If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair but the hair spray and the electric toothbrush. We asked drag queen Miss Fame — who launched a highlighter collection in collaboration with 27 Rosiers — about the chocolate they hide in friends’ pantries, their investment suitcase, and the creamy lip conditioner they can’t live without.
When I wake up, I like to have a really beautiful breakfast. It’s my one meal of the day that I take full control over. If we have oranges in the house — my husband picks them up for me, which I’m super thankful for — I’ll always have orange juice. It’s a form of self-care because the results from vitamin C internally are amazing. It helps keep the immune system strong and protect against environmental damage. I found this juicer while I was shopping in New York for home supplies and décor. I liked that it was small enough to live in a New York apartment. It’s something I can tuck away. And I just think this juicer is cute. It comes with two juicing options for lemons and oranges, and they’re color-coordinated.
I have no idea why, but I had my own bias around owning a Nespresso. I didn’t understand the marketing or what it meant to have one. Maybe it’s because it’s one of those things seen in office spaces that are more communal-type coffee makers. But what I noticed being in Europe is that there’s a lot of Nespresso shops and it’s a real thing. I saw that using Nespresso is a coffee connoisseur’s fantasy. I’ve adopted an awareness of quantity and the quality of the caffeine itself and the flavor of coffee. We have a nice petite machine that does gorgeous little lattes or espresso whenever needed. It’s part of the European lifestyle, especially Italian — my husband’s family is from Milano. There’s a time for a latte. There’s a time for cappuccino. And then there’s a time for espresso.
I prefer milk chocolate because I have a proper sweet tooth. Although I like my coffee straightforward, I like my chocolate to be sweet. Depending on my emotional state, if I’m feeling a little bit sad, I go for a full bar. Or if I need to have a taste to finish off a savory meal, I’ll have a piece. Switzerland is known for its legendary chocolate and cheese. I think it’s the quality of the dairy in the country that you get these incredible flavors. They are really intense and delicious, and you feel like it’s almost healthier. Our little pantry is completely stocked full with chocolate. It’s like a chocolate factory in our house. I also have introduced any family or friends that I’ve brought to Switzerland to Swiss chocolate. They’re like, “It’s just so creamy and perfect.” So I always gift chocolate when I fly back from Europe. Another trick my husband taught me is to pack bricks of chocolate stacks. When I visit people’s houses, I always leave a few bars hidden in their pantry, so they discover they have a treat. And yeah, maybe they can find it in the city, but it just feels better when you’re getting it right from the source of where they’re making it.
I’ve always enjoyed St. Ive’s — I’ve used it for probably 20 years. It’s very hard in Switzerland to find a physical scrub for the body, like a real one where you get an intense scrub. This one’s so effective. I won’t use it on my face because it’s too strong. It’s a bit controversial — that’s a strong word, but it’s made with the pit of an apricot, giving it that sandlike texture. It’s great once every week or every two weeks, depending on the season. It has always made my skin feel really, really smooth. When I apply serums and creams after, it feels like I get a deeper level of product penetration. It’s especially great as a foot scrub. And it’s super affordable. This is the thing we’ve all seen in somebody’s shower. We all know the product. I use the original one because it always works.
Again, exfoliation is so particular. Part of my relationship to beauty and fashion is using products that keep my skin looking good. The Valmont scrub is one of the best scrubs on the market, but it’s expensive. I do invest in products that are correct for my type of skin. I use it once every two weeks. You just feel like you get a proper exfoliation. It doesn’t feel like it’s tearing your skin up, but it really gets you soft and smooth. And, it lasts me a very long time. It probably takes me an entire year to get through one jar.
I was introduced to this by a makeup artist in Hamburg, Germany. I always take a peek at professional makeup kits to see what they have and get advice. I was so impressed by this recommendation that I added it to my own kit. I’ve been putting on makeup for 18 years, so removal is essential in having clean, pretty skin outside of makeup wear. Step one is to break down that makeup. This Caudalíe remover can break down anything — a really strong waterproof liner, glue that gets stuck on lashes, foundation, lip liner. It doesn’t even feel greasy, even though it’s an oil. I just rinse straight away after massaging it into my face and lips, or I use a really hot towel and press it against my face and gently swipe away the makeup.
I went from aggressive winters living in New York to Switzerland, which is like a winter wonderland. I don’t get that intense coastal wind, but I do get this snow-globe kind of beauty outside that means drier air. Because of that, my skin needs more steps than usual. This lip repair is step one of two. It’s basically a lip conditioner. It’s a different texture than anything we’re probably used to applying to our lips — it’s more of a cream. I apply it as part of my mask routine and allow it to absorb. Then, when I rinse everything off, sometimes I’ll reapply it and put a balm over it. The antioxidants in it are incredible. Whenever I can find antioxidants in products, I’m going to use it all over the face and body.
I bought my Rimowa last summer. I was introduced to the brand by the Dior collaboration. Mr. Kim Jones had produced the suitcase line with Rimowa, and I ended up getting a cute travel bag. I was like, Well, now I need to match this up. I wasn’t able to get it from PR, and usually I’m not comfortable spending that kind of money on a suitcase. But, I realized that when I’m traveling my essentials for Miss Fame, I’d rather protect them in a hard case. And for fashion, I stay in gorgeous hotels, so I really want to show up. Miss Fame is a whole experience, from me walking in the hotel to leaving. There’s a sense of pride attached to the way you carry yourself when you enter spaces with your items. My work items — my wigs I’ve invested in, my heels, my custom-made corsets, my makeup — that’s all part of my job. I wanted to place them in a beautiful, protective environment that was a showgirl in a box. Rimowa has that whole status. It’s something to elevate myself creatively and attract higher-level opportunities. There’s that saying, “You dress for the job you want.” Well, this is part of dressing for the job that I want.
My headphones need to be connected to something. I lose jewelry I’ve bought myself when I have to take them off at hotels, so wireless headphones would be gone in a second. I need these so I can listen to music or I edit videos on the train when I’m coming back from Paris to Zurich. It’s a way for me to escape and create my own fantasy while I’m on a train and still keep my edginess. I need to stay in a cool essence and vibe by keeping music alive in my ears, so I don’t lose it living in a city like Zurich. It has a beautiful countryside, but it’s not like living in New York.
27 Rosiers and I co-branded on this. It’s quite a unique product because it happens to bridge the gap between skin care and cosmetics. It’s the best of both worlds. It has 27 Rosiers’ core blend of soothing ingredients that also protect the skin barrier. On top of that, this specific cream has plant-based collagen and a stable form of vitamin C, which also creates a barrier to block environmental pollutants. My favorite way to use it is applying it over my makeup. I do my powders and foundations first, and at the very end, I’ll take a large synthetic brush and stamp a combination of brilliant bronze and incandescent rose over the cheekbones, the cupid’s bow. I use a smaller brush for details on the nose or the inner corner of my eye. If I want to create extreme drama, I’ll use white-hot gold underneath the brow bone or across the collarbone. I love that the shades are intermixable, so you can create custom blends. If you mix all three, it becomes this gorgeous Champagne blonde that can wear on anybody’s skin. It’s neutral, it’s stunning.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
