Make Me Over

Text by Jamie Barys, Photographs by Janine Reichel

When Justyn Giachetti moved to Shanghai from Los Angeles last February, she threw out her old wardrobe along with her career. After working in the snowboarding and skateboarding industry for 13 years, she was ready to devote herself full-time to yoga, and a trip to visit friends living in Shanghai turned into a residency – what she jokingly refers to as her “cliché eat, pray, love year”.

Now, Giachetti splits her time between Guangjue Monastery in Zhejiang province, Vipassana Meditation Centre in Hong Kong and Shanghai, where she teaches private yoga and meditation classes. She lives in her yoga clothes, hasn’t gotten a haircut in a year and doesn’t wear a drop of make-up… until she agreed to be made over for this month’s cover story.

The first stop on the makeover was Griss BCN, a boutique selling clothing and accessories from Spain, France and Italy. Giachetti wanted to go rocker chic, a look reminiscent of her more hard-partying LA days, and was immediately drawn to a fringed leather vest embellished with gold buttons by Bdba.

“It has a kind of 70s feel to it. I’m always drawn to a 70s rocker feel. I used to have dreadlocks – I would have been in my prime in the 60s and 70s,” she says. “It’s my favourite genre of music, also.” Black skinny jeans by Your Code completed the look.

On the day of the shoot, Justyn arrived at Toni & Guy’s new salon in the Cool Docks in her typical fashion: yoga uniform, hair up, no make-up. After sitting for the “Before” shoot, Yoyo from Browhaus sculpted her eyebrows, accentuating her natural brow shape, cleaning up any errant hairs and opening up her face. 

Next, Toni & Guy’s master stylist Avux and his assistant Jason consulted with Giachetti before lopping off the damaged hair, layering it at the ends to thin it out and giving her a thick fringe. Then he lightened it up with a full head of highlights. While Avux blew out her hair, professional make-up artist Kate Noble used MAC cosmetics to create a glam effect on her eyes to complete the rocker chic look.

A quick snack of Singaporean and Malaysian dishes at the recently opened The Long House gave the team the energy they needed to complete the shoot. After prowling around the stage for the shoot and twisting into the Vrksasana yoga posture, the smoky-eyed Giachetti admitted, “It was nice feeling like a girl again.”

Bdba vest (RMB 2,950) and Your Code black pants (RMB 400) from Griss BCN. Victoria’s Secret Body Camisole, Aldo heels and belt from personal collection. Hair by Toni & Guy. Make-up by Kate Noble for MAC Cosmetics. Eyebrow grooming by Browhaus.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Browhaus. Multiple locations around town, including: 84 Wulumuqi Lu, near Anfu Lu. Tel: 6415 1623. Web: www.browhaus.com

Griss BCN. 614 Julu Lu, near Xiangyang Lu. Tel: 6247 2964. Web: www.grissbcn.com

The Long House. Unit 105, 1-2F, Block 7, Cool Docks, Lane 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu. T: 6131 3238

Make-up By Kate Noble for Mac Cosmetics. Web: www.kate-noble.com

Toni & Guy. Multiple Locations around town, including: Unit 105, 3F, Block 7, Cool Docks, Lane 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu. Tel: 5047 2805. Web: www.toniandguy.com