Photo: Jim Smeal/BEImages
Refinery29: You’re always wearing really bright colors and cool dresses…what
are your favorite designers?
Mindy Kaling: "I am the kind of person that is drawn to colors against my will. When
I lived in New York, I loved all the chic girls who wore 80% gray and
black. I find that dedication to palette very intimidating, like
dieting. So even though a big part of me wants to wear exclusively
Helmut Lang sweaters and leggings, and I do that sometimes, but then I
can't help NOT buying the canary yellow tunic or whatever and a purple
waist belt. It's the kindergarten teacher in me, I guess."
R29: Our readers are always trying to balance their busy lives and their
love of shopping, fashion, etc. How do you do it all?
MK: "I stupidly memorize my credit card and use it about thrice weekly for
online shopping. The only reason I don't bankrupt myself is that I
return about 75% of what I buy. I have a whole system down for
returning online shopping: a tape gun, a printer for return labels.
That has replaced traditional window shopping in my life, as I've
gotten busier. My office at work has seen more fashion shows than
Lincoln Center."
R29: What are your top secrets for easy, gorgeous makeup? What are the
beauty items you never leave home without?
MK: "I once met an almost 80-year old woman at my friends engagement party
who had perfectly lineless skin and taut, liver-spot-free arms. I of
course grabbed her arm like a weirdo and made intense eye contact and
asked: "How did you do this, you sorceress?" She was a one of those
great old dames who spills everything (which every woman should be
after 70). She told me: SPF. She had been using SPF 50 lotion on her
face, neck, and arms every day since she was 40. "Even if it's raining
out, Mindy. Even if it's raining." she said to me. I take that kind of
wisdom very seriously. I use Kate Somerville tinted moisturizer in SPF
55 daily. I also swear by skinceuticals and use their Phloretin and
A.G.E. eye cream and face cream twice a day. No wrinkles yet, and no
pimples for a year.
"I worship makeup. The basics are always: Stila shadows, LeClerc powder
for my crazy shiny skin, Bobbie brown liner pot, Chanel mascara, and
Koh Gen Do for foundation, Nars for colors and sparkles."
R29: You’re known for being funny, smart, and stylish: How does what you
do impact the way you dress?
MK: "I have a goofy side that impacts my clothing a lot. To that end, I
love witty, colorful, prints. A Marc by Marc Jacobs dress with deer on
it? Sure! A Sonia Rykiel scarf with safety pins on it? Why not? When
Comme des Garcons "Play" was big, I owned like three of those heart
sweaters."
R29: What’s your biggest shopping/style pet peeve? Do you have an
embarrassing fashion moment you wish you could erase?
MK: "I'm not into red carpet looks where it's clear the woman wanted to
look like a pretty, pretty princess. In fact, in general, I hate
gowns. It's a rare gown indeed that is cool. Most are elegant or
whatever, a quality I don't put a big premium on. I'm not crazy about
my look from the Emmys in 2010. I wore a edgy black cocktail dress
with a lot of detail and ruffle, but with the hair, it was just too
much."
R29: What's your most-treasured item in your closet?
MK: "I have a patent leader and cloth mixed material black Chanel bag I
bought myself for my 31st birthday. It's my only "timeless" item. I
also have a stunning peacock blue and orange sari that my mother gave
me but I have never had a place to wear it."
R29: What inspires your style these days? Any onscreen icons or movies
you’re feeling?
MK: "Gwen Stefani and Rihanna slay me. I have a very ethnic/New Money
aesthetic, and I think they are gorgeous forward-thinking
trendsetters. And they smile!"
MK: "I love Little Ethiopia, I love no humidity for my hair, I love Cedars
Sinai—what a freaking great hospital, I love that every restaurant
is on top of their game to make a great hamburger, because in L.A. the
bar is set so high for burgers."
Photo: Courtesy of NBC
R29: What are the key pieces you find yourself wearing constantly?
MK: “I live in my Helmut Lang jeans for casual or polished looks, my Tory
Burch Simone cardigan gets massive use at work in our writers room,
House of Harlow earrings I wear day or night, they're incredibly
useful. I have a BCBG leopard print skirt that I wear constantly,
oddly. It's a new basic. I love that. And of course, like any good L.A.
girl, my low-top black canvas Converse All-Stars get worn several
times a week.”
R29: What's your best cheap score of late?
MK: “I was in a trance and bought three Rag & Bone wool crew neck sweaters
on a big discount from Loehmanns last month when I just walked in to
buy an umbrella. I also found that J.Crew wool pencil skirts wear like
a dream and are 120 dollars. My character Kelly on The Office wears
them, and that's one of the rare times our clothes overlap. They also
come in amazing colors. BCBGeneration is absolutely the best brand for
chic, inexpensive clothing. I live in Joyce's sweaters and little silk
tops.”
R29: What are you excited to wear this fall?
MK: “I am all about statement necklaces over gray tshirts this fall. I'll
so be the woman at the ArcLight wearing the 30lb ethnic African
necklace and people don't know if English is my first language. I also
can't wait to rock some winter shorts."
R29: Who's your older-woman style icon?
MK: “Nora Ephron still keeps her shizz really tight. She'd steal any
boyfriend from anyone. Watch out.”
R29: If you had a style theme song what would it be?
MK: “Without hesitation, Hella Good by No Doubt.”
R29: You have a new site and a book coming out. Tell us a little about
each please.
MK: “My book is a collection of comedy essays, opinion pieces and memoir. I
think it's pretty funny, but again, I wrote it, and I am totally in
love with the sound of my own voice. You can definitely feel safe
giving your little sister or niece. I don't talk about weird sex stuff
or drugs I've done or whatever. My website,
theconcernsofmindykaling.com is the new home to an old shopping and
comedy blog I had, called Things I Bought That I Love. I also post my
favorite entertainment links, essays I've had published, and photos
I've taken.”
R29: What’s your advice for young women who want a career in your field?
MK: “Don't fall into the trap of thinking about politics in your workplace
too much. Just work hard, be cheerful, ignore distractions.”
R29: What are some of your other favorite websites you find yourself
checking constantly?
MK: “I don't have very much time to surf the net, because it's as though my boss
has a tracking device on me. The instant I'm looking at a Chloe
sweater on Shopbop, I'll get a call in my office with a PA asking:
"Paul wants to know where you are and why you're not in the writers
room, and if maybe you're online shopping." When I do, I love
WhoWhatWear, Refinery29, Jezebel, and Huffington Post. And my friends Zooey and Sophia started a great site called Hellogiggles.com. I always check
the incredible Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for news at
pancan.org, and Donors Choose, a really fun charitable giving site (I
know, but it's true) where you can choose projects in public schools
across the country you want to help out.”