How TikTok’s Tamsin Wong Became A Luxury Style Icon

While TikTok star Tamsin Wong is an internet force in her own right, you might be a little more familiar with her dog, Rhubarb. Narrating the fabulously lavish lifestyle of her beloved pooch – ‘She rules my life,’ she says. ‘I am a very underpaid intern.’ – is how the content creator got her big break on the world’s most downloaded app. But those who came for Rhubarb ultimately stayed for Tamsin – and her killer personal style. ‘I like to have fun with what I wear, even if the silhouettes and colours are very classic,’ she tells C&TH. Underpinned by well-made t-shirts, blue jeans, loafers and silk scarves (as well as plenty of Celine), Tamsin has quickly become one of London’s most-beloved (if not funniest) luxury content creators. ‘I hope to be comfy but incredibly chic, with the expensive fabrics and jewellery I wear doing the talking for me.’

Here, we chat to Tamsin about her personal style, wedding planning, handbag staples and the evolving role of influencers in the fashion space.

Tamsin Wong’s Style Rules

Tamsin and Rhubarb

Hi Tamsin, thanks for joining us today. How are things going?

Hello! They are good, thank you. We’re currently in the thick of wedding preparations. We’re two weeks out, so it’s very hectic – but otherwise I can’t complain!

For readers who don’t know you yet, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Tamsin and I live in London with my husband and dog Rhubarb. I’m the founder of The Rhubarb Society (yes, I did very much name my brand after my dog), a film and TV interviewer and content creator. I quit my finance job a few years ago to do all of the above full time and haven’t looked back since. I love tomatinis, dissecting films and tending to my balcony garden. I am also a very underpaid intern to Rhubarb, who runs my life.

@maybetamsin who knew that labradors had such a low literacy rate 😔 #dayinthelife #london ♬ Claire de Lune – Ave Maria

How would you describe your personal style?

In all honesty, it depends on my mood, but overall, I’d say classic with a preppy twist. I like to have fun with what I wear, even if the silhouettes and colours are very classic.

What’s does your daily uniform look like?

As a dog owner, I tend to prioritise clothing that is comfortable, but I also don’t mind getting dirty from overexcited paws. I love a crisp white t-shirt (Sunspel do amazing ones), a straight blue jean and a good loafer. Currently, I’m loving my dark brown suede Gucci’s – incredibly comfortable and versatile.

Do you have a style crush?

Growing up, I had quite a few – one of them being Nicole Richie, which was hilarious considering she was dressing for LA weather whilst I was in gloomy London, but I still emulated her nonetheless. However, now I find myself inspired by people who pass me on the street or images I find on Pinterest.

Which labels do you always come back to?

I love Uniqlo and Sunspel for basics, Paige for jeans, Theory for tailoring, and Johnstons of Elgin for jumper. I am also a Celine girl through and through, especially when it comes to accessories. My alter ego also loves a lot of Pucci and Missoni.

@maybetamsinspending my birthday in scotland 🎂♬ Debussy Arabesque – Isabelle Perrin

And are there any under-the-radar brands you think we should know about?

Not that I think this brand is particularly under-the-radar, but I think Aquazurra are SO overlooked for their shoes and bags. They are the most comfortable heels I’ve ever worn, they have personality, and the service is unmatched. I wore a pair for my Civil Ceremony and lasted over 12 hours in them.

What’s a style moment of yours that really sticks out for you?

When I was a host for HayuFanfest. I had two days of events that I knew would be heavily filmed and photographed, so I rented two dresses, which I loved. I was also loaned the most incredible jewellery from DM Robinson to pair with my outfits. For my interview segment, I wore a black Jacquemus dress with a pair of Aquazurra pumps and a showstopping diamond and ruby necklace – looking back at the photos and footage from that day, I think the outfit really captured the essence of my style.

Tell us about your civil ceremony outfit. (We’re obsessed.)

So, I’ve always loved men’s tailoring – and I lean towards that with my own personal style, choosing blazers and trousers over dresses and skirts. There’s a well known tailor on Chiltern Street called Grey Flannel where my husband would have his suits made. I’d often go in and chat with the team there, and one day I discovered that the owner, Timothy Everest, had a daughter who was also a tailor and worked in the store. After speaking to her a few times and realising we were completely aligned on style and vision, I asked if she could make me a three-piece suit. She also works with a woman called Annika, who is one of the most incredible corsetresses and tailors. Together, the three of us created my suit.

I drew a lot of inspiration from Bianca Jagger’s wedding suit – it was so effortless, cool, and feminine. To keep mine looking as feminine as possible, we decided on a corseted halterneck to show my figure, and then added flared sleeves to my jacket and trousers to allow for nice movement. As our civil ceremony was in August and it was going to be hot, we chose a Loro Piana cotton/linen/wool blend for the fabric so it was all very light. For a personal touch, the team at Hand & Lock embroidered flowers from my and Henry’s birth months on the sleeves.

Is there an item you can’t leave the house without?

My AirPods. The thought of being alone with my own thoughts in Central London is a terrifying concept.

What are your staples for Spring/Summer?

Lots of linen! Linen trousers (with a stretchy waistband, of course), linen shirts in whites and pale pinks and linen shorts. Colourful silk scarves, too, as they are so versatile. I wear them as tops, belts, neckerchiefs and headscarves. You can also thrift some great vintage ones for reasonable prices.

What are your top preloved and rental fashion haunts?

I only ever rent from ByRotation. I stumbled upon them a while ago by chance when they had a pop-up in Marylebone Lane, as Rhubarb spotted a dog in there she wanted to play with (it turned out to be the owner’s). I used the app religiously for a while, and now they have this amazing townhouse in Mayfair, so I go there a lot to rent outfits for events. I even hosted my first Rhubarb Society in person members’ event there! For pre-loved, I’m a big fan of Sign of The Times who have both a physical store and an online shop.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tamsin (@tamsinamy)

How do you think the role of influencers is changing when it comes to addressing fashion waste?

There is so much overconsumption in the industry, and I think many creators are more mindful of it than they used to be, but we still have a long way to go. I’m often sent a lot of PR that I haven’t asked for or agreed to, and I end up giving most of it away to friends or to charity – recently I posted about The Homeless Project as they offer a service where they will collect donations from your home, making the process incredibly easy. I had a lot of people message me to thank me for making them aware of the project, so even on a very small scale, more influencers sharing charities and projects that help combat fashion waste and give back to the community is a change I’d like to see.

Moving away from humans – what are some doggy fashion brands you (and Rhubarb) are loving right now?

Well, aside from our own Rhubarb Society jumpers (we had to have some dog merch), we are obsessed with Love My Human. They have the best curation, and we discover loads of great fashion brands there – I call it Selfridges for dogs.

How do you see your style evolving in 10 years’ time?

Well, as a teenager and young adult, I was rarely seen in a pair of flat shoes, and would often do my food shopping in heels. Over the years my style has become increasingly more casual, so I can see it trending in the same direction. I hope to be comfy but incredibly chic, with the expensive fabrics and jewellery I wear doing the talking for me. I am also very keen on moving somewhere remote with a lot of land where I can grow vegetables and foster animals so I could also just end up dressing like Alan Titchmarsh.

Tamsin and Rhubarb

Not To Be Nosy, But…

What’s inside your handbag? Concealer, AirPods, lipgloss, dog poo bags, a travel perfume and probably a snack or two. Also a lot of receipts that for some reason I haven’t thrown away.

What’s the most expensive piece in your wardrobe? Probably my wedding dress. It’s being made by the same team that made my civil ceremony suit.

And the most sentimental? An old Chinese silk bomber jacket that belonged to my Yeye (Cantonese for Grandad).

What about the oldest? It’s probably a toss-up between my grandad’s jacket and an old fur coat my mother-in-law gave me. Both are probably around 100 years old.

Tell us about a treasure you thrifted? A floor length silk Pucci dress from their 2005 Spring RTW collection. I found it in a little shop in Florence whilst we were venue hunting for our wedding.

A trend you love? Food-based colour palettes! Namely tomato red and butter yellow.

A trend you hate? PVC shoes.

Your fashion forward guilty pleasure? Stupid socks – the more colourful or ridiculous the better. Especially if they have animals on them.

A fashion faux pas you’d never make again? Jeggings. I had a pale jean pair. Hideous.

A style rule you live by? Never let the clothes wear you. Comfort and confidence in whatever you’re wearing is key.

Stay Up To Date With Tamsin Wong (& Rhubarb)

You can follow Tamsin on TikTok and Instagram, and check out her members’ club The Rhubarb Society at therhubarbsociety.org