Meet Rachel Nguyen

Rachel launched her blog, That’s Chic, her senior year of high school in Irvine, California. Blogging put her through college, where she earned a BA in economics. After stints working as a receptionist and a marketing job she found on Craigslist, Rachel started blogging full-time. She now runs a successful Youtube channel and swears by bullet journaling.

♫ LISTEN to rachel's PLAYLIST | ⌨ rachel’s LAST GOOGLE SEARCH

ON HER MORNING ROUTINE

My morning starts off in the kitchen because I love breakfast. I prefer something sweet (like chia seed pudding) to savory in the morning, followed by a yummy, vibrational beverage. Every week I make a batch of mylk. This week I made it with fresh coconut, dried coconut flakes, dates, sunflower seeds, cashews, and a little honey. It is so good. I like to experiment with morning drinks because that’s the best way to start my body up. I’ve been meaning to make a video on some of my favorites (turmeric latte, smoothie, creamy coffee). Right now I’m drinking tea from Chinese licorice root. I really wish I enjoyed morning work-outs, but I don’t. If I do anything, it’ll be yoga. Then I burn incense to close out my morning while I make my to-do list in my bullet journal.

on growing up in Irvine, California

I did a chunk of my growing up in Irvine - a strange city because it’s privately owned and every establishment is some sort of franchise. There aren’t many family owned shops there. I never realized until moving to Los Angeles how sterile and fabricated Irvine is. It kind of freaks me out now, but it’s still home - insanely cushiony.

on getting her foot in the door

Until college I worked doing reception work. I was a horrible receptionist, though. Luckily I had my blog to carry me through; it actually paid for my college education. From there, I searched Craigslist for a marketing job and landed one at a really tacky jewelry company. Trust me, it was really bad— we sold flashy bejeweled butterfly brooches. After a few months, the men’s creative director, David, scouted me to design under him at Paige Denim. I had never designed in my life and definitely did not know what I was doing, but I was eager to get out of there and I worked extremely hard to pick up the pace.

““It’s crazy how something so minor can influence our lives so much that we have to make intentional efforts to better our lives without it. I love being off-grid so much and wish I could really commit to it.””

— on going offline

on starting her blog

I started it my senior year of high school because I loved being on the internet. It was a natural progression from the days I made guilds on Neopets and built pixel websites. My strict parents rarely let me leave the house (I missed out on many school dances), so the blog became my outlet of expression and a window into the world. I was lucky to grow up at a time when everything was still analog yet it was also the beginning of the internet. Magical time.

on shooting and editing videos

I went from using a Canon g7x to a Sony camcorder, but I also really love my GoPro. Video making can be so daunting. Start recording and try editing it. Find comfort in knowing that your first video isn’t the one that needs to be published, but starting the process will help you understand how to better record the next time around. Having the right footage is the real key to an easy and beautiful edit.

on taking a good picture

Having a great film camera and someone you feel comfortable with shooting has statistically yielded me good images. Really know your angles and what you like. Snapseed is a great editor, because you can pinpoint certain areas of an image to brighten.

Dress, Perfect Number — *Dress*, Perfect Number

““The time that is fully for me is when I leave my phone behind. Having grown up on the internet, it’s a luxury to be offline. It’s really important to have a good relationship with yourself, not a perfect one, but a good one. That’s the best way to get a feel for when you’re feeling a little off and to try various things to remedy that. For me, I need to get out of the house, be in nature, see pretty things, listen to music, and be around people to feel recharged.””

— on self-care

on her style

The majority of my closet is pre-loved. I’ve been a consignment shopper since the day I got my first paycheck and learned how to navigate eBay. The high of finding designer goods at an affordable price is addicting. Now, I’ve graduated to The Real Real. I like what I like and try to live in an unfiltered experience (consignment, thrift stores, even Pinterest!) to let my mind gravitate to what it likes.

on her beauty and skincare routine

Being on YouTube has given me exposure to a lot of brands so I’m lucky I get to try a lot of products. I did the 10 step Korean skincare routine for a while, but I’ve been so lazy and uninspired with beauty lately. The only routines and products that excite me are those with simple ingredients paired with good techniques i.e. oils and gua sha. I also use Sangre de Fruta Botanical Body Cream, La Solution 10 De Chanel, CLE Multi Cream, Red Earth Green Rush Bubble Cleanser, Agent Nateur Deodorant, Susanne Kaufmann Lifting Mask Line A, True Botanicals Pure Radiance Oil, Josie Maran Argan Finishing Balm, MAKE Beauty Moon Stick, RMS Beauty Magic Luminizer, KOSAS’ Color & Light: Pressed Powder Blush, and Mason Pearson Hairbrush.

I’m a big fan of Moon Juice adaptogenic’s including Cordyceps, Reishi, Pearl, Ashwagandha, Brain Dust and Power Dust. I also use HUM’s Green Superfood Powder.

on her love of podcasts

They are the best thought provokers for me. And I can enjoy them while I double task. Where Should We Begin by Ester Perel is a series that every human should listen to for its grounding perspective on the erotic intelligence that permeates every aspect of our relationship with ourselves and the external world.

Trench, Yang Li Men ; T-Shirt, Vintage ; Choker, Vintage YSL ; Pants, Sonia Rykiel

rachel’s favorite book

I picked up The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson after I saw her speak at a panel with Miranda July and I fell in love with her brain. She told stories in such a witty way and had me hanging on her every word. It’s a dense read for me because I’m so bad at reading, so I have to constantly reread lines. But when I really can digest the words, it’s always beautifully articulate.