“Born in New Jersey to a Puerto Rican dad and Italian and Syrian mom, Kristi had been sneaking into NYC from a young age and always knew it’s where she wanted to end up. She finally moved here at 18 to attend NYU for Media Studies, and has never looked back. She is the fashion market editor at WWD (Women’s Wear Daily) and has worked there for over five years. She writes features and fashion show reviews.”
Jumpsuit, Base Range ; Jacket, Acne
ON HER MORNING ROUTINE
When I get up, I hit snooze, put my contacts in, cuddle my dog. Water my fern, the most high-maintenance of my plants. Blast some rap and dance around my room while I get dressed (my only form of exercise). Take a deep breath before stepping onto the miserably crowded F train.
on starting out her career
My first internship was at Nylon magazine when I was 19, and I guess that’s how I got hooked on fashion journalism. It was such a fun and creative place. From there, I interned at Teen Vogue, Refinery29, New York Magazine and finally landed here, five years ago, at WWD. I started as a part-time freelancer and worked my way up; I now write fashion features and review the collections.
on her favorite movies
It feels so outdated to have a DVD collection now that everything is digitized, but I really love that I still have these. I guess my love for movies started in high school, where I’d go to the foreign and indie section of Blockbuster, RIP. That’s about as obscure as I got back then. And then my interests just intensified after I moved to New York and took some film classes at NYU. I had always lived within walking distance to Kim’s Video on St. Marks Place, which is where I bought most of these. RIP to Kim’s, too! Total bummer that it’s gone. It was such a great place to discover.
“J.D. Salinger’s short story “For Esmé – With Love and Squalor” will always be one of my favorite things to read. It’s about hope and healing and empathy and innocence...perfect and moving and completely timeless.”
Top, Isabel Marant ; Pants, Steven Alan
ON her shopping habits
I try to be thoughtful about what I bring into my closet, and I tend to splurge on things I know I’ll have forever and avoid fast fashion stuff. I like shopping online because I can make more considered choices when I’m seeing all of my options at once... Net-a-porter, Matches, MyTheresa and FWRD are all favorites and consistently drain my bank account. But in terms of brick-and-mortar, I love Barneys, Curve, Creatures of Comfort, Pilgrim for designer vintage, Procell for 90s vintage, and Assembly, which is dangerously close to my apartment.
on her haircare
I wash my hair every other day, put in some texturizing mousse, let it air dry for awhile and then finish it by blow drying it with a diffuser, which brings out the natural wave. I see my colorist (Bryan Thomson-DiPalma, the best) a few times a year for natural, beachy highlights. I always want my hair to look undone and messy. I hate getting it blown out professionally because it always looks too polished. I don’t wanna look like I’m going to the prom!
Top, Rachel Comey ; Pants, Reformation ; Jacket, Balenciaga
Top, Calvin Klein ; Jeans, Levi's ; Shoes, Marc by Marc Jacobs
ON Her beauty ROUTINE
I’ve been wearing basically the same makeup since I started using it in middle school: Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer and Bobbi Brown Corrector to make it look like I’ve had a full night’s sleep, mascara and Butter London Wink Matte Liquid Eyeliner and Yves Saint Laurent Yves Saint Laurent Couture Kajal Eye Pencil, to accentuate my eyes with NARS eye paint, and coral Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color and NARS Women's Velvet Matte Lip Pencil to highlight my cheeks and lips. If they ever stop making those Nars matte lip pencils, I’ll be very upset. I’m also obsessed with maintaining my tan; this Chanel Perfection Lumiere Flawless Fluid Makeup Chanel bronzing liquid I just bought is pretty good for that. I also recommend Laura Mercier Tinted moisturizer, Chantecaille Liquid Lumière Anti-Aging Cheek Illuminator, Obsessive Compulsive Nail Color, and Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Perfect Texture Finishing Spray.
on her skincare routine
I recommend VERSO Day Cream, Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Body Butter, Chanel Morning Reactivating Face Care, La Nuit de Chanel Evening Recharging Face Care, Frau Tonis Parfum, Le Weekend de Chanel, and Diptyque Philosykos Eau De Parfum.
“I guess my cardinal rule is to just wear what works for my body. I like sexy stuff at night – a little black top is definitely my thing – but there always has to be an element of casualness or sportiness to what I’m wearing. I hate feeling too “done.” During the day I dress comfortably, tomboyish. My closet is full of blacks/neutrals but I also love wearing the color red. That usually freaks people out because everybody’s so used to seeing me in black.”
Bomber, Acne ; Pants, Isabel Marant Etoile ; Top, Isa Arfen
kristi's FAVORITE BOOKs
Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, The Devil's Playground by Nan Goldin
kristi's favorite places in nyc
I don’t cook (never have; not once) so I live at Dimes, Kiki’s, Takahachi and Lil' Frankies. Barbuto is amazing for dinner, too.
I love getting drinks at the Bowery. And if I don’t have an iced coffee from Blue Bottle in the morning I can’t really get through my workday.
Top, Rachel Comey ; Pants, Reformation ; Jacket, Balenciaga ; Bag, Mark Cross ;Shoes, Prada ; Sunglasses, Oliver People