037: MELISSA WONG
lives out of her Rimowa suitcase.
We’re back, baby. Hi and a belated happy new year to you all. My 3-week holiday hiatus was not intentional (trust that I would have left you with a proper goodbye!) but in retrospect, thinking that I would maintain a weekly posting schedule while I was living out of a suitcase was a little foolish. I’ve been traveling quite a bit.
My most substantial trip was about two weeks long and I spent it hopping between Paris and Copenhagen. Climates and corresponding ensembles were varied, fashion inspiration was abundant. Of course, the French are perpetually chic and envy-inducing but I was also very taken by the tough Danish girls. By tough, I mean that these ladies can ride a bike in 17 degree weather and look fabulous while doing so. I’ve asked some of them to tell me their secrets for future letters, so stay tuned.
I’ll fill you in more on my trip next week. In the meantime, I am really excited to introduce you to one of my best-dressed friends, Melissa Wong. Melissa is an agent who has spent the last decade representing some of the biggest names in fashion. She started the new year by founding her own agency, Red Represents. Melissa has impeccable taste in absolutely everything and she applies her eye for curation to every aspect of her life. Yes she has a killer wardrobe, but everything she buys and wears is backed by a heavy dose of intention. I love the way Melissa thinks about fashion, and I’m sure you will too. Read on!
I’m Melissa, an agent living between New York, Paris, and Miami.
That said, I am writing this from a plane. My most worn clothes fit in a carry-on, and have to be multifunctional and timeless. I’ll preface the rest by saying I put a lot of thought into my choices. Let me explain …
High performance luggage.
Girl math has recently taken the internet by storm, but as someone who majored in economics, I have always been a proponent of cost per wear. If you travel as often as I do, you need nice luggage. It needs to be as confident and efficient as you are, and able to come with you to an important meeting before catching a flight. I also majored in psychology… There is something so reassuring about fully committing to the path you’re on, even if it’s giving yourself permission to splurge on the right tools to make the journey as smooth as possible. It’s also a no-brainer if you know Rimowa has a lifetime warranty and maintains about 90% of its resale value.
My dog walking into dinner look.
I believe in investing in the pieces that I spend most of my day in. In New York and Paris, it doesn’t make sense to run home and change before dinner. Not to mention, you never know who you’ll run into. As an agent working with the best in fashion, representing my agency and clients is a full time affair.
Comfort and authenticity are big for me. I know what I like, and I am who I am. My day-to-day right now is an oversized leather jacket layered with a vintage sweatshirt and a little spaghetti strap cami underneath. I have an affinity for spaghetti straps that dates back to wearing a ballet leotard everyday for twenty-some years. Décolletage at dinner is elegant, and I have always felt that stripped back simplicity is the most sexy. During the SSENSE private sale, I picked up a buttery-soft, leather bomber from Stand Studio (available here and here). I wanted a distressed effect without feeling too grunge. I liked that the buttons, collar, and longer length felt more like a coat and less like the biker jacket I previously had. I give myself permission to make small adjustments to find something that feels even more me… even if my boyfriend says it looks like the jacket I already have at home. I feel especially good about the upgrade because I re-homed the other jacket to a friend who had always loved it. In economics, this is referred to as a Pareto Improvement. The Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, determined that 80% of the outcome comes from 20% of the causes - when applied to clothing this means we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time (this is the Pareto Principle).
I like an elevated bag to carry dog biscuits for my top negotiator, Bobby Junior. My go-tos are a Goyard mini Anjou tote (buy it resale here) in black and a suede Bottega Veneta teen Jodie in gray. Somehow both of these have undergone two price increases since they were first released… From an investment point of view, I have practically made money (!).
Another point in making the case for purchasing pieces that last: the leather on my Celine loafers and Repettos still looks new after daily use. Both of these are burgundy, which feels really luxe and less expected than black. I have my shoes resoled periodically for best results.
I think it is so important to be a conscientious consumer and have an awareness of the impact our choices have. Personally, I avoid fast fashion and synthetic materials that deteriorate quickly. I consign often, which informs how I shop (resale value) and when I sell (supply and demand). It’s a bit of self care to let go of what no longer serves you. I don’t like impulse buying; I will think for some time before I purchase. I play a harmless game where I see how far something in my RealReal wishlist is marked down before it’s sold out. While a good deal can be fun, I rarely regret not making a purchase… Life goes on.
Work out clothes and jewelry.
Yes, I am that kind of person who works out while traveling and wears jewelry at the gym. I have a few Alo Airlift short and bra sets (spaghetti straps!) - they take up zero space in my bag. For me, both exercise and jewelry are about consistency. I haven’t taken off my core necklace, bracelet, or pinky ring in many years; I wanted them to be minimal enough to shower, swim, and sleep in. They are all gold, which is very Miami, probably a subconscious thing from my childhood. When I am not working out, I sometimes wear a vintage Cartier Panthere watch I picked up five years ago - the current resale value for the exact same piece is more than double what I originally paid.
Baggy jeans and kitten heels.
Baggy jeans do it all, they even give the semblance of being relaxed although I’m a pretty serious person. On the other hand, there is nothing like a kitten heel that makes me look put-together when I am feeling scattered. The combination of the two is like PB&J. I always wear baggy jeans on the plane because Europe has a weight restriction on carry-on bags. My most worn kitten heels are classic black Manolos - either the Callamu 50mm sandals or pointed toe Carolyne 50mm slingbacks come with me on trips.
Occasionally, I adjust the formula. For the recent holiday party season - I swapped my big jeans for a tiny pleated skirt. Then I pull out my favorite party trick, which is a matching bag and shoe moment…
Thank you for reading this week! I’m so glad to be writing to you all again. 2024 will be an exciting and expansive year for Habiter - stay tuned. Until next week. xx
"There is something so reassuring about fully committing to the path you’re on, even if it’s giving yourself permission to splurge on the right tools to make the journey as smooth as possible." This will stay with me!!
xx
What an awesome pick for your return! I’m dying for the piece on the rough Copenhagen girls. I’m currently walking more to places (yes, in the winter) and struggling with shoe choices that fit my new lifestyle