It’s been a while as we round up a season of festivities - from the Christmas holidays to the Lunar New Year, and begin easing into 2026.
In these quieter moments, we’ve been thinking about how our pieces find their place in your everyday. How are they adjusted, softened, or layered differently as they move through your routines?
Some become weekday warriors, and others are pieces you reach for when you want to feel a little more yourself on the weekend. Each one is a small beacon from our universe, meant to accompany and highlight the many facets of your life.
ROOM is a space where we document these lived moments, thoughts and interactions. A small archive of life as it unfolds - our pieces lived in, the allowance to be, and the nuances in between.
We begin with Airin Lee, make-up artist and co-founder of ARLY by day, and an avid home cook in her free time. We first worked with Airin during our photoshoots in 2023, and again this year. Inviting her into the ROOM series felt like a natural continuation of that collaboration as we take a peek into her personal world.
Airin in Musubi Tank Top in Grey Marl, paired with her own white trousers from Bottega Veneta
When do you feel most like yourself?
Airin: "I feel most like myself when I’m alone at home eating my bowl of oat porridge and sipping a cup of hot chai with ginger. It’s a quiet ritual that makes me feel at ease. Or at night, when the day slows down. I’ll make a cup of rooibos tea before bed and read a few pages from a book. Those small moments of stillness always bring me back to myself."
When does your work feel expansive?
A: "When I’m working with people who are in sync.
I’ve always believed that you’re not meant for everyone, but when you find the right people, there’s a sense of belonging in the work you create together.
I’ve been lucky to meet people who trust me and allow me to create freely, based on my perspective. That trust makes the work feel expansive rather than exhausting and it’s what has kept me going in this industry."
Airin's work on our SUMMER MIXTAPE campaign, from 2023
What do you wear when you don’t want to negotiate with yourself?
A: "I love wearing pants. I’m always on the move, so I gravitate toward pants with pockets, usually in autumn hues. They’re easy to style and feel practical.
In my 20s, it was usually high-waisted jeans with a shirt, it felt like my uniform for work. Now in my 30s, I reach for straight cotton pants that are intentionally made with good fabric and a tailored cut. They’re simple, but structured in a way that feels very much like me."
Airin styling Sagyo Trousers in Chocolate with her own top from RYE
Do you feel more at ease in structure, softness, or the space between?
A: "I think I like both. To me, softness is most beautiful when there’s structure around it. I enjoy that balance, “where one allows the other to exist”. That balance shows up in the way I dress as well. Pieces that are tailored but comfortable, structured but still relaxed."
What makes a garment worth keeping for you?
A: "The cutting and the quality. These days I buy less, but focus on better quality items. I’ve come to appreciate garments that are thoughtfully made and that can stay with me through different seasons of life.
A piece shouldn’t hold just one memory, it should be something you wear again and again. Something that’s there when you’re happy, sad, or anxious. It becomes part of your life over time."
What soundtrack feels closest to your inner world right now?
A: "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence is something I’ve been playing on repeat lately. There’s something incredibly comforting about it. At the same time, I’ve always loved Black Eyed Peas. My music taste moves across different genres, but BEP has stayed with me through the years. Some songs just become part of your life’s timeline.
7. What does “allowing yourself” look like in this season?
A: "Allowing myself right now means not comparing my craft or my worth to anyone else. It’s about giving myself the freedom to live fearlessly, without feeling the need to conform. I’m learning to allow myself to be different and to understand that I don’t have to fit into a box in order to thrive.
Most importantly, I’m learning to allow myself to become someone beyond just being a makeup artist."
