From her covetable and ever-evolving style to her picture-perfect home and husband, Cupcakes and Cashmere founder Emily Schuman has long been an inspiration for sartorialists and Pinterest enthusiasts alike. On the heels of her very own Birchbox collaboration and in anticipation of her second book (out on May 19), Us Weekly caught up with the OG lifestyle blogger, 31.
Catch the Cupcakes and Cashmere expert’s signature wit and wisdom on high-priced designer baby clothes, regrettable trends she’s tried, and more in the Q&A below!
Us Weekly: Congratulations on your new baby girl Sloan! How has motherhood affected your beauty routine?
Emily Schuman: After becoming a mom, the time I spend on my beauty routine has dramatically decreased. If there is a multitasking product, I am on it. A two-in-one cheek and lip tint is a lifesaver. I use the same pencil for my brows and my eyes, and seek out the items that I know will save me time. I dyed my hair darker to be less high-maintenance. But, on the flip side, the three minutes that I get to put on some makeup seems much more indulgent now. It’s nice to be reminded that I can find a little “me time” in something that I used to take for granted.
Us: What’s your stance on high-fashion baby clothes? Love ‘em or hate ‘em?
ES: Ninety-nine percent of the time, Sloan is in simple, affordable pieces. I want her to be comfortable and in things that are easy to change and not too precious so that when they get messy, it’s not a big deal. That said, nothing makes me as excited as seeing a designer item in a miniature size. We have some lovely gifts from friends that I can’t wait to put her in, but am reserving them for special occasions.
Us: Which celebrities do you turn to for style inspiration?
ES: I like celebrities that seem comfortable in their skin. My favorites are Sarah Jessica Parker who accessorizes really well, Kate Hudson’s minimalist but impactful red carpet looks, and love that Lupita Nyong’o takes risks.
Us: What trends are you must excited by right now?
ES: I’m really excited by the ‘70s trend that is happening. I’ve decided I need a good pair of platform wedges and some more suede fringe in my life couldn’t hurt.
Us: Your Birchbox includes skincare picks from Benefit Cosmetics, Prescriptives eye makeup, and Smashbox primer — but what’s the one product that you’re most excited about?
ES: My favorite item in the Cupcakes and Cashmere Birchbox is the Shiseido Ultimune — a powerful concentrate that you put on right after you wash your face. I swear by their cleanser, so it’s a natural fit into my daily beauty routine.
Us: We all have beauty moments in our past that we’re slightly horrified by — a patchy box dye job or ill-advised makeup adventures — what is your personal cringeworthy memory?
ES: My biggest beauty misstep was going after my eyebrows with a ferocity only known to teens in the ‘90s. I wanted pencil thin brows and they’ve still never fully recovered. But, a bold beauty trend I’d like to try is a wet metallic eye shadow look. They look amazing in editorials, but are a bit tougher to manage in real life.
Us: Your home, as featured in the upcoming Cupcakes and Cashmere at Home book, always seems to be perfectly tidy and decorated — does it ever get messy?
ES: I think anytime someone is going to be photographing their house, they make sure it’s styled perfectly, with flowers on every surface and candles flickering in the background. Obviously it’s just a curated glimpse into my home and the way that I live, but it’s meant to be aspirational yet also attainable.
Of course our house gets messy, especially now with Sloan, but our goal is to always be 10 minutes away from being guest-ready. So even if you have to throw some clothes into the hamper and slide a few dishes into the sink, as long as you have some champagne in the fridge and a few snacks, you’re good to go!
Us: Has the addition of Sloan made this aspirational lifestyle harder to maintain?
ES: We actually had a bunch of people over last weekend — and while not as “picturesque” as our normal get-togethers (there wasn’t a place card in sight) — it was lovely to be surrounded by the people we love and who love Sloan so much. That means more to us than Instagram-worthy moments.
