Since exploding onto the scene last year as one of the voices behind KPop Demon Hunters and its musical anthem “Golden,” Rei Ami has demonstrated a dedication to high-fashion looks on the red carpet: Think a dramatic embroidered cape cascading behind her at the Oscars, a head-to-toe cherry-red fur look for an Oscars after-party, and a feathered and fringed corset ensemble for the Grammys. Yet when she Zoomed with Condé Nast Traveler while packing her bags for a trip to Paris, she was remarkably low-key—at one point gesturing to bags of clothes around her closet. “Most of the outfits that are for outings or events, that’s all in collaboration with my stylist, Ayumi Perry,” explained Ami, who keeps packing lists in her Notes app before trips. “For days off, if I’m going to dinner or a tourist attraction, I usually come up with outfits for myself—whatever’s comfortable. Paris in the summer is really hot, so I’ve packed a lot of athleisure-style activewear and sneakers.”
The singer, who was born in South Korea but moved to Maryland as a child, still has loads of new looks plotted, of course, as she is set to release new music of her own—with more details to be announced soon. Ahead, she chats about that memorable first flight to the US, her approach to skincare in the sky, and why she’s most relaxed around water.
What she wears to fly:
It’s always something comfortable, like a matching set or sweats. The two key [accessories] are a hat and then obviously shades. Wearing both looks sketchy, so you have to choose either/or. Hats are great when your hair is a mess. If you wake up on the plane with dark circles, shades are good to go.
Her first flight ever, and her first flight in business class:
When I was emigrating to the US from Korea, [we flew] on Korean Air.I had the window seat. My sister was freaking out. She was crying hysterically when we were taking off, but I was having the time of my life. I was like, “This is so cool!” I had never been on a plane. My first time in business class was on Delta One, flying to New York for KPop Demon Hunters because that’s where we were recording the music—Sony and Netflix flew me out. I had never felt so expensive and appreciated. The lay flats are life-changing. You get spoiled rotten, and I’m so ashamed right now, even admitting that.
Her airplane routine:
As soon as I get in my seat, I do a whole setup of all my tools and goodies that I’m going to need throughout the flight. For example, I pack my skincare-related stuff and makeup in a bag, then put it somewhere in the seat. I lay out my chargers. I lay out my eye masks, face masks, foot masks, hand masks. I pick out a movie and watch while I eat. And then right after I eat, I go to the bathroom. I then use hypochlorous spray to clean my face, brush my teeth, and do a whole bedtime routine, because I try to take advantage of long-haul flights to sleep and get ahead of jet lag. Then I do my skincare, knock out for as long as I can, get back up, refresh my face, brush my teeth again, and then do some very light makeup and SPF, and I’m semi-presentable for the day.
Her advice for sleeping on planes:
This is kind of reckless. If you’re traveling internationally, I would say don’t sleep at all [before the flight]. Try to hold off until you get on, and knock out then. Maybe take some melatonin. I try to sleep as much as possible, but I’m a terrible sleeper, so I take a melatonin or ZzzQuil situation if I’m struggling, and skip the caffeine.