The Working Wardrobe: Tish Weinstock
For beauty journalist and tastemaker TISH WEINSTOCK, clothes and cosmetics are powerful tools of self-expression. Here, she tells LAURA ANTONIA JORDAN about finding her fashion confidence, great gift ideas and her inner goth
Curious, clever and a natural-born storyteller, Tish Weinstock has always been interested in how we use clothes and cosmetics to communicate with the world around us. “Style is so fundamental in terms of carving out an identity for yourself,” she says from her home in west London.
It was this thought that initially sparked her interest in beauty journalism. When she was working at i-D magazine in her twenties, Weinstock notes, “The landscape of beauty was shifting; lots of these amazing drag kids were doing incredible makeup in their bedrooms and sharing it on Instagram. People were feeling free to express themselves in non-conforming ways, which I found fascinating. I’ve always been interested in giving a platform to more marginalized voices.”
Stints at Dazed Beauty and Vogue followed, and her knowledge expanded. She became immersed in the business of beauty and got her ‘skincare education’ at Vogue. “I feel like I’ve learnt about the beauty industry in different phases,” she explains. “It keeps it interesting, evolving.” Today, her insider/outsider perspective makes Weinstock’s journalism compelling to read. So, although she can wax lyrical about 111SKIN masks and anything from Dr. Barbara Sturm (“My skin just drinks it in”), she will also tell you in a relatable, un-jargony way: “I’ve reached the point in my life where I will take my makeup off before bed.”
Since childhood, Weinstock has understood the similar transformative power of clothes. For her, like the makeup those kids were doing in their bedrooms, they are a tool of self-expression. “I think clothes are key to conveying something about your identity. Not just conveying it, but constructing your identity; how you want to be perceived by the world.”
“I think clothes are key to conveying something about your identity. Not just conveying it, but constructing your identity; how you want to be perceived by the world
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Take the black velvet dress, emblazoned with the words ‘Disco Queen’ on the front, which she bought on a shopping trip with her grandmother as a child. “It felt subversive because it wasn’t a smock dress,” she says. “There was something decadent, quite goth about it, which I guess I’ve always been drawn to.”
‘Decadent, quite goth’ is an apt description of Weinstock’s style today. The fondness for black has remained, ditto velvet. Now, however, it is filtered through an elevated lens, albeit one that leaves room for a swish of playfulness and comfort. That could mean a sheer ’30s slip dress that shows off her underwear, or it might be a luxurious classic from The Row (“That brand is my weakness; when you’re wearing it, any imposter syndrome disappears”) – but, either way, the end result is undeniably her.
Having studied history of art at Oxford University, Weinstock can use that same analytical eye when it comes to her own history of dressing. Looking at photos of old outfits, she says, she can “pinpoint where I was emotionally” at the time and what she wanted to project. For instance, when her son Reuben, now three, was born, Weinstock felt compelled to “dress smart, dress old, dress the part. I felt a bit impostery.” She credits her husband, the stylist Tom Guinness, with aiding her in her fashion education, saying, “At the beginning, I would just wear his shirts and hoodies. I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard. The more confident in the relationship I got, the more of an intertest I took in fashion.”
Red is always a good idea – for clothes and cosmetics
“I love red; it’s a really strong look. I’ve got into having a really glossy red eyelid. It’s my inner goth coming out!”
Go all out on glamour
“We never put ourselves first in today’s world, I find, as we’re all too busy, so it’s nice to give the gift of self-care to people
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Give the gift of self-care
“Buying a palette for someone is a really nice gift. Pat McGrath Labs has really fun colors; I bought the Fetish Duo for my sister. I love a candle, too: Jo Malone London, Diptyque. Trudon is very chic to have around the house; the packaging is beautiful, and the scents are rich. And bath stuff is a really yummy gift. [We’re told to] ‘treat yourself’, but we never put ourselves first in today’s world, I find, as we’re all too busy, so it’s nice to give the gift of self-care to people.”
Mix it up
“I’m happy to be quite masculine in the day, more feminine at night. In the summer, it’s ’20s and ’30s slips and cowboy boots, or quite Y2K. But for winter it’s cozy jumpers, chic pants; something quite informal but that I’d be happy to be seen out and about in.”
Avoid beauty fads
“There’s so much information out there, even I get a bit confused. You need to find what works for you. Shop around for a facialist, find one you like, and they will get to know your skin. Try something for 28 days to see how your skin reacts. As a general rule, a cleanser is very important. I love a vitamin C in the morning; it’s a nice antioxidant and very good for brightening, plus use some hyaluronic acid to replenish. And always SPF – you can do 30, but I would do 50. I mean, why not?”