IN CONVERSATION WITH JAIME XIE

Interview by Diamonique Oseana

Meet Jaime Xie, a trailblazing fashion influencer, socialite, model, and entrepreneur whose unique sense of style and unwavering passion for self-expression have catapulted her into the forefront of the fashion world.  In this interview, discover the inspirations and further developments in Jaime’s fashion journey and her innovative pursuits in her own vegan cookie brand.

Can you share the story of how you first became interested in the world of fashion, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?

Ever since I was little, I loved playing dress up in my mother’s closet. I remember I would be stealing her jewelry and shoes to wear to school and begging my mom to take me out shopping. I went to private school and had to wear uniforms so I was always looking forward to the “free dress” days where I could really show people how much I loved fashion and be myself. I decided to pursue it as a career after realising in middle school that I didn’t want to pursue equestrian as a career. I couldn’t go a day without thinking, dreaming, or looking at something related to fashion so I knew this was the career for me.

How do you approach curating your deep fashion knowledge, and where do you draw your style inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from myself and the world around me. I also love vintage and collecting vintage pieces from the 80s and 90s so those eras definitely inspire my wardrobe too. 

I always had such a deep love and appreciation for art and clothes, and fashion is the best of both worlds. I would spend all my free time growing up either riding horses, planning outfits, scrolling through Style.com (the previous name of the app before it merged into Vogue Runway), or online shopping so I just naturally curated that fashion knowledge myself on my own.

What advice would you give to individuals looking to develop their unique style?

Be yourself and trust your gut. Wear whatever makes you feel confident whether that be workout clothes, a cocktail dress, or jeans and a t-shirt.

Your journey into fashion and social media has undoubtedly led to collaborations with various brands and designers. Could you share a memorable experience or project that stands out in your career?

My most memorable experience is probably the shoot I did for the cover of Galore magazine. The Morelli Brothers shot it and Law Roach styled it. I loved the clothes, I loved the team, the energy was amazing and the whole shoot was just so much fun! I had the best time and ended up framing 2 of the photos from that shoot in my LA apartment.

Which brand or designer would you like to work with in the future?

I have several favorite designers and would be grateful to work with any of them. A few of my favorites are Schiaparelli, Loewe, JW Anderson, Rick Owens, Balenciaga, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, Y/Project, and The Attico.

Many aspiring influencers and fashion enthusiasts look up to you for guidance. What advice would you give to individuals looking to break into the world of fashion and build connections?

My advice would be to find a unique niche and do something very different than what everyone else is doing. The industry is incredibly saturated so it’s very important to stand out and be different. I know everyone says the same thing but it’s because it’s the truth. Take every opportunity you get, especially in the beginning, whether it’s big or small because it is the only way you will learn and grow and meet people. Networking is also very important in this industry as it’s what will help you build connections, get to know more people, and open more doors.

How do you typically navigate your creative process when working on content or projects? How do you stay innovative and relevant in a rapidly changing industry?

When it comes to content, I just try to do whatever feels most natural at that moment. I guess you could say I’m a spontaneous person but I always make sure whatever I’m creating aligns with the vision and idea I have in my head. I have very specific visions for projects or shoots so I like to make sure whomever I’m working with also understands what I’m after.

What lessons have you gained from your family’s business ventures and how that has contributed to your professional journey?

My parents taught me the importance of hard work and the importance of being smart with money from the very beginning. When I was a little girl, I remember my mom made me “earn” all the clothes and fashion pieces I wanted. I could never just go out and buy whatever I wanted. My father is incredibly hard working and his daily routine was something that inspired me to lead a healthier and more balanced life. My mom is also the most amazing human being and truly the best mother anyone could ask for. I am extremely grateful that both of my parents are exceptional role models and that I can turn to them anytime I need guidance in my life.

Building a personal brand and engaging with a wide audience on social media can be challenging. What strategies do you employ to maintain and grow your online presence?

To be completely honest, there aren’t any specific strategies I use to grow or maintain my presence. I don’t stress about content creation or feel the pressure to constantly be posting or sharing my life because I feel that sometimes it is more important to enjoy life in the moment and keep certain memories to yourself than to be constantly feeling the need to take pictures and share them online.

You were once active in creating many unboxing videos that your followers found enjoyable; are there any intentions of making more YouTube videos in the future?

I don’t have intentions of making more YouTube videos at the moment. The unboxings were something I solely continued doing for my followers and their enjoyment. I did not enjoy doing them because I found it to be a pretentious “showing off” the pieces I purchased or received. Although I would consider making more YouTube videos and vlogs in the future that include unboxings in them, most likely it will not solely be unboxing videos.

Being a part of Bling Empire allowed people to see a part of your personal life. What’s one aspect of yourself that people still do not know about you that you would like to share?

I don’t know how to swim. 

How do you like to spend your leisure time?

I love to bake, cook, go on long walks, and spend time with my family and friends during my free time. 

Looking ahead, could you share with us any upcoming projects or ventures for your followers to anticipate? Additionally, we’d love to hear about your next career milestone and the long-term aspirations that you would like to achieve.

I’ve been working on a vegan, gluten-free, paleo, and adaptogenic cookie brand called JAIMEATS that will be launching next year! I have a big sweet tooth but I’m also health conscious and care about what I put into my body. It was difficult to find yummy tasting vegan desserts that were not filled with junk or heavily processed. The ones that did have cleaner ingredients tasted gross, sandy, or bland so I wanted to make cookies with more unique flavor combinations that also tasted “normal” and are good for you.

In terms of fashion, I hope to work with more of my favorite brands in a deeper and more meaningful way and continue building relationships. I love doing shoots and playing dress up and being a “character”. I have also been taking acting lessons on the side and hopefully one day you will see me in a film too!