CINDY ANGELINA
CINDY ANGELINA GIVES AJENG G. ANINDITA THE LOWDOWN ON HER DREAM CLOSET, PET STYLE PEEVES, A BRAND-NEW FRENCH F&B VENTURE AND AN L.A.-INDUCED OBSESSION WITH SUNGLASSES
Closet love
IT’S AN OBVIOUS CHOICE TO NAME HER AS
our Fashion Icon of the Year. She’s young, she’s smart. She loves fashion, and experimenting with style and clothes. On top of that, she’s an all-around happy girl that’s really easy to talk to.
We meet up with Cindy Angelina for her It List photo shoot at Bika Living in Kemang. She arrives dressed in casual jeans and a Chanel top, and sporting a pair of woodenheeled mules and a big Dior Book Tote Bag. After finishing her makeup and hair, she changes into the first look by Valentino, a simple black dress with butterfly embroideries, for her exclusive interview with Prestige. Excerpts:
Congratulations on being named as our Fashion Icon this year.
Thank you for having me! I feel honoured to have this title for the second time. I hope I can inspire people around me through my style and work.
Who is your number-one fashion inspiration?
Karl Lagerfeld. Everyone in the fashion industry mourned when he passed away (last February, aged 85). Because he was truly a visionary. He reinvented Chanel’s tweed into something modern that spoke to the younger generation - he styled it in a grunge style. He was the man who put sneakers in a couture show, in 2014. I don’t think anyone can replace him, and he was truly an icon for me.
Who is your fashion role model? And if you could meet them, who would it be?
That changes from time to time. This year I’ve been obsessing over Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Her style is very me. Very chic, simple, modern and she doesn’t try too hard, everything looks effortless and comfortable. I would like to meet her one day.
What does your dream closet look like?
Actually, of all the fashion pieces, I collect sunglasses! I have, like, over 100 pairs. I wish I have bigger space to display all of my eyewear. So if I had to rebuild my closet, I would make a big case of racks, just for the sunglasses collection.
I think it’s because I studied in L.A., and wearing sunglasses there is more of a necessity than a style. The sun is very bright and you’re outdoors a lot there, right? Then you drive a lot as well. I need it! I just feel like putting different style of sunglasses can really set the mood of your style. Like, for example, with the outfit that I’m wearing right now, I would put on a pair of cat-eye sunglasses. Or for more casual outfit like jeans and a top, I would wear an aviator pair. I just love them!
Are you someone who follows trend? Or more comfortable style kind of girl?
A little bit of both. I follow trends, obviously because I love fashion. But then I follow trends that are suitable for my body type and of course I like being comfortable in daily basis because I work and juggle between meetings every day. I usually wear jeans to work and like a simple top with blazer and sneakers. At the same time when I go to event or parties, I like to dress up and play around with my clothes, putting on some nice dress and cute heels. So I would say a little bit of both.
What role do you think social media plays in fashion today?
It makes the world connected to each other and accessible for everyone. You can use it anytime, anywhere. You can easily follow trends and what’s happening on the other side of the world. To my business, it has a big impact because we do a lot of online activation through social media. And in the past four years Esqa’s growth has been amazing organically through social media. So I think it’s a very powerful tool that’s accessible to all of us.
What style rule do you think all women should break?
I feel like most girls are so afraid to wear colours. I like bold and bright colours and I wear them all the time. I love blue, light blue and into neon colours. I think girls should experiment more with colours, and just be bold.
Do you have any fashion pet peeves?
I don’t like when people wear something that’s too revealing. Like showing too much cleavage, or dress that’s too short. I find it uncomfortable.
What’s the best fashion advice you have ever received?
Choose quality over quantity.
If you could have any TV or movie character’s wardrobe, whose would you chose and why?
Definitely, Anne Hathaway’s closet in the movie The Devil Wears Prada! I think she has the best closet in a movie I have ever seen.
How is Esqa Cosmetics (a vegan cosmetics line Cindy launched with Kezia Toemion) going? Any new products coming up soon?
Yes, for sure. We’ve been launching new products monthly. Recently, we launched our eyeshadow palettes. They come in three different colours; pink, bronze and peach. We have four formulas in one palette; matte, shimmer, satin and pressed pearls. And so far the feedback from the users and bloger has been really good. They raved about it!
So I’m really happy with the outcome. The packaging comes in our signature colours of rose gold and white. They’re currently one of our best sellers. We also have launched a brow mascara a few months ago, but the eyebrow pencil itself, we have had it for quite a while now. But we’re launching another brow pencil soon, in smaller size, sometime next year.
Are you guys planning to come up with complexion products?
We have three main categories now; face, eyes and lips. But we haven’t touched the complexion area yet, and that’s actually our plan for next year. So just stay tuned for our upcoming products. We’re looking forward to release foundation, powder and concealer.
What was your biggest fear when going out and starting your own makeup line?
To be honest, Kezia and I were a bit afraid when we started this. We were afraid that the products wouldn’t sell. We’re not celebrities or makeup artists, so we just scared that it wouldn’t work. But it turned out to do quite well and, so far, we’re happy with the products we’ve developed.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned about yourself since you started your company?
It has been almost four years since we started. The most important thing I learned is that it’s not all about the money. I mean, obviously making big money is a major factor in your business’s success, but what’s more important to me is your vision and passion that you have for the company, to create something valuable for your customers - and just to dream big.
We heard that you also like travelling. Where was your last trip and what made it so fun?
I was in Sumba for a week and we stayed at this amazing resort, Nihiwatu. I just love the nature and the island is very remote. Beach is very clean, white sands, crystal clear water and beautiful sunset. I got to learn about Sumba culture as well. They really promote the local culture and I think it’s really good. I spent a week there with my friends. I got a little sunburned! (laughs)
What’s the one thing about you that would surprise people who don’t know you?
I feel like when people don’t know me, they would think I’m a very reserved and serious person. I’m actually very goofy, it’s just that I don’t show it to a lot of people. As they get to know me better they usually are so surprised to discover that aspect of me.
What’s next for you?
Aside from new products from Esqa Cosmetics. I’m also opening my first F&B venture with a couple of my friends. We’re opening Café Kitsuné, it’s a brand from Paris and started out as a music label. They also have a fashion line and F&B outlet. It’s going to open next spring in SCBD, South Jakarta. I’m really excited, and hopefully it will turn out to be successful.
“I FEEL LIKE MOST GIRLS ARE SO AFRAID TO WEAR COLOURS. I THINK GIRLS SHOULD EXPERIMENT MORE WITH COLOURS, AND JUST BE BOLD” –
CINDY ANGELINA