The Working Wardrobe: Rosa Park
As the founder of travel and style magazine Cereal, ROSA PARK has become a purveyor of polished, understated taste. The Korean-Canadian editor and gallerist, who now splits her time between Los Angeles and Bath, talks to GRACE COOK about why she loves cool, calm tones, the power of a capsule wardrobe, and how comfort inspires true confidence
Anyone familiar with Rosa Park might be surprised to discover that she once dressed in bright colors, bold patterns and prints. The Seoul-born editor, who launched Cereal magazine in 2012, is renowned as a master in the art of minimalism, favoring warm, tonal hues and stripped-back silhouettes that propose a quiet elegance.
In fact, her immaculately curated magazine – one of the first independent, artful design titles, the pages of which influence interior trends globally and its mere presence on a coffee table has become a symbol of good taste – feels a lot like a tangible extension of Park’s wardrobe, just rendered in paper form.
“Fashion and style are two different things,” says the 37-year old, who opened her first gallery, Francis, in Bath in 2019. This year, she’s opening a second, larger outpost in Los Angeles. “I was once fashion-obsessed, but now I’m only interested in cultivating personal style.” She’s also a devotee of timeless, uniform dressing – especially now living between two distinct climates and juggling a full-on work schedule with motherhood.
For Park, clothing is a reflection as much as an intention. “Sense of style is linked to a person’s sense of self. Clothes make up a component for who you are – selfhood is not linear, it’s constantly changing.” She describes herself as an adaptive dresser: while living in New York, studying at Parsons and enjoying a relatively carefree youth, she wore vivacious clothes that telegraphed the fun she was having. “I was lucky enough to have few responsibilities, so I think it showed in what I wore,” she says. “My grandmother is one of the chicest women I know – she’s now 93 and still wears Loro Piana cashmeres, and carries an Hermès bag,” she laughs. “It really inspired my love for clothes and dressing up.”
“Having a tonal wardrobe takes the decision-making out of the day for me, which frees up time to be better spent elsewhere. It also means I have my transatlantic packing down to 30 minutes, tops
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A move to the UK led Park to more tailored looks, after feeling out of place in a dress and heels on her first day as an English Literature graduate student. “Even today, I want people to remember what I said, not what I wore,” she says. The tonal palette followed – and the uniform was fully established after she launched Cereal. Both help her channel a sense of calm amid a busy schedule. “For some folks, being surrounded by beautiful colors brings them joy and makes them feel alive,” she says. “For me, I am juggling so much that it has the opposite effect, and it makes me feel a bit crazy. I realized I perform at my best when I’m in a neutral environment.”
For this aesthete, objects – whether they be the clothes in her wardrobe or a ceramic on a shelf – have a deeper resonance beyond aesthetics; she pays attention not just to how things look, but more importantly, how things affect her. “Everything from my furniture choice, color choice and dress choice, to the people I surround myself with – the question I ask myself is, ‘How does it make me feel?’ If the answer is comfortable, it’s a big tick,” she says.
“If you’re comfortable in any life situation, that’s when you’re really thriving. If you’re comfortable, you’re confident. For me, there is no greater luxury than for a woman to be comfortable in her own skin, her own body, and what she is wearing.” Read on to discover Park’s style secrets…
Develop a uniform
“Having a tonal wardrobe takes the decision-making out of the day for me, which frees up time to be better spent elsewhere. It also means I have my transatlantic packing down to 30 minutes, tops; I know I can put anything in there, and it will all work together. My go-tos are cashmere sweaters, cardigans and tailored pants in navy, ecru and black – layering is great as you don’t need to necessarily check any weather forecast.”
“I tend to gravitate towards female-helmed brands as I think they better understand what women need from their clothing
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Discover your preferred brands – and stick to them
“I tend to gravitate towards female-helmed brands as I think they better understand what women need from their clothing. I love labels like Co and Joseph, and The Row is my favorite – Mary-Kate and Ashley create clothes that perform for women on the go. Investment pieces age so well; I have cashmeres and bags from The Row that are seven years old and they still look pristine.”
Find a good tailor
“Being petite, I have to have everything tailored to fit. I found a seamstress in Bath who I trust implicitly; it’s a game-changer for how clothes look and feel. Now, I know that I can buy anything in any size and she can tailor it to fit and flatter my body. I’m on the hunt for an equivalent in LA.”
“I have to have everything tailored to fit. I found a seamstress in Bath who I trust implicitly; it’s a game-changer for how clothes look and feel
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“I gave up wearing makeup altogether so, for me, skincare is everything… My routine takes 10-15 minutes, except when I’m traveling. Then, I’ll apply a thick layer of moisturizer and a mask when I land
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Invest in quality skincare
“I gave up wearing makeup altogether so, for me, skincare is everything. Plus, I grew up with the importance of it drilled into me: Korean women are religious about their regimen. I love Costa Brazil’s body products, especially the body oil, lotion and bath salts. My routine takes 10-15 minutes, except when I’m traveling. Then, I’ll apply a thick layer of moisturizer and a mask when I land. You’d never catch me with a sheet mask on during a flight.”
Quit heels
“I used to wear heels all the time as I am only 5ft 2ins, but I realized I am just not one of those women who can wear heels all day. I get blisters and my feet burn like crazy! So, I decided to just embrace my height and always wear flats. I wear heels on very specific occasions, like a wedding, but only for a few hours, and I always pack flats in my bag, usually from The Row. There is no fun in having sore feet!”
“I decided to just embrace my height and always wear flats. I wear heels on very specific occasions, like a wedding, but only for a few hours, and I always pack flats in my bag
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