 "Photo: Maddy Alford / THE DAILY GAMECOCK")
Q & A with Yiqian Zhang, a first-year business student
Q. Do you think your style changed when you moved from China to America?
A. Yeah. American girls think Asian girls dress up every day. But really, Asian girls dress like me every day in our country. When I came here, I bought some hoodies from Victoria’s Secret Pink brand, Abercrombie, and Hollister. They are very comfy and it looks good I think. Chinese clothing is very decorated. American clothing is very plain, clean, and simple. Chinese clothes have cartoon characters, flowers, cute styles, pockets and more details. Also, Americans like to look very tan, but Asian girls try to look very pale on purpose. When I wear pink, my Chinese friends say it makes me look too tan. In China girls wear their hair in buns. Here I have become more lazy and wear it down.
Q. How would you describe your style?
A. Very Asian, I think. Most Chinese people prefer clothes from Hong Kong or Japan. Sometimes we like American girls’ clothing, but our petite bodies don’t match those styles. Mostly we prefer Hong Kong girls’ style.
Q. Any pieces you want to buy for winter?
A. I want a knitted hat and long coats. Boots to keep warm, but still look pretty. I like clothes in dark colors — brown, black, because it’s easy to keep clean.
Q. What American/Chinese stores do you shop at?
A. In Hong Kong, I like Izzue. Izzue sells my style — young and casual. I like H&M in Nanjing, but I hate that they don’t have it here in Columbia. In America, I like Banana Republic and Abercrombie and Fitch. Sometimes, when I go to South Park Mall in Charlotte, I look at Juicy Couture. I love South Park shopping center.
Q. Any celeb fashion icons whose style inspires you?
A. I like Nicole Richie’s style. In China we have many magazines that feature American and European magazines, so I watch her style in those.
Q. Do you have any beauty tips you want to share?
A. In China I got my hair chemically straightened so my hair will stay straight for 6 months. It is a really common beauty treatment in Asia. They put chemicals on your hair, run the flatiron over it, and leave the product in for 20 minutes. Then you don’t have to straighten it every day! Other girls in China put loose perms in their hair so it will stay wavy. Also, I don’t wear much makeup unless I am going out.
Q. What are your favorite beauty products?
A. One is a Japanese product called Shu Uemura. I like their foundation. I use Mac eyeliner pencils. My face wash is Biotherm, and I use Shiseido “urara” moisturizer. I use a lot of Shiseido. I don’t think I am really good at makeup, most of the time my friends help me. And Lancome mascara.
Q. If you had a free shopping spree at your favorite designer store, where would it be?
A. In America, it would be Alexander McQueen. I like his scarves. He has very nice silk scarves. In China I would pick Izzue, because it is not expensive. Most young Asian girls like it. It’s cute and designed for Asian girls’ bodies, or more petite girls.
Q. What are you wearing today?
A. My coat and shirt are from Izzue in China. My pants are from Vera Moda in China, and my scarf is from a cheap Chinese store. I ordered my boots from the Ugg online store. And my bracelet was a gift from my family to remind they would be thinking about me when I came to school in America.
