50 Questions with Style by H2W blogger HsinWei Ho

HsinWei Ho is one of those influencers that I’ve been following way before even beginning on the Husskie journey. With adorable fashion items, a quirky personality, and just someone that is really supportive of others – HsinWei was quick to become one of my favourites.

And I am definitely not alone in my patronage. Despite only launching her Instagram account @_h2w_ at the end of 2015, HsinWei is now sitting on 104K followers – and growing every day. Originally from Taiwan but living in London for half her life, HsinWei’s expertise in style and design has also seen her tapped by Vogue as a contributor.

Thrilled to have the Style by H2W fashion blogger join Husskie for our latest Fast 50, we chat to HsinWei about everything from her top Instagram tip to how she got her start in media…

Missed the last articles in the 50 Questions series? Click the links to read interviews with Troy Pes, Chloe Barry-Hang, and Your Passport‘s Lara Kamnik.

1. Best beauty product of all time? Aussie 3 Minute Miracle hair products – super budget but beats all the luxurious hair products I have ever tried (and I have tried a lot!) I use it daily as a conditioner rather than weekly treatment #notsponsored
2. Five beauty products you can’t live without? If I must choose… eyebrow pencil/pen, eyeliner, mascara and eye cream – that’s all, but I can live without makeup
3. Hair “done” or messy? Messy
4. Makeup or no makeup? No makeup
5. Favourite fragrance? Tom Ford Amber Absolute (discontinued) / Nudeite Parfum Solide Three Am (at the moment)
6. Favourite item of clothing? Jeans
7. Favourite fashion brand? To appreciate – The Row, to wear – Zara
8. Sneakers or heels? Sneakers
9. Gym or exercising outdoors? Gym
10. Yoga or running? Running, but I try to avoid too much cardio even though I love it. I don’t keep up the muscles very easily

11. Healthy eating or treating yourself? Trying to be ‘healthy eating’ but treating myself most of the time
12. Can you cook? Is making pot noodles cooking? ?
13. Favourite food? Aubergine
14. Favourite drink? Iced coffee
15. Best place to eat out? I am easy
16. Happiest moment? Maybe I have to wait until I win the lottery
17. Saddest moment? My cat, Nini, passed away on 2nd June, 2017
18. Instagram or Snapchat? Instagram
19. Blog or YouTube? Blog
20. Iphone or camera? Both

21. Type of camera? Several cameras
22. VSCO cam or Snapseed? None of them
23. Facetune or untouched? Depends – both and Instagram filters
24. Favourite filter? Aden from Instagram
25. 9-5 job or full-time influencer? Full-time at the moment until I start the next challenge
26. How did you first get your start in media? I was negotiating the agreement to leave the company I co-founded in 2009 at the end of 2015 and had lots of time. Photoshoot directing and photo editing are part of what I had been doing in my career – so social media is the perfect form of showing them off
27. How much time goes into a normal picture found on your Instagram account? Depends… some of them can take a really long time if you calculate it from researching, planning, sourcing, styling, travelling, shooting, editing, scheduling and posting. Some (but rare) can be just simply mood for the moment, the actual “instant” photos
28. What’s your top Instagram tip? If having a commercial account is what you are aiming for, show the best and edited version of you and your life. Unless you are a real life celebrity, it won’t work by simply showing whatever quick snaps are happening in a common person’s life (maybe in 2009, but not now in 2017). And don’t fake a non-existing image either, people are smarter than you think
29. Who takes your pics? I work with a photographer friend for most of the collaboration photos. Normally just friends and family or a stranger in the street. I edit all the photos myself afterwards
30. Most exciting moment since being an influencer? I was joking to my friends that I would post a nude photo once I reached 1k followers as I started IG just for fun… I reached it in less than four weeks!

31. Most terrifying moment since being an influencer? Terrifying ? not yet and I hope never… but I never tag anywhere near where I live
32. Best campaign you’ve ever worked on? I only work with brands I like and appreciate every single one of them. It doesn’t matter if it is famous or small
33. The best gift you’ve ever received as an influencer? I was sent to hospital by ambulance last year cos of severe stomach cramps and posted an Insta Stories from hospital. After I woke up, my DM was full of messages
34. Last thing you googled? Weather in the next 14 days
35. Favourite film? ‘Clueless’ (I am blushing but love it) + ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ + ‘The Wings of the Dove’
36. Favourite book? ‘Orlando’
37. Favourite song? ‘Common People’
38. Favourite band? Pulp and Suede
39. Living in the city or living by the beach? London, although I hope I was by the beach
40. Favourite travel destination? I don’t know yet but I always end up in Nice. It’s so easy and can’t go wrong

41. Going out clubbing or quiet dinner with friends? Quiet dinner alone
42. Partner or single? Single
43. Siblings? 2 sisters
44. What city are you currently living in? London
45. Celebrity girl crush? Whoever’s hot I guess
46. Celebrity boy crush? Several but none of them last over 24 hours
47. Pets? 5 cats and 1 bird in Taiwan, but the eldest cat, Nini, and the bird, Pipi, are gone 🙁
48. Top five Instagram accounts to follow? Firstly, follow mine which is @_h2w_ … just kidding 😛 … I love something quite different from mine. Ex. Lusttforlife, the Row, Ninasuess, camillecharriere, etc
49. Top career tip? I am saying it not just as a blogger but more as an experienced designer / director / company founder: it’s good and important to have dreams, but at the very first and least, you need to look at the world and be honest about what you are good at to start with. And that’s what you are going to promote and win. Otherwise you aren’t a dreamer, you are just stupid (sorry but not sorry!)
50. Favourite quote you live by? “Cogito ergo sum” / “The wise man is one who knows what he does not know”