice do you have for people who want to start a blog and build up their social media presence?
One thing I'm really proud of is that I've kept the voice and style of my blogposts consistent all these years. Readers nowadays are smart and savvy and they know when someone is regurgitating a press release. Keeping it real with your readers is so important. If you are working with a PR company to promote something, only do it if you really believe in what you're writing about. For social media, keep your posting consistent. When you always have new posts, your followers will know to check your feed all the time. Photo quality and editing/filtering is also really important. (Go easy on the DRAMA filter!)
What are some websites or blogs that you follow on a regular basis?
My favorite blogs are The Haute Pursuit, Park & Cube (love her editorial style), Egg Canvas (her photos are amazing) and MISSBISH (for fashion, streetwear and lifestyle updates).
How long does it usually takes you to decide what to wear?
I usually base my outfit around one or two items – a new jacket or a favorite pair of shoes – then I'll pick the rest of the outfit to match. I usually decide what to wear the night before, but it's so easy for me because I wear a lot of basics like black skinny jeans, black sweaters and black Nike sneakers – always black!
What are your favorite labels to wear?
Nike will forever be one of my favorite brands. My whole life I've been mixing sportswear with fashion and 99 percent of the time you'll see me in Nike sneakers. Undercover (Japan) – love that Jun Takahashi puts a twist on classic styles like biker jackets or trench coats with crazy prints, textures or graphics. Chitose Abe from Sacai is a designer and label I love so much for its uniqueness and innovative designs. Celine is hands down my favorite luxury brand. Each piece exudes luxury but is so easy to style with streetwear pieces like Nike sneakers or a parka. For everyday easywear, I shop a lot at COS or online at ASOS White, which is ASOS' higher-end in-house designed collection.
What are a few recent purchases that you like the most?
I wear glasses every day so finding my new pair of Celine glasses with clip-on sunglasses is a lifesaver. I am in love with my new bucket bag from Hong Kong brand esemblé. My latest sneaker obsession is the highly coveted Comme des Garçons x NikeLab see-through high-top dunks. The clear panels are so fun and you can show off a cute pair of colored or printed socks.
Is there anything you’d never wear?
I wear all black 99 percent of the time. I'll stray every now and then into army green, navy or grey territory but other than that I never really wear that much color. So I guess you could say I'd never wear anything that’s bright or colorful! There's that meme that says "I'll stop wearing black when they make a darker color" and that is basically my life.
Do you miss Hong Kong?
Hong Kong will always be my home but right now I love living in Shanghai. Whenever I go back, my time is usually just spent with my family or friends. Shanghai is way more spacious, and the creative scene is growing so fast and there are still so many opportunities here. To me, Hong Kong is somewhere I go back to for the familiarity and most importantly, delicious Cantonese food!
Visit official sites for:Denise Lai and SUPERWOWOMG
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