Plus, he shares his favorite tips for shopping on a budget.
With ever-evolving TikTok style trends, online fashion stores, and a huge number of brands to choose from, shopping can be overwhelming. Queer Eyefashion expert Tan France knows a thing or two about shopping, and who better to get shopping advice from than someone who does it for a living?
We spoke with Tan about her favorite shopping spots, money saving tips, how to save money using In Citi Shop, and how she feels about the latest emerging TikTok fashion trends. (Our favorite piece of advice? “Once you’ve tried that trend, you’ll never need it again.”)
What are your favorite places to shop, either online or in store?
Tan France: To be honest, I don’t shop in person that much. It’s become a little difficult to shop in person because people follow me and see what I do. I do shop online from different countries, depending on the category. There’s a company called CMMN SWDN that I think is amazing. I also love American vintage. I don’t usually buy new stuff from the US, but when it comes to clothing, I buy vintage stuff. However, all my makeup and facial products are made in the US.
Do you have a favorite skincare brand that you’re proud of?
TF: I love Dr. Sturm, Tata Harper, and Drunk Elephant.
And then we talked about saving money, do you have any specific tips on saving money?
TF: I wish I could tell you there’s an easy way, but there isn’t. Take your time. Don’t expect to be in and out in 10 minutes. It’s not like a quick stop at a regular store. Take an hour to pick out what you really want and create your own little section without telling anyone. That’s my number one tip for thrift shopping. Since thrift stores usually don’t have space for your own stuff, I gather all the things I love and put them in a little section tucked away in a corner, then I go through and pare down.
So what style categories do you think are worth splurging on versus the ones you’d rather save on?
TF: When it comes to beauty products, go to Sephora and look at the reviews. I love Barbara Sturm, but more expensive isn’t always better. When it comes to clothing, I only spend money on shoes and bags. I can buy a pair of jeans for like $30 and no one will know they’re $30. I’m always thrifty when it comes to basics. I love Gap for that.
What is your biggest style issue?
TFPeople who try something just because someone else is wearing it. I often think, “I love what Taylor wears, but I’m not Taylor, so I can’t wear it.” Look up to the people you admire, but remember you’re not them. Get inspired, but don’t copy them. Make it your own. What I hate most is people who try to copy a certain person. They’re totally different from you, they have a different body type, so don’t copy them. You can tell right away when someone is wearing a costume. It’s not unique.
What fashion trend do you secretly, or not so secretly, hate?
TF: It’s not that I hate it, I’m just tired of it. But I don’t like streetwear. It’s not for my age. And it has to do with where I live. Maybe in London, New York, or LA it would be OK, but I live in Salt Lake City. It’s not the time or the place. And I’m not into super ’90s trends. That’s just because that was my high school years, and I don’t want to see that. I’m not a big fan of it when someone looks like they stole their clothes straight from my high school. As a general rule of thumb, once you’ve gone through a trend, you don’t need it again.
There are a lot of fashion trends being driven by TikTok right now – what do you think about that?
TF: I use TikTok a lot but I don’t get inspiration from it. If a new trend comes out on TikTok I don’t think I should do it because everyone else is doing it. I like to do things my own way so the only thing I worry about with TikTok or any other social platform is that if I see 1000 people posting it, I’ll see what everyone else is using. Instead of buying what everyone else has, why not do it your own way?
Are there any TikTok fashion trends you’ve been loving lately?
TF: No. Haha, mostly because the creators are under 30. The stuff they make is not for me. It’s just stuff I rolled up and put in a laundry basket, like, “Wow, this is amazing.” Just because it’s wild doesn’t mean it’s right.
So what are your favorite fashion trends right now?
TF: There are so many! I’m obsessed with oversized suits. They were big last year and you could see them everywhere, and they’re still going strong. I love the minis and micro minis I saw at Miu Miu. Dior came out with a mini recently and it was amazing. I still love loafers. They were big last year and I still love them. I’m also obsessed with a great summer trench, like the Maxi Daster Trench. I love outerwear in general.
Do you have any secret online shopping hacks?
TF: Really narrow it down before you go online because you could end up lost for hours. Really narrow it down and say, what is it that you want? Who do you want to look like? What jeans do BLACKPINK wear that really excites you? What cowboy style does Beyoncé wear that really excites you and that you want to emulate? Really understand and focus on what you want, and then Google that and be very specific. It’s not enough to just think, “I’m going to shop on this website and hope I find something.” Be purposeful, or you’ll just waste hours.
If you’re a shopaholic on a budget, what are your personal tips for saving money?
TF: I shop almost every day. I’m online almost every day because of my job. I have to shop for myself and I have to shop with the people that I work with on the show. The Citi Shop browser extension is my favorite tip, my secret right now. When you add this extension to your laptop or your phone, it automatically gives you deals and discounts. If there’s a coupon available, it lets you know that there’s a coupon available, even if it only saves you a few percent. That was a game changer.
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