True Whitaker is perhaps the perfect person to run into at a late-spring party in the Hollywood Hills. The breakout star of I Love LA grew up nearby and walks through the crowd (a mix of models, creators, and a few surprise celebrity guests) with the ease of a Los Angeles native. We’re here to fête H&M’s new Studio Resort collection—and, this being LA, the conversation quickly turns to which beauty products actually work, which books we aren’t finishing, and which fashion trends we simply won’t give up.
Yes, the setting is shockingly similar to the ones in the beloved HBO comedy series, complete with a midcentury house and plenty of real-life influencers. But the gathering goes off without a hitch, and Whitaker, 27, is ready to spill on everything she’s currently obsessed with. Here’s what the actor is buying now, from hairbrushes to under-the-radar fragrances.
True Whitaker’s favorites, at a glance
H&M
Nordstrom
Amazon
H&M
Amazon
Her summer party outfit
So, what does True Whitaker wear to a party in Beverly Hills? A shirt-slash-dress with a “Jane Birkin kind of vibe,” of course. “It’s an orange little minidress that ties in the front, so it really gives you the opportunity to style it how you want to. I decided to leave the bottom tie open so I can show off a little silhouette, and show off my skirt and my belt. I paired it with these little black kitten heels, which are cute and pointy.”
H&M Sheer Tie-Front Blouse
H&M
H&M Short Denim Skirt
H&M
Her makeup faves
Whitaker keeps plenty of beauty products within reach, but two genuine favorites stand out: “I can’t go anywhere without my MAC chestnut lip liner, or else I’ll freak out,” she says of her absolute must-have. “I’ve refused to go places because I don’t have it.” The other necessity is a two-pack: “I love my Patrick Ta cream foundation and finishing powder to do a couple touch-ups if I need.”
MAC Lip Liner Pencil
Nordstrom
Ulta
Patrick Ta Major Skin Crème Foundation and Finishing Powder Duo
Sephora
Her signature scent
Like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy before her, Whitaker loves a scented oil as an alternative to a traditional perfume. “I usually [use] hints of jasmine oil; when I walk by, I smell like jasmine,” she says. “I mix it with my Loewe perfume, too.”
Dukhni Jasmine Attar Oil
Amazon
Loewe Aire Sutileza Eau de Toilette
Neiman Marcus
Her going-out bag
And where does she keep those essentials? In a perfectly-sized, “buttercup-yellow” shoulder bag that’s absolutely packed to the brim, of course. “I think that everyone should have a good bag. It’s something you can have forever,” Whitaker says. “Even if you’re wearing jeans and a white t-shirt, you can put a good bag with it, and it elevates a little bit.” As far as accessorizing her bag itself: “I love a bag charm. I have a couple of bags with bag charms that are like little creatures. I recently got one that is in the shape of an artichoke, and then the one that I’m rocking today is giving, like, metal sunflower and beads.”
H&M Studio Small Leather Shoulder Bag
H&M
H&M Studio Sun Bag Charm
H&M
Her current read
Whitaker has been slowly making her way through Patti Smith’s touchstone of a memoir for a while now: “I’ve been reading this book for a year. I carry it around with me. It travels. It sees the world. It never sees my face, but it sees the world.”
“Just Kids” by Patti Smith
Amazon
Her hairbrush
Later that night, I run into Whitaker in a room overlooking the pool and a fabulous vista of the Hollywood Hills. The recorder is off, but the actor has to tell me something: She had forgotten to mention how much she loves her Mason Pearson hairbrush, a status styling tool we previously named the very best brush on the market. I won’t try to recreate her quote from memory, but I will include a link.
Mason Pearson Pocket Bristle & Nylon Hairbrush
FWRD
