Shop With: Zara Wong—letter writer, content strategist, archival shopping genius.
My weekly interview series where Zara reveals her timeless purchases, upcoming shopping list and the simplest way to get what you want on the internet.
If you already know
(or feel like you do because you, like me, devour every word of her newsletter) it’s very, very hard to sum her up in a paragraph or two.
From Vogue to Mecca to queen of her own sharp, stylish internet domain—Zara’s was one of the first Substacks I ever read or subscribed to.
We met in person many moons ago and TBH, I was nervous.
She’s cool in that very self-effacing sort of way. She’s smart and incredibly curious about EVERYTHING (please come prepared with your answers lol) and she oozes style in a way that’s very hard to describe—it’s constantly surprising, in a delightful, colorful and inspiring way. Her book recommendations are worth noting down. Her beauty recommendations are honest and well-researched. She bakes!! Is there nothing this woman cannot do?!
I normally write a brilliant intro (cough) to our guest shopper, but Zara did it better herself. Who knew?!
Hi Zara! Can you introduce yourself and tell us where you live, your favorite drink, what you love, your origin story…anything about yourself.
I write, edit, and make brands sound like they actually have a personality—because they should. Specialising in content marketing, copy, and tone of voice, I bring brand stories to life.
I also have a newsletter
about the intersection of fashion, beauty, culture, brand and the zeitgeist. I channel my intense research there.Based in Sydney, I run on hojicha and Earl Grey hot chocolate (trust me, try it). I bake more than I should, read obsessively, and have a soft spot for plutography (SG: yes I had to look it up too!) and books and films that feel like rom-coms—minus the romance.
What does shopping mean to you?
I’m all about the best of the best. I’ll research everything, sit on it, canvas opinions from friends, from the internet, and then of course there’s a bit of gut and X-factor in it as well. Shopping is a culmination of all of this.
Has your relationship with shopping changed over time?
It’s a very post-consumerist way of looking at it but our things tell us who we are. I’m all about finding what’s truly the best and sharing it (on my Instagram or at
). And you know what, it’s fun. It’s a great thing to chat about and to bond over. It tells you a lot about a person. I’ve become more careful and diligent because of limited space (I have two children) and I purchase everything with the view that I want to use it for the long term, not just for now—so it better be good.How would you describe your shopping type? Are you impulsive, intentional, a collector, a minimalist. Has that evolved over time?
I’m a collector. I really want to source something that is interesting, beautiful, well made, even rare. I don’t consider whether something is in season or on-trend so much. I like when something is rare or has a story, like an item that’s from a specific runway show or a one-off collaboration. I don’t buy to wear immediately, and when a special occasion arises, I’d rather wear something that I already own than the latest, newest thing. I really love hunting something down, whether it’s a particular item, or to create an outfit that I have in mind, so I’m always looking at a lot of vintage or pre-loved designer.
When/where/how do you shop?
Definitely alone or with my mum who also revels in shopping—she is a former fashion buyer so can spot whether something is well-made or ‘worth it’ very easily. I do the majority online, but there are times when an in-person shop is really memorable because of the experience. I am always on the look-out for a good shopping opportunity!
What are the last three things you actually bought?
1. A vintage Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co oversized vessel necklace that I found online on a resale platform.
2. A Camilla & Marc black draped mini dress with a train. I love the mini length with train look. A lot.
3. A Zimmermann white, lacey dress that’s a couple of years old. I had it wishlisted for a while and Carted let me know when the price dropped, so I bought it and wore it for my birthday lunch with my husband.
Shop Girl note: I hunted for this dress post interview (imagining myself wearing it with a pair of mid-blue denim straight leg jeans) but alas, no luck. A quick internet search for Zimmermann white lace dresses will keep you busy for months though…don’t say you weren’t warned!
Tell me about your DMs with your friends? Have you always been that friend that people ask your opinion on what they should buy?
Yes! And I always get requests from friends to suggest items for certain occasions. I think they know that I’ll canvass the internet / the world for a particular item. Instagram DMs are so useful because you can so easily forward a IG post or IG story to them.
Curating/editing/recommending things to buy has long been part of your professional, and personal, life. How do you make decisions about what to buy for yourself? Do you have a process or any rules you follow?
The internet has really reduced the barrier to entry for shopping research. There’s obviously Carted which I love to use to keep me notified on what’s coming back in stock or when prices change.
It’s also fascinating to see when prices go UP, and then come back down. Sometimes it’s due to exchange rates, other times the reason is less clear. It’s a bit sneaky when it happens for seemingly no reason, so it’s really useful that Carted keeps you up to date when that happens. I also reverse image search a lot of items on Google image search—I really like to be sure I’ve checked everything that’s available out there. I like to be careful about what I buy and curate my collections.
How do you feel about having an AI personal shopper? Let’s say…you need a red dress for an event. You ask your AI shopper to find you three options. It does. You pick the one you like the most, buy it, job done. How does that experience sound to you?
Oooh I am definitely the kind of person who would try that out just to see what the experience is like. I am always keen to try something new. But I’m not sure if I’d like it because AI is only as good as what’s available and It’ll make ‘educated’ assumptions from that—I think often when it comes to taste and personal preference, there’s that intangible X-factor that AI can’t capture.
Tell me three items that are currently on your list to buy in the next 3 months.
1. Vintage Dries Van Noten/Sacai is always on my search list…
2. I love the slim-line fitted button-up blazers and cardigans coming out at the moment, like from Aligne or Birrot. Especially when worn with matching pants.
3. Jeans. Now that I’m newly post-partum, I’m looking for a new pair of classic denim blue straight-leg jean. I’ve got plenty of cropped and wide-leg—and have just realised I seem to be missing just a classic straight-leg somehow?!
What's the most unexpected item you've ever bought?
I gravitate towards the unexpected! The first thing that comes to mind is a Tory Burch sequinned embellished duster coat that I wear with wide-legged pants and a silk cami. It was one of those pieces that I bought with no occasion in mind and even though it’s quite dressy it’s been a brilliant piece to pull out.
What's the one item in your closet/home you can't live without?
This is so hard!! I have a Fendi cashmere coat in a toffee colour that was my mother’s from the early 90s. The quality is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Honestly, it’s better than any designer item I see nowadays.
Many of us are looking for more ‘intentional’ shopping moments these days. Have you ever done a no-buy challenge?
I am really trying not to buy so much and really be careful about what I do purchase. Being a collector, I have a sizeable wardrobe admittedly that I need to prune down.
We often hear people talk about buyers' remorse. Do you ever have any guilt around shopping?
Yes, of course! Especially when I spend quite a bit of time researching something and really thinking about it, and sadly the reality just doesn’t match with what I’ve envisioned—it doesn’t quite work well on my frame or in my life.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?
I get a lot of questions about what to wear for petite girls. I’m actually 5’9” and my husband is 6’5”, so I must really look much shorter next to him! My only tip is to look into getting things tailored, because my personal issue is that most sleeves/pants/coats are too short on me.
What does it look like inside Zara Wong’s closet?
It's organised by category and within that, colour. It's quite well maintained—however, the issue is more the clothes that are piled on the side that I need to sort through. Don't we all have that pile?!
Can you tell us about the product hunt? What’s involved?
Basically trawling the internet for hours. Most of my vintage pieces have happened through just trawling on the internet. I also love vintage jewellery, particularly statement earrings and necklaces. I have a few places that I love to buy from in-person in Rome and New York.
Shop Girl note: keep reading for a few of Zara’s recs below.
What is your go-to online store?
The Real Real, Vestiaire Collective.
What makes you fall in love with a brand/product/item?
Is it a going to be a game-changer and can I find something that’s a better version? If not, it’s in for the running!
Rapid Five
What city do you call home?
Sydney.
Favorite place to eat?
Pina or Kurumac for breakfast/brunch. Lunch: Malay Chinese for laksa.
Favorite place to shop?
Vintage stores or consignment. For boutiques, I love Chez Dede in Rome or Alex Eagle in London.
Favorite place to run/hike/pilates/yoga/dance/tennis.
walking around neighbourhoods.
Favorite coffee (tea/matcha/milkshake)?
Cappuccino, hot chocolate, hojicha.
Loved this!! Zara Wong has the best style--I loved all the outfit photos!
This was so good! I loved learning more about Zara, her style and aesthetic POV are incredible.