Since exploding onto the scene last year as one of the voices behind KPop Demon Hunters and its musical anthem “Golden,” Rei Ami has demonstrated a dedication to high-fashion looks on the red carpet: Think a dramatic embroidered cape cascading behind her at the Oscars, a head-to-toe cherry-red fur look for an Oscars after-party, and a feathered and fringed corset ensemble for the Grammys.
Yet when she Zoomed with Condé Nast Traveler while packing her bags for a trip to Paris, she was remarkably low-key—at one point gesturing to bags of clothes around her closet. “Most of the outfits that are for outings or events, that’s all in collaboration with my stylist, Ayumi Perry,” explained Ami, who keeps packing lists in her Notes app before trips. “For days off, if I’m going to dinner or a tourist attraction, I usually come up with outfits for myself—whatever’s comfortable.
Paris in the summer is really hot, so I’ve packed a lot of athleisure-style activewear and sneakers.”
The singer, who was born in South Korea but moved to Maryland as a child, still has loads of new looks plotted, of course, as she is set to release new music of her own—with more details to be announced soon. Ahead, she chats about that memorable first flight to the US, her approach to skincare in the sky, and why she’s most relaxed around water.
What she wears to fly: It’s always something
What she wears to fly:
It’s always something comfortable, like a matching set or sweats. The two key [accessories] are a hat and then obviously shades. Wearing both looks sketchy, so you have to choose either/or. Hats are great when your hair is a mess. If you wake up on the plane with dark circles, shades are good to go. Her first flight ever, and her first flight in business class:
When I was emigrating to the US from Korea, [we flew] on Korean Air.I had the window seat.
My sister was freaking out. She was crying hysterically when we were taking off, but I was having the time of my life. I was like, “This is so cool!” I had never been on a plane. My first time in business class was on Delta One, flying to New York for KPop Demon Hunters because that’s where we were recording the music—Sony and Netflix flew me out. I had never felt so expensive and appreciated.
The lay flats are life-changing. You get spoiled rotten, and I’m so ashamed right now, even admitting that. Her airplane routine:
As soon as I get in my seat, I do a whole setup of all my tools and goodies that I’m going to need throughout the flight. For example, I pack my skincare-related stuff and makeup in a bag, then put it somewhere in the seat. I lay out my chargers. I lay out my eye masks, face masks, foot masks, hand masks.
I pick out a movie and watch while
I pick out a movie and watch while I eat. And then right after I eat, I go to the bathroom. I then use hypochlorous spray to clean my face, brush my teeth, and do a whole bedtime routine, because I try to take advantage of long-haul flights to sleep and get ahead of jet lag. Then I do my skincare, knock out for as long as I can, get back up, refresh my face, brush my teeth again, and then do some very light makeup and SPF, and I’m semi-presentable for the day.
Her advice for sleeping on planes:
This is kind of reckless. If you’re traveling internationally, I would say don’t sleep at all [before the flight]. Try to hold off until you get on, and knock out then. Maybe take some melatonin. I try to sleep as much as possible, but I’m a terrible sleeper, so I take a melatonin or ZzzQuil situation if I’m struggling, and skip the caffeine.
Her birthday trip this year:
I went to Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. I was flying back from Sweden, and I had to go straight from the airport to catch the ferry there. We went parasailing. We had dinner. We walked around and explored the island. We stayed in this gorgeous villa that was five or six floors, overlooking the ocean, and it had the most beautiful mornings because [the house faced] the sun rising.
It was just a very close getaway
It was just a very close getaway that still felt a bit foreign—it kind of reminded me of Italy. Her role on a group trip:
Usually the planner. I love having an itinerary—just a loose itinerary, because some people do better when you present them with ideas or a list. I like to get ahead and be in charge of that, because then I can sneak in the things that I want to see and do.
In a group chat situation, I just drop it there. If anyone has feedback, if they want to edit and add stuff, be my guest. But I do like having a say in group travel, for sure. What she needs for a perfect vacation:
Beach. I am a tropical, put-me-in-the-water kind of girl. Any sandy destination: Hawaii, Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas. There are so many islands I want to visit on my list right now.
I think because a lot of [work] events are held in such crowded, chaotic cities—as much as I love being in the city and I love the rush of the energy—being away, off the grid, is more beneficial to the psyche. The destination she could travel to a million times and not tire of it:
Hawaii. I’ve only been there twice, which isn’t a lot, but there’s just something so different about the waters out there.
I think everyone should experience water like
I think everyone should experience water like that one in their lifetime, and the culture and food. How she takes care of her voice when traveling:
At the core, you’ve got to take care of your body if your voice is going to be okay. I always carry some variation of Airborne or vitamin C and my supplements, too. I also do the Manuka honey sprays and have Grether’s pastilles, these throat jellies that are supposed to lather and protect your throat.
People say they are a placebo, but I don’t care if it feels good. And then also, it’s plenty of hydration, just drinking water and electrolytes as much as you can. The hotel amenity she cares a lot about:
A proper sauna. When you’re traveling, sometimes you need a massage, and sometimes you need to go sit in a sauna. Saunas really help you fall asleep. If I’m struggling to sleep, I could just pop down in the sauna for a quick 15 and then come back up.
A nice spa makes the hotel stand out and makes me want to stay with them in the future because I know I’m going to be taken care of. A wellness situation or a spa speaks volumes about how a hotel runs and how they care about guests. Her travel pet peeve:
People who hover around the gate when it’s not their time to board. It is the most infuriating thing! Listen, unless I have the privilege of flying first class, where I’m going to be in my nice big-ass seat, I want to spend as little time as possible on the plane.
Even if I’m boarding group A, I will
Even if I’m boarding group A, I will board at the very last possible minute. These people who are, I don’t know, the sixth [group] to board are [showing up for] the zone one and two lines. Do you read? Can you read?! It just slows everything down. PSA: If it’s not your boarding zone, please sit down. Where she’s never been that she’d like to go next:
I want to go to Madagascar.
I’ve heard the nature there is insane, just beautiful. Also, I was obsessed with the movie Madagascar when I was younger. It’s a destination that not many people go to—or, at least, I haven’t met somebody that’s been there. I’d love to experience the wildlife and culture out there.
Source: www.cntraveler.com
